Balta1701

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 06:19 PM) I have a feeling that Mackowiak won't be back next year. He's getting paid almost 3 million next year. If I could trust Ozzie to use him right, I'd say to keep him. He's an excellent option off the bench. I just think Ozzie's dumb enough to continue trying to platoon him out there. Or even to try to convince KW that it's ok to trade Anderson because they have Mackowiak. Or they don't need another backup outfielder because they have Mackowiak. Etc. I'd love Mack as a backup/super utility guy. I just don't think Ozzie understands what that means.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 06:15 PM) All I'm asking for is a back-up catcher who can hit over .200, especially after facing the tough lefties in the division. Widger was perfect in the role last season. If Stewart could play better defense than Widger, would that make up for him having a poor BA? QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 06:17 PM) It is the least of our worries. In fact our bullpen is one of the most needed areas to improve, it was why we were so good in 2005. If we get BMAC in throwing like he is throwing, improve the pen, and swap out an SP and PODS for a lead off hitter, I think just that gets us in the playoffs. Hell, we get into the playoffs if we stop playing Mackowiak in CF.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 06:11 PM) No....I don't want to see him bat .150 next season. Give him another year in the minors, and then bring him up for the 2008 season. The scary thing is that I honestly believe we'll bring back Sandy for next season. There are so many other ways that we could spend money and talent this offseason rather than finding a great backup Right Hand hitting catcher. We will win more games with 1 more quality relief pitcher than we will with a backup righty catcher instead of Stew.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 06:02 PM) I know Santana is superb, and C.C. and Rogers were great. However, we need to find a way to put up some runs against them. We can't keep tipping our cap every time we face them. I already gave my solution for how we can improve Iguchi and Thome against LHP (have Ozuna be a supersub vs LHP). We aren't tipping our cap against them. Remember the last time we faced Santana, where somehow we managed to get like 4 runs against him? The problem was we wound up giving up too many runs, not that we couldn't score them. And oh yeah, what was the reason we gave up so many? IMO, it was defense. Catcher didn't hurt, CF did...but you can also win against those guys by not giving up as many runs.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:57 PM) No, it's something we need to strengthen in order to beat tough lefties. We went something like 3-12 against Santana, Rogers, and C.C. this season. Since there's not much we can do about the 3-7 in our lineup, our back-up catcher is something that can really improve our LHP lineup. A perfect example of this is Redmond with the Twins. How much of that would have been fixed had we had a better RH hitting catcher in our lineup? Seriously...moving Dye to the 3 hole would probably have made a bigger difference than having a better backup righty catcher. Or having a leadoff hitter.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:55 PM) We have a hard enough time scoring against Santana, Rogers, C.C. (and Liriano, I'm sure). I still think it's very important that we beef up our lineup against lefty pitchers. Hopefully we can get an everyday LF next year, and then we can have Ozuna play some 2B against LHP (if Iguchi stinks against them again) and some DH in order to not make Thome face guys like C.C. and Randy Johnson. So in other words, you're asking why Ozzie doesn't go with a lineup of 9 righties against Santana et al.? Didn't we go through that enough in 2005?

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:53 PM) Soriano won't go back there, I guarantee it.I understand why you'd say that...but after failing to trade Soriano at the deadline, I have to think the Nats are going to at least put a quality offer on the table for him...they really can't afford to lose him for draft picks after not trading him.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:51 PM) Can we hope that once KW tells Ozzie he won't sign Pierre to a 3 year, 24 million dollar contract, Ozzie will just quit the team and go with Pierre to the Nationals or someone like that? They've said that Haeger is very quick to the plate. We've seen Garcia and Contreras hold runners....there's not a catcher in the world who could throw out a runner when they're on the mound. The Nasty Nats don't have that kind of money...especially with what they're going to try to throw at Soriano.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:46 PM) Would it really surprise people if Ozzie felt Haeger was the better fit to start than McCarthy? It wouldn't surprise me at all. It also wouldn't surprise me to find out that Ozzie was on Minnesota's payroll. QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:48 PM) Does it really matter with most of our pitchers? Contreras and Garcia doesn't even give our catchers a chance in hell to throw someone out. Why not just sign Blanco then, who can at least give you some offense back there. How exactly does a knuckleballer give a guy a better chance to throw out a base stealer than Garcia or Contreras?

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:45 PM) They didnt, and when he got tired, he looked like he did in relief. He was supposed to be on a pitch count, and he was at about 80 pitches when he started to get shaky. In other words, yeah, he wasn't stretched out, and he gave up a home run and a walk because Ozzie left him in too long. Haegar should have started the 6th, but anyway...very nice to see that the real BMac still is alive in there.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:44 PM) The only saving grace is that I know if he does trade him, it will be for a superstar like C. Crawford, V. Wells, or A. Rowand. The way our pitching staff performed this year...and the amount it costto put it on the field...I once again want the starting pitcher. Give me Pujols or give me death. Maybe Ryan Howard.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:41 PM) I'm very thankful he did well tonight. This was a huge start for him, IMO. Only problem is...now I'm going to again be really really really pissed if KW does decide to trade him. Stewart throws out another Sizemore. Can we get him on whatever IRod was on that turned him into an MVP?

How do knuckleballs do in the rain?

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:38 PM) Garcia and Fields for Rowand So basically we'd have sent Gio, Garcia, That other pitcher who's name i can't remember, and Fields for Thome? I don't likee that. Especially the risk we took in picking up Thome after he was hurt. Anyway...that's way too high of a price for a backup outfielder.

Ok, I think this should be BMac's last batter. He was supposed to be on a pitch count. I don't think he should have even come out for the 6th, he was at 75 pitches.

QUOTE(fathom @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:33 PM) The second McCarthy started doubting his ability in the media coming out of the pen before the season, it was obvious he was going to be a disaster out there. I don't think it was obvious at all. BMac was not that bad really until September, other than the times ozzie screwed around with hiim doing that one spot start in May. His ERA in every other month was in the 3's. He had some very good outings, like the 18 inning game against Boston or the 5 innings against the Twins. I don't know what it was...whether he just finally couldn't get sharp without a full warmup in September or he wasn't feeling well or his arm just had too much energy, but he finally just blew up this last month. Zut. At least we got the insurance run.

QUOTE(BigSqwert @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:28 PM) Ozzie must feel like an idiot now for his Cy Young tirade. If he didn't feel like an idiot for putting Mackowiak in CF....i don't know what would make him feel like one. Maybe a total frontal lobotomy. Excellent...insurance run. Get BMac the win dammit! Haegar up.

So BMac tonight...8 k's in 5 IP, 1 hit, faced 1 over the minimum. Changeup was back. 2 seamer was working. Yeah...don't you dare trade this kid. I'm satisified...I just wanted to know that they hadn't permanently screwed him up.

QUOTE(Greg The Bull Luzinski @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:24 PM) After the game, Ozzie will be quick to point out that while BMac pitched in great game his start, he sucked in relief. So he is not ready to be a starter. Instead, Juan Uribe will be our 5th starter next year. He does have a cannon for an arm. And BMac is a righty...perhaps he'd make a good Center Fielder...it'd keep Brian Anderson rested for winterball.

QUOTE(Chisoxrd5 @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:23 PM) I could only use the "not all guys can transition into being a reliever" routine so many times before I just gave up. BTW everyone, the BMac bandwagon has room for all of you people to get back on. I never got off...but I do have to admit, the damn bullpen BMac did give me a scare.

It's about to start raining there supposedly.

70 pitches for McCarthy through 4.2, supposedly he's on a pitch count tonight and Haeger's backing him up...i wouldn't be surprised if this is his last inning. It'd be nice to get him a win too. Struck out the strucking side 8 k's, 5 innings. BMac > you. Again.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:16 PM) 2 seamer inside to lefties and jamming righties looks like the pitch tonight. The curve is starting in the middle of the zone and dropping off, he hasnt thrown the big sweeper quite yet. Stew is working both sides of the plate nicely. Well, it'd be nice to know that he's still got the sweeper in his arsenal...i've barely seen that this year, because he's never gotten the touch with it out of the bullpen. Good to hear that the 2 seamer is working nicely. QUOTE(Tony82087 @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:18 PM) So safe to Mac really might be a "starter?" 1st time I have sat down to watch a game in a while, happy I did. I hope to God this teaches people something about how good Mac can be. It's rapidly ending my worries about him.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:09 PM) better. His change up looks ridiculous. How about the other pitches? Is his curve the small, sharp one or is it the bigger sweeping one today? Have you been able to pick out the 2 seamer? The radio guys have said he's thrown it Fathom, remember all those times you complained about the bottom of our batting order with Anderson and a backup catcher down there? Rob Mackowiak and his .160 average in Sept. Chris Stewart Scott Podsednik.

QUOTE(witesoxfan @ Sep 27, 2006 -> 05:05 PM) For those watching the game... Does McCarthy look like he did last September? 1 hit in 4 innings, 5 k's? I don't know if he looks like it, but the numbers do.