Posted May 15, 200520 yr comment_2132379 I've wanted to post more, but my mind has drawn a real blank on topics. So ask me anything about baseball, current or historical.
May 15, 200520 yr Author comment_2132664 Why's Gagne so automatic? Just look at his statistics. Gagne last year struck out over 12 batters per 9 innings, and he does it with terrific control. Gagne features perhaps the best changeup in baseball, as it is horrifically slower than his fastball, and the batter does not know what is coming. Hitters simply can not touch his raw stuff, and that makes him an elite closer.
May 15, 200520 yr comment_2133036 What defensive metric out there do you think is the best? With mgl's UZR going proprietary, I've been looking for a decent defensive stat.
May 15, 200520 yr comment_2133078 How would you rate Aaron Heilman's performance so far? Has he finally turned the corner or is it just a hot streak?
May 15, 200520 yr comment_2136785 Why can't the Cubs bullpen hold a lead/get a save. Honestly, it cost them the wild card last year, and it's looking like it's gonna cost them again this year.
May 15, 200520 yr comment_2137166 1) Which team is playing over their heads the most? 2) Which team is underachieving the most? 3) Why are so many people acting like the Yankees are going to be just fine? They've hit a soft part of their schedule and now everyone's thinking crisis averted. 4) Aramis Ramirez and Victor Martinez both signed huge, multi-year deals at the outset of the season. Their starts have been disappointing so far, especially Martinez, who's batting around the .210 mark with a pair of homers and 10 RBIs. Obviously neither player is this bad, but are we expecting too much from them based on their 2004 seasons, or will they turn things around? 5) Are the O's for real?
May 15, 200520 yr comment_2137550 When will Barry Bonds be back and do you think he'll pass Ruth's HR record before he's done. Aaron's?
May 15, 200520 yr comment_2137572 How much of the demise of the A's is Billy Beane's fault? Also do you think he's been weakened from a negotiating stand point with other GM's due to Moneyball? His last two offseason's have left a lot to be desired and it appears he was completely taken in the Tim Hudson deal. Charles Thomas is awful, Juan Cruz has struggled, and Dan Meyer (the biggest part of the deal) has been shut down for the season in Sacramento with rotator cuff problems.
May 15, 200520 yr Author comment_2141567 What defensive metric out there do you think is the best? With mgl's UZR going proprietary, I've been looking for a decent defensive stat. Win Shares seems to be the defensive metric with the least problems. Of course, with defensive statistics, you need to gather as many statistics as possible, and even then reconcile those with what you hear from the scouts. How would you rate Aaron Heilman's performance so far? Has he finally turned the corner or is it just a hot streak? I think he has turned the corner. He is at an age where pitchers usually take a step forward, and his peripherals are just as good as his ERA. Why can't the Cubs bullpen hold a lead/get a save. Honestly, it cost them the wild card last year, and it's looking like it's gonna cost them again this year. Because their offense can not get them a sizeable lead, and every team is bound to lose a few close games. The Cubs have bigger problems besides the closer situation. When will Barry Bonds be back and do you think he'll pass Ruth's HR record before he's done. Aaron's? There's a part of me that thinks Bonds will never be back. I am 99% certain he will never pass Aaron's record. If he comes back, he'll likely pass Ruth. How much of the demise of the A's is Billy Beane's fault? Also do you think he's been weakened from a negotiating stand point with other GM's due to Moneyball? His last two offseason's have left a lot to be desired and it appears he was completely taken in the Tim Hudson deal. Charles Thomas is awful, Juan Cruz has struggled, and Dan Meyer (the biggest part of the deal) has been shut down for the season in Sacramento with rotator cuff problems. Not much. The Athletics were bound to lose part of their rotation to free agency anyway, and Beane struck before it occured. Had the collapse not occured now, it would have occured later. I think the Athletics will get better (their hitting is really not this bad), and they'll contend soon. Bruiser, I'll answer your questions later.
May 15, 200520 yr comment_2141607 Al, how, as a whole, would you rate the Blue Jays at this point into the season? Do they meet your own expectations or not? Are there any surprises and/or disappointments on that team? Also, how do you feel about the prospects in Syracuse right now, judging from what you already know or what you have seen when they played against Scranton earlier this season? Also, I'm going to see the Charlotte Knights (White Sox AAA affiliate) this week. Is there anyone on the Knights that I should keep my eye on? Thanks as always.
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2142661 Also, I'm going to see the Charlotte Knights (White Sox AAA affiliate) this week. Is there anyone on the Knights that I should keep my eye on? If Brandon McCarthy is starting...definitely look for him.
May 16, 200520 yr Author comment_2143477 1) Which team is playing over their heads the most? 2) Which team is underachieving the most? 3) Why are so many people acting like the Yankees are going to be just fine? They've hit a soft part of their schedule and now everyone's thinking crisis averted. 4) Aramis Ramirez and Victor Martinez both signed huge, multi-year deals at the outset of the season. Their starts have been disappointing so far, especially Martinez, who's batting around the .210 mark with a pair of homers and 10 RBIs. Obviously neither player is this bad, but are we expecting too much from them based on their 2004 seasons, or will they turn things around? 5) Are the O's for real? 1. The Arizona Diamondbacks, who are leading their league despite a negative run differential. 2. The Philadelphia Phillies (surprise) 3. An eight game win streak will assuage anyone's fears, and quite honestly, any team with Alex Rodriguez, Gary Sheffield and Randy Johnson has a puncher's chance. 4. Both players will turn it around. Trust the career stats more than the 2005 stats. 5. Slightly. They will fall back, but they are at least a .500 caliber team. Al, how, as a whole, would you rate the Blue Jays at this point into the season? Do they meet your own expectations or not? Are there any surprises and/or disappointments on that team? Also, how do you feel about the prospects in Syracuse right now, judging from what you already know or what you have seen when they played against Scranton earlier this season? Blue Jays are playing about as well as expected. A good .500 team that has a chance to win every time out. As for prospects, none of the prominant prospects played when I saw them, except for Francisco Rosario, who looked awful (but has good stuff going for him, could've just been the cold). Keep an eye on Aaron Hill. John-Ford Griffin is also finally playing to expectations. Also look out for Dustin McGowen when he returns to the mound. Also, I'm going to see the Charlotte Knights (White Sox AAA affiliate) this week. Is there anyone on the Knights that I should keep my eye on? Brandon McCarthy without a doubt. 57 Ks in 42.7 IP, with just 13 walks. 7 HRs though, so he's not quite there. Also look for OF Brian Anderson, a solid prospect who cracked BP's top 50. Also of interest although not prospects, journeyman IF/asshole Felix Martinez, and former Phillies pitcher Robert Person.
May 16, 200520 yr Author comment_2148055 http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2060887 I hear this Frank Thomas guy is fairly decent as well.
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2150158 Thomas' return raises a question: how does he fit in with this new Sox team? He's proven that although he has power, he's capable of drawing walks and getting hits when need be, but can he adapt to this "smartball" phase the team's going through right now?
May 16, 200520 yr Author comment_2151154 Thomas' return raises a question: how does he fit in with this new Sox team? He's proven that although he has power, he's capable of drawing walks and getting hits when need be, but can he adapt to this "smartball" phase the team's going through right now? He doesn't have to adapt. Ideally, he'd be Jack Clark to their '87 Cardinals. Let the guys run rampant, and every so often a big lug sets off the pinball machine.
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2152042 Can Rogers keep on pitching the way he has been and will he walk away with the Cy Young? I mean, the guy is on fire, but I don't think he can keep it up.
May 16, 200520 yr Author comment_2152629 Can Rogers keep on pitching the way he has been and will he walk away with the Cy Young? I mean, the guy is on fire, but I don't think he can keep it up. I assume you mean Kenny Rogers? No, he can not keep this up. He is striking out just 3.6 batters per nine, and walking almost as many. His success is due to only allowing one home run in 54 IP so far this season. Is he likely to keep that up while pitching in Arlington? I have my doubts.
May 16, 200520 yr comment_2152800 1) Who will be the most sought after players at the trading deadline this year? Seems like slim pickings now that Sheets re-signed. 2) Are Keith Foulke's struggles an abhorration, or is it something to worry about? 3) Can the Sox pitching staff, assuming Wells comes back fairly well, deal without Schilling for another month or so?
May 16, 200520 yr Author comment_2153116 1) Who will be the most sought after players at the trading deadline this year? Seems like slim pickings now that Sheets re-signed. Aubrey Huff of the Devil Rays, most likely. I am hard pressed to think of anyone else. Perhaps Placido Polanco. 2) Are Keith Foulke's struggles an abhorration, or is it something to worry about? Probably an abhorration, but six HRs and a declined strikeout rate are reasons to keep monitoring the situation. 3) Can the Sox pitching staff, assuming Wells comes back fairly well, deal without Schilling for another month or so? I don't think there's a pitching staff that couldn't deal when their offense collects 5.6 runs a game.
May 17, 200520 yr comment_2160755 http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2060887 I hear this Frank Thomas guy is fairly decent as well. Damn, I can't wait for tonight. BTW, Frank Thomas being in town is pretty much the top sports story here in Ottawa. Hopefully, it converts successfully in the attendance numbers.
May 17, 200520 yr comment_2162330 And Al, yeah I meant Kenny Rogers. 1) Is Brian Roberts going to be as good as his stats this year indicate? By that, I mean, will he be getting it done on all the stats. 2) Do the Jays currently have the tools necessary (minus a prime star taht is needed) to make a run at a World Series? If not, what do they then need to do to make it happen? I was trying to think of a third one, but I'm still trying to get up. So no dice.
May 17, 200520 yr comment_2164139 1) Who will be the most sought after players at the trading deadline this year? Seems like slim pickings now that Sheets re-signed. Aubrey Huff of the Devil Rays, most likely. I am hard pressed to think of anyone else. Perhaps Placido Polanco. Mike Sweeney and Dmitri Young are both wasting away on terrible teams with the option for free agency next year, so they're probably going to be in the trade whispers.
May 17, 200520 yr comment_2166852 Peter Gammons hinted in his latest article on ESPN that if the Phillies continue to freefall, they would probably be moving Billy Wagner, due to his upcoming free agency. Do you feel that the Cubs (being the most need of closer help) can make a run at him with thier deep farm system?
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