Is it me, or does it seem that the trade rumors out there, leading to Monday's deadline, are just really pathetic this year? Aside from Soriano maybe going to the White Sox (as a pit stop on the way back to the Bronx in the fall), and Abreu going somewhere (maybe), it seems that there's a dearth of good juicy rumors.
Sean Casey? Yawn.
Salomon Torres (or any other Pirate reliever)? Big, unstifled yawn.
So...let's start our own - whether they make sense or not. Let's have our fantasy July 31 non-waiver trade deadline trades. Be ridiculous. Be serious. Have fun. It's Friday.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
From ESPN
Check this out from Jim Caple's column.
BOX SCORE OF THE WEEK
It was a long day at the park for Brooklyn Cyclones left fielder Dustin Martin last Thursday. How long? Try six hours and 40 minutes. Or 26 innings, the longest game in the history of the New York-Penn League.
Brooklyn scored in the first inning against the Oneonta Tigers, then was held scoreless the rest of the way. Oneonta tied the game in the fourth, and then the two teams traded zeroes the next 23 innings before Tigers center fielder Deik Scram broke out of an 0-for-11 day with a two-run single in the top of the 26th inning off converted outfielder Mark Wright. The Tigers went on to win 6-1 while Brooklyn's Martin went down with this box score line from hell:
11 AB, 1 R, 0 H, 0 RBI
His 0-for-11 day dropped his average from .278 to .241.
BOX SCORE OF THE WEEK
It was a long day at the park for Brooklyn Cyclones left fielder Dustin Martin last Thursday. How long? Try six hours and 40 minutes. Or 26 innings, the longest game in the history of the New York-Penn League.
Brooklyn scored in the first inning against the Oneonta Tigers, then was held scoreless the rest of the way. Oneonta tied the game in the fourth, and then the two teams traded zeroes the next 23 innings before Tigers center fielder Deik Scram broke out of an 0-for-11 day with a two-run single in the top of the 26th inning off converted outfielder Mark Wright. The Tigers went on to win 6-1 while Brooklyn's Martin went down with this box score line from hell:
11 AB, 1 R, 0 H, 0 RBI
His 0-for-11 day dropped his average from .278 to .241.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Monday, July 24, 2006
Where's The Love?
I've yet to see a shout out for my Cardinals from you Bay Area guys, after we swept the Dodgers.
What gives?
Cheers.
R. Sherman
What gives?
Cheers.
R. Sherman
Friday, July 21, 2006
Mike "Schadenfreude" Piazza
Schadenfreude is a German word that basically means taking pleasure in other's pain. Somehow, I just think it seems to invoke my most wonderful feelings of my least favorite player, Mike Piazza. I know, as a Christian, I have a long way to go in the forgiveness department, but let me at least wallow in his misery for a little while.
Last night, Andy talked me into going to the game with him. It was a glorious night for baseball and, indeed, as we approached the park there was a sizzle in the air. We got to our seats just minutes before the first pitch and sat under the cool awning on a 70 degree night to watch division leading baseball.
The Padres were in town, and as a team, I have nothing against them. Even if they win the division every couple of years, even if they have Trevor Hoffman, even if Tony Gwynn (who was the best pure hitter I've ever seen) used to light us up all the time, hating the Padres would be like hating the Taco Bell dog. You might hate him on the surface, but secretly in your heart of hearts you chuckle everytime you hear, "Yo Quiero Taco Bell?"
I asked Andy if he thought this might be the night that we saw the return to form of Noah Lowry, who blazed a second half trail through the National League last year. Well, he went 8 1/3 innings and gave up nothing until his pitch count wandered over 115 pitches. He was dominant until then. He had help though as several Giants made some great defensive plays behind him. But none of the Padres hits were cheap hits, even if they failed to produce any runs.
In the second inning, with a runner hanging around on the basepaths, young rookie phenom Matt Santos (okay, his last name is Santos, but last night when I said to Andy, where have I heard that name before, it was a fictional character, Andy gave me a blank stare... and now, all I can think about is the wonderful Matt Santos character who won the Presidency on The West Wing... so that's what I'm calling him), playing in only his second game, came to the plate. Andy looked at me and said, "I think its time for Santos to hit his first homerun." And just like that, Santos crushed one to deep center field for his first homerun. And everyone looked at Andy with new respect and awe. But not me... I knew Andy was baseball psychic. It was 2-0.
A couple of innings later, Santos walked, moved to second on a perfectly executed bunt by Pitcher Noah Lowry, and then was driven home by a Randy Wynn double down the line. Wynn wasted no time in stealing third. And then, with Omar Vizquel providing the bat work, scored on a perfectly executed suicide squeeze that Padres catcher, Mike Piazza couldn't touch. Vizquel eventually came around to score and it was 5-0.
But the play of the game, the absolute darling of the moment, the quintessential best play ever, occurred in the 8th. Alou led off with a base hit. And that brought Barry Bonds to the plate. As he walked up, I was thinking to myself, he's going to hit one out of here. He's going to hit 722 and I'm going to see it. The first pitch was a ball. The second one Bonds unloaded on - straight up. It skyed into the air. Piazza ripped off his mask. Bonds threw his bat down in disgust and started walked back to the dugout. But then, my favorite player in the whole wide world - who played for the hated Dodgers all those years, and then the Mets, and now with the Padres - whose father tried to steal my Giants and move them to Tampa Bay - this great wonderful player, DROPPED THE FOUL BALL! If Schadenfreude was a drug, I could have retired a kingpin at that moment. Two pitches later, Bonds found the cheap seats! 722! The relief pitcher who had just come into the game, was so rattled that two pitches later, Durham crushed one to right. And a couple pitches after that, Feliz found center. And then, they decided to give the reliever some time to beat the press out of the locker room. It was 9-0 and the Giants still didn't have an out in the inning. And all because Piazza couldn't catch a routine foul ball! Ah... I love this game.
Okay, okay, I can put the relish away with the mustard, this was only one game of the entire season. The Giants still trail the Padres by a game and a half and have never shown much inclination to run away with the division. But for one glorious moment I got to see the player I hate the most drop a routine foul ball which created back to back to back homeruns.
And that is why I love the game of Baseball.
Last night, Andy talked me into going to the game with him. It was a glorious night for baseball and, indeed, as we approached the park there was a sizzle in the air. We got to our seats just minutes before the first pitch and sat under the cool awning on a 70 degree night to watch division leading baseball.
The Padres were in town, and as a team, I have nothing against them. Even if they win the division every couple of years, even if they have Trevor Hoffman, even if Tony Gwynn (who was the best pure hitter I've ever seen) used to light us up all the time, hating the Padres would be like hating the Taco Bell dog. You might hate him on the surface, but secretly in your heart of hearts you chuckle everytime you hear, "Yo Quiero Taco Bell?"
I asked Andy if he thought this might be the night that we saw the return to form of Noah Lowry, who blazed a second half trail through the National League last year. Well, he went 8 1/3 innings and gave up nothing until his pitch count wandered over 115 pitches. He was dominant until then. He had help though as several Giants made some great defensive plays behind him. But none of the Padres hits were cheap hits, even if they failed to produce any runs.
In the second inning, with a runner hanging around on the basepaths, young rookie phenom Matt Santos (okay, his last name is Santos, but last night when I said to Andy, where have I heard that name before, it was a fictional character, Andy gave me a blank stare... and now, all I can think about is the wonderful Matt Santos character who won the Presidency on The West Wing... so that's what I'm calling him), playing in only his second game, came to the plate. Andy looked at me and said, "I think its time for Santos to hit his first homerun." And just like that, Santos crushed one to deep center field for his first homerun. And everyone looked at Andy with new respect and awe. But not me... I knew Andy was baseball psychic. It was 2-0.
A couple of innings later, Santos walked, moved to second on a perfectly executed bunt by Pitcher Noah Lowry, and then was driven home by a Randy Wynn double down the line. Wynn wasted no time in stealing third. And then, with Omar Vizquel providing the bat work, scored on a perfectly executed suicide squeeze that Padres catcher, Mike Piazza couldn't touch. Vizquel eventually came around to score and it was 5-0.
But the play of the game, the absolute darling of the moment, the quintessential best play ever, occurred in the 8th. Alou led off with a base hit. And that brought Barry Bonds to the plate. As he walked up, I was thinking to myself, he's going to hit one out of here. He's going to hit 722 and I'm going to see it. The first pitch was a ball. The second one Bonds unloaded on - straight up. It skyed into the air. Piazza ripped off his mask. Bonds threw his bat down in disgust and started walked back to the dugout. But then, my favorite player in the whole wide world - who played for the hated Dodgers all those years, and then the Mets, and now with the Padres - whose father tried to steal my Giants and move them to Tampa Bay - this great wonderful player, DROPPED THE FOUL BALL! If Schadenfreude was a drug, I could have retired a kingpin at that moment. Two pitches later, Bonds found the cheap seats! 722! The relief pitcher who had just come into the game, was so rattled that two pitches later, Durham crushed one to right. And a couple pitches after that, Feliz found center. And then, they decided to give the reliever some time to beat the press out of the locker room. It was 9-0 and the Giants still didn't have an out in the inning. And all because Piazza couldn't catch a routine foul ball! Ah... I love this game.
Okay, okay, I can put the relish away with the mustard, this was only one game of the entire season. The Giants still trail the Padres by a game and a half and have never shown much inclination to run away with the division. But for one glorious moment I got to see the player I hate the most drop a routine foul ball which created back to back to back homeruns.
And that is why I love the game of Baseball.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Give up already!
Rant Mode On!
Does anyone still believe that going after Barry Bonds is not politically motivated? I mean the Federal Government has done everything in its power to prove that he's guilty except say that he has weapons of mass destruction and send in the marines! Yet, after millions of dollars spent on this grand jury investigation, they still don't have enough information to indict him? Give up already! What good is this investigation going to do? Even if you catch the guy? Even if you prove it? What will the ramifications be? This thing will just stretch on and on forever.
I used to think that Stars got special treatment before the law - that they could get out of jams the rest of us couldn't. But I'm starting to think that the law might be prejudiced the other way. If any one of us had used steroids, would the government be spending this much money to prove that we did it? And are the witnesses against Bonds the shadiest, most suspect group of witnesses since Michael Jackson's trial, or what?
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, and it smells like its coming out of some prosecutor's asstericks!
Rant Mode Off!
I read a great article in the Chronicle today about the top guys under 25 in any position. Said some pretty nice things about Ryan Howard. I'm going to have to keep an eye on this kid.
Does anyone still believe that going after Barry Bonds is not politically motivated? I mean the Federal Government has done everything in its power to prove that he's guilty except say that he has weapons of mass destruction and send in the marines! Yet, after millions of dollars spent on this grand jury investigation, they still don't have enough information to indict him? Give up already! What good is this investigation going to do? Even if you catch the guy? Even if you prove it? What will the ramifications be? This thing will just stretch on and on forever.
I used to think that Stars got special treatment before the law - that they could get out of jams the rest of us couldn't. But I'm starting to think that the law might be prejudiced the other way. If any one of us had used steroids, would the government be spending this much money to prove that we did it? And are the witnesses against Bonds the shadiest, most suspect group of witnesses since Michael Jackson's trial, or what?
Something is rotten in the state of Denmark, and it smells like its coming out of some prosecutor's asstericks!
Rant Mode Off!
I read a great article in the Chronicle today about the top guys under 25 in any position. Said some pretty nice things about Ryan Howard. I'm going to have to keep an eye on this kid.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Goin' to the Chapel...
Over at my site I put up a post about Fellowship Day with the SF Giants this Saturday. As I was inspired by the testimonies of these players, I found the Baseball Chapel website. Good stuff here, all. Check it out!
Friday, July 14, 2006
A Proposal to the Group
Since we are all ridiculously wrapped up in baseball I feel the next step is to start up a fantasy league amongst the group next year. It would keep us even more into the game and add to the rivalry's. Any thoughts???
If everyone agrees, I will start doing the legwork and start setting it up for us.
PS- Andy, Marcel and Will's teams must only be composed of west coast ball players....hehe....just kidding. It would be a blast i'm sure!
If everyone agrees, I will start doing the legwork and start setting it up for us.
PS- Andy, Marcel and Will's teams must only be composed of west coast ball players....hehe....just kidding. It would be a blast i'm sure!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
AL All the Way Baby!
That was one of the greatest AllStar Games I have ever seen. What pitching! Brandon Webb came in for only one inning but he quickly dispatched Jeter, Oritz, then A-Rod. What a task!
Penny is awesome Marcel! You guys are lucky to have him!
So, What were you guys most impressed with? Was it the new faces (I think so) or the old guard?
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
BIGGEST MELTDOWNS
By now you've probably all heard about the headbutt incident involving the French soccer player Zidane in the World Cup finals. If not, get caught up here. It was ugly.
Baseball is no exception to "meltdown moments." The most recent one involved a Single A ball manager just....losing it.
Upload videos at Bolt.
What is your most memorable baseball "meltdown" over the years?
Baseball is no exception to "meltdown moments." The most recent one involved a Single A ball manager just....losing it.
Upload videos at Bolt.
What is your most memorable baseball "meltdown" over the years?
Friday, July 07, 2006
Friday's Baseball Category
Not for any baseball reason, but as a result of watching too much World Cup, my mind has been on officiating lately. So here is Friday's Baseball Category...
Name the three most popular "second" professions for retiring Baseball Umpires...
So, STRIKE while the iron is hot! You wouldn't want to be left OUT! You know you'll have a BALL! And remember, no FOUL language!
Name the three most popular "second" professions for retiring Baseball Umpires...
So, STRIKE while the iron is hot! You wouldn't want to be left OUT! You know you'll have a BALL! And remember, no FOUL language!
Thursday, July 06, 2006
BEAT LA!
Had to say it...four game set, Dodgers vs. Giants from Chavez Ravine.
Marcel...Jim...GAME ON!
Marcel...Jim...GAME ON!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Bad Trades
Now that it's July, and we're approaching the midpoint of the season, we have two things to look forward to - the All-Star game and the non-waiver trade deadline. I'm sure we'll start heating up the trade rumors here at the 7th Inning Stretch in coming weeks, but for now, in antipation of deadline deals, I wanted to talk about bad trades.
This morning's San Francisco Chronicle has an article about the Minnesota Twins' 2nd ace, rookie sensation Francisco Liriano. Liriano's numbers? Currently 8-1, with a 2.26 ERA in 73.1 innings pitched, with 82 Ks against 19 BBs, averages 10.06 Ks per 9 innings, and opponents are batting .216 against him.
How did the Twins acquire him?
He was a former Giants farmhand, who was a throw in player when, prior to the 2004 season, the Giants traded for then Twins All-Star catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Who did the Giants give up?
Minor league pitcher Boof Bonser (who was the Giants' No. 1 pick in 2000) and RP Joe Nathan, who has since become an All-Star closer and who currently has 14 saves, a 5-0 record, a 1.85 ERA, with 47 Ks against 4 BBs in only 34 innings of work. Nathan had not been considered a closer candidate with the Giants, and in fact had struggled as both a starter and reliever. And then, just to sweeten the deal with the Twins, the Giants decided to throw-in Liriano, who was not among the higher rated (according to the club) minor league pitchers in the organization.
So to recap: The Giants traded Joe Nathan, 2 time All-Star closer for the Twins; Boof Bonser, a former # 1 pick who is now the Twins' fifth starter; and Francisco Liriano, now the #2 behind Johan Santana on the Twins' staff, a early candidate for AL Rookie of the Year and even AL Cy Young.
Who did the Giants get, again? Former All-Star catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who played one season (2004) with the Giants, hit into 27 double plays (setting a Giants franchise record and was the major league high that year); batted .232 in the 2nd half of the season; only threw out17.7 % of base stealers; and refused to study opposing batters prior to each pitchers' starts even though he was in a new league. Additionally, he had won his arbitration case against the club prior to the season and left as a free agent to play for the eventual World Champion White Sox.
Today, you couldn't do a straight up deal of Nathan for Pierzynski, let alone a straight up deal of Liriano for Pierzynski. It was, perhaps, the worst trade by the Giants in the past 15 years.
::
Any other really bad trades you can think of?
This morning's San Francisco Chronicle has an article about the Minnesota Twins' 2nd ace, rookie sensation Francisco Liriano. Liriano's numbers? Currently 8-1, with a 2.26 ERA in 73.1 innings pitched, with 82 Ks against 19 BBs, averages 10.06 Ks per 9 innings, and opponents are batting .216 against him.
How did the Twins acquire him?
He was a former Giants farmhand, who was a throw in player when, prior to the 2004 season, the Giants traded for then Twins All-Star catcher A.J. Pierzynski. Who did the Giants give up?
Minor league pitcher Boof Bonser (who was the Giants' No. 1 pick in 2000) and RP Joe Nathan, who has since become an All-Star closer and who currently has 14 saves, a 5-0 record, a 1.85 ERA, with 47 Ks against 4 BBs in only 34 innings of work. Nathan had not been considered a closer candidate with the Giants, and in fact had struggled as both a starter and reliever. And then, just to sweeten the deal with the Twins, the Giants decided to throw-in Liriano, who was not among the higher rated (according to the club) minor league pitchers in the organization.
So to recap: The Giants traded Joe Nathan, 2 time All-Star closer for the Twins; Boof Bonser, a former # 1 pick who is now the Twins' fifth starter; and Francisco Liriano, now the #2 behind Johan Santana on the Twins' staff, a early candidate for AL Rookie of the Year and even AL Cy Young.
Who did the Giants get, again? Former All-Star catcher A.J. Pierzynski, who played one season (2004) with the Giants, hit into 27 double plays (setting a Giants franchise record and was the major league high that year); batted .232 in the 2nd half of the season; only threw out17.7 % of base stealers; and refused to study opposing batters prior to each pitchers' starts even though he was in a new league. Additionally, he had won his arbitration case against the club prior to the season and left as a free agent to play for the eventual World Champion White Sox.
Today, you couldn't do a straight up deal of Nathan for Pierzynski, let alone a straight up deal of Liriano for Pierzynski. It was, perhaps, the worst trade by the Giants in the past 15 years.
::
Any other really bad trades you can think of?
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