This Week in Baseball, 4/21-4/27

[Brett Favre 0]

The o isn't even near the e.

[Bored 0]

There was a report that Frank Thomas was very close to returning to the A's but a mystery team stepped in and made a better offer but as to who that other team is it hasn't been revealed yet. I'm still thinking it will be Seattle.

[Guest blame that goot.]

"We've just come to a point where we're not going to lose anymore," Castellini said.

Reds lost! Jocketty's fired!

[Dandy 0]

"We've just come to a point where we're not going to lose anymore," Castellini said.

Reds lost! Jocketty's fired!

yearly

[naiwf 0]

Thomas is headed back to Oakland for $337,000 (prorated share of the league minimum). Sounds like a win/win for both parties. If he can't hit they didn't pay much for him, and if he can he might be able to latch on somewhere else next year.

[KingPK 0]

Very impressive outing by call-up Justin Masterson today: 6IP, 2H, 4Ks, 4BB, 95 pitches (58 strikes). With half the team in the MASH unit due to the flu, it's nice to see the future looking so good.

[the max 0]

Masterson got wiped from the game, as Lopez and Delcarmen forgot how to throw strikes and Okajima just gave up the tying single.

 

Masterson pitched well though.

[snuffbox 0]

I don't like David Riske.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I don't like Ryan Theriot.

[Guest blame that goot.]

He won the damn game yesterday, but such is life with the Chicago Cubs, where every game is life or death. Not that I'm innocent of this mindset by any means.

[devo 0]

In yet another instance of brilliant game management, Willie Randolph leaves Perez in to bat after he struggles through an extremely tough fifth inning where he gave up three runs and would have given up more had it not been for a remarkable play by Wright. Perez starts the sixth inning by allowing the first two baserunners to get on before getting yanked. In comes Heilman, arguably the least productive member of the pen so far, who gives up a grand slam a couple minutes later.

 

That, combined with two Met hits from Church and Casanova that barely missed being home runs (Casanova didn't even run his out - he ended up on first) have made this a really, really frustrating game so far.

 

 

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

In yet another instance of brilliant game management, Willie Randolph leaves Perez in to bat after he struggles through an extremely tough fifth inning where he gave up three runs and would have given up more had it not been for a remarkable play by Wright. Perez starts the sixth inning by allowing the first two baserunners to get on before getting yanked. In comes Heilman, arguably the least productive member of the pen so far, who gives up a grand slam a couple minutes later.

 

It may be a situation of needing to get innings out of some guys. You can go balls out to try and win games now, but that pen will collapse come August.

[Bored 0]

A's need to go on a long losing streak quick or otherwise they are going to start making the small fanboy in me think that they have a chance when I was kind of looking forward to having zero optimism and not having to get emotionally involved in wins and losses this year. If these assholes are in first place at the end of May then I'm really going to be pissed.

[NYU 0]

So we're not even a month into the season, and Sosa has already given up two grand slams and Heilman has given up one.

 

This is like 2007: Part II for the Mets. But hey, at least we added Matt Wise.

[Guest Smues]

A's need to go on a long losing streak quick or otherwise they are going to start making the small fanboy in me think that they have a chance when I was kind of looking forward to having zero optimism and not having to get emotionally involved in wins and losses this year. If these assholes are in first place at the end of May then I'm really going to be pissed.

 

But if the A's are in contention all season Joe Morgan's head might just finally explode. It's for the greater good!

[devo 0]

In yet another instance of brilliant game management, Willie Randolph leaves Perez in to bat after he struggles through an extremely tough fifth inning where he gave up three runs and would have given up more had it not been for a remarkable play by Wright. Perez starts the sixth inning by allowing the first two baserunners to get on before getting yanked. In comes Heilman, arguably the least productive member of the pen so far, who gives up a grand slam a couple minutes later.

 

It may be a situation of needing to get innings out of some guys. You can go balls out to try and win games now, but that pen will collapse come August.

 

I understand, but that's not even the whole problem. There are guys in that pen whose job it is to strand runners (Smith and Feliciano). If you're not gonna use them then, when?

[naiwf 0]

So we're not even a month into the season, and Sosa has already given up two grand slams and Heilman has given up one.

 

This is like 2007: Part II for the Mets. But hey, at least we added Matt Wise.

 

Sosa has a chance at # 3 right now. Trying to watch a broadcast from this stadium sucks almost as much as this game does for a Mets fan. Ugh.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

He won the damn game yesterday, but such is life with the Chicago Cubs, where every game is life or death. Not that I'm innocent of this mindset by any means.

It's not just today. I don't care much for him. He surprised a lot of people last year, but he was clearly overachieving with his performance. At this point, I think Cedeno will and should be spelling the starting shortstop position before we get too deep into the summer.

[NYU 0]

And Sosa comes in and gives up three runs on three hits and a walk.

 

This is depressing. You're not supposed to get routed by the Washington Nationals.

[snuffbox 0]

Good luck with Matt Wise. I hope he's finally gotten over hitting that guy in the head.

[naiwf 0]

That's the hardest I've ever seen Joba get hit in one game. I did miss the infamous bug game though so I can't tell if that one was worse.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Os won their 9th come from behind game, down 5-0 at one point to the Mariners they ended up winning 8-7, adding another win to their 1 run record (7-1). Last year they were 13-31 in 1 run games and they had a really low number of come from behind wins. I dont know how they're doing it really myself.

 

This upcoming 4 game series with the White Sox is a big one early on. If they can get 2 wins out of their next 6 (2 with Tampa also), they'll have won 15 games which is 1/4 of the total they were predicted by just about everyone to win (blah blah blah 100 loss season blah blah blah).

 

Oh, and I see Mariner fans (via another forum) are taking going 1-6 vs the Os pretty hard, especially since Sherrill saved 5 of the 6 wins and Adam Jones had a huge 2 run double tonight.

 

 

[Annabelle 0]

joba got hit good.

 

the white sox are the ultimate feast or famine team. carlos quintin, joe crede, jim thome, and paul konerko represent that.

 

in tigerland, sheffield has at least hinted at the possibility of retirement if his chronic shoulder ailment needs more surgery. there is no structural damage, but guy is on his 3rd cortisone shot. it can't be good.

 

now for a discussion starter for shits

 

bonds to tigers?

 

not being mr fantasy however, if there is one manager in all of baseball that would want barry bonds on his team, tis jim leyland. the tigers would need a dh. they need left handed hitting. illitch has already put so much into this team, would another 1-2 million dollar contract (with bond's baggage) be a possibility. if bonds doesn't go to the tigers, would anyone take him?

[Annabelle 0]

re; cubs fans

 

what do you know about clay rapada?

 

this kid came to detroit in the craig monroe deal. he has been LIGHTS OUT as the tigers lefty specialist. even against righties. he's bailed the tigers out of bases loaded no out situations with no runs given up. very impressive. ironically, outside of jason grilli and zach miner at times, the tigers bullpen has predominately been the strongest part of their team. once rodney and zumaya come back, they maybe have one of the best bullpens in the league. the combo of aquilino lopez-clay rapada-denny bautista-todd jones has been surprisingly effective. especially bautista. i don't think either zumaya or rodney will take his set-up role if/when they return.

 

 

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

For $1-2 Million yes, but I think Bonds would want more than $10 mil.

[Annabelle 0]

bonds knows he's not going to get that. however, i think his agent has alluded to the fact that bonds would take a significant paycut to play. i forget the quote, but it added up to around 1 -2 mil/year.

 

okay, so we'll split the sifference in half, 5-7 mil, is it worth the risk?

[Annabelle 0]

says bonds would take 18 million paycut

 

who knows if true, but c'mon. enough of this blackballing bullshit. someone's got to realize that bonds could help their team.

 

it would be a circus for the first few weeks to a month, but by time august rolls around, it wouldn't be a big deal. unless his trial starts then.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

bonds knows he's not going to get that. however, i think his agent has alluded to the fact that bonds would take a significant paycut to play. i forget the quote, but it added up to around 1 -2 mil/year.

 

okay, so we'll split the sifference in half, 5-7 mil, is it worth the risk?

I'd say only if Gary Sheffield hits the DL for good.

[Annabelle 0]

ya, of course. there would be no need for the both of them together. an interesting possibility. tough to say how long it would take him to catch up to game speed, or if he would make much of an impact. regardless, just something to keep in mind. i can't see any other "contender" that would take him on. maybe seattle, if they're considered a contender.

[Guest blame that goot.]

what do you know about clay rapada?

Was talked about being the next big reliever more than he ever actually ended up being. The Cubs ended up going in other directions for their bullpen arms (Kevin Hart, Carmen Pignatiello) for whatever reason, I guess.