3E8

Gload should give the team a lesson in going away with the outside pitch.

Picture perfect approach by Gload

QUOTE(Flash Tizzle @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 08:37 PM) I never much approved of McCarthy's role from the beginning. Relief pitchers, aside from a few rarities, frequently use one or two pitchers during their outtings. It's difficult to consistently have the feel for your changeup or curveball when work is sporadic. Personally, I was an advocate of trading one of our starters while their stock was high last offseason and obtaining a bullpen arm/SP prospect. McCarthy would be in the rotation, our bullpen would have had another necessary component. I felt the same way during the offseason, and was pretty vocal about it. Most members contended that pitching prospects starting their career in the bullpen is the most effective way to develop them.

NUKE_CLEVLEN

QUOTE(SoxHawk1980 @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:13 PM) To all of those who are so in love with Ryan Sweeney as a "great prospect" and who think he is major league ready, what is it about his performance this year that impresses you? .349 OBP .449 SLG .798 OPS That isn't at all impressive. If you think he's a great prospect, then how do you explain his underachievement this season? And if he isn't excelling at AAA, what makes you think he's ready to excel in the majors? I would prefer that he shows that he can do very well in AAA before making him a regular in the majors. Long story short, he needs to spend some significant time in AAA next season before getting serious consideration for the major league team. He's not major league ready but he can still be considered a great prospect. You have to take age into consideration. Sweeney's been rushed through the system. He has a career minor league batting average just under .300 and is on the verge of completing a full season in Charlotte by age 21. That counts for something. The fact that he finally seems to be developing a bit more power is another positive because power is traditionally the last stage of improvement in a young hitter. I suppose you can take just his stats and say these seem unimpressive for a hitter in a band-box who we need to come up right now and help the club, but when you combine them with Sweeney's age and professional progression then you've got the system's top 1 or 2 prospect.

QUOTE(Brian @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 07:25 PM) you can pitch inside guys I would really like to see our pitchers move some feet out there.

QUOTE(mreye @ Aug 22, 2006 -> 10:10 AM) If you find it put it with the one in your avatar and jam up my computer even more. No, it's not my connection. There's a nice way to do that. I'll remove it.

Did anyone see when that kid from New York in the game yesterday screamed "one more f***in' run!" (the dugout was mic'd) and then subsequently get slapped in the face by his coach? Man it was hilarious and I've been trying to find video of it.

QUOTE(Wedge @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 04:57 PM) why are they booing AJ? Would they rather not have Nathan, Liriano, and Bonser? AJ mimicked their smell the RBI hand signal.

Pinch hit Gload here

Tigers lose.

Amazing throw by Gary Matthews Jr. to get Maggs at home and end the inning.

QUOTE(santo=dorf @ Aug 20, 2006 -> 10:07 AM) 3.79 is not "ace" material, and is it fair to remove everyone else's two worst years to make their numbers look better? I'm taking away his two first years because he was in the rotation at ages when most serious pitching prospects are still at advanced A or AA. No one labeled him the "team ace" during his first two seasons anyways because they still had Bartolo Colon. Why should those yearly ERAs be lumped into the equation when trying to determine if he is an ace? It wasn't his role. Plus, why are we using ERA as the end-all be-all for throwing pitchers in the ace category? Could you tell me what the magic number is to qualify in the AL? Let's look at other stats. His K/9 has increased every year for the past four seasons, now above 8. His BB/9 has decreased steadily three seasons in a row to where he is finally in a good range at the low 2's (control has been his main issue). HR/9 and WHIP decreased three years in a row as well. He seems to be continually improving, and even if you don't think he is an ace, I definitely don't think he belongs in an all-overrated rotation. I'd take him over any of the "aces" of our pitching staff.

QUOTE(ZoomSlowik @ Aug 3, 2006 -> 10:59 PM) 5) C.C. Sabathia (he keeps getting thrown around as an ace despite a 4.05 career ERA. Decent, but not stellar) Sorry, but he's a legitimate ace. His peripherals continue to get better each year. Take his ERA over the past four seasons (his first two full seasons in the majors started at ages 20 and 21 mind you) and you get 3.79. To average that as a starter for four years in the AL is quite good.

Buehrle and Thome go see Snakes On A Plane

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Aug 19, 2006 -> 11:04 AM) If you were going to go for an OF from Philly, I'd probably prefer Dellucci. Burrell absolutely crushes lefties though which has been a weakness for us this season, he has a 1.112 OPS against them. Dellucci can only be used effectively as a pure platoon player. He cannot hit lefties whatsoever, and that's an issue for us already as you mentioned.

QUOTE(Rex Hudler @ Aug 19, 2006 -> 09:48 AM) Did Broadway just get promoted to Charlotte? Yes sir.

Listen to the official song here.

QUOTE(3E8 @ Aug 18, 2006 -> 10:48 PM) I am watching Chris Young's first major league AB. Will keep you posted. Weak ground out to third.

I am watching Chris Young's first major league AB. Will keep you posted.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ Aug 18, 2006 -> 10:46 PM) Hey Mel, how are ya? Quiet, sugartits

QUOTE(Felix @ Aug 18, 2006 -> 10:44 PM) Just got back from Snakes on a Plane (excellent movie by the way), what happened so far? I see the crappy score, but who's to blame? the jews

I think you may have misinterpreted what I said in the game thread. I meant that Morneau is hitting lefties better this year than he has in the past, not hitting lefties better than righties. Still, bad decision.

Morneau is better at hitting lefties this year.

Twins are 40-3 since June 11 when scoring 4 or more runs.