ByThe Star-Ledger’s Dan Graziano penned a piece on managerial outbursts today. It’s a fairly unremarkable piece except for this one quote by Joe Torre:
“I haven’t had the energy to do stuff like throw the bases into the outfield,” Torre said. “I haven’t gotten to that point. There’s a pretty good chance I’d hurt myself if I did that. (Don Zimmer) will tell you some stories about taking the tobacco out of his mouth and throwing it down and realizing his teeth were in it.”
It just speaks for itself. · (3) ·
My brackets are a disaster
By · CommentsIt turns out that LeBron James does have something on David Price: a chance to play for a championship. There were upsets galore in the NCAA Regionals this weekend, none bigger than top seeded Vanderbilt – #1 team in the country for 9 consecutive weeks, and the home of the nation’s best pitcher (Price), best hitter (the Bronx’s Pedro Alvarez) and best closer (Casey Weathers) - getting bounced from the postseason by an upstart Michigan team in extra innings last night. Vandy threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Wolverines, bringing in Price, #2 starter Brett Jacobsen and sometimes #3 starter Mike Minor out of the pen. Price was hung with the L after giving up a homer to pinch hitter Alan Oaks in the 10th. Here’s the box score.
My pick to win the CWS – #4 ranked Texas – lost to UCÂ Irvine to end their season. I’m shocked just like many other poeple, but I give Irvine their props – they’ve been a good team all year and just flat out-pitched the ‘Horns. Here’s that box.
Louisville is this year’s cinderella team, advancing to a Super Regional matchup with Oklahaoma State after beating Miami and Kent State twice in the Columbia regional. Beating Miami twice is quite a feat, they’ve been to Omaha 10 times in the last 14 years by anything but accident.
Only 3 of the top 8 nation seeds are still alive, with #2 Rice, #3 UNC and #5 Arizona State winning their Regional matchups. You can view the updated brackets here. If you care to mock me, you can check out my pathetically wrong picks here - only 6 of my Super Regional teams are still alive, although that could still end up 7 with a Virginia win over defending national champs Oregon State in today’s Regional finale (weather pushed a couple games back).
There’s really not a clear cut “this is the team to beat” school still out there in my eyes; Rice has some pitching questions, UNC had trouble getting past Western freakin’ Carolina, and Arizona State is a team that has to bludgeoning their opponents offensively to win. If Oregon Stae wins today, they could make run because they’ve been there before, but they really backpeddled into the tourney, so they’re far from a lock for Omaha. My de facto pick is Clemson because of their pitching staff, but they really need to get their lineup going to have a chance – their best hitter, Brad Chalk, has 12 XBH this season. That’s not a typo.
For more college baseball info than you could possibly get your head around, check out the The College Baseball Blog.
Down on the Farm
By · CommentsTriple-A Scranton (7-2 loss to Rochester)
Alberto Gonzalez: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K
Bronson Sardinha: 0 for 4, 3 K – promote Kennedy! promote Kennedy! why isn’t everyone demanding Sardinha’s demotion???
Andy Phillips: 1 for 3, 1 K, 1 E (fielding)
Shelley Duncan: 0 for 4, 2 K – 1 for last 7 after 4 for previous 11 with a double and 3 bombs…
Angel Chavez: 2 for 4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 K – in case you haven’t been paying attention, he’s been mashin’ this year…
Jamal Strong: 2 for 3, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 K
Steven Jackson: 5 IP, 8 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 1 HB, 7-1 GB/FB
A poll
By · CommentsIn which we ponder the fate of Luis Vizcaino.
ByEarlier today, the White Sox optioned struggling relievers Mike MacDougal and David Aardsma to AAA. In their place, they recalled some dude named Ryan Bukvich. Oh yeah, and our old buddy Bret Prinz. Dude must have been hurt, as he’s thrown just 29.1 IP over the past two seasons. He’s sporting a 0.56 ERA in 16 AAA innings this year, but those nine walks don’t help his cause. · (1) ·
ByWhile chatting on the Banter last night during the heart attack-inducing end of the game, I noticed a fellow commenter state that Kyle Farnsworth should be the David Ortiz specialist. The numbers, albeit in limited plate appearances, bear out that statement. Farnsworth has faced Ortiz 9 times. Ortiz is 0 for 6 with 4 Ks and 3 BBs. When you compare those numbers to Ortiz’s .313/.333/.563 line in 17 plate appearances against lefty specialist Mike Myers, it’s clear who should be pitching to Ortiz with the game on the line. · (0) ·
If at first you don’t succeed…
By · CommentsIt’s the nature of the draft to give second chances. The Orioles yearned for Mark Teixeira‘s middle-of-the-order bat in 2001, but sat and watched as Texas popped him with the 5th overall pick, 2 spots ahead of the Orioles. Instead of sulking and blowing the 7th overall pick on, ugh, Chris Smith, the O’s could have made up for losing out on Teixeira by drafting Ryan Howard, who the Phillies took 135 picks after Teixeira’s name was called.
Stuff like this happens every year. Twenty-seven teams didn’t even have a chance to draft Red Sox killer Alex Rodriguez in 1993, but all 27 passed on Scott Rolen at least once. Now of course it’s easy to go back and say these teams missed out, but the point is that there’s talent out there, you just have to look for it. Here’s a couple of the guys that could keep you from throwing a chair when some team picks your guy on draft day:
What You Want: An outfielder that profiles as a middle-of-the-order bat and should move quickly.
The Top Dogs: Kyle Russell, Texas &Â Kellen Kulbacki, James Madison
The Alternative: Grant Desme, OF, Cal Poly. After transferring from San Diego State, Desme was monster for the Mustangs this spring, going .405-15-53 with 12 stolen bases and 17 doubles. Alas, Desme’s season came to a premature end when he was hit by pitch that broke his wrist. He’s a solid athlete with a nice arm and good baserunning skills, and obviously, a plus hit tool. For a team looking to land that masher without breaking the bank, Desme’s the guy.
