Proceeds from the ads below will be donated to the
Bob Wuesthoff scholarship fund.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Japan Wins The WBC And I Don't Care
Japan won the WBC, so I don't know what. We watched the big Korea-Japan match which was indeed a fine pitching game, but overall it seemed to me to be kind of a yawn that proved what can happen when (a) the U.S. team was badly depleted thanks to massive chickening out on the part of players and owners, and (b) you're playing a short series. Maybe I'll pay closer attention next year, but in my heart of hearts, I just know that Jae Seo isn't that good a pitcher.The Hazards Of Bilingualism
Something to think about in this MLB.com article about Dodgers catching prospect, Russell Martin, who's having a hot spring (.400/.444/.520 in 25 AB), while current presumptive starter Dioner Navarro chills his heels -- perhaps literally -- with a hamstring pull and a cold-as-ice .063/.167/.063 line in 16 AB:
I know there are a lot of Spanish-speaking fans out there, but can we please at least have the English version of the website in, you know, English?
Things You Didn't Want To Know
Steve Finley is hitting .417/.481/.833 with a pair of homers in 24 AB in spring training for the Giants.Excrement Hits The Rotating Ventilation Device In Washington: Dodgers 11, Nationals 5
Jim Bowden, who didn't bother to ask Alfonso Soriano whether he'd be willing to move to the outfield before trading for him, now gets to find out the consequences of his actions:The Washington Nationals were on the field and ready to play, eight of them at least.Let's see: you hire a guy and force him to play a position he's never played in the majors, and he's the one getting punished? Regardless, the game itself was all about Dodgers prospect Russell Martin, who went 2-2 with two walks and a three-run dinger. Good show, Russ, the team needs more of that.There was only one problem: Left field was empty because Alfonso Soriano was missing.
Soriano refused to play the outfield for Washington in what was supposed to be his spring training debut Monday night, and general manager Jim Bowden said his biggest offseason acquisition could go on the disqualified list if he doesn't agree to switch positions this week.
Today's Birthdays
Rickey Clark CAL b. 1946, played 1967-1972Tommy Davis LAN,CAL b. 1939, played 1959-1976
Al Fitzmorris CAL b. 1946, played 1978
Jim Hughes BRO b. 1923, played 1952-1956, d. 2001-08-12
Bill Lamar BRO b. 1897, played 1920-1921, d. 1970-05-24
Mysterious Walker BRO b. 1884, played 1913, d. 1958-02-01
How does a guy get the name, "Mysterious"? Must be quite a mystery...
Erstad In Twilight
Good short piece in the Times by Bill Shaikin about the presumptive end of Darin Erstad's tenure with the Angels."People can talk about statistics all they want," he said. "I don't look at the back of my bubble-gum card and say, 'I did this.' I look at our team and say, 'We did this.' If we get to the playoffs, we must be doing something right."Interesting quote from Bill Stoneman in light of the happenings -- or non-happenings, as the case may be -- with Dallas McPherson:
"Let's have a look and see what kind of year everybody has," Stoneman said. "We have a good system. You have systems for a reason, but you don't guarantee those guys a job, either."
Tracy Watch, Part 53 In A Series
At least he's on their team:"He allows himself to be managed," Tracy said of Edwards. "He could improve upon his RBIs, but other than that, there's not a thing you can say bad about Mike Edwards."Wow... just... wow......
"I've seen some things (during spring training) from some people who have a chance to show up at some point in 2006... and you can put Mike Edwards on that list," Tracy said. "He does exactly what I know Mike Edwards can do and what he's capable of doing."
Edwin Jackson Bounces Back
Edwin Jackson posted five scoreless frames versus the Pirates following a six-run drubbing; his latest game brings down his spring ERA to 4.05.
Comments:
*in theory* the WBC should be a terrific tournament, and I think that lessons will have been learned from it.
firstly, I think that it should be at least, a knockout, best of 5, perhaps with the first round being best of 3.
this way, one hot pitcher can't knock a team out (as we all know can happen in any one game)
also, as everyone seems to have spotted, the WBC should be held after the World Series.
it would also be nice for it to be taken seriously, as this time round, players weren't playing for reasons other than injury. In the World Cup, NOBODY, but NOBODY just decides they can't be bothered playing, not just through any patriotic desire to play for their country, but cos it's the biggest stage there is.
I've found it strange that nothing from the WBC has been mentioned on this blog despite it largely being very open with a number of different teams in contention to win it.
firstly, I think that it should be at least, a knockout, best of 5, perhaps with the first round being best of 3.
this way, one hot pitcher can't knock a team out (as we all know can happen in any one game)
also, as everyone seems to have spotted, the WBC should be held after the World Series.
it would also be nice for it to be taken seriously, as this time round, players weren't playing for reasons other than injury. In the World Cup, NOBODY, but NOBODY just decides they can't be bothered playing, not just through any patriotic desire to play for their country, but cos it's the biggest stage there is.
I've found it strange that nothing from the WBC has been mentioned on this blog despite it largely being very open with a number of different teams in contention to win it.
# posted by 
: 3/21/2006 07:31:00 AM
: 3/21/2006 07:31:00 AM
Guess I thought the whole format was so jacked that there was no point in watching. Plus I already follow a college team -- CSULB's -- and I think that eats at some of the itch to see baseball.
Finley had a great Spring for the Angels last year, too, and...well, we know what happened.
# posted by : 3/21/2006 09:22:00 AM
: 3/21/2006 09:22:00 AM
My problem with the WBC was that the US never played Venezuela, Puerto Rico, DR, or Cuba. That's what we wanted to see. All the action was in that bracket while the US was boring me against Korea, Japan, South Africa, Outer Mongolia, Easter Island, etc.
Oh, I'm not regretting the trade too much; let's see what Finley is hitting in June. The big difference between Finley and Alfonzo is the guy getting blocked. Kotchman has better demonstrated numbers than McPherson, who probably needs more time at the minor league level, if only briefly to get his swing back. Neither will be a problem in 2007.
As disappointed as I am over the Angels' handling of the 3B position, the fact remains that McPherson never spent a full season at AAA. His 43-HR campaign in 2004 started at Arkansas. One year later, he was being penciled into the major league lineup. I think Kotchman, a far more polished hitter despite his youth, probably had more at-bats at SLC. Given that Dallas pretty much deserves a mulligan for last year, spending some time down there getting his swing in order and just getting back into the flow of baseball is not a bad thing.
What will be bad is if he catches fire at SLC but remains stuck there while Erstad is busy posting a sub-.700 OPS.
What will be bad is if he catches fire at SLC but remains stuck there while Erstad is busy posting a sub-.700 OPS.
# posted by : 3/21/2006 12:00:00 PM
: 3/21/2006 12:00:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
 |
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.