Gregory Pratt

QUOTE (daa84 @ May 23, 2008 -> 06:03 PM) haha what the hell is the deal with the corncat exactly? It's cute.

I have sent my request to Balta that I be re-named to Corncat Pratt. I love it. Brokeback was a reference to the time I was thrown off a cow and hurt my back. Now, I am a corncat.

The Braves traded for a 30-save closer (Kerry Ligtenberg) about two dozen bats and balls, too.

QUOTE (RME JICO @ May 23, 2008 -> 04:38 PM) I would say that is a fair statement. I think it has to do with the fact that he is not throwing 100mph heat anymore. He is actually pitching and not just blowing it by people. Taking Bobby's last birthday as a checkpoint: Jenks at 27, 87 saves Rivera at 27, 48 saves Papelbon at 27, 72 saves Bobby still needs about 5-6 more 30+ save seasons to compare to Rivera. If he does that, there is no reason not to compare him to Rivera. Rivera was a setup man, so it's not fair to compare him by checkpoint. I mean, give me a break. Three seasons in, and he's the new Rivera? Closers are fickle creatures. Let's see how Bobby does for the coming years before we start polishing his plaque. Is he underrated? I don't think so. He's a very good, able closer, but I don't feel any indignation on his behalf.

RALLY CORNCAT

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html...;pagewanted=all Read through it, and there are all sorts of moments that stand out: the closeness with McNamee, his remark when told that Jesse Jackson took his mistress to the White House during the Lewinsky scandal, and all sorts of other moments. In 2001. What really gets me going about steroids in baseball is that most journalists have a good idea but don't investigate a damn thing anymore except for a couple of good souls at the Chronicle in SF and the NYDN, but they didn't get to work until after the Mitchell Report. I mean, I can't believe that stories would run in the late 1990s about how McGwire and Sosa and all the others got to where they were with "hard work."

If I remember correctly, you need talent more than bulletin board material. Didn't we win by like twenty runs? i'm looking forward to seeing you guys again. Last year's was a blast.

I still tell people about that. "Came in, walked two, gave up a three-run bomb and pulled myself from the game." That's why I'm setting the table or clearing the bases for our side full-time next time.

I was the MVP. And I expect to hit third again. Or leadoff.

I'm making no allegation. In fact, what I said is I think quite reasonable and measured. Rosenbloom's article, on the other hand, is very silly.

QUOTE (jackie hayes @ May 23, 2008 -> 11:52 AM) I don't think production is a good reason to suspect anyone either. But what kind of logic is this? You "don't want to play that game" that a good season raises steroid suspicion, but a nickname is enough? Are you off your rocker? I'm suspicious of a lot of players in MLB. Few more than others. I'm just saying -- if someone referred to someone as little McGwire, little Sosa, little Palmeiro, I'd have to look twice.

I have questions about Quentin. When I heard players refer to him as "Little Canseco," even if he does look like him and he does stand like him it certainly evokes steroids. Is he? I make no allegation. I simply have suspicions. re: Chipper Jones and Berkman -- nothing would surprise me, but Jones has hit more singles this season than at any point in his career and besides, his late-career evolution is not without precedent in guys like Molitor or Brett. It is a little suspicious that he's having such amazing seasons, but who knows. Berkman I don't know either, but it's possible. I don't want to play that game that oh, he's doing really good... I don't think either of them have yet shattered any records, so we'll have to see the end of the season for statistical analysis.

One of my coaches in HS had a son who was drafted as an infielder for the Devil Rays and he would tell us stories about how everyone thought he was the next Mickey Mantle and how nice he always was.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 22, 2008 -> 08:17 PM) I'd rather not see anyone make contact with CQ besides my wife. Very noble of you.

QUOTE (fathom @ May 22, 2008 -> 07:57 PM) I was thinking yesterday that my 3 favorite baseball movies are Major League, Little Big League, and Mr. Baseball. Randy Johnson jumping up celebrating after Griffey Jr. robs Lou to end the game is one of the best scenes in cinematic history. boooo

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/20...332850683_x.htm Good article.

Taken from BP's quote section awhile ago: http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=7472

I know!

Could it be that the Cubs dealt him to Cinci as a special favor to the Reds and Hamilton because their manager at the time had family connections to Hamilton and people were worried that he might not be alright without him?

Dental plan!

To be fair, five of his years in Chicago were excellent, but his best years were all with Atlanta, he is most closely associated with his peak and teammates in Atlanta, he went and won the Series in Atlanta, and he will represent Atlanta in the Hall of Fame.

And then he went yard.

Maybe. I doubt it -- he's a beast, and he's used to playing in the heat in NC. But I don't approve of gambling on baseball, or rooting against such heroic players. Although 110 is a pretty conservative number right now, so I'd take that bet if I were a betting man.

That's what I'd recommend.

Jon Jarrett is a Professor at UIC who has taught at Harvard, Cornell and Vermont. He shared this essay with me awhile ago and it is my favorite write-up on baseball. I thought I'd share it with you all, but I suspect that "the older crowd" will enjoy it more than anyone else. It's very good. http://www.muscatinejournal.com/articles/2...7e825791397.txt