Outshined_One

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The Barrett fight hurt him in my eyes, but this guy is so hard not to like. I was cracking up when I read about this.

While some guys are legitimate flops, others seem to be more the victim of injuries than anything else. That's something else altogether, imo

Daniel Moskos will soon be joining those ranks, based on what I've seen of the guy.

My favorite umpire story... My dad went to medical school down in South Carolina and the school had a club baseball team. The umpire behind home plate was giving the team a rough time one day calling balls and strikes to the point where the pitcher pretty much had it. The pitcher goes up to the ump and the following exchange occurs: Pitcher: "That's it, I've had it! If you ever get carted into the emergency room, you better pray I don't take your case." Umpire: "Boy, if you're as good of a doctor as you are a pitcher, then you'd better let me bleed!"

Here's a fun exercise, go to the National Baseball HOF website and look at all of the second basemen inducted who played most of their careers after 1945. Here's the list: Nellie Fox Rod Carew Bobby Doerr Bill Mazeroski Joe Morgan Jackie Robinson Ryne Sandberg Red Schoendienst That's it. Some comments... -Carew spent the first 8 years of his career at 2B, then the last 7 at 1B/DH. Robinson's best stretch was during the five years he spent at second, but he played much of his career elsewhere around the diamond. It's a bit tough to classify both as 2Bs compared to some of the guys on this list who spent the overwhelming majority of their careers at 2B. -The two players above aside, what an underwhelming list. Mazeroski was a joke of a selection while Nellie Fox was a bit of a head-scratcher. Schoendienst is a name I'm unfamiliar with, ditto Doerr, so I can't comment on either. However, Doerr's offensive numbers compare pretty well to Sandberg. I wonder how his defense compared? After a cursory evaluation of players from this era and the ones on the above list, Biggio is a lock. His numbers slot in pretty well with Doerr and Sandberg, plus there are enough other positive factors in his favor to see him get elected. Frankly, he deserves it. However, the more fun question is, what other 2Bs from this era have a shot at getting in? Here are some possibilities: Robbie Alomar Jeff Kent Lou Whitaker ...ouch. Whitaker was a really underrated 2B, though. In spite of the lack of accolades (save for AL ROY), he put up some darn good numbers.

Feh, they'll call up a replacement who'll hit .300/.380 the rest of the way with 15 HRs.

Let's hope Ned Yost can be an idiot and use him out of the pen.

Surprise of the day? No HRs! :shock:

Big win today with Milwaukee winning and St. Louis facing KC! If they can get back to .500 by the end of the month, I'll have a really good feeling about the rest of the way.

If the wind's blowing out, this game may very well end with a score of something like 18-14.

THT had a terrific article on the Top 10 Draft Picks, complete with video for many. Here's Vitters: Some nice food for thought, especially considering most people were wondering whether Vitters would ever hit 25 or more HRs in a season if he made the majors.

so he has to win a world series and the reason he hasn't so far is because he trades his prospects that failed to win him a world series? At least he got a playoff series win that managed to get some people off his back.

It's sad that I automatically know what a person means when he says about a hitter, "he hit a Pierre" or "he Pierre'd it".

Suarez probably will head to the DSL or VSL. Andersen's battling some injury issues (back I think?) and probably won't be back at 100% until the end of the month at the latest. If Vitters' bat is as good as advertised, there's a pretty good chance you'll see him in Boise this season.

I'd have to wonder what that record would look like if he didn't wear armor on his elbow. If someone could show how many of those HBPs hit his body proper rather than his elbow, I'd like to see it. Hmmm.... 1) Eddie Collins 2) Ryno 3) Rogers Hornsby 4) Napoleon Lajoie 5) Biggio or ....hate to say it Joe Morgan Good list...but I think Morgan has to be higher than 5. The guy was an offensive force of nature for many years and has a legitimate case to be considered the greatest Post-WW2 2B. As for Biggio's chances, he'll make the HOF, no question asked. It's difficult to assess whether he's going to be a first ballot guy, though. He received MVP votes in five years, 1994 (16th), 1995 (10th), 1997 (4th), 1998 (5th), and 1999 (12th). The only seasonal meaningful (in the eys of HOF voters) offensive categories he ever led were Runs (twice, 1995 and 1997), Doubles (three times, 1994, 1998, 1999, and also the leader among active 2B), and Stolen Bases (once, 1994). He also leads second basemen in singles. One curious thing that holds him back is that he is 12th in outs made over his career and first among active second basemen. Odd. However, you have to remember that the following words will be used in any given puff piece that will come up when his career ends: Hustle Gritty Intangibles Guts Scrappy Clutch Toughness Feisty Pest Enthusiasm Gumption Will Heart Role Model Overachiever Infectious Tough Tenacious Middle aged sports writers everywhere might jump all over voting for him. He might not be the ideal candidate for first ballot, but the potential is most certainly there.

Whoever came up with the word "proactive" should be dragged out into the street and shot. I can't stand that buzzword. /end rant

I think both of those guys have a good chance to become excellent utilitymen/slightly above average starters. Objectively, that's not saying much, but with this system, that's a huge success.

Jacob McGee Throws: L Birthday: 8/6/1986 Current Age: 20 Level: A+ (FSL) 2006 Stats (MID): 7-9, 26 GS, 134 IP, 103 H, 7 HR, 171/65 K/BB, 2.96 ERA, 1.02 GO/FO, .211 BAA, 1.25 WHIP 2007 (FSL): 4-2, 13 GS, 70.2 IP, 54 H, 4 HR, 82/24 K/BB, 2.42 ERA, .75 GO/FO, .208 BAA, 1.11 WHIP Mitch Atkins Throws: R Birthday: 10/1/1985 Current Age: 21 Level: A+ (FSL) 2006 Stats (MID): 13-4, 25 GS, 138.1 IP, 110 H, 10 HR, 127/53 K/BB, 2.41 ERA, .73 GO/FO, .217 BAA, 1.18 WHIP 2007 (FSL): 5-3, 12 GS, 68.1 IP, 56 H, 7 HR, 49/16 K/BB, 2.24 ERA, .62 GO/FO, .228 BAA, 1.05 WHIP ...I'm not seeing it. McGee strikes out more guys by a healthy margin and does a better job of keeping the ball in the park. Plus, McGee's almost year younger and left-handed. That's not taking anything away from Atkins' success, but it's not a comparison that works, imo.

wow thats really odd! he must have impressed in extended spring training. Why didnt he play last year, or this year? injured? He signed late but got 71 ABs at the end of last summer in the AZL. No surprise that he stayed in extended spring training as a 19-year old, the surprise is that he's not at Boise or Peoria. isn't daylan johnson playing everyday at SS??? or is that Mota? It's been mostly Robinson Chirinos. Johnston and Mota are SS at Peoria. thanks got it. they must plan on playing sampson a lot if he is jumping 2 levels. it could be an emergency. Veal appears to be getting on track with three decent K:BB starts The Cubs pulled this same stuff with Mota. He was in Daytona last season for 170 ABs as a 19 year old.

Wow...that might not be a bad idea. It's actually a really good idea. How many pitches did he throw tonight, 10? 10. I'm not totally sure what would work best here, especially if there's a chance Lilly might get suspended. Warmups and all that can take a toll on a pitcher, but if he's ready to go tomorrow or Tuesday...why not?

Wow...that might not be a bad idea.

Just throw face-high fastballs and paint the low outside corner against Frenchie, he'll strike out in no time.

If I'm Izturis or Fontenot, on anything hit to me, I'm going to reel back and take aim for Renteria.

Fontenot knows at the very least.