This Week in Baseball

[Fuzzy Dunlop 0]

At one point we would have had bases loaded, nobody out, but they called Lee out at third when he was clearly safe, and another time with Lee on first and Patterson batting with no outs, full count, the pitch is inside, but they called it strike three, and Lee was running so it was a strikemout, throwemout, double play, when it should have been two on, nobody out.

[sfaJack 0]

Eh, tough loss today. I was forced to only listen to the end as I was stuck in traffic on my way home, but, like Bruiser, I knew the Cubs missed their window when Martinez struck out in the 8th. Has Carlos Beltran been great since he got traded or what? Damn.

 

Anyway, it's PRIOR~! tomorrow against Pete Munro, so that should be advantage Cubs. Taking 2/3 is perfectly acceptable, though you hate to blow that one today.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

1 out, 3 H, 3 R

 

Tony, you can pull Brian Anderson

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Can someone explain to me why Billy Wagner is nowhere to be seen?

[the pinjockey 0]

Because that would mess up Bowa's nice clean Cormier, Worrell for an inning, Wagner for an inning routine.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Just a reminder that the MLB Online Balloting ends tonight at Midnight Eastern.

[Precious Roy 0]

It's amazing how poorly Bowa has used Wagner this year, is this like the first time he's had an ace closer at his disposal or what?

[the pinjockey 0]

No, just the fact he really blows as a coach. I would also like to mention how he complains that the relievers are getting worn out and the starters aren't going deep enough into the game. Then tonight he pulls Paul Abbott after 5 innings when he only had about 75 pitches. Was getting the pinch hitter in really that crucial in the 5th inning while they were ahead IIRC.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Hey Marvin.. did you see the replay on that DeJesus catch?

 

It hit the ground.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

No, just the fact he really blows as a coach. I would also like to mention how he complains that the relievers are getting worn out and the starters aren't going deep enough into the game. Then tonight he pulls Paul Abbott after 5 innings when he only had about 75 pitches. Was getting the pinch hitter in really that crucial in the 5th inning while they were ahead IIRC.

 

I would've pulled him. Abbott isn't good enough to trust with the game. The problem is his usage. Geary is good enough to pitch in close games. Yet Bowa only uses him when the Phillies are way down or way ahead.

 

And managers insistance on saving closers for the ninth is maddening. The Phillies needed their best pitcher on the mound. Worry about the ninth later. The way Jimy Williams used Brad Lidge this afternoon (tie game, 0 out, 2 on in the 8th) is ideal.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

By the way, here's a rundown of my All-Star ballot....

 

-The AL leader in OPS among first basemen is Paul Konerko?! I never would've guessed that. With Frank Thomas on the ballot, however, Thomas gets the nod.

 

-The two leaders in OPS among second basemen, Juan Uribe and Mark Bellhorn, are not on the ballot. I give the nod to Rafael Belliard here.

 

-Carlos Guillen takes the nod at shortstop. Take a look back at my season preview and note what I wrote about the Mariners. They spent $1.5 Million because they didn't think Guillen was good enough. His replacement, Rich Aurilia, is hitting 242/304/346.

 

-Hank Blalock over A-Rod, in a close one.

 

-Ivan Rodriguez, and its not even close. 381/422/568, and seven for seven in steal attempts.

 

-Manny Ramirez, Vlad Guerrero, and Gary Sheffield.

 

-In the NL, Jim Thome at first. A bit of homerism here, but he leads NL first basemen in home runs, OPS, slugging percentage, and runs created.

 

-Jeff Kent at second. Its close, but Kent is established, and its his home park.

 

-Jack Wilson at short, despite his abysmal walk rate. There are simply no other qualified candidates.

 

-Scott Rolen at third.

 

-Mike Piazza at catcher. He only plays half his games at catcher, but he's outhitting the rest of the ballot, and we need him for the Clemens/Piazza battery.

 

-Lance Berkman, Barry Bonds, and Bobby Abreu. If Abreu doesn't at least make the All-Star roster, then something is seriously wrong.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

No, just the fact he really blows as a coach. I would also like to mention how he complains that the relievers are getting worn out and the starters aren't going deep enough into the game. Then tonight he pulls Paul Abbott after 5 innings when he only had about 75 pitches. Was getting the pinch hitter in really that crucial in the 5th inning while they were ahead IIRC.

 

I would've pulled him. Abbott isn't good enough to trust with the game. The problem is his usage. Geary is good enough to pitch in close games. Yet Bowa only uses him when the Phillies are way down or way ahead.

 

And managers insistance on saving closers for the ninth is maddening. The Phillies needed their best pitcher on the mound. Worry about the ninth later. The way Jimy Williams used Brad Lidge this afternoon (tie game, 0 out, 2 on in the 8th) is ideal.

Yeah, Abbott sucks hard when it comes to pitch count. I remember games where he threw too many pitches in 6 innings, while giving up 5 walks and a hit

[the pinjockey 0]

I have a feeling something is going to be wrong then. With Sosa and Griffey making the team, I think Abreu is going to be the snub.

 

As for Abbott, I agree he isn't trustworthy. But with Wolf up tomorrow, I would want to have my bullpen ready for a possible long night (figuring Wolf will be on a pitch count again). Since Madson went three last night, he likely won't be available and now Cormier and Worrell probably won't be used.

[Guest Choken One]

are you going by your PERSONAL picks or what you think will happen?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I have a feeling something is going to be wrong then. With Sosa and Griffey making the team, I think Abreu is going to be the snub.

 

I'm not getting my hopes up for a starting gig obviously. I just want to see him on the team. He's 3rd in OPS, so even if Bonds or Berkman didn't make it, he should still make the reserves.

 

As for Abbott, I agree he isn't trustworthy. But with Wolf up tomorrow, I would want to have my bullpen ready for a possible long night (figuring Wolf will be on a pitch count again). Since Madson went three last night, he likely won't be available and now Cormier and Worrell probably won't be used.

 

As Leo Durocher said, "you don't save a pitcher for tomorrow. Tomorrow it might rain." Besides, if you won't use your bullpen, then what the heck do you keep 6-7 guys on it for?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

are you going by your PERSONAL picks or what you think will happen?

Personal picks. That's my ballot. Sorry if I didn't clarify that.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Al.. there's more important things to worry about. Like which Royal will get on the team.

 

[it'll be Sweeney. It should be Harvey]

[the pinjockey 0]

Would Beltran be put on the NL team?

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Yeah, his votes transfer over anyways

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Al.. there's more important things to worry about. Like which Royal will get on the team.

 

[it'll be Sweeney. It should be Harvey]

Personally, I'd go ahead and put Zach Greinke on the squad. No one else stands out, and he could just sit in the pen in case the game goes extra innings.

[Bored 0]

Ken Harvey will probably end up being the Royal rep which means someone like Frank Thomas is going to get snubbed.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Would Beltran be put on the NL team?

He's eligible. I'm not sure if he really deserves it though. His OPS is .910, grouping him along with Steve Finley, Jim Edmonds, Luis Gonzalez, Craig Wilson. All those guys are within ten points of each other. Drew and Dunn are clearly above that group. Griffey and Sosa will likely make it. Abreu and Berkman carry OPS's above 1.000. So there's 7 outfielders before we get to the Beltran group.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

If they put pitchers on the squad in case of extra innings, they'll use relief pitchers (Lance Carter. Did Mike Williams pitch in the all-star game last year?)

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

In fairness however, Beltran is fifth in runs created, behind Bonds, Berkman, Abreu, and Dunn.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Would Beltran be put on the NL team?

He's eligible. I'm not sure if he really deserves it though. His OPS is .910, grouping him along with Steve Finley, Jim Edmonds, Luis Gonzalez, Craig Wilson. All those guys are within ten points of each other. Drew and Dunn are clearly above that group. Griffey and Sosa will likely make it. Abreu and Berkman carry OPS's above 1.000. So there's 7 outfielders before we get to the Beltran group.

He'd be an all-star if he was a Royal.

 

Do you think Scott Boras would explode if Beltran is left off the all-star team again?

 

BTW, Beltran has 4 tools, not 5

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

If they put pitchers on the squad in case of extra innings, they'll use relief pitchers (Lance Carter. Did Mike Williams pitch in the all-star game last year?)

 

They shouldn't. There's no reason to include middle relievers in the All-Star game, except Francisco Rodriguez.

 

EDIT: Mike Williams did pitch, and surprise, he gave up two runs.

[the pinjockey 0]

I am not saying he deserves it, but nationally he is a bigger star. Put him together with Berkman and now we are down to one open spot. And I would be shocked if McKeon didn't grab Cabrera.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Meanwhile in Kansas City

 

On the pitch that was a called third strike: "Fastball on the outside corner, actually, fastball headed for the on-deck circle. C.B. Bucknor has somewhere to go tonight."

 

Didn't Mongo cut a promo on Bucknor?

[Bored 0]

Beltran would have definently been the Roayls rep if he hadn't been traded. I have no clue how it works with the player voting, in terms of what the ballot looks like so I'm not even sure if Beltran will be on the N.L. ballot for the payers. Last year Carl Everett made it as the back-up DH on the player ballot despite not being the White Sox DH.

 

Just looked up the win shares leaders (through June 25th) and Micahel Young of all people currently leads the A.L. with 16. Barry Bonds leads the Majors with 25.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Well, you can still vote for him as a Royal, which carries over to the Astros.

 

Unless you want to elect David DeJesus