BERIGAN

Very nice that you are back, and very nice the music! (Grammar is not a exactly a strong suit of mine!)

Here is Chapman's complete inning...check it out quickly, as MLB HATES to have anyone put up clips of games...I once put up a 40 second clip of of baseball highlights from CNN in the 80's and it was pulled within a few weeks of uploading. The fans are so excited in Cincy! I would say right now he's the best lefty in anyone's bullpen, and if Cliff Lee doesn't get it together soon, he's going to be thought of as the best Lefty in baseball...so there! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjNVGw8dCl8

He only hit 103 in his debut for the Reds, talk about overrated! Seriously, I cannot for the life of me see why every team wasn't knocking down his door to sign him...I do recall some talk (last winter?) that he wasn't all that and a bag of chips...well, he is...His slider is just devastating, and his fastball is so easy out of his hand, not violent at all....if his head is screwed on straight, and his arm holds out, he will be one of the greats.....

Well, to be fair, it's pretty hot in the Tampa/St. Pete area , oh wait.....

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/gadgets/man-arrested-at-large-hadron-collider-claims-hes-from-the-future-49305387/

Don't have much of an issue with the AL list, but Ubaldo Jimenez has really come down to earth of late. I think you have to move him down to #5, and move everyone else up one position.

Lincecum looks like crap tonight. Again. Man, what is going on with that guy anyway? It's called losing several MPH off your fastball, that's all it is. Just like with Javy Vasquez. Ghost said he saw 91-92 for Javy the other day against the Jays, but they homer and a flyball out the next inning they showed on Baseball Tonight were in the 86-88 zone, and unless you have Greg Maddux movement, have a really good sinker, or you are a crafty lefty, you can't compete with that crap. I get what you're saying, but Vazquez is a 34 veteran, with a lot of miles on him, while Lincecum is 26, and has only three full seasons in the big leagues. I cannot remember another case where a top level pitcher, in his prime, lost 4-5 miles of his fastball, and there is no physical cause. And it goes beyond just loosing some stuff off his fastball, there really is no movement on any pitches he has, change-up, slider, they're all nothing pitches right now. In the SF paper this week, there was a big article where the Giants are saying Lincecum & Panda are out of shape, and that is the source of their problems. I think there's a lot to be said for that, it seems as if Lincecum is wearing down after three seasons, and at the age of 26, he should be getting stronger not weaker. And you know what's weird about Vazquez??? Last year, he first pitched in the that WBC thing before joining the team late in spring training, and I was guessing he was overdue to have some sort of arm(I was guessing elbow) trouble. Nope, pitched great til the end of the season. It just may be that time has caught up with him... it may be time for Lincecum to put on some muscle, some weight. I bet there is something wrong with his arm, I mean, what else can it be???

Yes, please...more AL east discussion here is needed! Anyway, I bet Ghost and the other Yankee fans will agree with me here, if they don't find some starter, any new starter via the waiver wire, they aren't going to make the playoffs. You can't have Javy, and Burnett be useless every start late in the year....and count on Pettitte who can't even pitch off a mound yet....and Phil Hughes pitch every fifth day and go into the playoffs (How many innings would he be above his career high if they go to 7 games W.S?) I mean, perhaps they can bash their way into the first round, but any team should be able to take them in the first round....

Braves just lost tonight in a traditional way, 7-1. Tommy Hanson was no good. Probably worn out...but our super smart manager wouldn't dream of resting any starters. Instead, they sent Mike Minor...to the minors again, just because they were going to skip his start. Likely back after Sept 1st, so he might not even be on a playoff roster,(unless there is an injury) but who needs a left handed starter in the playoffs?? And the guy who is supposed to be the closer next year, Jonny Venters, is being so abused, I fully expect him to break down any day now. In 15 games in July, and was in his 15th game on the 25th of this month, when our HOF manager decided he should go out for a second inning, hey why not, he's clearly rested...gave up 4 runs. If he was rookie manager, he'd be trashed in the media for abusing his relief staff like he does...I'm starting to think that we won't even make the wildcard now..... Lincecum looks like crap tonight. Again. Man, what is going on with that guy anyway? It's called losing several MPH off your fastball, that's all it is. Just like with Javy Vasquez. Ghost said he saw 91-92 for Javy the other day against the Jays, but they homer and a flyball out the next inning they showed on Baseball Tonight were in the 86-88 zone, and unless you have Greg Maddux movement, have a really good sinker, or you are a crafty lefty, you can't compete with that crap.

What's amazing is he was babied in college(which pitchers should be, and rarely are) and babied in the minors(Should have started with the team) and in the majors...so, what if anything can be done to protect young pitchers from TJ??? I always that split finger pitches were at least adding to the number of pitchers having this problem, but he doesn't throw one...Braves lost Kris Medlin to TJ a few weeks ago, no splitter for him either...cutters??? Sliders??? Hey Paps!!! How would you like to have Buster Posey in your lineup???? Did you know that you could have??? http://www.raysindex.com/2010/08/revisiting-andrew-friedmans-biggest-mistake-the-2008-draft.html

Well, if it makes you feel any better, the Braves were swept in Colorado...only it was just a 3 game series...hey, someone's got to win the East, right???

Even as a Braves fan, have to agree that guy had no business tossing him there....man, some of the umps really suck right now, don't they???

Wasn't it nice of the braves to give you him for nothing??? Oh wait, we got Jesse Chavez At least we spun him off into Kyle Farnsworthless....9.45 ERA in the weak little girlyman NL.

a very long, but interesting blog on the history of pitchers who seemed destined for greatness, only to be sidelined by arm woes... http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/08/24/the-pain-of-pitching/ and Dan was right, Damon stays in Detroit....

man, I want one!

Howard also tagged him out! What a ripoff. Saw that last night on baseball tonight...couldn't believe the same stupid ump ruled the other way against the Phils earlier this year. What a maroon. If it makes Phillie fans feel better, the braves lost last night because of a blown call. Carlos Gonzalez was easily out at 2nd on a steal attempt, but the ump was in front of 2nd base and couldn't see the tag on the body, just his hand getting on the base. At least it was an excusable mistake. But, he scored on a Todd Helton single(he was 4-4 which must feel pretty good after so many experts that follow the Rockies have said he should retire) that was the winning run. So, fans of the Philthies.....still have a bitter taste in your mouth about Roy Oswalt??? After 5 starts, 3-1 with a 2.43 ERA. How soon before he's DFA'ed??? :P

Now he's backed off saying he won't go...he has 48 hours to make a decision....he's probably just afraid of what sort of malady he will suffer if he goes back to Boston. Cracked ribs??? Broken foot??? Ab tear??? Leg infection like Salty???

Nice story! Hadn't heard this one before.... Too bad JHey hurt his thumb, his numbers have really been off since the injury, but he may be turning it around now, as he went 4 for 4, and hit 2 homers into the wind at Wrigley yesteryday.... But if the voting was today, I think Buster Posey would win it.... To be honest, I never thought he was that good of a manager, his teams never seemed to be the better by his presence. I really thought that he was not a good fit with the Cubs. Still, I think we'll see him again and some point. Well, he took the Reds to a W.S. victory, the Mariners won the most games in a season under him, and the Cubs went to the playoffs in back to back years for the first time either in a century, or ever...I forget what I heard on baseball tonight. I remember him as a very good hitter for the Yankees, now he's 67 and retiring as a manager....

Yeah, it sure is. If it wasn't for Burrell (finally! a left fielder, after all those other fools out there), they might be way out. Lincecum needs to get his stuff together, his last three starts have been disasters. Exactly, Matthew. Though the Gigantes won last night over the Cards, Lincecum needs to stop tinkering with his form and get back to what got him those two Cy Young Awards. All Lincecum needs to do is find the 5-6 miles an hour that have gone missing from his Fastball most of the season. He wouldn't have been tinkering with his hand placement, if he was pitching like he did in April, or last year. In other news, I see the Yankees are finally going to rest Javy Vasquez....gee, what made them decide to do it so soon??? He can get by throwing an 86-88 MPH "fastball", surely!

Dan, as you mentioned, Grienke won last year,(and a last place team) he was 16 and 8, with a 2.15 ERA. And sort of a late entry into the discussion, IIRC. Buchholz is already 14 and 5 and has a 2.35 ERA. I would think he would have a decent chance as long he doesn't have a blown up game or two. I am sure Lester's ERA just went up quite a bit tonight....

really!

Well, Chipper Jones may be done as a Major Leaguer.... http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5458167 Sucks in so many ways. After not being very good for over a year, he had been hitting .307 since the All star break, .400 so far for August. In fact, in his last two games in Houston, he was just killing the ball left handed, hitting like he did in 2008 when he hit .364. And even though his season average was just .265, his OBP was .381. Also, to add insult to injury, the dope John Kruk acted like the play he made that blew out his knee....the best play at 3rd I had ever seen him make, was only #5 on web gems that night. 2490 hits, 436 Homers, 1491 RBI's .306 BA, .405 BA. Not bad at all for a skinny switch hitter during the steroids era. Probably in the top 5 ranking of switch hitters. Omar Infante will likely be given a chance to prove if he's more than just a super sub. He's hitting .330(and that's down a bit) in 270 AB's, but he doesn't hit for power. Little Brooks Conrad has more pinch hit homers(4) than Infante has homers,(3) but he doesn't seem to hit much, except late in the game.... So in other words, the braves, without there longtime #3 hitter are in a heap of trouble right now....they just don't hit much....

Final tally against AJ tonight was 8 ER--Joe left him in there way, way too long. I was hoping he'd pull AJ after the first home run and the walk that followed--seemed clear another classic AJ meltdown was on the way. Bet you didn't think back in May you would rather have Javy on the mound than AJ! Just glad the braves were not able to coax him to the ATL...