Tuesday, March 31, 2009 |
Joe Saunders, "Dead Arm" Victim
Just what the Angels need, another potential problem with a starting pitcher.Manager Mike Scioscia said he was "disappointed with some of the reports" from Joe Saunders' minor league start on Monday and that the left-hander may be experiencing a little dead-arm phase.
Saunders, who allowed five runs and 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings and threw 92 pitches, also could have been fatigued from a weekend bout with food poisoning.
"He got his work in, and his stuff picked up a bit as the game went on, but he wasn't as crisp," Scioscia said. "He could have a little spring-training arm. It could be from the food poisoning."
Well, That's A Wrinkle Of Tax Law I Hadn't Thought Of
Labels: angels, minors, stupid ideas
Pickoff Moves
THT Limns Branch Rickey's Pirates Career
A great THT series by Steve Treder in three parts about Branch Rickey's post-Dodgers career with the Pirates. There'll be a part 4 tomorrow.Jon's Five Questions At THT
Jon already linked to this; worth reading as always.How far can this team go?As far as their trainers can take them. Healthy, the Dodgers boast one of the best batting orders in baseball and a more-than-adequate starting rotation. When the worst thing you can say about a team is its No. 5 starter/middle relief might be a problem—well, look around and try pointing out how many teams don’t have that problem, particularly in the NL. A World Series prediction might be foolhardy, but the possibility of having Ramirez, Rafael Furcal and an improving Kershaw for full seasons ought to mitigate many of the concerns that this can’t be as good a team as the one that was two innings away from tying the 2008 NL Championship Series at two games apiece.
Oh, snap
A Frightening Look At What Curveballs Can Really Do
In a Halos Heaven post about pitching, these very disturbing x-rays came from a young pitcher who shattered his arm throwing a curveball. Let's be careful out there.A's Expect Trevor Cahill To Make 2nd Start Against Angels
A's pitcher Trevor Cahill will start their second game against the Angels this season, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He has pitched only six starts above single-A. Shockingly, he's a righty.Tigers Release Gary Sheffield
Via Jon above, the Tigers have released Gary Sheffield. Sheffield is currently at 499 home runs and is owed $14M on the second year of a two-year deal.Koyie Hill Once More Cubs' Backup Backstop
The Cubs tapped Koyie Hill to be the team's reserve catcher. It'll be the third time in the last three years the ex-Dodger prospect has gotten to work behind the dish for the Tiny Bears. That he is even playing is miraculous considering his fingers were sawed off in a woodshop accident.THT: Nick Adenhart By Pitch/FX
If this is any indication, Nick Adenhart is likely in some trouble, as all his offerings appear to be fairly undifferentiated from one another. Also, he needs an out pitch against lefties. Of course, this data was from his disastrous and brief 2008 major league campaign, so your mileage may vary.Labels: angels, dodgers, ex-dodgers, history, injuries, pirates, tigers, transactions
Robothal: Angels Tried To Move Matthews
The impetus for the trade was "one-sided," another source said, saying the Angels were far more eager than the Reds to pursue further discussions.The contracts actually match up well — Matthews is owed $33 million over the next three seasons, while Harang will earn $36.20 million and Arroyo $31.5 million over that period, respectively, including club options for 2011.
The Reds, however, have little interest in compromising their rotation depth to obtain Matthews. They are committed to Willy Taveras in center for the next two seasons and comfortable with Chris Dickerson getting most of the at-bats in left.
Monday, March 30, 2009 |
Jose Canseco Busted For Failing To Live Up To Marketing Deal
The lawsuit, which describes Canseco as "an infamous baseball player," alleges that Canseco reneged on a marketing agreement that he signed when he agreed to play for the league's Long Beach Armada in 2006. Among the specific conduct cited in the suit:Canseco is scheduled to speak at USC on Friday.
- "Canseco faked a back injury to avoid a public appearance and game in Reno while he actually played poker all night at a local Reno casino."
- "Canseco cited a family emergency as requiring him to rush home and abandon his team while they were on a road trip when he actually traveled to Las Vegas to play in a Celebrity Poker Tournament which he won and then bragged to his teammates about upon his return."
- "Canseco abandoned the team in Yuma, Arizona, including a scheduled sponsor appearance with the Yuma team's largest business partner so he could return to Los Angeles to attend Hef's Mid-Summer Night's Party at the Playboy Mansion."
Labels: haha
Dodgers Sign Will Ohman
Update: Tony Jackson says it's a minor league deal. He could pitch tomorrow in Tucson if he can arrive in time.
He can opt out of his deal if the Dodgers fail to promote him to the 25-man roster by April 14, but they will do this.
Also: Shawn Estes has agreed to be designated to AAA Albuquerque.
Labels: dodgers, transactions
Gary Matthews, Jr. Storms Off To Room Without Supper After Demotion To 5th Outfielder
Reagins, when asked if Matthews was in the Angels' opening-day plans, said, "Yes."But when asked if Matthews would be an Angel a week from now, the GM said, "This game can change on a daily basis."
Labels: angels
Sunday, March 29, 2009 |
Back In The PCL Days, Sonny, We Called Games On Horseback!
Schadenfreude? Really?
- Hiroki Kuroda
- Randy Wolf
- Chad Billingsley
- Clayton Kershaw
- James McDonald
- a Japanese import who spent quite a good bit of time in 2008 fighting inconsistency
- a pitcher with a sizeable injury risk who failed to pitch a single inning in the second half for the Dodgers in his last stint (though in fairness, he actually pitched better with the Astros in the second half of 2008 than he did with the Padres)
- a pair of young pitchers who could find themselves going the wrong way at any moment
- a young starter who has never pitched 150 innings at any level in one year
Saturday, March 28, 2009 |
Really, I Liked The 70's
Labels: dodgers, the horror the horror
Pickoff Moves
The Importance Of Rotation Depth
Oh, God:The Angels could have the most formidable starting rotation in baseball – some time in May.Argh.When they open the season against the Oakland A’s in nine days, however, it will be with a rotation of Joe Saunders, Jered Weaver, Dustin Moseley, Nick Adenhart and Shane Loux.
Justin Duchscherer To Start The Season On The DL
Pitching injuries are just going around, I guess. He'll have his elbow scoped.Dougie Defense On The 25-Man?
So claims the Daily News:He came to camp with little more than a promise of playing time and a shot. Faced with the alternative of putting his spikes into his bat-bag for the last time, that sounded good enough for Doug Mientkiewicz.Update: MSTI has more on this:Spring training had already started, meaning he was already behind. But as long as there were at-bats to be had, ground balls to be dug out of the dirt at first base and fly balls to dive for in the outfield, he knew he had a shot.
A month later Mientkiewicz seems to have played himself into contention for a spot on the Dodgers' Opening Day roster.
"Doug's certainly got our attention," manager Joe Torre said after Mientkiewicz drove in the Dodgers' only run in a 4-1 loss to the Royals on Friday afternoon at Camelback Ranch. "He came in with absolutely no promise other than getting some at-bats.
"I told him, `If somebody else sees you and you and you get an opportunity to play someplace else that's fine.' But he just won't let up. As Yogi (Berra) would say, he's trying to make himself necessary."
Look, I'm not blind to the obvious. Despite my pleas to not expose Delwyn Young to waivers on more than one occasion, it's becoming more and more obvious that the Dodgers are going to keep just four outfielders, and give the last spot on the bench to Doug "Eyechart" Mientkiewicz, who along with Casey Blake would apparently serve as 5th and 6th outfielders. I don't particularly have a problem with Eyechart per se; he's an excellent defensive 1B and a decent hitter - he's not without his uses. I just happen to think that he's a poor fit on a club that already has a lefty-swinging 1B with a good glove in James Loney, but apparently the club doesn't agree.Not what the Dodgers really need.
Predicting The End Of Bruce Bochy's Tenure In San Francisco
No surprises here:Only 33 managers in the past 100 years have posted back-to-back 90-loss seasons to open their tenures.Of course, it doesn't hurt if you have a Rookie of the Year candidate like Evan Longoria on your team...Of those 33, surprisingly only five didn't return for another season, including recent fall guys Art Howe (New York Mets, 2003-04), Jim Tracy (Pittsburgh Pirates 2006-07) and Buddy Bell (Kansas City Royals 2006-07). Among those who returned, four did not complete their third season.
Only three of the 24 other managers posted a winning season in their third campaign: Bobby Cox's Atlanta Braves went 81-80 in 1980, Roger Bresnahan's St. Louis Cardinals went 75-74 in 1911, and — here is the Giants' guiding light — Joe Maddon's Tampa Bay Rays went 97-65 and reached the 2008 World Series.
Jose Lima Pitching For Long Beach
Hilarious! The Long Beach Armada, that is, last stop for ex-major-leaguers like Jose Canseco.Labels: angels, dodgers, giants, managers, minors, spring training
Thursday, March 26, 2009 |
Pickoff Moves
Sandy Alderson Bails As Jeff Moorad Takes Over As Padres CEO
Via BTF, Sandy Alderson has resigned from the Padres as Jeff Moorad takes over as team CEO. John Moores will stick around as majority owner for a while until the divorce can be completed.Interesting rumor from the comments: Alderson might end up with the Cubs organization.
Angels Start Making Serious Roster Cuts
Rotoworld reports it'sAngels reassigned 2B Ryan Mount, RHP Sean O'Sullivan, RHP Jordan Walden, INF Adam Pavkovich, C Hank Conger, C Ben Johnson, OF Peter Bourjos, OF Bradley Coon, OF Chris Pettit, SS Andrew Romine and SS Hainley Statia to minor league camp.
Rangers Cut Donnelly
The Rangers cut ex-Angel Brendan Donnelly, who gave up five runs in six appearances on 13 hits and a walk while striking out five."I didn't see this one coming," Donnelly said. "Basically I don't know if the out-date came into play. We were going to talk to them this morning about extending it. I thought I was throwing the ball pretty good. I gave up a couple of runs but I was told not to walk anybody and I didn't."I came in there and pounded the zone. Spring Training is a process, each day you work on something and then you put the final package together at the end. I thought I've thrown the ball better than I have the past couple of years."
John Lackey Might Not Start Opening Day
Looks like elbow tightness might keep John Lackey off the mound on opening day. Also: the Angels and Lackey are at an impasse over contract negotiations, as Lackey is said to be after a 5-year, $80-90M deal.Ervin Santana Could Miss All Of April
In the above story, Santana might miss all of April from a sprained elbow.Advertisers Love MLB Network; Ad-Free Next?
Shawn Hoffman asks:According to the New York Times, advertisers are falling in love with the MLB Network. Despite the bad economy and a nationwide ad slump that is killing one old media company after another, MLBN is expected to hit its sales goals for the first quarter. That's not entirely surprising; big companies swear by sports marketing, citing desirable audiences and huge ROIs. But what the Times article doesn't mention is that advertising is only a small piece of MLBN's business, accounting for about one-quarter of the network's $200 million in projected revenue. In fact, it's entirely possible that MLB Advanced Media will do twice as much in ad sales this year, which seems like a very backwards split (analog dollars are supposed to turn into digital pennies, after all).It's the cable subscriber fees that make the difference. MLB Network's ad revenue is just gravy.
Labels: angels, cubs, ex-angels, injuries, minors, padres, rangers, transactions
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 |
Sean Smith Answers Five Questions For The Angels At THT
Torii Hunter Exits Game With Possible Concussion; UPDATE
Update: X-rays came back negative. He's day-to-day.
Labels: angels, injuries, spring training
Rich Thompson's Wife Blogs
This seems to have been discovered first by Three Days Of Cryin'.
Angels Shut Down Lackey, Citing Elbow Tightness
Lackey opened the 2008 season on the disabled list because of biceps tendinitis, but he said he didn't believe this injury is as serious. He did not undergo an MRI test and has been undergoing treatment since last pitching against the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.Update: The Register reports it as forearm tightness.
So, to recap the rotation –
- Lackey — forearm/elbow tightness
- Santana — sprained elbow ligament
- Weaver — inflammation/sore shoulder before arriving in camp
- Saunders — tightness in the back of his shoulder early in camp
- Escobar — strained calf muscle (and that whole ‘major shoulder surgery’ thing)
- Adenhart — stomach flu for a couple days
- Moseley/Loux — couldn’t afford to miss a turn this spring.
Labels: angels, injuries, spring training
Cubs Rumored Thinking About Switching To The Grapefruit League
The Chicago Cubs may very well leave their spring training home in Mesa, Ariz., for a plush facility somewhere else, but the odds of that facility being in Sarasota are slim, according to Robert Brinton, president of the Cactus League Association.I'm trying to imagine what a mess Hohokam parking would be if it had to support, say, an 18,000-seat park. As with Camelback Ranch, the parking lots are deep, and there's only one way in or out, compounded by the fact that the arteries are two-lane roads inside the park complex. At least with Hohokam, it's possible — and far easier — to park offsite.With the exception of 1966, the Cubs have trained in either Scottsdale, Ariz., or their current home of Mesa every spring since 1952.
They are by far the biggest draw in the Cactus League. According to Brinton, the 20 biggest crowds ever to see a spring training game in Arizona involve the Cubs.
...
The team’s lease with the city of Mesa runs through 2016, but they can opt out in 2012 for $4.2million.
Tom Ricketts, who is in the process of buying the Cubs, said he would be interested in moving the Cubs out of Arizona to Sarasota.
Labels: cubs, spring training
A's Extend Manager Bob Geren
Labels: athletics, managers, transactions
Tuesday, March 24, 2009 |
Billingsley's Groin Strain "Not Serious"
"I did it the first day we threw to hitters," Billingsley said. "I took three days treatment, did a touch-and-feel [bullpen session], two days off and then a simulated game. This seems the same, so we'll treat it and get back on schedule." Because the Dodgers were giving their four top starters an extra day between starts -- while both fifth-starter candidates Eric Stults and James McDonald start Wednesday and Thursday -- Billingsley anticipated being pushed back at least a day. He said he would do no running Tuesday but did conditioning on the stationary bike.Loretta (strained right groin) says he's still feeling sore, and Blake DeWitt's sore knee is "ready to go".
Update: Virtual Tony Jackson (i.e. Ramona Shelburne) reports that Loretta's injury could be more serious:
One day later, it seems like Loretta's injury is the most serious because trainer Stan Conte said it was higher up, in a place where the injury is ``notorious for hanging around'' so the team is going to be more conservative with him. Joe Torre said he'll be held out four or five days.
Labels: dodgers, injuries, spring training
Monday, March 23, 2009 |
Matt Bush Charged With Assault
Labels: minors, padres, stupid ideas
Shawn Estes To Compete For LOOGY Role
Labels: dodgers, minors, transactions
Arizona Food
- Charleston's,
any location (Mesa is the one we have gone to). Excellent food that's
easy on the budget, and decor that bespeaks of a much higher tax
bracket. We went on something of a wild goose chase to find this one
and it was totally worth it.
- If you've got a some budget to work with (entrees range from $24-39 a plate), Roaring Fork in Scottsdale is excellent.
Labels: spring training
Pickoff Moves
Dodgers Cut Shawn Estes
A relief, because it's almost certain he's got nothing left. Knuckleballer Charlie Haeger was reassigned to AAA along the way as well.Angels Hit Out Of Their Minds: Angels 18, Royals 12
Brisk easterly winds greeted us on our way back home, but I had no idea it would have this much effect on the Angels' game yesterday; Matt Brown went 6-for-6 with a pair of solo homers. Robb Quinlan, Mike Napoli, Jeff Mathis, and Juan Rivera all homered, too; Mathis went 3-for-3 before getting pulled.The Royals apparently joined in the fun, with both sides recording 15 homers between them. John Lackey gave up four by himself but wasn't concerned because of the wind conditions.
Asked if he feels he's ready for Opening Day -- still 15 days away -- Lackey said, "I don't know if I'm ready physically. I'm ready mentally, I guess."The game would have set a major league record for most homers in a single game if it had been in the regular season; previously, that stood at 12 for a July 2, 2002 contest between the White Sox and Tigers (the Tigers lost, 17-9), and a May 28, 1995 game, also between the White Sox and Tigers, which the Tigers lost 14-12.
Curt Schilling Retires
Former Red Sox and Diamondbacks pitcher Curt Schilling has announced his retirement. More on this at 38 Pitches, that is, assuming you can get over the fact that it's being Slashdotted as I write this.Andruw Jones To Stay A Ranger, For Now
It appears that Andruw Jones will not exercise his right to become a free agent and will remain with the Rangers, this despite the fact that the team will not add him to the 40-man roster. His primary competition for the job is Frank Cattalanotto, whom the Rangers owe $4M to this year; the Rangers have been unable to trade Cattalanotto, despite being willing to take on 80% of his salary.Labels: angels, diamondbacks, dodgers, ex-dodgers, rangers, red sox, retirements, spring training, transactions
Sunday, March 22, 2009 |
Spring Training, Day 7 And Last: Angels 3, Brewers 3
But what I really wanted to talk about here was the traffic. Again. At the entrance to Tempe Diablo, before and after the game, stood two cops, one motorcycle officer watching traffic, and another operating the switch to force a green light as needed. Consequently, getting in and out of the park was much more pleasant. Take a lesson, Frank.
Labels: angels, brewers, recaps, spring training
Saturday, March 21, 2009 |
Torii Hunter, Entrepreneur — And Con Artist Victim
Stick with investments such as the stock market, public securities, gold and other things that while you can't see them, are relatively safe. Athletes often prefer the thrill of something tangible, the story reports, such as inventions, nightclubs and car dealerships that go bankrupt. Los Angeles Angels outfielder Torii Hunter invested almost $70,000 in an inflatable raft invention that would sit under furniture. Owners could pump it up during heavy rain and float away on their sofa during a flood. Hunter never saw his money again.More on this kind of thing at Sports Illustrated; 60% of NBA players are broke within five years of retirement. And...
Numerous retired MLB players have been similarly ruined, and the current economic crisis is taking a toll on some active players as well. Last month 10 current and former big leaguers—including outfielders Johnny Damon of the Yankees and Jacoby Ellsbury of the Red Sox and pitchers Mike Pelfrey of the Mets and Scott Eyre of the Phillies—discovered that at least some of their money is tied up in the $8 billion fraud allegedly perpetrated by Texas financier Robert Allen Stanford. Pelfrey told the New York Post that 99% of his fortune is frozen; Eyre admitted last month that he was broke, and the team quickly agreed to advance a portion of his $2 million salary.
Labels: angels, stupid ideas
Players' Union Files Grievance Over McCourt-Mandated Tithing
The baseball players' association filed a grievance against the major league clubs after the Los Angeles Dodgers said charitable donations will be required in future player contracts.BTF chatter yields wisdom from Maury Brown:...
"Players are free to choose to make donations to club charities, but clubs can't require such donations by contract," union general counsel Michael Weiner said Saturday. "Provisions that require players to make contributions to clubs' charities are unenforceable under the basic agreement. It's not a subject that the Basic Agreement permits individual bargaining on."
Maybe it is that tried and true saying that often surfaces during the holidays that should be at the forefront of the McCourts’ minds: A gift given willingly is the best gift of all. I hope that millions pour into the Dream Foundation, but let’s hope and pray it’s done because players want to, not because they are forced to.
Labels: dodgers, stupid ideas
Spring Training, Day 6: Cubs 5, Padres 3
It's hard to know how close to a finished lineup the Padres trotted out there; aside from the absence of Adrian Gonzalez, there's almost nobody in that lineup who can hit, though they gave it a good shot against the lesser lights of the Cubs pitching staff. For their part, the Padres were entirely happy to let their B-squad pitching stay in the game for an extended look (Kevin Correia in particular, despite a four-run battering, continued pitching into the fifth).
Corey Koskie, whom we saw earlier in the week, apparently injured himself in play and is considering retiring; concussions sustained in 2006 will make that an easy decision, likely. Al Yellon passes along a WGN report that the Cubs are going to cut 10 players on Monday, so things are shaping up.
Labels: cubs, padres, recaps, spring training
Slideshow: 2009-03-17 Cubs @ Dodgers
Friday, March 20, 2009 |
A Pretty Good Dodgers Preview At AZ Snakepit
Spring Training, Day 5: Cubs 9, Mariners 2
That was after giving up a pair of back-to-back home runs to Micah Hoffpauir and Chad Fox, though shortstop sub Nate Spears ended the game with as many RBIs (both clocked three). Based on this game, and his prior work in AAA, we can be pretty certain the Angels won't be seeing this Hernandez in the majors any time before July. Similarly, Al Yellon points out that Micah Hoffpaiur is just another way to spell Scott McClain, a quad-A lifer who just last year became the oldest player in MLB history to club his first home run (he was 36) with the Giants.
The Cubs' Aaron Heilman, as late as January a Mariner until another trade shipped him to Chicago, managed a workman-like 3.2 innings, but it's of little matter that he got the attenuated start. According to a report that came out yesterday afternoon in the Chicago Tribune, Heilman has been ticketed for middle relief.
Of the Mariner position players we saw, only Wladimir Balentien and Matt Tuiasopo are liable to have significant roles, though Bryan LaHair might get some playing time in a platoon role; LaHair saw action in 45 games last year, all of them after the team released the ill-starred Richie Sexson.
Finally, I wanted to gripe about the announcer at Peoria: both fast and partially inaudible, he swallowed his consonants so player changes were all but incomprehensible. This is unfortunately not uncommon for spring training games, and I have to give props to the Scottsdale (Giants) park announcer for actually giving batting order updates along with the position substitutions so that those of us keeping score can understand what's going on.
Labels: cubs, mariners, recaps, spring training
If Only It Were True
Bowing to pressure from its Left Coast, slacker dude fan base, the Seattle Mariners today announced that the Nirvana song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" will replace "The Star-Spangled Banner" as the anthem played before the team's home games at Safeco Field.
Thursday, March 19, 2009 |
Dodgers Blow Hole In Own Feet With Mandatory Tithing In Future Contracts
Manny Ramirez's presence will be felt long after his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers ends. The slugger's recent signing has inspired the club to institute a so-called "Ramirez provision'' in all of its future contracts.How about $1? Is that enough for you, Frank?Players signing with the team will be required to donate a portion of their salary to the Dodgers Dream Foundation, team owner Frank McCourt said Thursday.
"Every future Dodger will be asked to fill in a blank line,'' he said in remarks to Town Hall Los Angeles. "They're making a lot of money, these players. We won't tell them how much to contribute, that wouldn't be right.''
Seriously, how petty and jejune is this?
Labels: dodgers, stupid ideas
Ghame Over, Over: Yhency Brazoban Released
Labels: dodgers, transactions
Pickoff Moves
Hiroki Kuroda Picked As Opening Day Starter
A surprise in a sense, but did they realistically have anyone better?Rangers Likely To Cut Andruw Jones
It's looking increasingly likely that the Rangers will cut Andruw Jones:Jones can opt out of his minor league deal Friday if he isn't on the 40-man roster. Even though there is flexibility with the opt-out date, it looks more and more likely that the Rangers won't add Jones. He hasn't played in the last three Cactus League games.Jones is hitting .258/.324/.419 in 31 at-bats with the Rangers this spring, including a home run."We'll see what happens Friday. We'll probably make our decision," Jones said. "They probably will make their decision soon. The main thing is to go out there and get at-bats and get the work in that you need."
The quest for at-bats took him to the back fields at the Surprise Recreation Campus, where he went 2-for-5 in six plate appearances in a Triple-A game.
Jones could stay with the Rangers, either in the big leagues or at Triple-A Oklahoma City, or find a spot in another organization. Hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo is what makes the Rangers attractive.
"These guys have the system," Jones said. "The hitting coach they've got, they work on the things they want to. We'll see what happens."
Joe Beimel Signs With Nats For 1 Year/$2M
Jon called Joe Beimel's 1 year/$2M deal with the Nationals "settling" (not quite a literal quote, really), but I was still surprised to see him go so very late and for so little.Dodgers Bullpen Coach Ken Howell To Have Toe Amputated
Due to the effects of Type II diabetes; it's the second toe he's needed to have amputated. Seriously, if you have any family history of this at all, get your blood sugar tested.Bill Valentine Retires
Long-time Travs (former) general manager Bill Valentine has retired:"I've been in baseball for almost 60 years," said Valentine. "Over the past couple of years, I think the daily grind has gotten to me a bit. Most nights I have been the last person to leave the ballpark, and I'm usually here seven days a week. I've just gotten tired."Valentine has been associated with the Travs for 40 years.
Labels: angels, dodgers, ex-dodgers, minors, nationals, rangers, spring training, transactions
Wednesday, March 18, 2009 |
A Couple Of Codas To Camelback Ranch
For the most part, though, there is an aesthetic attitude on display that stops well short of extravagance. Even the walkways that twist across the campus have been arranged with modesty in mind. They meander from the parking lots past a variety of practice fields to the stadium entrance, which is placed behind center field.Except that, not so much, especially after you walk past something that looks like it should be an entrance gate. Only then do you realize you need to walk far past not only this but the area that should be home plate — not because the team wanted a sensible, normal direction for ballparks, nor because there was some compelling geographic feature they needed to take advantage of, but strictly for prissy aesthetic reasons that actually work against fan comfort. I mean, assuming Christopher Hawthorne's review is correct and the motivation for that long walk was that big, bitchin' vista from the first base side upon entry, well, jeez, how arrogant can you get? I'd rather we had more shade, thank you.That surprising location of the main turnstiles -- at most baseball stadiums, the central entry is behind home plate -- says a good deal about the effect McCourt, White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf and the HKS architects were going for. Because of that decision, you have to walk from your car a bit longer than you expect, which is sure to produce some grumbles on hot late-March afternoons. But when you approach the stadium, the first thing you see is not a looming grandstand but the field itself, which sits 12 feet below ground level.
The orientation means that home plate faces southwest, instead of north or northeast, as is the case in most big-league ballparks. Fans have to put up with a bit more direct sun and glare in the stands as a result. But the trade-off seems more than worth it.
What I suppose this gets to is that whatever Frank McCourt touches tends to rub the wrong way, and oddly enough (for a parking lot baron), nowhere is that more true than with parking. Now granted, Tuesday's game was a capacity-and-then-some crowd, but with just a tiny bit of foresight and intelligence and even, yes, the same pathetic sense that traffic-problems-end-at-our-borders McCourt exhibits at Dodger Stadium, it could have been mitigated and even made far better.
- Hire someone to direct traffic after a game. The current scenario is just pathetic; the light is clearly set up for normal traffic, which is to say, it's a jam waiting to happen.
- Re-cone the outbound traffic to three lanes from the default two on exit. You do this going into the game; why not afterwards? Oh, that's right — there's nobody there collecting money. Seriously, Frank, if you could get another $5 to get people out of your goddamn park in a reasonable amount of time, they'd totally do it. This screwing around is just pointless, not to mention dismissive of everyone you invited to your new fancy spring digs.
- Alternatively, route people east on Camelback Rd. with signs letting them know they can get around traffic on El Mirage/Indian School. The left turn there, in the absence of traffic direction, is completely stupid. Really.
Labels: dodgers, spring training
Spring Training, Day 4: Angels 4, White Sox 1
The Angels whacked around Gavin Floyd some, with Chone Figgins and Gary Matthews, Jr. hitting home runs off him. Little Sarge's was a real bomb, probably 440 or 450 feet to right center, a long towering tape measure leadoff shot in the fourth that Helen later identified by the scuff marks laid onto the concrete back of the outfield berms from the seams and trademark. By contrast, Dustin Moseley did himself proud, keeping a B-teamish lineup of White Sox off the scoreboard for five innings, which really is about his limit under even good circumstances. The hardest hit balls against him were singles by Chris Getz and Paul Konerko in the third; otherwise, they didn't make it out of the infield, and while he did give up a walk, he struck out four besides, so it was as good as I think anyone could have hoped for.
The Sox mainly stayed away from position player substitutions during the game, making only two. Chris Stewart relieved starting catcher Donny Lucy behind the plate in the sixth, and Brian Anderson pinch ran for Jim Thome in the ninth after Thome managed to load the bases with nobody out facing Justin Speier.
By contrast, the Angels started swapping starters out in the fifth and continued through the eighth, with 35-year-old Luis Figueroa getting more playing time in the eighth after replacing Howie Kendrick. I hadn't seen a lot of good at-bats by Howie prior to today's game, but his first inning flyout to center was a good swing that took Chisox centerfielder Brent Lillibridge out to the wall.
After Floyd, the Angels saw the good parts of the White Sox bullpen, with the result that they failed to score in the sixth through the eighth innings, though they came fairly close against Bobby Jenks, who walked Torii Hunter after suffering a bit of a command problem. Jenks then gave up a well-hit single to Matt Brown, but Juan Rivera tapped out to third to end the threat. The Angels tacked on another run in the ninth facing Mike MacDougal, but as both he and the Angels he faced at that point are hardly threats to make the 25-man roster (Ryan Budde and/or Ben Johnson are possible, but neither is likely), it seems almost beside the point.
Kevin Jepsen had a pair of surprisingly good 1-2-3 frames in the sixth and seventh, and Justin Speier faced the minimum in the eighth despite hitting DeWayne Wise with two out; Wise promptly erased himself on a 2-6 caught stealing to end the inning. As mentioned above, Speier got into trouble facing some actual major leaguers at the top of the Chisox' lineup, and promptly was fished out of it by Barrett Browning, who got starting shortstop Gordon Beckham to line out to center to finish the game.
It was a warm day, and with the park so lightly attended, moving around to either closer seats, or seats in the shade was no problem at all. Hopefully I'll get some pictures up soon.
Labels: angels, recaps, spring training, white sox
Spring Training, Day 3, A Socratic Dialogue: Cubs 12, Dodgers 3
It's fair to say this was somewhere between a complete disaster and an apocalyptic nightmare; even though the Dodgers' new park seats over 13,000, they decided it was a great idea to run a paltry two lanes into the facility from the main road from the state 101 loop to the park — and make it all but impossible to park anyway. No kidding, it took us 30 minutes from the time we hit the Camelback Rd. exit until we parked. It's almost as if the morons who designed Dodger Stadium parking decided to do an encore. If you haven't been, plan on arriving 90 minutes early, and no, I'm not kidding; we barely got in our seats before the National Anthem was howled by some unfortunate, slightly overweight blonde girl singer.
Well, the Game must have been enjoyable, yes?
For Cubs fans, certainly, and to the extent that Helen was cheering domestic tranquility was preserved. Randy Wolf, the Dodgers starter, got absolutely waxed to the tune of seven runs over four innings of work, including a bitter and hilarious walloping by Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano. Z displayed why he's won two Silver Slugger awards, absolutely crushing a Wolf offering in the second to make it 4-0, and mashing another into the gap in the fourth to put the Cubbies up 5-1.
Pen all the "it's early, it's spring" excuses you want, Randy Wolf settled into a pattern of making the first one or two outs in each frame, but proceeded to get clobbered later; he was giving up hard-hit balls in every inning, including a Reed Johnson triple that could have been a inside-the-parker due to Slappy McPopup's lousy arm. If the Dodgers are concerned about their fifth rotation spot, they should be more worried about number four given the lack of options. Simply put, this is not the kind of an outing you want to be seeing this late from a guy who's a lock on a starting rotation job.
How were the mound stylings of the opposition Cubs' starter, Carlos Zambrano?
By contrast, Z was pretty much in control the whole time, though for a guy with his stuff and reputation, three runs in five innings is maybe a bit much. The irony here is that this game was in fact a replay of a regular season 4-0 shutout at the hands of the Astros, this time with Wolf's team getting the worse end of it; in Chicago, the wind howled in over the outfield fence, which kept all Wolf's hard hit balls in the park, while the 'Stros kept knocking line drive homers.
How of the relief corps?
James McDonald looked pretty vincible, surrendering an additional four runs, one of them on a two-run jack by former Dodger prospect Koyie Hill, and two more in the sixth on a dribble of doubles and an infield single. (McDonald, from being a postseason star last year, may not even make the club this year out of spring training.) Tanyon Sturtze did little to further his own cause, getting the final out of the sixth but then allowing the Cubs to rally in the seventh, with — as was the case with this odd game — the bottom of the order doing the damage.
So, to the big question: how did you like Camelback Ranch?
I didn't get a chance to look much at it, thanks to the Dodgers' idiotic insistence on a late opening (11:30 is the earliest you can get there, according to Bob Timmermann). It's necessary to point out that Camelback is the largest of the spring training facilities in the Cactus League, with a listed capacity of 13,000 that was actually exceeded in yesterday's game; attendance clocked in at 13,046, the largest ever recorded.
Perhaps partly due to the large crowd, getting into the park was something between a disaster and a nightmare. Signage leading up to the gate on West Camelback Road — stretching for several miles! — indicated that you could use two lanes for the park went largely unobserved by most motorists, including us, who assumed there was some reason for the right lane to be so crowded (i.e. a late merge to one lane). No, that never happened, so be aware the left lane is completely usable and much faster.
That's all the good news, really, because once we got into the park, the usual McCourt parking catastrophes ensued. First off, there's a long entrance road to the parking areas, with three of the four lanes available for ingress with one designated for outgoing traffic. Unfortunately, most cars were being routed into the far lot on the opposite side of the main entrance by the time we got there, a course of action directed by marginally competent traffic personnel who only occasionally bothered coordinating their activities. A perfect example of this was at the gate, where we found two rows of parking lot cashiers per lane, with the second group not really sure whether they should stop cars. This delayed our entrance even more.
That, of course, was nothing compared to our exit from the park, which reminded me of a typically well-attended Dodgers-Giants game in mid-September. Our game let out at about 3:50, but in waiting for the traffic to die down, we ended up standing around until 4:30. This wasn't helped by the stadium design, which had several points going against it:
- Lots of ways to sneak around the main traffic flow. This means if you're back in the rearward lots — as we were — you can be stuck for a long time. This behavior is encouraged by the fact that
- There was nobody directing outbound traffic at the Camelback Rd. light, and
- The route to AZ 101 is a left turn.
We also found the restrictions on what you can take to the park a little chafing; water is the only outside food or drink allowed in the stadium, and monopods are strictly verboten, unlike with every other park I've been in. As it happens, the latter wasn't a big deal, as my new shorter lens was quite a bit easier to manage without support. I'll get those pictures up as soon as the keyboard on my MacBook Pro dries out; I spilled wine on it last night, so the moral there is if you drink, don't type, and if you type, don't drink.
How did you like the $90 seats?
Perhaps the biggest shock was that we really enjoyed the $90 Stadium Club seats. Even Helen, who has become about anti-Dodgers as is possible (mainly because of Frank McCourt's tin ear on stadium operations, and because of the general boorishness of Dodger fans as practiced in the park), confessed that she didn't feel ripped off. The seats were close to the action, with ample cushioning; wear long shorts, though, because the chocolate brown color absorbs heat like the dickens, and roasts any unprotected skin touching it. It's important to note that while there is free food in the shaded Stadium Club above the section, this only lasts through the fourth inning, and the staff working the section will charge you for anything they have to get. If there's any real criticism I have of Camelback as a stadium-qua-stadium it's that there needs to be more, not less, shade; spring training games are increasingly played in substantial heat.
Labels: cubs, dodgers, recaps, spring training
Tuesday, March 17, 2009 |
Where We're Staying In Tempe: Dorsey Place Condominiums
Labels: spring training
Dodgers, Trolley Still At Impasse
Labels: dodger stadium, dodgers
Monday, March 16, 2009 |
Spring Training, Day 2: Angels 8, Giants 5
Today's game wasn't much different for Nick, as he gave up four runs in three and a third, against a mostly popgun Giants offense; if Benjie Molina is your cleanup hitter, something is dreadfully wrong. Nick's clearly got some more lessons to learn in AAA, and while he looked effective in the second and third, even Rich "It's Hard To Swing With This Fork In My Back" Aurilia clocked him for a double. In the first, he gave up a leadoff single to Eugenio Velez and compounded his problems by sailing a pickoff throw to second into center field.
Fortunately for the Angels, the Giants were even more inept; while starter Jeremy Affeldt gave up three runs, the problem, as last year, turned out to be the bullpen, which coughed up the winning (for the Angels) runs on reliever Merkin Valdez. The substitutions started in the fifth for both teams, and thanks to the Giants home park announcer, the absence of batting order along with defensive position changes made "now playing for" changes a matter of some cursing.
Reggie Willits looked pretty awful in his two at-bats, despite the fact that he actually pulled out a bunt hit. From being a chanted name a couple years back, he's become a barely-in-the-majors kind of guy; the tenuousness of his situation pulls at the heartstrings not quite as much as the desire to win does, and you pretty soon begin to envision him in a Pirates uniform or some such. This thought got doubled when I saw him badly botch Rich Aurilia's routine liner that should have been an out in the third. You get the impression he knows how short a leash he's on, and he's chafing.
The same, more or less, is true of Adam Pavkovich and Terry Evans, both of whom were late-innings subs. Ben Johnson, who came into the game in that wave of changes, along with Pavkovich took advantage of a series of errors and wild pitches by an unfortunately named Luis Perdomo. Perdomo was basically perdido on the mound and only managed a single out, a strikout of Robb Quinlan; he amplified Valdez' problems, allowing both inherited runners to score and giving up one of his own on Ben Johnson's RBI double.
Jose Arredondo pitched a strong 1-2-3 eighth, though he didn't strike anyone out. Outside of Jason Bulger's routine ninth, it was the only 1-2-3 outing in the game for the Angels.
I have taken virtually no photos in spring so far, and the main reason is the clumsiness of my big 100-400mm lens; it's heavy and long, making it difficult to navigate in crowded situations, which, increasingly, spring training games are. I got a newer, stubbier lens (100-300mm) which should alleviate that. We'll see how this works tomorrow at Camelback Ranch.
Labels: angels, giants, recaps, spring training
Sunday, March 15, 2009 |
The Times Reviews Camelback Ranch
Camelback Ranch seemed at risk of qualifying for a Cactus League variant of the bad press that is already hitting bling-encrusted stadiums opening later this year to house the New York Mets ($850-million construction cost), the New York Yankees ($1.5 billion) and the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys ($1.1 billion, including a $35-million, 160-foot-long high-def scoreboard).That was the danger on paper, anyway: timing so monumentally bad that it begins to resemble tone-deafness -- or worse, hubris. Think Merrill Lynch’s John Thain and his $1.2-million bathroom renovation, spring training edition.
And yet in person, Camelback Ranch, designed by the Dallas-based architecture firm HKS, has a surprisingly, winningly low-key and entirely accessible personality. Those qualities bode well for the $500-million architectural upgrade McCourt is planning with HKS and the Los Angeles firms Johnson Fain and Rios Clementi Hale for Chavez Ravine. There, as in Arizona, the key to success will be figuring out how to balance newfangled amenity with informal charm.
Labels: dodgers, spring training
Manny Hurt In Loss: Rockies 9, Dodgers 5
Claudio Vargas and Eric Milton both got knocked around, and that was basically the ballgame.
Labels: dodgers, injuries, recaps, rockies, spring training
Spring Training, Day 1: A's 8, Angels 1
Today's contest was, unfortunately, pretty one-sided; Jered Weaver struggled through his first inning of work, giving up three hits and two runs that presaged the final outcome. Of course, he wasn't helped by his outfield defense, as left fielder Juan Rivera misplayed a line drive directly at him, turning an almost certain out into a single. Facing the bottom of the A's order in the second, Weaver almost had a clean inning save for a two-out single by second baseman Gregorio Petit. Another out — Weav's third strikeout of the game, Jack Cust for the second time — and he was done for the day. At least he was better than his last start, an abysmal game that saw him record only two outs and nearly get walloped with a line drive to boot.
Of course, the A's weren't finished with Angels pitching, and as this was a showcase for the likely mop-up section of the bullpen (Justin Speier excepted, though he pitched like it), they pretty much feasted on the fodder the Angels threw up (vomited is maybe a good word). That engorging started with the hapless Matt Wilhite, who got DH Mark Ellis to fly out to center, but took four more batters thereafter to make the final out of the third, allowing his inherited baserunner to score and giving up a pair of baserunners, one via a walk.
There was more and less damage later, as Jack Cust welted a long, towering homer off Speier to right to lead off the fifth. So hard was it hit that Angels right fielder Gary Matthews, Jr. trotted back a few feet but then just looked up and back to track the ball's trajectory. The A's must have felt they'd seen what they needed to from starters Nomar Garciaparra (at third) and Orlando Cabrera (at short), because they were out of the game in the fourth, Nomar having posted two hits by himself, one of three Athletics to do so.
It seemed odd to look up at the box score and see only three men with two hits apiece, because the A's pretty much had their way with Angels pitching all game, but Oakland ran rounds of substitutions every inning from the fourth through the seventh, more or less assuring that the loud, repeated banging noises coming from the field would be evenly distributed against a larger group of players. Indeed, the A's outhit the Angels by nearly three to one (14 to 5). The Angels' only run came off Mike Napoli's fifth inning solo shot, one of only two extra-base hits on the day, the other being Kendry Morales' long center-right double to lead off the seventh.
So we hear now that the Angels are allegedly more concerned this year about plate discipline this year, which beats last years' flippant disregard for Ball Four. The concern, tardy though it may be, is without a doubt welcome; the Angels' collective offensive woes have gone unchanged, once more clocking in in the bottom half of team runs scored. Maybe Bobby Abreu and the ghost of Mark Teixeira are exactly what they need. Or maybe they need to fire Mickey Hatcher. Whatever, admission that there's a problem is the first step to actually fixing it.
Labels: angels, athletics, recaps, spring training
Saturday, March 14, 2009 |
An Enthusiastic Endorsement For Those Coming To Phoenix For Spring Training
I'll have pictures up tomorrow. These probably won't last past 2010, but if you're going out here now, wow.
Labels: spring training
Friday, March 13, 2009 |
Pickoff Moves
Those Meaningless Spring Training Numbers: Lousy, Good, And Great Angels Seasons
The Register has a pretty good slide show on some of the best spring training numbers put up by various players, and how they did subsequently.Bad: 2005: That Steve Finley signing looked awfully good; I wish we'd taped it. He hit .351 and was a doubles machine in spring training. He hit .222 and was an entire out factory in the regular season.
Good: 2002: Pick almost any year for Glaus, but this was his best: .341/.455/.818 in 44 at bats, with a homer in every seventh trip to the plate. In the regular season, Glaus' power actually dipped from his first two 40-homer seasons, and he never hit 40 again.
Crazy good: 1996: Jim Edmonds hit .448 with seven home runs and 13 extra-base hits in just 67 at bats. He drove in 21 runs in 22 games. He continued hitting into the regular season, setting new career highs in OBP and slugging percentage.
Kelvim Escobar's Feeling Pretty Damned Good
Good enough he's talking about an April return. I wouldn't put too much stock in it, but I'd be happy with May. He's throwing to hitters, and reports feeling very good after a 60-pitch session.Jon Stewart And The Bloggerdome
Jon had a bit to say on the Jon Stewart collision with Jim Cramer; some general points:- Glenn Greenwald is right and brilliant as ever, i.e. Cramer is not the only media star pulling this stunt, but that hardly excuses it.
- Cramer harbors a vile morality:
Not so Jim Cramer, hedge fund manager and television pundit, who declared last Friday that chairman of the Federal Reserve, Ben Bernanke, “is being an academic!...My people have been in this game for 25 years. And they are losing their jobs and these firms are going to go out of business, and he’s nuts! They’re nuts! They know nothing! . . . The Fed is asleep.”
And this was above and beyond the horrific call on Bear, Stearns.So capitalism is for poor people and socialism is for capitalists. This view is not just offensive. It is catastrophic.
Labels: angels, spring training, stupid ideas, tv
Thursday, March 12, 2009 |
Everything, Even Manny, Gives You Cancer
"He was on a different train! And you saw what happened with that. We got rid of him, and we moved on without him," Papelbon was quoted in the April issue of Esquire. The story was posted on the magazine's website today.Oh, joy. I have little tolerance for some of the shenanigans Manny pulled to force a trade — he certainly paid for it in the offseason — but I'm not really that excited, either, to see guys whine in public about how much they hated their ex-teammates."So Manny was tough for us," Papelbon added. "You have somebody like him, you know at any point in the ballgame, he can dictate the outcome of the game. And for him not to be on the same page as the rest of the team was a killer, man! It just takes one guy to bring an entire team down, and that's exactly what was happening."
Labels: dodgers, red sox, stupid ideas
A Moment Of Dark Charlie Brown Brilliance
Oddly dark and hilarious all at once. Via Andrew Sullivan.
Labels: funny
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 |
Vlad Could Have His Visa Revoked
Labels: angels, stupid ideas
Tuesday, March 10, 2009 |
Robothal Seems To Think The Dodgers And Pedro Are A Match
The deal Martinez wants, one executive says, is similar to the one the Red Sox gave righty John Smoltz — a $5.5 million base salary with $5 million in incentives.You can see Pedro's logic: Smoltz, 41, is coming off shoulder surgery, while Martinez is more than two years removed his last shoulder operation. Martinez made 20 starts last season, Smoltz five.
Still, there is no question that Martinez is a diminished pitcher.
"His stuff is just OK," the executive says. "He will need to have the plus-plus Pedro command to help a team out."
Martinez might show such command and even bursts of increased velocity in his brief WBC stints. But his case will become more convincing if he shuts down Team USA or Puerto Rico in the next round in Miami.
Even then, the Dodgers might be the only club with anything close to $5.5 million available, and their appetite for risk is minimal.
Mets Release Duaner Sanchez
"He's been getting better, but I didn't think Duaner could get to where we need him to be," [Mets GM Omar] Minaya said. "Where he was last year and now ... I didn't see enough improvement. ... We do have some young guys who are coming on, at least that we feel good about in camp right now. ... I just felt like if he's not going to be on the team, let's make a decision on this now and, at the same time, give him the opportunity to be with another club."One of Dan Evans' last acquisitions as GM, Sanchez was eventually traded for starter Jae Weong Seo and reliever Steve Schmoll in January, 2006 (a trade I didn't write much about at the time but was generally in favor of, which came back to bite me). Seo appears to be out of baseball, having been cut by the Rays in 2007 and is back in the Korean leagues pitching there. Hamulack has bounced around the minors after an unsuccessful 2006 campaign with the Dodgers, most recently with Kansas City.
Labels: ex-dodgers, mets, transactions
A's Shut Down Eric Chavez
Plaschke Steals MSTI's Gag Line
"Are you saying you're sorry?"Funny, I coulda sworn I'd heard that before... where was it now? Oh, yeah.Are you sorry for showing up at spring training looking like a blue manatee? Sorry for not working hard enough to fix that weight? Sorry for ripping the fans who booed you for that weight? Sorry for asking to be put on the disabled list so you could disappear from those boos?
Labels: dodgers, ex-dodgers, newspapers
Al Yellon On MLB's Fiscal Black Hole
It's what we might call, in an analogy to college sports, the "mid-majors" -- markets that are larger TV markets, but don't have large, dedicated fanbases -- that may be in the most trouble. This includes teams like the Braves, Astros, Tigers (who raised ticket prices after having a terrible season in 2008 and being in a very depressed market -- idiocy, in my view), and others. Will MLB be forced to ask for a similar line of credit soon? And, given that MLB's TV contracts don't last as long as the NBA's (they expire in 2013), would they be able to secure as much money?I have wondered this for some time now. The deals negotiated with Fox were done in much happier times; whether Fox can make money on them is anybody's guess, but I would be willing to suggest News Corp. is going to be in some serious trouble through 2010.
Monday, March 09, 2009 |
Enjoy Your Manny While You Can: His Salary Won't Be Paid In Full Until 2013
Ramirez gets a $25 million salary this year, but just $10 million is paid up front. The rest is due in $5 million installments each June 30 in 2010, 2011 and 2012.But then, the graph in the previous post ... huh ...His contract calls for a $20 million salary in 2010, with $5 million payable up front. He is due two installments of $3,333,333 by June 30 in 2011 and 2012, and a final payment of $8,333,333 by June 30 in 2013.
Via BTF.
Labels: dodgers, transactions
An Interesting Graph
The mystery player is Manny Ramirez.Brewers Release Gagne After MRI Shows Shoulder Damage
Labels: brewers, ex-dodgers, injuries
The Seven Scariest Words To Come From MLBAM This Year
Ouch: Ervin Santana Shut Down For Remainder Of Spring With Sprained Elbow
Friday, March 06, 2009 |
Jeanne Zelasko Wasn't Even In The Running For The Dodgers TV Gig
Former Fox MLB studio host Jeanne Zelasko was inexcusably left out of the group of six broadcasters who the Dodgers invited to a play-by-play tryout during March, their attempt to find someone for a package of 40 TV road games. A forward- thinking organization couldn't figure out that by including her in the mix, they'd elicit some positive reaction? Listening to a couple of games this week showcase 28-year-old Ben Wagner, a poor man's Matt Vasgersian currently with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, any recognizable voice in the So Cal market who missed this cut must really reassess his or her future. What are the Dodgers trying to achieve here, if not a search to replace Vin Scully someday?Via BTF.
Q: Is Andruw Jones Done?
Vlad's A Year Older Than His Listed Birthday
Guerrero’s admission – initially unintentional – came in response to a question about his offseason knee surgery. Manager Mike Scioscia had said the surgery could have the effect of “maybe turning back the clock a couple years” for Guerrero.Relayed that quote, the affable Guerrero smiled and responded through a translator, “I feel good. I can’t say [like] 25, because, you know, I’m 34. But I feel a lot better. That’s where I’m at right now.”
The Angels’ media guide, among other baseball references, list Guerrero’s birth date as Feb. 9, 1976, which would make him 33.
Labels: angels
Thursday, March 05, 2009 |
It Is Not Cool To Mess With Jay Jaffe's Season Tickets
Labels: stupid ideas
Giants Release Dave Roberts
Labels: ex-dodgers, giants, transactions
A Diamond, In The Rough
Labels: dodgers, newspapers
Wednesday, March 04, 2009 |
Manny's A Dodger Again
Update: Tim Brown writes that some portion of both seasons' salaries will be deferred.
Labels: dodgers, hot stove, transactions, whew
Both Dodgers And Angels In The Bottom Half Of THT's Farm System Rankings
22. Los Angeles Dodgers, NPV: $48.95 millionThanks to Phil Johnston for kicking me to link to this piece.
Top 100 Prospects: James McDonald (53), Andrew Lambo (74), Ethan Martin (89)
The Dodgers have done a great job of drafting and developing players over the last few years. The one thing the farm system has struggled to produce is a big time impact hitter, though Matt Kemp or James Loney could change that. Like Arizona, the Dodgers are in a bit of a transition period, since a lot of talent has graduated.24. Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, NPV: $32.7 million
Top 100 Prospects: Jordan Walden (55), Nick Adenhart (61)
The Angels' farm system has been hurt by the loss of draft picks over the last few years. However, they have a number of picks this year, so this draft will be very important for their future. The A's and Rangers' deep farm systems will make this a very tough division, and there aren't any guarantees about this year either.
Labels: angels, dodgers, minors
This Could Be Fun: Sugar Trailer
Labels: movies
Tuesday, March 03, 2009 |
And In Other News, Generalissimo Francisco Franco Is Still Dead
Update: apparently the part about Manny flying to LA to meet with the McCourts face-to-face is true.
Gary Matthews, Jr. Cleared To DH, Willits Has Leg Tightness
Also: Reggie Willits isn't being allowed to run the bases, as he has leg tightness.
Three Days Of Cryin' Interviews Jack Howell
Rosenthal: A's Close To Signing Nomar
Labels: athletics, ex-dodgers, hot stove, rumors
Ivan DeJesus To Have Surgery Today, To Miss 4+ Months
Monday, March 02, 2009 |
Nomar In Conversations With A's
The Athletics have had substantial talks with Garciaparra in the past 48 hours, and the player's choices are between the A's and retirement, the sources said. Oakland also is negotiating with veteran reliever Dennys Reyes.
Labels: athletics, ex-dodgers, hot stove, rumors
A's Sign Orlando Cabrera To 1-Year/$4M Deal
Labels: athletics, ex-angels, ex-dirtbags, hot stove, transactions
DeJesus Wept: Broken Tibia May End Dodger Prospect's Season Before It Began
Update: Rotoworld suggests one logical consequence of this: "Now the Dodgers can play Chin-Lung Hu at short there and probably alternate Blake DeWitt and Tony Abreu back and forth between second and third."
On The McCourts' Frugality
The McCourts have had several opportunities this past offseason to go cheap, and they have turned them down. They could have gone young and cheap at shortstop, but they approved an eight-figure contract for Rafael Furcal. They could have gone young and cheap at second base and third base, but they approved free-agent contracts for Casey Blake and Orlando Hudson. They could have skimped in the back end of their rotation and in their bullpen, but they approved contracts for Guillermo Mota and Randy Wolf.Fine, as far as it goes, but not once is last year's expulsion of young talent for salary relief (in both the Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake deals) mentioned; neither is the disturbing nature of the clearing of debts with News Corp. I myself am not sold on the proposition either way (I can see both sides of the argument though I find neither convincing), but it seems to me that there is at least in that enough evidence for the pro argument of the McCourts' near-insolvency that such a light dismissal is insufficient.
Sunday, March 01, 2009 |
Pickoff Moves
The Grass Of Phoenix
As spring training creeps on ... the Angels finally lost one, 5-3 to the Brewers, despite a fine showing by Shane Loux. Matt Kemp and the Dodgers ripped the Rockies 13-6 to go 2-2 in Cactus League action.Jim Bowden Resigns
Nationals GM Jim Bowden resigned, amid denied allegations of bonus skimming from Latin American talent."I have become a distraction. Unless you are Manny Ramirez, there is no place for distraction in baseball. I want to be able to turn the page and I want this franchise to be able to have everybody, from the media to the fans, focus on what the game is about. It's about players. It's about what happens on the field."
Angels Ticked At Winter League Cuts
Remember Brandon Wood getting cut from his Dominican Winter League team, Las Estrellas, back in November? Well, the Angels are now saying the Estrellas broke a gentleman's agreement they had with that team that Wood was to get a long leash, but his poor offense combined with incredible pressure to win got him dropped. The Angels won't use the Estrellas in the future...Blake DeWitt At Short?
I would have liked to have seen it.Tony Abreu To Have MRI Monday
Injured again, this time a groin strain. "It's the same part of his groin that sidelined him last year, but no one seems especially concerned." Probably because he's a longshot to make the 25-man roster out of spring training ...Shut Up And Get In Camp, Manny
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.Derek Lowe Wanted To Stay In LA?
Ridiculous. If so, please explain this.Labels: angels, dodgers, injuries, nationals, spring training
 |
