Balta1701

Good. Something to slow the improvement of the Cards down. The Cubs should be happy...K Wood and AJ Burnett could compete for "Most games spent on the DL" in that division.

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 09:29 PM) I think A-Rod has to play for the U.S. He made a big thing about wanting to play for DR or whatever, but Selig said he's going to play where he's placed which will be USA. Sorry, kinda cut that last post off 1/2 way through. Last I heard ARod wants to play for his "Home" country, and that's the DR. And I've heard nothign that says Selig won't let him. His heritage is DR, even though he was born in NY.

If 3 of the final 4 teams don't involve the U.S., Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic...something will have gone horribly wrong with the world. Like Gagne with an 8 inning save or something like that. Japan, Korea, and Mexico could possibly compete with them, but come on...Pujols, Tejada, Pedro, and Ortiz on the same team? Texiera, Bonds, Clemens and Prior? Santana, Abreu and Ordonez? Small Notes - ARod won't compete with the U.S...probably The dominican Along with Pujols and Ortiz. Izturis is likely out until the AS break next year, so no 2b for him. If you ask me...the Dominican looks unstoppable. ARod, Tejada, Manny Ramirez, Ortiz, Tejada, Aramis Ramirez, AND Vlad the Impaler in the same lineup? Along with Pedro and Bartolo as starting ptichers? Wow wow wow. Aside from Olivo, the weak spots in that lineup hit 30+ home runs per year, and the weak spots in the rotation still win 10-15 games. I'd watch that just to see that lineup hit. It'd be like an all star team every game. How the Hell do you even pitch to that lineup? Hitting 1st, Jose Guillen, 2nd, Arod. 3rd, Ortiz. 4th, Manny. 5th, Tejada. 6th, Vlad. 7th, ARam. 8th, Soriano. And Miguel Olivo batting for the Pitcher. WOW. The 2nd through 8th hitters could all hit above .300 with 30-50 home runs in a full season. Shuffle them around as you wish. And give them Pedro and Bartolo starting games.

QUOTE(kyyle23 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 07:30 PM) I went to the World Series statistics page to see if there was anything in the numbers that showed that any one of the pitchers he mentioned deserved to be featured on the DVD for any reason whatsoever. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/stats/interl..._and_events.jsp And I found there really is no reason. Brad Lidge, 3.2 IP 4 hits 2 runs, 2 earned runs(which both lost the game) 1 blown save 4.91 ERA (Paraphrasing Buck) "Do you think The Cardinals should have pitched Lidge in game 6 to get the taste of that Pujols home run out of his mouth?" "I don't think that taste is there" - McCarver "Podsednik swings and hits a high fly ball, deep left field...that ball is GONE!" -Buck "That taste is there now" - McCarver

QUOTE(nitetrain8601 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 12:33 PM) If Ozzie is worried about Anderson's defense, then Anderson should feel safe about his job for next year. This is one thing I'm confident about just from our numbers last year - aside from ARow, Brian Anderson is by far the best defensive outfielder in our organization. Brian Anderson is also the most prepared outfielder with the bat, having spent a year at AAA ball, when no other real outfield prospect has. Brian Anderson deserves shot #1 in the outfield next year. All he has to do is match Rowand in run production in his rookie year and he's in good shape. That means Crede numbers basically - like 20 home runs and a .230-.250 average, which he should be able to do easily if he learns anything at all.

Frank has had 2 bone fractures less than an inch apart in his foot. I'm told the only reason he didn't have surgery on the second break is that it was so close to the first break that he couldn't. Even if he comes back, that foot will not be fully healed, and he will end up re-injuring it after some time. It may take a season, it may take 2 weeks, but it will not be able to support the stress of Frank's swing and running the bases.

QUOTE(SoxFan1 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 08:30 PM) I agree, Uribe was phenomenal batting 2nd in 2004. I dunno, I just really like Gooch batting 2nd. You could almost always count on him to get the guy over or get the guy in. If Uribe can show that he can do that and produce like he normally can...it would be a big plus. I still think Uribe's problem is that he has an absolutely awful swing. Just watch it. When Uribe sets up, he has his feet about 1 foot apart. Albert Pujols has his like 3-4 feet apart. When Uribe swings, he ends up with his feet spread about as far apart as Pujols, which means he thrusts his whole body forward to drive his swing. Pujols drives the ball by shifting the weight between his legs, Uribe drives the ball by shifting his whole body. The difference between these 2 batting styles is that that Pujols's method allows him to keep his eye on the ball longer, because his head stays still while he's shifting his weight, while the Uribe method involves a much longer process of moving both his feet and shifting his weight. 2 years ago, Andruw Jones was doing exactly what Uribe is doing - starting off with his feet close together and taking a big stride while shifting his weight. Last year, Jones spread his feet apart, shortened his stride, and suddenly was able to have more time in his swing to focus on the ball. Juan Uribe is where Andruw Jones was 2 years ago. Incredibly strong, but flying open and away from the baseball too often. It's a problem with the way his swing is built. He needs to spread his legs out and let his swing do the work, instead of forcing his legs to go through the swing like he is now. If Greg Walker could convince Uribe to spread his legs out before he hits and shift his weight while keeping his head still (so that he could see the ball better) Greg Walker could turn Uribe into a triple crown contender. Uribe is that strong. He just needs hitting mechanics. When Walker first started working with Uribe in 2004, Uribe spent the first 2 months of the season hitting like .325. He had a terrible June and July, and hit over 300 again in september and october after hitting .289 in July. Uribe could be a great hitter, he just needs to be taught the mechanics of a swing. He had terrible mechanics all last year, which is why pitchers could get him out on the pitch low and away (strikeout) or the pitch up high (Strikeout or popout). Spread Uribe's legs out, teach him to drive the ball while keeping his eye on the ball for a few more moments, like he did in early 2004, and you'll turn him into a monster.

QUOTE(Antonio Osuna @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 06:56 PM) I tip my hat to those who stood up for the truth and corrected me. I do, however, put forward an argument that a switch-hitting .295 guy with only slightly inferior defense to Crede is going to be much more valuable to us than Crede and his streakyness. Somehow, I just have this feeling that next year will be the year that Crede's streakiness turns into a nearly .300 average and a 25+ home run campaign. Especially after he finally found a stroke that worked for him from September on.

I don't like the Finley idea for 1 reason...you're paying $3 million or so on a total experiment and just hoping against hope that his numbers somehow improve from last year. I just don't see that as making sense. And on Erstadt...I believe he was moved to 1b just because the Angels didn't have anyone else who could play 1b, if memory serves. But he's getting paid way more than his performance justifies at that spot, and he's certainly not tearing it up with the bat. He might even be a downgrade from Anderson for a lot more money.

I swear to God...you give them good press for doing the right thing for steroids, and suddenly every single bloody issue in sports suddenly is a matter of Congress.

QUOTE(LosMediasBlancas @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 12:52 PM) Stapp the Christian boy, eh? From a few months ago...yup.

QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 12:52 PM) Ah more fake outrage. Here's some of the ACLU's anti-Christian court cases that they helped with since 2004. But hey, I'm sure they'll hate all the Christmas cards. What I think is great is that Bill O'Reilly, hater of the word "holiday," had an O'Reilly Factor "holiday tree ornament" for sale on the Fox News website until two days ago when it was quickly changed to "Christmas Tree Ornament" in the middle of the night. Furthermore...know why it was changed? Because one of those "Liberal hate websites" O'Reilly always b****es about...one of the guys doing diaries @ Kos, discovered it, posted it, and it made the rounds on those liberal websites, with each and every one of us laughing as we saw it.

Link. Personally, I'm more primed to believe 311's version of the story, because how the Hell could someone actually make up a guy coming up to you and saying "311, I am ready to fight." Hell, I'll believe that version just because it's funnier.

QUOTE(fathom @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 11:49 AM) I actually agree with you. I think it's time we give one of our young outfielders the chance to prove themselves, and it starts with Anderson this year. Wow, Fathom and I are in total agreement on something.

QUOTE(Felix @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 11:15 AM) Same here. I mean, I felt like s*** when Rowand left here.. I can't even imagine how the Marlin fans feel with just about everyone on their team leaving. The Marlin fans went through this in 97, and all it got them was another title in 2003. Unless you have Yankee dollars, every team winds up needing to trade people off and restart/rebuild at some point. Few teams do it as drastically as the Marlins...but few teams win 2 World series in their first decade of existence either. The Marlin fans have to feel pretty bad right now...but if that team manages to stay in Florida, in a few years, there's a good chance they will be in vastly better moods.

QUOTE(KevHead0881 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 10:53 AM) With their top of the order set, and pretty good pitching from top to bottom, I think the Twins are a slugger away from making the Indians a 3rd place team in '06. Just a hunch. I don't even know if it'd take that...they'd just need a good season from Morneau. If the Indians lose significant amounts of pitching and can't replace it, they could take a step back next year (They could also take another step forward if their offense becomes more consistent)

I saw this and just couldn't resist pointing it out. According to ESPN, tonight's game between the Raptors and the Hawks is the most pathetic meeting ever to take place in NBA History based on team records. The remarkable thing is...their combined winning percentage is guaranteed to increase tonight, because 1 team is guaranteed a win.

QUOTE(SSH2005 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 10:32 AM) Peter Gammons is reporting on ESPN radio that the deal is done. Twins get: Luis Castillo Marlins get: minor leaguers Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler Anyone know anything about those 2? Please tell me the Twins are trading pitching away. I'm so sick of them magically making these 96 mph+ fireballers appear out of no where.

QUOTE(Rowand44 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 10:25 AM) Agreed and agreed. The good thing is they still have no punch in the heart of their order. That makes some assumptions about the performance of Mauer and Morneau not improving which I doubt will be proven right in the end.

QUOTE(sec159row2 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 09:53 AM) http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=47680 # of U.S. troops in Iraq: 160,000 Population of California: 35,893,799 :banghead

QUOTE(bmags @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 09:16 AM) shouldn't there be a difference between news and politics? So what happens if I use some piece of posted news to make a political point? Like if I were to say "This is why we can't trust outside contractors with major public works construction projects" or something like that?

QUOTE(DBAH0 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 02:08 AM) That's Kobe. Now did his teammates actually give a s*** tonight? Kobe fouled out in OT and one of the guys who's name I can't remember hit the GW shot, if that counts.

QUOTE(RockRaines @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 10:09 AM) Phils fans are saying Abreu for Schmidt TIFWIW You mean Jason Schmidt of the Giants?

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 10:06 AM) And they won't be next year? At some level yes...you can have starting pitching, but you can only have so much. The Yankees right now have Johnson, Mussina, Pavano, Wright, Wang, and I think 1 more I'm forgetting who fill out their starting rotation. I don't know all of their contracts, but I doubt they'll have more than 1 opening (Mussina?) to fill after next year. You can sign 5, maybe even 6 starting pitchers if you're the Yankees, but at some level you just can't afford $10 million a year for a guy who'll be your 6th or 7th starting pitcher in case other guys get hurt. Even the Yankees can't just buy starting pitchers and pitch them 50 innings a year out of the bullpen.

QUOTE(maki @ Dec 2, 2005 -> 09:21 AM) new rumor has pierre headed to the yanks. as reported by espn radio this morning. don't know what show it was on. for henn and proctor. I already noted this in the FA Thread...Here's the post... the original article was in the NY Post this mornin.