Edgy MD

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Jerry had massive hands. That ring is actual size!

... "This is my 1981 Los Angeles Dodgers World Championship Ring. Tommy Lasorda had me join the club in September of 1981 for the purpose of coaching Mike Scioscia...This is my original ring and there were no duplicates made." http://catalog.greyflannelauctions.com/LotDetail.aspx?lotid=18375

If Hicks did have an upside, I'd like to think that he'd be our backup shortstop right now, seeing as how we need one. I imagine the powers that be don't see much difference between AAA and AA. The former has older guys with big-league experience, but otherwise the level of play is about the same, so why not leave a guy there if there's not an clear opening at his position at the next leavel? But I imagine it's a little better for morale that a guy that's destroying the league for a few months to have it acknowledged with a promotion. And there kinda is an opening. Minor league advancement is probably a DePodesta call.

I guess coming after September 1, he was ineligible for post-season duty even if the Dodgers decided they needed a third-stringer, but who knows, as there's always crazy-assed injury exceptions. Trimming that roster was a minor part of baseball history, as Rick Sutcliffe had put together a season that would ultimately get him voted Rookie of the Year, but nonetheless had failed to operate in Tommy Lasorda's good graces, and found himself left off the post-season roster, leading him to charge screaming into Lasorda's office and overturn all the furniture. It'd be funny (in retrospect, anyhow) if Grote was carried at the expense of Sutcliffe.

Grote retired following the 1978 series, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. That first season, his wife realized she liked him better on the road half the year, and filed for divorce. After a year of having nothing better to do, he came out of retirement with the 1981 Royals. Changing managers and making big changes after the strike ended, the Royals cut him on September 1, despite an uncharacteristically robust .304 / .344 / .446 // .791 hitting line as a 38-year-old backup catcher. Staring at the end of the tunnel, he somehow got a call from the playoff bound Dodgers, who liked the Grote-ness he brought to the 1978-1979 teams. He only got into two games, but I bet he was allowed to travel with the team in the post-season, catching guys in the bullpen. Heck, maybe he was on the post-season roster, as teams tended to carry three catchers in the post-season back then. Anyhow, he went out a champ. Maybe even got a post-season share. I also like that Grote played in the Senior Professional Baseball Association in 1989.

He mostly struck me as a guy who stayed in shape, kept his arm healthy, and threw strikes. A guy like that, the sun is going to shine on now and then. But then he was completely ineffective in 2006 and 2007, went in for TJ surgery in 2008 and should have been good and done. He instead found a home with the Royals to spend his thirties in, and is now in his fifth season with them.

Now, I had no idea that the manager tapping on his arm was an official announcement of a pitching change. I thought that was merely a signal to the bullpen coach, and the guy wasn't in the game until he entered the field from the bullpen. What if you have two guys warming up who throw with the same* arm? *That is, both of the respective players throwing with arms on the same side of their respective bodies, not literally the same arm.

I assume the only problem is there's no room at Vegas, and the guy in his way is somebody they're not looking to jettison. Currently at first in Vegas is Zach Lutz, with Brandon Hicks a-huggin' third. Jordany is JorDHing. I bet Wally would love him some Dykstra. I don't see any need for Hicks to be an everyday dude. They can send down one of their (face palm)... 13 pitchers!. Seriously, D.J. Mitchell is keeping this guy out of AAA.

Sixth blown save in his last 13 tries. Sounds like he's trying to be all R.A. Dickey, minus the ten-dollar words. http://zozone.mlblogs.com/2013/08/01/papelbon-blows-save-stands-by-comments/ Papelbon Blows Save, Stands By Comments Jonathan Papelbon blew his sixth save in 13 opportunities since mid-June in tonight�s 2-1 loss to the Giants. He got booed pretty good coming off the field. It�s partly because of his performance last night, partly because of his performance the past few weeks and partly because of the comments he made Sunday to MLB.com. Papelbon spoke for nearly eight minutes with reporters in the Phillies� clubhouse afterward. Here are the highlights: You have blown six saves. Do you have to look at yourself and figure out if something isn�t clicking? No. Not me. I think my ball has life at the plate, which is all I really care about it. If I�m getting hit all over the ballpark with hard hit balls, I have to reassess, but after a night like tonight you just kind of chalk it up to that�s that. I felt like, honestly, I felt all of my pitches were working. I felt good. I felt strong. It was just one of those nights. You were really hearing it from the fans, stemming from the comments you made Sunday. Do you those comments need clarity? I think they speak for themselves. Whether I blow a game or whether I save a game, whatever is happening within the organization, I feel like I�m honest and forthcoming and I�m the same way after games like tonight. I accept things. I don�t shy away from things. That�s just the way I approach it and that�s just the way I go to work on a daily basis. I feel like that�s the best way to go about a day�s work is to just be honest with yourself and be honest with the position you�re in and not try to sugarcoat anything or trying to see something for what it�s not. That�s the way I�ve always been. I go by facts and I stand by what I say. I don�t feel like I said anything that was untrue. Cole said he didn�t sign to lose, either. Did you get feedback from teammates? Did they say, I�m glad you said that? No. What I say and what I do is based on seeing yourself in the mirror at the end of the day and if you�re working hard and if you�re not working hard and being real and not sugarcoating anything, I don�t think. This is the big leagues, this isn�t coach�s pitch. At the end of the day not everyone gets a trophy. You have to look yourself in the mirror and examine yourself if you�re consistently not getting the job done. You make adjustments, it�s a game of adjustments unless you don�t got to make any. It�s pretty simple, really. Did you need to make any adjustments? I think for me this year it�s been a constant adjustment on how to figure out how to go without pitching or pitching in tie ballgames a lot. I think for me more than anything there have been some situations that have come up that have been fairly new for me. I think for me I just try to go out there one day at a time to see how I can get better each day and not necessarily worry about struggling and whatnot. Your strikeout numbers are down this year. (He averaged 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings from 2010-12, but is averaging just 7.78 this season.) Is there an explanation? I think every year is different. Like I said earlier, if I was giving up a lot of home runs or giving up lots of doubles and stuff like that, I would start to make adjustments. But after tonight I just chalk it up to that�s baseball. What about your velocity being down? (His fastball has dipped from 94.8 mph in 2011 to 93.8 mph in 2012 to 92.2 mph this season.) I�m not going out there and trying to blow anybody away. I�m trying to get outs. That�s basically what it boils down to. Did you talk to Ruben or Charlie about comments? I don�t think there is anything to really hash out. Facts are facts and when you look in the mirror at the end of the day, you have to be honest with yourself.

Binghamton Press & Sun is wild about Allan, and they also want you to know Lockheed-Martin is cutting jobs, because Binghamton isn't miserable enough. http://www.pressconnects.com/article/CB/20130709/SPORTS/307090042/Allan-Dykstra-s-career-back-track-B-Mets Allan Dykstra's career back on track with B-Mets BINGHAMTON � A 6-foot-5, 215-pound man with a mound of bright red hair atop his head usually is easy to spot, but Allan Dykstra most certainly was lost. When he arrived in Binghamton in 2011, Dykstra had lost the luster that came with being the No. 23 pick in the 2008 draft by the San Diego Padres. But Wednesday night, Dykstra will join outfielder Cesar Puello, infielder Josh Rodriguez, and pitchers Logan Verrett and Jeff Walters as they represent the B-Mets in the Eastern League All-Star Game in New Britain, Conn. �I lost my confidence in my abilities and, really, my approach in what I was doing with the Padres,� said Dykstra, a California native who is not related to former New York Mets outfielder Lenny Dykstra. �I kind of re-found that here (with) a little bit of rejuvenation, and people believing in me � and also believing in myself.� Opposing pitchers have been racking their brains this season wondering how to get Dykstra out. The 26-year-old first baseman went into the all-star break leading the Eastern League in on-base percentage (.477), walks (68), and slugging percentage (.590). Dykstra also ranks among the league�s leaders in batting average (.313, fourth), RBIs (56, tied for fourth), and home runs (14, tied for fifth). A powerful yet patient hitter at Wake Forest University, Dykstra showed both attributes early in his professional career. He walked an eye-opening 104 times and hit 11 home runs in his first full season in 2009 (125 games). He walked 78 times and launched 16 home runs in 2010 (113 games). But he did not hit consistently, batting a combined .233 in his first two full seasons. His swing had gotten long. He lacked rhythm and timing. It was a far cry from the expectations of the Padres, who signed Dykstra for $1.15 million after picking him six spots after the Mets selected first baseman Ike Davis. After playing seven games for Padres� High-A affiliate Lake Elsinore in 2008, Baseball America ranked Dykstra the eighth-best prospect in San Diego�s system. But by 2011, the Padres had made changes in their front office and jettisoned Dykstra to the Mets in exchange for pitcher Eddie Kunz, who was released this past March. Dykstra viewed it as a silver lining that the Mets front office contingent that acquired him included general manager Sandy Alderson, who was Padres CEO when they drafted Dykstra. �It�s definitely awesome knowing that somebody wants you,� Dykstra said. �I kind of felt like I was getting a little, maybe, lost in the shuffle with the Padres. They had a couple other guys playing great, and they outplayed me.� The Padres picked first baseman Matt Clark in the same draft (12th round) as Dykstra in 2008; Clark reached Triple-A in 2012, but the Padres released him in January. The Padres drafted first basemen Nate Freiman and Cody Decker in 2009; Freiman is in the major leagues with the Oakland Athletics, and Decker plays for the Padres� Triple-A affiliate. Finding his swing After Dykstra arrived in Binghamton, B-Mets hitting coach Luis Natera had him move his hands closer to his chest, cocking them before he swings as opposed to them drifting backward. Natera also curtailed Dykstra�s high leg kick. It took time and practice, but the new swing has become his swing. �He feels it,� Natera said. �Now, it�s becoming natural. Now, when his swing gets long � (snapping his fingers) � he knows right away. He can go back to basics.� Dykstra, who throws right-handed but bats left-handed, hit .267 in 2011, his first year working with Natera. He also registered career-bests in home runs (19) and RBIs (77), and walked 69 times. Natera got Dykstra to focus on driving the ball toward left-center field so he can react to a wider range of pitches and still pull the ball. But Dykstra still crushes towering shots over the right-field wall with ease; he has blasted multiple home runs off the video board in right-center field at NYSEG Stadium the past three seasons. �He�s got quick hands,� Natera said. �If he stays to left-center and the pitcher makes a mistake in, he�s still able to get there. Before, everything was pull with him, and he hooked the ball.� Last season, a broken wrist derailed Dykstra�s season in April; while fielding a throw at first base from pitcher Darin Gorski, his left arm ended up in the path of a base runner. Despite missing half of April and both May and June, he managed to hit .262 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 71 games for the B-Mets. Waiting his turn Dykstra came into this season intent on picking up where he left off in the 2011 season. However, that�s not how it worked out. The Mets signed Rhyne Hughes, a left-handed first baseman who had a brief stint in the majors with the Baltimore Orioles in 2010, as minor-league free agent in the offseason. Hughes, not Dykstra, started at first base in the season opener. Despite having the designated hitter spot as an option, Dykstra played in only 12 of the first 22 games. In two of those games, he was used as a pinch-hitter. �He probably was a little upset. I would�ve been upset too, but he didn�t pout,� B-Mets manager Pedro Lopez said. �He went out there. He got his work in. He tried to get better. �Now, we�re seeing the results. If there is one guy out in that clubhouse that I�m happy for, it�s him because I know he�s put in every effort in order for him to have some of the success that he�s having.� Hughes went on the disabled list on April 27 with a shoulder/bicep injury that sidelined him until the middle of June. That injury opened the door for Dykstra to play every day and after 74 games, Dykstra is closing in on his season highs for home runs and RBIs from two years ago. Dykstra has settled into the cleanup spot behind Puello to give the B-Mets a daunting 1-2 punch in the middle of their lineup. Puello goes into the break batting .323 with 15 home runs and 55 RBIs � but in some ways, Dykstra may be more dangerous than Puello because of his patience. �He�s got great plate discipline,� Natera said. �He knows the strike zone pretty well for a Double-A guy. He doesn�t chase a lot of pitches out of the strike zone. The pitcher has to throw a strike to him.� Dykstra still has the same goals he had as a first-round pick in 2008. He wants to make it to the big leagues and prove that he can be the hitter he was thought to be coming out of Wake Forest. He also knows getting traded and ending up in Binghamton may have been a blessing in the long run. �It was one of those things where a fresh start was great for me � new scenery, new people, maybe a different look on what I was doing,� Dykstra said. �Sometimes that�s all you need. It really did well for me.�

That's good baseball. That's the way you do it, too. You're down big in the late innigns, go up there taking.

Can you please speak to the relative short- and long-terminess of Young and Lagares? How long do you believe Young will be productive and why? How long Lagares and why?

Damn, I hates closers.

Give life, Turner, not death.

That didn't quite do it. But way to hustle anyhow.

GAet that tying run to the plate, Eric Young.

Oh, this is so on you. SO on you.

Yes, I read that last time. This is getting redundant. I did not ask if you agreed or disagreed. Communication is breaking down. Can the banks be far behind? My point had been that the outfield prospects for the present and future had improved while other concerns lagged behind.

"Every pitcher in baseball who faces Matt Harvey They all become Koufax or Gomez or Spahn "I'm pitching eight innings, and strike out a dozen I thought I found vict'ry, than whoops! she was gone..."

I didn't speak to you agreeing. I merely hoped you got it. Apparently not.

So outside of David Wright, the Mets are, at best, league average at every other position, and just as likely, at the bottom, among the worst. That, obviously, includes the outfield. I got nothing against middle-of-the-pack production, and am either happy to get it when it's from a young player who perhaps has something to offer on defense and maybe a spike or two in his future. What's objectionable are the positions on the ass-end, and how they offset the hard-won victories of high-end talent like Wright and Harvey. I hope you get the broader point.

WHOOSH!

The two sucker teams are Miami and Milwaukee, two teams that are currently watching firstbasemen they produced smack out Hall-of-Fame careers (although Miggy is back at third). The top production at first belongs to Arizona, a team that, as recently as this spring, had a first basemen who was actually in a tossup with Ike over who was more worthy of an invite to the WBC.

Every few weeks I'm tempted to investigate again. I'm like, "Surely there can't still be teams getting less production at fir... HOLY PETE! MAMIE, WOULD YOU COME LOOK AT THIS!!!"