Ceetar

Zvon wrote: I love what Bucks been doing but I do expect a big fall off at some point. Wouldn't it be amazin if he kept it up? Even after his start 20+ would make me happy. oh, he's already fallen off. He's been the occasional hit it real hard guy for at least a week. down to 5th best catcher by OPS in the majors.

Edgy MD wrote: John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Send Cowgill down, call up Downtown Andrew Brown and have him breath down Byrd's back. We have to get better if even a little. I can get behind this. I think they even have a spot on the 40-man since the jettisoning of Laffey. Brown is somehow going .357 / .440 / .560 // 1.000 despite having only one homer. He has ten doubles! I just had a (dirty, bleh random Manhattan hole in the wall shops) Dr Brown's Cream Soda can. clearly I'm on board.

Valadius wrote: Good lord, WFAN - "Mike's on! He's ready to go!" is by far the worst half-hearted plug I've ever heard in my life. I was still listening occasionally when they went to that. He teased the new intro for about a week (because NBC retained the rights to Mike'd Up and he had to change it) and I don't think he could've gone with a replacement that required less effort. It was an opportunity to take a fresh step forward, and nothing.. Benjamin Grimm wrote: The real answer is that despite how awful he is, he's making money for the station. The real question shouldn't be "why is he on the air?" but instead "why does anyone listen to him?" Because people want to listen and talk sports. They want to hear what's going on and talk about it, and there just aren't those options, particularly when you're doing something non-computer related where you can't just stream something better or use your phone constantly, or are limited to the radio somehow. He's making money for the station because the station continues to make money, or they think they do anyway. Presumably they have ratings and such that suggest that the numbers drop during the weeks he's on vacation, justifying his salary, although I suspect that has more to do with the summer time than his absence and that you could drop a half-trained monkey in there with much the same results.

Valadius wrote: I just listened to Francesa for probably the first time in about 8 years - he just sounds disinterested. Why is he still on the air? Because sports radio is dying and no one's interested in getting innovative.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I don't think Baxter is anything more than a decent pinch-hitter whose contributions good and bad aren't going to matter a whole lot when it's all over, unless he starts a lot, which will indicate big trouble. But your everyday CF does matter a lot, and I think we might have to give that job to Lagares at least until his hitting gets so awful that Cowgill looks like an upgrade. Byrd meantime looks like the kinda guy who will hit a double every couple of days but that's about it. Brown is OPSing near 1.000 in Vegas, plays right field, and hits RH. 1.000 in Vegas? What's that, subpar or mediocre? (Good for 25th in the league, below Josh Satin fyi) I know it's smallish sample for both Cowgill and Valdespin, but I'm good to try Lagares there for sure. I say this with extremely crossed fingers, but has it seemed like Duda's been..not horrific...in LF the last week or two?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Allow me to add I quite enjoyed watching Lagares cover the ground in center field. He is leading the league in my advanced defensive measure, ED (eyewitness defense). One of the many terrible things that happened as a result of Buck's error was the double-switch that replaced Lagares with Cowgill in CF. Not saying that those bombs Utley & Howard hit off Atchy ought to have been caught, but the difference between Lagares and Cowgill just in the pursuit of balls in the air was stark. Seeing as they're both RH hitting CFers who can't hit, I'd just as soon stick with Lagares here. He needs to chillax at the dish but it's obvious he has a better glove. A really good one in fact. Send Cowgill down, call up Downtown Andrew Brown and have him breath down Byrd's back. We have to get better if even a little. I agree. Duda's good but none of the others have convinced me of anything. I'd put Baxter second and would play him more myself (I'm not convinced about platoons with him) but I'd like to see Brown up and Lagares getting more time. I'd have given Kirk actual time too, but Lagares is better defensively, if not by as much as he is over the others. Duda, Lagares, Baxter for a week, sprinkling some Jordany and Brown and lets see what happens.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Can you imagine the sort of throbbing, tight-$100-tee-shirt-buying erection he'll become if he has, say, ONE All-Star-worthy first half, or even a red-hot, PotM-type month? It's kind of a terrifying-slash-biblically-awesome prospect, like that of a tornado in your backyard. Can we have that tornado in October? but then I guess we'd have to call him Timo.

I'm hopeful for Marcum. Gary mentioned this last night though, in letting Gee go for the 7th. It was just one bad inning and why not give him another to go out on a good note, plus he's part of your rotation, You want to trust him and let him pitch. But with Marcum today on a limited pitch count, although it's still reasonable, you might want to hold back a reliever Inning. Of course, one of the relievers that pitched yesterday is leaving anyway, so maybe it doesn't really matter.

Frayed Knot wrote: - Sanchez wound up with 17 Ks (in 8 innings) vs the Braves in a 10-0 rout - Reds got 1-hit by the Nats for the 2nd straight game (Gonzalez + Soriano on Thurs, Zimmermannnn w/a complete game on Fri). Makes our recent noffense look good by comparison. - Blue Jays loaded the bases vs Mariano down by two runs but then the sum-bitches couldn't push anything across. Rivera's pulled off a couple of these K-Rodesque saves all season. I'm hoping for a run of panic-inducing explosions.

Frayed Knot wrote: Did he break it pumping his fist (as he seems to do each and every a Yanqui pitcher records a strike-out)? That's the motion to trigger the PC Richards jingle in the stadium. He's contractually obligated to do so.

and crap, Howard connects. 4-0.

So Aaron Laffey got real far against the Yankees. 2.2 innings, 2 runs. won't lose. 55 pitches, 23 strikes, 5 walks. Nova also pulled after 2. It's only the forth and they're both up to their second reliever. Meanwhile in Detroit the Braves and Maholm getting destroyed. 10-0 Tigers.

Zvon wrote: I always blamed MLB for the lack of another ASG at Shea. I had no idea. So who do I blame now? Every G.M. since 1964? Who knows, MLB could certainly have let it be known to owners that it wasn't much worth trying given the state of Shea with all the new ballparks opening that were options. I've got tickets, and I'm looking forward to all of it. Debating if there's anywhere good to stand for the HR Derby instead of my seats up in RF Promenade. It'd be fun to be on the bridge, but I'm sure it'll be so so packed. Standing on the Pepsi Porch could be fun, but you'll miss those bridge home runs. I wonder if anyone will break a window in the Acela club.

Don't know who did the gif, but it's from Ted Berg's post about Jordany.

Gwreck wrote: Ceetar wrote: Seems like a lot of the country is getting Braves Tigers. why, because Interleague? Philly/Mets is really third string isn't it? Take off those partisan blinders for a second and realize that Detroit, Atlanta, Washington and Cincinnati are all expected to contend for the playoffs. The Phillies and Mets are not. wasn't commenting on the deservedness of it, was just sorta noting it seemed like it was the third string group. These maps are always bonkers anyway, but just seems a larger swatch of Braves Tigers than is probably appropriate.

seawolf17 wrote: Western Montana, a hotbed of long-suffering Reds fans. I presume this is because they're affiliated with the Billings Mustangs. Seems like a lot of the country is getting Braves Tigers. why, because Interleague? Philly/Mets is really third string isn't it? I mean, I'll take Kevin over those other two booths any day, but how Fox sees it.

metirish wrote: Ron " the thing about Ike is what does he expect to get when he reaches that count, he's going to get worked middle of the plate away" Diplomatically saying that Ike is clueless. Well, there are few 'good' options when you're behind in the count. Josh seems to think he should've swung at the maybe not a strike two, but if he swung aggressively at everything and didn't get a hit, we'd kill him for that too. It's befuddling with Ike. It's easy to try to point at things like blaming how far away from the plate he's standing and/or not covering the outside corner, but he was pretty damn good for the last half of the year last year, and I doubt it's that simple. oooh, nice assist by Byrd.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Radio Guys made no mention of Muffy failing to move up on the WP. The batting order hardly matters, as the opportunities find Ike no matter where you hide him. They focused on the tying run but didn't mention the pitch much. Was it really wild and clear or was it just aggressive from Tejada?

I'm growing a little tired of the "Duda is TOO patient" bit that Keith usually goes off on and Josh and Eddie are doing now.

LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr wrote: Frayed Knot wrote: My early impressions of Ryu is that there are a couple things he doesn't miss often 1) the strike zone 2) meals "There's something... Wellsian about him, isn't there?" - A sly Gary Cohen Also, Ronnie was trying to make some sort of point about reliance on reports and tendencies against pitchers who haven't been around much-- vaguely I Trust My Eyeballs vs. Newfangled Ways-- and said something to the effect of "You find yourself more vulnerable to... to... you don't have video, or a stat profile to review, and you have to see the guy... guys like Ryu, or a Fernando... these are guys you have to see." Because, you know, it makes more sense to rely on eyeball reports with a guy you've never seen before. Ronnie's work ethic may have gotten him to Yale, but frankly, he's nowhere near as smart as Keith. I dunno, I feel like Ron's pretty savvy about some of this stuff. There are definitely situations where it pays to take the scouting reports with a grain of salt, and small sample size type stuff might just be one of them. Avoids getting tripped up by false positives or educated guesses that may have been noise. I know he said something similar in the playoffs that I thought was interesting. Was referencing the shift against Votto, and questioned it since Votto had obviously been hampered by knee problems in the second half, and maybe his spray chart for his career didn't reflect his current tendencies.

Frayed Knot wrote: Ceetar wrote: I bet I could bunt that. all the different locations, something has to deflect fair. Perhaps with a canoe paddle you could. well yeah, isn't that what we meant? I still think this would make a 'great' (it's a very very low bar) reality show for MLB Network. groups of 30ish year old men and woman that train for a couple of episodes and then try to hit major league pitching. Bring in recently retired pitchers to pitch. You know you'd be intrigued by watching some douchy jock trying to hit Pedro Martinez, who's hamming it up on the mound.

Fman99 wrote: Listening at work via XM. Howie's off today, apparently, it's Josh and some dingus with the call. Going to give Charley Steiner and the LA broadcast team a listen for a change. I wonder if Howie's in Philadelphia.

I bet I could bunt that. all the different locations, something has to deflect fair.

Edgy MD wrote: While I've never heard the term "selfies," I approve. Yeah, I think that was him. I've only started hearing it recently. new term? Manifestation of most phones having front facing cameras now maybe?

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: Everyone needs to stop fostering the illusion that the position in the lineup matters. When it's your turn to bat, step up to the plate and do your job. What matters is who the pitcher is, what the score is, what runners are on base, not the position in the batting order. This. It drove me up the wall a few years ago when Manuel wanted to bat Reyes second and Reyes said he couldn't do that. Same crap with self-interested relief pitchers who claim they have to pitch the ninth inning to be effective. Third. I understand players getting attached to the idea of themselves as a leadoff hitter, or a closer. The ownership of it. I think Manuel gave him like a week in the 3rd spot before flip-flopping back.