MrRain422

I think that the Arizona law is awful, but I still think that this is really unfair to the kids.

Yeah, the Freep obit turned up on my Google Reader a few minutes ago. He was ancient, and really sick, but this still makes me really sad. I was glad to read that Lulu was by his side when he passed. A true legend.

Fact: when I was probably 11 or 12 years old, Bob Uecker elbowed me in the head.

To be fair, this is an unwritten rule which A-Rod claims to have never heard of. I had never heard it either, nor had the writers of numerous baseball blogs I read. That pitcher flipped out over an unwritten rule that no one but himself had ever heard of.

I agree that ideally you have a team full of guys who are good hitters and good defenders, but there aren't too many who are really solid at both. For years good bat/bad glove guys have thrived in the league, at DH, 1B and corner outfield spots (as well as occasionally elsewhere) and people have accepted their contributions without complaining too much about their faulty fielding, but good glove/bad bat guys don't get the same benefit of the doubt. It's easily understandable because hitting is so much easier to quantify than fielding is, but I don't think that this necessarily means that a g

It's true that Everett is a terrible hitter, but he's a great fielder. Although UZR is definitely flawed, it's probably the best system for evaluating fielding at this point, and based on UZR/50 games, Everett was the 3rd best fielding shortstop in baseball last year. http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=ss&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=y&type=0&season=2009&month=0 I mean, there's an argument to be made for value of hitting vs. value of fielding, but I don't understand the argument that Everett is anything less than a top tier fielding shortstop.

You're nuts to want Guillen at short over Everett. It is true that Everett can't hit, but he's in a class with few peers with his defensive skills. Guillen can barely play any position in the field, and his hitting capabilities have diminished substantially. Everett would be the more valuable player at the shortstop position, though Guillen could still be more valuable elsewhere where he wouldn't be quite as disastrous in the field.

Yeah, Leyland said that Guillen gets the LF job next year after Guillen complained, and even that was a compromise -- I think 'Los still thinks he can play SS. Their best option in left is probably Ryan Raburn and he's not really anything special as a left fielder. Ideally I think they should put Raburn in left with Maggs and Guillen taking turns at DH (Raburn in right when Maggs DH's), and Guillen occassionally giving Cabrera a rest at 1B. Regardless, the corner spots are going to be filled with past-their-prime guys who may be able to rake a bit when they're healthy (but only maybe) and a

True, though at the moment the Tigers' starting left fielder is Carlos Guillen. Damon's noodle arms sucks, but he'll still be a defensive upgrade over Guillen, with his shoddy knees and back. That being said, I only like the Tigers signing Damon if they can get him on the cheap. This has been a really bizarre off season for my Tigers, and giving a ton of money to Johnny Damon would just make it weirder (worse?). The White Sox are also said to be in the running for Damon.

Meh, none of this will matter because USC is gonna be under sanctions the whole time Kiffin is there anyway.

Perhaps, but I think it was also to set him up for the "Say it ain't so, Joe" zinger.

What was it about losing in 2008 that made you lose interest after the previous 100 years of losing?

So ridiculous that Blyleven still isn't in. I mean, it's insane. And Tim Raines is more worthy than Dawson, but I think I've accepted that that will never happen.

Dawson was maybe in the top 5 of guys on the ballot this year. Oh well.

I don't like body scanners, but I would pick that over a plane blowing up. That being said, it's a false choice. I think we can prevent planes from being blown up without body scanners. Also, I doubt they really break any child porn laws.

Oh yeah, btw, I know this won't be controversial, but since it always comes up when someone retires: Randy Johnson is a Hall of Famer. Probably first ballot.

Glad that Chris Cornell's old friends are trying to save him from himself, but I'm not expecting much from this reunion. That being said, I will go see them with a big grin on my face.

Matt Holliday back to St. Louis. Randy Johnson to the retirement home.

A-Rod, through 42 postseason games: .291, 25 RBIs, 9 HRs, 46 hits, 158 at-bats "Mr. October" Reggie Jackson, through his first 42 post-season games: .265, 19 RBIs, 7 HRs, 40 hits, 151 at-bats

I think Alex Avila has the potential to be great one day, but man, Jake Peavy just made him look really bad.

Holy shit Josh Willingham. Really glad I added him to my fantasy team yesterday.

Bill James has finally shared some thoughts in the juicers-in-the-Hall-of-Fame issue. http://www.actapublications.com/images/small/PressReleases/Cooperstownandthe%27Roids_F2.pdf

I'm not looking so great. AL East Yankees Red Sox Rays Blue Jays Orioles AL Central Indians Twins Tigers Royals White Sox AL West A's Angels Mariners Rangers NL East Phillies Marlins Mets Braves Nationals AL Central Cubs Brewers Cardinals Reds Astros Pirates NL West Dodgers Diamondbacks Giants Rockies Padres Not sure if I didn't make award predictions, or if I just can't find them.

I nominate Koufax's 14k perfect game.

Let the way this whole ordeal has been covered be offered as counter-evidence to all inane claims of a liberal media.