TWiB 6/26 - 7/2

[naiwf 0]

Since strummer posted before I was going to make an edit, the Rowand catch also against the Mets for Christ's sake (was that one also against Wright? I can't remember) was better than the Coco Loco tonight.

[the max 0]

The Red Sox tied the major league record tonight with their 16th consecutive errorless game. I don't know how far back it goes beyond the Cards in 1992, but it's a pretty impressive streak regardless.

[Annabelle 0]

if the tigers remain on top of the league until the allstar break & continue to fend off the supposed hottest team in the league, will they finally start being considred the "real deal"? or are people waiting for them to drop off?

[Vern Gagne 0]

Waiting for them to drop off. I think they have a mediocre stretch, but nothing that keeps them out of playoff contention.

[sfaJack 0]

There's a guy at work I talk baseball with occassionally; the other day he was trying to argue that the Tigers are overrated based almost entirely on the fact that they have losing records against the Red Sox, White Sox, and Yankees this season, AKA the "real class teams of the American League." So yes, they will be doubted until they go to the World Series.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I was originally a doubter of the Tigers. But whatever happens from this point, you have to commend them for doing so well. They probably will make the playoffs.

[naiwf 0]

if the tigers remain on top of the league until the allstar break & continue to fend off the supposed hottest team in the league, will they finally start being considred the "real deal"? or are people waiting for them to drop off?

 

I consider the Tigers the real deal as far as the regular season goes, but I fully expect them to lose to either Boston or Chicago in the playoffs.

[sfaJack 0]

It's amazing that they can go 41-42 the rest of the way (which appears unlikely) and still win 95 games. To me, they're as close to a mortal lock for the postseason as you can be at this point in the season.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

if the tigers remain on top of the league until the allstar break & continue to fend off the supposed hottest team in the league, will they finally start being considred the "real deal"? or are people waiting for them to drop off?

 

I consider the Tigers the real deal as far as the regular season goes, but I fully expect them to lose to either Boston or Chicago in the playoffs.

 

I feel the same way. They are the real deal and they are going to the playoffs, but they are likely to struggle down the stretch and into the playoffs. While the pitching is good, at this point, they don't have a reliable ace or closer, and while the hitting is good, they are relying on too many guys who are either young or playing above their heads a little.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Cubs make a smart move for once and DFA Tony Womack. Now if they could only follow that with Perez and Rusch.

 

I'm wondering if Matt Murton will ever start a game again. I don't think Dusty realizes Phil Nevin was acquired to fill in for Lee and then be a decent bat off an otherwise pathetic bench once he returned. That or he doesn't care.

[sfaJack 0]

Why would Dusty care? It's pretty clear that they're not going to fire him during the season, so he probably feels he's free to do whatever he wants.

 

Besides, the company line has been their struggles are all because Wood, Prior, and Lee have all been out, so Phil Nevin playing the outfield couldn't possibly have anything to do with their pathetic performance. With two of those three back, IT'S GONNA TURN AROUND ANY DAY NOW!!!!!!

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Since strummer posted before I was going to make an edit, the Rowand catch also against the Mets for Christ's sake (was that one also against Wright? I can't remember) was better than the Coco Loco tonight.

It was Xavier Nady.

 

It's amazing that they can go 41-42 the rest of the way (which appears unlikely) and still win 95 games. To me, they're as close to a mortal lock for the postseason as you can be at this point in the season.

What's truly remarkable is that the Tigers are now 8.5 games up in their bid for the playoffs. Still, this is a scenario where they could win 95 games and still miss out. I get the impression that the American League isn't so much good as it is imbalanced.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Cubs make a smart move for once and DFA Tony Womack. Now if they could only follow that with Perez and Rusch.

 

I'm wondering if Matt Murton will ever start a game again. I don't think Dusty realizes Phil Nevin was acquired to fill in for Lee and then be a decent bat off an otherwise pathetic bench once he returned. That or he doesn't care.

Like I said a week ago, Murton was slugging .361. How long do you put up with that when his replacement has hit more home runs in a third of the at bats?

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Cubs make a smart move for once and DFA Tony Womack. Now if they could only follow that with Perez and Rusch.

 

I'm wondering if Matt Murton will ever start a game again. I don't think Dusty realizes Phil Nevin was acquired to fill in for Lee and then be a decent bat off an otherwise pathetic bench once he returned. That or he doesn't care.

Like I said a week ago, Murton was slugging .361. How long do you put up with that when his replacement has hit more home runs in a third of the at bats?

How's that going to change if he gets to bat a few times a week? Granted Dusty gave it more time than usual, but I sense yet another young guy with a lot of upside has been tainted in favor of letting VETERAN PRESENCE thrive.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

M's get Eduardo Perez from the Indians. I would have figured the Tribe would be trying to get some pitching, but I guess not.

[Guest]

If I were in charge of the Cubs, I'd scrap all the veterans that can be scrapped besides Lee. Of course they won't trade Pierre (they just can't) or Zambrano, Prior and Wood, but I think it's time for a full blown rebuild. Approach the guys like Barrett and ask them if they're ok with playing for a losing team, if they aren't, then trade them. However, to rebuild, they need to have the right GM and manager in place. There's no point in losing with veterans, and they need to stop spending money.

[geniusMoment 0]

Thank god, Chris Hammond is gone. Go retire you old fuck, and take Weathers with you.

[Hektik 0]

Paul DePodesta joins Padres front office

 

I like this move. He can take over as GM when they fire Kevin Towers this year.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I'd consider Lee and Zambrano to be the team's only untouchables. They've got enough young arms where you could conceivably build a formidable rotation for cheap a la 2003.

 

They'd be best advised to start trading away the pieces that don't look to be in the team's long-term plans. This means Walker, Pierre, and Nevin for sure. If the Cubs can dump Jacque Jones and his multi-year deal on a team in need of a lefty rightfielder (i.e. the Yankees) then they should. He's currently the team's hottest hitter, so they'd be wise to pull the trigger soon.

 

At this juncture, I think you may even consider trading Aramis Ramirez and Mark Prior if you can get the right pieces. I never thought I'd endorse the idea of trading Ramirez, but he's underachieving greatly this year and if a team in need of a third baseman is willing to part with enough, you may have to do it.

 

As fragile as Prior's been, he's still got more upside than Kerry Wood, so I think you don't deal him unless the right trade is there. The mistake has been building the rotation around two guys who've made over 60 starts combined just once. If you keep Prior and build with the idea he's probably not going to make some of his starts, you're in better shape. The Cubs made the mistake of building around Wood and Prior this season and then expecting Glendon Rusch and Jerome Williams to pick up the slack in their place.

 

On another note, Paul Konerko just some how stole a base. And Phil Nevin still refuses to take a walk.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Paul DePodesta joins Padres front office

 

I like this move. He can take over as GM when they fire Kevin Towers this year.

 

Hopefully he has learned some people skills since his debacle in LA. He ought to send a picture of his ass to Bill Plaschke and sign it "Love, Google Boy."

[geniusMoment 0]

Righthander Kerry Wood visited Dr. Tim Kremchek in Cincinnati on Monday. Kremchek operated on Wood's shoulder last August. Wood threw a side session while hooked up to equipment for biomechanical analysis.

 

"The MRI in Dr. Kremchek's terms, stated it was pristine (and) that the labia repair looked as if it was completely intact (and) looked like it had healed nicely and perfectly. He said his rotator cuff looks pristine, the joint looks good. So there is no significant concerns of any kind of significant issue or injury or anything like that," trainer Mark O'Neal said. Wood is back on the disabled list after four starts.

 

 

 

Ahem.... this story was followed by this urgent correction from the AP to all editors: "Eds: Subs to CORRECT to 'labrum' sted 'labia.'"

 

I always new wood was a pussy.

[the max 0]

Paul DePodesta joins Padres front office

 

I like this move. He can take over as GM when they fire Kevin Towers this year.

 

Hopefully he has learned some people skills since his debacle in LA. He ought to send a picture of his ass to Bill Plaschke and sign it "Love, Google Boy."

 

I think he should get one free punch on Plascke.

[Guest]

I know I'm in the minority, but that's the one thing that Plaschke's done right. I did like the Loduca trade that everyone here went batshit over though. Russell Martin's practically doing what Paul did offensively.

[naiwf 0]

Righthander Kerry Wood visited Dr. Tim Kremchek in Cincinnati on Monday. Kremchek operated on Wood's shoulder last August. Wood threw a side session while hooked up to equipment for biomechanical analysis.

 

"The MRI in Dr. Kremchek's terms, stated it was pristine (and) that the labia repair looked as if it was completely intact (and) looked like it had healed nicely and perfectly. He said his rotator cuff looks pristine, the joint looks good. So there is no significant concerns of any kind of significant issue or injury or anything like that," trainer Mark O'Neal said. Wood is back on the disabled list after four starts.

 

 

 

Ahem.... this story was followed by this urgent correction from the AP to all editors: "Eds: Subs to CORRECT to 'labrum' sted 'labia.'"

 

I always new wood was a pussy.

 

I was gonna say that I didn't realize Wood had repairs done on his pussy and not his shoulder. LMAO.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I know I'm in the minority, but that's the one thing that Plaschke's done right. I did like the Loduca trade that everyone here went batshit over though. Russell Martin's practically doing what Paul did offensively.

 

How the hell could you support Plaschke? He basically ran DePo out of town when he was doing a good job at GM. That team last year was killed by injuries.

[Guest]

I didn't like the direction they went. The Lowe signing was terrible at that cost.

[Mik 0]

Red Sox win streak is gonna end tonight, book it.

 

And the game in Florida (hell, all 3) are close to sold out!

 

Looking forward to the first Dontrelle vs. Mike Lowell at bat tonight. Wish Beckett was pitching in this series, but oh well.

 

Oh, and Bill Plaschke is the worst and was dead wrong. Watch what Paul DePo can do on the Padres.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I'm starting to think Sean Marshall's incapable of a 1-2-3 inning.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

You're doo-doo, Phil Nevin! Doo-doo! How can someone swing through pitches right down the center of the plate so often?

 

Add another two-on-no-out situations for the baby bears that ends with no runs.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Phils traded for Fabio Castro. According to BA, he's got starter's stuff but he's undersized (5'8"), making him a relief candidate. He's a Rule V pick so the Phils have to keep him on the big club.