MeatampPotatoesMan

Yup. Nixon 2005 vs. Righties: .288/.364/.483/.847 Pena 2005 vs. Lefties: .291/.345/.536/.881 Nice pickup by Boston.

Seconded. I've actually shown it to several co-workers. Or photos posted could actually be related to baseball, instead of sex. Sex? Get your mind out of the gutter. I'm just supporting the local hoops team. All women should be required to learn how to support like that! :roll: It's ok. Other members of your gender will set them straight sooner or later. :twisted:

I agree. The Reds desparately need decent pitching. There aren't many decent starting pitchers available for what the Reds had to offer (surplus OF). The Reds GM might want to look into the Grienke situation and take a gamble, but beyond that the available pitchers are either crap or so severely overpaid they aren't worth the likes of Wily Mo Pena.

no TV or radio coverage for this game? :cry:

That's not quite an accurate example. They aren't making him a vendor, they're changing his defensive position. They're changing his job description and future earning power (arguably). I'd want a say in that. They're not changing his job description (hit, run, catch and throw the ball). You can make the argument that they are impacting his future earnings potential though. Sorry if I don't feel sorry for him if he makes 8 mil instead of 12 mil next season as a result. You could make a better argument that Soriano himself has hurt his future earning potential instead of WSH by his inability to adequately field his position. If you don't agree, then I take it you think he's adequate at 2B? 2B is very different from the OF. It's not just simply catching the ball. Reading batters and playing the ball is a skill that varies by position. I guess catcher and pitcher have the same job description too, since they both catch, throw, hit, and run. No, I think Soriano is a butcher at 2B. Supposedly the Rangers didn't let the Nats talk to Soriano before agreeing to the deal (knowing he'd tell them he wouldn't move and kill the deal). Bowden took this into consideration and then went ahead anyway. He gambled and lost. What has Soriano done other than keep up his same stance toward a move to the OF? Bowden is the moron who brought this conflict up. Others were smart enough to skirt the issue and factor in Soriano's crappy 2B defense into the equation. You don't sympathize with Soriano b/c he makes more money than you do? The organization makes much more than Soriano, fwiw.

I think he's an idiot because of the way he's handling it (through the media). His first move should have been to talk to Nationals' management about their plans for him before publically stating that he will not play at 2B. Both parties are being stupid. The Nationals should have asked him about moving to the OF before trading for him. Teams have asked him to move to the OF in the past and he's fought it. Why should the Nationals be any different, especially as he nears FA? They put themselves in this position. Soriano is taking the same position he always has...refusing the move from 2B. Both parties need to grow up. Handling it through the media can't be good for either side. Soriano needs to play to get his FA money. He's quickly becoming a problem child, which will affect his wallet. The Nationals need to realize they made a mistake by not asking him about the move before the trade was finalized. Beg forgiveness if necessary, but don't try to strongarm someone into doing something they've always opposed. Most teams don't consult with a player prior to trading for him. What's next, a refusal to bat a particular number in the lineup? In reponse to your first question, about whether an employee has a say in an employer moving her/him from one position to another, the answer depends on the state and whether or not a contract or collective bargaining agreement exists. I live in Illinois, an at-will state. Here most employees can be terminated for any reason or no reason at all as long as the reason is lawful. So, unless you are a tenured college professor,like my mother, or are otherwise covered by a union that has negotiated the terms of your employment, you will change positions (happily or begrudgingly) or look for another job. Obviously, Soriano is protected by the Players Union against most forms of termination but there are rights for the team that may supersede his desire to remain at 2B. Without knowing the terms of the contract, it's reasonably safe to assume that his refusal to change a position isn't covered. I don't think Soriano is a team player. I wouldn't want him in Chicago...well, unless he was on the other side giving Kenny Williams a migraine. He is being a jerk about this. I'm just saying that his complaints aren't entirely invalid. There's a reason why teams ask players to change positions, rather than ordering it. Part of it is legal (the Player's Association can be a royal pain) and the other is getting the player to put out on the field. The Nationals gave up a valuable commodity to get Soriano. Having him unhappy or unwilling to play isn't in their best interests. Sheffield knowing tanked plays b/c he was unhappy. What will Soriano do? I don't think a team should be held hostage by a player, but when you've done something as boneheaded as trade for a player unwilling to make a position change (historically) and get it in your head that he'll move... I just don't feel sympathetic to the Nationals. They screwed up and now they get to face the consequences. Soriano will face the consequences too when his FA options dry up and his contract shrinks b/c of his unprofessionalism.

I think he's an idiot because of the way he's handling it (through the media). His first move should have been to talk to Nationals' management about their plans for him before publically stating that he will not play at 2B. Both parties are being stupid. The Nationals should have asked him about moving to the OF before trading for him. Teams have asked him to move to the OF in the past and he's fought it. Why should the Nationals be any different, especially as he nears FA? They put themselves in this position. Soriano is taking the same position he always has...refusing the move from 2B. Both parties need to grow up. Handling it through the media can't be good for either side. Soriano needs to play to get his FA money. He's quickly becoming a problem child, which will affect his wallet. The Nationals need to realize they made a mistake by not asking him about the move before the trade was finalized. Beg forgiveness if necessary, but don't try to strongarm someone into doing something they've always opposed.

That's not quite an accurate example. They aren't making him a vendor, they're changing his defensive position. They're changing his job description and future earning power (arguably). I'd want a say in that.

Who's in charge of this platoon situation? :lol:

If your employer just decided to move you from Human Resources to Engineering, do you not deserve a say? People have rights. I think it is perfectly legitimate for Soriano to resist a move to the OF on a team he did not approve a trade to. I think the Nationals are well within their rights to bench or release him for his actions. They have rights too. Soriano is an idiot for pushing it this far, but he's not completely out of line.

I love you, bearer of good news.

I don't think so. Wuertz's success is based on his control, as he constantly attacks the edges of the zone. It's not based on overpowering stuff. I'd expect him to start off ST like this until he fine tunes his control. I'd be more worried if he isn't sharper at the end of ST. Actually, Wuertz has pretty good stuff, especially his slider. Someone posted some interesting data about contact that Wuertz gets a tremendous amount of swings and misses. He does have good stuff, but he struggles when he doesn't hit his spots. what pitcher doesn't struggle when they miss their spots? Some guys are better than others at getting hitters to swing at stuff outside of the zone. Wuertz is not one of those. Some guys don't struggle as much if they're not hitting their spots. Kerry Wood is one of those guys when he's got his A game. OK, Woody might be one of the filthiest pitchers in baseball. I don't know any middle relievers with his stuff. Not one.

...or he's too busy arguing about where to eat lunch with Pat during the bottom of the 9th. :x

I don't think so. Wuertz's success is based on his control, as he constantly attacks the edges of the zone. It's not based on overpowering stuff. I'd expect him to start off ST like this until he fine tunes his control. I'd be more worried if he isn't sharper at the end of ST. Actually, Wuertz has pretty good stuff, especially his slider. Someone posted some interesting data about contact that Wuertz gets a tremendous amount of swings and misses. He does have good stuff, but he struggles when he doesn't hit his spots. what pitcher doesn't struggle when they miss their spots?

yeah, we want to hear about your dinner arrangements Pat and Ron. :roll:

Z struck out again. I don't believe it. Ron and Pat are making stuff up.

hahaha, they changed pitchers for Z. he's infamous.

Cubs go down 1-2-3. 0-0 so far.

Z doesn't strike out. Impossible. Ask if he needs glasses, Z!

Cedeno's lob gets the job done. Side retired. :lol:

Wow, hope he's ok. They traded a young promising pitcher (Young) to get him didnt they? Yup. Chris Young. Some say he's better now than Eaton is. i think that's a little wishful thinking, but he could very well be better than Eaton fairly soon.

Eaton is going out of the game. Line drive smash to the upper arm. That sucks.

Grissom tags Eaton with a comebacker, but makes the out. He's in pain.

I wasn't in favor of giving Furcal the offer he wanted, but at least we'd have gotten our leadoff hitter at SS. Pie would have been valuable in CF.

grab some pine. Z with 4 Ks headed to the bottom of the 2nd.