Incendiary Weekly Pepper

[Gregory Pratt]

Incendiary Weekly Pepper

(Called "Incendiary" because of this manner in which it was described by my editor: "In an incendiary review of the week, Gregory calls Brian Wilson unfit to be an All-Star, compares Matt LaPorta to Richie Sexson, and considers Derek Jeter and Andy Van Slyke more important to the game's history than Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds are. Is Gregory breathing in too much smog on the West Coast, or is there method to his madness?")

 

Gregory Pratt is having a blast on the west coast of the United States. He is currently stationed in Portland. He will share specific details of his trip next week, and he apologizes for the relative brevity of this entry but wants you to understand that he has had precious little time to prepare it.

 

Redemption? -- The Philadelphia Phillies have extended Brad Lidge. The contract is for three years and 35 million dollars. I do not know whether or not Lidge is worth the investment or whether he really is the man he has been this season, but Pat Gillick can certainly say that he got the better of his trade with Ed Wade. Michael Bourn for Brad Lidge? Hundred miles per hour versus a hundred yard dash.

 

Teknically Unsound / Unsafe at Any Speed -- On our flight to Los Angeles Tuesday, we met a woman who is related to Jason Varitek through her daughter's marriage, and she talked to us about how hard Varitek works on defense, how down-to-Earth and kind he is. It was pleasant, and I definitely admire "the Captain's" work ethic, but let's not kid ourselves; he does not belong in the All-Star Game by any standard this season. I wish I knew how to decide whether or not a player belonged in the game or not, so as to reasonably avoid poor choices, but I do know that the big-market teams should not represent the league because of their fan base, and players like Joe Crede don't belong in the game, either, no matter what the players might say with their votes. And don't get me started on Brian Wilson who has saves but not much else. Kosuke Fukudome is not a good choice, either, but the people have voted, eh?

 

Paul Revere Rides to Milwaukee -- CC Sabathia has, as of this writing, been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers, except it is not yet official, and I've got to say that I like the deal for Milwaukee. They're in a very weak division and league, and could use an extra ace for the stretch run, so they are giving up a defensively-challenged ballplayer who might flame out, hit a lot of homeruns, or wind up providing a Sexson mix of both (and not much else) and a couple of other prospects (who are not impact prospects) for one of the very best pitchers in baseball. I just hope the sausage racers are given fair warning, as Sabathia cometh with an appetite, and not just for a championship.

 

Achey Breakey Heart -- Roy Oswalt's out "indefinitely" with a strained hip. I can not stress unto you how distressed I am by this news. [Pratt note: I guess not. The news report seems to indicate that he will now be starting soon, on Friday.]

 

Borowski a Smoke -- Joe Borowski has been designated for assignment by the Cleveland Indians. So, listen, he wasn't a great or a good closer, but he got the job done for a while, and that counts for something, even if the deck is stacked in every closer's favor.

 

Rays -- You know, I have long believed that Major League Baseball does not work in Florida, but I am thoroughly enjoying this year's Tampa Bay team. I just wish more people would turn out to watch them, because I would live in Tropicana Field if I lived in that city, largely because it is so cheap and the team is so fun.

 

The Chase is On -- The most interesting "chase" for a "record" this season might be Roy Halladay's attempt to throw double-digit complete games, which is something that has not been done since 1999.

 

And the Dream Will Never Die -- Chipper Jones fell below .400 a small while ago, but he's still right around there. The only consistent baseball "watching" I have done on this trip is in the boxscore for Jones' games, and I still hope that he can make it to .400, although I do not believe he will. That's the point of watching and reading, though.

 

Flukeillis -- There's no other way to describe this nifty video. Except for "nifty." [Pratt note: MLB took it down. ]

 

History Theory of the Week -- In baseball lore, there is no male-female relationship more important than Joe DiMaggio's with Marilyn Monroe. Alex Rodriguez is adding his own love affair to the Yankees' history books with his alleged relationship with hundred-year-old Madonna. This is why Rodriguez will be remembered by baseball history with less reverence than that which Reggie Jackson or the Yankee Clipper are afforded, and this story reminded me of the following song parody:

 

Now Harry Walker is the one who manages the crew.

He doesn't like it when we drink and fight and smoke and screw.

But when we win our games each day.

What the hell can Harry say!

It makes a fellow proud to be an Astro (too)!

 

I guess that's a tangent.

 

There is little doubt here that Rodriguez is a more valuable ballplayer to have on your team than Derek Jeter, but are there really all that many children dreaming of being Alex Rodriguez instead of Jeter? In this sense, Roberto Clemente is more important to this game's history and legacy than almost every other ballplayer who has ever played the game, Andy Van Slyke is more important in Pittsburgh than Barry Bonds is, and so on and so forth. I have always believed in the game's continuity and the importance of establishing links between the past and the present and the future in this game, as it is most definitely in a state of constant transition and generational care. So, with that in mind, I firmly believe that men who played the game and have inflated or deflated reputations as a result of their whole body of work are to be praised and criticized for it, in a responsible manner of course (Sandy Koufax is not the greatest pitcher of all-time). Every ballplayer is a retainer of the game of baseball, and there is something to be said for ballplayers who take their responsibilities seriously and provide a strong narrative for the books. The game is a significant part of our culture, and it should be understood accordingly.

[NorthSideSox72]

GP-

 

Thanks for these threads. Truly, good stuff. Great discussion column. I may not always agree with your take, but, the topics are solid and so is the writing.

 

Now, be warned, I'm about to dig into you on one of your previous column points. Not disparaging your columns - just calling out a specific point you made.

 

In a previous column, you stated that YOU could hit Gavin Floyd. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on his breakout season thus far? Was it a fluke? Did he change some things that you have observed, that have allowed him to be successful? Is he just better than most of us thought? And most importantly... could you hit a Gavin Gloyd curveball?

 

Seriously though, keep up the columns. Great stuff.

 

-NSS

 

[Chisoxfn]

Greg, another good read. I really enjoy these pieces because you have a great writing style as well as your natural love for the game comes through in each of the pieces.

[southsider2k5]

GP-

 

Thanks for these threads. Truly, good stuff. Great discussion column. I may not always agree with your take, but, the topics are solid and so is the writing.

 

Now, be warned, I'm about to dig into you on one of your previous column points. Not disparaging your columns - just calling out a specific point you made.

 

In a previous column, you stated that YOU could hit Gavin Floyd. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on his breakout season thus far? Was it a fluke? Did he change some things that you have observed, that have allowed him to be successful? Is he just better than most of us thought? And most importantly... could you hit a Gavin Gloyd curveball?

 

Seriously though, keep up the columns. Great stuff.

 

-NSS

 

I have seen him hit, he couldn't hit the old Gavin Floyd

[kapkomet]

I have seen him hit, he couldn't hit the old Gavin Floyd

 

Good stuff, Greg. Well thought out!

[Gregory Pratt]

NS --

 

You bring up an old Weekly Pepper, one of the firsts, but in another weeks later I mentioned that Floyd was one of this season's biggest surprises --- and flukes.

 

I suspect that this baseball season and next will prove that, but I do not know for sure. His curveball has been consistent, but I am not sure that it will be permanently so and in fact would guess that he is just another in a long-line of one-year wonders that Major League Baseball in general and Don Cooper's tutelage in particular generate.

 

He's having a good year, though, and that's good for him and his team.

[kapkomet]

NS --

 

You bring up an old Weekly Pepper, one of the firsts, but in another weeks later I mentioned that Floyd was one of this season's biggest surprises --- and flukes.

 

I suspect that this baseball season and next will prove that, but I do not know for sure. His curveball has been consistent, but I am not sure that it will be permanently so and in fact would guess that he is just another in a long-line of one-year wonders that Major League Baseball in general and Don Cooper's tutelage in particular generate.

 

He's having a good year, though, and that's good for him and his team.

It it my hope that Gavin Floyd becomes something like Jon Garland was for the Sox, someone who was pretty inconsistant that found consistancy after a slight re-work of his mechanics. I also happen to think that Floyd's issue has been more between the ears then anything, and if that's the case, and he's confident, that can make a huge difference. Only time will tell.

 

[witesoxfan]

Greg, you remember when I said nothing crazier could happen than Gavin Floyd winning a Cy Young? and I've always been one of Gavin's biggest fans?

 

Well, I'd say I was wrong in that regard, and - while he won't win it this year - if his stuff remains how it has been from the very few highlights I've seen pretty consistently throughout, he could very easily be Roy Halladay part deux. That breaking ball has to be close to an 80 when it's on the mark, and add to it a tailing fastball and perhaps a sinking fastball as well (never good enough angles to tell how much it sinks), he could quite possibly be a #2 on this staff for a few years to come. He's been the gem in the Freddy Garcia trade, and not many thought that ever had a chance of happening.

[Gregory Pratt]

I am in no rush to compare him to anyone. Let the kid prove that he is who he has been so far this season for the rest of this year and then next year before I refer to him as Roy Halladay.