This Week in Baseball 4/16 - 4/22

[geniusMoment 0]

Why is it crucial? First off, Hamilton isn't going anywhere unless the Reds let him go. Second, he has a world of talent, yes. The problem is that he missed a ton of development time and he undoubtably has flaws. A good manager works to cover those flaws and use him to his optimum ability. Leaving him out to be exposed is probably not the best way to do that. Keep in mind he's 0 for 7 against lefties with four strikeouts.

He had the best at bats against Lilly yesterday, his o for 4 is meaningless. He went deep into counts showed a good eye, and was only put away by some tremendous pitches. Besides, who says you can't earn a major league job early, why not put him in everyday and see what he can do? He starts struggling then pick your spots. Freel has been a super-sub for his entire career, he should not be starting over someone with Hamilton's talent. The Reds beat writers were talking to 4 scouts from other teams, and they said, "Hamilton is the best position player Cincinnati has right now, and it's not even close."

[Guest Eagle Man]

Guys, Soriano is hurt. This is three straight years that the Cubs lose their big free agent signing in mid-to-late April: Garciaparra, Lee, Soriano. Now granted, it's not gonna be a virtual season-ender for him like the other two, but what an odd trend.

[Guest Smues]

Does Lee count, since he wasn't signed as a free agent the year it happened? Or is he on the list because he had just signed his extension?

[Guest Eagle Man]

Oh, did I say free agent up there? My mistake. Sorry, mind's foggy, just woke up. Yeah, Lee had just signed an extension. This is why I didn't want Zambrano signing anything this offseason, cuz POW, GONE

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Im glad I didnt record the game last night..

 

Os get down early 7-1, the 3 error play..then they come back to win with help from of all people freaking Fred Bynum hitting a HR...and I missed the Millar Double/HR/Foul Ball strike out too.

 

4 game winning streak! Guess what, it was brought to my attention that last year the Os only had 1 4 game winning streak..so..yay!

[The Man in Blak 0]

He had the best at bats against Lilly yesterday, his o for 4 is meaningless. He went deep into counts showed a good eye, and was only put away by some tremendous pitches. Besides, who says you can't earn a major league job early, why not put him in everyday and see what he can do? He starts struggling then pick your spots. Freel has been a super-sub for his entire career, he should not be starting over someone with Hamilton's talent. The Reds beat writers were talking to 4 scouts from other teams, and they said, "Hamilton is the best position player Cincinnati has right now, and it's not even close."

 

I don't doubt that Hamilton could very well be the best athlete that could take the field on any given day for the Reds, but there's still a question of his mental capacity for the game. He's been battling into some deep counts, which is definitely a great sign for his future development, but part of that is also a result of pitchers not really having a scouting report on him. As the season progresses and those same scouts that complemented him begin to write the book on him, you may see the opposition pitch to him more aggressively.

 

All of that being said, I tend to agree that you might as well push the pedal to the metal and start this kid in center. Hamilton is 26 and he's locked into the roster for the whole year, per the Rule 5 stipulations, so you might as well throw him out there and see what you get from him. He's absolutely abysmal against lefties right now, but he's never going to learn how to hit them if Narron platoons him around them so cautiously. Furthermore, Freel is hardly a game-changing player and he has stated that he's willing to step aside for Hamilton to become an everyday player.

 

If the fans are behind him and (much more importantly) the players are behind him, why not give Hamilton an extended audition?

[Failed Bridge 0]

I know its still very early in the season but the Red Sox have a team ERA of 2.72 at the moment and the starters ERA (minus Tavarez because he's out of the rotation once Lester is healthy anyways) is 2.07

 

They also have the lowest OBA and the strike-out to walk ratio right now is about 3/1 (76K 27BB)

 

This team can be very good if the pitching stays the course.

[Guest Eagle Man]

Now's a good time for the Red Sox to go on a run while the Yankees are weak. Ortiz has looked impressive thus far, and Matsuzaka has made a believer out of me. Of course, this could just be because there's no book on him yet, and he'll regress once the league adjusts. I'm not irritated with the Red Sox anymore, so I'm hoping they have a strong April and early May and give themselves some breathing room early on.

 

EDIT: 670 The Whore says that Soriano is on the DL and the most delicious Cub, Felix Pie, is up.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Trachsel is looking good so far again..

 

Maybe every Os fan should send a thank you card to Kris Benson..hmm.

 

"thanks for hurting yourself!" ugh

[Guest Queen Leelee]

Alexander with an RBI single already to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

 

It's going to get tougher, though, as he'll start to get intentional walks every at bat, soon.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Alexander with an RBI single already to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

 

It's going to get tougher, though, as he'll start to get intentional walks every at bat, soon.

 

Does it count as a game if he gets walked 4 times in a game with no official plate appearances?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Alexander with an RBI single already to extend his hitting streak to 17 games.

 

It's going to get tougher, though, as he'll start to get intentional walks every at bat, soon.

 

Does it count as a game if he gets walked 4 times in a game with no official plate appearances?

I don't think it extends the streak, but I know for certain that it does not end it.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

Probably. And you know some writer will spew something like THIS. when it happens.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Doesn't impact the streak at all. It would remain at 17 games if he did not record any official at bats.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Here's the official take, btw.

 

(b) CONSECUTIVE-GAME HITTING STREAKS. A consecutive-game hitting streak shall not be terminated if all of a batter's plate appearances (one or more) in a game result in a base on balls, hit batsman, defensive interference or obstruction or a sacrifice bunt. The streak shall terminate if the player has a sacrifice fly and no hit.

A player's individual consecutive-game hitting streak shall be determined by the consecutive games in which such player appears and is not determined by his club's games.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Trachsel is getting killed just minutes after I added him to my fantasy team.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Probably. And you know some writer will spew something like THIS. when it happens.

 

By the way since you mentioned him, JD Drew's been mashing so far this year for Boston. Small sample size and all, but he's been exactly what I expected coming into the year. If the Dodgers struggle to put up runs this year, I wonder how many of them will change their tune on Drew and wish they had him back.

[Guest]

If our pitching stays this good, I don't think any of us (Dodger fans) as a fanbase care about Drew. If the Dodgers really cared about Drew, they would have made an attempt to sign him when he opted out, right?

 

Anyway, fuck Drew. Nobody here gives a shit about him because he opted out, and Luis Gonzalez is doing fine. Granted I don't like Gonzo, but he's hitting well.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

I doubt the Os have another 6 run comeback in them tonight.

[geniusMoment 0]

After seeing Hamilton get a hit, and then hit a hard line drive to the warning track, the Brewers gave him a 4 pitch walk to face Dunn. Of course the rest of the team is in such a bad funk that they screw it up.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Jon Knott just cranked a pinch hit 3 Run HR in his first AB as an oriole..

 

6-4 TB now in the 8th with an out.

[vivalaultra 0]

Carlos Lee just knocked a 2-run homerun off of Jorge Julio and then proceeded to ride a stick horse through the dugout. It was great. I love baseball.

[CanadianChris 0]

Tomorrow's headline: "JAYS ROLL DICE FOR 2-1 WIN"

 

From what little I saw, Chacin looked better than I've seen him in awhile. Of course, the real test will be to see whether he can string together two or three more starts like that.

[Dobbs 3K 0]

Carlos Lee just knocked a 2-run homerun off of Jorge Julio and then proceeded to ride a stick horse through the dugout. It was great. I love baseball.

 

Ah...I do miss El Caballo.

[NoCalMike 0]

To anyone in the bay area:

 

Does 106.9 FM stream the A's games over the net, or do they mute it out/play repeats over it.....

[Hawk 34 0]

The offensive struggles for Cincinnati end as the bats came out to play tonight. Currently a 11-5 game.

[Brett Favre 0]

Chase Wright wins his major league debut, as the Yankees top the Indians 10-3.

[Mik 0]

The major positive to Jorge Julio derailing yet ANOTHER game is that he may have already punched his ticket on the DFA train out of town. Thank God.

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

Trachsel is getting killed just minutes after I added him to my fantasy team.

 

The same thing happened with me and Jeff Francis.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe 0]

David Wright had a front row seat tonight behind the Yankee dougout.

 

Chase's dad, of course.