Transmogrified Tiger

I could really go for an 8 pitch inning from Marmol here

Gamecast has strike 1 about a yard outside.

Theriot is fine in the 2 spot against LHP, he pretty much hammers them.

Penny has a pretty reasonable team option for 2009, 8.75 million.

Well this is disappointing. Ascanio showed good stuff, and really hadn't been given much of an opportunity, but when he was used in short relief he was fine(3 IP, 2 H, 2/1 K/BB after his 2 IP debut). Hopefully he continues to humiliate AAA hitters and comes back soon.

Do you really want Soriano's and Beltran's contracts on this team? What if you used one to get the other?

Two more doubles for Tony Thomas tonight. Donaldson doubled and walked as well.

Walker was a below average 2B because he didn't have good range, Soriano was a below average 2B because he couldn't field the ball. Walker had 83 errors in 8272 IP at 2B, Soriano had 106 errors in 6752 IP at 2B. Again, Walker couldn't move very well to get to balls, moving him to first hides that. Soriano can't catch balls coming at him on the ground at high speed, moving him to first makes this significantly worse. Okay, so we'll eliminate any semblence of defensive value from Soriano. If "we're stuck with him", one would think we'd try and maximize that sort of thing. Where's he going to cost us more games with his "crummy defense", 1B or LF? The answer is 1B. And positional scarcity matters, especially when you're getting average to below average production out of guy you're trying to "hide" at 1B. Getting Lee to waive his no-trade clause is going to limit the teams we potentially deal with, probably significantly. That's going to ensure we don't get proper value for him. It's not about Lee, it's about the other teams knowing we "need" to trade Lee under that scenario. Seriously, the opposite of this is true. Have you ever run on dirt? On grass? Which is harder and less forgiving? Which do you think is better for a guy with leg issues, to track down fly balls and line drives on grass, or to be involved with nearly every play, often needing to use tight footwork and stretching to field throws? In this current baseball climate, how many players of Lee's caliber have been traded while they were still performing at a level that was appropriate with their contract? How many of them were traded away from teams that were trying to contend?

oh wow, great call

oh man, Torre should lose his mind here

Like last night, when he drove in the go ahead run after a 742 pitch at bat?

Cmon, rap it down the line, Pierre can't throw so it'll tie the game

was that Gallagher climbing all over the dugout again?

SHUT UP BOB, you don't HAVE to

If Theriot runs I'm going to break something, let him drive you in.

Saito doesn't have too many in between outings, it's either dominance or ka-boom That was a generous outside corner for strike one

He's thrown 6 innings against the Cubs, no hits, 1 walk, 8 k's. promising stuff.

Cmon Ascanio, mow them down por favor

It wasn't really the arm that time, it was the bobble when he fielded the ball that really caused the problem. He seems to do that on a regular basis but usually gets away with it. It was still the arm, he had him in plenty of time with an accurate throw.

Good thing it's in Petco against the awful Padre offense

Without looking it up, absolutely

Holy dumb Lou, this was the one reason I don't get on board with the "Get rid of Lou" stuff, why is Z still throwing pitches

We're just now getting the pen up with Z at 119 pitches?

left handed hitters have an outside corner too, call it

Because he's a good pitcher? Again, 6.61 ERA away from spacious Dodger stadium this year.