Tracer Bullet

Yes - here's hoping he dominates AAA. Good luck, Sean.

we shall see

Who were the people who actually thought they were good in the first place? I was fooled..I admit it. Tsk. Tsk. Thou shalt not buy into NSBB hype. Wait a minute, we're writing off Fontenot (or even Theriot, for that matter) after 41 career ML ABs, in which is OPS is over 1.000? I just want to be clear about this. B/c if Fontenot is disappointing some of you with his performance so far, you really should turn off the TV, shut down the computer, and walk away from baseball forever. He's not going to OPS 1.000 for his career. He might end up being the worst player to ever play the game. But he's been fantastic in his very short ML career. To say "the honeymoon is over" b/c he's 0/2 today is the dumbest thing I've read in a while.

I don't get the "hits n' runs" joke, but I vote Bob for just this reason. These are 2 of my favorite posters, but abuck goes a bit too far sometimes. Doesn't seem to matter as abuck won, so I can still vote for him next round.

I haven't seen any of this - at least non that's been taken seriously. Or maybe I should say - no more so than you see in any other thread. Mephis saying he's losing to a nobody is very similar in tone to something he'd post in any other thread. I don't see a problem with people wanting to have a little fun with this thing. Esp since everyone in it opted in.

Which one is that?

When you're talking about a 25 year old who put up respectable numbers the last two years, not to mention his minor league career (better than the guy(s) replacing him) who has struggled for about 100 sporadic at-bats...yes. If we were the Devil Rays or 20 games out, then sure. Instead, we're a team that has both a legit shot to win its division and a fairly weak, RH-heavy lineup. Given Murton's performance at the plate, in the field, and on the bases, Floyd is and has been a better option. It's up to Murton to hit his way into the lineup, even if he has to do that from the bench. It's not up to the manager to continue to start him until he does that, especially if it means a far more productive bat is on the bench. The supposed RH heavy lineup is a fallacy. Anybody who has paid any attention knows this team's biggest weakness is the ability to hit LHP. It has been for a few years. They are not RH heavy. There's no such thing as hitting your way into the lineup from the bench. A manager that requires such a thing from his young players is not going to get good production out of young players. Bobby Cox does it the right way, giving a guy a job and letting him hit through slumps. That's what players like Murton need. Thank you - great response to both points.

Are we talking when you're rounding first to head to second? Because if you're trying to beat out a grounder and seriously considering messing up your steps to hit the bag with the "correct" foot - you're insane. I was taught right foot when rounding a base, but not to do a little stutter if it happens that my left would naturally land there.

In another thread, I was going to post this morning "how is Texas always so terrible?" Then it's pointed out that they make trades like this and it all becomes clear.

Murton for Gagne!! I'd put the [/sarcasm] tag at the end here, but I'm pretty sure Hendry is dumb enough to do this.

BY FAR my favorite. And it's not even close. As bad as he was last year, his OPS this year is over a hundred points lower than it was in 2006. That's simply mind-boggling to me. You guys are forgetting that he knows how to leadoff. He's a leadoff hitter. Sometimes you have to look past the stats. [/sarcasm]

I wouldn't drop Harden - he's supposed to be in the pen this week and back starting around the ASG. If he's throwing well, he could be useful even as a middle reliever until he's back starting. I'd try to trade a guy like Perez, who I don't think is going to keep this up, for 3B help or drop Street. You have pretty solid closers w/o him so it won't hurt you that bad if something claims him.

I agree with this. I don't like Lee punching people because the suspension will hurt us. But, it was a heat of the moment thing. It's completely understandable. I agree. And if Young said the wrong thing (whether bad profanity or that it was intentional), all the more reason to cut Lee some slack. FWIW - when I was watching it, I could have sworn the first thing Lee said as he walked up the line was "Was that intentional" (or something very close to that). Young said something then Lee kind of keeps walking and suddenly turns with the big "WHA?!?" and comes to him. I assumed Young told him he should have known it was coming or that's what you get or something like that. So if Lee thought it was intentional (not just being hit, but also coming at his head), I'd be pissed if he didn't come out swinging. It's not going to cost him that many games and it'll only cost us a few wins max. Bad - yes, but you have to protect yourself. What bugs me is that Lee didn't just tackle him. It'd be more effective (those were some weak swings by both guys) and probably less punishment b/c punches tend to be viewed as bigger offenses.

Last time I checked, you need to drive in runs to win games. Maybe I am mistaken? RBI isn't a very good measure of a player. That's why I also mentioned his batting AVG I realize Floyd is getting old and he doesn't have the legs he used to, his bat is still very solid. If we were already out of it this year (like we should be), I would agree that Murton should start everyday. But the fact of the matter is that Murton (and obviously Jones) just weren't getting the job done like Floyd. If we want to win this year, and have a shot at the division, Floyd is the best option for RF. Floyd 07: .320/.381/.426/.807 Murton career: .294/.363/.441/.805 (which is basically identical to his 06 #s) One of these guys is old, on the sharp down side of a somewhat injury-plagued career, and is less likely to keep up his .320 AVG (esp since he has only 3 HRs and 4 doubles - it's all been singles for Floyd). One of these guys is young (25), inexpensive, and entering his prime. History would suggest that he's likely to improve on last year's #s with regular ABs. But at the very least, it's not likely he'd drop much below last year's #s. If we want to win this year and in the future, Soriano is the best option for RF (with Murton in LF). Either way, Murton should be playing every day over Floyd. As TT hinted, your arguments here are helping people decide how to vote...

I did wonder why you didn't put a fka w/ him like you did others. Might have swayed a few votes.

Wait, what? Link? How did I miss this? It wasn't me directly - i idiotically took if from someone else and believed it The thread was legendary though. I guess the Floyd GIF is coming back... I do like that we're bragging about Floyd, who is essentially a singles hitter at this point. This great power hitter has 7 XBH's all year (Murton has 8, btw). Woohoo! Yeah I voted for the guy that isn't bragging about the money Hendry's wasting. How is it money wasting? He's the best RFer we have. Jones can't hit a baseball, Murton got sent down. Pagan is solid but Floyd is batting .319, I'll take that in the lineup any day. b/c Murton's shown the ability to put up the same OPS that Floyd is currently sporting. w/o the power that Floyd has had in the past (and is nowhere to be found this year), they are essentially equal.

Wait, what? Link? How did I miss this? It wasn't me directly - i idiotically took if from someone else and believed it The thread was legendary though. I guess the Floyd GIF is coming back... I do like that we're bragging about Floyd, who is essentially a singles hitter at this point. This great power hitter has 7 XBH's all year (Murton has 8, btw). Woohoo! Yeah I voted for the guy that isn't bragging about the money Hendry's wasting.

I'm really beginning to believe that there is much more to the "half the team hates Lou" thing than is being reported. One paper commented that Murton "bristled" at the idea that Lou thinks he changed his stance. Not sure if that shows displeasure with Lou, or the situation (or Hendry, for creating the situation). But it wouldn't surprise me if Murton wasn't Lou's biggest fan. Another paper had him quoted as saying "I definitely don't believe that 100 at-bats dictates what a player is capable of doing, especially after what they've done previously" - which sounds like frustration at getting no credit for what he did last year.

Here's Murton's quote (from Bruce's article). And I like it.

You wanted him to say he was excited to go to AAA? Are you serious?

i come from a very old welsh family. i just thought you liked dragons This might get a little weird...two dragons. Now I'm thinking about changing my avatar. :D I'm pretty sure Sulley is actually Big Earl.

Indeed, you did. I think you're also the only person who has asked to be temporarily banned so you could study for your finals. Complete lack of self control does weigh in his favor...

He didn't say that you do drugs, just Biz Markie. And I'm not sure we can rule that out.

Gotta go with the fellow Hawkeye fan.

i come from a very old welsh family. i just thought you liked dragons This might get a little weird...two dragons.