h2oface

Interesting, that when the predictions for the NCAA basketball tourney are looked back on, the talking heads that told us what would happen, don't fare well. I agree that the science is not to be denied. If Greene can do what he does now without his legs "strong enough", just imagine what can be with legs becoming strong enough, and used more! I will take 4 great Lincecum years, more than a 4 ish ERA inning eater (Brake Radke?) that last a longer time. All pitchers are going to break down. Their time, like running backs, is limited, and they know that going in, or should. Even with the science, we are guessing, just convincing ourselves it is a better guess with better probabilities. Until they go down anyway. Which they do with ever increasing frequency, regardless of the better knowledge and science. It's fun to talk about, though. And then there are unexplainable occurances, like Sandy Koufax (bright and quick and violent delivery) and ageless Nolan Ryan, and Randy Johnson...... and Clayton Kershaw.

Rosario does fine fresh out of the pen. Let him sit in the dugout for a half inning, and it all goes to hell.

I met his dad at the games I saw. Nice guy. Definitely the family is hoping for San Diego, he even said so, and that is influencing the son. Seems to me it would be best to not be close to helicopter family, for over all becoming. He said they have modeled Hunter's training after the San Diego philosophy, whatever that means.

Some just need to convince themselves they know more than others. Just turn on sports talk radio. Green looks plenty smooth to me. Lincecum didn't do bad for years with his freaky delivery. Nobody knows.

We? This is the pitcher that the Angels would trade for Nolasco and fleece the Twins and take Meyer, too. Even the pitching starved Angels were tired of him and didn't want him. I never wan't him extended or even on the team at all. At least Hughes had a good year. Santiago had a good month. Good thing Ryan was gone. He probably would have extended him.

I'm so used to the Twins number one pick being a disappointment, that if they pick Greene and he falters or hurts himself, it would be SNAFU. Expected. Because, other than Mauer, the first round picks are lucky to make it at all, and if they do, are pretty not so special. So, I hope they aren't the team that misses the chance to grab the anointed one, and watches him be as special as the cover of Sports Illustrated projects him to be. And I always want them to draft college players and not high school. Except this time. I hope they don't blow this.

I am sure he meant the NCAA regional on Saturday. Clemson took them the rubber game.

I fear being picked #1 by the Twins will be like being on the cover of the Madden football box. If they pick Wright, he will suck. If they pick Greene, he will. I wish they could pick one and instantly trade for the other. I am hoping now it is Greene. I saw him play in three games out here at Notre Dame High School. He is amazing. Being picked in the first round by the Twins seems like a curse ever since Mauer. We will see. I bet it is Greene.

I only made it to one game. I figured that Saturday (Santana) or Sunday (Berrios) were the pitchers I wanted to see. So I watched Thursday and Friday on the Angels channel, happy as a clam. Amazing how many runs this team scores when Gibson pitches. I just had that feeling that Pujols would hit 600 on Saturday. I tried to get my Dodger fan friends to go, pitching hard on the chance to see something only 8 players in the history of the game had done, and the American League ERA leader on the mound for the Twins, and Sano etc..... and my usual game buddy, my son, had scheduled a DJ'ing event for the weekend at a festival, so the best I got was I will let you know in the morning how my day is shaping up. Undaunted, after they had all officially dropped out of consideration by 11AM, I got myself a ticket on Stubhub in the left field stands above the cutout of the tunnel there. I will go alone. I figured if Pujols did hit 600, best chance was to left field. I took my Harmon Killebrew (and Bert and Torii) signed glove with me, just in case. Needless to say, the Twins didn't look so good that night. The first inning was promising, and I figured the best that could happen was for Santana to giveup a solo shot to Pujols, and set the Angels down the rest of the way (he is an ace, right? harumph). Kepler hit a dinger, made a great diving catch, but Santana didn't look good at all, at least, for what I could see out there, and the rest of the bats sucked, with 10 Ks. The atmosphere in the stands was amazing. I have never enjoyed a Twins loss more than this game. For Pujols to hit 600 and it be a grand slam........ you had to be there. As that ball came flying toward the stands, so high and towering and drifting toward the fair pole, it seemed to take minutes. Will it stay fair? It was sooooooo fine. The only annoying part was everyone (except me) trying to get a video that would be horrible anyway with their cell phones. I was living in a bit of history. I watched the Sunday game on the tube and listened to Angel announcers mispronounce Berrios all game. 3-1 series win. I didn't even mind I saw the only loss. I will be at all 3 games at Dodger Stadium at the end of July, a stadium, like Angel Stadium, that hasn't lost its name to a corporation.

It does this year so far......... a lot. but it is not in the forecast. Cool, though.

Like I said, I know all the arguments for it. I just don't agree. You can never get the run back, but the next batter could be the out(s) you need. 5 run lead, no problem. To give up the lead, or lose the tie? I don't like it. Even early in the game.

More bad news, eh?

It could. A tie game surely won't beat them.

I will never understand the tradition of giving up a run for an extra out. I know all the arguments. But a run for an out, especially that gives up the lead, ties the game, or lets the other team go ahead, is a run you can't assume you will get back, no matter what point of the game it is.

The price to pay for a World Series Championship, and nearly two!? Damn. Such travesty. Sounds like a more than fair trade to me. Nothing wrong for a fair trade. They are the best kind. So..... for the first sentence, I give you a massive "so what!" I don't know why you would make the assumption that I would feel that I might expect a reliever to be perfect every time out. Very assumptive. I don't feel Belisle is serviceable. Perhaps I set my sites higher than you.

Spinning Head Belisle! SHB. I love it.

It can get a lot closer to happening! KC did a pretty good job of it - Certainly the last three to almost win two consecutive world series'.... The game is changing. The last 3 innings will championships now. To shorten the game with the bullpen is key. Do we just ignore the rest of Belisle's record this year? An 8.66 guy is hardly needed at anytime at all.

Kintzler is fine with a 3 run lead in the 7th. Maybe even a closer game. But his is not, and never will be, a closer. The fools gold has been spent. Time to get a closer. Or create a closer. Kintzler is not the guy.

Time to see what Curtis has. Now.

The only thing I don't like is #7. I always wanted Mientkiewicz to replace Gardenhire. But Eddie? Always lucky and over over over rated. NOT GUARDADO. Breslow has been OK in my book. Older, but OK. And he is smart.

And to think Greg Holland could have been had. No trade. Just a better offer, or a sooner offer. That kind of leadership, apparently, is not in the Falvey/Levine book. Take a risk. Very disappointing. But who knew, you might retort? Colorado didn't know either, but they made the move anyway. A great move. Kintzler was soooooo lucky last year, and still is. This will not go away. The main main main thing the newbies HAD to address, was bullpen. They choose Belisle. Lame. So lame.

Great article!

NOW!

I went and saw 3 games. He pitched in two of them. I don't like the idea of another high school pitcher.... but he really looked good. And smooth. And hit a couple of homers. I bet they take him.

While I didn't expect Castro would hit much, I didn't think he would be as poor at the plate as he has been so far. And...... I expected him to catch more pitches. PBs and WPs that sure looked like they were catchable. The miscue at the plate on the great Buxton throw..... I have been disappointed in his glove more than his bat even. Plenty of season for him to perform better, though.