Archive for the ‘Baseball’ Category.
31st March 2008, 11:15 pm
In terms of expectations, losing the first game may have been the best thing Detroit could have done. They aren’t going to go 35-5 to start the season anyway. But what did we see today?
- Danny Bautista looks solid. Would have been nice NOT to take the loss, but as a setup man he appears to be effective. If we can get Zumaya and Rodney healthy and back to form, Bautista might make the bullpen formidable.
- Jason Grilli comes in and can’t get outs. Not his fault (see below), but its a problem not having more strike-out pitchers in the ‘pen.
- Clete Thomas wasn’t fazed in his first action. Tied game, bottom of the 11th… rips a double. I’ll also drop a line to Bill Simmons to nominate Clete for the Reggie Cleveland All-Star team.
- Miguel Cabrera has an error and a home run. I imagine this won’t be the last time.
- Gary Sheffield knows the strike zone. However, in a close game, at some point (possibly) the best hitter in the lineup needs to swing at some pitches (that said, i didn’t watch the game so i have no idea how close the pitches were).
- Carlos Guillen is going to have a monster year. I think the move to first has already proven helpful to his knees.
- Brandon Inge had some nice defensive plays in center, and a solid sac bunt. A good sign.
- Heart of the lineup, at home, going up against Brett Tomko? They should have murdered him… and they didn’t.
Thoughts:
- Detroit is a better team with Inge on the roster, assuming he is willing to be the backup catcher. He’ll get 300+ at bats and gives the team more flexibility then having to carry a true second catcher. If he could play first (too short??) it might make Thames expendable. I’m still not a fan and i’d sit outside the dexter video store to kick him in the nuts if i had some free time.
- Leyland screwed up by letting Verlander go out in the seventh. I rarely watch games (most start while I’m at work) so i do a lot of watching of espn’s gamecast, and just reading box scores and game situations. Here’s what I know: Pitchers tire as they near 100 pitches. Thats the magical number. Its 89 pitches in the first game of the year, Verlander just gave up two runs in the top of the sixth… its time to pull him. I can’t see how you expect Verlander to have a 1 – 2 – 3 inning, which then puts him over the pitch count. Its not fair to your average (non-strikeout) bullpen to spot a few runners in a close game and expect them to hold everyone. In that situation, you start the 7th with your bullpen. Justin Verlander might be a stud, but he’s not YET a Clemens, Schilling, or even a Jack Morris. I’m not a fan of letting a pitcher start an inning you don’t feel he can finish, unless you’re playing the match-up game.
- Boy I would have gone to Zach Minor instead of Grilli at that point. Gut feeling that has no scientific fact behind it.
- MLB.com’s new gameday simulation / update software is slick. I don’t feel like paying to listen to the audio.
31st March 2008, 10:53 pm
Everyone’s done a preview, I’ll save you the trouble:The tigers will hit very well. Pitching and injuries will decide the season.Isn’t that the story with every team in every year? Here’s what we think we know about the tigers in 2008:
- Their defense should be improved overall.
- Their bullpen may/will struggle until they either trade for help or Zumaya returns to form
- Miguel Cabrera will sell a lot of jerseys this year.
- Jimmy Leyland will smoke 42,872 packs of cigarettes.
Here’s what we don’t know:
- Starting pitching. Will they help protect the bullpen? Consider every starter besides Verlander (Bonderman, Rogers, Robertson, Willis): If, in October, you were told that one of the pitchers had the best OR worst year of their career, would you be surprised?
- Depth in AAA: Do we have the talent to either plug any injuries (Zumaya, Granderson) or to offer in a trade down the stretch run?
Last thought going into the season: Why are they playing in Detroit in March? Are you kidding? Hey, sounds like a great idea, take the day off, head to downtown detroit and sit in the rain. Sounds awesome. And people wonder why I moved to California.
28th March 2008, 11:29 am
I’m inclined to wait on thinking about the 2008 preview until all of the 25 spots are taken. Bullpen seems to be unsettled, position players are unsettled, and even the lineup might change for a few weeks.
Interesting how Clete Thomas seems to have come out of nowhere to take a shot at the last roster spot, with Granderson injured. Could keep Hessman, who is out of options, and had Inge as an outfielder. Wonder what Brent Clevlen is thinking right now. Of course, they could keep another catcher (Sardinha) as well. Or maybe there are a few moves to be made before opening day. I think Granderson’s injury, and how detroit prepares for it, could help determine the tight central division race. Will they protect themselves from a slow recovery with a true outfield prospect? Will they use this time to showcase Inge for a trade? Maybe they tell Inge he’s the backup catcher for the year and see how that works out?
Bay area fans will love the fact that they have two teams to watch this year… a AAAA team in Oakland and a low A ball team in SF. The giants lost to their farm team last night, with their$127 million pitcher taking the loss.
26th March 2008, 08:49 am
Rob Neyer talks about the top 50 MLB players over the next 5 years. Almost exclusively major leaguers (only one or two minor leaguers) in their 20′s.
Tigers seem to be well represented, with Miguel Cabrera, Curtis Granderson, and Justin Verlander at 3, 12, and 37 respectively.
The biggest worry? Cleveland lands 5 players on the list.
Biggest surprise? 4 players listed were traded in the off season, and one player was traded mid-year 2007.
25th March 2008, 12:26 pm
Have to catch up from my spring training trip. Lots of fun, severe lack of free wi-fi.
Today’s notes: Jack Hannahan starts strong for the A’s in Tokyo while Chavez gets shelved for a while… Kevin Frandsen is most likely out for the year.
Frandsen isn’t very good, but maybe this pushes the Giant’s to make a move? Maybe not, since the Giants picked up Jose Castillo off of the waiver wire. Even with Granderson’s injury, I would move Inge now.
20th March 2008, 08:43 am
Article in the det news today about injuries to the Dodgers. Not sure how it will all shake out, but Ned Colletti (can’t make that name up) is a smart GM. He worked with Brian Sabean for years in SF and I imagine that he’s learned a little something — namely, if you have a starting third basemen who is only 24, you trade for the short timer (Joe Crede and his expiring contract) vs taking on a three year deal with Brandon Inge.
19th March 2008, 08:10 am
Nice to see the red sox doing something right, in threatening to boycott their trip to Japan if the coaching staff (trainers, etc) don’t get the $40k MLB promised them. $40k sounds like a nice stipend, i’ll use that for my future contract negotiations.
The whole trip is rather absurd. With the AL East and AL West in for what i believe to be tight races, an early season back injury could derail things early on. Walking wounded Eric Chavez won’t make the trip for fear of back flare-ups; he is by far one of Oakland’s highest paid players. I’d keep Rich Harden away from nail clippers, let alone a flight to Japan. I’m already dreading the long flight from SF to Tampa (via Atlanta) for spring training this weekend; can’t imagine what a trip across the ocean would do to some of these players preparing for the season.
Maybe the players should have been given some practice time in Hawaii to shorten the trip?