2011 MLB Thread
- Thread starter El Justo
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R.A. Dickey tries, but he is no Timmy Wakefield. There was another guy that pitched for the A's for a little bit (probably other teams too, I forget).
They all seem like flashes in the pan, however. Timmy should go down as one of the great knuckleballers of yore.
They all seem like flashes in the pan, however. Timmy should go down as one of the great knuckleballers of yore.
bestrfcplayer
Steppin' up!
I hope the Tribe sweeps Boston again! 
Boston has been playing much better. Hopefully this is the series in which the Tribe comes back down to earth.
I freaking love Wakefield. It takes big, swinging brass ones to go out there and throw and play whiffle ball in the american league east. The guy has thrown more high pressure pitches in Yankee Stadium than probably any other Sox pitcher ever has. If Grady took out Pedro in '03, Wake would have an ALCS MVP under his belt. When he's on, he's almost unhittable. I hope he keeps pitching for the Sox until he's 60.
Dunno how it is nowadays, but back in the N64 era, he was the best pitcher in any given video game.
Dunno how it is nowadays, but back in the N64 era, he was the best pitcher in any given video game.
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ça ne fait rien
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Utley didn't have any hits in his return to the lineup, but the Phils scored 10 runs, which is as many runs as they had scored in the previous 7 games. Amazingly, the Phils still won 3 of those 7 games.
Utley got a standing ovation when he walked out to the batter's box for the first time.
Utley got a standing ovation when he walked out to the batter's box for the first time.
More clutch hitting from Cleveland in the 8th to get another win against Boston. Too bad, since Clay pitched a really good game.
I think me and Red are going to have to reevaluate the offensive powers of Mr.Cabrera. He may very well hit ~25 HR this year. Amazing how he (and our bench) have found ways to get hits with Sizemore and Hafner on the DL, and Santana continuing to suck (are we sure he's going to snap out of it? Should we move him to 6th?)
I think me and Red are going to have to reevaluate the offensive powers of Mr.Cabrera. He may very well hit ~25 HR this year. Amazing how he (and our bench) have found ways to get hits with Sizemore and Hafner on the DL, and Santana continuing to suck (are we sure he's going to snap out of it? Should we move him to 6th?)
He has evolved in a stunning way. Basically every year his walks have gone up, his Ks have gone down, his line drive and fly ball hits have gone up, and his ground ball hits have gone down. In essence he is the poster child of optimum hitter development and right now is the most feared hitter in baseball, and perhaps the best hitter in baseball as I sit here and type this. He is almost at Barry Bonds status when it comes to opposing pitchers.
El Justo
Deity
think about how crappy pirates fans must feel to watch him morph into such a beast 
i remember watching him toil for the pirates for some time. iirc, he was a bench dude. crazy.
i remember watching him toil for the pirates for some time. iirc, he was a bench dude. crazy.
El Justo
Deity
you said 'extraordinaire'
I think Bautista now may have more homeruns that the Minnesota Twins. Not sure. If it's not more, its close. Last time I checked it was 2 or 3 less than the entire team I think.
Also--Curtis Granderson. 16 homeruns. huh?
Also--Curtis Granderson. 16 homeruns. huh?
Masterson looked pretty good himself. He always pitches well against us. Hindsight being what it is, I'd love to have that trade back (or at least have re-signed VMart... WTH Theo?!?).
Lambert Simnel
One across
Given the state of the Metsies, this probably was no big surprise (though weird coming from the owner...). Presume you guys have seen this and just thought it wasn't worth commenting on ?
Fred Wilpon takes shots at Mets players
Fred Wilpon takes shots at Mets players
El Justo
Deity
well, now that you mention it 
yeah, mets are in bad shape, bleeding money. i can't really blame wilpon for thinking that stuff. but to say it to a reporter is great 'kick 'em when they're down' fodder 
yeah, mets are in bad shape, bleeding money. i can't really blame wilpon for thinking that stuff. but to say it to a reporter is great 'kick 'em when they're down' fodder
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I've been taking some interest in how young talent develops when players reach the major leagues. Some of that is because the Phils have called up Dom Brown.
Some random data points, this is by no means any sort of exhaustive study --
Miguel Cabrera, 1st 25 games, 100 PA, 4 HR, .222/.290/.456, OPS of .746
Chase Utley, 1st 25 games, 102 PA, 5 HR, .235/.265/.449, OPS of .714
Ryan Howard, 1st 25 games of 2005, 90 PA, 5 HR, .238/.311/.475, OPS of .786
So you can't really say any of those guys came up and lit it up right away. But then I looked at Albert Pujols and here's an example of a guy who probably made for no doubt that he was going to be a great one.
107 PA, 8 HR, .365/.430/.719, an OPS of 1.149. Amazing.
Some random data points, this is by no means any sort of exhaustive study --
Miguel Cabrera, 1st 25 games, 100 PA, 4 HR, .222/.290/.456, OPS of .746
Chase Utley, 1st 25 games, 102 PA, 5 HR, .235/.265/.449, OPS of .714
Ryan Howard, 1st 25 games of 2005, 90 PA, 5 HR, .238/.311/.475, OPS of .786
So you can't really say any of those guys came up and lit it up right away. But then I looked at Albert Pujols and here's an example of a guy who probably made for no doubt that he was going to be a great one.
107 PA, 8 HR, .365/.430/.719, an OPS of 1.149. Amazing.
El Justo
Deity
i remember picking up pujols in my fantasy league that year due to a mcgwire injury. insane right out of the box. i just hope brown can contribute and and not be overmatched which i don't think he will be but one never knows for sure. it's baseball after all key will be to see how or when chollie uses him against LHP and how well he can adjust to them.
key will be to see how or when chollie uses him against LHP and how well he can adjust to them.
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I think with Brown there just needs to be some patience. Remember, Utley and Howard put those numbers up at older ages than Brown, Utley was 24 and Howard 25 when the Phils finally decided that it was time to say goodbye to Thome. Brown's 23 years old, and he's put up numbers of comparable OPS that Utley and Howard were putting up at AAA. Brown should be able to learn to hit major league pitching, unless he has some horrible flaw that only major league pitchers are talented enough to exploit consistently that AAA pitchers can't.
But just don't expect Brown to hit .300 or a boatload of home runs. But if he puts up something like a .240 to .250 average and 10+ home runs, he's going to have gained a lot of learning time in the process, and you can probably expect that if he gets to play consistently, he'll be hitting better at the end of the season than he will be the first couple of months here.
But just don't expect Brown to hit .300 or a boatload of home runs. But if he puts up something like a .240 to .250 average and 10+ home runs, he's going to have gained a lot of learning time in the process, and you can probably expect that if he gets to play consistently, he'll be hitting better at the end of the season than he will be the first couple of months here.
El Justo
Deity
.260 or .270 is more preferable w/ a dozen homers or so. 40 rbi's maybe? decent showing against LHP is a must if we want him to be the every day RF. last i saw of him on the OF last year, he needed a lot of work. took poor routes to fly balls and just looked a little out of step out there. so i would like to see him improve defensively as well.
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