Frayed Knot

="Edgy DC"]No, last year was one of the years that the pulled it off with guys you (and Baseball America) had scarecely heard of. This year is to be one of the years they pull it off with guys you thought were retired or dead. Well so far this year they've started with Kenny Ray a 31 y/o RHP whose only ML experience was a brief stint w/the Royals in 1999. So, after almost 7 years out of the majors, the first batter the Braves throw him in against is some guy named Bonds ... who Ray promptly strikes out on 3 pitches. All told so far he's pitched 3 hitless innings (1 BB) w/3 Ks and zero runs against.

]Giving call-in fans the ability to talk to the guests is what IMO makes this show good. Well, I just simply disagree. Maybe if they'd do a better job of screening callers until they could get one who is actually able to put together a coherant sentence (talk radio in general needs to do a better job of this) it wouldn't be so bad, but I've yet to hear a caller/guest give & take that didn't sound like some star-struck kid asking a completely dorky question of some coach or ex-player who so obviously wants nothing to do with listening to some know-nothing. Plus, like I said, I'm not all that impressed by Randall to begin with. And, yeah, I remember Rust and Mazur and even Pete Franklin from when he used to broadcast out of Cleveland

Why do I get the idea that Wilpon & co will be too deathly afraid that Banner Day 2006 wouldn't exactly re-create the wholesome family fun that it evoked back in the 1970s.

Wright - 3.5 Glavine - 3.2 Sanchez - 1.3 Beltran - .60 Wagner - .75 Delgado - .65

btw, rotation sets up as: Tues - Bannister Wed - Pedro Thurs - Zambrano Fri - Trax Sat - Glavine Zambrano's had both the flu and his hammy problem so they're using the rainout as an excuse to bump his start for a few more days. Innuresting that Bannister keeps his slot.

That was pretty ugly. Early reports don't sound as bad as it looks but I'm not sure they know yet how bad is really is. Marcus Giles also tweaked somethin-ur-other. And speaking of ugly, the field in SF was just awful. I think that's part of what caused Chipper's leg to crumble. He was charging a topper when his plant foot slid because a patch of grass came loose. But, in addition to that, the whole field looked terrible with patches of uneven grass plus spots where the was little grass at all. What gives? They don't play football there (except for like 1 minor Bowl game in December) and I doubt they had any February outdoor rock concerts. Maybe the infamous winter rains in that part of the country tore it all up.

Considering that I'm a baseball junkie who listens to far too much talk radio, I don't generally like Ed Randall's show even though it's the one show on FAN which is entirely baseball-centric. There's something about his (IMO) over-infatuation with the past at the expense of the current, plus his interviewing technique esp with his insistance on putting callers on to ask his subjects questions which usually comes off as very lame. But - having said all that - this one was pretty good. Flynn was both amusing and informative.

But that's not the city's share of it. The whole project is only in the 550-ish range.

Well I realize you're against this project but stop making up numbers simply because they happen to fit your argument. You wouldn't put up with that if these were baseball stats someone was inventing so stop doing it with dollars. And while we're on the $400mil+ number that you concocted, please realize that the team is paying the lion's share of this deal with the obvious implication that they think they can make it back. It's not like that money - as you're implying - is coming out of Johnny Lunchbucket's pocket while there's some easily workable alternative which accomplishes the same thing at approx 1/2,500th of the cost.

Of course they're still calling it 'Madison Square Garden' about 5 buildings after it was actually located at Madison Square.

Guillen said: "He thinks I was going out there with the bat? Why would I need a bat for a 150-pound guy when I'm 230?" I dunno Jose, could it be that he got the idea that you were going after him with a bat from the fact that you were headed in his direction with a bat in your hands?

"I don't know when he had his surgery, but he's expected to miss 2006." I don't know either. I didn't even know he had it and you'd think that would be something most of us would remember. I guess it's only a matter of time and procedure until that 15-day DL thing is transferred to the 60. "He's the highest paid Brave, but I don't know if part of that is still being covered by the Marlins." This is actually the year that the Braves start paying full freight for him. He's signed for this year plus the next two. "Only a matter of time before they start the annual 2 straight months of .700 ball." Yeah, I'm just wondering which out-of-nowhere guy comes up to plug whichever hole they have at that moment. One of last year's guys - Jeff Francoeur - is off to an awful start. Maybe that lack of plate discipline is catching up to him. If I had to bet on a young player from last year's call-ups I'd go with Florida's Jeremy Hermida over Francoeur. Less spectacular atleticism maybe but much better strike zone control.

]what's the most responsible response a public official can offer: realign the outfield box seats for $175,000 or raze and rebuild the building and the neightboorhood for $444,400,000? This is the 2nd time you've printed these numbers. Where do you get the idea that $175K is sufficient to fix the outfield boxes (as if that's the only problem w/the current seats)?

BA: Righthander Mike Pelfrey’s professional debut was a rousing success. The Mets’ 2005 first-round pick didn’t sign until January but looked sharp in throwing six scoreless innings for high Class A St. Lucie on Opening Day. The Mets beat Vero Beach 1-0, though Pelfrey didn’t get a decision. He struck out six and gave up just two hits, needing 68 pitches. Pelfrey told TCPalm.com that his curveball wasn’t as good as he would have liked, but St. Lucie manager Gary Carter was more than pleased with his outing. "He loves to pitch in, and you could tell the Dodgers hitters weren't able to swing," Carter said. "I want to be able to call a Pelfrey into my office four to five starts from now to say, 'Hey, you're going to the big leagues.' That's what it's all about." Roster

And, no, this isn't like Where's Waldo. Nor do I mean the Mikehampton that sits between Westhampton and Bridgehampton out on the east end of Lawn Guyland. I mean that Dolphin-faced guy that used to pitch for us. He's still on the Atlanta roster but he hasn't pitched yet and I didn't even see him in pre-season forecast capsules of Braves baseball. I assume that means he's injured but I can't find any proof of this or reason for it. Is he hurt? ... and what's his boo-boo and how long will he be out? Sincerely, Curious in New York P.S. Atlanta just lost (Giants) and continue to get seriously bad pitching so far. Hudson got knocked around for 8 runs in 4 or 5 innings and their bullpen is a mess.

"It appears that the only significant edge Beltran has on him his speed." Well, plus BA & OBA & BBs & Ks.

I missed the part about Piazza insisting on fulfilling a leadership role.

I like baseball more than I like buildings. And if the building where they're playing the game has better seats, better views, is nicer to look at, and has extras that could make the game nicer to attend then I'll probably enjoy it more.

"You'll get a dozen answers to the question "Why are you booing him" if you put it to a dozen fans. Why assume that 11 of them are lying?" I'm not assuming that all are lying. But I do recognize 'watch me rationalize my childish behavior by prentending to analyze game strategy' bullshit when I hear it.

Edgy DC wrote: Am I choosing based on those numbers of those players as hypotheticals or my further impressions of those actual two players? You're making your choice on the actual players. Those are their real-life numbers to date and you should choose based on that plus how you project them from this point on for an approx 5-year window. If you suspect one or both have been receiving chemical help during their career then factor that in. The "hypothetical" is merely the part about them being both available and interested in your squad at the same time for the same price and you need to decide how to spend your allowance. The MFY-fan answer of; 'Sign 'em both and make one a pinch-hitter/injury backup', isn't an option. I'd be a bit worried about how Andruw's ever-thickening body will age.

Biggest load of horse-shit excuse to date for booing Beltran (courtesy late night WFAN caller): 'We're not booing him, we're booing the fact that he's hitting 3rd in the lineup instead of 2nd' Yeah right!

Two current CF-ers: Born just one day apart in different parts of the Caribbean (the pair turn 29 later this month) although "A" reached the majors almost 2 years sooner and therefore has an edge in games played and most cumulative stats. "A" holds the career edge in power {.503 in career Slg + 34 Hrs/avg season vs .479 + 25} "B" has a better career BA {.282 v .267}; OBA {.350 v .342}; and usable speed {33 SBs/5 CS per yr - vs - 14/6 ... also 8 v 4 3Bs} "A" strikes out somewhat more {126/yr v 115} and walks slightly less {63 v 67} Both have consistantly played almost every game for their careers. "A" is coming off arguably the best year of his career, "B" likely his worst. "B" is a good glove & throw guy while "A" is an all-time great So, knowing what you know about these two to date and projecting what you guess they'll be for the future (most of you have prolly figured them out by this point), supposing you could get either guy right now for the same price, same length contract (let's say 5 years starting w/'06), who would you prefer ... Andruw or Beltran ??

Trachsel - 2.7 Reyes - 2.8 Wright - 2.0 Nady - 1.0 Hernandez - 0.25 Bradford - 0.25 Delgado - 0.25 Beltran - 0.75

Willets Point wrote: Full version of "In-a-gadda-da-vida" by Iron Butterfly. You walk reeeeeaaaaallllly slowly!

I think the home team's stadium should take it upon themselves to assign songs to opposing players. Like maybe when Prince Fielder hauls his huge butt to the plate they can chime in with 'Baby Got Back'. Or they could go with 'Having my Baby' if Chipper knocks up another fast-food waitress and stuff like that.