BearSox

I think the Drew Carey Show was quite funny.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 02:05 PM) Kinda surprised Mike Strong hasn't signed. He's a small-time community college pitcher, who went in the 25th round - I'd think he'd jump at the chance. Perhaps he got a D-I scholarship and wants to spend a year having fun and playing baseball at the NCAA level.

I just had the most excruciating cramp in my hamstring. My god, I have never felt so much pain. I was just sitting in my chair, moved my leg a little, and then BAM... I started to cry like a little girl.

This trade makes absolutely no sense for the Mariners. They sold low on Clement, and I could definitely see him becoming a really solid hitter at 1B (a 3rd catcher). I really like Clement's set up at bat from what I've seen from him. I think he's become quite underrated. Jack Wilson is a terrible hitter who is a very good SS. Nothing wrong with having him on your team as the no. 9 hitter, but you don't give up a lot to get a player like him, that makes no sense. However, I could see his offense improving in Seattle as that is a bigger park and will lead to probably more singles and gapers. As for Snell, his upside is as a mediocre no. 4 starter, IMO. I was never too impressed by him, and I don't understand all the hype around. Even IF he does figure things out, he doesn't have the stuff or makeup to be a really good pitcher. 2 good moves by the Pirates after a couple really questionable ones earlier (especially the McLouth one).

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 07:22 PM) Luke Scott's not playing tonight for Baltimore against a RHP. I wonder if something is going on there. He's been dealing with some nagging injuries recently, so it could just be to let him rest.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 11:49 AM) I heard Clement to Pittsburgh; What a god awful trade by the Mariners. Snell could be alright IF he figures things out and Jack Wilson is a god awful hitter who plays good defense. Why oh why would you trade someone with Clement's offensive potential, among others, for those 2???? Makes absolutely no sense, but whatever. Make that 2 good moves by the Pirates today.

Wow, what a great pick up by the Pirates... However, I still think they are a terrible organization and this is the only good offseason move they have made, IMO.

The biggest concern with Lee is how he handles big situations. His success these past 2 years has come when the Indians sucked. I'm interested to see how he handles a lot more pressure now.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 07:00 PM) I honestly believe 2009 Kotsay If the pitcher can throw a fastball harder than 92 mph, Josh Fields is absolutely not a threat at bat. I'll take Kotsay's chances over Fields' any day of the week.

Unless Williams developed a new pitch since Sping Training, he'll probably be worse than Gobble. He gets AAA hitters out, but if I'm not mistaken, he's a minor league vet in his 30's.

I'll say one thing for sure.... you gotta be f***ing crazy to ride around on a bike in the streets of Chicago. You got idiots, people without licenses, people driving cars that should not be on the streets, etc. It's a death trap.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 09:56 AM) WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT. HE MADE A CATCH. HE IS A GOLDEN GOD AND HE'S HITTING .185 WITH A .228 OBP. HE NEEDS TO LEAD OFF MORE THAT MAKES US SEXY WINNERS. I still can't believe we had him leadoff the game after he made the catch. That's just bad managing.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 09:53 AM) I can't handle anymore Wise starts. He doesn't deserve another start with this team. Agreed, but I can handle it if he is used only as a late inning defensive replacement and pinch runner. Any more playing time than that is too much.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 09:49 AM) So is Kotsay now the 4th OF? If Wise is anything more than a late inning pinch runner I will be livid. He's backup 1B who can also play LF or RF when needed. He's also the best pinch hitter we have. He can also be used as a pinch runner once in a while as he still has some speed.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 09:45 AM) Um, roster spot? Kotsay can't really play CF anymore. Wise is our defensive replacement in CF.

If Fields hasn't figured out how to swing yet, at almost 28 years of age, there is practically no hope left for him. I said in the other thread, I don't even blame Greg Walker. No matter what you think of Greg Walker, he knows a thing or two about hitting, and it seems to me Fields just doesn't get it. I'm pretty sure Fields knows what the problem with his swing is, he just can't fix it for whatever reason.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 11:45 PM) "The basics have been working, getting ahead," Holmberg said. "Ideally I like to try and bust hitters inside with the fastball, get their eyes going pretty fast. If they're behind a little with their swing I'll go with the same thing, fastball in. Then I'll change speeds with a changeup out or curveball down. That's ideal." Holmberg's a guy who pitches in sequence, he relies more on control then power, but his frame is projectable enough to suggest room for growth in the 3 to 4 MPH range. Also, he's only 18 "Holmberg's fastball sits consistently at 87-88 mph, but can touch 91. He also has a very good curveball that has two-plane break and has shown feel for a changeup. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds his body has some projection left that could lead to a little bit more velocity, though he'll rely on continuing to command his fastball and use it to set up his curve." http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/high-...009/267784.html Could develop more velocity is different than actually developing more velocity. I'll wait a couple years before I put him in the stud or dud category. Too early to make a decision either way.

QUOTE (DBAHO @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 12:09 AM) Well that's all well and good, but you'd have to find the right fit obviously. The Reds could be a fit, as they'd probably like a change from Edwin Encarnacion, who's hittin .202/.331/.372 currently. The Astros also, althogh Geoff Blum has actually hit decently this season. The Marlins maybe could want an upgrade from Bonafacio at third base who's OPS is just above .600 now. I was gonna say that I wouldn't mind having someone like Bonifacio as a utility player on the bench, but then I remembered if you have speed, Ozzie will horribly over-use you.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 29, 2009 -> 12:00 AM) Not a bad comparison, Bear Sox. Nice. Reynolds could be really good if he cuts down on the K's and sharpens up his D. He's got some serious power though. Most of his home runs are absolute bombs.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 11:28 PM) Wow, Mark Reynolds just hit an absurd two-run BOMB off of Brad Lidge. I believe in landed in the restaurant about two decks up. He's like a good version of Josh Fields.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 06:34 PM) You know, now that I think about it, I'm somewhat surprised there aren't more pitchers who have wierd hand/finger anomalies. Or at least that we don't hear about it more often. The only one I can think of is Bob Wickman and how his middle finger (is it the middle finger) is missing the tip. Then you got Jim Abbott, but I don't think his missing hand helped him as a pitcher outside of perhaps as being a motivational tool he used.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:26 PM) The kid sits at about 89, right now, but has hit 93 a few times. I think there's a certain perfect game winner who has proven that velocity is not really an issue. For every Mark Buehrle, you have 5 or more Jeremy Sowers.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:08 PM) explain? From what I've read, he's a 6'4" 220+ pound player who sits in the mid-high 80's with his fastball. I'm gonna wait and see if velocity develops before I jump on the Holmberg wagon. If he can develop consistent velocity in the 91-93 mph range, awesome. But until then, I'm not too excited about the pick.

QUOTE (Tony82087 @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:44 PM) Looks like Freddy Sanchez is close to going to San Fran. Again, Lexi should have been shopped, as I have talked about over the last two days, Lexi with the Giants would have made a ton of sense. I wonder if we could have gotten one of their top 2 pitching prospects.

QUOTE (fathom @ Jul 28, 2009 -> 10:14 PM) I totally agree, but you have to upgrade in CF next year. AJP should be the #8 hitter next season. And we're back at Ramirez for CF. As for AJ, when do we make him a situational catcher, backup 1B, and pinch hitter? His D behind the plate has been getting worse every season. I'm not even talking about his arm, he is very sluggish behind the plate. I've been thinking about a Flowers-Pierzynski catching duo (Flowers gets 60% of playing time behind the plate, AJ gets 40% behind the plate plus extra AB's from 1B/DH/PH). Just a thought. Maybe not until 2011.