TWiB #8: 5/22 - 5/28

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Juan Pierre is worthless. He finally gets on base and gets thrown out by a mile trying to steal second. I'd root for a Marlins sweep if I knew it had any influence on Dusty's extension.

[Guest Felonies!]

It doesn't, so don't. I guess Andy MacFail was or is down in Miami to "evaluate the clubhouse," which would make me happy if I didn't know the evaluation would be "everything's peachy."

[Hawk 34 0]

Griffey looked like the Griffey of old last night with a hell of a catch in center and a 3 run jack. Good for him. In the 90s, there was NO ONE better than Griffey and it's good to see he has stayed somewhat healthy so far this season. Here's to hoping he gets to 600 homers before his career ends.

 

Except for the entire month he missed, you mean?

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Dear god, Aramis Ramirez just tripled.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

After Maddux gave up a five-spot, smacked a cooler of ice in the dugout with a baseball bat, which left the poor, unsuspecting trainer who was sitting next to him soaked.

 

And after getting the first two on in the inning, Ramirez grounds into a DP and Murton grounds out. The Cubs are en route to getting swept by the Marlins.

 

But none of it's Dusty's fault!

[naiwf 0]

April: 5-0, 1.34 ERA

Cubs won all 5 games

 

May: 0-soon to be 4, 8.44 ERA (thru 5th inning today)

Cubs will have lost all 5 games

 

I think it's safe to say that whatever pixie dust Maddux was using is gone. I must see the trainer incident just because that sounds funny.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

It doesn't help he's pitched well enough to win some games, but the offense just isn't there. I wasn't watching, but my understanding is the five-run inning started with two outs and then a Ronny Cedeno misplay started the rally. I wasn't sold on him at the outset of the season and now that he's made tons of errors and shown no patience at the plate, I'm inclined to say Hendry really should've pushed for Furcal.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Oh, and I realized that if the Cubs lose this one, they'll have four more wins than the lowest payroll in baseball. That's something to be proud of.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

And just to remove any doubt, Roberto Novoa, who must have incriminating photos of someone to still be on the MLB roster, gives a three-run jack to Cabrera.

[Guest Felonies!]

Walks aren't important.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Couple of Phillies questions for Al....

 

Do you think there's anyway to get Rollins out of the lead off spot? He is just simply terrible right now.

 

Second question, what do they do with Victorino when Rowand comes back? You follow the minors, can he play short? (kidding, well kind of)

1. Not really. They do not have many options unless they get creative and make Abreu the leadoff hitter, and he has indicated he wants to bat in the middle of the order. I would not sweat it because most studies indicate the batting order does not matter. Rollins still has to hit somewhere.

 

2. He becomes the fourth outfielder. It's too bad that he doesn't have a regular job somewhere, but he's young yet.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

And just to remove any doubt, Roberto Novoa, who must have incriminating photos of someone to still be on the MLB roster, gives a three-run jack to Cabrera.

 

Fantasy points!

[Bored 0]

The A's can't catch any breaks with injuries as now their top prospect Daric Barton left last night's game in Sacramento with a badly hyper extended elbow. He'll have x-rays today and if he needs surgery his season would likely be over.

[jwest27 0]

Ok, so Brad Thompson is starting instead of Carpenter. Bonds may not have to wait too much longer.

 

Edit: oh, apparently Bonds isn't in the Lineup. Nevermind.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

And just to remove any doubt, Roberto Novoa, who must have incriminating photos of someone to still be on the MLB roster, gives a three-run jack to Cabrera.

 

Fantasy points!

Yeah, at that point, that's what I was thinking myself.

[jwest27 0]

Hey, Jason Marquis with a pinch hit triple.

 

wtf

[The Man in Blak 0]

Jason Marquis makes for a better Brooks Kieschnick than Brooks Kieschnick ever did.

[naiwf 0]

Um, why has LaRussa blown through two starting pitchers in 2 innings? Did Thompson get hurt? If not, what was the point of using Marquis to hit for him, only to go to his 3rd pitcher in the 3rd inning?

[jwest27 0]

Also, Juan Encarnacion is pretty bad. Although, looking at his career stats, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised.

[The Man in Blak 0]

Today was actually Carpenter's scheduled turn in the rotation, but he had skipped his scheduled bullpen work earlier in the week, due to some back ailment, and was scratched from the start.

 

So, today, the Cardinals are starting Johnny Wholestaff. Thompson was a starter in the minors, but he's been utilized so heavily as a one or two inning reliever that they can't really stretch him out on a whim. He had also touched about 40 pitches in two innings, so he wasn't really dominating anyway. My guess is that the Giants will get a steady diet of Josh Hancock and Brian Falkenborg coming up for the next four or five innings.

[naiwf 0]

Today was actually Carpenter's scheduled turn in the rotation, but he had skipped his scheduled bullpen work earlier in the week, due to some back ailment, and was scratched from the start.

 

So, today, the Cardinals are starting Johnny Wholestaff. Thompson was a starter in the minors, but he's been utilized so heavily as a one or two inning reliever that they can't really stretch him out on a whim. He had also touched about 40 pitches in two innings, so he wasn't really dominating anyway. My guess is that the Giants will get a steady diet of Josh Hancock and Brian Falkenborg coming up for the next four or five innings.

 

Thanks for the explanation. After seeing the Mets nearly use up two or three potential starters to get through yesterday's game I was just curious about how indiscriminantly LaRussa was using up pitchers like he has an unlimited supply.

[Mik 0]

I hope that everyone who is watching a Marlins game this season realizes they are watching the 2008 World Champions.

 

These kids are gonna be scary good - playing exceptionally well (for the most part) a year or two before their projected dates of being ready.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I hope that everyone who is watching a Marlins game this season realizes they are watching the 2008 World Champions.

 

These kids are gonna be scary good - playing exceptionally well (for the most part) a year or two before their projected dates of being ready.

The Royals would look like the 2008 World Champions if they played the Cubs right now.

[Mik 0]

Well - I'm not just basing that on the Cubs series. Take away some bullpen meltdowns from scrubs like Messenger and Herges and the Marlins would have a much better record.

 

Watching most of the games - you see the talent.

 

It's looking more and more likely that Dontrelle is going to be dealt by the All-Star break and a trade with either the Diamondbacks or the Dodgers would only make the future brighter.

 

It's hard watching your team taking it on the chin every night but when you know the future is so bright - it makes it a little easier.

[Failed Bridge 0]

they might not be in Florida or go by the name "The MArlins" come 2008

[Mik 0]

I live in NY, so no big deal to me.

[Guest]

It's looking more and more likely that Dontrelle is going to be dealt by the All-Star break and a trade with either the Diamondbacks or the Dodgers would only make the future brighter.

I wish. The Dodgers have enough depth in the farm system that it wouldn't make a huge dent, plus a logjam in the middle infield and outfield.

 

Hanley and Cabrera make the Marlins a fun team to watch.

[Failed Bridge 0]

I wouldn't mind the Red Sox giving up Lester, Delcarmen, and Pedroia for Dontrelle. Its a package that's been discussed amongst the Boston media and evidently one Florida is interested in if the media is correct.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

ESPNNews reports the Mets have acquired Orlando Hernandez.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Wasn't he just in danger of missing a start last week because of back problems?