Wedge

was there like a whistling sound at the end of the inning?

Let's trade Pods to Detroit?

GAS

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jul 8, 2006 -> 11:36 AM) Very nice. ty

QUOTE(RME JICO @ Jul 8, 2006 -> 11:35 AM) Way to work the count Gooch. Way to work the count Thome

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 8, 2006 -> 11:34 AM) That was a nice catch by Cora. And Pods continues to be useless. How long until a "I've given up on Pods" or "DFA Pods" thread pops up?

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARG

they have two Manny's? unreal

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Jul 7, 2006 -> 08:04 PM) Isin't it just shocking how Minny falls back when they play real baseball teams? LOL!!! Yeah, but Liriano and Santana will make them win every game!

In other news, KC beating Toronto 4-1 and the Twins trailing Texas 8-1. Looks like Minnesota is a bit off the widely predicted 700 pace.

Mark doesn't even have a lead to give up anymore!

our 7-8-9 hitters all have lousy averages... at least we know that 7 and 9 have been hitting well lately.

QUOTE(MEANS @ Jul 7, 2006 -> 06:44 PM) seriously why is this game blacked out for me here in Indy??? argh espn.... I can't get it in South Bend, either. This really pisses me off.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Jul 7, 2006 -> 12:33 PM) http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/stats?playerId=3786 I would have more faith in a turnaround for a guy that put together at least 4 good seasons in MLB, vs a guy that was good in a league far inferior to MLB. I am not sure why a guy with those 4 good years is less likely to turn it around vs someone who had zero proven history in MLB, but I would be curious to hear why you would think that... First of all, I'm not sure that I would consider Cuba "far inferior". Perhaps it is not a good metric, but they won the Silver medal in 2000 and Gold in the 2004 Olympics. You're right that it is probably not up to the caliber of the US Major Leagues, but to accomplish that is pretty impressive and not "far inferior". Also, let's not forget he put up some outstanding numbers while in Cuba. In 2001 he went 13-4 with a 1.76 ERA and 149 strikeouts. Also, you may recall an outing he had of the Cuba National team against Baltimore in 1999 where he had an 8 IP, 0 ER, 10 K performance. Additionally, I think you should account for El Duque in your calculations. El Duque had some outstanding years in the AL and had previously put up some comparable years to Contreras when in Cuba. Finally, a big spark of Contreras's turnaround was dropping the arm angles, which I believe is how he had pitched in Cuba, but not when he was in New York and early on in Chicago. As much as something mental (in terms of confidence, family concerns, getting ripped in the press), there was something mechanical. Juxtapose this with Vazquez: a million dollar arm/10 cent head who does not seem to be suffering from mechanical issues or mental issues that are not the norm. If there's something that's going to change with the guy, it's not his throwing, but the mindset. All we have is 3-4 decent (not dominant, which Contreras had in Cuba) seasons in Montreal (I don't know much of the history there, maybe he was the best pitcher on a bad team?). Given history and what we have seen out of Vazquez so far, I just think it's unreasonable to expect a Contreras like turnaround. Perhaps he can put up a decent second half, but I just don't envision him becoming the dominant, unbeatable workhorse that Contreras has become since the ASG Break last season.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Jul 7, 2006 -> 12:18 PM) Fact is, what f***ing good would he do for our team this year? Would he have won 9 games? Pitched around 200 innings? I dont f***ing think so. Some people on this board have serious hard ons for prospects with no legit reason. I agree. Plus, we have Anderson who I think many here are content believing will turn into a very solid Major Leaguer who plays great defense. I'm glad Vazquez will eat up 200 innings. I think when your starters gobble up close to 1000 innings, you're in really great shape and it really helps out the bullpen. Plus, there's always the possiblity for a turnaround, although I'm not hopeful. I understand the "Contreras turned it around, why can't Vazquez" argument, but two things give me doubts: 1) many of us forget that Contreras had a very successful history while in Cuba, something that I don't think you can argue Vazquez had. Contreras became successful again when he started pitching like he had in Cuba, but something tells me that even if Vazquez returns to his Montreal mindset, that he won't enjoy the same kind of turnaround. 2) As good as Coop is, can we really expect to catch lightning in a bottle, twice in a row? It's sort of sad, but if Vazquez puts up a 4.5 ERA the second half, I'd be ecstatic.

QUOTE(Milkman delivers @ Jul 7, 2006 -> 11:52 AM) But seriously, why don't they just let AJ say what he wants in his own words? He'd have to go to sensitivity training?

that batgirl link is hilarious. Some of the conspiracy theories are amazing: 1) White Sox fans made AJ win so that we don't face Liriano in our next series 2) Something about Liriano's DUI holding him back 3) AJ went on a "tour" to win the last spot

CALL THE COPPERS! WHO THE f*** KIDNAPPED URIBE?!?

QUOTE(NUKE_CLEVELAND @ Jul 6, 2006 -> 07:19 PM) No. I meant the chat room. Game thread is f***ing weak. that's racist

QUOTE(Kalapse @ Jul 6, 2006 -> 05:24 PM) 1.) Why the hell would Sammy Sosa be talking to a Korean newspaper in the first place? Because when he "forgot" english in front of Congress, he learned Korean?

I remember somebody (you know who you are!) laughing me off the board for suggesting that at worst Thornton becomes the replacement for Vizcaino and at best becomes the lefty Jenks. Right now he's somewhere in between, but he's definitely trending upwards!

QUOTE(JimH @ Jul 6, 2006 -> 09:05 AM) Nicely done by the marketing department. Pierzynski has really become kind of a folk hero. I remember Harrelson at SoxTalk saying how much the fans would love him and recall thinking "maybe" ... but Harrelson was as right as could be. AJ is awesome. I wonder if he's considering a career managing after baseball. I sure wouldn't mind him leading the Sox after Ozzie's done!

oh boy, LaTroy Hawkins!

Awesome play in Boston vs. Tampa: someone stole Home (maybe it was Crawford?)

QUOTE(tealeafreaderii @ Jul 5, 2006 -> 06:29 PM) did pods hit one of the slames already this season? against the astros, yes.