The Official MLB 2007 Thread

[Lathum]

Less then 24 hours until the Mets kick off their season!!

I love the way some parity has been bought to the league, it should be a great season. Since I moved I am 10 minutes from Great American Ballpark so I plan on going to alot of games.

[Chief Rum]

Less then 24 hours until the Mets kick off their season!!

I love the way some parity has been bought to the league, it should be a great season. Since I moved I am 10 minutes from Great American Ballpark so I plan on going to alot of games.

Too bad the Reds have to play in those games (ducks before Shorty sees me).

I personally think SI's (the mag, not the FOFCer) pick of the Angels over the Dodgers in the World Series is part of the East Coast master plan to jinx the West Coast and try to give creedence to the East Coast bias they alreayd live and die by. :)

[Lathum]

At least they didn't pick the Yankees

[sterlingice]

That reminds me- we don't have a projection thread. Hell, let's put them here.

SI

[SackAttack]

Too bad the Reds have to play in those games (ducks before Shorty sees me).

I personally think SI's (the mag, not the FOFCer) pick of the Angels over the Dodgers in the World Series is part of the East Coast master plan to jinx the West Coast and try to give creedence to the East Coast bias they alreayd live and die by. :)

I would kill just to see the Angels and Dodgers play in a World Series. Yeah, I'd be rooting for the Dodgers all the way, but my uncle is nearly as big an Angel fan as I am a Dodger fan...that would be a FUN 4-7 games.

[Lathum]

That reminds me- we don't have a projection thread. Hell, let's put them here.

SI

Mets over the Red Socks in 7.

yes I'm a homer and not ashamed of it.

[SackAttack]

Location: Cincinnati.

I'm guessing that either Lathum's use of 'homer' calls for a "you keep on using that word..." reference, or else he's a NY native. :D

[MizzouRah]

Time for the WORLD CHAMPIONS to defend their title!!

I have tickets for Tuesday's, championship ring replica night! Wonder if I could use that to pick up the ladies? (as long as my wife lets me go out to the bars) :)

[SackAttack]

(as long as my wife lets me go out to the bars) :)

But Todd, isn't that what got Tony in trouble? ;)

[JeeberD]

Time for the WORLD CHAMPIONS to defend their title!!

Too bad they're not even going to win the division... :p

[MizzouRah]

But Todd, isn't that what got Tony in trouble? ;)

I'm wayyyy ahead of him in that department. :D

[MizzouRah]

Too bad they're not even going to win the division... :p

Oh no you didn't! ;)

They will definitly finish ahead of the Astros! :p

[molson]

ESPN's 18 predicting experts came up with 17 different world series teams. I'm pretty sure that a higher range than what was predicted for Super Bowl teams last August.

[sterlingice]

ESPN's 18 predicting experts came up with 17 different world series teams. I'm pretty sure that a higher range than what was predicted for Super Bowl teams last August.

There's just no way that's legit in what people really believe.

SI

[sterlingice]

Oh no you didn't! ;)

They will definitly finish ahead of the Astros! :p

Yeah, but they'll both lose to the... Reds? No. Brewers... maybe, if everything goes right. Cubs? Nope. Pirates- yeah, that's gotta be it! Man, the NL Central sucks again

SI

[Izulde]

I hate being on the WI/MN border. No White Sox games for me and I can't afford mlb.tv :(

[molson]

There's just no way that's legit in what people really believe.

SI

The only one that was an obvious goof was the Cubs/White Sox prediction. But as pointed out in another thread, there's really only 7 or 8 teams who have NO shot at the playoffs. And any playoff team can get through a couple of short series to get to the playoffs.

[MizzouRah]

Yeah, but they'll both lose to the... Reds? No. Brewers... maybe, if everything goes right. Cubs? Nope. Pirates- yeah, that's gotta be it! Man, the NL Central sucks again

SI

Sucks? I think it's going to be quite a competitive division this year and I also think record wise every team but the Pirates will be within the rest of the NL leaders.

[JeeberD]

They will definitly finish ahead of the Astros! :p

We'll see about that, my fine feathered friend...

[molson]

My lock predictions:

AL EAST: Yankees
AL CENTRAL: Tigers
AL WEST: Angles
AL WILD CARD: Red Sox

NL EAST: Phillies
NL CENTRAL: Cardinals
NL WEST: Dodgers
WILD CARD: Padres

ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees
NLCS: Dodgers over Cardinals

World Series: Red Sox over Dodgers

[MizzouRah]

1 hour and 42 mins before the Cardinals take the field!

[Lathum]

My lock predictions:

AL EAST: Yankees
AL CENTRAL: Tigers
AL WEST: Angles
AL WILD CARD: Red Sox

NL EAST: Phillies
NL CENTRAL: Cardinals
NL WEST: Dodgers
WILD CARD: Padres

ALCS: Red Sox over Yankees
NLCS: Dodgers over Cardinals

World Series: Red Sox over Dodgers

you have lost all credibility with me by not picking the Mets to make the post season.

[Izulde]

Figures... we don't get ESPN on basic here *mutter* No baseball for me.

[Lathum]

Figures... we don't get ESPN on basic here *mutter* No baseball for me.

how the hell can you have basic cable with no ESPN?

[Easy Mac]

Figures... we don't get ESPN on basic here *mutter* No baseball for me.

Sopcast is your friend.

Besides, isn't women's basketball on ESPN?

[Izulde]

how the hell can you have basic cable with no ESPN?

That's what I want to know. I get 2 MTV channels and other likewise lame shit, but no ESPN.

[Izulde]

Sopcast is your friend.

Besides, isn't women's basketball on ESPN?

Well, I meant for later tonight.

[Easy Mac]

i think women's basketball is still on ESPN.

[terpkristin]

Baseball is on ESPN2 but let's face it, if they don't have ESPN with the basic package, it's highly unlikely they have ESPN2.

/tk

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, ESPN must have sold its soul to the NCAA for its football rights, so in return, they must be obligated to put the women's NCAA tournament on ESPN, relegating the first MLB game to the year to ESPN2. Embarrassing.

[henry296]

Yeah, ESPN must have sold its soul to the NCAA for its football rights, so in return, they must be obligated to put the women's NCAA tournament on ESPN, relegating the first MLB game to the year to ESPN2. Embarrassing.

And the Women's Final will get better ratings than probably any ESPN Sunday Night Basebal game this year. I think last year the Women's Final Four's ratings were 3X the Opening Night game on ESPN2.

[Ksyrup]

I can't imagine any circumstance under which I would watch women's basketball. Maybe with my daughters, since I'd like them to learn how to play.

And opening night of baseball really deserves a big spotlight. I think they should start the season on Sunday afternoon, actually.

[Crapshoot]

Baseball's here. That's awesome.

[MizzouRah]

GO CARDINALS!!

[sterlingice]

And opening night of baseball really deserves a big spotlight. I think they should start the season on Sunday afternoon, actually.

And it should damn well start in Cincinnati

SI

[Buccaneer]

And it should damn well start in Cincinnati

SI

Absolutely.

I am currently reading a collection of essays by Roger Angell, one of the best baseball writers of all time and here's what was said in the intro by Richard Ford:

"The game offers regular-sized humans performing oversized, occassionally glorious feats with grace and precision, all of it viewable in normally nice weather, pretty surroundings, and in real time....Meanwhile, the game's nature doesn't change much over a lifetime but maintains its casual, elemental sturdiness reminiscent of pastoral, patriotic origins."

I am always happy when baseball season arrives. It may not be the most exciting sport, esp. televised, but it is a welcomed change of pace after a season of football 'roid rages. Baseball has truly marked the time when it begins in the newness of spring.

[saldana]

M-E-T-S METS METS METS!!!!!!

lets run this thing up on carpenter baby!!!!!

[Lathum]

We're going 162-0 !!

[Logan]

Absolutely. Gotta love the timely hitting from guys like LoDuca and Green.

[Lathum]

The defense has been stellar. If we can play D like this all year that will make up for the marginal starting pitching

[Logan]

The defense has been stellar. If we can play D like this all year that will make up for the marginal starting pitching

"Marginal" starters is such an exaggeration. Do you remember some of the names that were sent out there last season? Gonzalez, Lima, Soler...not to mention the definition of mediocrity, Steve Trachsel. Those spots are being filled by Maine (excellent stuff and was great under pressure in the playoffs, I expect a great year out of him), Perez (will surely be erratic, with some great games and some bad ones mixed together), and Pelfrey (who could have a Verlander-like impact).

Yes, El Duque will surely break down eventually...but by the time that happens, Pedro will be back and I think he'll be at full-strength. As long as nothing catastrophic happens between now and July, I think his surgery will end up being a blessing in disguise. He'll be fresh and will be as good as any deadline addition could be.

I'm honestly not the homer-type who can't see flaws in his team...and that said, I'm not in any way worried about the starting pitching this season.

[SackAttack]

If you think you're going to be getting the old Pedro back when he comes back, you're going to be setting yourself up for heartbreak.

He'll be good, and he'll win his share of games, but 3.50-4.00 sounds more realistic than 2.00-2.50 to me in terms of his ERA.

[Lathum]

If you think you're going to be getting the old Pedro back when he comes back, you're going to be setting yourself up for heartbreak.

He'll be good, and he'll win his share of games, but 3.50-4.00 sounds more realistic than 2.00-2.50 to me in terms of his ERA.

Well condisering their lineup that is just fine.

[molson]

I really don't think Pedro comes back at all, or if he does, it's 1-2 starts before he shuts it down. An early demise has been predicted for him for a long time now, just like for his brother.

He's not exactly known for his timely return from injuries. He'll milk it until early September, and then bitch when the NYC media puts the heat on him.

[Cards4ever]

Herb Carneal died today, I know most probably don't know who he is, but he was the voice of the Twins for 45 years though the last few were on part time duty. RIP Herb

[Jonathan Ezarik]

"Marginal" starters is such an exaggeration. Do you remember some of the names that were sent out there last season? Gonzalez, Lima, Soler...not to mention the definition of mediocrity, Steve Trachsel. Those spots are being filled by Maine (excellent stuff and was great under pressure in the playoffs, I expect a great year out of him), Perez (will surely be erratic, with some great games and some bad ones mixed together), and Pelfrey (who could have a Verlander-like impact).

I'm honestly not the homer-type who can't see flaws in his team...and that said, I'm not in any way worried about the starting pitching this season.

One of your starters is a reject from the Pirates and you aren't worried?

[sooner333]

Yeah, ESPN must have sold its soul to the NCAA for its football rights, so in return, they must be obligated to put the women's NCAA tournament on ESPN, relegating the first MLB game to the year to ESPN2. Embarrassing.

While it is embarrassing...nothing to do with football. The conferences and individual bowls sell rights to the games. The NCAA basically makes nothing on NCAA I-A football television rights.

[Logan]

If you think you're going to be getting the old Pedro back when he comes back, you're going to be setting yourself up for heartbreak.

He'll be good, and he'll win his share of games, but 3.50-4.00 sounds more realistic than 2.00-2.50 to me in terms of his ERA.

Nowhere in that did I say that he was going to be the Pedro of Expos/early Sox days. When I said full-strength, I meant that it will be like he's coming out of spring training, and by starting later in the season he won't break down by August. Your description is exactly what I'm expecting...and yes, that will be enough.

I really don't think Pedro comes back at all, or if he does, it's 1-2 starts before he shuts it down. An early demise has been predicted for him for a long time now, just like for his brother.

He's not exactly known for his timely return from injuries. He'll milk it until early September, and then bitch when the NYC media puts the heat on him.

He's a month ahead of schedule already, so his return has been moved up from August to July. Again, not worried. Feel free to bump this post in August though.

One of your starters is a reject from the Pirates and you aren't worried?

This statement by itself should be why I'm not worried. No, it doesn't concern me that an organization like the Pirates took a guy who throws 98 mph and tried turning him into a finesse pitcher. Plus, one of their last rejects was Jason Schmidt. He turned out okay.

[lordscarlet]

Anyone else going to the Nats game today?

[Pumpy Tudors]

Anyone else going to the Nats game today?
Sure, why not! See ya there!

[MizzouRah]

We got smoked!

[lordscarlet]

Sure, why not! See ya there!

:)

[Izulde]

White Sox game will be starting and I'll be in Art Appreciation. Bleh.

[JeeberD]

Fucking Lidge... :rolleyes:

[MizzouRah]

Fucking Lidge... :rolleyes:

:D

[Yellow5]

Go Mariners! 4-0 vs the A's

King Felix: 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K. 12 groundouts, 0 flyouts.

Yeah I know it's the first game and the M's are doomed but it's nice to see them win the first game at home.

Anyone else ever see FanGraphs (http://www.fangraphs.com/)? They have a live scoreboard that calculates Win Probability on the fly for every game. Also keeps stats for just about everything baseball.

[Terps]

Erik Bedard got roughed up for 6 runs, but I know he'll bounce back for a good if not great year. Ramon Hernandez got scratched for the opening series before the game, and Paul Bako is now the starting catcher. The bench is awful, Alberto Castillo, Freddie Bynum and Chris Gomez for the time being.

Hope I'm wrong but it's gonna be another long year and 4th place once again.

[Ragone]

Royals tied for first place!

[kingfc22]

I got to get this out of my system since it's baseball season.

Hey MrBug - Dodgers SUCK! ;)

[Lathum]

Fucking Lidge... :rolleyes:

yep.

[kingfc22]

Anyone else ever see FanGraphs (http://www.fangraphs.com/)? They have a live scoreboard that calculates Win Probability on the fly for every game. Also keeps stats for just about everything baseball.


Interesting site. Thx for the heads up.

[Crapshoot]

I got to get this out of my system since it's baseball season.

Hey MrBug - Dodgers SUCK! ;)

Dude, that's applicable - in season or out of season. Their are certain inevitable truths in life - and the Dodgers sucking is one of them.

[Izulde]

Fucking Lidge... :rolleyes:

He got 2 Ks to start things off.

A lot better than "I decided I felt like being a BP pitcher today" Contreras. Fucking hell. 1 full inning and three batters faced in the second without an out recorded.. 8 runs, 7 earned for a 63.00 ERA :mad:

[SackAttack]

Fucking Lidge... :rolleyes:

He hasn't been the same since I predicted the Pujols homer in the playoffs a couple years ago.

This mojo stuff is more potent than I thought.

[JeeberD]

He got 2 Ks to start things off.


Only one K, actually..


He hasn't been the same since I predicted the Pujols homer in the playoffs a couple years ago.

This mojo stuff is more potent than I thought.

*sigh*

[korme]

Hearing Pete Rose talk to the boys upstairs during the 7th inning was a nice Opening Day touch. He's so passionate about baseball in Cincinnati and remembers so much- we were the first team in 1869, he feels Cincinnati should still be the first game played of every season in Cincinnati. His favorite record he owns is not the untouchable 4,256; it is 1,978. That is the number of wins his teams earned when he played those games. He made this point: If a rookie were to come up this year, and for the next 19 years his teams won 100 games, he would still be 78 short of Pete.

Anyways, great win over the Cubbies. The Reds are oft predicted to finish last this year, but I am not discounting anybody in the NL Central to win it. The Cards have a shaky end of the rotation.

You never want to wish for an injury, but I want to see Josh Hamilton get 300-400 plate appearances this year.

Oh, and I already like Alex Gonzalez at SS. Great fielder.

[rowech]

Hearing Pete Rose talk to the boys upstairs during the 7th inning was a nice Opening Day touch. He's so passionate about baseball in Cincinnati and remembers so much- we were the first team in 1869, he feels Cincinnati should still be the first game played of every season in Cincinnati. His favorite record he owns is not the untouchable 4,256; it is 1,978. That is the number of wins his teams earned when he played those games. He made this point: If a rookie were to come up this year, and for the next 19 years his teams won 100 games, he would still be 78 short of Pete.

Anyways, great win over the Cubbies. The Reds are oft predicted to finish last this year, but I am not discounting anybody in the NL Central to win it. The Cards have a shaky end of the rotation.

You never want to wish for an injury, but I want to see Josh Hamilton get 300-400 plate appearances this year.

Oh, and I already like Alex Gonzalez at SS. Great fielder.

Pete defintely knows his stuff and would make one hell of a manager. Unfortunately, he's an idiot and threw it down the crapper.

By the way...anyone in the booth talking besides George Grande is a huge upgrade.

[Lathum]

My god the Nats are horrible

[Ksyrup]

Yep.

The only thing that improved the outlook for the team during the first inning from my perspective is that we just had a hellacious storm go through Lexington and I lost satellite for about 10 minutes. They looked much better at that point.

[Lathum]

Yep.

The only thing that improved the outlook for the team during the first inning from my perspective is that we just had a hellacious storm go through Lexington and I lost satellite for about 10 minutes. They looked much better at that point.

yeah, it's passing through cinci now.

[Buccaneer]

Damn, I forgot that the Padres opener was a day game. Very, very nice results. It's going to be fun watching this team relying solely on great pitching and timely base hits.

[Ksyrup]

I sat on the front porch and watched it blow in. Pretty cool. I'm kinda enjoying the weather here, in a bizarre way. Everyone thinks of Florida weather as nasty, but the worst T-storms I've seen in the past 5 or so years that weren't caused by a tropical storm or hurricane have been here in Lexington since last June. We generally didn't get these kinds of severe storms in Florida, at least not with the kind of winds I've seen. I'm glad the builder put an extra shelter room under our garage...

[Rizon]

Go Mariners! 4-0 vs the A's

King Felix: 8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K. 12 groundouts, 0 flyouts.

Yeah I know it's the first game and the M's are doomed but it's nice to see them win the first game at home.

Anyone else ever see FanGraphs (http://www.fangraphs.com/)? They have a live scoreboard that calculates Win Probability on the fly for every game. Also keeps stats for just about everything baseball.

Typical A's loss. Our lineup is abysmal.

[dawgfan]

Typical A's loss. Our lineup is abysmal.
Felix has and will continue to make a lot of lineups look abysmal. Too bad the M's can't clone him...

[Butter]

By the way...anyone in the booth talking besides George Grande is a huge upgrade.

I really think that he and Chris Welsh (the Reds main TV color guy) are getting phased out with the hiring of Thom Brenneman and Jeff Brantley. But the guys have been so pro-Reds over the years that the ownership just can't bear to simply throw them out on their ass. I mean, Grande hosts the HOF induction for goodness sakes... but he's about as exciting and fun to listen to as a box of crickets.

[Ksyrup]

Speaking of announcers, it was very strange to hear Don Sutton not calling a Braves game.

[JeeberD]

Fucking Wheeler... :rolleyes:

[rowech]

I really think that he and Chris Welsh (the Reds main TV color guy) are getting phased out with the hiring of Thom Brenneman and Jeff Brantley. But the guys have been so pro-Reds over the years that the ownership just can't bear to simply throw them out on their ass. I mean, Grande hosts the HOF induction for goodness sakes... but he's about as exciting and fun to listen to as a box of crickets.

Agreed on all counts. I believe Grande was one of, if not the first anchor of sportscenter. He's just terrible though. I really do hope Thom and Brantley phase in over the course of this season to take over next season. To be honest, Welsh isn't hateful and I'm not sure if he wouldn't be okay with someone else.

[Lathum]

Fucking Wheeler... :rolleyes:

It's to bad the Pirates can't play the Astros every game. They would be 162-0

[lordscarlet]

My god the Nats are horrible

[sigh]...

[Lathum]

Great comeback by the Nats today.

[Ksyrup]

Florida should have pulled the trigger on a deal for Benitez when the Giants were trying to give him away.

[Ksyrup]

Detroit's having a bit of a bullpen problem. Rodney throwing in the 80s and low 90s is not a good sign.

[Ksyrup]

Fullpack2K escapes yet another one. I'm of the opinion that the Tigers should deal Marcus Thames for another reliever.

[lordscarlet]

Great comeback by the Nats today.

And MLB's GameDay is hugely different from last year. There are a lot of great features.. Thank god for two monitors at work. :)

[Lathum]

John Maine looks like a stud so far tonight.

[korme]

Thoughts on game 2 of the Reds/Cubs.

Man, hate to lose like that. Arroyo had a pretty decent outing, 9 k's but takes the loss.

The hitters couldn't get it going, Junior and Dunn surprisingly the only consistent bats in the first two games of the season. Phillips/Encarnacion/Ross pissing me off so far.

Why not PH LHB Hamilton for RHB Conine with 2 outs, bottom 9 against RHP Dempster? Doesn't make sense to me.

We hit probably atleast 4 balls tonight that just died in the air and on a regular night at GABP would have been goners. That sucks.

Soriano and Lee have not looked good for the Cubs at all so far.

I didn't see that performance from Lilly coming. When he has control of it, his curve is pretty nice.

[Atocep]

Shorty, I didn't watch the game so I have to ask. How in the holy hell did Reds pitchers manage to walk Cubs hitters 6 times?

I gaurantee this is the only time all season Soriano, J Jones, and Izturis all walk in the same game.

[Karlifornia]

Bonds pokes out #735. Flame on!

[ISiddiqui]

Great job by the Mets in sweeping the Cards. Maine looked absolutely wonderful and the offense exploded.

[Ksyrup]

Gotta love Vin Scully:

"Prince Fielder registers on the Richter Scale with a double."

[Lathum]

Great job by the Mets in sweeping the Cards. Maine looked absolutely wonderful and the offense exploded.

They are such a fun team to watch

[rowech]

Thoughts on game 2 of the Reds/Cubs.

Man, hate to lose like that. Arroyo had a pretty decent outing, 9 k's but takes the loss.

The hitters couldn't get it going, Junior and Dunn surprisingly the only consistent bats in the first two games of the season. Phillips/Encarnacion/Ross pissing me off so far.

Why not PH LHB Hamilton for RHB Conine with 2 outs, bottom 9 against RHP Dempster? Doesn't make sense to me.

We hit probably atleast 4 balls tonight that just died in the air and on a regular night at GABP would have been goners. That sucks.

Soriano and Lee have not looked good for the Cubs at all so far.

I didn't see that performance from Lilly coming. When he has control of it, his curve is pretty nice.

Bad managing on Narron's part in the 8th. Should have never let Arroyo go back out after the seventh. You can see him starting to labor more. Especially, after getting one runner on, he should have never got to pitch to the next guy.

Ross looks horrid. My fear I think is true. Kid was just a flash in the pan last year. His play on the squeeze play was possibly the worst defensive play we'll see all year. Just stupid. Perhaps Arroyo should get it but Ross has to realize he's seeing everything...he should know Lee wasn't going anywhere on 3rd. He's been equally awful at the plate.

Encarnacion and Phillips will get it going. Ross I'm not sure about.

How about Brenneman and Brantley though? Brantely annoyed me a couple of times but good God is it nice to have real announcers. They should give Grande his severence pay now and say c-ya.

[Logan]

Great job by the Mets in sweeping the Cards. Maine looked absolutely wonderful and the offense exploded.

That was one of the most well-played series by one team you will ever see. And to have it happen in the first series of the season is even crazier.

They seriously didn't do one thing wrong.

[Ksyrup]

Neyer's got a blog item this morning discussing this:

http://www.zumsteg.net/cheatersguide/2007/04/03/francisco-rodriguez-doctoring-the-ball/

The guy who writes The Cheater's Guide to Baseball says that K-Rod is using an illegal substance. Neyer believes he's right, but thinks it's just chalk.

[MizzouRah]

That was one of the most well-played series by one team you will ever see. And to have it happen in the first series of the season is even crazier.

They seriously didn't do one thing wrong.

You can say that again. On the other hand, we look like shit.

[MrBug708]

I got to get this out of my system since it's baseball season.

Hey MrBug - Dodgers SUCK! ;)

Ya, but I can go to sleep knowing I dont have any desire to chuck batteries at other people :)

[Atocep]

The Royals may actually have a solid top of the rotation with Meche and Greinke. Hopefully Greinke has his personal issues straightened out because I had never seen a kid his age that knew how to use all of his pitches like he does.

Matsuzaka looks very solid in his first start. Only question, I think, was going to be his control and he's looked pretty sharp today.

[dawgfan]

The Royals may actually have a solid top of the rotation with Meche and Greinke.
Operative word here is "may". As someone that has lived the ups and more frequent downs of Gil Meche, I'm very hesitant to accept the idea of him as "solid".

Now, maybe he's turned a corner, and maybe getting out of Seattle will be a boon for him; but be prepared for a few starts of great promise surrounded by a bunch of starts of frustration. His command simply hasn't been that great so far in his career - he nibbles, throws too many pitches and just doesn't have enough command of his fastball and curve to stay consistently ahead of hitters. His stuff is good, although a tad over-rated, and he has a tendency to tire in later innings.

But hey, he wouldn't be the first pitcher to bloom later in his career, and he does have good enough stuff that he could be a solid pitcher, so maybe he's turning things around.

[Logan]

Matsuzaka looks very solid in his first start. Only question, I think, was going to be his control and he's looked pretty sharp today.

My completely uninformed opinion was that he would be a pretty good to great pitcher, at least for a few years before any potential overuse from Japan set in. That said, no matter how much success he has at first, you have to hold off at least a couple months to give the league a chance to get accustomed to an experienced guy they've never seen before (as opposed to a rookie coming up and just dominating by "throwing").

[Easy Mac]

Pretty good start for the Braves, sweeping the Phils in Philly.


also

Brian McCann >>>>>>>> Joe Mauer

[Ksyrup]

Follow-up on the K-Rod cheating incident(s):

"It's the same stuff I've had since I was called up [in 2002]," Rodriguez said, showing his cap to a pair of reporters at his locker to show the resin residue on its bill. "A lot of pitchers use it. They rub it on their pants and use it when they need it. I have it on my cap. You can see it in all the pictures; it's there.

"I don't see why they're making a big deal out of this. We can't worry about things we can't control. They haven't made it illegal, so it's something I do."


Um...it is illegal to have any substance under the bill of your cap. That's what the resin bag is for, and why it is kept away from the mound. If you could put it under the bill of your cap, you could also put other illegal things there. So the substance might not be illegal, but where you keep it and use it is.

It's become readily apparent that the days of Gaylord Perry are long gone. These days, there are too many cameras to keep cheating like this hidden.

[Ksyrup]

I hardly ever watch the Yankees, but there's something about how bad they're playing right now that is compelling me to watch. They stink right now. I'm sure you can pencil them in for 95 wins, but man, right they aren't good. Jeter's still on vacation - 3 errors, and tonight he failed to cover second on a bunt. Strange things afoot at the House That Ruth Built.

[ISiddiqui]

Wow... Oliver Perez looked very nice tonight as the Mets rout the Braves 11-1, behind Jose Reyes' 2 triples and 4 RBIs and 2 runs. The Mets continue to be very fun to watch early on in the season.

[Chief Rum]

Follow-up on the K-Rod cheating incident(s):

"It's the same stuff I've had since I was called up [in 2002]," Rodriguez said, showing his cap to a pair of reporters at his locker to show the resin residue on its bill. "A lot of pitchers use it. They rub it on their pants and use it when they need it. I have it on my cap. You can see it in all the pictures; it's there.

"I don't see why they're making a big deal out of this. We can't worry about things we can't control. They haven't made it illegal, so it's something I do."


Um...it is illegal to have any substance under the bill of your cap. That's what the resin bag is for, and why it is kept away from the mound. If you could put it under the bill of your cap, you could also put other illegal things there. So the substance might not be illegal, but where you keep it and use it is.

It's become readily apparent that the days of Gaylord Perry are long gone. These days, there are too many cameras to keep cheating like this hidden.

"Cheating like this".

Got it. So why is it cheating again? Because a legal substance isn't where it should be on a player's person? How does that affect the game? If the substance has been deemed legal and usable by players on the field, why does it matter where they keep the stuff? Are you saying it's not resin? Because everyone seems to believe it is indeed just resain, a legal substance.

You call this cheating. Cheating is trying to gain an edge through means outside of the rules. How exactly is K-Rod gaining an edge here? Because he doesn't get as tired constantly going back behind the mound to get the resin bag? Because by putting it on his cap instead of on his pants leg, he can reach up easier, so he's not so fatigued? What exactly is the edge here?

If you say the edge is somehow in how his pitches move, clearly you have missed every Angels win between 2002 and now, because if you had ever seen the guy pitch, you would know there is no foreign substance that can make a guy's pitch move like that. I mean, honestly, it's one of the most wicked sliders to come along in some time. You honestly think any substance out there exists that turns a normal slider into a something as knee-breaking as K-Rod's out pitch? His fastball has pop, but is fairly straight. His change is only effective because of its contrast to his heat. His curve is his weakest pitch. When exactly is he using his resin to cheat again?

Yes, I'm an Angels fan and acknowledge it willingly. But anyone who thinks this is cheating is either overreaching on semantics (where a legal substance is placed?!?) for reasons that are unclear to me, or obviously has a sharp disgareement with how baseball authorities themselves view the affective qualities of resin on the game.

The blogger is doing this to sell a book. Sad to see anyone taken in by it. Bob Watson, by all accounts the biggest beauracratic asshole in baseball as the head disciplinarian, already contacted Bill Stoneman and said there wouldn't be any investigation. Read between the lines. This is nothing.

If you want to talk about GMJ possibly using HGH, okay, that's another subject altogether.

[rowech]

"Cheating like this".

Got it. So why is it cheating again? Because a legal substance isn't where it should be on a player's person? How does that affect the game? If the substance has been deemed legal and usable by players on the field, why does it matter where they keep the stuff? Are you saying it's not resin? Because everyone seems to believe it is indeed just resain, a legal substance.

You call this cheating. Cheating is trying to gain an edge through means outside of the rules. How exactly is K-Rod gaining an edge here? Because he doesn't get as tired constantly going back behind the mound to get the resin bag? Because by putting it on his cap instead of on his pants leg, he can reach up easier, so he's not so fatigued? What exactly is the edge here?

If you say the edge is somehow in how his pitches move, clearly you have missed every Angels win between 2002 and now, because if you had ever seen the guy pitch, you would know there is no foreign substance that can make a guy's pitch move like that. I mean, honestly, it's one of the most wicked sliders to come along in some time. You honestly think any substance out there exists that turns a normal slider into a something as knee-breaking as K-Rod's out pitch? His fastball has pop, but is fairly straight. His change is only effective because of its contrast to his heat. His curve is his weakest pitch. When exactly is he using his resin to cheat again?

Yes, I'm an Angels fan and acknowledge it willingly. But anyone who thinks this is cheating is either overreaching on semantics (where a legal substance is placed?!?) for reasons that are unclear to me, or obviously has a sharp disgareement with how baseball authorities themselves view the affective qualities of resin on the game.

The blogger is doing this to sell a book. Sad to see anyone taken in by it. Bob Watson, by all accounts the biggest beauracratic asshole in baseball as the head disciplinarian, already contacted Bill Stoneman and said there wouldn't be any investigation. Read between the lines. This is nothing.

If you want to talk about GMJ possibly using HGH, okay, that's another subject altogether.

It's cheating. The rosin bag is there in order to use rosin. Anything on the player himself is illegal.

[molson]

"Cheating like this".

Got it. So why is it cheating again? Because a legal substance isn't where it should be on a player's person? How does that affect the game? If the substance has been deemed legal and usable by players on the field, why does it matter where they keep the stuff? Are you saying it's not resin? Because everyone seems to believe it is indeed just resain, a legal substance.


I don't view the whole thing as a huge deal, but "smudges" on a player are difficult to police, and that's why they're illegal. Is an umpire supposed to physically check the smudge every inning to make sure it's still resin? Because it wouldn't be difficult to swap it with something else.

Why should MLB bend over backwards for K-Rod's habits? A bright line rule here is appropriate, and easy to enforce, so that's what we have. I don't see why he should be above that.

[Chief Rum]

It's cheating. The rosin bag is there in order to use rosin. Anything on the player himself is illegal.

Anything? Sweat? Spit? Left over rosin form when he picked up the bag? There's a reason why baseball labels substances as legal and illegal. Some can affect the game. Some can't. Baseball has determined rosin doesn't affect the game, at least not to the degree it needs to be banned. It is in fact recognized as a legal tool for pitchers and placed right out there behind the mound.

You're saying it's cheating for a player to use a substance placed out there for his use by baseball? You're right. Makes sense to me, too.

[Chief Rum]

I don't view the whole thing as a huge deal, but "smudges" on a player are difficult to police, and that's why they're illegal. Is an umpire supposed to physically check the smudge every inning to make sure it's still resin? Because it wouldn't be difficult to swap it with something else.

Why should MLB bend over backwards for K-Rod's habits? A bright line rule here is appropriate, and easy to enforce, so that's what we have. I don't see why he should be above that.

I don't view the whole thing as a huge deal, but "smudges" on a player are difficult to police, and that's why they're illegal. Is an umpire supposed to physically check the smudge every inning to make sure it's still resin? Because it wouldn't be difficult to swap it with something else.

Why should MLB bend over backwards for K-Rod's habits? A bright line rule here is appropriate, and easy to enforce, so that's what we have. I don't see why he should be above that.

"Smudges" are not illegal. Smudges happen all the time. It's what makes the smudges that make them illegal. If it is something that can affect the outcome of a game event (a pitch, a swing, etc.), then baseball deems it to be illegal. The umpires have every right to check out every smudge they see (or that is pointed out to them by managers), but if the substance is deemed to be legal, what is there to do? At worst, you wipe the substance off and move on (as with Rogers, which otherwise is different because most people believe he didn't just have dirt there).

I see your point, and the reason for such a rule for practical purposes. And by the letter of the law, yes, K-Rod is breaking the rules. As are pitchers who put rosin on their legs or in their gloves.

But "breaking the rules" is not "cheating". Breaking the rules is breaking the rules--not abiding by a set list of rules. Cheating is doing something illegal in order to gain an unfair advantage outside of the rules, with advantage being judged by its impact on the game for which those rules are set. If rosin has no impact on the game, whether it comes from a bag behind the mound, the bill of the cap, or "rosin boy" walks out with a bucket full of the stuff every pitch, it's not cheating. K-Rod's pitches aren't breaking more sharply from it. He isn't throwing more strikes because of it. His pitchess aren't any harder to see. It has no impact on the game whatsoever except making his outings go faster because he isn't constantly retreating to the back of the mound for more rosin.

I don't mind him being called a rule breaker. But you guys are way too willing to toss out "cheater" without actually considering the circumstances. There is a big difference between rule breaker and cheater and you know it.

K-Rod shouldn't be above these rules, so if baseball feels it must, it should inform him and the Angels he must not place rosin on his person at any point anymore except in his hand. I would be fine with that. I would also, however, expect everyone here to be fine with Scioscia checking out every opposing pitcher who walks out to the mound for rosin residue on their clothing, checking each pitch if he has to. There are tons of pitchers who do this sort of thing (once again, not cheating, but rule breaking without game impact), but if the league draws a hard line on K-Rod, they better damn well draw that same line on everyone else, too. Or does that suddenly become a problem with everyone when it happens to a player on their favorite team instead of on some other guy's team?

As long as we're at it, let's also check every tag play to make sure the runner doesn't leave the base at all before the ball hits the glove, that every force play includes the ball in glove and foot on base before any part of the runner touches the base, that every tag out actually touches the runner before he reaches the base, that no batter's foot touches the batter's box line while in place to take a swing...and so forth.

There are rules broken all the time. And then there's cheating. Let's enforce the latter. Let's not get inanely impractical about the former.

[wade moore]

I don't mind him being called a rule breaker. But you guys are way too willing to toss out "cheater" without actually considering the circumstances. There is a big difference between rule breaker and cheater and you know it.

You say tomato, I say tomato.

[Easy Mac]

A-Rod = teh suck

If there were some way that A-Rod could succeed but the Yankees would suck, I would be very happy.

[Ksyrup]

Semantics. Sorry to get you worked up by interchanging one for the other. You can argue its not cheating but breaking a rule and I don't have an issue with that.

Now can we please get back to rooting against the Yankees? It's not coincidence that this argument broke out, and the Yankees won today. If we just work together, we can accomplish good.

[Chief Rum]

You say tomato, I say tomato.

Then I would say you want to live in an impossible idealistic world where everything is absolutely called correctly and dealt with appropriately. Absolute zero can also be reached, a perfect vacuum can be achieved and the speed of light is a reachable goal.

Here in the practical, pragmatic world, the rest of us realize that enforcement of all rules every day every moment to the letter is not only impossible, the effort is extremely counterproductive.

If you honestly equate someone having rosin on their person with Barry on steroids and Gaylord Perry salivating on his ball, you aren't a rational person whose perspective I would willingly seek on any topic, baseball or otherwise.

[Chief Rum]

Semantics. Sorry to get you worked up by interchanging one for the other. You can argue its not cheating but breaking a rule and I don't have an issue with that.

Now can we please get back to rooting against the Yankees? It's not coincidence that this argument broke out, and the Yankees won today. If we just work together, we can accomplish good.

Thanks, Ksyrup. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me. You're right. For the good of baseball and a nonchaotic world, we need to put aside our differences and ensure the karmic forces of this world return to concentrating on the Yankees.

The good news is, if we can win the AL West, the Yankess will have to try to get past us in the playoffs. They haven't been too successful at that. ;)

[billethius]

If it's just rosin, why isn't there a similar smudge on the top of the cap? Does he only touch the rosin bag with his thumb?

Edit: That is to say, it's suspicious, but I doubt anyone really cares because pitchers on all teams cheat.

[Chief Rum]

If it's just rosin, why isn't there a similar smudge on the top of the cap? Does he only touch the rosin bag with his thumb?

Edit: That is to say, it's suspicious, but I doubt anyone really cares because pitchers on all teams cheat.

I would guess he does just touch it with his thumb. No one is saying K-Rod denies knowing that it's breaking the rules for him to have this on his cap or in his glove or on his leg. So he probably made the sensible decision years ago (he apparently has been doing this every since he started pitching) to just rub his thumb on the cap, so as not to have it stand out on the outside. Certainly an indication of his knowledge of the rules and complicity in breaking them (although, as I mentioned, far short of the actual line of "cheating", as I believe a tangible effect on the game must be achieved by the illegal act for it to be deemed cheating).

[Atocep]

Now can we please get back to rooting against the Yankees? It's not coincidence that this argument broke out, and the Yankees won today. If we just work together, we can accomplish good.


Anyone notice how clutch Jeter looked trotting in from 2nd to score the winning run on the walk off grand slam by A-Rod?

Jeter and A-Rod getting back together and having pyjama parties again would be as big for me as Ross and Rachael getting back together in the Friends finale.

Hopefully this is a step toward bringing them back together.

[JeeberD]

Astros win! Astros win! Dear lord almighty, the Astros win!

[sterlingice]

Hey, John Patterson. Wanna stop making me look like an idiot for thinking you'd have a nice bounce back year after the injuries?

SI

[sterlingice]

Went to the Royals game today. Game time temp: 29 degrees, with lots of wind. Small (~14K) crowd but into it for as few people as were there. This is not baseball weather. Cruel irony- the next game we're going to (April 20th), the giveaway is Royals fleece blankets. Would have killed for another blanket today.

I can see what people say about Gil Meche with the maddening inconsistency. I remember looking down when I was keeping score and his first ball was pitch number 10, partway into the second inning. Then he lost the strike zone in the third and Detroit put up a crooked number. Aside from that 3 run third, he gave up 3 solo homers on a day when the wind was howling from left to right. He finished 7 innings on just over 100 pitches so you have to be grateful for that, toughening up after that last homer and I don't think he allowed another hit. Still, giving up 6 runs won't win you many ball games.

Also, can someone explain why Buddy Bell has a mancrush on Ross Gload?

SI

[miami_fan]

One of the ESPN reporters (Buster Olney I think) was talking about how a few years back baseball tried to schedule the first couple of weeks in venues where the weather would not be a problem. According to him, teams complained about it and that is why MLB stopped the practice. Can someone share more about what happened? I can't understand why anyone in baseball would not try to avoid the weather problems they had this week.

[Logan]

One of the ESPN reporters (Buster Olney I think) was talking about how a few years back baseball tried to schedule the first couple of weeks in venues where the weather would not be a problem. According to him, teams complained about it and that is why MLB stopped the practice. Can someone share more about what happened? I can't understand why anyone in baseball would not try to avoid the weather problems they had this week.

I really don't have any more info on what happened...but as a NY fan, I would be totally against it.

1) It already takes some of the fun out of opening day when your team opens with 2 series on the road, leaving you to celebrate the "home opener."

2) Obviously everyone plays 162 games so it balances out, but I think a two week west coast road trip just isn't fair. A 3-9 start isn't out of the question for even a very good team.

Play more day games. Don't shift the schedule anymore than that.

[Ksyrup]

Yeah, northern teams complained that they wouldn't get as many sellouts once the luster of opening week was over and they finally got their home openers a week later, added to the fact that if your team started the year on a bad note, that would cause a further ticket sale decrease.

Really, this doesn't seem to happen that often, or at least it's not as wide spread as it has been this year.

[Arles]

I really don't have any more info on what happened...but as a NY fan, I would be totally against it.

1) It already takes some of the fun out of opening day when your team opens with 2 series on the road, leaving you to celebrate the "home opener."
Someone has to start on the road, I don't think all 32 teams can start at home ;)

It just doesn't make sense for Arizona (75-85 and pleasant here) to travel to 40-degree Colorado and 20-degree Washington to open the season. Same goes for Seattle (60-65) playing in 28-degree Cleveland and 33-degree Boston.

2) Obviously everyone plays 162 games so it balances out, but I think a two week west coast road trip just isn't fair. A 3-9 start isn't out of the question for even a very good team.
Why not just have a two-city road trip for the first week of April that minimizes the weather issues and then go back to normal? Now, we are going to have a slew of double headers that will have much more of an impact on records down the road because MLB didn't want to anger fans in cold climates.

Look at the NFL, this was the first year in nearly a decade where the Arizona Cardinals opened at home (cause they finally had a dome stadium). Now, maybe opening on the road meant the Cards often started 0-1, but it didn't make sense having teams and fans sit out in 105 degree weather to watch football.

Play more day games. Don't shift the schedule anymore than that.
Day games really would have helped the conditions in Cleveland and Washington.:rolleyes:

Just be smart and if you have an opening series between Arizona and Washington, Cle-Seattle or NYY-Tampa, maybe start with the obviously warmer city (Crazy! I know!).

[Logan]

Someone has to start on the road, I don't think all 32 teams can start at home ;)

It just doesn't make sense for Arizona (75-85 and pleasant here) to travel to 40-degree Colorado and 20-degree Washington to open the season. Same goes for Seattle (60-65) playing in 28-degree Cleveland and 33-degree Boston.

Um, yes it does make sense. It's called "it's been happening for 100 years and it was never a big deal until this year."

Why not just have a two-city road trip for the first week of April that minimizes the weather issues and then go back to normal?

So pushing it around for a week is going to make a huge difference? There was a snowstorm in Cleveland this whole weekend. If the same storm occurs next year and comes a day later, you're screwed again.

Day games really would have helped the conditions in Cleveland and Washington.:rolleyes:

Just be smart and if you have an opening series between Arizona and Washington, Cle-Seattle or NYY-Tampa, maybe start with the obviously warmer city (Crazy! I know!).

I've been at Shea for the last two home openers. Last year I remember being completely comfortable in the swirling winds of the upper deck in my t-shirt and jeans. The year before, I was a little cold with the wind so I put my windbreaker on. The horror. We're going to start the season on the west coast every year because of fluke weather patterns?

Weather is unpredictable. We all know this. Jesus, the Masters (in Georgia) was being played in 40 degree weather.

[sterlingice]

Heck, in KC, it was 81 for the opener on Monday and then 29 yesterday when we went.

SI

[sterlingice]

BTW, I missed the whole story Friday about the Seattle/Cleveland game getting cancelled within a strike of ending. What happened there? They mentioned it for a minute on the Royals broadcast but I didn't get the whole story.

SI

[Philliesfan980]

BTW, I missed the whole story Friday about the Seattle/Cleveland game getting cancelled within a strike of ending. What happened there? They mentioned it for a minute on the Royals broadcast but I didn't get the whole story.

SI

Paul Byrd was actually working on a no hitter, and shook off two signs before the batter stepped out and the game was cancelled. Basically at that point it was a whiteout, nothing could be seen. Byrd could have probably just grooved in one of his trademark 85 mph fastballs and the game would have been over.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Braves get embarrassed by the Mets on Friday, losing 11-1.
Braves respond by beating the Mets both Saturday & Sunday.
Nice.

[sterlingice]

Royals get a great performance from Brandon Duckworth, 6 1/3 shutout innings and the pen gets it to the 9th with a 2-0 lead. Pudge erases it all with a 3-run homer in the 9th. This is the type of early season game that can just kill a team. So, instead of a really nice 3-3 homestand to start against the Red Sox and Tigers, it's 2-4 :(

SI

[MizzouRah]

Cardinals start hitting!

[MrBug708]

Giants are one of the worst teams in baseball...

[Arles]

Giants are one of the worst teams in baseball...
You have to put the Nationals there as well. After 4 home games against the DBacks (not exactly the 29 yankees), Washington finished 0-4 and was outscored 21-6.

[kingfc22]

Giants are one of the worst teams in baseball...

:( Sadly I have to agree. Especially if they play the same way on this upcoming road trip.

[bselig]

This is the most on-topic thread I could see on the front page to post this, just thought it was neat

http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/6645/bb2k83pc2.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bb2k83pc2.jpg)

[Terps]

O's take 2 of 3. Take that MFY's!

[DeToxRox]

Royals get a great performance from Brandon Duckworth, 6 1/3 shutout innings and the pen gets it to the 9th with a 2-0 lead. Pudge erases it all with a 3-run homer in the 9th. This is the type of early season game that can just kill a team. So, instead of a really nice 3-3 homestand to start against the Red Sox and Tigers, it's 2-4 :(

SI

Hey, Alex Gordon has more hits this year then Brandon Inge at least.

All kidding aside, Duckworth was sharp. A sick sinker worked awesomely in the elements but Riske even said after he felt with guys on 1st and 2nd and 0 out Pudge would bunt. He out thought himself and because of it, Pudge went yard.

Royals are a gritty team though, and Pena Jr is the best fielding SS in the game.

[Ksyrup]

Man, I'm really loving Rob Neyer's blog. I watched the Yankees/Orioles game on Friday night and was stunned by how far the Yankees' announcers went out of their way to NOT make Derek Jeter look bad on a play he screwed up. I guess I shouldn't have been stunned, but it was so obvious and Kenny Singleton was right on top of it but didn't have the guts to say directly what he was suggesting, that I found it unbelieveable. And then I see that Neyer caught the same thing.

Man on first, guy bunts toward ARod and when ARod fielded it, he had an easy play to second to get the lead guy, except no one was covering second. On a play when both the 1B and 3B are charging, the 2B covers first, and the SS covers second. Well, Jeter didn't immediately move toward second, and by the time ARod realized his only play was to first, at that point Jeter went to cover third. Instead of pointing out Jeter's mistake, the announcers basically blamed Cano for not covering second and praised Jeter for alerting covering third. When Singleton mentioned that Cano's responsibility was to cover first, neither he nor Michael Kay made the obvious connection - Jeter failed to cover second.

And then in the fourth, on a delayed steal, no one covered second and the announcers basically made that point obvious, then failed to follow-up on who's fault it was (and it could have been Cano's, but it also could have been Jeter's, so they just let it go).

Glad to see I'm not the only one who sees/hears these things.

[Ksyrup]

BTW, anyone with the Extra Innings package enjoying the new features they have? You can check scores, see box scores, pitchings stats (# of pitches, balls/strikes, etc.) on screen during the game. Pretty cool.

[lordscarlet]

Then I would say you want to live in an impossible idealistic world where everything is absolutely called correctly and dealt with appropriately. Absolute zero can also be reached, a perfect vacuum can be achieved and the speed of light is a reachable goal.

Here in the practical, pragmatic world, the rest of us realize that enforcement of all rules every day every moment to the letter is not only impossible, the effort is extremely counterproductive.

If you honestly equate someone having rosin on their person with Barry on steroids and Gaylord Perry salivating on his ball, you aren't a rational person whose perspective I would willingly seek on any topic, baseball or otherwise.

But Barry was just breaking the rules. Really, not even that. Steroids were not banned.

(please read the sarcasm there, just said to prove a point)

Hey, John Patterson. Wanna stop making me look like an idiot for thinking you'd have a nice bounce back year after the injuries?

SI

Don't worry, he'll be injured before too long. *groan*

[JonInMiddleGA]

A little broadcast news from last week
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2007/04/06/0408sptbiz.html

Safe to say Cal Ripken Jr. won't be as outspoken or as outrageous as Charles Barkley.

But Ripken, hired by Turner Sports on Thursday as studio analyst for its new Major League Baseball television package, hopes to bring a bit of Barkley to the job.

"I'm a basketball junkie, and I love listening to Charles and Kenny [Smith] in Atlanta," said Ripken, referring to TNT's popular NBA studio show. "They're entertaining in many ways ... and Charles can be Charles ... but from an analyst's standpoint, they also really know the game. I hope I can bring some of that sort of analysis to the baseball side."

Ripken, the former Baltimore Orioles star who will be inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame this summer, will join host Ernie Johnson Jr. on a studio show that will precede and follow TBS' telecasts of Division Series and National League Championship Series games this fall.

TBS, which will be televising postseason baseball for the first time, also will have a Hall of Famer in the booth during games. Tony Gwynn, to be inducted into Cooperstown along with Ripken, will be the game analyst alongside play-by-play voice Chip Caray on the NLCS and on the No. 1 Division Series broadcast team.

Turner Sports executive producer Jeff Behnke said Gwynn will warm up for the postseason by serving as guest analyst with Caray on some TBS Braves telecasts, probably in September. Behnke said it hasn't been determined how many Braves games Gwynn will work.

TBS is in its final season of televising Braves games nationally and next year will debut an MLB-wide Sunday afternoon "game of the week" package. Ripken will serve as analyst on a still-being-formulated studio show in conjunction with that package. Gwynn could join play-by-play voice Caray in the booth on some of the Sunday games, but the former San Diego Padres star said his top priority is his job as San Diego State baseball coach.

Ripken, a two-time American League MVP who holds the major-league record of 2,632 consecutive games played, and Gwynn, an eight-time National League batting champion with a career .338 average, will make their TBS debuts on a July 1 All-Star Game selection show.

"Similar to what we've done with our NBA package over the years," Behnke said, "we wanted to have some signature voices, some familiar faces who are very respected in the game. We think we definitely have that with Cal and Tony."

TBS has rights to all Division Series games and one League Championship Series per year (alternating leagues) through 2013.

[ISiddiqui]

I just want TBS to broadcast (more? any?) games in High Def, dammit!

[Ksyrup]

The Phillies suck out loud.

I am officially disgustipated by their presence in the major leagues. I hate soccer and relegation in general, but if I had the power, I'd stick their sorry asses in a league with the Nationals and force them to play each other for an entire year.

[lordscarlet]

The Phillies suck out loud.

I am officially disgustipated by their presence in the major leagues. I hate soccer and relegation in general, but if I had the power, I'd stick their sorry asses in a league with the Nationals and force them to play each other for an entire year.

I think the Nationals (my team) would still struggle to lose few than 100 games. :)

[JonInMiddleGA]

http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/braves/stories/2007/04/09/0410hampton.html

Braves left-hander Mike Hampton will have surgery Tuesday morning for a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow, according to the Braves.
The decision was made today after Hampton met with Dr. Dave Altcheck in New York. Altcheck performed Hampton's "Tommy John" surgery in September 2005. Hampton is expected to be sidelined for six to nine months.

[JeeberD]

Lidge is out as closer...thank god!

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2830954

[mauchow]

Carpenter on DL

[Mr. Sparkle]

ARod will not accept a banning.

[miami_fan]

That home run by A-Rod doesn't count. The Yankees were already up by 5.

[MizzouRah]

Carpenter on DL

Yeah, that sucks.

[MizzouRah]

That home run by A-Rod doesn't count. The Yankees were already up by 5.

I am soooo glad he fell to me at #4 in the draft this year. :D

[Chief Rum]

But Barry was just breaking the rules. Really, not even that. Steroids were not banned.

(please read the sarcasm there, just said to prove a point)


lol...actually this is a really funny point in the context of our earlier discussion. Barry was cheating...and was NOT breaking any rules. :D

[lordscarlet]

lol...actually this is a really funny point in the context of our earlier discussion. Barry was cheating...and was NOT breaking any rules. :D

Hm. Maybe. But I would say he was doing neither within the context of Major League Baseball.

[Bearcat729]

And Josh Hamilton's first Major league hit is a 2 run HR tie the game in Arizona

[MrIllini]

And Josh Hamilton's first Major league hit is a 2 run HR tie the game in Arizona

it's too bad the Reds suck :P

[Brownkeg8]

And Josh Hamilton's first Major league hit is a 2 run HR tie the game in Arizona


He appears to have the John Daly appeal. A guy that has made mistakes but is well liked. So far he appears capable of producing

[larrymcg421]

Great start for the Braves so far, but there's still plenty to be worried about. Despite Davies strong performance, the 4-5 spot in the rotation is weak. Also, the situation at 1B and 2B is a disaster. Plus, we have no leadoff hitter.

[miami_fan]

Florida should have pulled the trigger on a deal for Benitez when the Giants were trying to give him away.

Julio does it again!:mad:

[dawgfan]

Potential awesome matchup today at Fenway as Felix Hernandez opposes Daisuke Matsuzaka.

[Ksyrup]

I meant to post that yesterday and forgot (the pitching matchup for tonight). Looking forward to it.

[Chief Rum]

Hm. Maybe. But I would say he was doing neither within the context of Major League Baseball.

Insofar as steroids weren't specifically banned, yes, that is true. But I am talking overall with respect to cheating. Using steroids is cheating, whether it's in the rules or not. It is on that basis I call Barry a cheater. And it is on the fact that steroids were not addressed in baseball's rulebook that I point out Barry was not a "rule breaker", which is quite true.

[Chief Rum]

Potential awesome matchup today at Fenway as Felix Hernandez opposes Daisuke Matsuzaka.

Wish I could watch that.

[Ksyrup]

You don't have ESPN?

[lordscarlet]

Insofar as steroids weren't specifically banned, yes, that is true. But I am talking overall with respect to cheating. Using steroids is cheating, whether it's in the rules or not. It is on that basis I call Barry a cheater. And it is on the fact that steroids were not addressed in baseball's rulebook that I point out Barry was not a "rule breaker", which is quite true.

But what he was doing is, or can be construed as, the same as taking vitamins. He was taking a substance that supplemented his diet and and improved his body composition. This substance was not banned by the league.

I am merely playing devil's advocate and pointing out that this whole "rule breaker" vs. "cheater" argument is stupid. It is bad to do either.

[Chief Rum]

You don't have ESPN?

I'll be at work.

[Chief Rum]

But what he was doing is, or can be construed as, the same as taking vitamins. He was taking a substance that supplemented his diet and and improved his body composition. This substance was not banned by the league.

I am merely playing devil's advocate and pointing out that this whole "rule breaker" vs. "cheater" argument is stupid. It is bad to do either.

Yeah, I see where you're coming from. I do disagree on the difference between cheater and rule breaker, though. While rule breakers run the gamut (from minor to major), cheating to me carries a connotation of being a more severe form of violation. It is an active attempt tp circumvent fair play. Rule breaking can be major, too, but the context I have used it in this thread is from the perspective that every single rule has to be followed (which is often near impossible) for you to not be a rule breaker. It's a question of grades. Speeding is a rule msot of us likely break every day. No one is going to call anyone a criminal based on speeding every day. Criminal is a form of word reserved for major crime generally, even though it can apply to every rule breaker. We have stronger words/terms for major rule breakers, so choosing to use the term "rule breaker", while in and of itself can refer to all rule breakers, is by its nature suggestive of a minor rule breaker.

And to me, cheater is on the level of "criminal", "major rule breaker", and so forth. So I don't equate the two--"cheater" and "rule breaker" on the same level as you do.

[Atocep]

But what he was doing is, or can be construed as, the same as taking vitamins. He was taking a substance that supplemented his diet and and improved his body composition. This substance was not banned by the league.


Steroids were banned from Major League Baseball in 1991 by Fay Vincent.

[Chief Rum]

Steroids were banned from Major League Baseball in 1991 by Fay Vincent.

Really? Well, lol, I guess Barry was a rule breaker, too. :)

[lordscarlet]

Steroids were banned from Major League Baseball in 1991 by Fay Vincent.

Not the form that Barry is accused (*coughdidcough*) of using.

[Atocep]

Not the form that Barry is accused (*coughdidcough*) of using.

In the most literal sense, no it wasn't banned. However, thats because it wasn't known to even exist. Had it been a known substance, it would been labled both illegal (or at the very least controlled) and thus banned under Fay Vincent's guildelines.

[lordscarlet]

In the most literal sense, no it wasn't banned. However, thats because it wasn't known to even exist. Had it been a known substance, it would been labled both illegal (or at the very least controlled) and thus banned under Fay Vincent's guildelines.

As a logical thinking human being, I agree.

As devil's advocate, I do not. :)

[dawgfan]

I meant to post that yesterday and forgot (the pitching matchup for tonight). Looking forward to it.
The game is living up to the hype so far. Felix now has 12 consecutive shutout innings to start his season, and Daisuke has only given up 1 run.

[dawgfan]

Dola - and of course, as soon as I post that the M's add on two more runs.

Not that I'm complaining...;)

[Crapshoot]

Seriously - stupid Pacific time means I'm still at work. Damn it!

[henry296]

If you can turn on the Red Sox-Mariners game. Felix Hernadez is pitching a gem.

[hoopsguy]

Was wondering if there was any conversation here about this ...

[DeToxRox]

If you can turn on the Red Sox-Mariners game. Felix Hernadez is pitching a gem.

Got that on and watching the Tigs/Os in a 0-0 game in the 7th. I love great pitching match ups, so this is awesome.

[henry296]

JD Drew with a clean single up the middle to break up the no-no.

[dawgfan]

Stay focused Felix - get us through the 8th and we can let Putz close it out next inning.

[dawgfan]

Looks like Felix is going to finish what he started. His pitch count is low enough that I'm not going to bitch about it.

[dawgfan]

The country just got to see what makes Felix so amazing - 17 groundball outs to only 4 fly outs, 6 K's to 2 walks and just the 1 hit and no runs.

[Terps]

Ugh, Sam Perlozzo needs to be fired. I DVR'ed the game since Loewen was pitching. Outstanding matchup between him and Verlander. He walked a little too many (4 in 5 innings), but he had the Tigers flailing at his pitches all night.

Anyway, onto why Perlozzo needs to be fired. Loewen goes 5 innings, and he decides to let all the bullpen guys pitch one inning. Parrish has filthy stuff, as evidenced by striking out the side in the 6th. Parrish also used to be a starter so he can throw more than one inning. Gone after the 6th. Bradford, Baez, Ray, Walker, and Williamson followed, all an inning each.

Walker, Parrish and Ray can all go more than one inning. So in the 12th it comes down to Kurt Birkins, who hasn't pitched yet for the O's this year, and gives up a grand slam. For one, he shouldn't be on the team to begin with. Brian Burres made the team out of spring training and got sent down before he even pitched in a game.

Not to mention the fact that Freddie Bynum is on the team while Jon Knott, Jason DuBois, and J.R. House rot in Ottawa. And while Payton and Hernandez are out the bench consists of Bynum, one of Paul Bako/Alberto Castillo, and Chris Gomez. Just awful roster management all together.

[Ksyrup]

Great night of ball all around.

[Ksyrup]

Strange/amazing story about Greinke's grandparents dying within hours of each other.


Greinke takes leave after deaths in family

By BOB DUTTON

The Kansas City Star


Zack Greinke left the club Wednesday morning to fly to Florida to attend the funerals of his maternal grandparents. His departure came just hours after he pitched six strong innings in Tuesday’s victory over the Blue Jays.

Greinke’s grandparents, Mary L. and John B. Wilkin, died within hours of each other last Thursday and Friday after coming to Kansas City to attend his start Thursday against Boston.

“He’s been walking around with a heavy heart, obviously,” Bell said. “It’s a tough thing, but it shows a little of his toughness as well — to be able to deal with what he’s had personally, and to do what he’s done professionally. That’s pretty awesome.”

The services are this afternoon in Orlando, Fla. Greinke is expected to rejoin the club Friday in Baltimore.

“I’m doing OK,” he said. “I’m worried about my mother, but she seems to be doing a little better than she was a few days ago.”

[DeToxRox]

Ugh, Sam Perlozzo needs to be fired. I DVR'ed the game since Loewen was pitching. Outstanding matchup between him and Verlander. He walked a little too many (4 in 5 innings), but he had the Tigers flailing at his pitches all night.

Anyway, onto why Perlozzo needs to be fired. Loewen goes 5 innings, and he decides to let all the bullpen guys pitch one inning. Parrish has filthy stuff, as evidenced by striking out the side in the 6th. Parrish also used to be a starter so he can throw more than one inning. Gone after the 6th. Bradford, Baez, Ray, Walker, and Williamson followed, all an inning each.

Walker, Parrish and Ray can all go more than one inning. So in the 12th it comes down to Kurt Birkins, who hasn't pitched yet for the O's this year, and gives up a grand slam. For one, he shouldn't be on the team to begin with. Brian Burres made the team out of spring training and got sent down before he even pitched in a game.

Not to mention the fact that Freddie Bynum is on the team while Jon Knott, Jason DuBois, and J.R. House rot in Ottawa. And while Payton and Hernandez are out the bench consists of Bynum, one of Paul Bako/Alberto Castillo, and Chris Gomez. Just awful roster management all together.

As a Tigs fan I thoroughly enjoyed last nights game but I couldn't begin to speculate why he used 8 pitchers in a 12 inning 0-0 game for the life of me.

Also - -Corey Patterson is the worst player in baseball. Watching this series it amazes me how someone so talented can not understand the game. Like in Tuesdays game, all tied up, runner on second with no outs, he pops up first pitch swinging. That is on the coaches for probably not giving him the sign but he needs to be aware that it's fundamental ball. There are other examples but that's most glaring.

[sterlingice]

Strange/amazing story about Greinke's grandparents dying within hours of each other.

My wife and I were talking about this last night. Not for the family (in this case, Greinke, for instance), certainly, but for the two individuals- that's the way to go. We both agreed that going within hours of each other, after being together for 50+ years would actually be preferrable to one person living a lot longer after having the biggest part of their life gone.

SI

[Terps]

As a Tigs fan I thoroughly enjoyed last nights game but I couldn't begin to speculate why he used 8 pitchers in a 12 inning 0-0 game for the life of me.

Also - -Corey Patterson is the worst player in baseball. Watching this series it amazes me how someone so talented can not understand the game. Like in Tuesdays game, all tied up, runner on second with no outs, he pops up first pitch swinging. That is on the coaches for probably not giving him the sign but he needs to be aware that it's fundamental ball. There are other examples but that's most glaring.

Patterson will be gone after this season hopefully. I'm hoping at the trade deadline they move him for something, I don't care what. He's a FA, and a Boras client, so he's gone likely. But, yeah, he swings at everything. Once he strings together some homers that becomes apparent too, because then that's all he tries to do. His speed is valuable, but I could do without him.

Also, I just noticed that I put those guys are rotting in Ottawa, still used to typing that. My mistake, they're rotting in Norfolk.

[Ksyrup]

Speaking of a great talent/athlete who doesn't appear to get the game...did anyone see the double whammy boneheaded running mistakes Carl Crawford made last night in the 9th inning? Tie game, man on 1st, he hits a b all down the line in RF. The 3B coach holds the runner at third, except Crawford apparently doesn't bother to look ahead and just keeps going through 2B. I know what he was thinking - I'm so fast I can get a triple out of this. And he probably could have, except there was, uh, somebody already occupying third.

So once he makes his way to third, the guy on third does the only thing he can - he takes off for home to make sure the faster guy is at least left at 3B, and who knows, maybe they'll botch the play and the Rays will get a cheap run out of it. But no, not only do they tag him out easily between 3B and home, but then Crawford inexplicably starts jogging back to 2B during the rundown, and is easily thrown out at 2B for the double play. Instead of second and third, no one out, they've got no none on and 2 out. End of inning. Bottom of the 9th, Morneau hits a HR over Crawford's head, and it looks like Crawford had a shot at it, but it would have been difficult. But damn, I haven't seen baserunning that bad since my daughter's last T-ball season.

[MizzouRah]

Speaking of a great talent/athlete who doesn't appear to get the game...did anyone see the double whammy boneheaded running mistakes Carl Crawford made last night in the 9th inning? Tie game, man on 1st, he hits a b all down the line in RF. The 3B coach holds the runner at third, except Crawford apparently doesn't bother to look ahead and just keeps going through 2B. I know what he was thinking - I'm so fast I can get a triple out of this. And he probably could have, except there was, uh, somebody already occupying third.

So once he makes his way to third, the guy on third does the only thing he can - he takes off for home to make sure the faster guy is at least left at 3B, and who knows, maybe they'll botch the play and the Rays will get a cheap run out of it. But no, not only do they tag him out easily between 3B and home, but then Crawford inexplicably starts jogging back to 2B during the rundown, and is easily thrown out at 2B for the double play. Instead of second and third, no one out, they've got no none on and 2 out. End of inning. Bottom of the 9th, Morneau hits a HR over Crawford's head, and it looks like Crawford had a shot at it, but it would have been difficult. But damn, I haven't seen baserunning that bad since my daughter's last T-ball season.

I thought you hated baseball? Get out of this thread! :p

[Pumpy Tudors]

... Corey Patterson is the worst player in baseball.
Christian Guzman says thank you.

[Atocep]

Alfonso Soriano has looked like the player everyone thought he was before he went to the Nationals.

[Chief Rum]

Not that it's Dice-K versus Felix, but it looks like Dice-K will match up with Jered Weaver on Monday in another must see game. Apparently Dice-K can't miss going up against the best young pitchers in the game. I assume he starts against Verlander after that.

[billethius]

Not that it's Dice-K versus Felix, but it looks like Dice-K will match up with Jered Weaver on Monday in another must see game. Apparently Dice-K can't miss going up against the best young pitchers in the game. I assume he starts against Verlander after that.

Weaver had a nice year last year, but I'm not terribly impressed with him. His flyball rate was super high last year and the number of those that went for homeruns was awfully low. I'm pretty sure most studies show HR/Flyball is fairly consistent for all pitchers across the league, so I'd expect Weaver to not get quite so lucky this season.

[Chief Rum]

Weaver had a nice year last year, but I'm not terribly impressed with him. His flyball rate was super high last year and the number of those that went for homeruns was awfully low. I'm pretty sure most studies show HR/Flyball is fairly consistent for all pitchers across the league, so I'd expect Weaver to not get quite so lucky this season.

Yup, the local sabermetric society here at FOFC made much the same predictions of doom and gloom last year about him. It has yet to pan out, going back to all levels of play on record he has been playing at.

[Atocep]

Weaver had a nice year last year, but I'm not terribly impressed with him. His flyball rate was super high last year and the number of those that went for homeruns was awfully low. I'm pretty sure most studies show HR/Flyball is fairly consistent for all pitchers across the league, so I'd expect Weaver to not get quite so lucky this season.


He gave up 15 homers in 123IP, that sounds about right. Maybe a little low, but not enough to make a huge difference.

Scouts were actually much more down on him as a major leaguer than the "sabermetric society" (not talking about FOFC, I have no idea what was written about him last year), in general. Where Weaver was lucky last year was in balls in play. He had a .239 BABIP so at the very least you can expect him to regress to the mean this year, if not go over it a bit. He still projects as a pretty damn good pitcher, though. He'll be fine, but he just won't be as good as he was last year.

[dawgfan]

Weaver had a nice year last year, but I'm not terribly impressed with him. His flyball rate was super high last year and the number of those that went for homeruns was awfully low. I'm pretty sure most studies show HR/Flyball is fairly consistent for all pitchers across the league, so I'd expect Weaver to not get quite so lucky this season.
By the end of last season Weaver's home runs allowed per flyball rate had roughly normalized. The more unusual numbers were his batting average on balls in play allowed and runners left on base percentage.

As we know from DIPS theory and studies, major league level pitchers have very little to no control over the number of balls in play that go for hits against them - this is primarily controlled by your defense, and to a lesser extent the ballpark and luck. Last year Weaver allowed just a .236 batting average on balls in play, compared to the normal rate of .270+.

Additionally, his LOB% (the percentage of runners allowed that don't score) was a phenomenal 86.2%. Consider that just about every other pitcher last year with close a full season's worth of innings had rates between about 67% and 77%, and it seems highly likely that Weaver was rather fortunate last year and probably shouldn't be expected to be quite that effective at stranding base runners this year.

Now, that's not to say Weaver can't or won't be a good starting pitcher this year, just that the evidence suggests he benefited from quite a bit of luck last year.

[Ksyrup]

Alfonso Soriano has looked like the player everyone thought he was before he went to the Nationals.

Now if only Brad Wilkerson would start to look like even half the player I thought he'd be...

[billethius]

By the end of last season Weaver's home runs allowed per flyball rate had roughly normalized. The more unusual numbers were his batting average on balls in play allowed and runners left on base percentage.

As we know from DIPS theory and studies, major league level pitchers have very little to no control over the number of balls in play that go for hits against them - this is primarily controlled by your defense, and to a lesser extent the ballpark and luck. Last year Weaver allowed just a .236 batting average on balls in play, compared to the normal rate of .270+.

Additionally, his LOB% (the percentage of runners allowed that don't score) was a phenomenal 86.2%. Consider that just about every other pitcher last year with close a full season's worth of innings had rates between about 67% and 77%, and it seems highly likely that Weaver was rather fortunate last year and probably shouldn't be expected to be quite that effective at stranding base runners this year.

Now, that's not to say Weaver can't or won't be a good starting pitcher this year, just that the evidence suggests he benefited from quite a bit of luck last year.

Yeah, the LOB% is huge. Take a look at Jarrod Washburn's last two years. Everything was pretty much identical except for his LOB, and his ERA rose by over a run.

Still, I wasn't saying Weaver isn't a valuable pitcher. He's probably above average with a deceptive delivery, which makes him a nice piece to a team. I just wouldn't expect him to be challenging for any Cy Young awards anytime soon.

[dawgfan]

Yeah, the LOB% is huge. Take a look at Jarrod Washburn's last two years. Everything was pretty much identical except for his LOB, and his ERA rose by over a run.

Still, I wasn't saying Weaver isn't a valuable pitcher. He's probably above average with a deceptive delivery, which makes him a nice piece to a team. I just wouldn't expect him to be challenging for any Cy Young awards anytime soon.
Agreed. If he can keep up his strikeout rate and his strikeout to walk ratio, he can be pretty successful even with the extreme flyball rate, but I have my doubts that he'll be joining the ranks of Santana and Halladay (and perhaps King Felix) as elite AL starters.

[Fouts]

Great outing for Russ Ortiz today. Bochy almost pulled him before Duffy's at bat (118 pitches), but he left him in to get the CG and Duffy took him deep. Still good to see the old Russ throwing for the Giants.

[kingfc22]

Giants scored runs. Yay!

[JeeberD]

Oh my goodness, the Astros created some offense! Carlos Lee with three jacks, woohoo!!!

[Crapshoot]

Giants scored runs. Yay!

I'm preserving this, because I get the feeling we're going to be able to bump this about 3 times this season. :D

[rowech]

Oh my goodness, the Astros created some offense! Carlos Lee with three jacks, woohoo!!!

I drafted Lee and Berkman this year in fantasy baseball and man had I been disappointned until last night. What's going on with Berkman though?

[JeeberD]

Berk will get his, don't you worry...

[rowech]

Berk will get his, don't you worry...

I'm holding you to that. So far my stars haven't been playing up to par. He, Harang, and Webb just haven't been producing too well.

[MizzouRah]

Oh my goodness, the Astros created some offense! Carlos Lee with three jacks, woohoo!!!

Was this on the road or that little league park in Houston? :p

[cartman]

The Nationals are look good in preseason.

[JeeberD]

Was this on the road or that little league park in Houston? :p

On the road, punk... :mad:

[MizzouRah]

On the road, punk... :mad:

:D

[Ksyrup]

It's funny how we all thought the Dodgers got a steal when they signed Jason Schmidt. Instead, we should have been wondering if the Giants knew something and were staying away from him. From Olney's blog:


• A scout who watched Jason Schmidt the other night: "He had nothing on the ball early. Eighty-one, 82 miles per hour. He kind of loosened up and got up to 85-86, but he really had nothing. I wouldn't be surprised if he wound up on the disabled list."

Said another talent evaluator: "You don't go from throwing 94-95 mph to 84-85 without having some kind of an issue."

[Atocep]

It's funny how we all thought the Dodgers got a steal when they signed Jason Schmidt. Instead, we should have been wondering if the Giants knew something and were staying away from him. From Olney's blog:


The same person that warned them about Schmidt should have also told them that Zito is nowhere near the same pitcher he used to be also. ;)

[Ksyrup]

No kidding. Although in their defense, maybe they thought they'd get a couple of decent years out of Zito (specifically, one very good one to coincide with what is probably Barry's last very good season), whereas with Schmidt, they had serious concerns whether he'd be able to contribute anything starting in 2007.

Nah, I can't defend the Zito signing. I understand it, but I can't defend it.

[dawgfan]

Nah, I can't defend the Zito signing. I understand it, but I can't defend it.
Thankfully Sabean saved Bill Bavasi from a horrible signing of Zito. And I guess maybe we can thank Colletti for saving us from Schmidt as it sounds like he's damaged goods.

[DeToxRox]

Jesus.

Zack Grenkie just threw 50 pitches in the first inning of the Tigers/Royals game and only recorded two outs for his troubles.

[Terps]

The O's just made THREE errors on the same play.

[Easy Mac]

Jesus.

Zack Grenkie just threw 50 pitches in the first inning of the Tigers/Royals game and only recorded two outs for his troubles.

He was anxious

p.s. i can make this joke as a sufferer of panic disorder. you normal people better not make this joke.

[Terps]

Now Millar just got screwed out of what should've at least been a ground rule double. He hit the rafters in fair territory, and after they said it was a double, then a HR, they decide it's a foul ball somehow.

[Atocep]

I subscribed to MLB.tv and I've had a chance to watch most teams already this year. One thing has really stuck out.

Josh Hamilton is a wonderful story and a guy I'm definitely pulling for, but I can't help but wonder what might have been. This is a guy that was considered one of the best high school hitting prospects ever. On the same level as Griffey Jr. and A-Rod.

His patience at the plate is stunning for a guy that hasn't played hardly any baseball in 4 years and had limited ABs above high A ball. The fact that this guy could still very well develop into an all-star is amazing.

I also hate Steve Philips even more for the shots he takes at the Reds for putting him on the Major League roster (he was a rule 5 pick, they didn't have much choice). As one of the worst GMs in the past 20 years, he should be thankful he still has a job in baseball and stop spreading his idiocy over the airwaves.

[Logan]

As one of the worst GMs in the past 20 years, he should be thankful he still has a job in baseball and stop spreading his idiocy over the airwaves.

Come on, have some fairness. He may have sucked as a GM, but he ROCKED as a sexual harasser!

[ISiddiqui]

It may be damning with faint praise, but Phillips was 100 times better than Jim Duquette!

[Easy Mac]

I don't want anyone to freak out, but Jeff Francouer is on pace for 75 walks.

[Ksyrup]

I don't want anyone to freak out, but Jeff Francouer is on pace for 75 walks.

His career depends on it.

[miami_fan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2841584

As baseball season began, the Philadelphia Phillies were being eyed as a contender in the National League East. In fact, outspoken shortstop Jimmy Rollins said the Phillies were the team to beat.

But the Phillies have stumbled out of the gate to a 3-9 start -- trailing the Washington Nationals in the NL East. And the losing may already be taking its toll.


After the Phillies were drubbed 8-1 by the New York Mets on Tuesday night, manager Charlie Manuel blew his top in his office, letting loose with a profane tirade and challenging WIP-AM talk show host Howard Eskin, a longtime critic of Manuel, to a fight. Later, in the team clubhouse, he had to be restrained from going after Eskin by two Phillies coaches.


In an interview on ESPN2's Cold Pizza, Eskin acknowledged he doesn't think Manuel is a good manager, but says his opinion is based on Manuel's game management and isn't personal.

"His problem shouldn't be with me, it should be with the players that are ultimately going to get him fired," Eskin said.


The blow-up started during the postgame news conference when Eskin suggested that Manuel throw a clubhouse tirade to shake up his stumbling team.


"I do at times, but it's a timely thing," Manuel said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "We're still hustling. We're still playing hard. We might be trying to do too much. For me to go in there and stand up and throw a fit, I can go in there and tear the whole ... locker room up. I could come here and throw every ... chair in here out. What the hell? I don't see how that's going to do me any good."


"I think they see me angry more than you think they do. I think you probably don't see me angry. I can show you I can get angry, if you want to," Manuel told Eskin. "Why don't you drop by my office? I'll be waiting on you. I'll be waiting on you. I'll walk down there right now."

The exchange between Manuel and Eskin continued in Manuel's office and the Phillies' clubhouse, where Manuel had to be held back by coaches Milt Thompson and Mick Billmeyer.

Eskin said when he got to Manuel's office, the manager was waiting for him with a challenge.

"I don't like what you've been saying about me for three years and I'm gonna drop your ass right there," Eskin quoted Manuel as saying.

Eskin said he told Manuel he should be angry at his players, not him -- and that it's not fun coming to games and seeing the Phillies lose.

"We're going to win!" Manuel replied.


The Phillies were listless on Tuesday night, despite starting pitcher Freddy Garcia making his debut after opening the season on the disabled list. Philadelphia stranded 12 baserunners, and in the sixth inning, members of the team had to be waved off the field despite recording three outs. The bullpen allowed the Mets five runs in 4 1/3 innings.

The Phillies' problems? Their best hitters aren't hitting and the team is batting .200 with runners in scoring position. The pitching staff is last in the National League with a 5.38 ERA and a .279 opposing batting average, and the bullpen is 0-3 with a collective 4.42 ERA.



The Phils are sporting their worst start since 1997, when that team stumbled to a 3-10 record and finished 68-94. It's a continuation of a maddening trend for the Phillies, who haven't posted a winning April record since 2003.


"We're a lot better than that," center fielder Aaron Rowand said, according to the Philadelpihia Daily News. "We're going to win a lot more games than that [1997 team], I guarantee you."


As for the the team's famously caustic fans? They mounted an "E-A-G-L-E-S, Eagles!" chant in the seventh inning, choosing to praise the city's successful NFL team rather than bury its baseball team.


I wish this would have been caught on tape. Hal McRae might have had some competition.:D

[Young Drachma]

Gord Ash was a worse GM than anyone you're talking about.

[Ksyrup]

I hope Manuel gets fired. I never liked the hiring in the first place. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy who has control over a clubhouse or who does the little things to get to know what makes his players tick.

[Ksyrup]

Did I miss it, or was there no discussion of the pizza-throwing incident at the Red Sox game? Jerry Remy is awesome! "The gentleman has been asked to leave the game for ruining a perfectly good piece of pizza."

If you haven't seen it, here it is:

hxxp://youtube.com/watch?v=oOZm8gUdr-Y

On a foul ball down the left field line, dude gets soaked when Garret Anderson's glove clocks his beer as he attempts to catch the ball. But for some reason, and you can see it on the initial play if you're looking for it, some other dude hurls a piece of pizza at the guy, hitting him in the side of the face. It's sucks for the guy who got beer AND pizza all over him, but it's so absurd it's funny.

[Ksyrup]

An xcerpt from an article dissecting the incident:


Drew lofted a foul toward Box 82, which juts into left field foul territory. Sole stretched for the ball as the Angels’ Garret Anderson reached the stands. They collided, spilling beer everywhere, and the ball bounced away.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> As if the slo-mo spill and requisite grimacing weren’t enough, a large slice of cheese pizza then arced perfectly through the crowd, hitting Sole’s shoulder and face. Once he realized what hit him, he went ballistic while girlfriend Anya Ho, 29, tried to wipe off his face.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> A few rows away, Madore and buddy Danny Kelly beamed. It turns out Sole had given them grief about having a large pizza in the stands just moments before the at-bat. He wanted to know where they got it.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> “He turned around and said something like, ‘Your mother,’ ” Sole said.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> “No,” interjected Ho. “He said, ‘The pizzeria.’ ”
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> Either way, all parties were annoyed.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=8><SPACER width="8" height="8" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> “They had been giving us (expletive) about it,” Madore said. “Next thing I know, there’s a fly ball to left field and it goes foul and my buddy says, ‘You want some pizza now?’ And he hits him right in the face. Hey, the guy wasn’t paying attention. When you’re in the stands you’ve got to be ready for anything - a foul ball, a flying slice of pizza, everything.”

[Lathum]

Thats awesome.

I never knew pizza was so aerodynamic

[Atocep]

For those that have never read or heard of firejoemorgan.com, I'm gonna toss it out there because its one of my favorite websites. Its not your typical firexxxxx.com, its a blog that points out how bad sports jounalism can be, although Joe Morgan is their favorite target.

hxxp://www.firejoemorgan.com/

The link below is probably my all-time favorite Colin Cowherd showing how stupid he really is moment. Its definitely recommended reading.

hxxp://www.firejoemorgan.com/2006/01/12-minutes-of-hell-with-colin-cowherd.html

[Fouts]

For those that have never read or heard of firejoemorgan.com, I'm gonna toss it out there because its one of my favorite websites. Its not your typical firexxxxx.com, its a blog that points out how bad sports jounalism can be, although Joe Morgan is their favorite target.

hxxp://www.firejoemorgan.com/

The link below is probably my all-time favorite Colin Cowherd showing how stupid he really is moment. Its definitely recommended reading.

hxxp://www.firejoemorgan.com/2006/01/12-minutes-of-hell-with-colin-cowherd.html

I don't get it. That was akin to reading some ahole dissecting an idiot's message board post. If I want to do that I could do it here. I have never heard of Cowherd, but it seems like he is trying to drum up some conversation.

I will admit I am not a big fan of critics.

[Travis]

I don't get it. That was akin to reading some ahole dissecting an idiot's message board post. If I want to do that I could do it here. I have never heard of Cowherd, but it seems like he is trying to drum up some conversation.

I will admit I am not a big fan of critics.

I'm not either, but this guy nails CC dead on. I was listening to ESPN online rather than the music station they pipe in here at work and eventually would turn it off during his time because of his idiocy. I was pretty much in agreement with 95% of the dissection and I would imagine it was the build up of listening to CC more than once that led up to the eventual blow up that resulted in that post.

[SirFozzie]

Think the Phillies slow start is getting to them?

Manager Charlie Manuel's frustration was evident after the game. The normally mild-mannered manager challenged a radio talk-show host to a fight. Manuel had to be restrained by hitting coach Milt Thompson at one point.

[miami_fan]

Brett Myers is now the second closer for the Phils.

[DanGarion]

Brett Myers is now the second closer for the Phils.

I read he's just a setup man. Where did you see he's the closer? Or is this the intention on this move?

[miami_fan]

I read he's just a setup man. Where did you see he's the closer? Or is this the intention on this move?

The article I read said he would the closer when Tom Gordon was not available.

[miami_fan]

Either way that is a stiff drop for the "ace" of your staff.

[ISiddiqui]

I'm not either, but this guy nails CC dead on. I was listening to ESPN online rather than the music station they pipe in here at work and eventually would turn it off during his time because of his idiocy. I was pretty much in agreement with 95% of the dissection and I would imagine it was the build up of listening to CC more than once that led up to the eventual blow up that resulted in that post.

Yep... Colin Cowherd gets completely destroyed. He really is that much of an idiot, yet has a show on ESPN radio... it's insane.

[Atocep]

Zambrano is injured. Not officially yet, but he's throwing 91-92 and has dropped down to 3/4 on several pitches. He should have signed that contract before the season started because he won't make it through this season.

Another Dusty Baker casualty. Thats 3 young pitchers he's ruined.

[hoopsguy]

Wow, no one watching White Sox game?

[hoopsguy]

And the no-no is complete for Buehrle. 1 walk, Sosa in 5th, followed immediately by a pick-off.

I have a friend who passed up great seats for tonights game because he went last night. He'll hear about this for awhile ...

[henry296]

Luckily I caugth the last out since the Brewers announcers mentioned it and I flipped over.

[dawgfan]

For all that is holy, I'm hoping Felix's injury isn't anything arm-related.

[molson]

Yep... Colin Cowherd gets completely destroyed. He really is that much of an idiot, yet has a show on ESPN radio... it's insane.

I've never heard anyone more repetitive in any medium, or in my own life. He literally comes up with a point to make, and then repeats 3 sentences for 5 straight minutes. It's almost fascinating.

[Young Drachma]

No-hitters are one of the many things that makes baseball great and in my mind, better than almost anything.

Fernando Vina on Baseball Tonight doesn't seem too bad.

[Young Drachma]

Think the Phillies slow start is getting to them?

Manager Charlie Manuel's frustration was evident after the game. The normally mild-mannered manager challenged a radio talk-show host to a fight. Manuel had to be restrained by hitting coach Milt Thompson at one point.

I just listened to that whole debacle on ESPN just now. I think that radio guy was just trying to push Charlie's buttons.

[Atocep]

I've never heard anyone more repetitive in any medium, or in my own life. He literally comes up with a point to make, and then repeats 3 sentences for 5 straight minutes. It's almost fascinating.

If he thinks he said something clever or funny you'll hear it in just about every other sentence the rest of the show and a lot of times he'll carry it on through several shows.

There's no real discussion on the show. He'll bring up a topic and if anyone calls in that disagrees with his view he'll either repeatedly interupt them or just drop the call and go off for a few minutes on why his view is right and everyone else's is wrong.

He's also been known to steal stuff off of message boards and passes it off as his own material. He's so uncreative he'll actually read it word for word.

Anyways, I love the firejoemorgan blog. Its nice to see someone at least attempt to hold poor sports journalists accountable for spewing out garbage, relying on cliches throughout their writing, or just simply making up stats to support their point.

[dawgfan]

For all that is holy, I'm hoping Felix's injury isn't anything arm-related.
Fuck me - elbow tightness. Are the baseball gods really so cruel as to strike Felix down so early in his career, just as it seems he's ready to fulfill the enormous expectations heaped upon him? Has the Mariner's pitcher prospect injury curse struck yet again?

[Easy Mac]

Isn't that the first no-no in 2 or 3 years?

[Atocep]

Fuck me - elbow tightness. Are the baseball gods really so cruel as to strike Felix down so early in his career, just as it seems he's ready to fulfill the enormous expectations heaped upon him? Has the Mariner's pitcher prospect injury curse struck yet again?

I drafted Felix to be my #2 pitcher in my fantasy league and was ripped by a couple of people for not going with safer picks such as Sabathia or Bonderman. Well, I looked like a genius his first two starts and had contemplated trading him thinking that his value wouldn't get any higher. I decided not to....