Frayed Knot

His girlfriend, plus ..., well plus nothing, just the girl. Actually there was also his penchant for hitting while he was starting but not while he was subbing, but then not hitting well enough to start for very long. Had some good games early on, then not so much.

MoYs --- aka: Terry gets a vote!! MGRTEAM1st Place2nd Place3rd PlacePointsJoe MaddenRays2610133Jim LeylandTigers1131054Ron WashingtonRangers17531Manny ActaIndians03716Joe GirardiYanx03514Mike SciosciaAngels0114 MGRTEAM1st Place2nd Place3rd PlacePointsKirk GibsonDBacks2840152Ron RoenickeBrewers325292Tony LaRussaCardinals121324Charlie ManuelPhillies01710Fredi GonzalezBraves0044Clint HurdlePirates0022Bruce BochyGiants0022Terry CollinsMets0011 Don MattinglyDodgers0011

Apparently having your first name start with a J was big for voters this year. So if Santana gets votes when the NL results are published then we'll really know something's up. PLAYERTEAM1st Place2nd Place3rd Place4th Place5th PlacePointsJustin VerlanderTigers280000140Jered WeaverAngels01782197James ShieldsRays0598366CC SabathiaYanx0579463Jose ValverdeTigers0136328CJ WilsonRangers000139Dan HarenAngels001127Mariano RiveraYanx000044Josh BeckettRed Sox000033Ricky RomeroBlue Jays000102David RobertsonYanx000011

Kimbrel is unanimous, and the rest of the NL field has a distinctly NL East feel to it ... with the exception of a team or two anyway. And does anyone besides me think of the cop on the train from 'The Fugitive' who screams, "KIMBLE" upon recognizing Harrison Ford every time this guy comes into a game? PLAYERTEAM1st Place2nd Place3rd PlacePointsJeremy HellicksonRays1752102Mark TrumboAngels511563Eric HosmerRoyals44638Ivan NovaYanx151030Michael PinedaMariners03211Dustin AckleyMariners1016Desmond JenningsRays0011Jordan WaldenAngels0011 PLAYERTEAM1st Place2nd Place3rd PlacePointsCraig KimbrelBraves3200160Freddie FreemanBraves021770Vance WorleyPhils081640Wilson RamosNationals0136Josh CollmenterDBacks0125Danny EspinosaNationals0103Darwin BarneyCubs0022Kenley JansenDodgers0022

metsmarathon wrote: 2011's best met will be 77 points higher than the 2nd best met, who will be 77 points higher than the 3rd best met, etc etc, until you get to the lowest ranked met, who will be have netted 77 points. therefore, the best met will be 30 times better than the 30th met, and will be 30/29 times better than the 2nd best met. the best met in a 77 win year will be worth 77*30=2130. this makes him slightly more better than the 21-point met on a 106 win team; 106*20=2120. Umm, not quite. The rank each player gets is first squared and then multiplied by that season's wins to get his point total The idea being that the difference between the 1st & 10th best player should be treated as much more meaningful than the gap between the 10th & 20th, or between Mr. 20th & Mr. 30th. And if you're wondering who came up with such a dopey suggestion ... go look in the mirror.

metirish wrote: I was in a Dominican restaurant over the weekend and the talk was of Reyes "getting his money", he wants the biggest contract ever awarded to a player from the DR. of course I may have misunderstood the conversation, but feel free to quote me. Considering that Pujols, also a native of the DR, is a FA this year it seems doubtful that Jose-Jose is going to get his 'biggest contract ever' wish.

Didn't think much of the catching corps, huh?

TEAM2011 MgrSTATUS2012 MgrRED SOXTerry Francona - since 2004Option not picked up=#FF0000]???YANXJoe Girardi - since 2008Signed thru 2013Same ORIOLESBuck Showalter - since 2010Signed thru 2013SameRAYSJoe Maddon - Since 2006Signed thru 2012SameBLUE JAYSJohn Farrell - Hired Oct �10Signed thru 2013SameTIGERSJim Leyland - Since 2006Signed thru 2012SameWHITE SOXOzzie Guillen - since 2004Contract terminated via mutual consentRobin Ventura - "multi-year" contractTWINSRon Gardenhire - Since 2002Signed thru 2013SameROYALSNed Yost - Since May �10Signed thru 2012SameINDIANSManny Acta - Since 2010Signed thru 2012 + 2013 optionSameRANGERSRon Washington - Since 2007Signed thru 2012SameMARINERSEric Wedge - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameA�sBob Melvin - hired June �11Signed thru 2014SameANGELSMike Scioscia - since 2000Signed thru 2018SameMETSTerry Collins - first seasonOption picked up thru 2013SameBRAVESFredi Gonzalez - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameMARLINSJack McKeon - since 6/20/11Not re-hired for 2012Ozzie Guillen - signed thru 2015NATIONALSDavey Johnson - took over 6/26/11Signed w/org but not as managerOption picked up for 2012 PHILLIESCharlie Manual - since 2005Signed thru 2013SameCUBSMike Quadde - since 2010Signed thru 1012 - Fired=#FF0000]???BREWERSRon Roenicke - first seasonSigned thru 2012 + �13 optionSamePIRATESClint Hurdle - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameCARDINALSTony LaRussa - since 1996Retired=#FF0000]Mike Matheny - 2 yrs + 2014 optionREDSDusty Baker - since 2008Signed thru 2012SameASTROSBrad Mills - since 2010Signed thru 2012 w/option for �13SameDODGERSDon Mattingly - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameDIAMONDBACKSKirk Gibson - hired Aug �10Signed thru 2012 + �13 optionNew deal thru '14 w/options for '15 & '16GIANTSBruce Bochy - since 2007Signed thru 2012SamePADRESBud Black - since 2007Signed thru 2013 + options for �14 & �15SameROCKIESJim Tracy - since May �09Signed thru 2013Same

Saying that 'Hanley needs to agree first' as the snag holding up the deal sounds like a cheesy excuse for jumping the gun on calling the deal - otherwise known as 'Screwing the Pooch'. I understand why the Marlins would want to get Ramirez involved but it's not like he has a choice in the matter and if he takes the tact that he's going to refuse to play (like anyone has ever actually followed through on that threat) you either deal him or tell him to suck it up for another year or two until HE is a FA and then he can go play SS anywhere he wants (assuming some other team sees him still playing there in another few seasons).

IIRC, there used to be a rule that required a pitcher to throw the ball within ___ (20?) seconds if the bases were empty, or the ump could call an automatic "ball". There still is a rule (I believe it's 12 seconds) it's just never enforced. Batters are supposed to stay in the box for the entire AB too (or at least request permission to step out) but the umps don't enforce that either because they know (or at least feel) that they'll get more abuse from trying to enforce it than it's worth. They know who the stars are and who MLB will eventually side with. As for today, there must be stats about length of games for both the AL and the NL. If so, I'm guessing AL games take longer. And if I'm right, I blame the DH. If I'm wrong, Vic's statement about the situational pitching changes is probably correct. There are stats and, yes, AL games are longer than NL (with IL games falling somewhere in between). The DH is certainly part of that but only tangentially in that, while the AL is no longer automatically the higher scoring league (the DH spot ain't what it used to be), the pitcher not batting means there's no benefit to wait for between innings to make mound changes therefore there are more in-inning switches. So, in a sense, both you and Vic are correct. Personally, I think the 19 Yanx/Sawx [crossout]games[/crossout] mini-series per year are so ridiculously long that they alone are enough to account for much of that difference. The longer game culprits are obvious: * commercial time: 2:05 in between each half-inning; 2:25 if it's a GotW broadcast (that covers FOX Sat & ESPN's SNB); and then 2:55 for post-season games. Nothing is going to alter those times so the best you can do is make sure that all sides are ready to go right after those marks and not allow simple laziness to extend each gap another 10-15 seconds. * multiple pitching changes -- again, no real way to change it except maybe require a pitching switch on each mound visit after the first one of the game (rather than allowing one freebie per inning). LaRussa retiring helps a bit too. After that you get into the smaller time-wasters which won't mean as much but they are things that MLB can actually address, mainly pitchers taking forever (hello Mr. Papelbon) coupled with batters who feel it necessary to take a stroll and re-velcro their batting gloves after every pitch. Here baseball can start in the minors where it's more possible to enforce the pitch/time rules and the 'stay in the box' rules without upsetting some prima-donna and his elaborate and established routine. Then, maybe in five years, you won't have half the league taking half-a-minute between pitches as a matter of habit without even realizing it. And if enforcing those rules means managers will no longer have the time to signal their catchers for every pitch-out, throw-over, knock-down, or mound-visit to the point where their backstops will have to decide those things for themselves ... well then that's OK with me too.

I don't mind the orange - in fact it's about time someone went up against the same old blue/red mafia. I just think the M looks stupid, like it was designed by either a 4th grader or by city gov't for the cross-town bus.

So while we continue to search for the drunk who submitted a list under LWFS's name, anyone else who wants in here should do so in the near future lest this thing fall off the radar. In the meantime I'm going to tweak mine just a bit, upping Duda a couple of spots ahead of both Turner & Frankie Rod, and also giving away Carrasco's final spot to Igarashi who was at least occasionally useful. 30 - Reyes 29 - Dickey 28 - Beltran 27 - Murphy 26 - Wright 25 - Capuano 24 - Gee 23 - Niese 22 - Pagan 21 - Bay 20 - Duda 19 - Rodriguez 18 - Turner 17 - Acosta 16 - Beato 15 - Tejada 14 - Pelfrey 13 - Thole 12 - Isringhausen 11 - Harris 10 - Parnell 9 - Paulino 8 - Byrdak 7 - Davis 6 - Young 5 - Evans 4 - Hairston 3 - Pridie 2 - Batista 1 - Igarashi

But, but, Hunt was scrappy!!

From 'MetsBlog' [quoting an NPB follower on Fangraphs]: -- �I�d actually go so far as to say that Aoki is the best pure hitter Japan has produced since Ichiro. Aoki is a line drive hitter with occasional power who uses the whole field. He�s also a disciplined batter, walking about as often as he strikes out, which is rare in Japan. Aoki is short and somewhat stocky at 5�7.5, 182 lbs, but is a good runner with tremendous range in the outfield. The only knock on his game is his rather weak throwing arm, which may limit him to left field at the MLB level.� Meanwhile, the stat sheet next to all that lists him at a rather skinny-ish 5'10"/170 while also showing that his BA, power & walk rate all declined this past season. He would need to be posted by his current team (Yakult Swallows). Turns 30 in January.

Schiraldi: Reminded me of a Kids In The Hall bit wherein several computer-generated photos are shown to identify a suspect (played by Dave Foley) depending on how he disguised himself. In one of them, "this is how he'd look if he put on some weight, panicked and grew a beard." He did sport a kind of 'groomed by committee' look, didn't he.

Same format as in the 'Twenty Greatest Games' series: Costas & Verducci on stools facing the guests, in this case Mookie, Bruce Hurst, and Calvin Schiraldi. Also taped comments from Keith, Clemens, & McNamara. Mookie opted to wear the same suit jacket he wore when he did the Game 6 special from '20 Greatest ...'. Did change his shirt at least. Hurst looks exactly the same. Not only has his hair not changed color or even moved since 1986, I wouldn't be surprised if it somehow hasn't grown since then. Schiraldi on the other hand - wearing a sweatshirt from the Austin, Tx area HS team he's apparently coached for many years now - has close-cropped hair replacing that big birds nest he once had and has added a salt-n-pepper beard that's 2-3 times longer than the hair. His eyes no longer look so droopy/sad. Both Hurst & Schiraldi seem at peace with their roles in the series while McNamara clearly wants to get his side of the story(s) out and sounds like he's tired of being the whipping boy of Red Sox Nation over how things came out. According to him: - Roger asked out of Game 6 after 7 innings citing a finger problem which prompted a "you gotta be shitting me" response from his manager - Boyd (as mentioned above) got drunk after being bumped from the Game 7 start following the rain-out and was in no condition to throw any relief that day - Buckner was the better fielder than Stapleton who he claimed was nicknamed "Shakey", a moniker Hurst claimed never to have heard.

Washington Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos was kidnapped at gunpoint on Wednesday in his native Venezuela where he was home playing winter ball. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/nationals-catcher-ramos-kidnapped-venezuela-14920325#.TrtPSa5w6qI

* Citing "philosophical differences" (most likely they were philosophically upset at finishing 62-100) the Twins fired GM Bill Smith and replaced him - at least temporarily - with former GM Terry Ryan. Ryan, the Minnesota GM from 1994-2007 had been in one of those 'senior advisor' positions with the club. * Texas pitching coach Mike Maddux has taken himself out of consideration for the Boston manager spot although apparently not for the Cards & Cubs jobs.

MFS62 wrote: smg58 wrote: Given that Aroldis Chapman is still more hype than results, and the Blue Jays invested substantially in a Cuban shortstop who may or may not make the majors at all, I'd let somebody else do the buying. I still remember when the Mets passed on obtaining Luis Tiant for $25,000. (He was available in that year's equivalent of the Rule V draft) There are Cuban players, and then there are Cuban players. A competent scouting organization should be able to determine which ones are worth the investment. If all it took were "competent scouting" to determine whether a player was going to be a star at some point in the future then none of these 'can't miss' players would ever miss instead of many of them missing. Now we're dealing with a case of a rarely-if-ever seen before Cuban player where you've got little or no background data, a good possibility that you're taking his claimed age on mere faith, and where a decision needs to be made based on one or maybe two mass-attended workouts. Oh yeah, and the price now is probably in the ten$ of million$. Meanwhile ... the video is back!! The original at just over 20 minutes kREZHmOR1bg and the edited version at a mere 17+ aW9ge8l3jY8 Apparently the thing was pulled not for secrecy reasons but because of objections to some of the rap lyrics in the background and especially to - get this - the scene near the end where a pig is being roasted.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: 30 - Reyes 29 - Beltran 28 - Murphy 27 - Dickey 26 - Niese 25 - Wright 24 - Tejada 23 - Capuano 22 - Davis 21 - Thole 20 - Duda 19 - Pagan 18 - Rodriguez 17 - Pelfrey 16 - Pagan 15 - Parnell 14 - Turner 13 - Bay 12 - Evans 11 - Pridie 10 - Schwinden 9 - Paulino 8 - Byrdak 7 - Baxter 6 - Hairston 5 - Young 4 - Gee 3 - Batista 2 - Thayer 1 - Isringhausen So LWFS - Did you find the drunk guy who broke into your handle and concocted this list yet?

You're a little late on that video as it was pulled earlier today, presumably by the folks who made it. What you still can catch up on is Kevin Goldstein's rather humorous write-up on it for 'Baseball Prospectus' As for whether the player is a good as this mini-film implies is still up in the air.

- Orioles hire former Red Sox GM Dan Duquette - not his cousin Jim - for the job recently vacated by Andy McPhail. Baltimore under Peter Angelos has had a habit of NOT referring to it as the GM position although this press release seems to be using that specific title. - D'Backs extend the deals for both mgr Gibson and GM Kevin Towers TEAM2011 MgrSTATUS2012 MgrRED SOXTerry Francona - since 2004Option not picked up=#FF0000]???YANXJoe Girardi - since 2008Signed thru 2013Same ORIOLESBuck Showalter - since 2010Signed thru 2013SameRAYSJoe Maddon - Since 2006Signed thru 2012SameBLUE JAYSJohn Farrell - Hired Oct �10Signed thru 2013SameTIGERSJim Leyland - Since 2006Signed thru 2012SameWHITE SOXOzzie Guillen - since 2004Contract terminated via mutual consentRobin Ventura - "multi-year" contractTWINSRon Gardenhire - Since 2002Signed thru 2013SameROYALSNed Yost - Since May �10Signed thru 2012SameINDIANSManny Acta - Since 2010Signed thru 2012 + 2013 optionSameRANGERSRon Washington - Since 2007Signed thru 2012SameMARINERSEric Wedge - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameA�sBob Melvin - hired June �11Signed thru 2014SameANGELSMike Scioscia - since 2000Signed thru 2018SameMETSTerry Collins - first seasonOption picked up thru 2013SameBRAVESFredi Gonzalez - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameMARLINSJack McKeon - since 6/20/11Not re-hired for 2012Ozzie Guillen - signed thru 2015NATIONALSDavey Johnson - took over 6/26/11Signed w/org but not as managerOption picked up for 2012 PHILLIESCharlie Manual - since 2005Signed thru 2013SameCUBSMike Quadde - since 2010Signed thru 1012 - Fired=#FF0000]???BREWERSRon Roenicke - first seasonSigned thru 2012 + �13 optionSamePIRATESClint Hurdle - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameCARDINALSTony LaRussa - since 1996Retired=#FF0000]???REDSDusty Baker - since 2008Signed thru 2012SameASTROSBrad Mills - since 2010Signed thru 2012 w/option for �13SameDODGERSDon Mattingly - first seasonSigned thru 2013SameDIAMONDBACKSKirk Gibson - hired Aug �10Signed thru 2012 + �13 optionNew deal thru '14 w/options for '15 & '16GIANTSBruce Bochy - since 2007Signed thru 2012SamePADRESBud Black - since 2007Signed thru 2013 + options for �14 & �15SameROCKIESJim Tracy - since May �09Signed thru 2013Same

'Piggies' still posts here. Not as often as some (maybe he like has a life or something) but definitely still active.

So now that you've had your drink, why don't you explain to your listeners what the in-house audience already knows.

I certainly wouldn't have guessed #3 winningest Cardinal ever (163 of his 168 ML wins for StL) I assume Gibson is #1 - although even he is well short of 300 (251) and I would have been totally flummoxed for answers after that. I'd make #2 a quiz except I still don't know the answer.