Proceeds from the ads below will be donated to the
Bob Wuesthoff scholarship fund.
Friday, September 10, 2004 |
Pickoff Moves
Hurricane Reschedules
So now not only are the Marlins scratching their heads over what happens with the Frances-rescheduled games, Ivan is giving them fits with a weekend series against the Expos. Word is they'll play in Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field, a neutral park for both teams. The series with the Cubs is scheduled for three doubleheaders, one today and two at Florida later in the month.Royals 26, Tigers 5
All the frustration got them in one game. They dropped the other half of the doubleheader without scoring a run, 8-0. That might be some kind of major league record there. It certainly was a club record for the Royals.John Wiebe On The Broadcasters' Ball
The broadcast booth debutantes are out, and John Wiebe has a few things to say about that. "Too often, ex-players or managers are allowed to retire and procede directly upstairs to the booth, where they can perform poorly and suffer no consequences." Yup, and that's the central problem we're about to face with the Dodger Debs: so far, none of them are worth the dance. I can attest that he's right on another point, which is that there's plenty of quality guys toiling anonymously in the minors who would do a wonderful job at the major league level, and much better than any of the players the Dodgers have thus far "interviewed". The majors are littered with incompetent ex-player hacks; for examples, one need look no further than the dull and unenlightening pair for the Chisox, Ken Harrelson and Darrin Jackson, neither of whom are fit to even enter the same city as Vin Scully.Beltre Don't Lose Those Bone Spurs
Well, maybe I was wrong when I advised Belly to get those bone spurs removed. In Jayson Stark's latest column,"I think the fact that his ankle hurts him has made him a far better hitter," says one scout. "The left ankle is his bad one, and that's his front foot when he hits. He's soft on his front side now when he strides. ... And he's not jumping like he used to."Like Ted Williams' famous broken foot that forced him to stay back as long as possible in the batter's box, we might have a legend in the making here.By staying more closed and more still, Beltre has learned to drive the ball the other way, and the results speak for themselves. He has hit 14 home runs this year to the right of dead center field. He hit nine in the previous five seasons combined.
Jackson Back, Choi Done?
This Times story indicates Edwin Jackson is available for bullpen work. Also, regarding Hee Seop Choi's remaining season:Wallach acknowledged that it might be difficult for Choi to work through a flaw in his swing in which the first baseman has elevated his upper body if he doesn't receive a significant number of at-bats before the end of the season.Which I read as, next year, rook.
Comments:
Choi isn't a rookie. Iirc, he started for the Cubs on opening day 2003. (Yeah, that makes him more of a suspect.)
I still maintain he hasn't been the same since June 7, 2003, and the head injury he sustained that day. Early this year he showed flashes of the player he was in the first half of 2003, but since then he's been a dud.
It's possible the league has learned the holes in his swing and are pitching to him. If that's true, and he can adjust, he'll have a fine and productive career. If he can't, well, he'll be remembered as the first Korean starting position player in the majors.
I still maintain he hasn't been the same since June 7, 2003, and the head injury he sustained that day. Early this year he showed flashes of the player he was in the first half of 2003, but since then he's been a dud.
It's possible the league has learned the holes in his swing and are pitching to him. If that's true, and he can adjust, he'll have a fine and productive career. If he can't, well, he'll be remembered as the first Korean starting position player in the majors.
In the week before Choi was traded to Los Angeles, he went 6 for 18 with two doubles, a home run and two walks. OBP: .400, SLG: .611, OPS: 1.011. Of course, that was way back in late July.
I'm not going to jump on the Choi-bashing bandwagon either. He's got good power and a great eye, and I think he's a 280/370/530 type hitter. He just seems to be a fragile young man, mentally speaking- he doesn’t deal with defeat very well.
When (if) he gets the chance to play everyday, without having to look over his shoulder every time he goes into a slump, he'll be a very good hitter.
When (if) he gets the chance to play everyday, without having to look over his shoulder every time he goes into a slump, he'll be a very good hitter.
PECOTA has been wrong often enough for me to disbelieve it -- viz Cesar Izturis -- but in Choi's case, I'm having a hard time knocking its conclusions. He's a big guy with a big swing full of holes. PECOTA tags him as a 20 VORP player, meaning about .257/.359/.478 guy hitting around 20 HR annually. Not a bad player by any stretch, but hardly a power hitter of the first light, either, and scarcely better than Shawn Green, much as it pains me to say it.
Richard -- fragile? Probably. I agree with Jon in that the Choi trade wasn't about this year, but next. But dammit, he'd better produce next year.
Richard -- fragile? Probably. I agree with Jon in that the Choi trade wasn't about this year, but next. But dammit, he'd better produce next year.
Newer› ‹Older
 |
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.