MrRain422

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

During the first period intermission of the Wings/Sharks game, they announced that long time voice of the Tigers Ernie Harwell passed away. He had been battling cancer the past few months, so this is not suprising. It still sucks though. To countless Michigan residents, he will always be the voice that meant that Winter was over and nice weather and the Tigers were coming.

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.

Arod crossing the mound today in Oakland? What's his deal with the shitty baseball sportsmanship/etiquette? Yelling at Howie Clark to make him think he's being called off the play, the slappy play on Arroyo. Not A-rod bashing, but really, what's the deal here? I realize he doesn't deserve to be singled out as the only player to show poor sportsmanship, but really: Yankee (pride?), highest paid player, etc.

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 good glove/no bat guy can't be nearly as valuable.

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.

Didn't Leyland promise Guillen he'd be the starting LF this season after Guillen pouted about being moved around, only to end up at DH, which apparently Guillen hated?

You're right about Damon being a better OF in terms of getting to the ball, but it seems the last thing Detroit needs is another questionable defender in their spacious outfield. I suppose Ordonez can DH and Guillen could play right or Damon could even play CF if Jackson isn't ready, but, good god, they will be getting alot of ugly looks from the pitching mound.

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 rumored-to-be-talented unknown in center. Other than Adam Everett, Gerald Laird and Miguel Cabrera (yes, Miguel Cabrera), they're going to be a terrible defensive team this year. I don't even have much confidence in Inge with his knees all fucked up.

I'm looking forward to this year, but very wearily, as I don't feel confident about any part of this team other than the front 3 rotation spots and 1B.

I just saw this on MLB. It said Damon hasn't accepted and there is interest from Detroit and Tampa as well. The report stated the Braves offer may include deferred payments.

 

His arm doesn't play well in Atlanta's and Detroit's OF.

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.

That's why she asked Biden if she could "call him Joe", something that seemed like a crafty maneuver at the time but was really due to the fact that the woman is mentally challenged.

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

After the Dodgers swept the Cubs in '08, I lost all interest in baseball.

 

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.

The Rod is looking less flaccid so far this postseason.

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

Since it's about halfway through, thought I'd see how I'm doing on my preseason picks right now.

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.

Oh I don't know about that. I mean he walked Concepcion in the 6th ...

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.