scenario

QUOTE (maggsmaggs @ Apr 20, 2010 -> 12:09 PM) I know I am being stubborn, but until I see significant improvements in that K rate (28% k-rate is actually worse than last year) I cannot take him seriously as an offensive player. Yes, I understand that I will be ridiculued by overlooking his extra-base hits, great average thus far, ability to walk and stolen bases, but I do not have faith he can do any of that at the major league level with such a poor contact rate. Flame away. I think that's fair. If AAA pitchers strike him out 28% of the time, then major league pitchers might eat him alive. I still believe the source of the problem is him pulling his head off the ball during his swing. If so, then I'm more encouraged than if it was a problem judging balls and strikes... or having a big loopy swing. I think good coaching can help him address it. And Chris Chambliss is an ideal guy to be working with him.

Marquez was cruising along pretty well until giving up a 3-run dinger in the 4th.

Tampa is 7-0 on their current 10 game road-trip... and just swept the Red Sox... in Boston. I pray that the baseball gods will be kind to us the next few days.

Given that he was a first round pick by the Braves organization (which typically doesn't blow early picks) and only 21 years old... I wouldn't be too quick to call him a tease or a fringe prospect.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 06:27 PM) I wonder if the inevitable consequence of Retheford being called-up, could be Shelby going to AAA. If he keeps hitting like this, he might fall into a promotion. I know you're on the 'Ozzie hates Nix' bandwagon, but I don't see what you're suggesting happening. No good reason to bring up CJ and sit him on the bench. Might as well be in Charlotte getting at-bats and prepping to replace Nix in 2011.

QUOTE (flavum @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 06:25 PM) Shelby with a double for B'ham. Hot bat. Shelby is a streaky player. When he gets hot, he gets 'carry the ballclub' type hot... lots of extra base hits... seems like he can't do anything wrong. When he's cold, he can't buy a base hit. Seems like there's not much in between. It would be great to see him even out and become more consistent.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 11:52 AM) I'd be pretty frusrated if my manager threw me under the bus for not contributing more to the team in my one start and six AB's. I believe you're over-thinking Ozzie's comments and reading things into them. You can be sure Ozzie did not think that much before he said them.

QUOTE (justBLAZE @ Apr 18, 2010 -> 11:49 AM) Haha, well not a lot of optimism here and the game didn't even start yet, can't say I blame you that lineup is pretty bad today. It's a good sign IMO. The last time Ozzie put a really bad lineup together, there were 8 pages of bashing posts before the game calling for his head, and then we went out and scored 11 runs against Toronto.

I really don't get why some people are worried about the fate of Jayson Nix... or how Ozzie is treating him. He's a bench player who is probably thrilled just to be earning a major league paycheck. I highly doubt he thinks he's being 'mistreated'.

QUOTE (Jordan4life @ Apr 17, 2010 -> 07:22 PM) Wow, I can't defend Ozzie there. I'm not sure what other options he had. There was no question Thornton was going to be called in to face Sizemore, Choo, and Hafner. I suppose we could have brought him in to start the inning, but... Jake was rolling along pretty nicely. I don't think bringing him out to start the 8th was a horrible idea. But neither he or Thornton got the job done. What do you do? Besides, if our offense was worth a damn, it probably wouldn't have mattered.

Lillibridge seems to be finding the hospitality in Charlotte to his liking. Batting .343 so far on the season. Good for him.

Interesting to see Retherford back at 3B the last couple of nights. We'll probably see him moved around a few different positions over the course of the year... Prepping him for a future utility role.

We have the 3rd lowest batting average and the 5th lowest OBP in all of MLB. The only teams with a lower OBP than ours... Cleveland Cincinnati Baltimore Houston But we are tied for 2nd in MLB in homeruns. Old habits are hard to break. :0

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Apr 16, 2010 -> 07:26 PM) I enjoy having no idea who any of these Kanny starters are. You should try listening to a few of the games on Internet radio. They're fun actually... and kind of addicting. You can pick up alot of good information.

QUOTE (JorgeFabregas @ Apr 16, 2010 -> 09:11 AM) I'm wondering if Viciedo's AAA promotion was merited. I don't get it. Does Viciedo have to get hits every day to avoid being criticized? He went 2-4 plus a walk on Tuesday, and 2-4 on Wednesday... But goes hitless on Thursday and gets called out by people?

per Mark Gonzalez During this four-game series, there were scouts from at least eight teams. That's a large number considering that teams usually don't start making trades until at least one-fourth into their seasons. Some observers speculated that teams might be interested in one of the Blue Jays' relievers. But it turned out that Toronto, looking for a speedy outfielder, acquired Freddy Lewis from San Francisco for a player to be named later or cash considerations. Lewis recently completed a minor league rehabilitation assignment for Triple-A Fresno. The last time the Sox visited Toronto was in May of 2009. There weren't as many talent evaluators at the Rogers Centre at that time, but one interested scout was Ken Bracey, then with San Diego. Less than three days after the Sox were swept by Toronto in a four-game series, the Sox unsuccessfully tried to acquire Jake Peavy from the Padres for four pitchers. One of the pitchers Bracey scouted was Sox left-hander Clayton Richard, who limited Toronto to three hits in seven innings. --------------------------------------- No revelations or breaking news... just found this interesting.

Interesting back-story on the game-saving relay against the Twins. Looks like the reason the Twins 3B coach sent Hardy is because: a. he noticed a blown defensive alignment by the Sox, and b. the reputation of Pierre's weak arm. Teahen was actually supposed to return to cover third. So, looks like Alexi blew his assignment. Probably was confused because of the Thome shift. But Teahen noticed it and ran out to get the throw. Amazingly Pierre made a very good throw for such a deep play. Teahen threw a frozen rope to AJ, and Hardy was a sitting duck. So... a bizarre chain of events that ended up very good for us. I'll take it.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ Apr 13, 2010 -> 12:28 PM) Viciedo (.200) not so much, just like last season out of the gate. Come on. As of yesterday morning, he was batting .266. The morning before, he was batting .300 The day before... .375... because he had 3 hits in his first 8 at-bats. But yesterday he had an 0-5 game and dropped his average to .200 So, therefore he is coming out of the gate just like last year, eh? IMO, there should be a law against analysis being used to draw conclusions from small samples. And tickets passed out when people violate it.

Are we really arguing about which player on our team was more valuable in a winning effort?

QUOTE (JPN366 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 03:46 PM) I've lost all hope that the Barons will win a single game this year. Worked that reverse psychology beautifully tonight! Keep up the good work.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 08:47 PM) Ozzie Guillen has really not done anything right this whole year. He wanted this team that he has to manage and he is being exposed. Because he helped create a pitching heavy ballclub that can't hit, right? Ohhh.... wait a minute....

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 12, 2010 -> 01:33 PM) The Marlins fans still have some fight in them. Best punch I've ever seen thrown at a sporting event was by a woman... a Detroit Red Wings groupie who absolutely leveled a guy at a Wings-Hawks game. I wouldn't mess with those women, they're pretty dangerous. LOL.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 11, 2010 -> 03:35 PM) Strasbourg didn't pitch in the minors last year? Just the AFL

I don't think Bobby looked bad at all. I agree with the comment above that said the problem was bad pitch selection to Thome. Other than that, I thought he looked pretty good. Love to see the 96mph heater this early in the season. That's a good sign IMO.

The Twins 3B coach figured there was no way Pierre could throw the ball far enough to make a good relay play. Pierre's throw was actually pretty good. Teahen threw a strike to AJ. Hardy was a sitting duck.