Wednesday, August 02, 2006 |
Pickoff Moves
Today's Birthdays
Tom Burgmeier CAL b. 1943, played 1968, All-Star: 1980. It's fairly well-known that the Angels hold the major league record for most wins in the first year by an expansion franchise, but the Royals under Cedric Tallis had a far better stretch, posting winning seasons in six of their first ten years. One reason was their fearless willingness to pursue young talent rather than veterans. Burgmeier represented that kind of gamble as a 25-year-old reliever in his first year with the Royals. He posted an ERA+ of 212 in 1980, certainly worthy of being sent to the All-Star game no matter which team you happened to be hurling for (and the 79-81 Red Sox weren't good), but he did almost as well (198 ERA+) with the 85-76 Royals — who sent five-time All-Star Amos Otis on his second trip to the midsummer classic. His left-handedness kept getting him jobs until he was 40.
Chris Coletta CAL b. 1944, played 1972
Jim Dorsey CAL b. 1955, played 1980
Bill Hill BRO b. 1874, played 1899, d. 1938-01-28
Jim Holmes BRO b. 1882, played 1908, d. 1960-03-10
Bill Posedel BRO b. 1906, played 1938, d. 1989-11-28
Mike Venafro LAN b. 1973, played 2004. Along with Matt Perisho, still toiling away in the minors. The boy whose picture should appear in the definition of LOOGY.
Cliff Young CAL b. 1964, played 1990-1991, d. 1993-11-04
They Say They're Running Out Of Angels: Angels 3, A's 2
Lessee: two infield hits that lead to runs scoring from second, another solid start from Angels rookie starters, excellent outfield defense by Chone Figgins, and a win over the A's. Like the Rev said, Dino Ebel won this one. Did I miss anything?Well, yeah, actually; a 1-4 day by Howard Joseph Kendrick III means his hitting streak extends to eleven games. Chone Figgins once more posted an 0-4 line, putting an end to his little three-game streak. And Mike Napoli... wow. .169 in July. Blecch. Too bad Jeff Mathis is also slumping.
Four Straight: Dodgers 10, Reds 4
Ken Gurick on yesterday's game:Are the Dodgers scoring more runs because the attitude's improved, or is the attitude improved because they're scoring more runs?Let's try this theorem on for size: they're scoring more runs because they're playing in one of the best hitter's parks in the majors. Or maybe they're just due. I dunno, I'll take it.
Sele allowed four earned runs, as many as Bronson Arroyo, who got tagged with the loss.
Roster Notes
- Foreboding by Mike Scioscia as to Bartolo Colon's future status:
"Our starting pitching depth was a strength the first third of the season, but we've had to tap into it," Scioscia said, alluding to Jeff Weaver's release and Colon's injury, which led to the promotions of Jered Weaver and Saunders. "Weaver and Saunders have come up huge for us, and they will continue to be huge because our depth isn't what it was a month ago."
- Bill Stoneman has the necessary courage to face down this idiot's plaintive, persistent whining for a big deadline deal. Good for him. On the other hand, talk about post hoc, propter hoc:
"It's been proven, getting to the World Series is about momentum," Stoneman says. "If you have that feel-good feeling, the bats get warm, everything falls into place."
- I've gotten e-mails. At Halos Heaven, they're biting their nails. Darin Erstad now knows what's wrong with his foot, a ligament tear caused by a bone spur; scar tissue made the spur difficult to see in an MRI. He still hopes to come back this year despite the ultimate necessity of surgery, but it seems to me that the fear of his taking up playing time that should be used by other, better players (i.e., anyone on the current roster) is probably overblown. After all, the Angels had Reggie Willits on the roster and hardly anybody blinked when he got sent down.
- Greg Maddux will take Chad Billingsley's start on Thursday, bumping Billingsley's next start to Saturday. Billingsley's father can't travel far, and has been fighting the effects of cancer and a stroke; he had come to Cincinnati to see his son pitch.
- From Will Carroll we learn that Bobby Crosby "is not likely to overcome" his lower back problems, "keeping his expected games played more in the 120-130 per year range."
- From yesterday's UTK:
The way that Bartolo Colon has looked throwing over the last month, it’s no surprise that he’s on the DL. Colon’s elbow has taken the cascade from his altered mechanics. Most see it as a "short arm" motion, since he cannot rotate his shoulder back beyond the home to second midline as he normally does. (This is not an ideal motion, but it works for Colon.) The triceps tendonitis that the Angels list him out with is a symptom, not a cause. Until Colon either adjusts to or alters his motion, this cycle of injury and reduced effectiveness will continue to spiral down.
...
The Dodgers' trades told us a bit about Jeff Kent and Nomar Garciaparra. While they felt comfortable giving up Cesar Izturis, it looks like they feel the need to build depth on the chance that their two infielders may not be back any time soon. Garciaparra has a sprained knee while Kent continues to struggle in his comeback from an oblique tear. The moves for Wilson Betemit and Julio Lugo give them more flexibility both before and after the injured players get back in the lineup.
Angels Add Three Televised Games
Every time there isn't one on the teevee, I start having withdrawals, even if I can't be home for them, which is most of the time these days. The Angels added three games to their television slate, at Texas on Aug. 6 and Sept. 17 on FSN West, and at Detroit on September 3 on KCOP/13. Who knows, it might even pay for Esteban Yan's remaining salary.
i too was disappointed it ended last night
what is wrong with this kid? geez, only one hit? bench him or send him back to SLC to work on things!
: 8/02/2006 12:34:00 PM : 8/02/2006 12:57:00 PMI predicted Plaschke's reaction to the Angels' non-trades. The guy is so clueless, he must be trying to be that way.
Notice how he doesn't even consider that acquiring either Tejada or Soriano would have cost at least one member of the starting rotation. Who is it that Plaschke proposes to add to the rotation? Or would Soriano/Tejada take the mound every 5th day?
It was easy for the Dodgers to upgrade; when you're at the bottom, anything is an improvement. But it would have taken a player along the lines of Soriano or Tejada to actually improve the Angels. And at what cost?
Today, the numbskull wisecracks that the Angels "traded" Soriano or Tejada for Juan Rivera & Izturis. Uh, not exactly. To be accurate, he'd have to say that they "traded" Soriano or Tejada & a couple of unidentified starting pitchers for Rivera, Izturis, Kendrick, Wood, Santana & Saunders. I know which combo I'd rather have, it happens to be the one that probably gives them the best chance of winning.
: 8/02/2006 05:37:00 PMNewer› ‹Older
 |
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.