Sammy Sofa

Heh...I'll happily take a "Sgt. Pepper's vs. Pet Sounds"-type battle between them. We all win!

Guzman and Miller have been about the same. All things being equal, I'd prefer the pitcher with the greater upside. Upside is great, actual performance is better. Guzman has been hurt just as much, if not more than Miller. Miller has done well enough to earn a spot. He's been healthy and made every start so far, that is a good sign. People forget how good of a pitcher he used to be. He'll most likely never see that type of success again, but he can still be usefull. Miller has missed more time than Kerry Wood. Unlike Guzman, Miller isn't likely to get better. There's no way of knowing if Miller will be healthy enough to withstand pitching an entire season; both he and Guzman appear healthy right now and that's all you can say... I've watched/listened to all of his starts this year and this is clearly his best. It's about time! This isn't the Miller of the early 2000's I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. If Guzman pitches well out of the pen he will get his chance, I'm not worried about that. I would worry about him starting the season in the rotation. Guzman has had hot springs before. In his 10 starts last year he put up the following numbers: 10 GS 56 IP 68 H 46 ER 7.39 ERA Let him adjust to ML level in the pen. I also don't think Prior should be handed a spot just because his name is Mark Prior. He has not earned it, Miller has been better. Take those numbers with a grain of salt. You can make a similar argument against Rich Hill... The way things currently stand, I don't think there will be room for Guzman (unless Wood is DL'd). Are you opposed to the idea of giving Miller starts if he looks good enough to hopefully draw more interest when the Cubs trade him? Guzman isn't going anywhere, but Miller can net more if he goes out there and wins games.

Miller is looking like he REALLY wants that starting slot.

Gun is likely fast, though Len says they just "tweeked" it and it's hopefully more on the mark.

It's one inning. He has yet to have a really good outing. RAMMY! Agreed, but I think given that he hasn't been horrible plus his games at the end of this last year he'd be a better option over Marquis, especially with how cheap he is.

ARAMIS!!!

I wish we could magically get rid of Marquis if both Prior and Miller keep getting better.

NICE! Got Bonds looking with a strikeout.

Nice strikeout for out #2.

If Prior has another start like he had last time or better, I think he'll snag the #5 spot.

DeRosa batting fifth? That's...interesting.

Seems perfectly realistic. I think in that scenario the Cubs and Astros are only 2-3 games apart at the most, and Chicago is probably within 10 games of the Cardinals.

Who is this Wook fellow? I'm not familiar with his work. :wink: I hear he can make the Kessel run in less than 12 parsecs.

http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20070322/capt.0b9fd67f554b4248abd69280b8316845.cubs_padres_baseball_azrs101.jpg Players try to find shelter from the rain. Heh...who is that playing Spider-Man at the end? Sori? Pie?

I agree, but look how many different sources are now saying that that number was off. How do we know that they aren't all using the same source? Hey, I hope they are wrong. Personally, I don't think there's anyway that that pitch was under 91.

I agree, but look how many different sources are now saying that that number was off.

Ugh. Sucks that he's still only hitting upper 80's, but he was definitely pitching much better yesterday. Hopefully with more repitition he can gain back those 6-7 mph on his fastball. Dammit. I'm still kind of stunned that none of those pitches were at least 90 or 91.

Yeah, Kerry is scheduled to pitch today.

He's hitting at least 90. I'm sorry, the info in that article, official or not, is wrong. Isn't it probable that the info just comes from two different guns? Prior's stuff certainly seemed more effective today, but that doesn't prove the faster gun was right. I think we'll get a better idea of where his velocity at his next start. I'm saying the high of 93 is right, but topping out at 89 is even more unlikely. I'd assume he at least hit 91.

He's hitting at least 90. I'm sorry, the info in that article, official or not, is wrong.

Who was the Astros fan that posted here that kept warning everyone about how dominant Houston would be once Clemens came back?

Not to be a homer, but I do really like Len as a broadcaster. I think we're really lucky to have him...and to a lesser degree, Bob...given all the crap out there. Plesac, I'm looking at you...

There's no way that the pitch he struck Greene out with was only 89 MPH.

Strikes him out with a 93 MPH fastball! YES!!!

You say that after 3 good/great starts (if you count the one in the minors, where people said he looked very good), 1 average one and 1 terrible one? That's a tough critic. I think we're basing it more on the previous multiple season of medicore to bad pitching. The sample size is on the side of the doubters.