Frayed Knot

The Yanqui system at this point - because their drafts have been mostly barren - is loaded with young, athletic, toolsy Latin kids who they hope will turn into someone someday.These two were probably part of that horde although they weren't at the top of the heap.

Berkman looked out by a hair to me - could have gone either way.On the Cameron play; I think there's some goofy and rarely called rule where the OFer has to complete a clean transfer in order for it to be called a catch (someone needs to consult a rule book here). It's a stupid rule (and that's why it's almost never called) and how often have you seen a guy just run in with the ball in his glove ... and it's not like the ump waits to make a call there.Fortunately we got out of it but I suspect the rule is why Willie wasn't out arguing - although I would have liked to see it anyway.

How is that not a freakin' catch????

We'll dedicate this thread to announce trades actually completed rather than a just a recitation of new (and mostly false) rumors.Yanx get Rox reliever (starter?) Shawn Chacon for "two minor leaguers".No mention of who those kiddies might be.

Stroke like an Egyptian!(OK, so it was the cheapest HR in history)

Cameron also dubbed (sort of) one of the top base-runners in MLB:http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/circling-the-wagons-running-the-bases-part-i/

Zambrano - 3.5Anderson - 2Castro - 1.25Reyes - 1Cairo - 1.25Wright - 1

I wanted to take a closer look at Soriano vs. Cameron since it was brought up here and those seem to be the big names discussed these days. It's a bit tough to compare them just on strict numbers since Soriano gets a lot more ABs (better lineup turnover, Cammy's injury) so the stats below are their most recent numbers (since last year's All-star break) but they've been "normalized" to 600 plate appearances from their actual numbers of Soriano = 664 and Cameron = 519.ABH2BHRBBKSB/CSBAOBASLGSoriano57115740332910019/4.275.315.552Cameron54613542305414923/5.248.322.497Edge to Soriano? Yeah, but not by as huge a margin as you'd think by listening to the "it's a no-brainer" remarks coming from most quarters and certainly not enough to justify trading Cameron AND half the farm system. This also doesn't take into consideration the position/glove differences, the 'non-hustle' problem, or the home park factor. Money also slightly favors keeping Cameron. Both would be controllable through next year. Salaries this year are about the same: Cammy is locked in for next year in the $7-$8 range while Soriano would need to be paid via negotiation/arbitration where it's estimated he could command as much as $10mil.

It was the none-on/two-out single in the 1st that started that inning that Beltran could have (and Cameron would have) gotten to, He had no chance on the RBI single that eventually brought that run in.]Avoid the radio tomorrow unless you want to hear screaming knuckleheads demanding that Castro get the starting catcher job.You won't be able to hear them over the calls for Marlon Anderson to be permenantly installed in RF.

Stuff I've read on this topic over the years seems to indicate that a 3-year sample is usually sufficient to get you a true rating while 1-year samples can vary wildly - although things certainly could change w/a larger sample.And remember, this is just measuring HRs not hitting or run-scoring in general. One thing about Cape Coors is that not only does it boost HRs, but that OF is so large that singles, doubles & triples increase as well (except during Monday & Tuesday of this week of course).

Strawberry & Dunn don't need the windscreen. They could hit the ball out of any park and that includes Yellowstone.

"But Clark and Don Mattingly, for starters, were better in their respective primes; their All-Star numbers and MVP finishes say as much."Even if true, their primes weren't as long as Palmiero's and longevity is one of the hallmarks of greatness; not just by itself of course but Donny & Willy just weren't good enough for long enough and the fact that you happened to like them better doesn't make them more qualified.

]"Shea is a pitcher's park" arguement when discussing a power hitting acquisition without looking into the splits you just postedYup. That's what this article was essentially about:http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=4250(P.S. BP "Premium" articles are free through next week)]How many years left on Floyd's contract? He's signed through 2006 right?Correctamundo!

The fact that it depresses RHB-HRs to a greater degree than it helps LHB-HRs and that there are more RH-ABs than Left implies that it does also depress HRs overall.I was just surpised by the disparity between the two. Yeah the wind blows in - during the spring especially - but I never thought of it as primarily affecting one side more than the other.

Park Factors with large differences between HRs by LHBs & RHBs:PARKHR-LHBHR-RHBASTROS84116A's97114CUBS97137D-RAYS9875MARINERS11396METS11577BoSOX76105ROX147127TIGERS9374CHISOX121137Data from 2002-2004:100 = "Neutral". 100+ = favors hitters, lower than 100 = favors pitching Represents only how the park has influenced [u:93d2f6376a]HRs[/u:93d2f6376a] in that time, not runs in general and shows only those parks shown with a 15% or greater difference in HR per 'handedness'.I wouldn't have figured Shea to give an advantage to either side over the other.

I've long heard 1.6*OBA + SLG as the "best" figure ... but whatever.Look, Soriano can be a potent offensive force and the home/road splits have not traditionally been as widely divergent as they are now so it's best just to look at this year's stuff as at least partially a fluke.It's just that when I listen to Met fans complain about their team's problems: lack of OBA, high Ks, shakey 'D', etc; I wonder if they're so blinded by the supposed greener grass on the other side that they fail to see that these are all weaknesses of Soriano, not strengths! So getting him isn't going to "solve" those problems so much as it's just going to be more of the same even if it's an improved version of more of the same.

Man, that shot that banked off Clement's coconut (Carl Crawford) went out into leftfield!!!!

Baltimore finally stopped their slide by beating Texas (Soriano 0-4).Sammy hit #586, tying Frank Robinson for 5th on the all-time HR list.

Schilling gives one of the runs back but then closes out the game w/the tying run at 2nd.

Well wright heard me at least.Let's see how far my powers extend.

OK, I'm going to put this and gently as I can ... LET'S GET SOME FUCKIN' HITS!!!!

That Braves/Nats game breaks the tie atop the NL East. Nationals now the leader in the WC race. The winning run scored on a (sound familiar?) bases-loaded walk to Andruw Jones.Houston beat Philly - also on a walk-off. Mike Lamb HRed off Ryan Masdon for the 2-1 win.Boston blew an early 5-0 lead - in part because starter Matt Clement was taken off the field on a stretcher after getting skulled by a line drive - but then scored 1 in the 9th to re-tie it, and now twice in the 10th (off rumored NYM Danys Baez) to take a 10-8 lead.Schilling now pitching his 2nd inning trying to close it out.Pittsburgh beat Florida 6 - 3

Atkins didn't put enough carbs into that throw.Rox infielders poor throws and double-clutches have represented the extent of our offense tonight.

I'm not so sure they have insurance on Matsui.Policies like that aren't automatic, they're quite expensive and hard to secure.Trax to make a AA start sometime this weekend.

3 runs which are unearned - yet earned.