Wednesday, July 26, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
John Butler BRO b. 1879, played 1906-1907, d. 1950-02-02
Sam Leslie BRO b. 1905, played 1933-1935, d. 1979-01-21
Glenn Mickens BRO b. 1930, played 1953
Jody Reed LAN b. 1962, played 1993. You bastard. Actually, the Dodgers' overreaction to his exit wasn't his fault, but you still wonder how things would have played out had either (a) the Dodgers just given in to his contract demands (he wanted to be overpaid), or (b) he calmed down and accepted less. The Dodgers plus Pedro... all those years ...
Norm Siebern CAL b. 1933, played 1966, All-Star: 1962-1964. A Gold Glover in left, he erased that award and more by losing a pair of flyballs in the 1958 World Series, and thus earned the permanent wrath of Yankees fans. A decent first baseman in the J.T. Snow mold by the time the Angels traded for him, they at least got lucky and moved him the year after to the Giants. The Giants had just made one of the most colossal blunders in their history by trading Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda to the Cards, and they needed a first baseman. They got one, alrighty.
Hoyt Wilhelm LAN,CAL b. 1922, played 1969, 1971-1972, All-Star: 1953, 1959, 1961-1962, 1970, Hall of Fame: 1985 (BBWAA), d. 2002-08-23. One of the few relievers admitted to the Hall, he also won a Purple Heart for his service in World War II. He started his major league career at 29, and left the game at 49. His secret? The knuckleball, which he also taught to Dodger reliever Eddie Fisher.
Stumble: Devil Rays 6, Angels 3
I still can't believe the people who insist that this team "has enough" offense, that this was "enough" to win in 2004 and 2005. That is, this is a team living all but exclusively off its normally ox-strong starting rotation and a perilously thin bullpen, as witness the fourth-worst offense in the league. Chone Figgins, Mr. Unclutch last night, comprehends the problem:"Opportunities are something you want," said Chone Figgins, who went 1-for-5 and lined into an inning-ending double play in the third with Howie Kendrick on second base. "The other team cashed in and we didn't."3-14 in scoring position sure isn't getting done. And about that plate discipline:
"It's frustrating, but the good part is we're winning and we're staying in the hunt," Figgins said of their 16-5 record in July. "You can't do anything. You have to keep swinging away because something will fall in."Swinging away? Eight Angels struck out, and Figgins and Izturis represented three of those K's, Figgins' with a man on third and one out.
Santana had control problems on and off, leaving a slider up for Ty Wigginton to mash, and giving up four other runs besides. His personal win streak stops at seven, and we can only hope this serves as a warning to him.
Worst. Record. Ever. Padres 7, Dodgers 3
It becomes surreal: Mark Hendrickson pitches better than the bullpen, although perhaps Colletti is rethinking the value of dealing with the Devil Rays on this one after Baez's blowup. It's the worst 13-game stretch in Los Angeles history, and I'm beginning to think that maybe the Dodgers are as bad a team as I thought when the season started. Caught between the Scylla of aging veterans who now aren't producing and the Charybdis of unloading promising, cheap youth for random mediocrity, Colletti may well be stuck for this season — again.Miscellany
- The Fifth Outfielder likes the Perez deal for the Royals.
- Here's an interesting four-year-old list of the worst trade deadline deals in MLB history. Top of the list: Lou Brock for Ernie Broglio.
- The Angels have given up any pursuit of outfielders and are now looking for a corner infield bat. Top of the list is Miguel Tejada, whom the Angels would convert to third base, and they've also asked about Aramis Ramirez, Morgan Ensberg, Chad Tracy, Ben Broussard, Scott Hatteberg, Craig Wilson, Sean Casey, and Doug Mientkiewicz.
- Dallas McPherson will require minor offseason back surgery, but may be able to play this year if he can quell the inflammation. He's going to have another cortisone shot.
- Curtis Pride will not be able to make the qualifying games for Team USA in the Olympics.
Casey I can see, he's a solid hitter and will add some much needed OBP to the team. But the other 2?
If the Angels want just a glove man at 1B, they should have Erstad come back to 1B, or stick with Kendry (his glove has been pretty good)
: 7/26/2006 10:06:00 AM
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