TWiB 6/26 - 7/2

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

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

 

Derek Lowe gave them 220+ innings last year at a 3.x ERA. He's not a world beater, but he was a decent gamble for a top of the line starter based on his extreme GB/FB ratio.

 

He also avoided resigning Beltre, which makes him a genius right off the bat. His goal was to lower payroll and pick up short term pieces until the kids were ready to play in '07. He was well on the way to accomplishing that goal.

[KingPK 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.

 

Since the crowd is going to be 80%+ Boston fans, wouldn't you NOT want the place sold out? And are the hundred Marlins fans going to boo Lowell when he steps in?

[Guest]

He also avoided resigning Beltre, which makes him a genius right off the bat.

That's true. The more I think about it, I realize I don't dislike him all that much. The thing with Plaschke, I agree to a certain extent with what he said, but I don't like when a reporter tries to wage war with a player, GM or manager. That's not really his job.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

He also avoided resigning Beltre, which makes him a genius right off the bat.

That's true. The more I think about it, I realize I don't dislike him all that much. The thing with Plaschke, I agree to a certain extent with what he said, but I don't like when a reporter tries to wage war with a player, GM or manager. That's not really his job.

 

For someone who lived in the LA area during the Plaschke-DePo era, what really went on? I only have second hand info, but I know that he hated the whole statistical revolution and the hiring of DePo (Google Boy?.. Good one, Bill). Was it just the LoDuca trade or something deeper? I know he can't stop sucking off Ned Colletti, but what was his problem with the team winning its first division title since 1996?

[the max 0]

I don't live in LA, but from what I remember, Plascke felt that Lo Duca was the true leader of the team and should never have been traded.

[Guest]

It was the LoDuca trade and the "moneyball" philosophy in general. He and many others didn't think that the team needed to save money. Trust me, nobody here wanted LoDuca traded, especially for the return that the Dodgers got. When the trade was made, everyone thought the postseason plans were off.

 

Getting Penny when he had arm problems pissed people off because everyone believed DePo knew about this when he made the deal, signing JD Drew, having David Ross and Brent Mayne start at catcher (that's the one that had me real angry), the possible extension of Tracy, Gagne getting too much money. Guys like Jose Hernandez and Jason Grabowski also had people angry. I don't think that LA is the best place for a young GM, because there's a lot of media pressure. Many didn't like the ownership change, and I mean both changes, the one from the O'Malley's to Murdoch and then the one to McCourt. That's where the team lost some support, and when they finally had a winning season and the leader of the team was traded, many people thought they were throwing in the towel. I thought so, at the time.

 

I think Plaschke really lost it when the Dodgers didn't get Randy Johnson. He had the biggest hard-on for the guy.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

It was the LoDuca trade and the "moneyball" philosophy in general. He and many others didn't think that the team needed to save money. Trust me, nobody here wanted LoDuca traded, especially for the return that the Dodgers got. When the trade was made, everyone thought the postseason plans were off.

 

I never quite understood this. Paul LoDuca was a pretty average catcher, and they received Brad Penny and Hee Sop Choi in return. I always conisered that a steal for the Dodgers.

[strummer 0]

It was the whole "team leader"/"intangible" bullshit he was upset about

[Guest]

Yes, and it was intensified by the fact that Penny got hurt right after the deal. LoDuca was the guy that everyone could sympathize with and he was immensely popular here. He, not Gagne was the face of the team. DePo got fired last year not so much as a result of what happened then, but what happened the year before. At least that's the way I see it.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Yes, and it was intensified by the fact that Penny got hurt right after the deal. LoDuca was the guy that everyone could sympathize with and he was immensely popular here. He, not Gagne was the face of the team. DePo got fired last year not so much as a result of what happened then, but what happened the year before. At least that's the way I see it.

 

Which is total fucking bullshit. The General Manager has a job to do, and it's put together a winning ballclub. He had the opportunity to improve the team for the postseason and beyond. The Red Sox traded Nomar for God's sake and didn't catch that kind of flak. Lo Duca has a career OBP of like .330. Plaschke should have kept his trap shut.

[Guest]

That's because Nomar had a bunch of incidents that led to the fans not caring about him as much. I'm sure you remember which ones.

 

LoDuca had a good year before he was traded, ever since his numbers have slipped considerably. Not that I'm arguing in favor of the trade now, because I realized during that offseason that it was the right thing to do.

[devo 0]

Lo Duca DHs while Castro catches. Now that's making good use of the DH spot. Almost makes up for the mind-boggling decision to have Wright designate hit last night.

[treble 0]

Eric Hinske: Lead-off hitter. Didn't think I'd ever see that.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I hate it when Directv blocks out a national channel like ESPN (or in this case, TBS) when they have an Os game on and there isn't any other way to watch the game locally (its not on Comcast Sportsnet and my UPN station isn't picking the game up either).

 

Fuck the MLB blackout rules.

[CanadianChris 0]

Welcome back to the majors, Adam Bernero. Sorry you won't be staying long.

 

8-0 Jays after 2. Lyle Overbay already has 2 home runs.

[vivalaultra 0]

In a move that's sure to make Thanksgiving in the Weaver house a lot less comfortable, Jeff Weaver has been DFA'd by the Angels, with his brother Jered called up to take his place.

[Guest]

If you're going to suck, suck with the young guys. They're not out of it though. He's been horrendous, and my belief with him has always been that he's going to suck or be good on any given night. There's no middle ground.

[Mik 0]

I told you that the Red Sox win streak was over. If the Red Sox end up with 5 runs here on Dontrelle... I'll change my sig/avatar to the gayest thing someone can find.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

And naturally, I had him benched tonight.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Could this be the reason Joe Maurer's on doing so well?

 

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

In a move that's sure to make Thanksgiving in the Weaver house a lot less comfortable, Jeff Weaver has been DFA'd by the Angels, with his brother Jered called up to take his place.

 

I'm sure Jeff will be fine with $4 million he gets for sitting on his ass the rest of the year.

[strummer 0]

The Mets look like their playing in slow motion

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

Could this be the reason Joe Maurer's on doing so well?

 

 

Hell that's the reason the entire team is doing so well.

 

Too bad their in a division with the Major League powerhouses.... Chicago and Detroit. I never thought I'd say that.

 

 

 

Heard this on ESPN radio, and it's an intersting question I thought I'd bring it up.

 

Twins, White Sox, Tigers. If you could pick one rotation for your team, which of these three would you take?

[Mik 0]

The Florida Marlins are all alone in 2nd place.

 

Who saw that one coming?

[Bruiser Chong 0]

That's a tough call. All three have great 1-2 punches. With the Sox, you have an overrated Garland and two pitchers in Vazquez and Garcia who are usually real good, but tend to make costly mistakes.

 

The Tigers have Bonderman and Verlander, but nothing after that that's terribly impressive. Rogers will regress and Nate Robertson's K rate and the fact that his ERA is over a full point lower than his career ERA probably mean he's due for regression, too.

 

With the Twins, you've got what I think is the best 1-2 combo in the division. I'm not sure about the rest of the rotation, but Bonser's supposed to be good, so that rotation may have the most upside to it.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Speaking of good pitching, let's go on the other end of the spectrum and talk about the Indians, who blew a 7-0 lead by allowing nine runs over the last two innings of the game against the Reds. Adam Dunn capped things off with a walkoff grandslam, but I hear he strikes out a lot and doesn't hit in the clutch, so he's probably not a coveted player.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Welcome back to the majors, Adam Bernero. Sorry you won't be staying long.

 

8-0 Jays after 2. Lyle Overbay already has 2 home runs.

It's really time to end this farce and put Ryan Franklin in the rotation. No, he's not a good starter. But when you've exhausted your 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th best options, it's probably a good idea to try out the guy you paid $2.6 Million for.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

They paid money for him?

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Ron Villone should be cut for allowing the only Mets hit.

[Open the Muggy Gate 0]

The Reds have found quite a lot of motivation as of late. They realize they CAN win this division with the way the Cards are playing. And hey... as long as it gets Ken Griffey Jr. back in the spotlight, I'm all for it. I really hope the guy reaches 700 homers before it's said and done. Don't know if that'll be a stretch though.