How long until Jim Thome becomes a legitimate problem?  

 

You keep hearing, "Oh, he'll end up with his 30 HRs, 100 RBIs" and "Once the summer rolls around and he gets warm, look out."  But since last year's AS game he is hitting at a .238/.379/.432/.811 clip.  Not terrible numbers, but not worth 15 mil/yr and holding down someone in AAA who is murderizing everything in his path.

That is a good question. In a fair fight, Ryan Howard would be the starting first baseman right now. Players of Thome's type generally age well, and I would hesitate to think his career his over based on just a half-season, particularly when he has been battling injuries. It is a really difficult question, and I do not have a ready answer, unfortunately.

would it be remotely possible to trade tom glavine

would it be remotely possible to trade tom glavine

No.

Do you think Cliff Floyd deserves to be an All Star this year?

Do you think Cliff Floyd deserves to be an All Star this year?

Tough choice. I can't really say that he deserves to be there, meaning that it would be a crime not to include him. Still, if I were building the team, I would probably include him.

It's odd how many people (myself included) forgot how productive the guy can be when he stays free of injuries.

Minaya thinks the team should be buyers. If there is a way to get production at 1B, and some bullpen, like an Aubrey Huff or a Danys Baez, and the Mets can do it without giving up Petit, Humber, Wright, and Milledge, should they, and what are trade options out there? Zito's name is in the paper every day here, though Beane has sworn that he wont trade him.

 

what deadline deals do you see coming?

Al, can you please explain the stupidity of athletes and going out of their way to get hurt? I mean, just the amount of silly injuries from doing things from hurting oneself while getting groceries to Rogers' latest incident of breaking his hand has gotten me to wondering what's with this new "rage" (bad pun, I know) we're seeing lately?

Why's Zito such a hot commodity?

Al, can you please explain the stupidity of athletes and going out of their way to get hurt? I mean, just the amount of silly injuries from doing things from hurting oneself while getting groceries to Rogers' latest incident of breaking his hand has gotten me to wondering what's with this new "rage" (bad pun, I know) we're seeing lately?

It happens every once in awhile. Athletes get frustrated, and they do stupid things without really thinking about it. You will see many athletes throw down their helmet or bat. It's been a part of baseball (and all professional sports) since the beginning.

Why's Zito such a hot commodity?

People haven't figured out yet that Barry Zito:Starting Pitching::Mark Davis:Closers.

Is Jason Schmidt getting dealt. If so where and to which buyer would he benefit the most? Least?

I'm bowing out from questions regarding potential trades. Just remember that 80% of trade rumors are just fabrications.

Is there any real reason to believe in the Phillies at this point? So far it has taken Brett Myers pitching like an ace, Robinson Tejeda playing wayyy over his head (see .167 BABIP and 2.35 ERA w/ a 6.46 BB/9IP, yeah that will stay), Madson and Wagner have pitched like themselves, God has been MVP caliber, Burrell is better than the last two years, Utley is producing higher than expected and they are still just a game out of last place.

 

It seems as if everyone other than Padilla, Bell, Lieberthal, Rollins and Thome are playing at least as expected or better and I don't see much chance of those four turning it around. Bell and Padilla are abysmal, Rollins is back to whatever the hell he was doing before last year, Lieberthal hasn't met a pitch he can't pop up and Thome, IMO, is just shot. I just don't see any great hope coming along or anyone who isn't performing suddenly reemerging. Do you see any reason to believe in this team at all?

 

wow, that was kind of depressing wasn't it

What's the word on this Chris Shelton kid? He's been tearing the ball off the cover for the Tigers since being called up and just hit a two-run blast off Randy Johnson in their first meeting. I've watched but a handful of his at-bats, but he seems like he's got some potential.

Pinjockey, Spaceman Spiff asked me a few Phillies questions at TSM, and I would suggest checking those out.

 

What's the word on this Chris Shelton kid? He's been tearing the ball off the cover for the Tigers since being called up and just hit a two-run blast off Randy Johnson in their first meeting. I've watched but a handful of his at-bats, but he seems like he's got some potential.

He definately has potential. He was a great hitter in the low minors, but the Pirates left him unprotected after a difficult half-season at AA, and the Tigers grabbed him via the Rule V draft. He had a great season in the Arizona Fall League, and he had a legit bat coming into the season. Definately a keeper.

I'm beginning to sense another LaTroy Hawkins situation here with Corey Patterson. He's got potential, but to date, he's not lived up to much of it. At this point, he's working with no room for error and things keep getting worse. If you're the Cubs, what do you do with him?

If you really want to replace him, I understand Kotsay, Payton, Encarnacion, Winn, and Cameron are available. Mike Cameron hit another homer last night, with the power he's shown over the last 2 years, he would probably thrive in that park. He also plays a beautiful outfield.

If they were to replace him, I'd want them to get someone with good defensive skills. That's one of Corey's few redeeming qualities these days. Still, if they dealt him now, they'd have to dump a bunch of prospects, since Patterson on his own isn't going to score anyone who can contribute immediately.

what about griffey

Kotsay may not be available for long - there's rumblings from Oakland that progress on a two year extension for Kotsay is going well.

 

And Cameron isn't really that much of an upgrade over Patterson, even with Corey's recent strikeout binge, is he? He's got the same issues (no OBP, swings for the fences), except that he's older and more expensive.

Cameron's numbers have remarkably improved after wrist surgery, granted its a smaller sample of at bats, hes striking out less, taking more balls, and putting the ball in play more.

Tim Kurkjan is talking about a possible trade that'd send Adam Dunn to Houston in exchange for three prospects. The Astros have been on a winning streak lately. Should they be buyers or are they fooling themselves into thinking they're contenders because they've hit a soft spot on their schedule?

Tim Kurkjan is talking about a possible trade that'd send Adam Dunn to Houston in exchange for three prospects.  The Astros have been on a winning streak lately.  Should they be buyers or are they fooling themselves into thinking they're contenders because they've hit a soft spot on their schedule?

The Astros started the season having lost Jeff Kent and Carlos Beltran to free agency, missing Lance Berkman for two months, and losing Jeff Bagwell for the season. Now they have Berkman back, Ensberg's having a great season, and remember they have quite possibly the best 1-2 pitching punch in baseball. This team just might have what it takes, providing they do not mortgage their future in the process.

The three prospects I heard were Nieve, Buchholz, and that Erubial guy...which seems more than adequate to fetch a guy who could hit 50+ home runs in that ballpark. The fact that the Reds believe that Dunn is the problem with their team should be indicative of where that franchise is heading.

 

Here's a question for you - with another blowup last night, it seems like Keith Foulke has completely fallen off. Now, there are hundreds of players who have had a comparable collapse (Rick Ankiel is one of the more modern examples), but how many people have had such a steep collapse who have been finesse pitchers like Foulke? Perhaps I'm spoiled from watching Maddux and Trevor Hoffman, but it doesn't seem like too many control specialists just blow up like this.