Thursday, June 30, 2005
Put Up Your Duke
Zach Duke is going to make his major-league debut this Saturday in Milwaukee, taking Oliver Perez's spot in the rotation. It sounds like he's going to stay up as long as needed, with Snell remaining in the bullpen for the time being. The announcement is here on the Post-Gazette's website, and was also announced during the ballgame today. We're currently losing 4-0 to the Gnats in the bottom of the third, getting no-hit by our old pal Esteban Loaiza. Lloyd was ejected in the 2nd inning (I'm shocked, shocked), and Wells is out after only two innings, throwing 61 ineffective pitches. Snell's on the mound now. Oops, two-run dinger by Brian Schneider as I type: 6-0.
It's a close call between Kip and our increasingly psychotic manager, but I think Wells tops my Drives Me Up The Frigging Wall list right now. He's become Kris Benson v.2005, without the tarty wife. Another guy with innate talent but no guts. Trade him. I'll take my boyfriend any day over Wells.
On the whole though, it hardly matters one way or the other. I'm so blasé right now over our return to suckage, it's tough just to watch or listen to a game, much less come up with anything useful to write about. I knew this feeling was coming back, I expected it, I was prepared for it. The little Homer voice yapping in my head was right all along, and I never really argued with it. It doesn't pain me in an aching way, but it makes it rather hard to give a sh*t. I told a couple of my buddies when they were at the Tampa Bay series where we hit .500 for a day, that that was as good as it was going to get this year, they had bagged the peak. I'll be happy to eat those words, but I doubt I'll have to. I still follow along (I even hung on through the rain delay last night, pretending that the game was on the west coast), but there's no emotional investment happening, other than what accounts for my interest in watching baseball games in the first place - as opposed to doing crossword puzzles, or poking myself in the eye with sharp sticks. There's no financial investment happening either, as I have no plans to pay to see this stuff. The only Pirate game I've seen live this year was the Big Unit drubbing at Yankee Stadium a couple weeks ago. Those tickets were only five bucks, and probably went straight into Steinbrenner's pockets anyway. Of course since George pays out luxury/payroll tax, a penny or two of my fin may have circled roundaboutly back to the McNutballs, but it's a small enough amount to ignore.
It's a close call between Kip and our increasingly psychotic manager, but I think Wells tops my Drives Me Up The Frigging Wall list right now. He's become Kris Benson v.2005, without the tarty wife. Another guy with innate talent but no guts. Trade him. I'll take my boyfriend any day over Wells.
On the whole though, it hardly matters one way or the other. I'm so blasé right now over our return to suckage, it's tough just to watch or listen to a game, much less come up with anything useful to write about. I knew this feeling was coming back, I expected it, I was prepared for it. The little Homer voice yapping in my head was right all along, and I never really argued with it. It doesn't pain me in an aching way, but it makes it rather hard to give a sh*t. I told a couple of my buddies when they were at the Tampa Bay series where we hit .500 for a day, that that was as good as it was going to get this year, they had bagged the peak. I'll be happy to eat those words, but I doubt I'll have to. I still follow along (I even hung on through the rain delay last night, pretending that the game was on the west coast), but there's no emotional investment happening, other than what accounts for my interest in watching baseball games in the first place - as opposed to doing crossword puzzles, or poking myself in the eye with sharp sticks. There's no financial investment happening either, as I have no plans to pay to see this stuff. The only Pirate game I've seen live this year was the Big Unit drubbing at Yankee Stadium a couple weeks ago. Those tickets were only five bucks, and probably went straight into Steinbrenner's pockets anyway. Of course since George pays out luxury/payroll tax, a penny or two of my fin may have circled roundaboutly back to the McNutballs, but it's a small enough amount to ignore.
My New Boyfriend
I've fallen head over heels in love with Mark Redman.
Go read this P-G article, and you'll be swooning too. I already thought he was pretty fab before this, but I had been trying to repress my feelings because I didn't figure there was a chance in hell that he'd be on our team past this season (or even past the trade deadline). I've been jilted many times before, you see, which makes me very wary of claiming anyone new as my sweetheart. The scars from this particular heartbreak will never disappear.
Here we have a tall/dark/handsome drink of water, holding all the cards in his talented left hand. Redman has an uncommon player option at $4.5 million for next year, which he can exercise to guarantee that salary. The Pirates have a club option at $4.95 million, but Redman has to agree to that, or else he goes to free agency. This is of course the most attractive alternative, if you're looking at the dollar signs and getting to a team that stands to play ball in October. Even though Mark's record is only 4-6, he has 13 quality starts and 3.42 earned run average, and his value on the open market would more than likely get him a multiyear contract for more than $5 mil per. The Pirates are zooming in on season #13 in the sub-.500 department, with no real evidence of a clue or a plan in the heads of management (unless cashing out by selling the team after the 2006 All-Star Game counts as a plan). Add all this up, and it spells Ticket Outta Town for Mark. Who could blame him? Not I.
But listen to these quotes:
Go read this P-G article, and you'll be swooning too. I already thought he was pretty fab before this, but I had been trying to repress my feelings because I didn't figure there was a chance in hell that he'd be on our team past this season (or even past the trade deadline). I've been jilted many times before, you see, which makes me very wary of claiming anyone new as my sweetheart. The scars from this particular heartbreak will never disappear.
Here we have a tall/dark/handsome drink of water, holding all the cards in his talented left hand. Redman has an uncommon player option at $4.5 million for next year, which he can exercise to guarantee that salary. The Pirates have a club option at $4.95 million, but Redman has to agree to that, or else he goes to free agency. This is of course the most attractive alternative, if you're looking at the dollar signs and getting to a team that stands to play ball in October. Even though Mark's record is only 4-6, he has 13 quality starts and 3.42 earned run average, and his value on the open market would more than likely get him a multiyear contract for more than $5 mil per. The Pirates are zooming in on season #13 in the sub-.500 department, with no real evidence of a clue or a plan in the heads of management (unless cashing out by selling the team after the 2006 All-Star Game counts as a plan). Add all this up, and it spells Ticket Outta Town for Mark. Who could blame him? Not I.
But listen to these quotes:
"This is where I'd love to be. I thrive on defense, and these guys playing behind me ... why would I want to play anywhere else? I'm in a pitcher's ballpark, I love playing for Lloyd McClendon, and I like the city."This statement has to be added into the whole The-Problem-With-Lloyd equation (yes I know I still haven't posted on that topic, bear with me please):
"From their standpoint, if they can get something for me in a trade, a couple players who could help them, I understand. It's a business. But my thinking is that I want to be part of this club not just next year but for three years."
"And I look forward to working with Zach Duke, too, when he gets up here," [referring to the Pirates' top pitching prospect, another left-hander]. "At some point, you have to have some veterans in the Pirates' clubhouse and on the field. I know I've enjoyed that role."
"He's the best manager I've ever had. He doesn't forget how it was to be a player. He stands up for us. I don't know if everyone sees that, but it's not unnoticed in this clubhouse. And he's not easy on us, either. He makes us accountable. I like playing for a guy like that."But this is the comment that makes me positively weak in the knees:
"When we got to .500 earlier this month, it was unbelievable to see the reaction of the fans, the way they brought signs and cheered for us. It's a baseball town that's just waiting for us to give them what they want. Can you imagine what it will be like when we do? I'd love to be there for that."Dave Littlefield, SIGN THIS GUY OR ELSE. And Mark, honey love, I want to have your baby.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Anger Management
Ollie kicks a laundry cart in a fit of pique after his shaky performance on Sunday, breaks his left big toe, and is now on the 15-day DL.
(Gametime update - it will probably be a month before he's back. This is the foot he pushes off from when he pitches, and it will need to be 100% better in order not to affect his delivery. Worst-case scenario: Dizzy Dean.)
Why do so many of these guys have a penchant for expressing their macho studly tempers in self-destructive ways? If I were making my living with my body (no smarmy jokes please), I sure as hell would be taking care NOT to injure myself on purpose and adversely effect my livelihood, no matter how pissed off I got over a bad day or whatever. Throwing tantrums or even helmets around a locker room is one thing, but this whole banging-one's-limbs-into-solid-objects phenomenon seems so incredibly beyond stupid. More than a few ballplayers seem to do it though. That Brown guy comes immediately to mind, and here's another one who recently fought the water cooler (the cooler won). And you should have seen an ex-Curve player named Kevin Haverbusch - he was the most out-of-control kamikaze ranter I ever saw, who put himself onto the DL more than once. Strike out swinging, punch a concrete wall, spend the next two months on the bench with a broken hand. He was a joke. Look where all that 'intensity' got him.
So outfielder Nate McLouth gets called up while Ollie's out, to sit on the bench with Ryan Doumit. Apparently we'll run with 11 pitchers for the nonce. If this means that Ian Snell will get a chance to start in Ollie's place, then I'll be happy with that, but I'll be increasingly annoyed if both Ryan and Nate don't get playing time. Here's the P-G article on Ollie and the resulting roster moves - LHP Mike Connolly goes from Altoona to Indy, and RHP Eddie Candelario goes from class-A Bradenton up to Altoona.
I don't have much else to say about the ballteam right now, as you may have noticed from the dearth of recent posts. No particular explanation for that, just haven't been inspired by anything that seems to be worth writing about. I haven't been too happy with Lloyd lately, but I'll save that for later, I haven't organized my thoughts well enough yet. Locally, Wilbur (Miller) and his wife were here for a visit last weekend, to attend the Curve game vs New Britain on Saturday night, which our boys proceeded to lose in ignominious fashion, 13-1 to the worst team in the league. When we saw that Paul Stewart was slated to start, we had a bad feeling. We didn't win any free used cars either.
(Gametime update - it will probably be a month before he's back. This is the foot he pushes off from when he pitches, and it will need to be 100% better in order not to affect his delivery. Worst-case scenario: Dizzy Dean.)
Why do so many of these guys have a penchant for expressing their macho studly tempers in self-destructive ways? If I were making my living with my body (no smarmy jokes please), I sure as hell would be taking care NOT to injure myself on purpose and adversely effect my livelihood, no matter how pissed off I got over a bad day or whatever. Throwing tantrums or even helmets around a locker room is one thing, but this whole banging-one's-limbs-into-solid-objects phenomenon seems so incredibly beyond stupid. More than a few ballplayers seem to do it though. That Brown guy comes immediately to mind, and here's another one who recently fought the water cooler (the cooler won). And you should have seen an ex-Curve player named Kevin Haverbusch - he was the most out-of-control kamikaze ranter I ever saw, who put himself onto the DL more than once. Strike out swinging, punch a concrete wall, spend the next two months on the bench with a broken hand. He was a joke. Look where all that 'intensity' got him.
So outfielder Nate McLouth gets called up while Ollie's out, to sit on the bench with Ryan Doumit. Apparently we'll run with 11 pitchers for the nonce. If this means that Ian Snell will get a chance to start in Ollie's place, then I'll be happy with that, but I'll be increasingly annoyed if both Ryan and Nate don't get playing time. Here's the P-G article on Ollie and the resulting roster moves - LHP Mike Connolly goes from Altoona to Indy, and RHP Eddie Candelario goes from class-A Bradenton up to Altoona.
I don't have much else to say about the ballteam right now, as you may have noticed from the dearth of recent posts. No particular explanation for that, just haven't been inspired by anything that seems to be worth writing about. I haven't been too happy with Lloyd lately, but I'll save that for later, I haven't organized my thoughts well enough yet. Locally, Wilbur (Miller) and his wife were here for a visit last weekend, to attend the Curve game vs New Britain on Saturday night, which our boys proceeded to lose in ignominious fashion, 13-1 to the worst team in the league. When we saw that Paul Stewart was slated to start, we had a bad feeling. We didn't win any free used cars either.
Tuesday, June 21, 2005
Plunked
I got home from NYC late on Friday night, and promptly came down with the mother of all summer colds, hence the delay in my return to blogdom. I haven't even seen any baseball this week, so it's going to take me at least a couple more days to get back up to speed. Frankly, I'm not in the best of baseball moods right now anyway, so maybe it's just as well. My little voice is ceaselessly repeating its refrain of "High Water Mark". I don't need to listen to that crap. Maybe it will pass, like the cold.
But I did want to say: At least as far as the bleacher entrance/seating is concerned, Yankee Stadium ain't nothing to write home about. What a hole. They announced plans for a new Yankee Stadium II while we were over there, to be built adjacent to the current one. If the rest of Yankee Stadium I is anything like the bit that I saw (which I grant was just Steerage Class), then they can't blow it up soon enough, Babe or no Babe. And yes, I'd absolutely rather have championships in a hole than losing seasons in Paradise. But the best thing about the place was that they scoreboarded not only the pitch speeds, but also the type of pitches and the total pitch counts. Very handy when I was trying to watch the game through binoculars from the 5th row in center field, with a gaggle (or should that be giggle?) of teenaged girls seated around me paying no attention whatever to the game, and getting into my field of view most of the time. Scoreboard pitching stats seem a pretty paltry thing to be the most noteworthy plus-side item I can come up with. But I guess Randy Johnson counts too.
But I did want to say: At least as far as the bleacher entrance/seating is concerned, Yankee Stadium ain't nothing to write home about. What a hole. They announced plans for a new Yankee Stadium II while we were over there, to be built adjacent to the current one. If the rest of Yankee Stadium I is anything like the bit that I saw (which I grant was just Steerage Class), then they can't blow it up soon enough, Babe or no Babe. And yes, I'd absolutely rather have championships in a hole than losing seasons in Paradise. But the best thing about the place was that they scoreboarded not only the pitch speeds, but also the type of pitches and the total pitch counts. Very handy when I was trying to watch the game through binoculars from the 5th row in center field, with a gaggle (or should that be giggle?) of teenaged girls seated around me paying no attention whatever to the game, and getting into my field of view most of the time. Scoreboard pitching stats seem a pretty paltry thing to be the most noteworthy plus-side item I can come up with. But I guess Randy Johnson counts too.
Friday, June 17, 2005
On The Road: Day 5, Friday
Just a quick post while I still have my computer out and my net access plugged in. We're packing and getting ready to find some breakfast and check out of our hotel, and get ourselves and my car (the former inside the latter) safely off of this crowded island. We have about 3 hours' drive to the Philly airport to drop off our pals, then we're stopping over just west of town to visit with my aunt and uncle for a bit. So we won't get back on the Turnpike probably till after suppertime, which means arrival at home sometime between 10pm and midnight, depending on the length of the visit with the relations.
I have lots to say about the ballgame last night, or at least about our Yankee Stadium Experience, but I don't have time to type it in right now. I'll sit down over the weekend and do a good post or two to catch up.
I have lots to say about the ballgame last night, or at least about our Yankee Stadium Experience, but I don't have time to type it in right now. I'll sit down over the weekend and do a good post or two to catch up.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Ham and Jam and Blown Save
Spamalot finished up just in time last night to walk a couple blocks to CharleyO's Tavern on 8th Avenue. Open front windows to enjoy the cool evening, a jazz quintet playing, an agreeable menu not too outlandishly priced (at least by Manhattan standards), and a television with the YES network playing. And so I got to see Mister Giambi do his 10th-inning upper-deck thing, right as the waiter arrived with the Sam Adams. Found out afterward that the Bucs had the lead into the bottom of the 9th, were the victim of a questionable DP call in the bottom of the 9th, and it was yet another game that could have been Mark Redman's.
Dang. I'm saying that word too much all of a sudden.
I'll hope our presence tonight will make the difference. That and Ollie's heat.
Dang. I'm saying that word too much all of a sudden.
I'll hope our presence tonight will make the difference. That and Ollie's heat.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Ugly
On The Road: Day 2, Tuesday
Didn't get a chance to check in last night (Day 1) after our arrival in Gettysburg. DogBoy and I drove through over a solid hour of a total, wipers-are-worthless, Noah-esque deluge as we came east on Rt. 30 through Chambersburg and into Gettysburg. Gettysburg itself had only a few sprinkles, go figure. Met up at the hotel with our vacation companions, who came in from San Francisco by way of a weekend in Philadelphia. A fair quantity of malted beverages (Yuengling) were consumed. This is my best pal from college (here with his 12-year-old son). Our friendship is nearly 30 years old. For any of you 20-year-old tykes reading this, I offer a word of sage advice: if you make good friends in college, bust your ass to keep in touch with them after you graduate. Not just Christmas cards or random emails, but really work to keep them in your present-tense life, and yourself in theirs. Even if the distances get large between you, even when you get busy with kids, whatever. It's absolutely worth the effort, forever.
Okay, enough philosophy. This morning we rose early and hired a licensed battlefield guide who drove us all through the park, narrating in great detail the whole time, and answering our plethora of questions. What a great way to do the site (it was my 2nd time with this arrangement). Reserve the guide in advance - Howard Calp was our guide, and he was beyond excellent. It got very hot as the sun climbed toward midday, but a stiff breeze kept things bearable, and the honeysuckle was in full bloom on the slopes of Little Round Top. Since the weather was also very hot and humid on July 2, 1863, today's heat gave us a good sense of what it must have felt like back then, although we weren't in wool uniforms with 30 pounds of kit on our backs and 20 pounds of carbine to fire and reload as Confederate minie balls whiz by. I can't describe the feeling of standing there on top of that hill, with the scent of the flowers, the view, and the sense of immersion into history.
After a pass through the Philly airport to drop off a rental car, we're now in lovely Mt. Laurel, NJ, and I'm wondering if there's any way I'll find a Yankees TV station at this Radisson hotel... if not, I've got the audio feed here on the laptop to get by with. Oh please, Radio Gods, don't give me Lanny and Steve on the feed tonight. (I understand Blass is making the trip this time, to see the House That Harry Frazee Built.)
Drive into Manhattan tomorrow morning. It will still be sweltering like blue dookey. The car thermometer said 97F most of the way over, but we're hoping that any rain comes in overnight and gets through town between games 1 and 2 of the series in the Bronx.
Spamalot tomorrow night, then Ollie-vs-Unit on Thursday.
No TV station here with the game, so netaudio it is - first pitch a strike to Lawton. Go Bucs!
Okay, enough philosophy. This morning we rose early and hired a licensed battlefield guide who drove us all through the park, narrating in great detail the whole time, and answering our plethora of questions. What a great way to do the site (it was my 2nd time with this arrangement). Reserve the guide in advance - Howard Calp was our guide, and he was beyond excellent. It got very hot as the sun climbed toward midday, but a stiff breeze kept things bearable, and the honeysuckle was in full bloom on the slopes of Little Round Top. Since the weather was also very hot and humid on July 2, 1863, today's heat gave us a good sense of what it must have felt like back then, although we weren't in wool uniforms with 30 pounds of kit on our backs and 20 pounds of carbine to fire and reload as Confederate minie balls whiz by. I can't describe the feeling of standing there on top of that hill, with the scent of the flowers, the view, and the sense of immersion into history.
After a pass through the Philly airport to drop off a rental car, we're now in lovely Mt. Laurel, NJ, and I'm wondering if there's any way I'll find a Yankees TV station at this Radisson hotel... if not, I've got the audio feed here on the laptop to get by with. Oh please, Radio Gods, don't give me Lanny and Steve on the feed tonight. (I understand Blass is making the trip this time, to see the House That Harry Frazee Built.)
Drive into Manhattan tomorrow morning. It will still be sweltering like blue dookey. The car thermometer said 97F most of the way over, but we're hoping that any rain comes in overnight and gets through town between games 1 and 2 of the series in the Bronx.
Spamalot tomorrow night, then Ollie-vs-Unit on Thursday.
No TV station here with the game, so netaudio it is - first pitch a strike to Lawton. Go Bucs!
Monday, June 13, 2005
Close But No Cigar
Tied it up in the 9th, only to let it get away in the 13th. 7-5 final score. Box score here, recap here. Back to one game under .500. Dang.
I don't have time to summarize the game or put in more links, because I'm about to shut down the computer. We leave at lunchtime, and while I expect to have net access in my hotels all week, my days will be busy so I don't know how much blogging I'll have time for. I probably won't see either of Tuesday's or Wednesday's games on television (definitely not Wednesday's, that's Spamalot night). I'm setting up two VCRs here at home, one programmed for Tuesday and Wednesday evening, and the other for Thursday and Friday. No Tivo at Casa Leeeny. But Thursday night after we get back from watching the Ollie And Randy Show at Yankee Stadium, I'll do my best to report in.
Alas, the Bucs don't get to go into NY above .500 like I wanted, but at least our record is BETTER THAN THE YANKEES', BWAHAHA. I'll have to buy a copy of the Post and see what kind of conniptions they're having.
But there's still this little voice in my head, especially after Sunday's loss (for some reason the voice sounds like Homer Simpson), telling me "Don't... get... carried... away." Sometimes when it's in a really foul mood, it tells me that Saturday was the High Water Mark. I'm having a very tough time with that little voice right now.
I don't have time to summarize the game or put in more links, because I'm about to shut down the computer. We leave at lunchtime, and while I expect to have net access in my hotels all week, my days will be busy so I don't know how much blogging I'll have time for. I probably won't see either of Tuesday's or Wednesday's games on television (definitely not Wednesday's, that's Spamalot night). I'm setting up two VCRs here at home, one programmed for Tuesday and Wednesday evening, and the other for Thursday and Friday. No Tivo at Casa Leeeny. But Thursday night after we get back from watching the Ollie And Randy Show at Yankee Stadium, I'll do my best to report in.
Alas, the Bucs don't get to go into NY above .500 like I wanted, but at least our record is BETTER THAN THE YANKEES', BWAHAHA. I'll have to buy a copy of the Post and see what kind of conniptions they're having.
But there's still this little voice in my head, especially after Sunday's loss (for some reason the voice sounds like Homer Simpson), telling me "Don't... get... carried... away." Sometimes when it's in a really foul mood, it tells me that Saturday was the High Water Mark. I'm having a very tough time with that little voice right now.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Sunday Lineups
Rays Bucs
Crawford, LF Sanchez, 3B
Lugo, SS Lawton, RF
Sanchez, RF Bay, LF
Cantu, 2B Doumit, C
Lee, 1B Mackowiak, CF
Taylor, CF Castillo, 2B
Hall, C Ward, 1B
Gonzalez, 3B JWilson, SS
Hendrickson, LHP Fogg, RHP
(2-3, 6.05) (4-3, 4.20)
I like this lineup of ours a LOT. This could be The One that takes us through the rest of the year, maybe juggling Lawton/Ward/CWilson when Craiggers comes off the DL. Ward normally bats higher up, but against a lefty and with Castillo on a mini-tear, this is fine. You can still get RBIs from the 7 spot. Doumit's a bit of an x-factor with his brand-newness, but I saw him play for parts of the last two seasons in Altoona, and what with the good start he's gotten offensively, I am very optimistic that he'll do just fine. He wants to be a catcher, and he wants to shake off the question mark over his defensive abilities, which have been due primarily to the fact that he's had some injuries in the past. He's also playing for my monkeyboys, don't forget.
Is it 1:35 yet?
30 And 30 Equals .500
.500. Bask in the moment, folks. We haven't seen this figure this late in a season since Sept. 1, 1999.
And we got there with a serious laugher last night, taking it to the D-Rays, 18-2. Read all about it. 2B Jose Castillo went 3 for 5 with 5 RBIs, including a 3-run homer. Ryan Doumit, our new callup (and primarily a catcher) who started in RF, also went 3 for 5 with 5 RBIs, including a double and a triple. Doesn't look like he's had any trouble adjusting to big-league pitching, hitting .364 in his first 11 ABs. Ollie's definitely back: 7.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 H, 10 K.
In the previous post's comments thread, I've been severely taken to task for even considering that I'd like the Cards to beat the Yanks in their games this weekend, since that contradicts the Prime Directive of wanting to gain ground on the division leader, always, always. Okay, I cry uncle. You can't violate the Prime Directive, not even to watch the national media squirm for a couple of days. As long as the Bucs win today, I'll have had my wish anyway, no matter what happens in Saint Louis. The Big Unit blew the Cards away yesterday, 5-0, so their series stands even. NY will come home either even .500, or two under. The Bucs will get there either one over, or one under. As long as we get out the brooms against TB this afternoon, we can't have a worse record than NY, heading into the series in the Bronx. And if the Yanks win today, we'll be 7.5 back of the Cards' lead in the NLC.
My buddies will be phoning me from PNC today, and believe me I am sitting here thinking that if I got in the car RIGHT NOW, I could get to the park before the 7th inning stretch. Oh well, today's sacrifice will be rewarded on Thursday night, when I might see Ollie vs Unit pitch at Yankee Stadium. This depends on how Torre handles his rotation with the off-day tomorrow. He's got Mussina and Brown scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday (vs Wells and MRedman), so I'm hoping Joe wants to put his Old Unit up against our New Unit. Oh man would that be great, even from way out in the CF bleachers.
Addendum, 3:30pm... the Yanks' website doesn't have it posted yet, but Lanny said during the broadcast that Torre has indeed scheduled Johnson for Thursday's game. So Ollie vs Randy it is. My my my.
And we got there with a serious laugher last night, taking it to the D-Rays, 18-2. Read all about it. 2B Jose Castillo went 3 for 5 with 5 RBIs, including a 3-run homer. Ryan Doumit, our new callup (and primarily a catcher) who started in RF, also went 3 for 5 with 5 RBIs, including a double and a triple. Doesn't look like he's had any trouble adjusting to big-league pitching, hitting .364 in his first 11 ABs. Ollie's definitely back: 7.0 IP, 1 BB, 5 H, 10 K.
In the previous post's comments thread, I've been severely taken to task for even considering that I'd like the Cards to beat the Yanks in their games this weekend, since that contradicts the Prime Directive of wanting to gain ground on the division leader, always, always. Okay, I cry uncle. You can't violate the Prime Directive, not even to watch the national media squirm for a couple of days. As long as the Bucs win today, I'll have had my wish anyway, no matter what happens in Saint Louis. The Big Unit blew the Cards away yesterday, 5-0, so their series stands even. NY will come home either even .500, or two under. The Bucs will get there either one over, or one under. As long as we get out the brooms against TB this afternoon, we can't have a worse record than NY, heading into the series in the Bronx. And if the Yanks win today, we'll be 7.5 back of the Cards' lead in the NLC.
My buddies will be phoning me from PNC today, and believe me I am sitting here thinking that if I got in the car RIGHT NOW, I could get to the park before the 7th inning stretch. Oh well, today's sacrifice will be rewarded on Thursday night, when I might see Ollie vs Unit pitch at Yankee Stadium. This depends on how Torre handles his rotation with the off-day tomorrow. He's got Mussina and Brown scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday (vs Wells and MRedman), so I'm hoping Joe wants to put his Old Unit up against our New Unit. Oh man would that be great, even from way out in the CF bleachers.
Addendum, 3:30pm... the Yanks' website doesn't have it posted yet, but Lanny said during the broadcast that Torre has indeed scheduled Johnson for Thursday's game. So Ollie vs Randy it is. My my my.
Saturday, June 11, 2005
Bucs-Yanks Watch: Friday's Results
May as well track things between now and next Thursday, for ironic yuks.
Last night's results:
• Pirates beat Tampa Bay, 7-2. Mark Redman did another fine job, and finally got run support. Our other Redman (Tike) scored three runs, and saved a homer with a standout leaping catch at the wall.
• Yankees were beaten by St. Louis, 8-1. A sloppy loss that resulted in a closed-door meeting between Joe Torre and his players afterwards. Asses were chewed.
Current streaks:
• Pirates have won 8 out of their last 11.
• Yankees have lost 8 out of their last 10.
Standings:
• Pirates are 29-30, one game under .500, in third place in the NLCentral, 9.5 games back of St. Louis.
• Yankees are 29-31, two games under .500, in fourth place in the ALEast, 7.0 games back of Baltimore.
Today's games:
• Tampa Bay vs Pirates at PNC, 7:05 pm. FSNP television. Southpaw duel between Scott Kazmir, 2-4, 3.86, and Ollie Perez, 4-4, 6.41. Ollie is pitching better lately than those numbers would indicate. Freddy Sanchez is slated to play third tonight, and Macko will probably go to CF, to continue (I hope) to prove my assertion that he should keep getting ABs against lefties to improve his weakness against them.
• Yankees vs St. Louis at Busch, day game, 3:15pm. Fox network television. More lefties - Randy Johnson, 5-5, 4.07, vs Mark Mulder, 7-3, 4.17. The Unit has lost his previous two starts.
The irony here is that by wanting the Cards to beat the Yanks in this series, I'm keeping the Pirates from gaining any ground on them in the NLC standings as we win our own games against the DRays. Annoying, but I'd still rather go into the Bronx at 1 over, with the Yanks at 4 under.
Last night's results:
• Pirates beat Tampa Bay, 7-2. Mark Redman did another fine job, and finally got run support. Our other Redman (Tike) scored three runs, and saved a homer with a standout leaping catch at the wall.
• Yankees were beaten by St. Louis, 8-1. A sloppy loss that resulted in a closed-door meeting between Joe Torre and his players afterwards. Asses were chewed.
Current streaks:
• Pirates have won 8 out of their last 11.
• Yankees have lost 8 out of their last 10.
Standings:
• Pirates are 29-30, one game under .500, in third place in the NLCentral, 9.5 games back of St. Louis.
• Yankees are 29-31, two games under .500, in fourth place in the ALEast, 7.0 games back of Baltimore.
Today's games:
• Tampa Bay vs Pirates at PNC, 7:05 pm. FSNP television. Southpaw duel between Scott Kazmir, 2-4, 3.86, and Ollie Perez, 4-4, 6.41. Ollie is pitching better lately than those numbers would indicate. Freddy Sanchez is slated to play third tonight, and Macko will probably go to CF, to continue (I hope) to prove my assertion that he should keep getting ABs against lefties to improve his weakness against them.
• Yankees vs St. Louis at Busch, day game, 3:15pm. Fox network television. More lefties - Randy Johnson, 5-5, 4.07, vs Mark Mulder, 7-3, 4.17. The Unit has lost his previous two starts.
The irony here is that by wanting the Cards to beat the Yanks in this series, I'm keeping the Pirates from gaining any ground on them in the NLC standings as we win our own games against the DRays. Annoying, but I'd still rather go into the Bronx at 1 over, with the Yanks at 4 under.
Friday, June 10, 2005
New York, New York
I promise, honest Injun, that I am neither overlooking nor underestimating this weekend's Tampa Bay series. I will be watching the whole thing, starting with Hideo Nomo vs. Mark Redman tonight at 7:05 (all the weekend's pitching probables can be found here). I'll be wishing I were at PNC with my friends who will be attending all three games. They're on orders to cell-phone me on Sunday from the ballpark, to make me feel even worse about my absence.
But my dejection at not being there will be mitigated by the fact that DogBoy and I are heading in the opposite direction on Monday, for a week-long road trip with a pal (let's call him Pangloss) from my Georgia Tech days (occurring in the Late Cretaceous Period), and Pangloss's 12-year-old scion. Our first stop is a tour of the Gettysburg battlefield, since Scion is a military-history buff and has not yet been there. But after we're done at the Peach Orchard, we head to the Big Apple. Wednesday night we attend a performance of the just-won-the-Best-Musical-Tony-award "Monty Python's Spamalot", for which we've had the tickets since January (I blogged about those ducats here). And, and, and, if you haven't figured this out by now... the following evening, due to the fortuitous alignment of numerous planets plus a very lucky last-minute hit at Ticketmaster.com, we will be:
Can you say, Psyched Beyond F*cking Belief? And would you believe I got those seats for five bucks apiece? C'est vrai, bien sûr mon ami. Even with the chargecard fees and convenience fees and print-them-at-home fees, they were still under $40 for all four. The Pirates themselves did not have any tickets or purchase assistance to offer (yes, I asked), so I was happy to land even view-of-the-game-challenged seats at such short notice. And considering that our hotel is costing us $200/night (and even that only thanks to Priceline), at least I have the satisfaction of seeing the ballgame without having to put a big wad of cash into Steinbrenner's pocket. That's worth sitting in the outfield for. I'm the only one of the four of us who has ever been there before, so I am sure we'll be walking around a lot anyway. [Addendum: Oh dear, perhaps not. Go read this, under item #11. DAMN, that sucks hugely! What is this, steerage on the Titanic? I've never heard of anything so bogus!]
Well, anyway, in light of the fact that I'm really going to get to see one of these games in the Bronx, I direct you to this page at Baseball Prospectus. Rowdy posted this link earlier today; I had not known it existed. (I'm not much of a gambler.) The figures are updated frequently, but as of the time I am posting this entry, here are two of the values from the page:
Okay, that's grasping, I know. A little flight of fancy. Please forgive me.
But this much isn't grasping: The Yankees currently sit at 29-30, 1 game under .500. We are 28-30, 2 games under. The Yankees play their next three games away against St. Louis, the 2nd-best team (by record, at 38-21) in baseball. We play our next three at home against Tampa Bay, the 3rd-worst team (20-40). If we can sweep our series (optimistic, but not outlandish to consider), we'll be 1 game over. If the Yanks win 1 out of 3 (possible or even likely), they will be 2 games under. Or if they take two, they'll be even. I'm guessing that they won't sweep.
What life-form in this solar system would have thought it possible that the Pirates could go into Yankee Stadium on June 14, 2005, for the first time since October 10, 1960, with a better record and perhaps better prospects than the Bronx Bombers? And if we shut them down on Tuesday and/or Wednesday, where will we be sitting by the time I get to The House That Ruth Built? Best case scenario on Thursday (we win all our games till then, they lose all theirs), would have us at 3 over, and them at 6 under. Zounds. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, ESPN, you jagoffs.
I don't know whether to be more psyched about Spamalot on Wednesday, or the ballgame on Thursday. Too too much fun. Of course it could all just as easily go completely to hell between now and next Thursday. My jinx/snakebite warning meter is way into the 'Danger Will Robinson!' zone, because my brain hollers "this is the Pirates, you can't think optimistically without being punished for it". Old habits die hard, and they certainly don't die in June. But this whole vacation thing started off with good omens last night: a 9th-inning come-from-behind Curve win over Binghamton, fireworks, and the game's first pitch thrown out by a MUNCHKIN, fergawdsake. The actual still-alive Munchkin who handed the lollipop to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Now if that ain't a good-luck charm, I don't know what is.
But my dejection at not being there will be mitigated by the fact that DogBoy and I are heading in the opposite direction on Monday, for a week-long road trip with a pal (let's call him Pangloss) from my Georgia Tech days (occurring in the Late Cretaceous Period), and Pangloss's 12-year-old scion. Our first stop is a tour of the Gettysburg battlefield, since Scion is a military-history buff and has not yet been there. But after we're done at the Peach Orchard, we head to the Big Apple. Wednesday night we attend a performance of the just-won-the-Best-Musical-Tony-award "Monty Python's Spamalot", for which we've had the tickets since January (I blogged about those ducats here). And, and, and, if you haven't figured this out by now... the following evening, due to the fortuitous alignment of numerous planets plus a very lucky last-minute hit at Ticketmaster.com, we will be:
Can you say, Psyched Beyond F*cking Belief? And would you believe I got those seats for five bucks apiece? C'est vrai, bien sûr mon ami. Even with the chargecard fees and convenience fees and print-them-at-home fees, they were still under $40 for all four. The Pirates themselves did not have any tickets or purchase assistance to offer (yes, I asked), so I was happy to land even view-of-the-game-challenged seats at such short notice. And considering that our hotel is costing us $200/night (and even that only thanks to Priceline), at least I have the satisfaction of seeing the ballgame without having to put a big wad of cash into Steinbrenner's pocket. That's worth sitting in the outfield for. I'm the only one of the four of us who has ever been there before, so I am sure we'll be walking around a lot anyway. [Addendum: Oh dear, perhaps not. Go read this, under item #11. DAMN, that sucks hugely! What is this, steerage on the Titanic? I've never heard of anything so bogus!]
Well, anyway, in light of the fact that I'm really going to get to see one of these games in the Bronx, I direct you to this page at Baseball Prospectus. Rowdy posted this link earlier today; I had not known it existed. (I'm not much of a gambler.) The figures are updated frequently, but as of the time I am posting this entry, here are two of the values from the page:
- current percent-chance odds of the Yankees making the playoffs: 7.81510
- current percent-chance odds of the Pirates making the playoffs: 10.24831
Okay, that's grasping, I know. A little flight of fancy. Please forgive me.
But this much isn't grasping: The Yankees currently sit at 29-30, 1 game under .500. We are 28-30, 2 games under. The Yankees play their next three games away against St. Louis, the 2nd-best team (by record, at 38-21) in baseball. We play our next three at home against Tampa Bay, the 3rd-worst team (20-40). If we can sweep our series (optimistic, but not outlandish to consider), we'll be 1 game over. If the Yanks win 1 out of 3 (possible or even likely), they will be 2 games under. Or if they take two, they'll be even. I'm guessing that they won't sweep.
What life-form in this solar system would have thought it possible that the Pirates could go into Yankee Stadium on June 14, 2005, for the first time since October 10, 1960, with a better record and perhaps better prospects than the Bronx Bombers? And if we shut them down on Tuesday and/or Wednesday, where will we be sitting by the time I get to The House That Ruth Built? Best case scenario on Thursday (we win all our games till then, they lose all theirs), would have us at 3 over, and them at 6 under. Zounds. Put that in your pipe and smoke it, ESPN, you jagoffs.
I don't know whether to be more psyched about Spamalot on Wednesday, or the ballgame on Thursday. Too too much fun. Of course it could all just as easily go completely to hell between now and next Thursday. My jinx/snakebite warning meter is way into the 'Danger Will Robinson!' zone, because my brain hollers "this is the Pirates, you can't think optimistically without being punished for it". Old habits die hard, and they certainly don't die in June. But this whole vacation thing started off with good omens last night: a 9th-inning come-from-behind Curve win over Binghamton, fireworks, and the game's first pitch thrown out by a MUNCHKIN, fergawdsake. The actual still-alive Munchkin who handed the lollipop to Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz. Now if that ain't a good-luck charm, I don't know what is.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Splitting Mackowack
Quoth Leeeny, June 2:
Here are his splits now:
There's still a power and RBI difference, but 34 lefty ABs isn't much to judge him on, and I'm of the opinion that if a guy's on a hot streak, he's going to improve no matter which arm is throwing. Yanking him in and out of the lineup based on the pitcher is just going to snuff out the streak against the righties, to worse overall effect than leaving him in against the lefties. His batting averages are both fine. He's striking out at a .176 clip against lefties, and .184 against righties. Actually better here on his weaker split, but it's a negligible difference. Leave him in, Lloyd.
The off-day is well timed for me, as I've got a mess o' company coming this afternoon. One pal is in all the way from Spokane WA, to see the Curve tonight and the Pirates over the weekend against Tampa Bay, in celebration of his brand-new retirement. Congrats EG, you've earned it. We're all heading to BCB tonight to see Altoona play Binghamton (Mets). Monkeyboys too.
Housecleaning awaits.
I dunno about this sit-Mack-against-lefties stuff, I'm more the type who thinks that he'd shake off his platoon-guy tag if he got a chance to be in the lineup all the time and get over the hump with southpaws.Mackowiak, last night against three Baltimore lefties in our super-duper 6-1 sellout win: 3-for-4, 4 RBIs. Two-run triple in the first inning, two-run single in the 8th.
Here are his splits now:
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO OBP SLG AVG OPS
vs Lefties
23 34 2 11 2 1 0 6 2 6 .361 .441 .324 .802
vs Righties
45 119 23 42 7 0 6 26 18 22 .442 .563 .353 1.005
There's still a power and RBI difference, but 34 lefty ABs isn't much to judge him on, and I'm of the opinion that if a guy's on a hot streak, he's going to improve no matter which arm is throwing. Yanking him in and out of the lineup based on the pitcher is just going to snuff out the streak against the righties, to worse overall effect than leaving him in against the lefties. His batting averages are both fine. He's striking out at a .176 clip against lefties, and .184 against righties. Actually better here on his weaker split, but it's a negligible difference. Leave him in, Lloyd.
The off-day is well timed for me, as I've got a mess o' company coming this afternoon. One pal is in all the way from Spokane WA, to see the Curve tonight and the Pirates over the weekend against Tampa Bay, in celebration of his brand-new retirement. Congrats EG, you've earned it. We're all heading to BCB tonight to see Altoona play Binghamton (Mets). Monkeyboys too.
Housecleaning awaits.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Choirboy
John Perotto, Rob Biertempfel, and Paul Meyer provide some additional insight into yesterday's first-round draft pick, Andrew McCutchen. He's the son of a preacher (man), enjoys writing poetry, and will turn down a scholarship to the University of Florida in order to begin his pro career with the Pirates. The team brought him up to PNC last Friday for a tour and a workout. He liked the view of downtown. (Who doesn't?) Ed Creech compares him to Marquis Grissom, while Dave Littlefield uses Corey Patterson for his comparison. Hmm, I was hoping for Willie Mays, or at least Andruw Jones. But if he'd have been that promising, he probably wouldn't have made it to the 11th pick.
Other draft picks: Wilbur Miller broke out his TABLE tag and his late-night coffeepot, to post detailed information on all 18 picks the Pirates made yesterday. Mighty nice job, Wilbur, you really spoil us. The draft concludes with 32 more rounds today. Addendum: Here's the link to Wilbur's writeup of Day Two's picks.
Other draft picks: Wilbur Miller broke out his TABLE tag and his late-night coffeepot, to post detailed information on all 18 picks the Pirates made yesterday. Mighty nice job, Wilbur, you really spoil us. The draft concludes with 32 more rounds today. Addendum: Here's the link to Wilbur's writeup of Day Two's picks.
Wilson To Castillo To Ward
Doesn't quite have the ring of Tinker to Evers to Chance, but I'll take it. This is from Dejan's postgame report, after the highlight-reel-worthy 6-4-3 double play that ended the game:
"Me and Jack are the best," he said. "There's nobody else in the league."I love to see confidence like this, and it would be very hard to argue Jose's point. I think I should amend the ultimatum I gave our team's owners in my previous post: keep both these guys. You don't break up a duo like this. They can be a DP-turning (and ticket-selling) machine for at least the next decade. Assuming we win the ballgame, I'd rather see double plays than strikeouts or home runs. Standout defense, especially in the middle infield, is the most beautiful thing in baseball.------ Jose Castillo
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Rally Caps To The Rescue!
I had mine on, did you? Now that was a game that ended a lot better than it began. Not to minimize the importance of Daryle Ward's game-tying blast, but Jack's go-ahead homer was just wunnerful, wunnerful. I love to see him come through in the clutch - he's so happy, and it's totally contagious. Especially after the poor start he's had, and the reason for it. Even the mistakes he makes (like the CS in the 7th with hot-hitting Lawton up) are borne of enthusiasm. As far as I am concerned, Jack is the blueprint for a baseball player. If they assigned Franchise Player status on MLB rosters, he'd be ours. If the McNutballs let him go, ever, I'm handing in my membership card.
Tuesday Lineups, Doumit Starts
Birds Bucs
Nivar, CF Lawton, R
Gomez, 2B Doumit, C
Mora, 3B Macowiak, 3B
Tejada, SS Bay, LF
Sosa, RF Ward, 1B
Surhoff, LF Castillo, 2B
Gibbons, 1B TRedman, CF
Fasano, C JWilson, SS
Penn, P 0-0, 3.60 Williams, P 5-5, 3.75
Hayden Penn's only been up since 5/28. Two starts, one for 4.2 innings, the other for 5.1. He's only 20 years old, the youngest active player in the majors right now.
I expect our new catcher is fighting some big pregame butterflies about now. The monkeyboys are cheering for you, Ryan. Whack one into the Allegheny off this kid.
VORB Has Relocated
For those of you who, like me, wondered where that left-coast music-making Bucco blogger Charlie Wilmoth (of Value Over Replacement Blog) has been in recent weeks... well I still can't answer that question, however blog-wise, he has just reappeared at a new location, bucsdugout.com. Nice to see him back. The new blog is part of one of those aggregated-format franchise type things, SportsBlogs Nation in this case.
So go update your bookmark or sidebar link, and hie on over there. But I have to admit, Charlie, that I always liked the old name. :-)
So go update your bookmark or sidebar link, and hie on over there. But I have to admit, Charlie, that I always liked the old name. :-)
Bucs Pick Andrew McCutchen
11th pick overall: Andrew McCutchen
CF R/R
Fort Meade HS
Fort Meade, FL
born 10/10/1986
5'11" 175 lbs.
"a five-tool player"
We sure seem to like that 'toolsy' tag on a guy, even when it's sometimes a euphemism for 'a good athlete who can't play the game very well'. But I'm happy we took a bat instead of an arm (two years in a row), so I'll be optimistic and hope that Andrew is the second coming of Willie Mays. Which would be a pretty neat trick, since Willie himself is still around.
Wilbur Miller, who chose McCutchen for Pittsburgh in the mock draft at John Sickels' blog last weekend, commented at HW today that McCutchen was selected "supposedly against the inclinations of upper management". As soon as I get Wilbur to explain what that means, I'll elaborate. (time passing) He says the quote came from Baseball America, and probably refers to Littlefield channeling McClatchy.
From the Post-Gazette:
Ed Creech: "Andrew possesses a good combination of athleticism, speed and makeup. Obviously, he has a big league bat."
Dave Littlefield: "An impressive bat and excellent speed."
McCutchen batted .709 this spring. Eight doubles, three triples, 16 home runs and 42 RBI. Ranked by Baseball America as the third-best, five-tool talent among high school players. BA also ranked him as the second-best pure hitter, second-fastest baserunner, fifth-best defensive player and the second-closest player to the major leagues among high school players. McCutchen also played football and ran track in high school.
Q: How soon can he replace Tike Redman on the roster and in the lineup?
A: Not soon enough.
Drafting: Making Your Own Luck
Bob Smizik has written an analysis of the Pirates' success, or lack of, in the amateur draft. He starts from 1991, using that year as our most recent high-water-mark. The article makes some interesting comments and is generally reasonable in its viewpoint, up until the last two sentences, with which I take much issue:
Where does does it say that the 'luck' you have in scouting varies directly with the amount of money you spend on it? That's a crock, and Smizik blows his whole piece with this statement. First of all, the use of the word luck is very misleading. Yes there's some amount of risk involved with drafting young players, what with pitchers that hurt their arms in rookie ball, or college sluggers who forget how to hit changeups, or whatever. But just like the weather during a ballgame, that sort of luck is the same for all 30 teams. It evens out over time, and becomes disregardable. What matters far more than 'luck' is the competence of the scouting director and those working for him, and of the general manager who is ultimately responsible for personnel decisions. It's the plan that matters most - who you pick in the first place, not how lucky they are after you pick 'em. The Pirates have the ability to hire scouting personnel every bit as good as the Yankees', so there's no small-market handicap to use as a crutch here. 'Small market' teams need the best scouting departments money can buy, and should put more of their revenue into scouting, because it's the only way they're going to obtain talent if they can't or won't pay for it on the free-agent market. Steinbrenner doesn't need a farm system - he can bypass Smizik's 'luck' by picking ripe, expensive players off the gourmet-market shelf, instead of bothering to grow his own and having to worry about droughts and aphids and blossom end rot while the fruit matures. But Dave Littlefield needs the best damn farm system he can possibly assemble. And by that I mean the people who aren't the players, as well as the ones who are. So his comment that he's 'in the top third' of MLB teams in scouting expenditures doesn't say nearly as much as he wants us to think it does. For one thing, is he talking proportionally based on revenue, or in total dollars? But even that's skirting the issue. The real question is, what is he getting for the money he's spending?
Signing bonuses get all the press where scouting costs are discussed, but the bonuses paid to draftees (even occasional Boras-client draftees) are not where a team makes or breaks its annual budget. The money spent on draft-pick signings is a very small portion of even a low-income team's expenditures. Smart money is what a team spends to hire and keep the people who are experts at evaluating the talent, so that very few of those signing bonuses, whether big or small, are wasted. The time and effort expended on players who don't have the talent to contribute to the team's long-term goals is worth far more than the pittances saved by picking Bryan Bullingtons over BJ Uptons. Upton's signing bonus with Tampa Bay was $4.6 million, while Bullington's with the Pirates was ... $4.0 million. I was going to quote the old cliché "penny wise, pound foolish", but in this case it wasn't even penny wise.
Looking at Pirate scouting over recent years, one must consider the personnel changes in the front office which took place in 2001. Dave Littlefield replaced Cam Bonifay as the Pirates' GM in July 2001. After the 2001 season ended, Littlefield replaced Bonifay's scouting director Mickey White with Ed Creech, who had been in LA working for the Dodgers' GM Kevin Malone, and had previously worked with Littlefield in Montreal. White's departure was made at least partially at his own request, but Littlefield should have jumped through hoops of fire and whatever else necessary to keep him onboard and happy. White was highly experienced, highly skilled, and highly respected. Creech has been a big step backwards as a talent evaluator, at a time when the importance of this position to the organization could not be any higher. Here's one review of his abilities at the Baseball Analysts' website - it's not complimentary. Scroll about halfway down the page to find him, and make sure to read the comments about the other guys too, for comparison.
The team has lists of its drafted players from 2000 through 2004 on its website. Based on my less-than-obsessive following of who's who in the minors, here are names from each of these years that catch my eye. Generally (except for 2004) this means they've at least done well at AA, if not farther up. The players are listed in order of selection (the website's lists don't indicate round numbers for the picks).
White/Bonifay drafts:
2000: Sean Burnett, Brandon Chaves, Mike Connolly, Jose Bautista, Nate McLouth, Ian Snell
2001: John VanBenschoten, Jeff Keppinger, Chris Duffy, Zach Duke, Chris Shelton, Rajai Davis
Creech/Littlefield drafts:
2002: Bryan Bullington, Taber Lee, Brad Eldred
2003: Paul Maholm, Tom Gorzelanny, Craig Stansberry
2004: Neil Walker (none of the other names has reached my radar yet)
Sure this is subjective, but go look at those lists and see if I've left out anyone who matters. I don't think so. I could just as easily have omitted Lee and Stansberry from Creech's lists. I'll take a pass for the '04 draft, as it's just too early to tell with those guys yet, although my not having even heard of any of them but Walker doesn't strike me as a good sign. What stands out here isn't just that White's lists have more good players on them to begin with, but that some of our best current prospects were low picks! Either White and his scouts got really lucky (there's that word again), or else they knew what to look for even that far down in the draft. As my title says, I believe that you tend to make your own luck, by your own abilities and a lot of hard work.
And these lists are just the players we actually did choose in the draft, which is only one part of the larger issue of talent evaluation and acquisition. It doesn't indicate any of the players that we could have taken but didn't. I've already mentioned Upton, he's just the most glaring example. And Littlefield has already let go of two of White's draftees listed above: Keppinger and Shelton, via a poor trade in Keppinger's case, and a poor Rule V exposure in Shelton's. (Remember the laughter coming through the phone lines in the 2003 Rule V, when 5 of the first 6 selections were Pirates?) Nor do these draft lists indicate non-drafted acquisitions like Latin American or Asian players. We've got almost no presence in these countries, or at least none that's producing any results that I've noticed. Japan? Korea? I've been watching Pirate AA ball since 1999 when the Curve came to Altoona, and I can't think of one Asian player who has come through here in that time. Latin America? You can count Jose Castillo (from Venezuela), who was signed by scout Jose Luna in 1999. Okay, there's one, although yet again he's talent acquired during Mickey White's tenure, not Creech's. But let's use another Latin American country as an example of what more could be done: with our team's history, Pittsburgh should own Puerto Rico where scouting is concerned. Clemente is still worshipped like a baseball deity, and with any effort at all, we'd have a pipeline of kids coming north to play on Roberto's team. Instead, we can't even draw 9000 people to watch us play there. What a missed opportunity.
But for good or ill, Littlefield and Creech have the 11th pick today. I haven't read up on who they are aiming for, or whether they're likely to get him, so it will be a surprise to me. The draft program begins at 12:30pm eastern. There's supposed to be a video stream at mlb.com, but since this is all done via a big conference-call between the GMs, I don't know what they're planning on showing. It's not like the NFL, with a 15-minute clock between picks, players on podiums getting hats and jerseys, and Mel Kiper's coiffure gleaming in front of the TV cameras. The baseball guys will get about 20 rounds done today over the telephone, and the remainder (for a total of 50 rounds) tomorrow. The only thing that saves it from being completely boring is that it's fast.
Littlefield said the Pirates rank in the top third in spending on scouting in baseball, which means the team's luck should be turning. It's way overdue to do so.
Where does does it say that the 'luck' you have in scouting varies directly with the amount of money you spend on it? That's a crock, and Smizik blows his whole piece with this statement. First of all, the use of the word luck is very misleading. Yes there's some amount of risk involved with drafting young players, what with pitchers that hurt their arms in rookie ball, or college sluggers who forget how to hit changeups, or whatever. But just like the weather during a ballgame, that sort of luck is the same for all 30 teams. It evens out over time, and becomes disregardable. What matters far more than 'luck' is the competence of the scouting director and those working for him, and of the general manager who is ultimately responsible for personnel decisions. It's the plan that matters most - who you pick in the first place, not how lucky they are after you pick 'em. The Pirates have the ability to hire scouting personnel every bit as good as the Yankees', so there's no small-market handicap to use as a crutch here. 'Small market' teams need the best scouting departments money can buy, and should put more of their revenue into scouting, because it's the only way they're going to obtain talent if they can't or won't pay for it on the free-agent market. Steinbrenner doesn't need a farm system - he can bypass Smizik's 'luck' by picking ripe, expensive players off the gourmet-market shelf, instead of bothering to grow his own and having to worry about droughts and aphids and blossom end rot while the fruit matures. But Dave Littlefield needs the best damn farm system he can possibly assemble. And by that I mean the people who aren't the players, as well as the ones who are. So his comment that he's 'in the top third' of MLB teams in scouting expenditures doesn't say nearly as much as he wants us to think it does. For one thing, is he talking proportionally based on revenue, or in total dollars? But even that's skirting the issue. The real question is, what is he getting for the money he's spending?
Signing bonuses get all the press where scouting costs are discussed, but the bonuses paid to draftees (even occasional Boras-client draftees) are not where a team makes or breaks its annual budget. The money spent on draft-pick signings is a very small portion of even a low-income team's expenditures. Smart money is what a team spends to hire and keep the people who are experts at evaluating the talent, so that very few of those signing bonuses, whether big or small, are wasted. The time and effort expended on players who don't have the talent to contribute to the team's long-term goals is worth far more than the pittances saved by picking Bryan Bullingtons over BJ Uptons. Upton's signing bonus with Tampa Bay was $4.6 million, while Bullington's with the Pirates was ... $4.0 million. I was going to quote the old cliché "penny wise, pound foolish", but in this case it wasn't even penny wise.
Looking at Pirate scouting over recent years, one must consider the personnel changes in the front office which took place in 2001. Dave Littlefield replaced Cam Bonifay as the Pirates' GM in July 2001. After the 2001 season ended, Littlefield replaced Bonifay's scouting director Mickey White with Ed Creech, who had been in LA working for the Dodgers' GM Kevin Malone, and had previously worked with Littlefield in Montreal. White's departure was made at least partially at his own request, but Littlefield should have jumped through hoops of fire and whatever else necessary to keep him onboard and happy. White was highly experienced, highly skilled, and highly respected. Creech has been a big step backwards as a talent evaluator, at a time when the importance of this position to the organization could not be any higher. Here's one review of his abilities at the Baseball Analysts' website - it's not complimentary. Scroll about halfway down the page to find him, and make sure to read the comments about the other guys too, for comparison.
The team has lists of its drafted players from 2000 through 2004 on its website. Based on my less-than-obsessive following of who's who in the minors, here are names from each of these years that catch my eye. Generally (except for 2004) this means they've at least done well at AA, if not farther up. The players are listed in order of selection (the website's lists don't indicate round numbers for the picks).
White/Bonifay drafts:
2000: Sean Burnett, Brandon Chaves, Mike Connolly, Jose Bautista, Nate McLouth, Ian Snell
2001: John VanBenschoten, Jeff Keppinger, Chris Duffy, Zach Duke, Chris Shelton, Rajai Davis
Creech/Littlefield drafts:
2002: Bryan Bullington, Taber Lee, Brad Eldred
2003: Paul Maholm, Tom Gorzelanny, Craig Stansberry
2004: Neil Walker (none of the other names has reached my radar yet)
Sure this is subjective, but go look at those lists and see if I've left out anyone who matters. I don't think so. I could just as easily have omitted Lee and Stansberry from Creech's lists. I'll take a pass for the '04 draft, as it's just too early to tell with those guys yet, although my not having even heard of any of them but Walker doesn't strike me as a good sign. What stands out here isn't just that White's lists have more good players on them to begin with, but that some of our best current prospects were low picks! Either White and his scouts got really lucky (there's that word again), or else they knew what to look for even that far down in the draft. As my title says, I believe that you tend to make your own luck, by your own abilities and a lot of hard work.
And these lists are just the players we actually did choose in the draft, which is only one part of the larger issue of talent evaluation and acquisition. It doesn't indicate any of the players that we could have taken but didn't. I've already mentioned Upton, he's just the most glaring example. And Littlefield has already let go of two of White's draftees listed above: Keppinger and Shelton, via a poor trade in Keppinger's case, and a poor Rule V exposure in Shelton's. (Remember the laughter coming through the phone lines in the 2003 Rule V, when 5 of the first 6 selections were Pirates?) Nor do these draft lists indicate non-drafted acquisitions like Latin American or Asian players. We've got almost no presence in these countries, or at least none that's producing any results that I've noticed. Japan? Korea? I've been watching Pirate AA ball since 1999 when the Curve came to Altoona, and I can't think of one Asian player who has come through here in that time. Latin America? You can count Jose Castillo (from Venezuela), who was signed by scout Jose Luna in 1999. Okay, there's one, although yet again he's talent acquired during Mickey White's tenure, not Creech's. But let's use another Latin American country as an example of what more could be done: with our team's history, Pittsburgh should own Puerto Rico where scouting is concerned. Clemente is still worshipped like a baseball deity, and with any effort at all, we'd have a pipeline of kids coming north to play on Roberto's team. Instead, we can't even draw 9000 people to watch us play there. What a missed opportunity.
But for good or ill, Littlefield and Creech have the 11th pick today. I haven't read up on who they are aiming for, or whether they're likely to get him, so it will be a surprise to me. The draft program begins at 12:30pm eastern. There's supposed to be a video stream at mlb.com, but since this is all done via a big conference-call between the GMs, I don't know what they're planning on showing. It's not like the NFL, with a 15-minute clock between picks, players on podiums getting hats and jerseys, and Mel Kiper's coiffure gleaming in front of the TV cameras. The baseball guys will get about 20 rounds done today over the telephone, and the remainder (for a total of 50 rounds) tomorrow. The only thing that saves it from being completely boring is that it's fast.
Monday, June 06, 2005
Thank Heavens For The Alt-Channel Button
I've got a migraine from the channel-flipping, and the irony doesn't escape me that I wait all winter for any baseball at all, then on nights like tonight I have two important games to watch simultaneously. And more ironic still that they are both on television to be watched, especially since one was a college game.
The lightning delayed the Georgia Tech-SC game until right when the Pirates-Os were starting. The Pirates finished first. 4-3 loss in that one, and I really don't have anything useful to say about it since I admit that most of my attention was on the Tech game. Pirates and Os play again the next two nights, while Tech goes home if they don't win this one. Well, home being a figure of speech, since they were playing on their own field.
But Tech won, 5-0. Happy happy, it was a great game. Matt Wieters, the ACC ROY freshman phenom I posted about earlier, started the game playing first base. Went 2 for 5 with a two-run homer, made a couple of fine defensive plays. Then came in and pitched the 8th and 9th innings, since he's also the team's closer. Smoked 'em like nova lox. Four Ks in two innings, three of them swinging, and he wasn't behind in the count on any of the four. There were no gun numbers but the batters weren't even close to catching up with the heat. (Wieters has four good pitches.) I sure hope this kid stays in school for the next three years. He just turned 19 on May 21. And for those of you whose minds weren't sufficiently boggled the first time, let me remind you - he's also a switch-hitting catcher.
So we'll be playing Tennessee in the second round next weekend, which will be a best-of-three series. The location will be announced tomorrow morning (right before the MLB draft begins), although I think I heard one of the announcers the other day say that GT (presuming they won) would have the home field for the next round too. I'll confirm that tomorrow. Winner of the GT-UT series goes to Omaha for the CWS.
And the sushi was delicious.
The lightning delayed the Georgia Tech-SC game until right when the Pirates-Os were starting. The Pirates finished first. 4-3 loss in that one, and I really don't have anything useful to say about it since I admit that most of my attention was on the Tech game. Pirates and Os play again the next two nights, while Tech goes home if they don't win this one. Well, home being a figure of speech, since they were playing on their own field.
But Tech won, 5-0. Happy happy, it was a great game. Matt Wieters, the ACC ROY freshman phenom I posted about earlier, started the game playing first base. Went 2 for 5 with a two-run homer, made a couple of fine defensive plays. Then came in and pitched the 8th and 9th innings, since he's also the team's closer. Smoked 'em like nova lox. Four Ks in two innings, three of them swinging, and he wasn't behind in the count on any of the four. There were no gun numbers but the batters weren't even close to catching up with the heat. (Wieters has four good pitches.) I sure hope this kid stays in school for the next three years. He just turned 19 on May 21. And for those of you whose minds weren't sufficiently boggled the first time, let me remind you - he's also a switch-hitting catcher.
So we'll be playing Tennessee in the second round next weekend, which will be a best-of-three series. The location will be announced tomorrow morning (right before the MLB draft begins), although I think I heard one of the announcers the other day say that GT (presuming they won) would have the home field for the next round too. I'll confirm that tomorrow. Winner of the GT-UT series goes to Omaha for the CWS.
And the sushi was delicious.
Rainy Night In Georgia
Arrrrrgh, the GT-SC game is not starting on time, due to threatening clouds and lightning in Atlanta, although not much actual rain (I just like using song titles for my posts, and giving a Ray Charles nod to Rowdy whenever I can). ESPNU is running some thing about chess-playing inmates in a New Jersey prison, as a delay-filler. Chess is fine, but it ain't baseball.
They haven't said when the game will commence. I'm also waiting for DogBoy to bring me home some sushi for dinner. Anticipation, anticipation.
They haven't said when the game will commence. I'm also waiting for DogBoy to bring me home some sushi for dinner. Anticipation, anticipation.
Break Out Your Sister Sledge 8-Tracks
Interleague play comes to Pittsburgh. The Orioles and the Pirates match up tonight for the first time since October 17 1979, a memorable little game played at Memorial Stadium.
On the one hand, we've been playing well and the Os are playing with a nestful of injuries and no DH, so it's possible to be optimistic and think we can take this series and keep our momentum rolling right through the succeeding Tampa Bay home games and on into Yankee Stadium and Fenway. (Don't get me started on that.)
On the other hand, we've sucked so incredibly hugely at these accursed spawn-of-SatanSelig interleague games since the day they began, that if we continue that trend instead, we're going to see the lifeblood of our season start to hemorrhage right here in the next two weeks. Our historical total since interleague play began in 1997 is 44-65, for a .404 percentage. Only one team in either league has fared more poorly than us, a tiny one-tenth of a percent worse at .403. Care to guess who? The Baltimore Orioles.
Sidney Ponson goes for the Os, 6-3, 5.11, against Josh Fogg, 4-3, 4.12. 7:05pm, radio and FSNP. I'll be flipping channels back and forth with ESPNU, because my Jackets play at 6pm in a must-winner. (See previous post.)
On the one hand, we've been playing well and the Os are playing with a nestful of injuries and no DH, so it's possible to be optimistic and think we can take this series and keep our momentum rolling right through the succeeding Tampa Bay home games and on into Yankee Stadium and Fenway. (Don't get me started on that.)
On the other hand, we've sucked so incredibly hugely at these accursed spawn-of-
Sidney Ponson goes for the Os, 6-3, 5.11, against Josh Fogg, 4-3, 4.12. 7:05pm, radio and FSNP. I'll be flipping channels back and forth with ESPNU, because my Jackets play at 6pm in a must-winner. (See previous post.)
Sunday, June 05, 2005
Bucs And Bees Updates
Bees: South Carolina beat Michigan in the early elimination game today, including a 3.5-hour rain delay in between the 8th and 9th innings. Michigan goes home. Then an hour later, SC, having won the first game, had to come right back and play Georgia Tech. If Tech wins, it's over, if SC wins, they play again tomorrow night.
They play again tomorrow night. SC won, 8-3, bummer. Bad job by GT's starter (the #3 guy), who only lasted 2.1 innings, and some sloppy defensive play gave SC an early lead which they never relinquished.
So it turns out that our entire first round ends up being a best-of-three between the Gamecocks and the Yellow Jackets. Tech beat SC on Saturday (10-2), SC beat Tech on Sunday (8-3), and the rubber game of the match will take place at 6pm Monday at Russ Chandler Stadium, televised on ESPNU. The announcers said that since Tech was the home team for today's game (via a coin flip), that SC will be the home team tomorrow. The fact that the games have been played on Tech's field is irrelevant. I've been out of school long enough that I don't get homesick for the place, but seeing all the campus shots and thinking how fun it would be to be down there this weekend watching these games, has given me a few pangs.
Here's a bracket for the whole tournament. It doesn't have any results filled in, so you'll have to go here to get the winners and pencil them in.
Bucs: Closer to home, Ollie and the Bucs did a nice job on that other Atlanta team this afternoon, beating the Braves 5-2, to take their second consecutive series. Lotsa places have writeups. Doumit grounded out in the 8th as a pinch-hitter, in his first big-league at-bat.
But here's the best result from the day's efforts:
They play again tomorrow night. SC won, 8-3, bummer. Bad job by GT's starter (the #3 guy), who only lasted 2.1 innings, and some sloppy defensive play gave SC an early lead which they never relinquished.
So it turns out that our entire first round ends up being a best-of-three between the Gamecocks and the Yellow Jackets. Tech beat SC on Saturday (10-2), SC beat Tech on Sunday (8-3), and the rubber game of the match will take place at 6pm Monday at Russ Chandler Stadium, televised on ESPNU. The announcers said that since Tech was the home team for today's game (via a coin flip), that SC will be the home team tomorrow. The fact that the games have been played on Tech's field is irrelevant. I've been out of school long enough that I don't get homesick for the place, but seeing all the campus shots and thinking how fun it would be to be down there this weekend watching these games, has given me a few pangs.
Here's a bracket for the whole tournament. It doesn't have any results filled in, so you'll have to go here to get the winners and pencil them in.
Bucs: Closer to home, Ollie and the Bucs did a nice job on that other Atlanta team this afternoon, beating the Braves 5-2, to take their second consecutive series. Lotsa places have writeups. Doumit grounded out in the 8th as a pinch-hitter, in his first big-league at-bat.
But here's the best result from the day's efforts:
W L PCT GBThird place all to ourselves. Let's get some more distance between us and the folks behind us, eh? I could deal with a fight for 2nd place, to keep me occupied until it's far enough along to pay attention to wild-card standings. That will be no more than a pipe dream, but what the heck.
STL 36 20 .643 -
CHI 30 25 .545 5.5
PGH 26 29 .473 9.5
MIL 26 30 .464 10.0
HOU 21 34 .382 14.5
CIN 21 35 .375 15.0
Thoughts On Doumit's Callup
I was tipsy from celebratory champagne last night after Wiggy was sent down, so perhaps it's the hangover from the bubbly that causes me some confusion when I consider what we're going to do with Doumit now that he's here. Let's take this by position, based on DL's and Lloyd's comments from last night (see my previous post) about where he'll get playing time.
Catching: If Doumit stays up, I would guess that DRoss has his head in the crosshairs, as much as I hate to think that. Lloyd never has been a three-catcher manager, unless this is just a short-term promotion and we keep three till Doumit goes back to Indy. Ross didn't help himself by chucking that third strike into the outfield last night, after it got past him at the plate and caromed off of the limestone. When your batting stats are .209/.283/.407 (AVG/OBP/SLG), you don't want to call attention to yourself by poor defensive play.
Outfield: Between the Pirates' current collection of outfielders and our minor-league guys (McLouth, Duffy, Ray Sadler even), we have outfielders coming out our ears, and enough poor ones (TRedman, Lawton) that another poor one (poor from inexperience at least) is going to set us back out there. Unless Doumit already plays RF better than Lawton. This could theoretically be possible since Lawton ain't such a high bar to jump over, but I have no facts on this. I wouldn't THINK so, just due to Ryan's lack of time spent in the outfield. I'm not even sure which OF positions he's been playing. Ryan never played any outfield during the time he was in Altoona. (Hell, he hardly played any catcher either, he was hurt most time except for the end of last season.) Now that we have JBay sticking to left, and Mack playing center most of the time, I'm guessing that Ryan would have to go to right. It all smells iffy and risky to me though. The outfield at PNC is nowhere to stick a greenhorn. Remember when we tried this with Kendall? It wasn't pretty.
DH: If Doumit's just here to bat in interleague games, without time behind the plate, then I am even more confused than can be blamed on champagne. Why wouldn't they bring up Eldred to play first, and let Ward DH? Or vice versa? Okay, let's look at that. Offensive comparison of what I would consider to be our primary DH candidates, or who would be if they weren't hitting so poorly. It's not like we have a ton of these guys in our system. Sorry for the small type, but I wanted to make sure it fits on one line. You may need to bump your font size down a notch further if it's running over to the right too far.
So presuming he doesn't get flummoxed by MLB pitching, you can definitely make a case for Doumit as a DH, particularly since he's a switch-hitter. But is that the best use for him? That's another question entirely. If Doumit gets to play like Duffy got to play (that is, hardly at all), it's not going to do him a lot of good, offensively or defensively. We could be getting to the point where the good AAA guys don't WANT to get called up, because they know that riding the pine in Pittsburgh is going to throw off all their timing and stats. Well, no, I guess most of these kids would rather come up anyway, even under those circumstances - at least for a while. But it doesn't seem to be an intelligent way to use your prospects.
Catching: If Doumit stays up, I would guess that DRoss has his head in the crosshairs, as much as I hate to think that. Lloyd never has been a three-catcher manager, unless this is just a short-term promotion and we keep three till Doumit goes back to Indy. Ross didn't help himself by chucking that third strike into the outfield last night, after it got past him at the plate and caromed off of the limestone. When your batting stats are .209/.283/.407 (AVG/OBP/SLG), you don't want to call attention to yourself by poor defensive play.
Outfield: Between the Pirates' current collection of outfielders and our minor-league guys (McLouth, Duffy, Ray Sadler even), we have outfielders coming out our ears, and enough poor ones (TRedman, Lawton) that another poor one (poor from inexperience at least) is going to set us back out there. Unless Doumit already plays RF better than Lawton. This could theoretically be possible since Lawton ain't such a high bar to jump over, but I have no facts on this. I wouldn't THINK so, just due to Ryan's lack of time spent in the outfield. I'm not even sure which OF positions he's been playing. Ryan never played any outfield during the time he was in Altoona. (Hell, he hardly played any catcher either, he was hurt most time except for the end of last season.) Now that we have JBay sticking to left, and Mack playing center most of the time, I'm guessing that Ryan would have to go to right. It all smells iffy and risky to me though. The outfield at PNC is nowhere to stick a greenhorn. Remember when we tried this with Kendall? It wasn't pretty.
DH: If Doumit's just here to bat in interleague games, without time behind the plate, then I am even more confused than can be blamed on champagne. Why wouldn't they bring up Eldred to play first, and let Ward DH? Or vice versa? Okay, let's look at that. Offensive comparison of what I would consider to be our primary DH candidates, or who would be if they weren't hitting so poorly. It's not like we have a ton of these guys in our system. Sorry for the small type, but I wanted to make sure it fits on one line. You may need to bump your font size down a notch further if it's running over to the right too far.
G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI TB BB SO SB CS OBP SLG AVG
Ward (MLB):
47 159 27 43 9 1 10 27 84 18 22 0 0 .341 .528 .270
Doumit (AAA):
50 165 41 57 11 0 12 35 104 16 36 1 3 .415 .630 .345
Eldred (AAA):
28 104 13 26 6 1 4 17 46 4 33 3 0 .295 .442 .250
Koonce (AAA):
46 156 25 37 5 1 4 16 56 20 20 9 5 .333 .373 .247So presuming he doesn't get flummoxed by MLB pitching, you can definitely make a case for Doumit as a DH, particularly since he's a switch-hitter. But is that the best use for him? That's another question entirely. If Doumit gets to play like Duffy got to play (that is, hardly at all), it's not going to do him a lot of good, offensively or defensively. We could be getting to the point where the good AAA guys don't WANT to get called up, because they know that riding the pine in Pittsburgh is going to throw off all their timing and stats. Well, no, I guess most of these kids would rather come up anyway, even under those circumstances - at least for a while. But it doesn't seem to be an intelligent way to use your prospects.
Saturday, June 04, 2005
Wiggy Down, Doumit Up!
Breaking news right after the game! I'm still holding on for details, as I missed the quick blurb on TV because I was listening to the end of the Curve game on the netfeed. Apparently McClendon revealed this in his postgame TV interview. Dogboy told me to turn FSNP back on, so stay tuned, I'll amend this post as soon as I get more information, and confirm what he told me in the first place.
...the update... Wiggy to AAA Indy, Doumit called up - yup DogBoy had it right. Wow. Doumit's stats to date: .344 BA, 12 HR, 35 RBI. That's in 49 games, not counting tonight. Now I'm paraphrasing but this is the gist of the comments, typed right off the TV: DL says "He'll get some time in behind the plate, he'll take a look at him in the outfield, plus we have some games coming up where we'll be playing with the DH." "We want Wigginton to get regular playing time, to get back to his former level of performance." Lloyd - "Doumit will catch, will play some OF perhaps, and will get a chance to DH. We still have hopes for Ty, but sitting on the bench here isn't going to get it done." Lloyd doesn't expect Doumit will play tomorrow. Ty sounded a little choked up, just said he had to go down and play hard and earn his way back.
Well no shit, Ty.
How about that. Leeeny is happy. Wigginton hasn't done a single thing since coming here to earn a spot on our roster. Let him play at AAA while we see if he can be packaged in a trade, or decide to eat his salary and cut him. DL said he did have options left.
My next question is, are we really going to run with three catchers? That's not like Lloyd, so I wonder what will happen there. I hope my boy D. Ross isn't in the crosshairs.
Final Curve game score - Altoona 10, Reading 8. They made it closer than it shoulda been.
...the update... Wiggy to AAA Indy, Doumit called up - yup DogBoy had it right. Wow. Doumit's stats to date: .344 BA, 12 HR, 35 RBI. That's in 49 games, not counting tonight. Now I'm paraphrasing but this is the gist of the comments, typed right off the TV: DL says "He'll get some time in behind the plate, he'll take a look at him in the outfield, plus we have some games coming up where we'll be playing with the DH." "We want Wigginton to get regular playing time, to get back to his former level of performance." Lloyd - "Doumit will catch, will play some OF perhaps, and will get a chance to DH. We still have hopes for Ty, but sitting on the bench here isn't going to get it done." Lloyd doesn't expect Doumit will play tomorrow. Ty sounded a little choked up, just said he had to go down and play hard and earn his way back.
Well no shit, Ty.
How about that. Leeeny is happy. Wigginton hasn't done a single thing since coming here to earn a spot on our roster. Let him play at AAA while we see if he can be packaged in a trade, or decide to eat his salary and cut him. DL said he did have options left.
My next question is, are we really going to run with three catchers? That's not like Lloyd, so I wonder what will happen there. I hope my boy D. Ross isn't in the crosshairs.
Final Curve game score - Altoona 10, Reading 8. They made it closer than it shoulda been.
Saturday Night Lethargy
My lethargy, not the team's. Just a little movie wit. Random stuff tonight, some Pirates, some Curve. I suppose depending on your point of view, after the final Pirate score tonight, one could make a case for lethargy on the ballteam too, although I don't see pitcher's duels that way. As I note in the fourth bullet-paragraph below.
• I would like to see this lineup playing every day. It ain't perfect, but I don't see how we can do any better with our current roster. We sure as hell can do a lot worse (c.f. all of the other lineups McClendon has trotted out this year). I normally like Jack in the #2-spot, but with Freddy in the lineup, and especially with Jack's season at the plate so far, he's better off at #8.
Lawton, RF
Sanchez, 3B
Bay, LF
Mackowiak, CF
Ward, 1B
Castillo, 2B
Ross, C
J Wilson, SS
(pitcher)
When Craiggers comes back, Lawton rides pine. Pat Lackey at WHYGAVS (sorry, it's too long to type) expresses the opinion that he can maintain hope and enthusiasm for the team with a lineup like this one, now, as opposed to having to watch future-less mediocrities like Wigginton and Restovich and (Tike) Redman without any hope, while being told that they're just placeholders for minor-leaguers like Eldred, Duffy, McLouth, Doumit. It's a good point.
• Paul Steigerwald talked to Greg and Bob on the TV side in the middle of tonight's game. He's doing the announcing for the Altoona Curve this year, after Rob Egan resigned the position. But the Curve were playing in Reading even as Steigy was talking in the booth, so I don't know what was up with that. I had the Curve audio feed running, and Jason Dambach was doing the game. Maybe Steigerwald had a graduation to go to or something.
• Rumors+Dreams Department: Shawn Weaver posts at his Reds blog that Joe Randa says he thinks he's about to be traded. I'm not sure from Shawn's tone whether he's hoping for this to happen or not. Joe's batting .289 over 180 ABs. I say, Joe for Wiggy, straight up. If only.
• I enjoy pitching battles - we don't get to see enough of them in baseball nowadays (or maybe we never did). The people who complain about them or think they're boring don't understand the game well enough to see their intrigue and feel their suspense. Even though the Braves are a lot more fallible than they used to be, it's still not chopped liver to battle them nothing-to-nothing all the way to the 9th inning. But losing a 1-0 pitcher's duel stinks, no matter to whom. The little things, both good and bad, that any player does in a game get magnified when there's only one run scored by both teams. Easy to beat yourself up with what-ifs and if-onlys after a 1-0 loss. But Kyle Davies (the 21-year-old Atlanta pitcher, making his 4th major-league start, who 6-hit us through 7.2) looked like yet another gem from that mine that Atlanta digs its succession of sparkling pitchers up from. (Ouch, the grammar.)
• The Curve are pounding the Reading Phils, 10-3 at the 7th inning stretch. The team has 15 hits so far, and Jose Bautista has four of them himself, 4 for 5 with a homer and 4 RBIs. (Time passing -- now 10-5 after 7 full.) Reading doesn't have much of a team, they're floundering at the bottom of the standings, with the 2nd-worst record in the Eastern League.
• Altoona's pitching staff (specifically Paul Maholm, Tom Gorzelanny, and Matt Peterson), and the resulting inference of pitching depth in our system below AAA, has just been profiled at the Minor League Baseball site (www.milb.com). That whole site has been Borgishly assimilated by mlb.com, but at least it's there to get information from, without having to poke each team's website individually. And they have a page that lists links to all the games that have streaming audio or (rarely) video feeds, which is nice.
• I would like to see this lineup playing every day. It ain't perfect, but I don't see how we can do any better with our current roster. We sure as hell can do a lot worse (c.f. all of the other lineups McClendon has trotted out this year). I normally like Jack in the #2-spot, but with Freddy in the lineup, and especially with Jack's season at the plate so far, he's better off at #8.
Lawton, RF
Sanchez, 3B
Bay, LF
Mackowiak, CF
Ward, 1B
Castillo, 2B
Ross, C
J Wilson, SS
(pitcher)
When Craiggers comes back, Lawton rides pine. Pat Lackey at WHYGAVS (sorry, it's too long to type) expresses the opinion that he can maintain hope and enthusiasm for the team with a lineup like this one, now, as opposed to having to watch future-less mediocrities like Wigginton and Restovich and (Tike) Redman without any hope, while being told that they're just placeholders for minor-leaguers like Eldred, Duffy, McLouth, Doumit. It's a good point.
• Paul Steigerwald talked to Greg and Bob on the TV side in the middle of tonight's game. He's doing the announcing for the Altoona Curve this year, after Rob Egan resigned the position. But the Curve were playing in Reading even as Steigy was talking in the booth, so I don't know what was up with that. I had the Curve audio feed running, and Jason Dambach was doing the game. Maybe Steigerwald had a graduation to go to or something.
• Rumors+Dreams Department: Shawn Weaver posts at his Reds blog that Joe Randa says he thinks he's about to be traded. I'm not sure from Shawn's tone whether he's hoping for this to happen or not. Joe's batting .289 over 180 ABs. I say, Joe for Wiggy, straight up. If only.
• I enjoy pitching battles - we don't get to see enough of them in baseball nowadays (or maybe we never did). The people who complain about them or think they're boring don't understand the game well enough to see their intrigue and feel their suspense. Even though the Braves are a lot more fallible than they used to be, it's still not chopped liver to battle them nothing-to-nothing all the way to the 9th inning. But losing a 1-0 pitcher's duel stinks, no matter to whom. The little things, both good and bad, that any player does in a game get magnified when there's only one run scored by both teams. Easy to beat yourself up with what-ifs and if-onlys after a 1-0 loss. But Kyle Davies (the 21-year-old Atlanta pitcher, making his 4th major-league start, who 6-hit us through 7.2) looked like yet another gem from that mine that Atlanta digs its succession of sparkling pitchers up from. (Ouch, the grammar.)
• The Curve are pounding the Reading Phils, 10-3 at the 7th inning stretch. The team has 15 hits so far, and Jose Bautista has four of them himself, 4 for 5 with a homer and 4 RBIs. (Time passing -- now 10-5 after 7 full.) Reading doesn't have much of a team, they're floundering at the bottom of the standings, with the 2nd-worst record in the Eastern League.
• Altoona's pitching staff (specifically Paul Maholm, Tom Gorzelanny, and Matt Peterson), and the resulting inference of pitching depth in our system below AAA, has just been profiled at the Minor League Baseball site (www.milb.com). That whole site has been Borgishly assimilated by mlb.com, but at least it's there to get information from, without having to poke each team's website individually. And they have a page that lists links to all the games that have streaming audio or (rarely) video feeds, which is nice.
An Atlanta Baseball Team I Actually Root For
No not that one, this one. My alma mater, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Sting 'em, Bees! Ranked second in the nation (Tulane is #1), with a 42-16 regular season, we were the winners of the ACC regular season and the ACC tournament, and are currently hosting one of the first-round double-elimination regionals in this year's NCAA tourney. Yesterday we beat Furman 5-4 in 10 innings, and this afternoon (as I type this post) we are beating South Carolina 6-2 in the 5th. This whole regional has been broadcast on ESPNU, so I've been able to watch. Excellent. Michigan will play SC tomorrow at noon in the loser's bracket (yes I'm assuming GT will win, sue me), and the winner of that game will play GT at 4pm. Theoretically, that team could beat Tech in the second game, which would force a final game Monday night at 6pm. But I would like to think not. If you get ESPNU on your dish or digital cable, you can watch for yourself.
Tech has a beautiful new baseball field (Russ Chandler Stadium), which I drove past last March when DogBoy and I hit the campus on our way down to Bradenton. We need to get down there during the season someday, to take in a game or three. Been a long time since I saw a Tech baseball game in person. Don't ask how long.
The baseball program is a perennial power - since the current NCAA format began in 1999, the Jackets have earned a Top 8 national seed four times (2000, 2003-05). Tech is the only school in the nation to earn a Top 8 national seed each of the last three seasons. A few alumni just off the top of my head - Kevin Brown, Jason Varitek, Nomar Garciaparra, and Mark Teixeira.
Here's a name you might want to mark down for the future, though: Matt Wieters. He's a switch-hitter. He catches, he plays first, he's the closer, he's a DH. He sometimes pitches and catches in the same game. A selection of his regular season stats: 2.68 ERA, 27 K, 9 BB, .368 BA, 9 HR, 63 RBI. He gets written up by USA Today. He's the ACC Rookie Of The Year. He's a freshman.
Gotta say it though - aluminum bats suck, suck, suck. That awful sound is totally alien to a baseball game. Aluminum bats are the designated hitter of equipment.
...addendum, 6:51pm.... Final score, GT 10, SC 2. Sophomore Blake Wood gets his first collegiate CG. 6 hits, 8 Ks, 1 BB. Not too shabby.
Tech has a beautiful new baseball field (Russ Chandler Stadium), which I drove past last March when DogBoy and I hit the campus on our way down to Bradenton. We need to get down there during the season someday, to take in a game or three. Been a long time since I saw a Tech baseball game in person. Don't ask how long.
The baseball program is a perennial power - since the current NCAA format began in 1999, the Jackets have earned a Top 8 national seed four times (2000, 2003-05). Tech is the only school in the nation to earn a Top 8 national seed each of the last three seasons. A few alumni just off the top of my head - Kevin Brown, Jason Varitek, Nomar Garciaparra, and Mark Teixeira.
Here's a name you might want to mark down for the future, though: Matt Wieters. He's a switch-hitter. He catches, he plays first, he's the closer, he's a DH. He sometimes pitches and catches in the same game. A selection of his regular season stats: 2.68 ERA, 27 K, 9 BB, .368 BA, 9 HR, 63 RBI. He gets written up by USA Today. He's the ACC Rookie Of The Year. He's a freshman.
Gotta say it though - aluminum bats suck, suck, suck. That awful sound is totally alien to a baseball game. Aluminum bats are the designated hitter of equipment.
...addendum, 6:51pm.... Final score, GT 10, SC 2. Sophomore Blake Wood gets his first collegiate CG. 6 hits, 8 Ks, 1 BB. Not too shabby.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Gone Fishin'
See whether we get to wave the brooms tonight. Dontrelle Willis, 8-2, 1.67 (egads!) vs Dave Williams, 5-4, 3.50. If we can hit Willis the way we did Wednesday night against Moehler and Mota, there will be some joy in Mudville.
Due to the bad timing of real life, I'm only paying half attention to the ballgames this week, although I did get to watch Wednesday evening's, including Jack's triple and Mack's granny. That was one heckuva ballgame, a rare pleasure anymore.
I dunno about this sit-Mack-against-lefties stuff, I'm more the type who thinks that he'd shake off his platoon-guy tag if he got a chance to be in the lineup all the time and get over the hump with southpaws. But hey, what do I know. I reeeealllly wish that Lloyd would settle the lineup down to something even resembling stability. Are we starting to see that, after the strangeness of last weekend? One for righties and one for lefties if he has to, but otherwise, quit dorking around and just get the guys out on the field who belong there, and let them play.
One other thing that bothers me - we're back to 3 games below .500 (24-27), and only half a game behind 3rd place Milwaukee, but the Cards are now 9.5 games in front of us. On 5/21 we were 3 games under and 7.0 games out. It doesn't matter how well we bunch up against the rest of the division, if we're all just receding into the distance and eating St. Louis's dust as their lead continues to grow. Sure, I expect this, but that doesn't mean I have to like watching it happen. Dream on, Leeeny.
Anyway, I hope to catch at least the second half of tonight's series finale against the Marlins, and see whether we can take all four. Radio only tonight, dangit.
Due to the bad timing of real life, I'm only paying half attention to the ballgames this week, although I did get to watch Wednesday evening's, including Jack's triple and Mack's granny. That was one heckuva ballgame, a rare pleasure anymore.
I dunno about this sit-Mack-against-lefties stuff, I'm more the type who thinks that he'd shake off his platoon-guy tag if he got a chance to be in the lineup all the time and get over the hump with southpaws. But hey, what do I know. I reeeealllly wish that Lloyd would settle the lineup down to something even resembling stability. Are we starting to see that, after the strangeness of last weekend? One for righties and one for lefties if he has to, but otherwise, quit dorking around and just get the guys out on the field who belong there, and let them play.
One other thing that bothers me - we're back to 3 games below .500 (24-27), and only half a game behind 3rd place Milwaukee, but the Cards are now 9.5 games in front of us. On 5/21 we were 3 games under and 7.0 games out. It doesn't matter how well we bunch up against the rest of the division, if we're all just receding into the distance and eating St. Louis's dust as their lead continues to grow. Sure, I expect this, but that doesn't mean I have to like watching it happen. Dream on, Leeeny.
Anyway, I hope to catch at least the second half of tonight's series finale against the Marlins, and see whether we can take all four. Radio only tonight, dangit.
