Tracer Bullet

Was he signed at his trailer down by the river? yes it was, while I was drinking one of his Coors Lights. I had 4 of them at one time, but I can only seem to locate 1 now. thank you for your bid, do I hear $4.5 million? photo evidence or it didn't happen. no photos, but ask Bobby Hill or Trenidad Hubbard. they'll vouch for me. Sure, tell me where to find them. The local Hy-Vee? Is Shooter's trailer still there? Maybe Murton could move in.

You back pedal faster than Carmelo Anthony.

Was he signed at his trailer down by the river? yes it was, while I was drinking one of his Coors Lights. I had 4 of them at one time, but I can only seem to locate 1 now. thank you for your bid, do I hear $4.5 million? photo evidence or it didn't happen.

It wasn't an exceptional play, but it was a very good play. Soriano was running pretty hard, caught the ball (evading two fans leaning over the railing trying to catch it) and slammed up against the side wall. Then he gave the fans a dirty look for reaching into the field to try to catch the ball. I'd like to think fans sitting in that area might exercise a little restraint on a ball hit near that wall considering what once happened on a foul ball hit to that same general area back in 2003. Maybe, but they're fans at a baseball game and many people in those seats really want a foul ball (or to have a fielder toss one to them). When the situation presents itself, many people aren't thinking "is this in play or out of Soriano's reach" they're just thinking "FOUL BALL!"

Was he signed at his trailer down by the river?

It wasn't an exceptional play, but it was a very good play. Soriano was running pretty hard, caught the ball (evading two fans leaning over the railing trying to catch it) and slammed up against the side wall. Then he gave the fans a dirty look for reaching into the field to try to catch the ball.

I have a ball with both Marshall's and Murton's autograph on it. I'd like at least one of them to have success. i have a ball somewhere at my parents with shawn estes and joe borowski's autographs on it. ill sell it for $2000 OBO I can top that. I have one with Dave Veres and Antonio Alfonseca. Hector Villanueva

I googled the palmeiro/williams trade and found a story in the NYT. Murray Chass wasn't any better in 1988 than he is now.

Why are you smiling? Because I know something you don't. And what is that? I...am not left handed.

I don't think you're really this dense.

why, because he hasn't hit in a handful of games? trust me, he'll be gone soon and he won't have caused even a particle of the damage that any of the guys you named did. i've heard of meatball hate, but this is ridiculous. actually it's ridiculous to keep calling people "meatballs." you supported the signing of edmonds; time to take your medicine. i don't get it. i wasn't telling anyone that this was for sure an awesome signing. i was saying that it was, at worst, a pointless signing. but you've decided to put words in my mouth, apparently. i'll not deny that one of my favorite pastimes is ridiculing the poor slobs who hate edmonds not for his offensive decline, but for his past with the cardinals and because he's apparently gay. if you hate him for one these meatball reasons, you're a meatball and you belong with da superfans. that's all. The gay jokes were old when he was a cardinal and they're getting embarrassing at this point. But I don't get why you think you can call people poor slobs and meatballs because they they don't like a particular player and they didn't want him signed by their favorite team and he took ABs (although limited ABs) from a young prospect...oh, and because he sucks. It's hard to separate all the reasons why people wouldn't like Edmonds, but it's disingenuous to suggest that most Cubs fans would hate for any former Cardinal to be signed by the Cubs. Hatred for this particular Cardinal can't be generalized to hatred of all Cardinals (at least for most people). There was a history with Edmonds and the Cubs (esp Z). He has a pretty bad reputation. And he's now terrible. But those are apparently meatball reasons, since you don't approve of them. You know what would make things easier? If you came up with a stupid little self-important "stamp of approval." are you sure you really want to do this, again? do what again? Have a discussion with you? Are you going to pick a word I use and just repeat it for 6 posts in a row, effecting ending the thread b/c you annoy everyone? hahaha. you have a wonderful imagination. Not sure how you'd know that, but thanks, I guess.

Are the Astros stuffing ballot boxes? All 8 of their starting position players are listed there. Kaz Matsui second at 2B. Towles anywhere on the list. FTH?

why, because he hasn't hit in a handful of games? trust me, he'll be gone soon and he won't have caused even a particle of the damage that any of the guys you named did. i've heard of meatball hate, but this is ridiculous. actually it's ridiculous to keep calling people "meatballs." you supported the signing of edmonds; time to take your medicine. i don't get it. i wasn't telling anyone that this was for sure an awesome signing. i was saying that it was, at worst, a pointless signing. but you've decided to put words in my mouth, apparently. i'll not deny that one of my favorite pastimes is ridiculing the poor slobs who hate edmonds not for his offensive decline, but for his past with the cardinals and because he's apparently gay. if you hate him for one these meatball reasons, you're a meatball and you belong with da superfans. that's all. The gay jokes were old when he was a cardinal and they're getting embarrassing at this point. But I don't get why you think you can call people poor slobs and meatballs because they they don't like a particular player and they didn't want him signed by their favorite team and he took ABs (although limited ABs) from a young prospect...oh, and because he sucks. It's hard to separate all the reasons why people wouldn't like Edmonds, but it's disingenuous to suggest that most Cubs fans would hate for any former Cardinal to be signed by the Cubs. Hatred for this particular Cardinal can't be generalized to hatred of all Cardinals (at least for most people). There was a history with Edmonds and the Cubs (esp Z). He has a pretty bad reputation. And he's now terrible. But those are apparently meatball reasons, since you don't approve of them. You know what would make things easier? If you came up with a stupid little self-important "stamp of approval." are you sure you really want to do this, again? do what again? Have a discussion with you? Are you going to pick a word I use and just repeat it for 6 posts in a row, effecting ending the thread b/c you annoy everyone?

Did they really think that it wouldn't? People were calling the Score from the bleachers. Well, the problem is that whoever was telling the fans that they would be ejected for heckling Soriano was giving incorrect information. The rule always has been that you cannot yell profane things towards the field of play, no matter who is playing. We were simply given a heads up that since soriano is stinking it up so bad to be on the lookout because some people will be taking the heckling from acceptable heckling to profane heckling. Unfortunately, someone must have took that the wrong way - whether it be one of us or a fan, idk the situation because I was in right field on the day in question. Anyway, it's really not my place to make any kind of comment on the situation but I don't think I gave anything up there that I wouldn't have to any regular fan during the game. Anywho, take all that for what you will. But I can assure you there is no rule in place that heckling soriano gets you ejected. The defense will stipulate that no such order was given during the meeting if the prosecution will stipulate that Roast wasn't in Dawson & Downey's room 5 minutes after the meeting.

I'm short and slight so no matter how fast I can run (I could run pretty fast in high school), it's not going to make a difference without a lot more. But I've got a strong accurate arm. If I could throw 98, I could learn enough of a change or breaking pitch to at least get a chance at the big leagues. Though I think the ability to hit .350 in the majors (or have a .900 OPS or something) would be my preference, if that were an option.

II - IV - Physical Graffiti - Houses of the Holy - III - In Through the Out Door I don't care about how you rank the rest. Heartbreaker - Living Loving Maid - Ramble On is the greatest set of 3 consecutive songs on any album.

Even Edmonds himself probably knows that he is done. But he's not stupid enough to retire as long as someone else is stupid enough to give him a job. Exactly, if he retires he doesn't get what is left of his 8 million! I know 8M would keep me in the game. But what if he doesn't officially retire, just no team gives him a job this year. He still gets his full salary, right? I wonder if anyone would pick him up if Hendry cut him. He's kind of like Mahoney in Police Academy, he can't quit because he'd lose his money (or, like Mahoney, go to jail), but he's trying to get himself fired (kicked out) so he doesn't have to such anymore. That's my point. If the Cubs DFA him and no one picks him up, he still gets his money as long as he doesn't officially retire this year, right?

Even Edmonds himself probably knows that he is done. But he's not stupid enough to retire as long as someone else is stupid enough to give him a job. Exactly, if he retires he doesn't get what is left of his 8 million! I know 8M would keep me in the game. But what if he doesn't officially retire, just no team gives him a job this year. He still gets his full salary, right? I wonder if anyone would pick him up if Hendry cut him.

Does he hit left handed? yes

Can we please stop acting like this team is good at stealing bases and clamoring that they do it more often? They can barely lay down a decent bunt. I think that's one thing we all agree on... being fast doesn't equal being good at stealing bases... but when the first baseman isn't holding you, and the pitcher isn't checking (and is basically giving you 2nd base) and you don't take it... that's different. And you're spotting this exact no-doubt situation over and over again? My guess is he's referring to last night. The fact that he didn't steal 2nd with Broxton on the mound, runners on the corners, and 1 out seems to indicate that he's not that close to 100%. Fair enough. I typically don't notice these things because I'm of the way out view that stealing bases (outside of defensive indifference) is usually a worthless throwback anachronism. Besides, if we're furstrated that he's not scoring on hits by Lee, do we really want him stealing bases? I know a lot of people are hung up on speed, but for me, so long as he can produce with the bat, I don't care if he never steals another base again. Hell, I'd be happy if this entire team never stole another base again. I generally agree. It just seemed like a good opportunity to get out of the double play with Fontenot batting. A healthy Soriano could take that base off Broxton (who was throwing mid-90s gas, but Martin had to dive more than once to catch them b/c of terrible location). That's one of the few times where it would have made a lot of sense to take 2nd (if healthy, we have a fast runner/decent base stealer, pitcher with slow delivery and bad location, C that just entered the game, weak hitter up with our best hitter on deck, 1 out and it would have put 2 in scoring position and avoided the double play). There aren't many situations in which I'd like to see the Cubs steal, but that was one.

Can we please stop acting like this team is good at stealing bases and clamoring that they do it more often? They can barely lay down a decent bunt. I think that's one thing we all agree on... being fast doesn't equal being good at stealing bases... but when the first baseman isn't holding you, and the pitcher isn't checking (and is basically giving you 2nd base) and you don't take it... that's different. And you're spotting this exact no-doubt situation over and over again? My guess is he's referring to last night. The fact that he didn't steal 2nd with Broxton on the mound, runners on the corners, and 1 out seems to indicate that he's not that close to 100%. and it came back to kill the cubs, costing them the season. so if people want a basestealer to bat leadoff, who do you want? because theriot sucks at stealing bases. take it easy there killer. I was just trying to add the context to the situation pushfrog brought up. And, as I said, it seemed clear that Soriano wasn't 100% b/c that's a situation he'd be running in. I didn't say anything about wanting a basestealer hitting 1st. I hate that we try to steal so many bases. So why don't we try to reign in the overreaction just a tad.

Can we please stop acting like this team is good at stealing bases and clamoring that they do it more often? They can barely lay down a decent bunt. I think that's one thing we all agree on... being fast doesn't equal being good at stealing bases... but when the first baseman isn't holding you, and the pitcher isn't checking (and is basically giving you 2nd base) and you don't take it... that's different. And you're spotting this exact no-doubt situation over and over again? My guess is he's referring to last night. The fact that he didn't steal 2nd with Broxton on the mound, runners on the corners, and 1 out seems to indicate that he's not that close to 100%.

He needs to be traded and he should have been traded before last season if Lou was just going to use Floyd so much anyway. The Cubs are not trading Fukudome and I don't see him playing CF regularly. I don't think they're trading Soriano in the next couple years. Murton's 26 this season, trade him now while he still has value. If he posts another .900+ OPS in the minors for the next 2-3 years, it's not going to increase his value. And if he declines (due to lack of talent, frustration, whatever) or gets injured, you've greatly reduced his value. I think he can have more power than Fukudome has shown so far, but he's not going to supplant Fukudome. After his performance in the 2nd half of his first year (and even the 2nd half last year), I really wanted Murton to get a full-time gig. But Hendry has completely blocked him for all of his cheap/prime years. Trade him now.

OK, splits from THIS year, then: Marquis has pitched to 822 batters, 810 of which were when the game was within 4 runs. Marmol has pitched to 393 batters, 379 of which were when the game was within 4 runs. And this is with Marmol being overused at a rate he can't possibly keep up as a reliever, and Marquis being basically god-awful as a starter. Marquis has pitched in more "close" situations than Marmol, at a more frequent rate. Marmol is equally valuable as Zambrano, but he's only getting 1/3 of the innings to be that valuable. Four runs is a poor cutoff, and you aren't accounting for the lateness of the innings as well. Four runs in the first is different from four runs in the ninth. Again, instead of speaking in generalities, why not use leverage index? And you don't seem to understand what "valuable" means in that context. 4 runs is a poor cutoff? Is 3 that much better? And, you're right, lateness matters. A 4-run lead earlier in the game is much less "safe" than a 4-run lead late. So if Marmol pitches in a 4-run game in the 8th, we're much more likely to have already won or lost before he comes in, than if we're up or down 4 in the 2nd.

"Robbing" a HR when the wall isn't brick and is only about as high as the top of your head and the ball lands on the front of the top of the wall is more routine than many catches OFs make. Soriano just did a horrible job (not finding the wall, bad timing on the job, etc). That's a play he should have made.