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Wednesday, June 01, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves, Lunchtime Edition
White Sox 5, Angels 4
Remember that thing I said about the bullpen falling apart this year? The jury's still out, but Donnelly's regressing awfully hard, and it seems at critical moments. I didn't listen to this one as we got to Dodger Stadium last night at an absurdly early time to guarantee we'd be on time for everything (no traffic, unexpectely), but man, what an ugly loss.Roster Notes
- Frankie up, Bootcheck down: Like the sign says. The Times reports he'll be available for limited duty for a while; he won't be used repeatedly ("where you get in trouble is when you go four of five, six of eight, seven of nine...."). Given the way Donnelly's been pitching, I have to wonder whether Yan shouldn't have taken that bus.
- Milton Bradley has a slight tear of the ring finger ligament, discovered after an MRI.
"They told me they had never seen it in baseball," Bradley said after undergoing an MRI exam. "I'm glad they know what it is now. I look forward to getting back on the field as soon as possible."
Update: The Times reports he may require DL time.Bradley expects to sit out for at least the next two games, then have his finger re-examined. He must wear a brace on his finger to keep it immobile.
"We'll wait two or three days and take it from there," said Bradley, who is batting .298 with 10 home runs and 26 RBIs.
- Also in that Daily Breeze story above, Wilson Alvarez will get another start.
- Elmer Dessens threw 30 pitches without pain.
- Update 2: The Giants have extended Felipe Alou through 2006, with an option to 2007. Alou is said to be "honored" by the extension. Wearing the enemy's colors he may be, but from all accounts he is one of the game's classy, good guys.
Nate Silver Responds To Rich
Those recalling Rich Lederer's comments about a Nate Silver oversimplification ("strikeouts are a good thing for a young power hitter") will be pleased to note the dialogue continues today in Baseball Prospectus. His comment, he claims, makes sense only within context, one he failed to provide in his chat comments. His thesis is that there are two kinds of great hitters,Early-Count Hitters: These hitters have extremely quick bats, excellent plate coverage, and will not take many pitches, especially for strikes. They tend to have very high batting averages, moderate-to-strong isolated power, moderate walk rates and low strikeout rates. They also tend to be reasonably good athletes, often playing premium defensive positions. Examples include Vladimir Guerrero, Joe DiMaggio, Derek Jeter and George Brett.For the former, he says, high strikeout rates are a bad thing, because Vlad will -- and Angels fans know this from close and sometimes painful observation -- swing at anything. If he doesn't make contact, he suddenly becomes useless. Conversely, if the Thome-type hitter strikes out a little more often, it's not so important because he's intentionally working the count to get a pitch he likes to hit, which he will then take deep into the stands. Which kind McPherson is he doesn't say, but I would tend to think he's the second type who's spent a lot of time lately swinging at early pitches.Late-Count Hitters: These hitters have outstanding-pitch recognition skills. Rather than force the issue, they wait for the pitcher to make a mistake with the pitch type or location they find most favorable. These hitters hit for moderate batting averages, strong or very strong isolated power, high walk rates and high strikeout rates. They tend to be big and bulky and slow. Examples include Jim Thome, Mark McGwire and Reggie Jackson.
OT: Those Wacky Japanese, #230 In A Series
Worried about your straying wife? GPS+panties=solution. No word on the subcutaneous version thereof yet.
Comments:
Quick notes...
I'm still wondering about whether the Angels need to make a trade. I realize the chances of this happening are slim and I am starting to wonder if it's even a good idea right now.
Trading Washburn makes sense given that his contract is up at the end of the season. However, if they trade him and Escobar's elbow goes the team could be in very dire straits, no?
Trading Erstad is an attractive option, but it seems like the Angels are overly enamored with him for this to ever happen.
The bats are coming around, but I am still not confident that the lineup is good enough even if everyone is healthy. The Rangers look they are for real, although they likely will be regressing soon from their current hot streak.
- Chris
I'm still wondering about whether the Angels need to make a trade. I realize the chances of this happening are slim and I am starting to wonder if it's even a good idea right now.
Trading Washburn makes sense given that his contract is up at the end of the season. However, if they trade him and Escobar's elbow goes the team could be in very dire straits, no?
Trading Erstad is an attractive option, but it seems like the Angels are overly enamored with him for this to ever happen.
The bats are coming around, but I am still not confident that the lineup is good enough even if everyone is healthy. The Rangers look they are for real, although they likely will be regressing soon from their current hot streak.
- Chris
# posted by 
: 6/01/2005 01:50:00 PM
: 6/01/2005 01:50:00 PM
Washburn is tradeable but I doubt it happens. If the price is right, I might even be amenable to him being resigned.
Erstad is not tradeable unless the Angels eat his entire contract, or the huge majority of it.
Joe Sheehan has a nice article on the first-place Texas Rangers today; he's not confident they can stay in first because of John Hart's track record in Cleveland (he was never able to get the right players to vault the team over the top).
As I mentioned before the season started, the Angels need, despite their protestations to the contrary, to get significant production from Dallas McPherson. This to me was the Achilles Heel of Bill Stoneman's 2005 edition Angels.
Erstad is not tradeable unless the Angels eat his entire contract, or the huge majority of it.
Joe Sheehan has a nice article on the first-place Texas Rangers today; he's not confident they can stay in first because of John Hart's track record in Cleveland (he was never able to get the right players to vault the team over the top).
As I mentioned before the season started, the Angels need, despite their protestations to the contrary, to get significant production from Dallas McPherson. This to me was the Achilles Heel of Bill Stoneman's 2005 edition Angels.
On the assumption that Dallas would magically make up for the loss of Glaus AND Guillen: AGREED. They just aren't hitting enough long balls. Batters like Cabrera looks absolutely hopeless at the plate right now.
Rex Hudler repeats ad nauseum the Angels' party line of the importance of small ball.
Eckstein once downplayed the importance of home runs, stating that it's hard to keep a rally going once someone hits a home run.
But they are, of course, completely and utterly wrong.
Home runs make everyone's life easier! :D
- Chris
Rex Hudler repeats ad nauseum the Angels' party line of the importance of small ball.
Eckstein once downplayed the importance of home runs, stating that it's hard to keep a rally going once someone hits a home run.
But they are, of course, completely and utterly wrong.
Home runs make everyone's life easier! :D
- Chris
# posted by : 6/01/2005 03:12:00 PM
: 6/01/2005 03:12:00 PM
Correction: I meant to say that Dallas was expected to fill in only for Glaus, not both Glaus and Guillen.
- Chris
- Chris
# posted by : 6/01/2005 03:15:00 PM
: 6/01/2005 03:15:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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