Killeverything's (New)NeverEndingBaseballThread

[Machado]

Vazquez finally pitched well enough to get
his first win.

[killeverything]

Fuck yeah! Two in a row! Extra innings. Walkoff hit. Nancy Drew hit a GS.

Oh yeah here's some cool news about one of the "25".

Kevin Millar was released by the Cubs at the end of spring training after failing to beat out Chad Tracy for a bench spot and the 38-year-old veteran of a dozen seasons has apparently decided to call it quits.

Millar has joined MLB Network as a studio analyst and will make his debut next week, which makes perfect sense given his reputation as an outgoing, media-friendly player.

If he's indeed retired, Millar finishes his 12-year career as a .274/.358/.452 hitter with 170 homers in 1,427 games, which is remarkable for a guy who got his professional start in an independent league and didn't become a regular in the majors until age 27.

Dislike Millah all you want ( does anyone really? ). The dude is pretty charasmatic, and I look forward to his presence on the channel.

Cowboy up.

[JakeYonkel]

Dislike Millah all you want ( does anyone really? ). The dude is pretty charasmatic, and I look forward to his presence on the channel.

I had a buddy who met him at Marlins spring training in the mid/late 90s and said he was a major cockhole. Kinda surprising 'cause you would figure he'd be cool to fans.

[NickasInSaltLick]

ESPN just reported that the president of the Colorado Rockies was found dead in his hotel room.

This was the shits. My buddy's a bellhop at that hotel and he and one of the guy's staff found him when he didn't answer the phone.

[Machado]

Kill-
Did you see Hughes last night? I know the a's don't have the best offense in the majors, but he took a no-hitter into the 8th.

[killeverything]

Kill-
Did you see Hughes last night? I know the a's don't have the best offense in the majors, but he took a no-hitter into the 8th.

I only watched about two innings, I saw the highlights though. Hopefully he stays healthy, because the last time he took a no-no that deep in the game ( Baltimore '07 ) he injured himself.


Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan has rejoined the Cincinnati Reds as a special adviser for baseball operations.

Morgan is the latest former Reds star to work with the ballclub. Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench has been a special consultant, and Eric Davis and Mario Soto work with current players as special assistants.



Maybe this new job will take up a lot of his time. You know where he no longer has the ability to broadcast games?

[Machado]

Kill-
Did you see Hughes last night? I know the a's don't have the best offense in the majors, but he took a no-hitter into the 8th.

I only watched about two innings, I saw the highlights though. Hopefully he stays healthy, because the last time he took a no-no that deep in the game ( Baltimore '07 ) he injured himself.


Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan has rejoined the Cincinnati Reds as a special adviser for baseball operations.

Morgan is the latest former Reds star to work with the ballclub. Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench has been a special consultant, and Eric Davis and Mario Soto work with current players as special assistants.



Maybe this new job will take up a lot of his time. You know where he no longer has the ability to broadcast games?

I heard about this last night and am so happy Morgan has a new job. If he can broadcast less games for ESPN, MLB will be better off.

Kill-How did the sox beat the rangers the last two nights? Unreal.

[SkyDog112046]

Maybe this new job will take up a lot of his time. You know where he no longer has the ability to broadcast games?

You know you live for such insightful commentary as "Cutter, splitter" and "Batting average, OPB and earned run average are the most overrated stats in baseball."

[killeverything]

Kill-
Did you see Hughes last night? I know the a's don't have the best offense in the majors, but he took a no-hitter into the 8th.

I only watched about two innings, I saw the highlights though. Hopefully he stays healthy, because the last time he took a no-no that deep in the game ( Baltimore '07 ) he injured himself.


Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan has rejoined the Cincinnati Reds as a special adviser for baseball operations.

Morgan is the latest former Reds star to work with the ballclub. Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench has been a special consultant, and Eric Davis and Mario Soto work with current players as special assistants.



Maybe this new job will take up a lot of his time. You know where he no longer has the ability to broadcast games?

I heard about this last night and am so happy Morgan has a new job. If he can broadcast less games for ESPN, MLB will be better off.

Kill-How did the sox beat the rangers the last two nights? Unreal.

Because Texas is struggling more than Boston. You put two teams riding losing streaks in a game, and well one of them is gonna win.

Hopefully this turns things around, so to speak. Their losses have just been careless from what I've seen. Just stupid mental errors, etc. We'll see. They're not a bad team, they're just playing badly.

Maybe this new job will take up a lot of his time. You know where he no longer has the ability to broadcast games?

You know you live for such insightful commentary as "Cutter, splitter" and "Batting average, OPB and earned run average are the most overrated stats in baseball."

I'm just wondering where I'm gonna hear someone wax poetic about player's bat speed.

I still stand by my statement that he's the greatest 2B of all time, but the motherfucker is as dumb as they fucking come.

[Machado]

Kill-
Common knowledge Morgan is the worst broadcaster, 20 yrs running.
The problem is, Jon Miller won't tell him because he is just as bad
and nobody has the cajones large enough at ESPN to inform
Joe either.

[johnk5150]

I have to wonder if Lou okayed that move of Crazy Carlos to the pen. It will only be as good if the replacement player can attain his averages. Good luck winning 14 with a 3.52 ERA and 212 innings. Lou is fucking nuts.

[Machado]

Dismayed by Jacoby Ellsbury's lack of progress toward getting back on the field, the Red Sox sent the 26-year-old outfielder for a CT scan Thursday. The results, manager Terry Francona said, "threw everyone for a loop.''

Ellsbury
Ellsbury

The test showed that Ellsbury has hairline fractures in four of his ribs, a result of his April 11 collision with third baseman Adrian Beltre in Kansas City. Ellsbury was placed on the disabled list Tuesday, retroactive to April 12, and is eligible to come off the DL next Tuesday, when the team is in Toronto.

That would appear unlikely, although Francona said he was uncertain what impact the new diagnosis would have on his timetable.

"It will all be symptomatic,'' Francona said.

Ellsbury had twice undergone X-rays, but because there was no displacement of the ribs, the X-rays did not show the fractures. Thursday was the first time he was administered a CT scan.

Francona said that was standard protocol.

"You treat the symptoms,'' he said, "and once you're not able to play, go back and do the CT scan.''

Ellsbury had taken batting practice Tuesday to assess whether he could play, but continued to experience sharp pain and an inability to draw a deep breath. He was placed on the DL at that time, with Darnell McDonald activated to take his place.

McDonald, who hit a game-tying pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning and a game-winning single in the ninth, was starting in center field for the second straight night Thursday.

[JakeYonkel]

This is great stuff. I'm not a big A-Rod guy but Dallas Braden needs to be kicked in the teeth. From the Lohud Yankees Blog:



In a very bizarre game, perhaps the most bizarre moment came in the sixth inning when Alex Rodriguez got into a shouting match with Oakland starter Dallas Braden.

“He just told me to get off his mound,” Rodriguez said. “I was a little surprised. I’d never quite heard that. Especially from a guy that has a handful of wins in his career.”

The whole thing started when Rodriguez went from first to third on a foul ball by Robinson Cano. On his way back to first, Rodriguez ran across the pitcher’s mound, which Braden saw as a sign of disrespect.

“I don’t care if I’m Cy Young or the 25th man on the roster, if I’ve got the ball in my hand and I’m on that mound, that’s my mound,” Braden said. “… He ran across the pitcher’s mound foot on my rubber. No, not happening. We’re not the door mat anymore.”

Rodriguez said he had never heard the unwritten rule that a player shouldn’t run across the mound. When Braden started yelling at him, Rodriguez didn’t know what it was about. “I thought it was pretty funny, actually,” Rodriguez said.

Braden, though, went out of his way to call out Rodriguez. He spoke very kindly of the Yankees organization, but took great exception to Rodriguez.

“He should maybe watch his Captain a little more often,” Braden said.

[Machado]

Jake-Nice job reporting

#1-I've never heard of the rule that a player should not cross the opposing pitcher's mound. Is that an unwritten rule or is braden trying to assert his authority on the mound?

#2-braden claims the a's are no longer the doormat. i got an idea kid, you might want to say that by winning a few more games than you lose.

[JakeYonkel]

I wasn't aware of that either. But A-Rod's a whipping boy and this putz probably thinks he'll get his name in a few headlines for a) calling out Rodriguez and b) trying to stir the pot w/ the A-Rod/Jeter BS.

Look at this clown, probably thinks he's still in thug life:

[Machado]

I wasn't aware of that either. But A-Rod's a whipping boy and this putz probably thinks he'll get his name in a few headlines for a) calling out Rodriguez and b) trying to stir the pot w/ the A-Rod/Jeter BS.

Look at this clown, probably thinks he's still in thug life:

He must have pitched a good game, he did get the win.

But his comments were blatant, personal attacks at A-Rod. He could have made his point about who's mound that is in a much better way.

Of course A-Rod was laughing beacuse, who the fuck is braden??

Maybe braden should concentrate on firing up his team because they lost 2 of 3 in the series.

[JakeYonkel]

Pretty much. Know your role. The guy is what, a 2nd year player for a shitty team talking to a future Hall of a Famer. He's out of his mind.

Respect dictates that he shouldn't even say something like that to like... David Eckstein, let alone a guy with nearly 600 home runs and one of the best players of all time.

[SkyDog112046]

The Red Sox got shut out again. This offense sucks. And 2 more errors by this "upgraded defense". You are a fucking tool Theo - go back in the gorilla suit and let Lucchino make the moves.

[Machado]

Pretty much. Know your role. The guy is what, a 2nd year player for a shitty team talking to a future Hall of a Famer. He's out of his mind.

Respect dictates that he shouldn't even say something like that to like... David Eckstein, let alone a guy with nearly 600 home runs and one of the best players of all time.

because dallas plays on the a's, his post-game comments won't result in a suspension.
now if a Yankees player said that or a red sox player said what braden said after the game, you can bet there would be a fine and suspension.

dallas can say what he wants about this "alleged rule", but he took the comments a bit too far when he mentioned that if A-Rod were to do this act again, there would be "repercussions"

[Machado]

props to MLB Network for stepping up their coverage of the game

Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is coming to MLB Network this year, with select live games throughout the 2010 season and the Triple-A All-Star Game. Coverage begins on Monday, April 26 with the Gwinnett Braves (Triple-A - Atlanta Braves) at Durham Bulls (Triple-A - Tampa Bay Rays) at 11:00 a.m. ET, followed by the Burlington Bees (A – Kansas City Royals) at Quad Cities River Bandits (A – St. Louis Cardinals) on Monday, May 3 at 12:00 p.m. ET.

MLB Network’s Mitch Williams and Philadelphia Phillies announcer Tom McCarthy will be in the broadcast booth for the Triple-A All-Star Game on Wednesday, July 14 at 7:00 p.m. ET live from Allentown, Pa., home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, the Philadelphia Phillies Triple-A affiliate. Williams, an 11-year MLB veteran, was a relief pitcher for the Phillies from 1991-1993. McCarthy, who called radio play-by-play for the Phillies from 2001-2005, is currently the Phillies television play-by-play announcer.

MLB Network’s MiLB schedule also includes the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees (Triple-A – New York Yankees) at Indianapolis Indians (Triple-A – Pittsburgh Pirates) on May 19 at 11:00 a.m. ET, timed with Indianapolis’ “Baseball in Education” promotion, and the Norfolk Tides (Triple-A – Baltimore Orioles) at Columbus Clippers (Triple-A – Cleveland Indians) on June 15 at 12:00 p.m. ET. MLB Network will air additional weekday afternoon games throughout the summer and each game will be a simulcast of local telecasts, including local announcers.

"We want to provide viewers with as many live baseball games as possible, and Minor League Baseball on MLB Network will give fans the chance to watch MLB's future standout players," said Tony Petitti, President and Chief Executive Officer of MLB Network.

"Minor League Baseball is pleased to expand its relationship with MLB Network by adding one of our marquee events in the Triple-A All-Star Game, as well as additional regular season games from our various leagues,” said Pat O’Conner, Minor League Baseball President.

The MiLB schedule is in addition to MLB Network’s carriage of live MLB games during the regular season, including MLB Matinee, a series of weekday afternoon games, Thursday Night Baseball and Saturday Night Baseball. Thursday Night Baseball games will be produced by MLB Network and feature MLB Network on-air talent calling the games. All other games will be carriage of local telecasts, including local announcers.

[tin00can]

because dallas plays on the a's, his post-game comments won't result in a suspension.
now if a Yankees player said that or a red sox player said what braden said after the game, you can bet there would be a fine and suspension.

Really, shut the fuck up. You're so wrong it is ridiculous. How in the world does a Yankee fan get a persecution complex?

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

because dallas plays on the a's, his post-game comments won't result in a suspension.
now if a Yankees player said that or a red sox player said what braden said after the game, you can bet there would be a fine and suspension.

Really, shut the fuck up. You're so wrong it is ridiculous. How in the world does a Yankee fan get a persecution complex?

[tin00can]

Man, that was a vicious hit Teixeira put on Wilson. It's tough for me to be fair about it, but I think he went in with his shoulder too high. It sure would be nice to see some sort of retaliation against him, but with a Scioscia team that will never happen.

[JakeYonkel]

Man, that was a vicious hit Teixeira put on Wilson. It's tough for me to be fair about it, but I think he went in with his shoulder too high. It sure would be nice to see some sort of retaliation against him, but with a Scioscia team that will never happen.

I haven't seen the clip yet, but I read about it. He was probably taking out all the aggression of being booed so badly there.

Seriously, that's one thing I don't get. Teixeira is by all accounts a good guy, yet he gets killed in LA, Baltimore, and Boston. Well, Baltimore is just pissed he wouldn't sign with their suck franchise. But otherwise, he played in LA and left, big deal - and Boston fucked their negotiations witih him. I don't get it.

[killeverything]

Man, that was a vicious hit Teixeira put on Wilson. It's tough for me to be fair about it, but I think he went in with his shoulder too high. It sure would be nice to see some sort of retaliation against him, but with a Scioscia team that will never happen.

I haven't seen the clip yet, but I read about it. He was probably taking out all the aggression of being booed so badly there.

Seriously, that's one thing I don't get. Teixeira is by all accounts a good guy, yet he gets killed in LA, Baltimore, and Boston. Well, Baltimore is just pissed he wouldn't sign with their suck franchise. But otherwise, he played in LA and left, big deal - and Boston fucked their negotiations witih him. I don't get it.

I don't think Boston neccesarily fucked their negoations with him. Theo fucked up by not having a backup plan. Boras was Boras, and even though Boston woulda went higher, Mrs. Teix wanted to live in NY over Boston. So.....

I don't get why he's booed everywhere though. He didn't screw the Mighty Red Sox. He said he was interested, but he didn't write a book about it. He'sa top of line big name player, that signed a big contract with the team that throws money at everything/one. Can't hate on the guy for that.

[killeverything]

Annnnnndddddd another great move by a greatly run organization.

Rays extend Ben Zobrist for 3+ years. Can't say that's not smart. I personally think that Crawford will stay too.

Joe Pawlikowski at fangraphs.com had this to say about it ( Zobrist, not Crawford )

We learned this morning that the Rays would announce an extension for their multi-position star, a three-year guaranteed deal. The deal will also include two team options for Zobrist’s first two years of free agency. While the exact financial details aren’t known as I write this, R.J. Anderson has the right idea: “Long-term deals in pre-arb are like 99% guaranteed to look good for the team.”

This one looks good right from the start. The Rays have hedged their own risk by turning Zobrist’s first two years of free agency into team options. If Zobrist continues to perform near the level he did in 2009 — or even his 2008 level — the Rays can get up to two more years of that production at a discounted rate. If he doesn’t live up to those standards, the Rays can let him go at little cost to the organization. The only way the Rays lose is if Zobrist’s production declines significantly over the next three years. That, however, does not appear likely.

Everything came together in 2009. Zobrist’s .408 wOBA ranked third among AL hitters, trailing just Joe Mauer and Kevin Youkilis. Even better, he did it while playing excellent defense at not only second base, but also in the outfield. It’s no wonder, then, that he led the AL in WAR at 8.3. Only Franklin Gutierrez posted a better fielding component. His flexibility adds another bonus, in that manager Joe Maddon can play the hot hand wherever he fits, moving Zobrist to any spot on the diamond. Except catcher, of course. If Zobrist could catch, well, he might solve one of the Rays’ few issues.

This year Zobrist is off to a slow start, but it sounds like just that. Once his walk rate comes back up and his strikeout rate falls back to normal levels, the rest of his game should fall into line. That could be a scary prospect for the American League. The Rays already lead the league in runs per game, 5.81, and a hot Zobrist will only make them better. Much to the joy of the Rays faithful, they’ll get to watch him for what will probably be the next five years. At some point during that span it’s possible that he and Longoria represent the best 3-4 combination in the game, while costing less than one component of the Yankees’ 3-4. That’s how a good small market club must operate. The Rays have struck again.

Well written. Gotta at the "Rays faithful" part though. All 6 of them?

[tin00can]

Man, that was a vicious hit Teixeira put on Wilson. It's tough for me to be fair about it, but I think he went in with his shoulder too high. It sure would be nice to see some sort of retaliation against him, but with a Scioscia team that will never happen.

I haven't seen the clip yet, but I read about it. He was probably taking out all the aggression of being booed so badly there.

Seriously, that's one thing I don't get. Teixeira is by all accounts a good guy, yet he gets killed in LA, Baltimore, and Boston. Well, Baltimore is just pissed he wouldn't sign with their suck franchise. But otherwise, he played in LA and left, big deal - and Boston fucked their negotiations witih him. I don't get it.

While I don't really like Tex and I think he has the worst douche-face in the game next to A-Rod, I wouldn't boo him. Dude signed with the Yankees because he wanted more money, I can understand that. Plus, it gave Morales the chance to start.

[JakeYonkel]

Oh, he has a ridiculous douche face. This April disappearing act is getting old already and it's only year 2.

He came to LA, played very well there, and moved on. The guy gets booed in Texas too, and he was traded out of there! Same deal with A-Rod. I understand A-Rod getting booed in Seattle or Boston, but in a place that he was traded from? And this was before the steroids stuff, btw.

And yeah, great move by Tampa locking up Zobrist. Good, versatile player. At the worst if he bottoms out they have a very capable utility player. I hope they can keep Crawford. I think guys will want to stay there because they know the future is bright.

[killeverything]

Oh, he has a ridiculous douche face. This April disappearing act is getting old already and it's only year 2.

He came to LA, played very well there, and moved on. The guy gets booed in Texas too, and he was traded out of there! Same deal with A-Rod. I understand A-Rod getting booed in Seattle or Boston, but in a place that he was traded from? And this was before the steroids stuff, btw.

And yeah, great move by Tampa locking up Zobrist. Good, versatile player. At the worst if he bottoms out they have a very capable utility player. I hope they can keep Crawford. I think guys will want to stay there because they know the future is bright.

Yeah, I think you're right. I seem to recall Crawford saying he wanted to stay for exactly that reason a couple years ago. A lot of them have implied that. They know they're sitting on gold mine ( Pena, Crawford, Upton, Longoria, etc ).

Although he'll be a big name FA, so money talks......





*Update*

I'm watchin' the Seattle/Chicago game on Fox right now. A fan interferred with a ball in play in the top of the ninth of a tie game. While I think the ump call was right. What the fuck is it about people in Chicago and their inability to keep their hands out of the fucking game?

[SkyDog112046]

Big Papi hit a homerun last night and his average is back up to .159. He...is...on..FIRE!


Seriously, if he gets back into the same form as he was over the 2nd half of the season last year then all is ok. But I think it's more a case of blind squirrel finds nut.