Outshined_One

I have a friend who's working for Team USA this summer. I'll provide infrequent updates on some of the guys there, but right now he's convinced that LHP David Price out of Vanderbilt is going to go #1 overall. According to him, Price was working in the mid-90s and touched 98 with his stuff. Great deception, a bit of a dip in his delivery that either adds to the deception or needs to be ironed out, good athleticism and defense around the mound, and has some wicked pitches to work with.

What about Terrell Davis? In all truth, given the way Denver seems to produce 1,000 yard backs like an assembly line, I'd be curious to see what he would have done in a different system. He clearly is better than any of the RBs they've had during that stretch, but I have to wonder how much better.

Holdzkom went 2 IP yesterday; I kinda doubt he'll start today.

I thought I heard something go "WOOSH!" over my head when I read that. ;)

Oh ESPN, you hilarious jokers! What a terrific goat pun you managed to work into that pithy headline! It looks like the Dusty Baker Saga has reached ESPN's front page, complete with this gem from Gene Wojejejejchichowbowski. Basically, he really doesn't have much of a point. He says Dusty should stay, but he doesn't lay out any positives Dusty brings to the table...just excuses. He also implies Hendry and MacPhail should get canned before Baker. I'm just as confused as most of you likely are at this moment. Surprisingly, Game 6 was only alluded to in passing with no references to Steve Bartman.

Smith is one of the all time greats, but not the greatest.

I Feel Good about that assumption I do too, but you have to wonder what would have happened if he hadn't retired until he was, say, 35.

Next year, I'm doing a "Sabotage the Vote!" campaign on every NL board I post on. Basically, I'm going to try convincing everyone to vote for a guy in the AL who plays a non-superstar position like 2B and has no right whatsoever being in the game. I'm talking about some one like Damian Jackson. If it succeeds, I think it'll get the message across.

Anything for publicity! ;)

Hall of "What Could Have Beens" Barry Sanders Bo Jackson James Brown (remember, he retired at 29!) Gale Sayers

You mean this guy?

I'll agree with the notion that this pick is a good gamble, but that the dollar amount was surprising.

Box Scores Iowa won 8-0 Box Score 2B R. Theriot 2/3, 2 BB, 3 R, 2B (10), 3B (5) CF F. Pie 2/4, BB, R, RBI, K DH M. Fontenot 0/3, BB, R, RBI, K 1B M. Restovich 1/4, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (18), K RF B. Coats 0/4, RBI, K, Assist LF L. Montanez 1/4, 3 K C G. Soto 1/3, BB, RBI SP R. O'Malley 8 scoreless, 5 H, 2/3 K/BB, HBP, 9-12 GO-FO West Tenn won 3-1 Box Score CF C. Walker 1/3, BB, RBI, SB (34) 2B E. Patterson 1/4, R, K, SB (28) LF N. Jackson 2/4, RBI, 2 CS (5) 1B B. Sing 0/3, BB, R, K RF M. Negron 1/4 3B S. Moore 2/3, RBI, SB (11), CS (6) C J. Fox 0/3, K PH R. Lewis 0/0, BB SP J. Mateo 7 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 4/2 K/BB, 5-12 GO-FO Daytona PPD: Rain Peoria lost 8-3 Box Score 2B R. Chirinos 0/4, BB, 3 K C M. Reed 0/5 LF J. Valdez 1/3, BB 1B R. Norwood 2/5, R, RBI, HR (10) 3B K. Reynolds 1/4, R, 2B (6), K RF Y. Carter 1/3, BB, 2B (3), K DH R. Malone 0/4, RBI SS D. Johnston 1/4, K CF D. Gregg 1/4, R, 2B (6) SP M. Weber 2.1 IP, 7 H, 7 ER, 1/4 K/BB, HBP, 4-2 GO-FO Boise won 7-1 Box Score CF M. Camp 3/5, R, RBI, K SS S. Baez 1/5, 2 RBI, CS (2) LF T. Colvin 1/3, BB, 2 R, RBI, HR (1), K 1B R. Canzler 1/3, BB, R RF A. Joseph 1/4, RBI 3B J. Lansford 2/4, R DH E. Puello 1/2, R, HBP SP B. Petrick 6 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1/2 K/BB, WP, 10-7 GO-FO Mesa lost 6-1 Box Score SS P. Lopez 1/3, BB, SB (1), CS (2), PO (2B) CF C. Andersen 0/4, K, E (1, fielding) C C. Perez 0/3 LF W. Inoa 0/3, Assist (Home) 3B M. Gonzalez 0/3, E (3, fielding) SP J. Castillo 2.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 0/1 K/BB, WP, 3-4 GO-FO RP A. Astorga 3 scoreless, 3 H, 1/0 K/BB, 5-3 GO-FO OVERALL: 3-2

There are a number of interesting guys, but none of them are currently A-level due to injuries, lack of professional experience, and so on. The landscape could look quite different in a year or two. We'll see how some guys pan out.

Gallardo plz.

6 HRs in ~100 ABs at Peoria. Nice.

I went last night, July 5th. What did you think of Scott Taylor from what you saw? Also, their closer last night was Matt Avery, who's been lights out down there.

Heck, since we're stuck with him, why not just shift Jock to CF considering he supposedly has the speed and athleticism to play there? Calling up Negron is a really iffy proposition. I'd rather wait and see if this is a fluke performance by him or if his terrible walk rate catches up to him at higher levels.

The Pantsless Mascots take WR Chad Johnson, Cincy.

I'll be picking in a bit. Here's a list of the keepers: QB Carson Palmer Tom Brady Michael Vick Daunte Culpepper Marc Bulger Donovan McNabb Peyton Manning WR Marvin Harrison Anquan Boldin Randy Moss Hines Ward Larry Fitzgerald Terrell Owens Chris Chambers Steve Smith RB LaDanian Tomlinson Clinton Portis Ronnie Brown Kevin Jones LaMont Jordan Domanick Davis Tiki Barber Julius Jones Steven Jackson Cadillac Williams Shaun Alexander Rudi Johnson Edgerrin James Larry Johnson TE Antonio Gates

I'm signed up as The Pantsless Mascots.

Box Scores Iowa won 2-1 Box Score LF R. Theriot 1/4, RBI CF F. Pie 1/4, 2B (15), K 2B M. Fontenot 0/3, BB, CS (3) 1B M. Hoffpauir 0/3, BB, 3 K 3B C. McGehee 1/4, E (7, fielding) RF B. Coats 1/4, K C J. Reyes 0/2, BB SP R. Hill 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 6/3 K/BB, HR, 5-9 GO-FO RP D. Aardsma 1 hitless and scoreless, 0/1 K/BB, 2-1 GO-FO West Tenn won 13-2 Box Score CF C. Walker 3/4, BB, 2 R, 3B (7), K 2B E. Patterson 1/4, BB, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B (18), K LF N. Jackson 1/3, BB, 3 RBI, 3B (5), K 1B B. Dopirak 2/5, R, 2 RBI, 2 K RF M. Negron 2/5, 2 R, 3 RBI, 2B (14), 3B (3), K 3B S. Moore 0/4, BB, R, RBI, K, CS (5), PO (1B), E (15, fielding) SP C. Shaver 7 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 8/1 K/BB, HR, 8-4 GO-FO Daytona won 4-3 Box Score 2B N. Spears 1/2, BB, R, RBI, 2B (4) 1B M. Craig 2/4, R, RBI, HR (9), E (3, missed catch) RF R. Harvey 1/4, R, RBI, HR (8), 2 K C J. Muyco 1/3 SS J. Mota 1/2, R, 3B (2) SP J. Berg 5 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 7/1 K/BB, WP, 4-3 GO-FO Peoria won 6-1 Box Score CF D. Gregg 1/3, R, CS (9) 1B M. Reed 0/2, R, RBI DH J. Valdez 0/3, R, K, HBP 3B K. Reynolds 0/3, RBI RF Y. Carter 2/4, R, 2 RBI, HR (6), 2 K 2B R. Malone 2/4, RBI, 2B (6), E (2, fielding) SS D. Johnston 0/3, 2 K SP T. Blackford 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 5/0 K/BB, HBP, 11-5 GO-FO RP M. Avery 1.1 perfect, 4/0 K/BB Boise won 5-1 Box Score CF M. Camp 1/4, R, K 3B J. Lansford 1/4, K LF T. Colvin 0/4, R, K 1B R. Canzler 2/3, BB, R, 2B (4), K RF A. Joseph 2/3, R, 2 RBI, K DH DJ Lewis 1/4, R, K SP J. Samardzija 4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 1/1 K/BB, E (1, throw), HBP, 3-8 GO-FO RP A. Francisco 2 perfect, 1/0 K/BB, 2-3 GO-FO RP J. Papelbon 2.1 scoreless, 1 H, 4/0 K/BB, 1-2 GO-FO Mesa lost 11-1 Box Score DH V. Heredia 2/4, CS (3) 2B P. Lopez 0/2, 2 BB SS C. Valentin 0/0, BB, R, E (1, throw) 1B L. Murphy 1/2, 2 E (3, fielding, missed catch) CF W. Inoa 1/3, BB, RBI, 2 K SS/3B M. Gonzalez 0/4, 2 K, 2 E (throw x2) RF C. Gilbert 0/3 LF L. Rosario 0/3, K SP O. Bernard 2 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 1 ER, 1/0 K/BB, 4-0 GO-FO RP L. Holdzkom 2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2/1 K/BB, 4-0 GO-FO OVERALL: 5-1

It's kind of interesting evaluating Pie when you look at his peripherals: IsoP 2006: .142 2005: .250 2004: .144 2003: .103 IsoD 2006: .066 2005: .045 2004: .061 2003: .061 He's drawing more walks overall and he's back to his power levels in 2004. Given the fact that most people who have been watching him have said that he's been more passive at the plate this season (watching more strike three pitches, for example), I'm guessing these numbers are a result of trying to implement that new approach. His abnormally high K numbers seem to be indicative of that. I wouldn't worry too much about his average, to be truthful. There are too many factors at play when it comes to determining that particular number. A week-long hot streak would get that number back to a respectable level, you know? His power numbers and plate discipline require monitoring, but I think his slight improvement in patience is reason for optimism. Bottom line: Don't throw him under the bus yet.

I wonder if those Red Sox fans still post here. Jimy Williams' name always did a good job of sending my Red Sox fan friends into spastic fits of rage. He wouldn't be much of a step up from Dusty when it comes to things like bullpen management, bringing along young players, and utilizing the players at his disposal effectively. He seems like a nice enough guy, but he would not be a good choice for managing this team.

I say we build some stocks in front of Wrigley Field. Dusty, Larry, Gene, and Sarge all get locked up in there while fans get to throw as much rotten fruit and Cubs merchandise at them as possible for 30 days. Heck, I'd pay good money to chuck a tomato at Dusty.