JPN366

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 7, 2009 -> 11:33 AM) Sergio Miranda, playing for High A Brevard County (MIL)... .789 OPS, .393 OBP, more than a third of his hits are doubles, and he has more than twice as many walks as strikeouts (2nd best BB/K ratio in his league, behind Chris Cates). His K rate is one for every 16 at bats - doesn't get much lower than that. He's also made only one error, but, he's only played 15 games (most starters have played 25 or so), as he had a late start from extended ST (he's been playing full time since). He's been playing all over the field too, defensively, SS/2B at first, but lately he's mostly been at first base (weird). Don't you have to be at least 5'10" to play first base?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 7, 2009 -> 10:53 AM) But it goes out very quickly. There are very few home runs right down the line. It's still a dump and a joke in my opinion. It should have a big Waste Management sign on the green monster because it looks like a big dumpster.

QUOTE (flavum @ May 7, 2009 -> 10:33 AM) W-S wins 8-0. Brent Morel was 3-4, homered. Too bad Hudson has a rain shortened outing, but it was a good. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/st...wswafa_frdafa_1 The rain has cleared out, so hopefully they can get the second game in and start soon.

QUOTE (Middle Buffalo @ May 7, 2009 -> 10:42 AM) Sean Casey was on "The BS Report" (Bill Simmons' podcast) a few days ago, and Simmons asked him about Ortiz having no HRs at this point. Casey kind of skirts the issue, and at the end says that it's wierd that he doesn't have any HRs yet. It sounds almost as if he's thinking the same thing many of us are. It happens in the last 5-10 minutes of the podcast. The clock on this site is making me feel like I'm on "Lost." Did I actually make this post four hours ago? I like Bill Simmons, but yet again, he's a Boston apologist writing for a national sports website.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 7, 2009 -> 10:42 AM) Not to RF. In the RF corner, it's a joke. 302 feet down the line.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 7, 2009 -> 10:35 AM) David Ortiz, age 21-26 with the Twins 58 homers in 1477 at-bats=1/25.5 AB's age 27-33 with Red Sox 231 homers in 3259 at-bats=1/14 AB's Pretty dramatic change... Well, to be fair, Fenway is a joke of a stadium. A flyball there is a homerun. But, I do think it's weird that there has never been speculation about Red Sox players as much as others. Before the Mitchell Report, nobody ever questioned whether or not Ortiz and Ramirez had ever juiced. But, I always saw unfounded speculation about people like Ryan Howard and A-Rod (before this year) as well as others. I know the Red Sox are the media darlings, but it's irresponsible to turn a blind eye to them and hang the rest. This is just like the Patriots thing, they're proven cheaters, but everybody in the media defends them. I had respect for Gammons up until I read that. Of course, ESPN has basically turned into NESN over the last 5 years.

The lovely ladies of Birmingham keep him busy at night, give him a break.

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ May 7, 2009 -> 09:34 AM) I really think there has to be a cheaper alternative that retractable domes. Maybe that sail-type thing they had over the proposed park in Tampa can gain some steam rainouts and rain delays can become a thing of the past, at least in the major leagues. Something at least, because that puts a lot of strain on the players to have to play double headers multiple times, then have to get on a bus for 5 hours.

It always bothered me that George Mitchell, a diehard Red Sox fan, didn't find anything on any, at the time, current Boston players. How could they have been immune while at least every other team had someone on the list? Sounds like there needs to be a investigation into the validity of the Mitchell Report. I knew something was fishy about it then, now my suspiscions are confirmed. But, since the baseball media revolves around the Red Sox, it will be ignored. All the while Bonds, A-Rod, etc. will be villified as cheats, but Manny won't. [/color]Because as we all know, Manny is much more vital to the sport and as a role model to kids how to play the game.

I hate rain. Enough is enough.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 7, 2009 -> 05:00 AM) What's weird though, is he has been DH'ing a lot. Not often you see someone go SS to DH. And playing LF.

QUOTE (BearSox @ May 6, 2009 -> 03:45 PM) Bummer, Hudson's debut for W-S was rained out. We'll have to wait until tomorrow. I'm getting tired of all this rain s**t. How many baseball games have been rained out the last week? Domes for everyone! I better get all five games next week, I'm fed up with rain delays and postponements.

QUOTE (scenario @ May 6, 2009 -> 11:57 AM) Oops. Yeah, I can add. And I'm a numbers guy who works in the financial services industry too. LOL. Still, 20 is very young for the Sally. For example, he is the second youngest player on the Kanny roster as well as being one of the youngest players in the league. So... the same logic of my comments applies. But my numbers were off by one year. You're slipping...

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 6, 2009 -> 10:52 AM) Boston, Oakland and LA Dodgers are probably the best scouting/development organizations in the league. I would add Milwaukee to that list. They draft all of the hitters.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ May 6, 2009 -> 11:39 AM) Or as he likes to call it.. "THE" Pinson Valley. S**t...

QUOTE (scenario @ May 6, 2009 -> 11:07 AM) Keep in mind that at 19, he's one of the youngest players in the league. And at 18 years old, he was ripping up the Appalachian League before getting promoted late last season. (23 doubles in 235 at-bats... for an 18 year old? Gotta like that.) He had a very rough start to this season (0 for 20 or something like that), but has been coming around pretty well since. For example, he's had one or more hits in 8 of his last 10 games. Gilmore will be 21 in August.

QUOTE (SoxAce @ May 6, 2009 -> 09:52 AM) ^^^^^^^^^^^ My cousin went to high school (PV) with him. Brags about him being the best high school player he ever saw (though it's not really known to have that legit of a talent there) and a future big leaguer who he partied with. I do tell him he's gotta you know.. get through the minors first. Though I gotta admit, he'll be the best from that school alumni. EDIT: Oh and I looked it up JPN. It was high school he was drafted. Pinson Valley?

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ May 6, 2009 -> 10:17 AM) CJ Retherford still doing very well. Amazing for an undrafted FA at age 23 in a tough hitter's park. His K/BB numbers leave a bit to be desired, but close to half his hits are XBH. Anyone know what CJ's defense is like at third? He's been playing second this year, he's an average fielder.

I have to say I'm disappointed in the White Sox for missing out on Desmond Jennings. He's from B'ham. I don't know if Tampa took him out of High School or College, but you shouldn't miss out on a guy who's right in the backyard of one of your farm teams.

QUOTE (Thunderbolt @ May 6, 2009 -> 09:28 AM) This team is so much fun to watch. Yeah, it would have been nice not to have two days washed out by rain. I hate rain.

What would it cost to acquire Aaron Cunningham and Gio Gonzalez from Oakland? Would they take Adam Ricks? He's an ideal money ball player.

QUOTE (scenario @ May 6, 2009 -> 06:51 AM) According to a milb.com article, Shelby was selected in a survey of Carolina League managers as the most exciting offensive player in the league last year. And when you look at the power-speed package... 37 doubles, 7 triples, 15 homeruns, 33 stolen bases, only 5 caught stealing... you can see why. On the other hand, last year was his first full year as an outfielder, so he still needs some work there; and his plate discipline still causes some concerns. Strikeouts isn't the issue as much as his lack of walks. But this year, it's looking better. As of last night, 12 BB's, in 79 at-bats. (He only had 22 walks last year in 447 at-bats. So he obviously is working on it.) Hitting leadoff is changing his approach, although I think he's better suited for the 2 hole, because he's racked up a ton of RBI's the last few years.

QUOTE (caulfield12 @ May 6, 2009 -> 09:10 AM) Former pitcher Neil Allen sighting...in Montgomery. Interesting tidbit, Tyler Flowers smashed the all-time Mrytle Beach (not that the franchise has a LONG history) of 71 walks with 98 last year. Quite a different approach from AJ, who almost never walks and almost never strikes out. Yay...Viciedo hammered a 3 run homer to LF. Come back from hiding, Cubano! Still only hitting .223. But he does have 17 RBI's so far, which is mostly because almost every time he's batted, Beckham/Flowers/Allen (at least one of them) have been on base. 5-2 Barons, no outs in the top of the sixth. Flowers and Allen had walked b4 Viciedo's bomb to LF. Like I said, when Dayan starts pulling the ball, it's gonna be scary.

By the way, I listened to both halves of the W-S double header last night. The second game finished at 1AM ET. Ed Collari, the announcer, was hysterical. Some examples... "My favorite name in the Carolina League has to be Wally Crancer (of Frederick), it sounds like the crazy neighbor next door who puts things in kids candy at Halloween." "It now officially hurts to think." "This is the time to break out the scotch." "I just looked down at Levi Maxwell, Anthony Carter & Charlie Shirek charting pitches in the stands, they were laughing and I gave them the gun to head sign." "The post game show is gonna be non existent, folks. I'll go through the box score before I jump out this window and fall face first on the concrete."

QUOTE (flavum @ May 6, 2009 -> 08:23 AM) What's the story on Justin Edwards? He pitched for Kannapolis in 2007, but was in independent ball in 2008. Today for Kanny: 5 innings, 1 walk, 9 K's Justin missed all of last year with some kind of arm injury. It may have been Tommy John. He's now active with Kanny, taking Daniel Hudson's spot.