MLB 2008

[Tim McG]

And Tim, Dice-K has never iced his arm either.

Seriously...wow.

I guess I'm just old school, then; I thought all pitchers iced up after a game.

Dice-K doesn't ice, and he used to throw 250 pitch bullpen sessions. And according to SI, when the Red Sox signed him, his elbow and shoulder looked "pristine".

Must be in great physical shape.

The SI article also pointed out Lincecum's athleticism as another reason why he is able to withstand the stress of throwing like he does. They mentioned he tried out for his HS Golf team after only playing a total of 27 holes in his whole life...and made the team. As a former HS Golf Coach myself I can tell you that just doesn't happen. The game is a beast to master. The kid apparently has talent to burn and a body-type to deal with the motion of sports without causing difficulties physically.

I'm guessing Dice-K has those same genes. He sure as hell proves it each and everytime he's out on the mound.

Edited July 8, 2008 by GoodSpeak

[Dan Gould]

Well, there's big news from Fenway tonight:

Ortiz did take BP, hitting a homer to right on his first swing. He took part in all five rounds but it sounds like he took fewer swings per round as it wore on. Still a good day. I have no idea how much BP he'll require before going out on a rehab assignment, but at least he's taken the next step and had no setbacks.

And yes, Masterson is being sent to Pawtucket to work on becoming a reliever, and Buchholz takes his spot in the rotation

Friday against Baltimore. Maybe he'll throw another no-hitter.

I'm really of two minds on Masterson - his groundball tendencies give him the chance to be a highly effective reliever, particularly with runners on base. But like I've been saying, he has a big difference between facing righties and lefties, as in a .516 OPS against righties (OPS+ of 50!) but an OPS of 832 against lefties (OPS+ of 140). Add in the walk rate of about 4.5 per nine innings and the action he sometimes gets on his pitches, and I can see a guy who can only be used against righties, and may still have problems then, because of walks and/or wild pitches.

Its almost like adding Chad Bradford, a guy who can only face righties. That doesn't solve the problem with Okajima, unless he figures out how to get lefties out consistently.

[tkeith]

the best news I've heard is when Gammons drooled on himself that they were shopping for a SS. That tells me there may be hope, yet. If Slim gets to that ball up the middle cleanly, that run doesn't score.

He throws him out while stretched out on the ground? Cano was running all the way and he'd have been lucky to throw him out if he had fielded it cleanly.

Actually, not what I said at all. My thought was, knock the ball down and the runner will have to hold 3B. But in order to knock the ball down, you'd likely need to either have good range or be taller than 5'10" (yes, I'm saying Sox' mini-infielders have cost them this year).

Pap has not been as dominant this year, but that's to be expected -- hitters aren't stupid, they adjust to any pitcher over time. That said, I'll take him over at least 27 other closers. Pap is not the problem.

[papsrus]

... Pap is not the problem.

[Patrick]

And if he is the problem, Joe Borowski is still available!!!

[Dan Gould]

And if he is the problem, Joe Borowski is still available!!!

One can be a POS without being the biggest POS.

And Papelbon has had many, many times this season he has been a POS.

[Patrick]

And if he is the problem, Joe Borowski is still available!!!

One can be a POS without being the biggest POS.

And Papelbon has had many, many times this season he has been a POS.

Thanks for acknowledging the high level of achievement in the Cleveland bullpen. At long last JoBo has been sent packing. Perhaps the second highlight of the nightmare season (...after Cliff Lee kicking ass, and taking names).

See if Paps can get through the bottom of the twinkie order now...

[Dan Gould]

And if he is the problem, Joe Borowski is still available!!!

One can be a POS without being the biggest POS.

And Papelbon has had many, many times this season he has been a POS.

Thanks for acknowledging the high level of achievement in the Cleveland bullpen.

You misunderstood - partially because I did not complete my thought. Okajima, Timlin, Delcarmen and Hansen have been among the biggest POSes. I wasn't referring to anyone else - but the thought of adding JoBo did make me smile, so thanks for the laugh!

[tkeith]

And if he is the problem, Joe Borowski is still available!!!

One can be a POS without being the biggest POS.

And Papelbon has had many, many times this season he has been a POS.

Hehe! Good point. And when one is teammates with Julio Lugo, one is guaranteed to NOT be the biggest POS!!!

Boy... great game tonight, but pulling this one out of our ass may have left a bruise.

[BERIGAN]

It seems pretty obvious that Papelbonis is afraid to throw his splitter(Didn't see the game or highlights...yet) since it didn't a few times this year leading to the other team winning....that pitch made his fastball unhittable, IMHO....

Go ahead, tell me he thru 10 beautiful splits tonight.

[Patrick]

And if he is the problem, Joe Borowski is still available!!!

One can be a POS without being the biggest POS.

And Papelbon has had many, many times this season he has been a POS.

Thanks for acknowledging the high level of achievement in the Cleveland bullpen.

You misunderstood - partially because I did not complete my thought. Okajima, Timlin, Delcarmen and Hansen have been among the biggest POSes. I wasn't referring to anyone else - but the thought of adding JoBo did make me smile, so thanks for the laugh!

Still available for a low, low price. Couple of used fungo bats, maybe a bucket of baseballs, perhaps one of Varitek's bats. That should be more than adequate... Please, no reasonable offer refused...

[BERIGAN]

Hiroki Kuroda has a perfect game after 6 innings against the Braves! His stuff is beyond amazing tonight!

[zen archer]

Well, there's big news from Fenway tonight:

Ortiz did take BP, hitting a homer to right on his first swing. He took part in all five rounds but it sounds like he took fewer swings per round as it wore on. Still a good day. I have no idea how much BP he'll require before going out on a rehab assignment, but at least he's taken the next step and had no setbacks.

And yes, Masterson is being sent to Pawtucket to work on becoming a reliever, and Buchholz takes his spot in the rotation

Friday against Baltimore. Maybe he'll throw another no-hitter.

I'm really of two minds on Masterson - his groundball tendencies give him the chance to be a highly effective reliever, particularly with runners on base. But like I've been saying, he has a big difference between facing righties and lefties, as in a .516 OPS against righties (OPS+ of 50!) but an OPS of 832 against lefties (OPS+ of 140). Add in the walk rate of about 4.5 per nine innings and the action he sometimes gets on his pitches, and I can see a guy who can only be used against righties, and may still have problems then, because of walks and/or wild pitches.

Its almost like adding Chad Bradford, a guy who can only face righties. That doesn't solve the problem with Okajima, unless he figures out how to get lefties out consistently.

According to WBZ TV Ortiz hit 6 balls out of the park and he feels fine , GOOD NEWS !

Youk had a heck of a game defensively tonight !!

[BERIGAN]

Hiroki Kuroda has a perfect game after 6 innings against the Braves! His stuff is beyond amazing tonight!

gave up one lousy hit! Might as well pitch a perfect game, IMHO....

[Dan Gould]

A big win indeed though its staggering to think that they come back to Fenway and score even fewer runs than they have been lately. I really had my doubts when he turned to Okajima in the eighth with runners on, has Tito learned nothing recently? But he got out of it, and Manny didn't miss a mistake and didn't try to do too much either. Dice-K having one of his best starts was probably the best thing about the game. If he can go 7+ with three walks consistently, things might settle into place. I don't know where we stand in starting rotation ERA, but its impressive to think that right now, everyone is below 4, with Lester just above 3 and Dice-K just below it, and Wakefield and Beckett both rank in the top 20.

If the bats were alive and the bullpen functioned, we'd be right there with the Rays or ahead of them. Really, everything has gone right for them, and many things have gone wrong for us. We're 4 back which might not be too bad all things considered.

Now, with A-Rod in the news for his impending divorce and supposed "relationship" with Madonna - can you picture this:

A-Rod comes to Fenway at the end of the month - and as he comes to the plate, there are no jeers, no boos. The entire crowd, 38000+, stands and serenades him with "Like a Virgin".

This has to happen.

If 38000 can chant DA-RRYL, 38000 can sing "Like a virgin ... touched for the very first time... like a viiiirrrggin ..."

Heck, according to the Daily News, a group of fans in New York serenaded him that very way when he was getting ready to bat against the Sox. Too bad the Yanks are in the Bronx practically the entire month of July, but this weekend, Toronto gets its first chance - I'll be laughing my ass off if this takes off and fans in every park the Yankees visit do the same thing.

[tkeith]

Looks like you get your wish for Masterson -- sent to Pawtucket today to train for being a reliever. I understand the need and sort of swallow the decision, I just hope they don't leave him there the way it's panned out with Pap. I'm old school -- gimme Roy Halladay-type starters who want the ball for nine. I was broken hearted when Pap returned to the 'pen, I just hope they don't do that again.

The Teixiera rumors are flying high around here as are Bonds rumors. I know the latter is easy to ignore, except that he actually worked out for the team and met with some higher-level guys. Egad... am I actually going to have to root for the Hulk?

With Jeff Bailey called up, it's likely he could be auditioning for the Braves. I'd guess something along the lines of Bailey, David Pauley, and Justin Richardson for Teix. In a perfect world, I'd throw in Kottaras and Youk and Beau Vaughan if they'd give us McCann, too.

Edited July 8, 2008 by Thom Keith

[Dan Gould]

Looks like you get your wish for Masterson -- sent to Pawtucket today to train for being a reliever. I understand the need and sort of swallow the decision, I just hope they don't leave him there the way it's panned out with Pap. I'm old school -- gimme Roy Halladay-type starters who want the ball for nine. I was broken hearted when Pap returned to the 'pen, I just hope they don't do that again.

The Teixiera rumors are flying high around here as are Bonds rumors. I know the latter is easy to ignore, except that he actually worked out for the team and met with some higher-level guys. Egad... am I actually going to have to root for the Hulk?

I don't get the Bonds rumor - Theo was quoted shooting it down in one of the papers this morning. And what can you expect at his age, this late into the season?

And Tex doesn't make sense with Ortiz taking regular BP and feeling and looking pretty good. They are saying that he'll have a timetable for his return before the break. There's no need to make a move if he is coming back, and that looks increasingly likely.

As for Masterson - apparently he did have a lot of success as a closer the last time he was asked to relieve, and he apparently has the kind of arm that doesn't require a lot of time to get loose. Those are big advantages to this transition. I do prefer the idea of solving the problem internally instead of overpaying for that short-arming, 90 mph Fuentes dude - or anyone else who is available. I am wondering how quickly they plan to bring Masterson back - I read three appearances this week, then a re-evaluation. Could they actually ask him to return for the west coast trip after the break? While his numbers against lefties worry me, I'd still rather see a new arm in the pen sooner than later.

[Soulstation1]

Go Tribe!

[Tim McG]

Go Tribe!

You know...everytime I read your posts, I get hungry.

I've probably gained 90 pounds in the last week.

Edited July 8, 2008 by GoodSpeak

[Noj]

Big Kahuna Burger, yum.

Kuroda one-hit the Braves last night to help the Dodgers win. Quality.

[Soulstation1]

The tribe won't do as well as last season

Didn't make it to a single spring training game this year

LOL

[BERIGAN]

Look out bitches, the braves ARE back! And it all starts with the signing of....Julian Tavarez

Lets see what the stud did with Milwaukee, after being released by the Red Sox....hmmm, last 2 1/3 innings, 8 hits, 3 walks, and 5 runs....oh yeah, we NEED him.

Meanwhile, Chris Resop is no doubt still hitting 98 in Richmond, but we can't risk him coming up.... braves have SFB. Shit for Brains....

Edited July 8, 2008 by BERIGAN

[BERIGAN]

Whoa Nellie!!!!

Cubs Acquire Rich Harden, Chad Gaudin

By Tim Dierkes [July 8 at 5:25pm CST]

5:36pm: The AP story is out. The Cubs get Harden and Chad Gaudin for Gallagher, Murton, Patterson, and catching prospect Josh Donaldson. Jim Hendry did his best to counter the Brewers' acquisition of CC Sabathia, and Gaudin is more than a throw-in. The A's get three MLB-ready players plus a solid offense-oriented catching prospect.

5:25pm: Dave Kaplan of WGN Radio in Chicago reports that the Cubs have acquired Rich Harden from the A's. Sean Gallagher is reportedly part of the deal, and possibly Matt Murton. Hal McCoy says Eric Patterson and another minor leaguer are also included. More when I have it.

Harden, 26, has been dominant in 13 starts for the A's this year. The injury-prone Harden is a tantalizing player; he's only topped 130 innings once but has a career ERA of 3.42. The latest concern: decreased velocity/dead arm in his last start.

Harden has a $7MM club option for '09, which is highly likely to be exercised.

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/

[BERIGAN]

Ok Red Sox nation.....heres a very interesting question....would you be willing to give up Kevin Youkilis to have Mark Teixeira?????

again from mlbtraderumors.com

Braves Stuck In The Middle

By Tim Dierkes [July 8 at 4:50pm CST]

MLB.com's Mark Bowman writes about the Braves' trade deadline situation at the Trade Talk blog. The Braves are in that gray area between sellers and buyers at six games out.

Bowman says Braves GM Frank Wren isn't finding a reasonable deal for a power-hitting outfielder, but he's also disappointed by the Mark Teixeira market. Bowman believes the picture will be clearer and the offers better a few weeks from now. He adds that the Braves would seek a first baseman in a Teixeira trade. Perhaps James Loney, Casey Kotchman, or Kevin Youkilis would work.

If the Braves buy, Xavier Nady is one possibility. Bowman wonders if the Bucs could look to reacquire Brent Lillibridge.

[Dan Gould]

If Harden is healthy and stays that way, the Cubs have to be considered favorites to go to the Series. And while Murton makes a nice fourth outfielder and Gallagher isn't bad, they didn't really give up unbelievable talent for one of the very best (when healthy) AL starters.

This is huge.