EVIL~! alkeiper

I'd call it an exaggeration. The Tribe simply doesn't get many save opportunities, and most of that bullpen has been terrible, except for Rafael Betancourt.

Consider accomplishments from both leagues, and choose one where you feel he made the most impact. Obviously for Robinson this is quite difficult, but if he were to receive an abundance of combined votes from each league, I'd make an arrangement.

Regardless of Mondesi's attitude, it wasn't even a smart move a week ago.

Because there's something vaugely troubling about trading last year's MVP runner-up for a utility player.

2 HRs for Bobby Abreu.

Since I did a little research for this rant, here are the save pcts. for closers this season..... Graves: 83.8% Benitez: 95.8% Herges: 84.2% Kolb: 94.1% Mesa: 100% Hoffman: 93.3% Izzy: 81.3% Gagne: 100% Looper: 91.7% Biddle: 78.6% Dotel: 83.3% Chacon: 71.4% Smoltz: 90% Borowski: 81.8% Wagner: 88.9% Valverde: 71.4% Worrell: 80% Hawkins: 66.7% Mantei: 57.1% Disregard Hawkins, as he's 4-6, and those blown saves came as a set-up man. Set-up men are charged with blown saves when they blow a lead but don't usually get the opportunity to collect saves, thus distorting their percentages.

Nomar collects a hit with his first at bat.

Defense.

Perhaps part if the reason is that Nascar holds more local events than Indy Racing.

That's a carbon copy of Bill James' list, with Puckett and Hamilton flip-flopped, and Averill moved up three spots from 14.

I figure the draft deserves its own thread. I'm just looking over the results now.

I don't object to it making the list, but not ahead of championship games.

Yes, the rules state you should make an effort to avoid the ball, regardless of location.

Looks like the Reds magic doesn't work in Oakland. A's lead 11-1.

A great line from another board.....

Ok, now its full of shit. I'm a hardcore baseball fanatic. I don't really remember MLB's mass retirement of Jackie's number. It certainly does not overshadow actual CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES.

Anyone catch AJ Pierzynski last night? In the eighth, with his team up 9-2, and the bases loaded, he stuck his elbow out, and claimed he was hit by a pitch, when he was not. The ump awarded him the base, and pitcher Steve Reed flipped out and was ejected. First off, Pierzynski is a complete bastard. Next, the league needs to do something about batters getting hit by pitches. If you don't make an effort to get out of the way, you don't get the base. Hitters should not reach base by sticking their elbows out over the plate.

I happen to have the Phillies draft on my screen. MLB obviously knows nothing about MacFarlane.

A minor league game last night between the SWB Red Barons (Phillies AAA Affliliate) and the Louisville Bats (Reds) deserves mention. A seven inning game, with one hit between the two teams. Robert Ellis of the Barons pitched a no-hitter, giving up just one walk. Jesus Sanchez walked one, gave up a home run to Mark Davis, struck out 8, and lost the game.

Each team has 30 seconds to make a pick. Its easy as they have them planned in advance, and there's no trading picks as there is in the NBA and NFL. Good thing, because otherwise the draft would last months. Glad to see the Phillies taking college pitchers. The payoff for college players in general is 2-4x that of high school players. For every Josh Beckett, there are dozens of Brien Taylors.

Welcome to aging. I'm older than the Phillies big two pitching prospects, and there are now porn stars younger than my younger sister.

There's barely anything representing a catcher in the system, let alone one with prospects. Great commercial for Oakland A's merchandise aired, featuring Chad Bradford calling Ken Macha from the bullpen. "Bradford, for the last time, I call you, not the other way around!"

Figures the Reds and Brewers roll the dice with high school pitchers. Scott Boras continues to turn the draft into an auction, which is troubling. Jared Weaver falls to the Angels, and some think he could be MLB ready by late this year, although unlikely. Interesting to see Paul DePodesta take a high school pitcher with the Dodgers first pick. The Moneyball philosophy is indeed flexible.

Maddux vs. Moyer, age in the cage? Yeah, that's probably lame. On the plus side, the new column is up.

Just as a matter of sport its an amazing moment. The Angels had a three run lead, with three outs to go. Up three games to one, on their way to their first World Series, and they collapsed. That Dave Henderson made up for letting a home run bounce off his glove made it sweeter.