iamshack

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:44 PM) I posted this in a game thread a few days ago: If Omar reaches 300 PA this season he'll be the first infielder (3B/2B/SS) to reach as many PA in his age 43 season or later in the history of the game. Fisk did it as a catcher and a few guys did it as outfielders and 1B but he'd be the first "infielder". I know the man is a freak and all but he's reaching unprecedented territory and even Ozzie said last week that Omar was brought in here to be a reserve for a reason. If Carlton Fisk can do it as a catcher, Omar can do it as an infielder. The reason it hasn't been done is because there are almost always better options available...unfortunately for us, we've managed to have one of the biggest 3rd base gaps in baseball history

QUOTE (lostfan @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:41 PM) Does swinging at anything within 6 inches of the strike zone count as an approach? 6 inches?? I wish he was that selective. More like 6 feet...

Bad call blue

I love how these supposed "constants" of the game that Hawk discusses always seem to change from year to year...

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:32 PM) Ive seen him do it about 3-4 times the last few games I just wish he would go up there with some kind of approach when there are men in scoring position.

AJ is such a little b****.

Q!

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:19 PM) Im talking about our interleague schedule having an impact on our current standing.. I'm wondering why you said that teams like Florida have a lot to do "with this streak" then.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:14 PM) Yeah you're right, getting to play teams like Pittsburgh, Washington, Florida, and the Cubs had nothing to do with this streak First of all, we didn't play Florida. Second of all, don't mistake correlation with causality.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 01:11 PM) Actually ide say thats a big reason why teams run off big streaks like this Wrong. Baseball is not basketball.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 11:57 AM) Things that haven't been very fundamentally sound: The sox on the basepaths in general. Too aggressive, running into too many outs. That's not likely to change. Teahen's D at 3b. Quentin's D in RF. Everything Randy Williams has done. Aside from that, what true fundamentals are they failing at on a regular basis? Bunting, making more productive outs (moving runners over, getting runners in from 3rd with less than 2 outs), hitting the cutoff man, grounding into less double plays with men on base, hitting to all fields, especially against sinkerball pitchers who are just trying to get them to roll the ball over the left side, walking more, etc.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:34 PM) Well the photo of him isn't holding flip flops, those are just sandals.. im talkin bout straight up flip flops with the tong between your toes.. Well, I actually think sandals are entirely lame. I have been wearing the cheap rubber flip flops - the exact ones you are talking about - for a long, long time. I'm not sure why anyone would want to wear more on their feet in the summer than they absolutely have to.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 11:41 AM) What have they been doing lately that hasn't been fundamentally sound? I'm talking about the entire season...they have been magnificent recently...need to see it going forward, not simply as a 20 game thing.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 11:47 AM) The Mariners basically bought Russell Branyan from the Indians last night. They traded Ezequiel Carrera and Juan Diaz (neither is considered anywhere close to a top prospect) for Branyan and a PTBNL or cash (Branyan's '11 buyout), they got him cheaply thanks to their willingness to take on the $1.1M remaining on Branyan's deal. That's 2 trades within a short period of time where a team gave away a decent player for next to nothing in order to save a little over a million dollars. I'm just hoping the M's think they can replicate our recent success and hold off on trading Lee to the Twins...

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 11:51 AM) Yeah, pitchFX had him sitting at 98 last night (Putz average fastball at 94.4, Garcia at 88, Cashner at 97.24) and topping out at 99.3, that's pretty f***ing hard even for Matt Thornton and I really don't think it's a good thing. The thing about Matt is he is such a smooth 96-97. So effortless. It bothers me if he appeared to be actually trying to throw hard or throw harder. I hope the elbow isn't causing him to try and overcompensate.

QUOTE (Soxbadger @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:27 PM) What Jurgen said wont get much traction because English is not his first language so his comment was not as elegant as it could have been. What he meant (I believe) is that as long as soccer is pay to play in the US, you are excluding many of the most talented players. Conversely if you go to the city you see kids playing basketball for free, developing their skills. And I wonder if Jurgen has a shot to become the next US coach, I know there was talk before Bradley, but it kind of seemed like Jurgen had the fire again. I think the other problem that was commented on is that the US league is way behind many of the Euro leagues, and if the US really wants to start making an impact in soccer, its pro teams are going to need to become world class so that kids dream of growing up to be rich like Messi. Oh, I understand what he meant, and honestly, he was spot on. I was just commenting on the media's desire to turn non-stories into big stories, if there is the slightest scent of blood in the water. What Jurgen said is absolutely true - many of the world's most popular sports need to be played by the masses in order to develop a truly powerful national program. While soccer is widely played in the US, it isn't played with the sort of passion and desire that games like baseball and basketball are in this country. Our youth leagues are pretty lame from a competitive standpoint, at least in comparison to the organization and devotion supporting some of our other youth programs. I'm not sure that is ever going to change in this country either. What DBAHO stated is correct, the best chance the US has is to use our numbers and money to set up world class academies, much like we have been able to do in sports like swimming and gymnastics. We'll never (or at least not in the near future) be able to compete with the best European and South American nations without superior instruction and facilities, because soccer simply isn't the sport that our youth is eating, sleeping, and dreaming like it is on those continents.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 10:41 AM) There is a difference between mental strength and physical strength. He's 43 and he plays baseball. We're not asking him to play rugby. Just think of all the guys out there wearing hardhats in the heat welding iron and working as laborers. I think Omar can handle catching a ball and swinging a bat 4 times a game. He's a special kind of player, and always has been. I think he can continue to compete at a reasonably competent level (especially defensively) on an every-day basis for the remainder of the year if we called upon him to do so.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 11:37 AM) I don't think the run isn't impressive.. they have won 11 in a row and what, 15 of 16? That's impressive.. I don't see what the problem is with wanting them to finally do good against AL competition before getting my hopes up.. Look, what you choose to do is what you choose to do...all I am trying to impart is that teams don't run off a streak like this merely because the competition is subpar. We all want to see a more consistent, fundamentally-sound baseball team. What would be awesome is to see the offense pick up right when the pitching starts letting down a bit.

QUOTE (T R U @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:27 PM) Its not nonsense, whats nonsense is all you drones reserving your playoff tickets.. how about you wait for them to actually put together a string of wins against AL competition before declaring them central champions.. No one is declaring anyone AL Central Champions. But to claim that this run is somehow not impressive because of the competition they've faced is bs. Winning 15 of 16 major league baseball games, I don't care who you play, is quite an accomplishment. And to sweep the Braves, who have been one of the best teams in baseball since May 1st, is also quite an accomplishment. Because they happen to be in the NL and not the AL has very little to do with the quality of baseball team they are.

QUOTE (girlslikebaseballtoo#26 @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 11:11 AM) WOW!!! Most everything about this screams "UNDATEABLE"!! LOL You crack me up Don!! Don doesn't like your type anyways, Bren.

QUOTE (chw42 @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:17 PM) I really want Putz to close. He's got the velocity back and he's done it before. Thornton looked like he was on speed out there yesterday. That's illegal now.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:10 PM) Howard's positioning on Ghana's 1st goal last night was worse than James' I'd say, and Mueller's shot was pretty powerful unlike Boateng's. Upson's and Terry's positioning on that goal kick was just absolutely terrible. Yeah, I can agree with you. And I'm not ignorant, I know you watch a lot more soccer than I do.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 12:07 PM) The chances that Germany scored on were so clear cut though, besides the 3rd goal, James really couldn't have done much more. All of the England pundits on BBC said he was there best player, which pretty much says how s*** the rest of the team were. Yeah, the third goal is what prompted my comment and was a huge, huge goal in that game. That first goal Germany scored was awful from England's perspective as well, and I'm not so sure James shouldn't have come off his line earlier to cut off the angle more.

QUOTE (Kalapse @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 10:58 AM) Not after yesterday. Jones is 3 for his last 38, hitting .173/.269/.346/.615 in 119 PA since May 1st and has the worst approach at the plate I've seen of any player all year. I hate watching him hit. Oh, and by the way, I meant Kotsay's June splits...should have clarified that.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jun 27, 2010 -> 11:01 AM) I don't know if this has been posted anywhere but Threets is at USCF and was an option to take Jenks spot. I would imagine if he looks like he can get anyone out at all the Randy Williams era could be coming to a close when Jenks gets back. Yeah, Reifort said Threets has been called-up and Jenks is on the bereavement list. I agree, Williams will be gone when Jenks comes back, which Doc predicted 3 days ago.