heading to ATL for the game, which means it will be rained out…hope you guys enjoy the friend’s re-runs and bloopers tonight.
Brian J.
on July 13, 2007 at 2:08 pm
With the attention being given the Phillies’ upcoming 10,000th loss, did you know that the Braves will probably win their 10,000th game next year? They’re currently at 9884 if you count the record of National Association’s Boston Red Stockings, which moved into the new National League in 1876.
Smitty, sending the Vols to a National Championship game eh? That is a bit of wishful thinking, but good luck.
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Fantasy question, my team is loaded with pitchers. I have Smoltz, Young, Oswalt, Blanton, Escobar, Lowry, Dave Bush, Randy Johnson, Chris Carpenter, and Pedro Martinez.
I have 1st base options of Kotchman, Looney, and Jacobs. I need to make room for Carpenter and Martinez to come off the DL. Would you trade Johnson and Bush for Howie Kendrick and then drop two of Kotchman, Jacobs, and Looner?
Hate King
on July 13, 2007 at 2:43 pm
I bet Gonzalez strikes out Laroche tonight, oh, wait… Seriously, who thinks Laroche has a good series?
With Smoltz out, Hudson needs to step it up tonight.
csg, I also have Carpenter and Pedro on my DL. I don’t have any advice, other than to say I have a great deal more faith in Carpenter’s successful return this season than Pedro’s. I wouldn’t clear out a roster spot for him yet.
Hate King
on July 13, 2007 at 2:47 pm
I just traded for Kendrick in a league of mine. I gave up brain roberts and david weathers for howie kendrick and billy wagner. I think Kendrick will have a good second half. I advocate trading for Kendrick, but he’s much better in your second base slot than first base.
Hate King
on July 13, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Didn’t pedro have some obsecure surgery where they drilled 17 holes into his shoulder? Sounds gross and painful. I’m not buying into Pedro being effective this year at all.
beedee
on July 13, 2007 at 2:52 pm
@1
or maybe not. nothing like having your parked car hit buy a cop, after he blew through a 3 way stop, coming the wrong way down a one way street…so there goes $70 worth of tickets (oh and my car). i wonder how this is gonna shake out?
I completely agree. The Mets are fooling themselves if they think Pedro’s going to help them in any way. Even if he pitches and doesn’t go down again, he won’t be nearly as effective.
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 2:56 pm
well my 2nd base options are Polanco, KJ, Brendan harris, and Sanchez
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 2:57 pm
one more question, im in a 3 player keeper league.
My choices for keepers are Smoltz, Young, Carpenter, Ichiro, Arod, and Oswalt. Who would be your 3
Im leaning Ichiro, Arod, and Young
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 3:00 pm
Also, I dont like Arod. If he sticks it to the Yankees, and I think he might, I would like him more
I’d go for Ichiro, A-Rod, and Oswalt. Chris Young is a fantastic pitcher in a great pitchers’ park, but he’s pitching out of his mind and above his talent right now. Oswalt will always, always be good.
Everyone is calling what A-Rod is doing a ‘money grab’ and maybe to a certain extent, but I think this is much more about A-Rod wanting out of New York and how the Yankee organization has always favored Jeter more, even though A-Rod is the far superior talent (and better SS).
braves14
on July 13, 2007 at 3:09 pm
I feel fairiy optimistic about Hudson going into the last 2.5 months. His FIP ERA is 3.11. Hopefully the strikeouts will pick up.
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 3:25 pm
AAR, good point. Carpenter is hard to not keep in the league also. He’s had some injuries however
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Im also guessing that we keep all 13 pitchers while our rotation consist of Hudson, James, Carlyle, Davies, and Reyes. That looks worse on paper than I thought. We need another pitcher
Before the yanks signed damon, I thought they should move Jeter to CF and move A rod to SS, and then bring up their stud 3b prospect Duncan, but Duncan never panned out so I guess they were smart, but that would have a way to cut payroll and bring up a younger player. A rod is definitely the better SS and I can’t wait for him to leave NY. Who would the Yanks target at third?
Dix
on July 13, 2007 at 3:55 pm
No one’s going to take Randy Johnson off your hands. He’s too damaged goods with no real upside at all for this season. He won’t pitch again until August and instead of 5 days rest between starts, his back needs 5 weeks.
On an unrelated note, but something that I’ve heard for the first time in my life, and I want to know if any of you guys know about it:
“I have to find the gameday recap but I believe several years ago a reporter commented on a game in which Maddux pitched against the Padres. Maddux struck out to end the inning and with his batting gloves on asked for the ball from the ump. The ump obliged and of course Maddux’s gloves were loaded with pine tar. The first couple of pitches of the inning got the benefit of a little foriegn substance.
As for cutting the ball I believe those stories have been told for years now. Usually his backup catcher would have a sharpened shin guard or something to that effect.”
Do any of you guys know what he’s talking about? I seem to be sheltered or have a bad memory, otherwise, I would have heard this.
This is the only article I could find that even remotely talks about the subject, and even Buerhle says he’s going on rumors and doesn’t directly name Maddux. I don’t know where the hell he’s getting the stories about Perez scuffing the ball.
Maddux is a truly fierce competitor, one who by all accounts would do nearly anything to win. I doubt he’d have much compunction about engaging in a little sign-stealing from time to time, and it might not even be beyond him to scuff the ball, though he might not have wanted to because it would actually take away from his own ability to control it.
Still, they’re pretty heady unsourced charges to make, and I’d prefer someone offer some sort of evidence. I’m not saying Maddux is so spiritually pure that he’d never bend the rules, just that it doesn’t seem like him to want to have less control over the baseball.
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 4:55 pm
mlb rumors on Teixiera
In the Braves’ case, though, there would truly be nowhere for Jarrod Saltalamacchia to play if he wasn’t included in the deal. The Braves are in an odd place, with two excellent young starting catchers on the roster. Atlanta’s strongest need right now is starting pitching, however. The Baseball Opinion connects the dots and finds a Javier Vazquez acquisition possible.
I know, that’s not logical. That’s why this didn’t smell right, and I want to know what made him make these accusations in the first place.
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Salty and Reyes for Vasquez – no
Escobar and Harrison – yes
braves14
on July 13, 2007 at 5:01 pm
I imagine Matt Morris from the Giants is as good as gone from San Francisco. And they don’t need young pitching with Cain, Lincecum, and Lowry. They need position players. It makes too much sense.
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 5:02 pm
from Fox Sports
Braves
Brayan Pena (ATL – C)
News: Pena went 2-for-4 with a double Thursday, raising his average to .328.
Impact: He’s hitting .417 over his last 11 games and hit .382/.519/.900 in June. The Braves have a crowded depth chart at catcher, so something could happen at trade time involving Pena, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, or Brian McCann. However, the latter two are playing hurt, so Pena will probably be kept as insurance for now. (RotoWire – Thu. Jul 12, 2007 )
I bet Pena, Escobar, and Harrison/Reyes would be okay to give up for Vasquez
Stu
on July 13, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I bet you’re right. I wish Kenny Williams would agree.
Brayan Pena has been playing some first base down in Richmond too, though. 🙂
ryan c
on July 13, 2007 at 5:11 pm
lineup is up already
harris
renteria
chip
druw
mccann
francoeur
johnson
thorman
hudson
braves14
on July 13, 2007 at 5:11 pm
Vasquez allows too many homers to give up Salty, and he’s aging. I think our best bet is Morris, since we probably wouldn’t have to give up anything other than a young position player (Escobar? Brandon Jones?)
csg
on July 13, 2007 at 5:15 pm
we can give up middle infield prospects, i say we probably need Brandon Jones to stay around for a while. So when did Pena become a full utility player.
more thorman, he’s like woodward, when will it end
This Vazquez stuff — I’m just not into it. He’s just another pitcher at the height of his earning power but whose production has already begun to ebb. Hampton, Hudson, Ortiz, Thomson, Byrd — these guys have ranged from minor disappointment to outright disaster. There’s no upside left to Javier Vazquez — he might be good enough to help us limp into the postseason once, I suppose.
Stu
on July 13, 2007 at 5:33 pm
He’s a strikeout pitcher with not-bad ERA numbers, who’d be moving to a worse hitting league. He’d instantly be our 3rd starter, maybe our second-best. If you can trade guys with no real future on this team for that, I don’t know why you wouldn’t do it.
I would. The Braves need a serviceable starter. He doesn’t have to blow everyone away all the time, they just have to keep the Braves in games. I think Vazquez or Morris can handle that job.
If anyone cares, I called out this guy on Baseball Fever to pony up some sources. I Googled “Greg Maddux pine tar” and “Eddie Perez shin guards” and guess what shows up #2 each time? The thread with this guy’s accusation in it.
I’ll let you guys know how it turns out if you want.
Stu
on July 13, 2007 at 6:02 pm
Ledezma’s on the restricted list (blurred vision and can’t get out of Venezuela, apparently…wow…).
Ascanio called up to add bullpen depth.
Robert
on July 13, 2007 at 6:04 pm
He’s just another pitcher at the height of his earning power but whose production has already begun to ebb. Hampton, Hudson, Ortiz, Thomson, Byrd — these guys have ranged from minor disappointment to outright disaster.
Russ Ortiz
2003: 21-7, 212 IP, 109 ERA+
2004: 15-9, 205 IP, 104 ERA+
Cost: $10.8 million total
I’m not sure how that can be qualified as a disappointment since he pretty much repeated what he did in 2002 at a reasonable cost. Now what he did with the D-Backs…there is some disappointment.
Stu
on July 13, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Oops, read the release wrong. It’s “visa troubles,” not “vision troubles,” that Ledezma is having issues with. Still very strange.
He wasn’t any great shakes in ’05 for the D’Backs. I’m as impressed by good strikeout and K/BB numbers as anyone, and people have pointed to that for years in saying Vazquez is about to bust out, but it hasn’t really happened since ’03. Now he’s 30 with three straight mediocre years under his belt and he’s making $11.5 million for the next four years.
I concede that the trade would enhance our chances at the postseason this year — I just don’t think he’s worth it in the long run. Not for a package including either Escobar or Salty.
Actually, I’ll tell you what I might do — trade Edgar for him straight-up. I don’t expect that to be a popular sentiment….
Stu
on July 13, 2007 at 6:13 pm
I was thinking the same thing in regards to Renteria, sansho1.
I’d not hesitate to include Escobar.
I’d never to it if it had to involve Salty.
Stu
on July 13, 2007 at 6:14 pm
*in regard
braves14
on July 13, 2007 at 6:14 pm
Ledezma has a FIP ERA of 2.23. Expect his performance to improve. Both he and McBride’s sample sizes are too small to read much into it.
braves14
on July 13, 2007 at 6:19 pm
That being said, I still don’t get the trade in the first place.
I’ve gotten more hesitant to want to trade Escobar because I think he might be our long-term answer at SS. Lillibridge has struggled this year, and I wonder if he’s too slight to succeed at the ML level. Andrus hasn’t actually done anything yet, either.
Stu
on July 13, 2007 at 6:26 pm
I don’t think Escobar is the long-term answer as a regular starter. If he is, the team’s in trouble.
Oh, were you trying to make a serious point? Alabama will be favored by ten.
Stu
on July 13, 2007 at 6:35 pm
I’ve never placed a bet on what the betting line will actually be, but I’d be willing to do so here.
Jeremy
on July 13, 2007 at 6:36 pm
Eh. I think Andrus has had a pretty decent year at Myrtle Beach. His peripherals, for an 18 year old middle infielder, are pretty good. Better than Furcal’s at that level, while being 3 years younger.
Fair enough — that’s better than I thought, esp. considering how hard it is to hit at Myrtle Beach. Still, he won’t be ready for a few years, and I think Escobar could do well enough.
Robert
on July 13, 2007 at 6:43 pm
Agree that Andrus has shown promise this year. Hopefully his age is correct.
Also agree that if Escobar is the answer, the question better be, “Who could be an excellent utility infielder for a few years while he’s cheap?”
Godot
on July 13, 2007 at 6:43 pm
At th low minors, with such low # of Abs, home / road splits aren’t that important.
But still, that is very drastic
Tim… I know you went to Auburn, so I’ll explain this simply.
Do you see this guy?
He’s trying to bunt. He’s giving you an out! When you see this, just let the guy bunt! Toss it over the plate and get the out, rather than trying to get a strikeout and waste five pitches, and several minutes of my life I will never get back.
Thank you.
david15
on July 13, 2007 at 7:23 pm
I can’t believe this guy is supposed to be a comedian.
Adam M
on July 13, 2007 at 7:23 pm
This guy on TBS is just killing me.
RehabReject
on July 13, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Re: new poll
I called into the Jon Sciambi radio show yesterday and asked him straight up “When will Scott Thorman cease to exist?” and he said that as long as Bobby Cox is the manager everyone on that bench will get a chance to play.. even Scott Thorman.
Adam
on July 13, 2007 at 7:38 pm
Meanwhile, the Reds are pounding John Maine and the Mets, 7-1
braves14
on July 13, 2007 at 7:50 pm
Phillies lead their game 9-0 in the 5th.
Adam
on July 13, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Way to hit, Willie. Just keep it up.
RehabReject
on July 13, 2007 at 8:04 pm
I love Andruw!
haha
Tanto
on July 13, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Again, McCann = teh awesome.
Adam
on July 13, 2007 at 8:07 pm
McCann is on fire. Keep racking ’em up for my fantasy team, Brian!
Boomer
on July 13, 2007 at 8:19 pm
The Braves are killing and I haven’t seen a post in an hour…wow.
I’m happy I had the night off tonight
'Rissa
on July 13, 2007 at 8:21 pm
I just got home…and was wondering why Diaz is hitting for Andruw here. Did something happen to Andruw, or is Bobby finally fed up? (Although it looks like Andruw has had a decent night.)
braves14
on July 13, 2007 at 8:25 pm
Looks like he’s just getting the rest of the night off, they showed him in the dugout laughing.
RehabReject
on July 13, 2007 at 8:25 pm
I think Bobby took him out because he wants Andruw to finish the night on a high note so as not to screw up his swing.
Andruw with the bases loaded might want to hit one out and totally screw up the progress he’s made the past couple of games
braves14
on July 13, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Bobby should leave Hudson in, a good chance to rest the pen as he has just 89 pitches through 7.
braves14
on July 13, 2007 at 8:43 pm
Woodward sucks. Replace him with Pena.
Ethan
on July 13, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Is it just me, or does Hudson seem to do better with extra rest?
RehabReject
on July 13, 2007 at 8:53 pm
@99
that should be something to consider for the postseason. I don’t mind starting Hudson in Game 3 if that guarantees he’ll be spectacular
My wife has too many chores for me today and tomorrow (painting), so my season tickets are available if anyone is interested. Sec. 402L, Row 1, Seats 105-106, which is right behind home plate sitting on row one on top of the press box.
heading to ATL for the game, which means it will be rained out…hope you guys enjoy the friend’s re-runs and bloopers tonight.
With the attention being given the Phillies’ upcoming 10,000th loss, did you know that the Braves will probably win their 10,000th game next year? They’re currently at 9884 if you count the record of National Association’s Boston Red Stockings, which moved into the new National League in 1876.
Of course ESPN won’t take notice
Tennessee Preview up, will blow your mind.
http://secpreviews.wordpress.com/
Report that the Braves have reached an agreement with Heyward: http://mvn.com/mlb-braves/2007/07/13/braves-reportedly-reach-agreement-with-heyward/
If anyone would like to see my typo filled, yet mildly humorous rant at ESPN, it was posted on the previous page.
On a more serious note, how about an appearance from the APRIL Tim Hudson tonight? I mean, it’s only the Pirates, Tim.
Wait, I think Mac has to approve it first.
2007 Tennessee Volunteers
Smitty, sending the Vols to a National Championship game eh? That is a bit of wishful thinking, but good luck.
Fantasy question, my team is loaded with pitchers. I have Smoltz, Young, Oswalt, Blanton, Escobar, Lowry, Dave Bush, Randy Johnson, Chris Carpenter, and Pedro Martinez.
I have 1st base options of Kotchman, Looney, and Jacobs. I need to make room for Carpenter and Martinez to come off the DL. Would you trade Johnson and Bush for Howie Kendrick and then drop two of Kotchman, Jacobs, and Looner?
I bet Gonzalez strikes out Laroche tonight, oh, wait… Seriously, who thinks Laroche has a good series?
With Smoltz out, Hudson needs to step it up tonight.
csg, I also have Carpenter and Pedro on my DL. I don’t have any advice, other than to say I have a great deal more faith in Carpenter’s successful return this season than Pedro’s. I wouldn’t clear out a roster spot for him yet.
I just traded for Kendrick in a league of mine. I gave up brain roberts and david weathers for howie kendrick and billy wagner. I think Kendrick will have a good second half. I advocate trading for Kendrick, but he’s much better in your second base slot than first base.
Didn’t pedro have some obsecure surgery where they drilled 17 holes into his shoulder? Sounds gross and painful. I’m not buying into Pedro being effective this year at all.
@1
or maybe not. nothing like having your parked car hit buy a cop, after he blew through a 3 way stop, coming the wrong way down a one way street…so there goes $70 worth of tickets (oh and my car). i wonder how this is gonna shake out?
go braves
Hate King,
I completely agree. The Mets are fooling themselves if they think Pedro’s going to help them in any way. Even if he pitches and doesn’t go down again, he won’t be nearly as effective.
well my 2nd base options are Polanco, KJ, Brendan harris, and Sanchez
one more question, im in a 3 player keeper league.
My choices for keepers are Smoltz, Young, Carpenter, Ichiro, Arod, and Oswalt. Who would be your 3
Im leaning Ichiro, Arod, and Young
Also, I dont like Arod. If he sticks it to the Yankees, and I think he might, I would like him more
I’d go for Ichiro, A-Rod, and Oswalt. Chris Young is a fantastic pitcher in a great pitchers’ park, but he’s pitching out of his mind and above his talent right now. Oswalt will always, always be good.
Everyone is calling what A-Rod is doing a ‘money grab’ and maybe to a certain extent, but I think this is much more about A-Rod wanting out of New York and how the Yankee organization has always favored Jeter more, even though A-Rod is the far superior talent (and better SS).
I feel fairiy optimistic about Hudson going into the last 2.5 months. His FIP ERA is 3.11. Hopefully the strikeouts will pick up.
AAR, good point. Carpenter is hard to not keep in the league also. He’s had some injuries however
Im also guessing that we keep all 13 pitchers while our rotation consist of Hudson, James, Carlyle, Davies, and Reyes. That looks worse on paper than I thought. We need another pitcher
I’ve got the Alabama preview up.
I’d go Arod, Ichiro, and Oswalt too.
Before the yanks signed damon, I thought they should move Jeter to CF and move A rod to SS, and then bring up their stud 3b prospect Duncan, but Duncan never panned out so I guess they were smart, but that would have a way to cut payroll and bring up a younger player. A rod is definitely the better SS and I can’t wait for him to leave NY. Who would the Yanks target at third?
No one’s going to take Randy Johnson off your hands. He’s too damaged goods with no real upside at all for this season. He won’t pitch again until August and instead of 5 days rest between starts, his back needs 5 weeks.
On an unrelated note, but something that I’ve heard for the first time in my life, and I want to know if any of you guys know about it:
“I have to find the gameday recap but I believe several years ago a reporter commented on a game in which Maddux pitched against the Padres. Maddux struck out to end the inning and with his batting gloves on asked for the ball from the ump. The ump obliged and of course Maddux’s gloves were loaded with pine tar. The first couple of pitches of the inning got the benefit of a little foriegn substance.
As for cutting the ball I believe those stories have been told for years now. Usually his backup catcher would have a sharpened shin guard or something to that effect.”
Do any of you guys know what he’s talking about? I seem to be sheltered or have a bad memory, otherwise, I would have heard this.
Pollack out all of 2007 season
http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2007/07/13/0714pollack.html
Sam, what’s your source for that?
For the sake of David Pollack and his family, it’s my hope that he never plays another down of football.
It was some guy’s post on Baseball Fever. That is basically what he claims. He has said it multiple times. Here’s one:
http://baseball-fever.com/showthread.php?p=704477&highlight=eddie+perez#post704477
He claims there are sources, but he won’t bring them up.
This is the only article I could find that even remotely talks about the subject, and even Buerhle says he’s going on rumors and doesn’t directly name Maddux. I don’t know where the hell he’s getting the stories about Perez scuffing the ball.
http://chicago.whitesox.mlb.com/content/printer_friendly/cws/y2005/m06/d18/c1094342.jsp
Maddux is a truly fierce competitor, one who by all accounts would do nearly anything to win. I doubt he’d have much compunction about engaging in a little sign-stealing from time to time, and it might not even be beyond him to scuff the ball, though he might not have wanted to because it would actually take away from his own ability to control it.
Still, they’re pretty heady unsourced charges to make, and I’d prefer someone offer some sort of evidence. I’m not saying Maddux is so spiritually pure that he’d never bend the rules, just that it doesn’t seem like him to want to have less control over the baseball.
mlb rumors on Teixiera
In the Braves’ case, though, there would truly be nowhere for Jarrod Saltalamacchia to play if he wasn’t included in the deal. The Braves are in an odd place, with two excellent young starting catchers on the roster. Atlanta’s strongest need right now is starting pitching, however. The Baseball Opinion connects the dots and finds a Javier Vazquez acquisition possible.
here’s the baseball opinion article
http://baseball-opinion.com/2007/071207.htm
I know, that’s not logical. That’s why this didn’t smell right, and I want to know what made him make these accusations in the first place.
Salty and Reyes for Vasquez – no
Escobar and Harrison – yes
I imagine Matt Morris from the Giants is as good as gone from San Francisco. And they don’t need young pitching with Cain, Lincecum, and Lowry. They need position players. It makes too much sense.
from Fox Sports
Braves
Brayan Pena (ATL – C)
News: Pena went 2-for-4 with a double Thursday, raising his average to .328.
Impact: He’s hitting .417 over his last 11 games and hit .382/.519/.900 in June. The Braves have a crowded depth chart at catcher, so something could happen at trade time involving Pena, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, or Brian McCann. However, the latter two are playing hurt, so Pena will probably be kept as insurance for now. (RotoWire – Thu. Jul 12, 2007 )
I bet Pena, Escobar, and Harrison/Reyes would be okay to give up for Vasquez
I bet you’re right. I wish Kenny Williams would agree.
Saltalamacchia and Reyes for Vazquez still means that we have Scott Thorman at first base.
Hell yes Pena/Escobar/Harrison is enough! It’s more than enough! In fact, I’d say it’s too much!
#41- and yes that is a problem
Brayan Pena has been playing some first base down in Richmond too, though. 🙂
lineup is up already
harris
renteria
chip
druw
mccann
francoeur
johnson
thorman
hudson
Vasquez allows too many homers to give up Salty, and he’s aging. I think our best bet is Morris, since we probably wouldn’t have to give up anything other than a young position player (Escobar? Brandon Jones?)
we can give up middle infield prospects, i say we probably need Brandon Jones to stay around for a while. So when did Pena become a full utility player.
more thorman, he’s like woodward, when will it end
This Vazquez stuff — I’m just not into it. He’s just another pitcher at the height of his earning power but whose production has already begun to ebb. Hampton, Hudson, Ortiz, Thomson, Byrd — these guys have ranged from minor disappointment to outright disaster. There’s no upside left to Javier Vazquez — he might be good enough to help us limp into the postseason once, I suppose.
He’s a strikeout pitcher with not-bad ERA numbers, who’d be moving to a worse hitting league. He’d instantly be our 3rd starter, maybe our second-best. If you can trade guys with no real future on this team for that, I don’t know why you wouldn’t do it.
I would. The Braves need a serviceable starter. He doesn’t have to blow everyone away all the time, they just have to keep the Braves in games. I think Vazquez or Morris can handle that job.
If anyone cares, I called out this guy on Baseball Fever to pony up some sources. I Googled “Greg Maddux pine tar” and “Eddie Perez shin guards” and guess what shows up #2 each time? The thread with this guy’s accusation in it.
I’ll let you guys know how it turns out if you want.
Ledezma’s on the restricted list (blurred vision and can’t get out of Venezuela, apparently…wow…).
Ascanio called up to add bullpen depth.
He’s just another pitcher at the height of his earning power but whose production has already begun to ebb. Hampton, Hudson, Ortiz, Thomson, Byrd — these guys have ranged from minor disappointment to outright disaster.
Russ Ortiz
2003: 21-7, 212 IP, 109 ERA+
2004: 15-9, 205 IP, 104 ERA+
Cost: $10.8 million total
I’m not sure how that can be qualified as a disappointment since he pretty much repeated what he did in 2002 at a reasonable cost. Now what he did with the D-Backs…there is some disappointment.
Oops, read the release wrong. It’s “visa troubles,” not “vision troubles,” that Ledezma is having issues with. Still very strange.
And no great loss.
Meanwhile, McBride has pitched in seven games for the Tigers, striking out five in 5 1/3, walking one, allowing four hits.
I’m waiting.
For what? I didn’t really understand the trade at the time and I’m even less happy with it now, obviously.
And, Mac, I thought you’d surely respond to my Vandy-Bama mini-post on your preview—still waiting to think of the perfect phraseology for an insult?
Oops, read the release wrong. It’s “visa troubles,” not “vision troubles,” that Ledezma is having issues with.
That makes more sense. I had this vision of him wandering around Venezuela in his uniform squinting as he tries to find the airport.
I’m waiting.
Spite trades rarely work out well.
cause maybe Ledezma can start one day, hopefully for someone else. However at the time, I wasnt too big on McBride either.
McDowell’s fault maybe?
#49–I would trade for Vasquez too if they would give him up for players we don’t care about. Too bad Kenny Williams wants too much.
He wasn’t any great shakes in ’05 for the D’Backs. I’m as impressed by good strikeout and K/BB numbers as anyone, and people have pointed to that for years in saying Vazquez is about to bust out, but it hasn’t really happened since ’03. Now he’s 30 with three straight mediocre years under his belt and he’s making $11.5 million for the next four years.
I concede that the trade would enhance our chances at the postseason this year — I just don’t think he’s worth it in the long run. Not for a package including either Escobar or Salty.
Actually, I’ll tell you what I might do — trade Edgar for him straight-up. I don’t expect that to be a popular sentiment….
I was thinking the same thing in regards to Renteria, sansho1.
I’d not hesitate to include Escobar.
I’d never to it if it had to involve Salty.
*in regard
Ledezma has a FIP ERA of 2.23. Expect his performance to improve. Both he and McBride’s sample sizes are too small to read much into it.
That being said, I still don’t get the trade in the first place.
I’ve gotten more hesitant to want to trade Escobar because I think he might be our long-term answer at SS. Lillibridge has struggled this year, and I wonder if he’s too slight to succeed at the ML level. Andrus hasn’t actually done anything yet, either.
I don’t think Escobar is the long-term answer as a regular starter. If he is, the team’s in trouble.
Oh, were you trying to make a serious point? Alabama will be favored by ten.
I’ve never placed a bet on what the betting line will actually be, but I’d be willing to do so here.
Eh. I think Andrus has had a pretty decent year at Myrtle Beach. His peripherals, for an 18 year old middle infielder, are pretty good. Better than Furcal’s at that level, while being 3 years younger.
He also has a big home/road split.
Home: .169 .257 .230
Road: .301 .382 .426
#69
Fair enough — that’s better than I thought, esp. considering how hard it is to hit at Myrtle Beach. Still, he won’t be ready for a few years, and I think Escobar could do well enough.
Agree that Andrus has shown promise this year. Hopefully his age is correct.
Also agree that if Escobar is the answer, the question better be, “Who could be an excellent utility infielder for a few years while he’s cheap?”
At th low minors, with such low # of Abs, home / road splits aren’t that important.
But still, that is very drastic
It’s great to have baseball back!
Vintage LaRoche.
OK that was hilarious. I miss LaRoche — what a goofball.
McCann is teh awesome.
MCCANN!!!!!
thank you Roachy!
Poor LaRoche. And Chipper with another unexpected steal for my fantasy team! Don’t think less of me for hanging on to SBs as a fantasy category.
Huddy looking good so far.
New poll.
C. Caray: “The Barrett/Zambrano fight helped Zambrano turn his season around”
No. And stop talking about the Cubs. Or at all.
TBS’s shameless cross-promotion is destroying me.
Tim… I know you went to Auburn, so I’ll explain this simply.
Do you see this guy?
He’s trying to bunt. He’s giving you an out! When you see this, just let the guy bunt! Toss it over the plate and get the out, rather than trying to get a strikeout and waste five pitches, and several minutes of my life I will never get back.
Thank you.
I can’t believe this guy is supposed to be a comedian.
This guy on TBS is just killing me.
Re: new poll
I called into the Jon Sciambi radio show yesterday and asked him straight up “When will Scott Thorman cease to exist?” and he said that as long as Bobby Cox is the manager everyone on that bench will get a chance to play.. even Scott Thorman.
Meanwhile, the Reds are pounding John Maine and the Mets, 7-1
Phillies lead their game 9-0 in the 5th.
Way to hit, Willie. Just keep it up.
I love Andruw!
haha
Again, McCann = teh awesome.
McCann is on fire. Keep racking ’em up for my fantasy team, Brian!
The Braves are killing and I haven’t seen a post in an hour…wow.
I’m happy I had the night off tonight
I just got home…and was wondering why Diaz is hitting for Andruw here. Did something happen to Andruw, or is Bobby finally fed up? (Although it looks like Andruw has had a decent night.)
Looks like he’s just getting the rest of the night off, they showed him in the dugout laughing.
I think Bobby took him out because he wants Andruw to finish the night on a high note so as not to screw up his swing.
Andruw with the bases loaded might want to hit one out and totally screw up the progress he’s made the past couple of games
Bobby should leave Hudson in, a good chance to rest the pen as he has just 89 pitches through 7.
Woodward sucks. Replace him with Pena.
Is it just me, or does Hudson seem to do better with extra rest?
@99
that should be something to consider for the postseason. I don’t mind starting Hudson in Game 3 if that guarantees he’ll be spectacular
uhhhh … why is Chuck James pinch hitting?
Mets lose 8-4.
My wife has too many chores for me today and tomorrow (painting), so my season tickets are available if anyone is interested. Sec. 402L, Row 1, Seats 105-106, which is right behind home plate sitting on row one on top of the press box.
Now, I’m caulking. So much more fun than going to the game.