Balta1701

QUOTE (Markbilliards @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 08:16 PM) We all love what Hudson has done in the minors this year, however is anyone else concerned about the fact that he only throws a 4 seamer, but no 2 seamer nor cutter? I always thought that a starting pitcher in the major leagues must have one of the two moving fastballs in addition to the the 4 seamer in order to be successful. What are the odds that this org. never tries to teach him one of those pitches? The usual pattern seems to me to get the guy his first taste in the big leagues and at about that same time start working with him on the last pitch. Danks, McCarthy, I think Floyd all sort of followed that pattern.

QUOTE (Wedge @ Aug 5, 2009 -> 07:31 AM) Please tell me you realize this post is the precise definition of Irony. Best case scenario, before the postseason, they get what, 10 starts from him?

Prince Fielder went after the whole Dodgers clubhouse last night.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 08:36 PM) Not to be snarky, but I wonder what it really cost us? What did they have to promise or give them to make ithappen? You know he didn't just do it because Bubba charmed him out of his pants. Usually, just getting the photo op with the former president is actually a pretty good return for a country that constantly seems to be looking for respect from its daddy countries.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 08:15 PM) An additional part of my fears is that a .250 hitter, his obp notwithstanding, likely has trouble hitting great pitching. Here's the guys Thome has put up the best OPS against this year, minimum 3 PA's. Randy Wells 5 Jeremy Bonderman 3.5 Jeremy Guthrie 1.917 Edwin Jackson 1.914 Jeremy Sowers 1.694 Kevin Millwood 1.667 Jered Weaver 1.667 Jason Berken 1.666 Jesse Carlson 1.666 C.C. Sabathia 1.666 Scott Baker 1.5 Eddie Bonine 1.4 David Huff 1.167 Jim Johnson 1.167 Francisco Liriano 1.167 Brad Bergesen 1.1 Roy Halladay 1.1 Nick Blackburn 1.089 Justin Verlander 1.042 Bruce Chen 1 Meanwhile, here's the loewr end A.J. Burnett 0 R.A. Dickey 0 Adam Eaton 0 Matt Harrison 0 Jeff Karstens 0 Hiroki Kuroda 0 Andy Pettitte 0 Rick Porcello 0 Joakim Soria 0 It seems like there's very little correlation between the guy being a "Good pitcher" and Jims OPS against him this season.

You know, we're doing a lot of damage right now while Thome, Dye, and Konerko aren't ripping the ball all that hard.

Booyeah.

QUOTE (bobryansson @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 07:52 PM) Do we know who's pitching for the Angels? That is, I dont know... Kevin Jepsen.

OK Q, take us home.

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 07:38 PM) but .494 slugging at the cleanup spot would not cut it on those teams I think are a cut above, like Boston w/ Youklis, LAA w/ Guerrero (normal Vlad that is) or Tampa etc I want to be like those teams. Slugging percentage out of the cleanup spot this year for every team in MLB: 1 Minnesota 0.607 2 Milwaukee 0.586 3 Chicago Cubs 0.568 4 Washington 0.567 5 Texas 0.562 6 Detroit 0.531 7 Boston 0.524 8 Chicago Sox 0.517 9 San Diego 0.514 10 Philadelphia 0.512 11 Houston 0.495 12 Atlanta 0.493 13 St. Louis 0.489 14 Tampa Bay 0.488 15 NY Yankees 0.486 16 LA Angels 0.483 17 Arizona 0.478 18 NY Mets 0.463 19 Colorado 0.458 20 Cincinnati 0.444 21 Cleveland 0.442 22 Toronto 0.44 23 Oakland 0.438 24 Pittsburgh 0.437 25 San Francisco 0.437 26 Florida 0.431 27 Baltimore 0.394 28 Seattle 0.389 29 LA Dodgers 0.381 30 Kansas City 0.293

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 07:26 PM) SLG is on the decline as well, each year he's been here, again with the biggest drop off being post 07. Saying that his slugging is declining from the ridiculous HOF level he was at beforehand isn't an argument for moving him in the lineup. You need to tell me how to replace the nearly .500 slugging from the LH side in the middle of the lineup.

Becktackular

QUOTE (Princess Dye @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 07:15 PM) To illustrate my overall point further, K rate is on the rise for him this year. Here is Jim Thome's K/plate appearances since 1999, excluding 2005 when he was hurt. 1999 0.272 2000 0.250 2001 0.287 2002 0.227 2003 0.261 2004 0.233 2006 0.241 2007 0.250 2008 0.244 2009 0.268

7 in a row retired by Lackey

Oh god it's Moose

QUOTE (nitetrain8601 @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 04:40 PM) Their GM is doing pretty good things there suprisingly IMHO. That Jack Wilson trade?

QUOTE (JorgeFabregas @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 06:22 PM) I am assuming that Torres or Carrasco will be going on Saturday. I was thinking Hudson on Sunday if Contreras is dropped from the rotation. I don't think they'd have Hudson make his MLB debut on 3 days rest, but what do I know? Going in place of Jose, that I could believe.

QUOTE (flavum @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 06:12 PM) 64 pitches for Hudson. If he's going Saturday in Chicago, he better be done. It will be telling if he doesn't come out for the 5th. There's no way they'd do that rather than Torres is there?

QUOTE (Ozzie Ball @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 06:11 PM) No way in hell Richard becomes a #2, at absolute max he's an average #3 but it's far more likely that he ends up a passable #4/5. Don't be blinded by the good stretch he's on because his stuff is very mediocre. I definitely agree with your last statement though. A 94 mph fastball combined with Petco? He could give some really good numbers for a few years.

Come on Paulie, even it up.

1 run without swinging the bat.

For those watching; was there a bat flip?

HE'S BAAAAAAAAAAAACCCCCCCKKKKKKKKK

QUOTE (RME JICO @ Aug 4, 2009 -> 05:28 PM) Longoria vs Beckham? After 184 at bats, Beckham has 6 home runs, 17 doubles, .860 OPS. Same number of at bats last year, Longoria had 8 home runs, 11 doubles, 1 triple, .780 OPS. Similar ages at the time too I think.

Lotta pitches for Lackey