Other Baseball

http://m.mlb.com/video/topic/11493214/v34789333/must-c-curious-moose-scores-on-a-double-and-error Insane.

This is going to be a long initial post, but it will likely be a very short thread, so I apologize. With the MLBPA officially filing a grievance against the Astros for the Aiken/Nix/Marshall draft debacle, there are some weird possibilities that could come about. For those who don't know (I'm sure it's not many), the Houston Astros agreed to sign 1st overall pick, Brady Aiken, for a 6.5 million dollar bonus, but then apparent UCL concerns came up during a physical. The Astros then cut their offer down to a final offer of 5 million dollars, which Aiken refused, and went unsigned. Since the Astros offered 40% of the slotted amount (8mil) for the first overall pick, th…

ok, so most people hate the dh rule mainly because it takes almost all of the strategy out of the al game the nl, without the dh rule, makes a manager ponder when to pinch-hit on offense and when to make a double switch on defense. strategize my solution: make the dh rule in effect for each league, with this modification- the dh can only come to the plate 3 times a game, maximum now a manager must decide when to use his 3 dh at-bats. if the score is tied in the bottom of the 6th with 2 outs and no-one on base and the dh is up for the 3rd time, does he use him up or let the pitcher hit? this saves the dh for the 8th, 9th or extra innings what if the starting pitch…

This was from Monday's game between the Braves and Marlins. Andrelton Simmons, people: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2014_07_21_miamlb_atlmlb_1&mode=video&content_id=34686181&tcid=vpp_copy_34686181 Twisting multiple directions to make the force, then still trying to get the double play from his backside. Incredible.

Blue Jays calling up the 22 year old from Buffalo with a 4.39 and 1.54 WHIP in 34 1/3 innings.He had a 3.82 and 1.39 WHIP in 66 innings in AA. Great k/9 but walks have been an issue, he's going to be pitching from the pen. The Jays now have their top 2 pitching prospects up with the big league team, both under the age of 24. Sure would be nice if the Twins had a couple of guys to do this with...........................oh,wait.

https://www.edx.org/course/bux/bux-sabr101x-sabermetrics-101-1558#.U34_ti-tg-N Anyone else signed up?

good god!! that would mean adding 1 or 2 more relief pitchers so teams only carry 10 or 11 position players??? everybody is concerned about tommy john surgery, well throw fewer breaking balls and use a change-up to enhance the fastball did bert have tommy john surgery?? did maddux? hell, did wilbur wood? end of rant

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/yankees/yankees-pick-solarte-send-nunez-minors-article-1.1739292 Solarte beats out 4-year veteran Eduardo Nunez for a spot on the opening day roster. I'm not sure if this is a worse reflection on the condition of the Twins or the Yankees? Solarte was inexplicably waived outright by the Twins in 2011 at age 23, after slashing .329/.367/.466/.834 at New Britain. He followed that up with respectable years in AAA with the Rangers, OPSing at .745 and .727. He's been on fire this spring, playing in 24 games and slashing .424/.489/.571/.1067. Interesting quotes from Girardi....Solarte could have opted out if he didn't make th…

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 6m Sources: #RedSox designating Pierzynski for assignment. Makes the Suzuki signing look better & better. But I'm still an A.J. fan .... sometimes you just have to know when you're done.

Justin competed in the Home Run Derby and now hasn't played for two days with an injured neck. I wonder if it has anything to do with the flights or if it is trying to jerk 500 ft. bombs in the rain.

1-4, 8.91 era in A+ ball. He's only striking out 7.2 per nine (17% of batters he faces). A lot of players struggle adapting to pro ball but this is insane. I don't think I can remember a top college arm drafted this high struggle this much.

It's been a great run for Derek Jeter but he is not the greatest shortstop of all time. That one goes to Honus Wagner, stats longevity and fielding (and someone from the dead ball era has to be listed as the best at one position - Wagner seems most deserving to me). I put Jeter ahead of Cal Jr. and Ozzie Smith in the post-TV era. Joe Cronin is in there from pre-TV Others like Robin Yount played too many years at other positions. 1. Honus Wagner 2. Joe Cronin 3. Derek Jeter 4. Ozzie Smith 5. Cal Ripken Jr.

http://saintstrain.sportsblog.com/post/754698/t_bones_vs_saints.html

One of the best baseball writers on one of my favorite former Twins: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2014/07/15/pat-nesheks-soaring-triumph-tinged-with-sorrow/ Looking for a really loud welcome back for Pat Neshek tonight!!

Anyone stay up to watch the whole thing? Cool to see Morneau again at TF, it was a nice moment. Cepedes was beastly, and it's too bad that Stanton didn't make it to the Final Round, he looked dialed at the start. Man, that was really long. I thought it would be better in this format, but I still think it takes too much time for everyone to hit.

Major League Baseball* announced, using the All-star stage (or shade?), that they have designated Billy Bean to prepare the sport for LGBT athletes and employees. Bean sounds like a class act. *Unlike the NFL (here's some further discussion).

"There's No Place Like Home, Saints Sweep Sox" http://saintstrain.sportsblog.com/post/752340/saintstrain.html

Sorry if this was already posted, but this is some pretty cool footage of the 1965 All Star game at The Met. Being way too young to have ever seen any of these guys play it is cool to see that many Hall of Famers on one field http://network.yardbarker.com/mlb/article_external/awesome_archival_footage_of_the_1965_all_star_game/16846732?linksrc=story_home_module_image_16846732

IMHO, a great story. As someone from the same generation, I remember Mays as the best of the best in an era where baseball was king. http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/266888711.html

Twinkie town linked this:http://www.rsvlts.com/2014/07/11/yankees-vs-orioles-brawl/ Everybody remembers Yankees/Red Sox but the Yanks and Baltimore had a darn good rivalry in the late 90s. The brawl was freaking awesome.

I thought I would create a separate thread for anyone that wanted to talk about that exhibition game after the Futures Game. Some highlights for me - Rickey hit a leadoff Homer, some impressive defense from Nelly and James Denton, the awesome catch and throw from the wounded warrior, everyone booing Mike Piazza for not letting Thome's foul pop up drop, AP vs. Jennie Finch - I didn't think I would enjoy it as much as I did.

Now that Morneau's signing with the Rockies is official. I am curious to read what you folks think his offensive numbers will look like at the conclusion of the 2014 season. My take: 25ish HR's • .280ish BA • 60ish BB • 620 PA's My prediction with the HR's is based on the assumption that Morneau plays the whole season with Colorado and is not traded.

And another one bites the dust (at least for 6 weeks): Mark Feinsand ‏@FeinsandNYDN 1h Cashman said Tanaka has seen three doctors - Ahmad, Altcheck and one more. All three diagnose a partially torn ligament in throwing arm. Mark Feinsand ‏@FeinsandNYDN 1h One PRP injection and throwing program has been recommended. It's considered a small ligament tear for Tanaka. TJ surgery not ruled out. Daniel Barbarisi ‏@DanBarbarisi 1h Cashman says if rehab goes well, tanaka could be back on mound in 6 weeks. Mark Feinsand ‏@FeinsandNYDN 1h Cashman said it's Tanaka's UCL. Mark Feinsand ‏@FeinsandNYDN 1h Cashman said the tear in Tanaka's ligament is a new injury. It was no…

This is a great read on how the Home Run Derby was added to the 1985 All Star Game weekend events and how the contest went down without Chris Berman and all of the cameras: http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/swing-away-the-untold-story-of-the-first-home-run-derby-071014?cmpid=tsmfb:fscom:foxsports

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/07/yadier-molina-out-eight-to-twelve-weeks-with-torn-thumb-ligament.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MlbTradeRumors+%28MLB+Trade+Rumors%29 Molina is out for 8-12 weeks with torn thumb. Suzuki could be a good fit, per ESPN Bowden.

Today is the last day to vote to get Morneau back here for the All Star Game. We have until 3 PM to vote. Last I checked he has lost the lead to some random Cubbie (yes I know who Rizzo is, just don't care ) Be sure to vote often today! I really don't want to boo Rizzo on Tuesday, even though I will!

Seattle Times' Mariners beat writer Geoff Baker passed along an interesting soundbite by Jay Buhner, former Mariner and current ROOTS Sports analyst for the ball club. During last night's game, Buhner commented that during Twins' Sam Fuld's attempt to rob Michael Saunders, Fuld "tricker-jewed" him. Not sure if that is racially-inspired or not but I am certainly unfamiliar with the term.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/09/first-pitch-strip-tease_n_5570745.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

My latest blog on the Saints last home series and the fun we have at the games. "Saints Battle Redhawks in Midweek Showdown" http://saintstrain.sportsblog.com/posts/738610/saints_battle_redhawks_in_midweek.html

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/07/athletics-to-acquire-jeff-samardzija-and-jason-hammel.html Big trade. I tend to think Samardzija is overrated but Hammel is a bit underrated but both are legit ML pitchers who should help this year. Hammel is a FA at the end of the year and Samardzija has one more year of club control. A's gave the Cubs arguably the best pure shortstop prospect in baseball in Addison Russell, former first rounder Billy McKinney who looks like a nice piece and MLer Dan Straily. With Russell, I think the Cubs are probably the best farm system in baseball right now, even with Beaz' struggles. Arguably, Bryant and Russell could be ranked ahead o…