fromthestretch

Bingo. There's a reason that a lot of mediocre middle relievers were/are taking this stuff. Recovery time is shortened.

i don't know if impossible is the right word, but baseball has been around forever and nobody has done it yet. Like I said, the probability certainly is low, but I think it's foolish to dismiss the possibility.

After the interview, Costas literally stated that it would be impossible for a player to hit 65-70 home runs in a season without any chemical assistance. He even cited factors that would aid someone in their efforts, such as smaller parks, diluted pitching talent, "juiced" baseballs, modern weight training, video of opposing pitchers, etc., and still stated outright that it would be impossible. Really, Bob? Impossible? I'll agree it's certainly not probable and would take an elite hitter to accomplish it, but I wouldn't dismiss it outright. Babe Ruth hit 60 in 151 games in an era not exactly known for home runs (only one other person in the AL hit more than 18 that season). He was on pace for 64 in 162 games. I would say that 65 is certainly reachable. And am I the only one that is not a fan of Ken Rosenthal or his opinions on just about anything? I want to punch that little leprechaun every time I see him on TV.

This has to be a joke, right? A player's personal hitting style does not necessarily dictate how he teaches hitting once he becomes a coach. Gerald Perry had a career OPS of .708. It's not like he taught players how to hit .265 with little to no power.

Hardcore. How much alcohol was involved in the typing of that sentence?

Even the worst first basemen can scoop most short-hop throws out of the dirt. It's not that difficult of a skill to learn.

No one's arguing this. However, I think the sport benefits from a higher level of play in other parts of the world. How does the US team dominating a team from Japan exhibit a higher level of play? (Or alternatively, a listless US team that doesn't want to be there, losing to a team from Japan?) Let me clarify since you came into the middle of an existing discussion. I think that eventually, a "global" series can be a good thing for baseball internationally. Unfortunately, you can't just have a global series including several countries at this time due to the level of competition (or lack thereof) in other countries. If you want to get there though, you have to start somewhere. The U.S. and Japan have the two best professional leagues, with the U.S. certainly a very large step above. Why not start with a series between the two? I think if it's done well it could eventually lead to other countries wanting in, which could possibly lead to better professional leagues in some countries. Thus, increased global interest in the sport. As I said in an earlier post, I'm looking at this long term. As for lack of motivation from the MLB players, that's certainly a concern. I would imagine that both the players and owners would have some issues with it. However, if they wanted to work out a plan to make it beneficial for both the players and the owners, the current CBA expires at the end of 2011. It's as good a time as any to work something out. I'm not claiming this is something simple to put together or that it will even be a success. I'm simply saying that I like the idea, and that I think it could be a good thing. I also feel that there would be some players that actually would embrace the idea. Not all of them will, but I'm sure some would.

No one's arguing this. However, I think the sport benefits from a higher level of play in other parts of the world.

To what benefit? Who cares about international competition? Do we really need to stir up rivalries with japan and Cuba? I'm thinking more long term. Enhanced international competition could lead to better development of baseball in countries that don't have a great presence in the sport already and perhaps a higher level of talent coming from those that already have baseball.

Guarantee was a stupid word on my part. However, I would wager that the U.S. teams would certainly take a greater interest in winning that series after the first time that happens. On what scale? Sure, greater interest, but not a meaningful one. I would bet heavily on the Japanese team to win the first one because they will care and the US team won't. It's meaningless. Japan is an inferior league and the MLB players aren't going to care. To compare this to soccer is ridiculous, international competition is the norm in that sport. I'm not the one that brought up soccer. I don't even follow the sport. I don't think this would be nearly as complex as the WBC, with only two teams involved. I also think this could eventually lead to better international competition in baseball.

I'm not necessarily for trading between the two leagues. I just like the thought of a true World Series.

Guarantee was a stupid word on my part. However, I would wager that the U.S. teams would certainly take a greater interest in winning that series after the first time that happens.

I agree with all of that. Like I said, a lot of details to work out, but I think it could be a really good thing if they can get it right.

I'm referring to the fact that they are paid for a 6 month regular season with 1.5 months of practice beforehand and 1 month of playoffs after. They aren't going to give a crap about such a series. They might play if they get paid, but it won't come close to the intensity of the actual world series. It will be viewed as punishment for winning. I don't doubt that it won't have the luster of the World Series (especially at first), but I doubt anyone will view it as punishment for winning. A true "World" Series is something, if done correctly (big assumption, I know), that could generate a lot of interest. As with anything new, some people will probably really like it, some will hate it, and many will be indifferent.

I'd hope it would be taken seriously, and if it isn't at first, I guarantee it would be after the first time the Japan champ defeats the MLB champ in a Global World Series. I doubt that. It's not that easy to manufacture interest in such a game. These guys get paid to play 6 months of regular season baseball, with a little bonus if they play another month, and they do it for free for 1.5 months to start out. The World Series is the pinnacle of their careers. Winning it is what it's all about, once you get past the money. And it drains them. You've got pitchers going on short rest, sometimes your ace throwing from the bullpen in game 7. You win, and then all of a sudden you have to play another series halfway around the globe? How are they going to determine where games are played? Cold weather teams struggle to get games in during late October early November already. Obviously, there's a lot of detail to be worked out, but I'm sure some nice incentives would be put in place to make it worth their time and effort. Just curious, but what do you mean they do it for free for 1.5 months to start out? Are you referring to spring training? I'm pretty sure they get paid during that time.

I'd hope it would be taken seriously, and if it isn't at first, I guarantee it would be after the first time the Japan champ defeats the MLB champ in a Global World Series.

This could be pretty cool. http://baseballmusings.com/?p=45638

Larry Walker is a guy who people should look closely at his numbers. He had some real, real good seasons with the bat and was a great fielder. The Colorado factor may work against him. I think it did against Andres Galarraga. I didn't think Galarraga would ever sniff the Hall, but I thought he'd at least get 5% and hang around for a year or two. Walker put up a very similar career to Duke Snyder. I like Walker. He was entering his prime years as he went to Colorado and actually had a very good season his last year in Montreal. He put up a 1.044 OPS in Colorado. While there's no doubt that Coors helped to some extent, it's not like every hitter that goes there hits at that level over the course of 10 years.

For better or worse, Pujols has been ranging far to his right long before Schumaker played 2nd base. I personally see little problem with it, provided that his pitchers are doing their job covering the bag. If he is regularly diving to his right to cut off what would be a routine play for the second baseman, then I could see where you'd want to discourage that. But if he can backhand the ball fairly easily, I don't see the issue.

I could see Brown getting decent support in 2011, although most likely not enough to put him in. I think Brown and Olerud are both going to be robbed. Wouldn't be shocked to see 1 or both fall off the 1st year. I would be surprised if Brown fell off the 1st year, but you could be right about Olerud.

I could see Brown getting decent support in 2011, although most likely not enough to put him in.

I agree with Tim here. If the Cubs can somehow manage to get Calero on a cheap one-year deal, fantastic. If not, stick with what they have.

I think it is a pretty common trait amongst coaches. Weber was an assistant under Keady for a long time and Keady almost never gave freshman good minutes no matter how good they were. Almost never? Keady gave plenty of freshman decent playing time. Uh no he really didn't. In his last years he had to because his team sucked but for a large majority of his coaching career he wouldn't play freshman much. Like most of the guys from his coaching tree he prefers veterans who limit mistakes because his team's won by creating turnovers defensively and limiting turnovers offensively. Uh, yes, he did. Jaraan Cornell - 25.5 mpg as a freshman Brian Cardinal - 29.8 mpg as a freshman Linc Darner - 21.1 mpg as a freshman Troy Lewis - 22.1 mpg as a freshman Cuonzo Martin - 20.8 mpg as a freshman Melvin McCants - 26.8 mpg as a freshman Brad Miller - 17.9 mpg as a freshman Todd Mitchell - 18.3 mpg as a freshman Ian Stanback - 19.3 mpg as a freshman Matt Waddell - 23.8 mpg as a freshman Matt Kiefer - 15.4 mpg as a freshman David Teague - 14.8 mpg as a freshman Mike Robinson - 28.9 mpg as a freshman Russell Cross - 36.2 mpg as a freshman Brett Buscher - 19.0 mpg as a freshman Chad Austin - 14.3 mpg as a freshman That's at a glance and includes many players that weren't just from his last few years at Purdue. There are also players who transferred to Purdue that got good minutes in their first season with the program, such as Carl Landry, Carson Cunningham, and Willie Deane.

Successful teams have been able to effectively develop quality relief pitching from within, while also utilizing good veteran relievers. The key is not to overpay for relievers as the performance of most relief pitchers is prone to fluctuation.

Perhaps he knew he was playing next to a second baseman who had never played that position in nine years as a professional ballplayer. In fact, the only time Schumaker ever spent in the infield amounted to six games as a third baseman in the minors in 2004. What might be routine for Chase Utley might not be routine for Schumaker. As long as his pitchers are doing their job and covering the bag on a ball hit to the right side, there's nothing wrong with Pujols taking charge on a grounder hit between him and a very inexperienced second baseman. As for catching throws on the wrong side of the base, if the throw is off target (especially to his left), many first basemen will step back and take the throw behind the bag to avoid trying to catch it in the path of the runner. It's not uncommon at all. And range for a first baseman certainly isn't "unnecessary".