This Week in Baseball 4/1 - 4/8

[KingPK]

Damn, that was an impressive 4th for Matsuzaka. Struck out the side with some nasty breaking pitches and good fastballs.

[The Man in Blak]

Matsuzaka has obviously been impressive, but how about Zack Greinke? One earned run through five and six strikeouts to one walk for a kid that many KC fans imagined would never start again.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

It's going to be cold and snowy all weekend. Why are games scheduled in the coldest climates during the 1st week of the season.

It was 87 degrees on opening day here. It's snowing right now. Hard to schedule around weather nowadays.

Springs in the northeast quarter of the country have wildly varying temperatures every year. There's a freezing day in April every year. Wait 2 weeks before playing in Detroit and Cleveland. It's not that tough.

[geniusMoment]

No way Opening Day leaves Cincy, unless you live in this city you have no idea what it's like. No one goes to work, the city shuts down, there's a huge parade that leads to the ballpark and everyone gets totally blitzed by noon.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe]

Johnny Damon is about to be put on the DL for a strained calf for the first time in his 12 year career. This sucks since I'm going to the game in two days and he's one of my favorite players. Boourns.

 

They just announced the news on the Michael Kay Show on 1050 am.

[Guest]

I never, ever thought I would see a comment like that from a Yankee fan in my entire life.

[Cheech Tremendous]

Super gritty gamer Johnny Damon is injured already and no-heart, sleeps in a hyperbaric chamber JD "Pussy" Drew is not. Feel free to make your own jokes.

[Brett Favre]

What does injury have to do with heart?

[Cheech Tremendous]

So I understand that it is a minscule sample size, but the Red Sox bullpen has looked excellent through the first 3 games of the year (2 runs on 5 hits through 10 innings of work). Granted it's just Kansas City, but I'm trying to find any glimmer of hope in a bullpen that looked like it would be the drizzling shits coming into the year. Relief pitching may very well be the difference between a division title and a disappointing finish.

 

I got caught up at work today and didn't see of the game, but it looks and sounds like Matsuzaka had a dominating performance. Scouting reports seem to indicate that his stuff wasn't that good (91-92 MPH fastball), but the location and pitch selection was excellent. It looks like his ability is in confusing the batter rather than blowing by him. It will be interesting to see how the league responds to him as they become more familiar with his approach.

[treble]

The Phillies got Francisco Rosario from the Jays for cash.

[Mik]

We're a bit late on this, but no matter: When the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Triple-A baseball team changed its affiliation from the Phillies to the Yankees this year, their mascot, The Grump, decided to celebrate in his own special way. Jay S. Hastings, who wears the mascot costume for the Yankees (formerly the Red Barons), was arrested on Saturday during a police Internet sting on charges that he solicited sex with a boy who actually was a police decoy. And Hastings' mode of transportation that night left no doubt that minor league baseball mascots are the wiliest of all criminals.

 

Hastings told police he had access to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees van because he is the Grump and attends special appearances mainly at functions involving kids.

 

Even in light of these troubling events, job seekers should not rush to Scranton thinking that The Grump position is open. We could easily see Carl Pavano wearing that suit by May

 

deadspin.com

 

I imagine that Al can't be too happy about this. Ha.

[MarvinisaLunatic]

JETER MAKES AN ERROR! STOP THE PRESSES! ALERT THE MEDIA!

[MarvinisaLunatic]

The Yankees look horrible defensively..Posada especially behind the plate.

 

Jeter has 2 errors..wowzers.

 

Im only watching the Yankees because its in HD and for scouting purposes.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

Scouting whether you'll finish 30 or 40 games behind them.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

We're a bit late on this, but no matter: When the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Triple-A baseball team changed its affiliation from the Phillies to the Yankees this year, their mascot, The Grump, decided to celebrate in his own special way. Jay S. Hastings, who wears the mascot costume for the Yankees (formerly the Red Barons), was arrested on Saturday during a police Internet sting on charges that he solicited sex with a boy who actually was a police decoy. And Hastings' mode of transportation that night left no doubt that minor league baseball mascots are the wiliest of all criminals.

 

Hastings told police he had access to the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees van because he is the Grump and attends special appearances mainly at functions involving kids.

 

Even in light of these troubling events, job seekers should not rush to Scranton thinking that The Grump position is open. We could easily see Carl Pavano wearing that suit by May

 

deadspin.com

 

I imagine that Al can't be too happy about this. Ha.

Actually I'm thrilled. One, it deflate the new team. Second, it gives a whole new appreciation for putting up with Andy Mehalshik (WBRE 28) and the I-Team segments I had to watch before a game last year. Catching internet predators yet they couldn't spot the guy in the Grump suit!

[NoCalMike]

It's only the third inning and the A's already have 7 Runners LOB. 2-0 A's going into the bottom of the third.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

Alan, your Phillies acquired Francisco Rosario today from the Blue Jays.

 

Is he an insurance policy incase Gordon still struggles. Because I doubt you want to put 6-fingers Alfonseca as your closer.

[Bored]

Might as well get this joke out of the way...I am totally GAY for Mike Piazza tonight. He homered in the 9th off of a suddenly not touching his hat nearly as much K-Rod for the win.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Alan, your Phillies acquired Francisco Rosario today from the Blue Jays.

 

Is he an insurance policy incase Gordon still struggles. Because I doubt you want to put 6-fingers Alfonseca as your closer.

He's not insurance as much as he is a power arm in a bullpen loaded with finesse pitchers. The Phils needed depth and Rosario provides it. As for Gordon, one outing is far too premature to consider turfing him as a closer.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe]

But I thought closers didn't matter.

[Guest Eagle Man]

Yesterday was a shitty pair of Chicago games. Howry and Eyre blew a great six-inning Marquis outing (?!?), and Will "Bad" Ohman pitched a four-pitch to Adam Dunn that included two wild pitches. Could've given more than a one-run lead had it not been for Soriano and Theriot making some positively Alouian baserunning brainfarts. Meanwhile with the other team, Mark Buehrle got bounced in the 2nd when he took a comebacker off the left wrist, and yet the Sox still won in the bottom of the 9th on a bases-loaded HBP to AJ Pierzynski, a situation the Tribe could've prevented by not intentionally putting Iguchi on to load them up. The one time you're not supposed to throw at him, y'know? Anyway, Cubs are in Milwaukee for the weekend, and like all Brewers games, great seats are still available (is it normal to throw out the opponent's ticket hotline on your broadcasts?), so that might be something to do on Saturday.

[USC Wuz Robbed!]

Yesterday was a shitty pair of Chicago games. Howry and Eyre blew a great six-inning Marquis outing (?!?), and Will "Bad" Ohman pitched a four-pitch to Adam Dunn that included two wild pitches. Could've given more than a one-run lead had it not been for Soriano and Theriot making some positively Alouian baserunning brainfarts. Meanwhile with the other team, Mark Buehrle got bounced in the 2nd when he took a comebacker off the left wrist, and yet the Sox still won in the bottom of the 9th on a bases-loaded HBP to AJ Pierzynski. The one time you're not supposed to throw at him, y'know? Cubs are in Milwaukee for the weekend, and like all Brewers games, great seats are still available (is it normal to throw out the opponent's ticket hotline on your broadcasts?), so that might be something to do on Saturday.

 

What you say shitty, I call fantastic.

[The Man in Blak]

That Pierzynski HBP was a bit of a joke, BTW, just glancing off his elbow on a check swing where he made no attempt to get out of the way at all. I know that there's little or no enforcement of the HBP rules anymore, with Craig Biggio stepping into pitches and Barry Bonds standing over the plate with armor, but the umpires have to draw the line somewhere at some point, right?

[USC Wuz Robbed!]

I didn't even think it hit him. I was confused they let him go. But I doubt the pitcher would have escaped that half inning intact anyways.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe]

I never, ever thought I would see a comment like that from a Yankee fan in my entire life.

 

Neither did I, but, here we are.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Some good Phillies news from yesterday. Freddy Garcia pitched 3 1/3 innings in a rehab start and struck out 7.

[geniusMoment]

I'm really pulling for the Astros to sweep this weekend, as I'd like the Cardinals to be buried as soon as possible.

[Guest Eagle Man]

0-6 isn't a burial.

 

There's no Twins-Sox game tonight; it's too cold out. Saturday's game is likely cancelled as well, as it's supposed to snow. This weather sucks.

[snuffbox]

Ready for the first Cubs-Brewers series of the year, Czech?

[Guest Eagle Man]

Quite ready! I might spring for some $20 tickets on Saturday if I can. I think the Brewers take this game tonight, because I'm worried that Rich Hill will get roughed up and chased in the 3rd.