Proceeds from the ads below will be donated to the
Bob Wuesthoff scholarship fund.
Thursday, June 09, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves
Discarding Another Lie
Did I say current Ranger and former Dodger Chan Ho Park has relearned how to pitch?
Park is signed through 2006 with $29M remaining on his worthless contract.
Recanting On The Draft, A Little
Richard noted in the comments that Bryan Smith backed off a little on his early characterization of the Angels' draft as a questionable one. His latest:ANGELS UPDATE: After doing further research on the draft today, I have decided I was too harsh on the Angels in my article this morning. In fact, so much so that I would now be willing to call Eddie Bane's draft class one of the top seven (if not 5) classes in the American League. Bane was extremely high school heavy in his selections, but it paid off, as the team ended up with an astounding 11 players that made Future Game USA's top 100 HS list.First selection Trevor Bell will surely be the Angels top priority, as the two-way star ranked 12th on Future Game's list. Beyond that the club has many decisions to ponder in deciding which players to pursue, and which to allow to honor their college commitments. Here is a list of the ten other plans on the top 100, and their possible 2006 college:
Name College ========================== Mount Fullerton Phillips Georgia O'Sullivan SD St. Matusz San Diego Mendoza Miami Hall ASU Murphy UCLA Suttle Texas Milleville Stanford Posey FSUMy guess is that the team goes hard after O'Sullivan, and also lands Phillips and Matusz. The bottom five on that list are almost guaranteed to go to college unless the club feels like setting some round bonus records again this year. The question marks will be Ryan Mount, their second round choice that has the 2004 CWS champs as leverage, and Mendoza, who could be headed to Miami. No matter what the Angels will walk away with one of the most impressive high school hauls in the draft, accelerating Bane's stock as a future GM.
Chavez Ravine Hubris
I begin to wonder: is the idea of celebrating a 40-year-old crown against the very franchise the team beat back in the day something akin to begging for a sweep by the Twinkies?Nationals 4, A's 3
After going 7-1 in two road series against the D-Rays and Blue Jays, the A's found themselves completely flummoxed in Washington against the Nats, and tonight was the kicker, a piece de resistance by ace Livan Hernandez, who appeared unfazed by his 150 pitch outing a week ago. The Nationals are in first place in the NL East, a game and a half over the Phillies. Manager Frank Robinson said of the team's current lead, "ESPN is keeping us under the radar. I would plead [with the rest] of the media to do the same." The loss was a sweep for the Nationals, who now average 31,774 attendance per game.Mariners 8, Marlins 0
Exactly the kind of meaningless game that interleague play has come to represent to scoffers, Aaron Sele hypnotized the Marlins on five hits, one walk, and one strikeout over seven innings, while J.J. Putz and Ron Villone closed it out for Seattle. Randy Winn, Richie Sexson, and Raul Ibañez each had two-RBI nights against a floundering Josh Beckett, who took the loss. Sele is now 5-5 with a wholly respectable if chimerical 3.99 ERA, while Beckett is 7-4 with a 3.13 ERA.Phillies 10, Rangers 8
Another meaningless out-of-league game, the Phils were kind enough to be on a hot streak when they encountered the Rangers, and just pulverized them, sweeping Texas in the three-game set. Not that the Rangers didn't try; they put up four runs in the last frame against just-traded-for and ersatz closer Ugueth Urbina. Urbina only picked up a single out but gave up, in addition to the four runs, two walks and two hits, one of which was a two-run homer. Real closer Billy Wagner came in and restored order to get the save. Those Rangers sure can hit, but they still can't pitch: Pedro Astacio (2-7, 5.60 ERA) took the loss. Texas is now a game and a half back of the first-place Angels, who have been without the services of star slugger Vladimir Guerrero. Guerrero will return to service for Friday's game against the Mets in New York.
Newer› ‹Older
 |
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.