This Week in Baseball

[strummer 0]

Yankees release Steve Karsay

 

And it's official, Bernie Williams is full time DH, Matsui to CF, Womack to LF, Cano called up to play 2nd

[mike546 0]

Wolmacks never played LF in his life.

 

God help us.

[the max 0]

Wolmacks never played LF in his life.

 

God help us.

Womack.

 

Not Wolmack.

[Cuban Linx 0]

After Kenny Rogers throws 8 scoreless innings Francisco Cordero pulls out a Danny Graves Special, three walks to load the bases, giving up two runs on a single, taking 38 pitches for just 1 inning but still managing to collect the save.

[The Czech Republic 0]

And the AA pitcher is Sean Henn.

I wish it was Sean Penn. A Yankees rotation with a guy named Sean Penn and a guy named Wang who goes against Bush, they deserve the pennant.

[Styles 0]

Oh, well, it's because I opened my big mouth I guess. Let's take the series...

[Bored 0]

Speaking of team's that need a shake up, or at least one part of the team, I don't know how much longer Billy Beane is going to sit pat wit this offense. It's beyond terrible. Even when Eric Chavez finally starts hitting, although my patience is starting to wear slightly, I don't know if that will be enough. Small ball is a bullshit strategy that relies on the useless sacrafice bunt but I think it's time the A's at least attempted to steal a little bit more. They aren't scoring runs at all and having just two stolen bases all season they could stand but a little more agressive especially since they are basically a team of singles hitters now.

 

Another problem today is Nick Swisher went on the DL. He has struggled but now Eric Byrnes and Bobby Kielty will have to play reguarly against right handers. Both are complete black holes against righties and should be strictly platooned against lefties. Beane really puzzled me with calling up light hitting, "veteran utility man" Jermaine Clark to replace him.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/03/sports/b...all/03pins.html?

 

Interesting.

 

Cano at 2nd, Wolmack in left, Matsui in CF.

 

RJs out of his next start due to a minor groin injury, which is explained as "if it were a REALLY big game, he'd pitch" and double A pitcher Sean Penn is being called up to make the start.

 

This is something out of the twilight zone.

Of all the great ideas to help teams win pennant, I never placed "Play Womack in LF" among the top.

What would you recommend?

Not trading Wily Mo Pena to the Reds for Drew Henson would be a good start.

 

And while I'm pointing out the folly of trading too many of your prospects, here's a few more. Damaso Marte for Enrique Wilson. D'Angelo Jimenez for Jay Witasick. Ted Lilly for Jeff Weaver. Jake Westbrook AND others for David Justice. Nick Johnson and Juan Rivera for Javier Vazquez.

 

And yes, hindsight is 20/20, and all that fun stuff. Just excuse me because I am LOVING this right now. The exalted Yankees are playing an infielder with a .681 career OPS in Left Field, a left fielder in center field, and their new second baseman drew six walks in 108 at bats so far this year in Colombus. And all the while, casual Yankee fans are convinced it's because they lack "true Yankees."

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Speaking of team's that need a shake up, or at least one part of the team, I don't know how much longer Billy Beane is going to sit pat wit this offense. It's beyond terrible. Even when Eric Chavez finally starts hitting, although my patience is starting to wear slightly, I don't know if that will be enough. Small ball is a bullshit strategy that relies on the useless sacrafice bunt but I think it's time the A's at least attempted to steal a little bit more. They aren't scoring runs at all and having just two stolen bases all season they could stand but a little more agressive especially since they are basically a team of singles hitters now.

 

Another problem today is Nick Swisher went on the DL. He has struggled but now Eric Byrnes and Bobby Kielty will have to play reguarly against right handers. Both are complete black holes against righties and should be strictly platooned against lefties. Beane really puzzled me with calling up light hitting, "veteran utility man" Jermaine Clark to replace him.

No amount of stealing is going to help the team if they do not improve that .312 On Base Percentage. Every player on the club is hitting below their expectations, and I don't know whether they are in a funk, or they need some kind of spark. If there is a comfort, it is that the Athletics' bullpen has been dominant so far.

[CanadianChris 0]

From the "things are going to get worse before they get better" department...word is that Randy Johnson will miss his next start due to a stiff groin, and may have to go on the DL.

 

Given that he and Pavano seem to be the only two guys who can give up fewer than 10 baserunners per start, I'd say that's a pretty big blow.

[mike546 0]

How can you bash the David justice deal? He saved the Yankees that year. And Matsui is the best Cf on the Yankees, he played great there in 03.

 

Everything else I agree with.

[Stephen Joseph 0]

While I'm very happy with the Jay's relief, I can't believe that Chacin won't start being hit in his next few starts. His new-ness factor will wear off as he gets scouted more and more.

 

Mastui is beginning to show that he was indeed overrated. He's good, but not Ichiro good.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

How can you bash the David justice deal? He saved the Yankees that year. And Matsui is the best Cf on the Yankees, he played great there in 03.

 

Everything else I agree with.

Justice did play great that year. But two of the guys they traded are now starters. It was not the worst deal they ever made however.

 

As for Matsui, if there is a booby prize for being the best center fielder on your team, that's terrific. In fact, moving Matsui to center field is a wonderful idea. The problem is that this wonderful idea involves playing Tony Womack in left field. Womack in the outfield is such a ridiculously stupid move that it defies explanation. Womack barely hit enough to justify his existance as a second baseman. As a left fielder, his OPS is better than only Scott Podsednik and Covelli Crisp. Moving Matsui to center is only a good move if it gets another bat in the lineup. Robinson Cano is not that bat.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

due to a stiff groin

Hehehe.

 

Hey Al - think the Phillies are going anywhere this year? 'Cause right now, finishing .500 might be seen as an accomplishment.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Hey Al - think the Phillies are going anywhere this year? 'Cause right now, finishing .500 might be seen as an accomplishment.

 

I do. They have too much talent not to improve their slugging percentage. They must get another bench bat though. They need to ditch the 12 man bullpen and call up Marlon Byrd.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Once they get healthy, do they go back to the Polanco/Utley platoon at 2nd? I'd hate to see Utley go back to playing every other game (or so), but we can't have Polanco upset over his playing time, can we

[CanadianChris 0]

due to a stiff groin

Hehehe.

Hey, those are the risks when you're the Big Unit.

[2GOLD 0]

Why didn't the Yankees call up an outfielder and second baseman and just release Womack?

 

Or is it they don't have an outfielder in the minors worth a damn?

[Brett Favre 0]

Well, Bernie and Brown will be gone next year. Isn't Pierre going to be a FA? They need to look at that.

 

As for this year, Cano seems like a left handed Soriano, so he shouldn't be too bad. He hit AAA pitching pretty well; other than the drawing walks part.

 

Henn did well in double A; we have nothing to lose here, because the Randy Johnson missed start is only to avoid anything serious occuring. Hopefully Henn gives us something and we'd have (along with Wang) starters at the 4 and 5 with Brown.

[CanadianChris 0]

Why didn't the Yankees call up an outfielder and second baseman and just release Womack?

 

Or is it they don't have an outfielder in the minors worth a damn?

Mitch Jones is tearing it up in Columbus (.436 OBP; 1.158 OPS); I'm surprised they didn't want to give him a shot.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Why didn't the Yankees call up an outfielder and second baseman and just release Womack?

 

Or is it they don't have an outfielder in the minors worth a damn?

Right now the best outfielder at Columbus is Mitch Jones, who is hitting .367/.436/.722 in 90 at bats. However, he is 27, and he led the Eastern League in strikeouts last year, with 152. He has 29 strikeouts right now in those 90 at bats. From Baseball Prospectus 2005...

 

One dimensional slugger who led the Eastern League in home runs and strikeouts in '04.  He might have a career resembling Shane Spencer's, albeit without the off-field stupidity.  Even that remains a long shot, as he would be pressed to sustain a batting average above .230 in the show.

 

Candidate #2 is Colin Porter, a 29 year old AAA mainstay. Right now he is hitting .183/.318/.282 in 71 at bats. Last year Porter hit .261/.316/.424 in AAA New Orleans, officially ending his prospect status. His primary asset is his speed.

 

Candidate #3 is Mike Vento. 27 year old hitting .322/.390/.460 in 87 AAA at bats. .275/.333/.441 last year in Columbus. Replacement level.

 

Candidate #4 is Kevin Reese. Another 27 year old hitting .290/.351/.400 in AAA. From Baseball Prospectus 2005...

 

Acquired from the Padres for second baseman Bernie Castro, Reese was well on the way to establishing himself as a solid fourth outfielder with leadoff potential when he stalled out at Triple-A in 2003 and had to be remanded to the Eastern League, where he continued to scuffle.  Although his batting average recovered, his good plate judgement did not--though he added a new wrinkle, power.  He can help a major league team as a low-cost reserve.

 

BPro projects a .267/.325/.405 line for Reese, and a .237/.314/.452 line for Mitch Jones. Porter and Vento did not make the book. No really good players among this group, although ALL of them would make better left fielders than Tony Womack. Serously, Womack in left? What the !#%&?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Also worth noting that off the six walks Cano drew in 108 at bats, 3 were intentional.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASAp...t=.jsp&c_id=phi

 

Jim Thome is on the DL, and Ryan Howard is up from AAA.

[Styles 0]

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/NASAp...t=.jsp&c_id=phi

 

Jim Thome is on the DL, and Ryan Howard is up from AAA.

The plot thickens.

[the pinjockey 0]

Nice that Chase Utley is out of the lineup tonight, as they are facing a lefty, with the 1B spot being taken by the mighty Tomasssssss Perezzzzzzzz.

 

It is amazing that they continue to harp on how he struggles against lefties, but never play him against them. How the hell is he supposed to get better at it if he never sees them. I can buy benching Utley against lefties in a Polanco/Utley platoon since Polanco can produce, but Perez flat out blows. There is no reasonable arguement that it is worth benching Utley to get Perez's bat in the lineup. God damn this team is frustrating.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Nice that Chase Utley is out of the lineup tonight, as they are facing a lefty, with the 1B spot being taken by the mighty Tomasssssss Perezzzzzzzz.

 

It is amazing that they continue to harp on how he struggles against lefties, but never play him against them. How the hell is he supposed to get better at it if he never sees them. I can buy benching Utley against lefties in a Polanco/Utley platoon since Polanco can produce, but Perez flat out blows. There is no reasonable arguement that it is worth benching Utley to get Perez's bat in the lineup. God damn this team is frustrating.

Utley has 61 career at bats against lefties, and FOUR at bats against lefties this season.

 

Tomas Perez has 441 career at bats against lefties, and carries a gaudy .254/.297/.397 line. He's PROVEN that he can not hit lefties at an effective rate, especially as a first baseman. What really bugs me is that the Phillies do not see fit to start Jose Offerman at first. If your pinch hit extraordinare cannot outhit your second string utility infielder, doesn't that indicate some sort of problem?

 

However, the Phillies DO have a lefty masher. Todd Pratt holds a .293/.392/.490 career line against left handers. That would look good in the Phillies lineup, but god help a team would actually USE their backup catcher.

[the pinjockey 0]

BWAHAHAHAHA, they never even use Pratt as a pinch hitter unless it becomes a 12 inning game. I would have a heart attack if they used him as a starter based on the matchups.

[mike546 0]

Kevin Brown is done.

 

ugh.

[Cartman 0]

Man..the Yankees are OLD.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Phillies up 5-0, Yankees down 0-6. Looks like a good night so far. Of course, this is the team the Yanks scored 13 in an inning against, so I should quiet myself.