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Post by fuzzywarble, squat cobbler on Mar 31, 2012 16:42:55 GMT -5
Yankee prospect Dante Bichette Jr. has hit 2 home runs today. Both were on the first pitch. Unreal. I feel REALLY old knowing that all these players who were rookies or in their early-mid twenties when I was in middle school now have sons who are Major Leaguers or prospects. Cecil Fielder, Delino DeShields, Doug Drabek, Lenny Dykstra, and now Dante Bichette.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2012 12:14:56 GMT -5
First pitch thrown at Marlins Stadium becomes a lead-off double for Jeter
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Post by Cyno on Apr 1, 2012 12:44:37 GMT -5
It's going to be interesting if Dante Jr. ever makes it up to the majors as a Yankee. Girardi and his dad are best friends.
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Post by Biggtone23 on Apr 1, 2012 12:47:05 GMT -5
Is it me or does this new marlins park look really dark. I just turned it on I dont know if its a crappy day down there or what but it looks like a nightgame at 1 in the afternoon
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Post by turkeysandwich on Apr 1, 2012 13:24:14 GMT -5
Maybe I'm a killjoy, but I hate that every new ballpark opens with an exhibition game. I wish that they would wait for opening day to play the first game there. I feel like it takes a little of the specialness of a new ballpark, when you've already seen a game played there.
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Post by Drillbit Taylor on Apr 1, 2012 14:49:16 GMT -5
Maybe I'm a killjoy, but I hate that every new ballpark opens with an exhibition game. I wish that they would wait for opening day to play the first game there. I feel like it takes a little of the specialness of a new ballpark, when you've already seen a game played there. Yea but without exhibition games the first Homer at the Astrodome would not have been Micky Mantel but Dick Allen . Now Dick Allen is good...but hes no Mantel.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2012 15:40:11 GMT -5
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Post by Cyno on Apr 1, 2012 15:46:01 GMT -5
Maybe I'm a killjoy, but I hate that every new ballpark opens with an exhibition game. I wish that they would wait for opening day to play the first game there. I feel like it takes a little of the specialness of a new ballpark, when you've already seen a game played there. I think it's mainly done for the home team's benefit. It helps them get used to the dimensions and confines of the new ballpark during a live game, but in a risk-free setting. Also helps the ballpark owners get a feel for logistics.
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BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wants him some Taco Flavored Kisses.
Posts: 17,085
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Post by BRV on Apr 2, 2012 15:23:08 GMT -5
Fat Josh Beckett and Andrew Bailey are both experiencing thumb problems. So, we're not even into the regular season and the pitching staff is already starting to be depleted by injuries. espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7764819/2012-spring-training-boston-red-sox-josh-beckett-probable-thumb-injury-bobby-valentine-saysI'm not even going to waste energy with Fat Josh Beckett's health problems, so we'll just move on. With Bailey potentially headed for the disabled list, which could be backdated so he could be activated as early as April 10, this is the perfect opportunity to put Daniel Bard back where he belongs: in the bullpen. There is a reason Bard was converted into a reliever in the minor leagues, and that reason is the following stat line: 3-7, 7.08 ERA, 78 BB in 75 IP and a 2.05 WHIP. He couldn't find the strike zone to save his life in his 22 minor league starts in 2007, so he was placed in the bullpen, where he has thrived since. Now, the grand experiment has placed Bard back into the role of a starter, and in six spring training starts, he had a 6.57 ERA with 16 walks and 21 hits in 24 IP, with a WHIP of 1.50. Of all the things I've disagreed with Bobby Valentine about this spring, from giving Mike Aviles some at-bats as the team's lead-off hitter to pushing for Jose Iglesias to start the season in the majors, he hit the nail right on the head when he said that he wanted Bard in the bullpen. It's where he belongs, it's where he thrives and it's where he works best. It's easier to convert a starter into a reliever than it vice versa. Just ask Joba Chamberlain. However, at this point, with the team's projected closer likely to go on the disabled list, now's the time to move Bard into the closer's role to start the season with Mark Melancon setting him up. I'd rather see one of their bargain basement acquisitions get one or two starts with a reliable closer to finish things off as opposed to a question mark being relied upon to close out the first ten or so games of the regular season.
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Massive G
Hank Scorpio
yo hago esto
Posts: 6,224
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Post by Massive G on Apr 2, 2012 15:58:36 GMT -5
are we going to call him Fat Josh Beckett from now on? Because that would be awesome.
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Sajoa Moe
Patti Mayonnaise
Did you get that thing I sent ya?
A man without gimmick.
Posts: 39,683
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Post by Sajoa Moe on Apr 2, 2012 16:11:14 GMT -5
How about 10-Piece Beckett?
(extra crispy)
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Post by Insomniac on Apr 2, 2012 16:31:19 GMT -5
However, at this point, with the team's projected closer likely to go on the disabled list, now's the time to move Bard into the closer's role to start the season with Mark Melancon setting him up. I'd rather see one of their bargain basement acquisitions get one or two starts with a reliable closer to finish things off as opposed to a question mark being relied upon to close out the first ten or so games of the regular season. So you want Bard, who has been stretched out as a starter all spring, so start the season in the bullpen. Then, when Bailey returns after a week, Bard would go back to the rotation where he'd stay until hitting his innings limit at some point over the summer. At which point, he'd move back to the bullpen. You basically want the Red Sox to dick around Bard like the Yankees did to Joba. Solid plan. The easiest solution is sticking Aceves in the closer role for a week. If Beckett heads to the DL and Aceves needs to start, you go with Melancon as the closer. If you bring up someone like Cook, you need to clear a spot for him on the 40-man which creates more problems. EDIT: Although with reports now coming out that Bailey might need surgery, the situation gets a little trickier. If he's not out for long, it's probably best to stay the course with Bard in the rotation and see how he fairs. But if Bailey misses an extended chunk of time (i.e. 6-8 weeks), it might be necessary to move Bard back to the bullpen and have Cook be the #5 starter. And once Bard goes to the bullpen, I don't see how he can go to the rotation again this year.
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BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wants him some Taco Flavored Kisses.
Posts: 17,085
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Post by BRV on Apr 2, 2012 17:11:49 GMT -5
So you want Bard, who has been stretched out as a starter all spring, so start the season in the bullpen. Then, when Bailey returns after a week, Bard would go back to the rotation where he'd stay until hitting his innings limit at some point over the summer. At which point, he'd move back to the bullpen. You basically want the Red Sox to dick around Bard like the Yankees did to Joba. Solid plan. No, I want Daniel Bard in the bullpen permanently. I feel as though I've been pretty clear about that since last winter. And it's not like taking someone who worked as a starter all spring and then abruptly throwing him into the closer's role is unprecedented on this team. It worked out pretty well for Jonathan Papelbon in 2006. Andrew Bailey was, and is, a health risk. I'd rather err on the side of caution with Bailey and Bard, and have Bailey be the set-up man and Bard be the closer. That way, there's less of a risk being taken in trusting Bailey to be your full-time closer and to make it through the entire season unscathed. You're also taking less of a risk with Bard, trusting him to do what he's done at a pretty successful clip since 2009, working out of the 'pen, instead of placing him into a starter's role and hoping he doesn't flame out. Overall, I think the Red Sox would be much better off with a staff consisting of Lester, Buchholz, Fat Josh Beckett, Doubront and Aceves with a bullpen built around Melancon, Bailey and Bard. Essentially, take the pitching staff they have currently built and swap Bard and Aceves' role, and, for once, I'd be as happy as a pig in s*** with this team.
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Post by Cyno on Apr 2, 2012 17:21:52 GMT -5
Fat Beckett: "HEY HEY HEY!"
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Post by Insomniac on Apr 2, 2012 19:40:05 GMT -5
Votto signs a 10/$225M extension with the Reds. He already had a couple years left on his current deal, so it works out to 12/$251.5M overall. Full no-trade and he's locked up until he turns 40. Great player, but damn that's a lot of money over a long stretch for a team that's spending $80M a year on payroll. Between this and the Cain deal, teams must really be worried about the Dodgers sale.
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BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wants him some Taco Flavored Kisses.
Posts: 17,085
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Post by BRV on Apr 2, 2012 20:30:45 GMT -5
Upon reading the news of the Matt Cain contract, Cole Hamels was seen fitting his home with a full-scale replica of Scrooge McDuck's money bin.
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Post by Cyno on Apr 2, 2012 20:50:19 GMT -5
I can't say I really blame the Giants for that massive Matt Cain deal, which I think makes him the highest paid righty pitcher ever. They wanted to completely lock him up and he's a fantastic younger pitcher entering the prime of his career. They should be a better team offensively than they were last year, especially with a healthy Buster Posey and Melky Cabrera being on the team.
Anyway, now they gotta worry about Lincecum, and then work on solidifying their offense.
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BRV
Bill S. Preston, Esq.
Wants him some Taco Flavored Kisses.
Posts: 17,085
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Post by BRV on Apr 2, 2012 20:56:35 GMT -5
The Giants are built to last. They remind me of the Oakland Athletics of the early 2000s, in that they have three outstanding starting pitchers in Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, none of whom are yet to turn 28 years old.
Provided they build a decent enough offense around their starting pitching, they are going to be a formidable team in the National League for years to come.
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Post by Rolent Tex on Apr 2, 2012 23:07:17 GMT -5
Votto signs a 10/$225M extension with the Reds. He already had a couple years left on his current deal, so it works out to 12/$251.5M overall. Full no-trade and he's locked up until he turns 40. Great player, but damn that's a lot of money over a long stretch for a team that's spending $80M a year on payroll. Between this and the Cain deal, teams must really be worried about the Dodgers sale. Dammit A-Jols, you see what you started?
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BR329
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Post by BR329 on Apr 2, 2012 23:23:37 GMT -5
The Giants are built to last. They remind me of the Oakland Athletics of the early 2000s, in that they have three outstanding starting pitchers in Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, none of whom are yet to turn 28 years old. Provided they build a decent enough offense around their starting pitching, they are going to be a formidable team in the National League for years to come. Agreed. And unlike the 2000's A's they already won something meaningful
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