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fromthestretch

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Everything posted by fromthestretch

  1. fromthestretch
    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.
  2. fromthestretch
    IT'S NICE TO BE IMPORTANT, BUT MORE IMPORTANT TO BE NICE. =D>
  3. fromthestretch
    Carlos Marmol, imo. Yeah, I don't see how he gets left off. Billy Wagner would have to be on there if he keeps his ERA that low. It's at 0.43 right now.
  4. fromthestretch
    I think Webb has to fall pretty hard (harder than his 2 losses in a row) to not start the game. I think the 9-0 start will go a long way. Edinson Volquez might have something to say about that.
  5. fromthestretch
    Please explain how Sosa's last contract was a bad idea. You will never get an answer.
  6. fromthestretch
    Credit a pitcher with a save when he meets all three of the following conditions: (1) He is the finishing pitcher in a game won by his club; and (2) He is not the winning pitcher; and (3) He qualifies under one of the following conditions: - (a) He enters the game with a lead of no more than three runs and pitches for at least one inning; or - (b) He enters the game, regardless of the count, with the potential tying run either on base, or at bat, or on deck (that is, the potential tying run is either already on base or is one of the first two batsmen he faces; or - © He pitches effectively for at least three innings. No more than one save may be credited in each game. The "Hold": The hold is not an official statistic, but it was created as a way to credit middle relief pitchers for a job well done. Starting pitchers get wins, and closers -- the relief pitchers who come in at the end of the game -- get saves, but the guys who pitch in between the two rarely get either statistic. So what's the most important thing one of these middle relievers can do? "Hold" a lead. If a reliever comes into a game to protect a lead, gets at least one out and leaves without giving up that lead, he gets a hold. But you can't get a save and a hold at the same time.
  7. fromthestretch
    While the Cubs can afford a higher payroll than a lot of teams, that doesn't mean they have an unlimited budget. Regardless of how much you can afford to spend, you always want to get the most for your dollar. You also want to make sure you have the necessary resources to improve the team during the season and future offseasons. Most teams are going to overpay for a player at some point. You just don't want to make a habit of it. You also want to try to control the degree to which you overpay. Keep in mind that teams can not only overpay in money but also in years.
  8. fromthestretch
    Not that I would call them a powerhouse or anything, but the Pirates are fourth in the league in runs scored/game.
  9. fromthestretch
    That's a ridiculous set of criteria for defining a leader. Why on earth does a leader need to be there for meetings on the mound? If the pitcher and catcher can't work something out, then the pitching coach or manager needs to be out there. But I see your hidden agenda:
  10. fromthestretch
    Signing him through arbitration would be the worst option of all. Not if he continues to hit put up a .900+ OPS as a catcher. If that happens, the Cubs might be better off negotiating a deal that carries him through arbitration. You can add option years for free agency.
  11. fromthestretch
    How would you go about compiling a list of the players that showed the most potential to be worthy of a longterm extension after one year in the bigleagues? I would think scouting, injury history, and their minor league numbers would play a role in it. No one is saying that every young player that has a good first season is worth a long-term deal, and of course, not every deal will work out for the benefit of the team. However, I think it would be stupid to not at least explore the option if all signs point to the guy being a productive player over the next 4-5 years.
  12. fromthestretch
    Day ain't over yet.
  13. fromthestretch
    No, but then again, I'm not sure if they've really developed the players with which to do that. When I think of teams that had some success with this, I think of the Indians in the 90's when they had Belle, Lofton, Thome, Manny, etc. I'm not saying they should lock him up now, but if he finishes with an OPS in the neighborhood of .900 for the season, it's something to think about. To me, the fact that the Cubs can afford to have a large payroll shouldn't prevent them from taking this approach with their young players when they actually have one that has a shot at being productive for a decent amount of time.
  14. fromthestretch
    I'm not sure I'd wait until his arb years, especially considering the position he plays. It's not easy to find a good defensive catcher who can hit the crap out the ball, and when one becomes available via free agency, they're either going to be a) extremely expensive, b) at an age where they aren't going to sustain production for much longer, or c) both. If you can save money later on by signing him to a reasonable multi-year deal to carry him through his arb years and maybe a year or two of free agency (perhaps those would be option years), that could free up a little money to help in other areas.
  15. fromthestretch
    I was concerned that someone would think that. By that same token, I also thought that just the name Soto would at least get people to read the discussion. Let's face it, if you don't love Soto, you have no soul.
  16. fromthestretch
    If you posted something that was deleted, is it really wise to post it again? Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is pretty much a 180 from his post that was deleted. His "give Soriano a Code Red" was a post about his concern with Soriano's performance, wasn't it? This is a post saying he was wrong.
  17. fromthestretch
    Thought this would be best put in Transactions. After seeing some teams get their young players locked in to long-term deals (Tampa Bay has done a good job with this), at what point do you feel the Cubs should explore this with Soto? Do you let him play out a full season first, or are you confident at this stage that he can continue to provide very good offensive production at a key defensive position for the next several years?
  18. fromthestretch
    Are you saying that Grace himself has turned into a slumpbuster?
  19. fromthestretch
    I'd rather hear those Seattle Sutton commercials than those stupid Probugs (sp?) commercials. Of course, with WGN radio, you hear the same commercials 4+ times per broadcast anyway.
  20. fromthestretch
    I don't think so. Baseball is a team game unless the pitcher strikes out 27 guys and gives up no hits. If a player makes an error in the field (non pitcher) and the next guy comes up and hits a tater why should the pitcher bear the brunt? Why should he get off scott free? He still gave up the tater. He also did what he needed to do to get out of the inning, and the defense let him down. I'm not asking that unearned runs go away, but I just don't see a homer as unearned. Count the runner that got on because of there error unearned, fine, but Dunn should've been earned IMO. How many times do guys save pitchers earned runs with spectacular plays on balls that should have been hits? You don't see them saying "Well that SHOULD have been a run scoring triple, but so and so just made a great diving catch, but we'll count it on my ERA because it SHOULD have fallen in." There are also times where a pitcher induces a ground ball for a double play to get out of an inning, the defense only manages to get one out instead of two without an error being charged, and an earned run ends up scoring either on that play or soon after. It tends to balance out.
  21. fromthestretch
    I don't think so. Baseball is a team game unless the pitcher strikes out 27 guys and gives up no hits. If a player makes an error in the field (non pitcher) and the next guy comes up and hits a tater why should the pitcher bear the brunt? Why should he get off scott free? He still gave up the tater. He also did what he needed to do to get out of the inning, and the defense let him down.
  22. fromthestretch
    It's even being discussed in a thread about Max Scherzer. That's how freaking big this is, guys!!!!
  23. fromthestretch
    Keep in mind though that if a reliever came in and gave up a home run in that situation, the run would be earned to the relief pitcher and unearned to the team.
  24. fromthestretch
    yeah ravech was good. i think he got tired of working alongside idiots like john kruk and steve phillips every day. Steve Berthiaume is terrible. You could literally see the frustration on Ravech's face when he was working with those guys. If he had to interview Joe Morgan before one of the Sunday night games, you could tell that he wanted to scratch his own eyes out.
  25. fromthestretch
    I think Wood has the potential to be a very good closer but I also think he's getting a free pass because so many of us like him. And if you want him to reach that potential, perhaps removing him from the closer's role after a one month isn't the best idea. He's not the only one who has had some problems this season. Howry and Wuertz have a history of success and both have been shaky at best this year. Marmol is most valuable in the situations in which he's currently being used. I don't like the idea of taking him out of those situations and saving him for the 9th just so he can get a save. I never said to remove him. I said he's getting a free pass due to being a popular Cub and needs to improve. I never said you did. The original poster has wanted him removed from that role since the middle of spring training. Not everything is about you. :P I'm also not arguing that some people may be giving him a free pass due to his popularity amongst fans, but that's obviously not my reason for wanting to keep him in that role.
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