Friend of Nordhagen

QUOTE(winninguglyin83 @ May 27, 2006 -> 06:17 PM) followed by a guest appearance from Kaz Sazaki Hawk: Kaz Sazaki . . . YEEEEESSSSSS!!!!

QUOTE(Heads22 @ May 27, 2006 -> 06:14 PM) GREAT job today for Matt. Nelson enters. Apparently we're letting last year's Mariners bullpen handle the 10th. I expect to see Guardado shortly.

Thornton showing why he's won 6 consecutive Gold Gloves.

QUOTE(Dick Allen @ May 27, 2006 -> 06:11 PM) He takes long strides. He looks a lot slower than he really is, except for maybe that last play. Indeed. On the last play, he looked like Keith Traylor.

Anyone think that JD looks a little slower this year -- in the field, and, like, just now?

Actually, I'd say we show some respect for Judy, not Jon.

Damaso was just, um, misunderstood.

By the way, Thornton's 3.77 ERA is exactly the ERA that Damaso Marte had last year. Hmm.

And Hernandez doesn't need any help sucking. People have complained about him as a home-plate umpire for a long time.

Between Wendelstedt and Angel Hernandez, this is one of the worst crews in baseball.

Scott Podsednik = Terrible sacrifice bunter. Awful. Just really, really bad.

Scott Williamson and Juan Pierre.

And, for about the 4th time in the last 2 weeks, our pitchers cannot pitch through adversity. Scot Shields and Darin Erstad (CF), anyone?

Also staggering is that 6 out of those 8 ERA's are lower than Cliff Politte's.

Still wouldn't be entirely surprised to see Erstad playing centerfield for the White Sox before this year is done. He's always been a Kenny Williams favorite. I think he's in his walk year, and if we get to the deadline with Anderson still not hitting, a prospect or two might get that one done (and who knows, maybe one of those Angels bullpen guys, too). Plus he can play first, so he takes Gload's spot pretty easily, and Anderson stays up as a defensive guy at all the outfield positions.

Good point on Sean Tracey. As for Augustin Montero, I like his arm, would like to see more. The Vizcaino role is wide open, it is tough to pull off a trade right now. Maybe they'll give him more opportunities. I thought he pitched ok tonite.

The issue with Tracey is that he regained his control at Charlotte only when he went back into the rotation. Out of the bullpen, he couldn't find the plate. Maybe they'll bring him up, but my guess is that Sean Tracey is trade bait at the deadline. I didn't see much of the game when Montero pitched (was in and out of the room), but it sure didn't look like he got much defense played behind him, and I did see that he was throwing in the low to mid 90's. What's the problem with him?

Boone has talent. Now's not the time.

The real problem is that we have a gap in our pen -- another guy to close out games. This was Jenks' third appearance in a row. If we learned anything from late last year, it's that Bobby loses a little something (a little break on the curve; a few MPH off the fastball) when he's used often. That's when someone else has to be available. The problem was that Cotts had pitched two straight days, too. And Ozzie has 0 confidence in Politte or McCarthy to close right now.