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Wednesday, November 16, 2005 |
Pickoff Moves
Minor League Notes
- AA Arkansas Manager Tom Gamboa left the team to join the Padres as a roving instructor.
- Joe Maddon has asked for Angels minor league roving pitching instructor Mike Butcher to be his new pitching coach in Tampa Bay. The Angels have not yet responded to the request.
- Here's an MILB.com article on the Jacksonville Suns squad that Baseball America tapped as the most talented in the minors.
- Being Brandon Wood means every stadium is just a different fence to hit a ball over. At least, that's how it feels, 'cause Wood knocked one out in the first game of the Team USA qualifiers (also at ESPN, MILB.com, and USAbaseball.com). Howie Kendrick collected three RBIs on a triple, and Jeff Mathis also chipped in with three RBIs of his own in a seven-inning game that was called because of the ten-run mercy rule (final score: 23-0). Panama and Canada won their first-round games; Jered Weaver is expected to take the mound against Mexico next, the team that knocked the U.S. out last time.
No Surprise: Plaschke Likes Colletti
Well, at least we now know that the Dodgers' (and more importantly, Frank McCourt's) idiocy has the imprimatur of monosentence paragraph scribbler Bill Plaschke, who today spouts his huzzahs for the selection of Ned Colletti as the Dodgers' GM.He helped build a 2002 World Series team with a lineup that featured Benito Santiago batting fifth, David Bell playing third and Shawon Dunston doing whatever.This is a recommendation? Heya, Bill, didja notice what happened the year after, moving Livan Hernandez to the Expos for essentially junk, letting Kenny Lofton walk, and signing Neifi Perez? And did you also notice they lost the next year's Division Series 3-1?
Here's guessing that Kent recommended Colletti and will give him the clubhouse support to make tough decisions. And here's guessing that if Colletti spent last season with his finger on the clubhouse pulse, maybe the Kent and Milton Bradley feud ends before it starts.Ah, instead of looking at his actual record, we have this kind of stuff. Sweet.
While the last Dodger regime didn't see the value in Adrian Beltre, Colletti was signing Omar Vizquel.See above. Vizquel is a 38-year-old who gave the Giants .271/.341/.350 last year, and to whom the Giants owe an additional $7M in a heavily backloaded contract. I could point to a couple cheaper, younger guys on the Dodgers -- Antonio Perez, Oscar Robles -- who gave them as good or better production than that. Once again, it's the kind of garbage we've come to expect from Plaschke. Personally, I think Steve's right, in that McCourt views himself as the Dodgers' sun-king, the axis of the Blue universe upon which all else spins. Minus a quality team -- and who knows what Colletti will field -- McCourt will rapidly descend to one of the most reviled men in Los Angeles, the real one or the "of Anaheim" one.
Update: Steve Dilbeck writes the column one expects from a more competent journalist. Money quote:
... the "A" guys weren't interested in these Dodgers, which is telling in itself. Once they were kings. Now they are suspected pretenders to the throne.Update 2: Steve has more Plaschke deconstruction.If you don't have a real plan when you begin, you make it up as best you can. Welcome to Frank McCourt's world.
More Stupid Steroids Punishments
Three strikes and you're out, but so long as jackasses like McCain are around and there are election coffers to fill, this won't be the last you hear of steroids.
Comments:
Because he's a vote-whoring dirtbag who places politics above the Constitution (see the Fourth Amendment's restriction on search, something he's flagrantly tried to get around).
Clearly, any action by Congress that would have required players to submit to a search (drug test) that could result in the loss of life, liberty or property without probable cause would have been of dubious constitutionality. Ultimately, then, it's good that baseball came up with something, although part of me would have liked to see MLB say "up yours" to McCain & the rest of those sanctimonous blowhards, and then prevail legally, just to put them in their place.
# posted by 
: 11/17/2005 12:04:00 AM
: 11/17/2005 12:04:00 AM
I understand your point about Plaschke-on-Vizquel.
You should know however, that Vizquel was one of the few reasons for Giants fans (like me) to actually _watch_ a Giants game, at least in the first half of the season. His contract and performance were not too bad compared to other shortstop signings last year. Now, if you want possible ammo against Flanders, just look at the fatso (contract) at 3B, Nathan-gate, the list goes on...
You should know however, that Vizquel was one of the few reasons for Giants fans (like me) to actually _watch_ a Giants game, at least in the first half of the season. His contract and performance were not too bad compared to other shortstop signings last year. Now, if you want possible ammo against Flanders, just look at the fatso (contract) at 3B, Nathan-gate, the list goes on...
# posted by : 11/17/2005 03:07:00 AM
: 11/17/2005 03:07:00 AM
Matthew -- I think maybe you miss the point. Congress is laundering a fourth amendment violation by causing a private party to do the dirty work for them. It's just as wrong, but unfortunately the craven courts haven't been willing to step up and consider the damage.
Anon Giants fan -- I understand your point. I'm not saying Vizquel was a bad player this year -- indeed, he turned out to be appreciably more durable than Cesar Izturis. It's next year and 2007 that will be the problem; 39-year-olds playing shortstop are just vanishingly rare.
Anon Giants fan -- I understand your point. I'm not saying Vizquel was a bad player this year -- indeed, he turned out to be appreciably more durable than Cesar Izturis. It's next year and 2007 that will be the problem; 39-year-olds playing shortstop are just vanishingly rare.
Rob, no I understand fully.
That's why I'm somewhat disappointed in MLB; I would have preferred it if Selig, Fehr & Co. had just said "up yours" to Congress. I find the whole thing abhorrent.
I say "somewhat" disappointed because I'm not really an advocate of steroid use, so I'm not categorically opposed to efforts to purge them from the game. I don't condone cheating.
But as far as I'm concerned, it's none of the government's damned business. And I think Congress has (or should have) more pressing concerns
That's why I'm somewhat disappointed in MLB; I would have preferred it if Selig, Fehr & Co. had just said "up yours" to Congress. I find the whole thing abhorrent.
I say "somewhat" disappointed because I'm not really an advocate of steroid use, so I'm not categorically opposed to efforts to purge them from the game. I don't condone cheating.
But as far as I'm concerned, it's none of the government's damned business. And I think Congress has (or should have) more pressing concerns
# posted by : 11/17/2005 07:59:00 PM
: 11/17/2005 07:59:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
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