Capn12

QUOTE(watchtower41 @ Jul 11, 2006 -> 04:06 PM) Great, another year, another player that we gave up a half week to vote in, that won't even get an AB. I'm REALLY hoping that was supposed to be an attempt at sarcasm. This is the same AJ that caught 19 STRAIGHT innings of a MLB game...6 HOURS...I think he deserved the recognition of making teh team without having to play. Besides, if the game was completely 1-sided, I can almost guarantee AJ woulda hit. A 2-1 game in the 9th = you better save a catcher for the "Oh s***!" factor.

So Pauly is one of only 2 players with a multi-hit All-Star game...and to think he didn't even start..

I'm content with Pods here the rest of the year...I don't want KW to go out and overpay for a leadoff-type LFer for this season...lets wait till the offseason, see what our options are via FA or trade, and go from there. Pods irritates the piss outta me as much as, if not more than everyone else, but he is by far not the biggest problem right now on this team. Give me a starting rotation who pitches even remotely close to their potential(and their price), then give me a situational righty who wont implode in close games, and hey I'm happy.

The Pods issue is not quite cut and dry like we want it to be though. Everyone on here by now probably knows how harsh I am on Pods, and for IMO good reason. But the fact is this:to replace Pods' shoddy defense in LF, you have to not only get a solid defending LFer, but you also HAVE to get one that can hit leadoff for you. Look up and down our order, there is not 1 guy who could even pretend to fill the role as "Leadoff Hitter"....and don't tell me "Iguchi" because we all know better than that, and hes the closest to a fit there is. With that said, its alot harder to go out on the market telling yourself as a GM "OK, I need to find this team a LFer that can play pretty good defense, AND who has the mentality and ability to leadoff for my team. Someone who will take his share of pitches, sacrifice himself to move runners over, not get flyball greedy." KW has his work cutout for him, and no, Josh Fields is not the answer with our current roster setup.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Jul 10, 2006 -> 03:35 AM) Riske is better than Roberto, so no. Riske is a pretty solid and dependable guy in late game situations, I agree that he's not dominant but it's going to be hard to find a dominant right handed set up guy in the trade market. Or at least one that you aren't going to brutally pay for...I think overall Riske was an absolute steal, one of many for KW...but not sure he is that guy to go to with a tie/1 run game, men on base.

Our answer in LF isnt Fields...he'll be a nice platoon guy that can possibly play LF at best, DH, and 3B...thats about it. If we're gonna replace Pods(please lord) next year, its going to have to be for a similar type player, someone at the top of the order. Without Pods, as bad as he is there, we REALLY don't have anyone that can emulate a leadoff hitter.

Look at our options in-house... Cliff Politte Dustin Hermanson So yeah, we are gonna need that situational righty...

I think thats about right Heads, but I don't really want Riske in there with men on honestly, I'd rather have Thornton or Cotts in there....which leads us to the 2nd issue....who is our righty that can be thrown out there for that BIG out with men on base?

That changeup Cliff brought with him to teh mound today went a long way to making me think maybe he has a slight bit of usefulness left in him...

Woke up at 11 AM on the sofa, watched some Nick Games and Sports reruns, got something to eat, went and sat down in front of teh PC utopia in the other room, watched 19 innings of Sox-Sox baseball on mlb.tv, played a bit o' EverQuest, got ready and came to work, here now!

OK, I hate to admit it..but that change from Politte is pretty damn good.

Pods is SUCH a clutch bunter...

2nd straight AB for Dye where he is bailing right away on his swing.

Thome late on Papelboners fastball, 2 pitches that were really right there to hit.

No Heads, I'm not going all Chicken Little either...I'm still here, watching, and not annoiting Papelbon as Cy Young already for getting Gooch to popout. Looked rather ordinary to me, this team needs a few days off, I'd rather our pitchers not throw at all in the All-Star game.

Pods is looking pretty damn good with his approach at the plate these days...I only wish he didn't play close to Peoria defensively in left field.

Some of you folks need a break from watching this team or something...."waiting on all our pitchers to be FAs so we can get new arms", "after Schilling shuts us out tomorrow"...good lord.

And with BMac now warming, we've effectively toasted the 'pen. Contreras, I sure as hell hope you can throw up to 18 innings if need be tomorrow.

Simply amazing..it takes talent to get bases loaded, nobody out....and not score 1 GD run.

Thome had no chance against Lopez

Loaded..no one out...our hitters coming up...now is the time.

And cue the Chicken Littles now... What was Oz supposed to do there? Our 'pen is completely overused right now because our supposed strength this year is a flat out weakness behind Contreras....not much can be done when we have 5 starters who seem completely lost.

And THATS what a reliever does in the crunch. Well done Cottsy.

AJs arm isnt really that bad, but when your pitchers dont hold anyone on base where they are, its kinda hard to throw anyone out. Our starters dont do AJ any favors whatsoever concerning baserunners.

And thats why when you have the #9 hitter down 0-2, you don't f***ing WALK him. :headshake