Since pitchers and catchers report in just a few days and early arrivals like Gary Sanchez are already hitting balls into the deep blue Florida sky, I guess it's time for an new thread. How 'bout them Mariners? Speed, pitching, power and defense. Now all they need is health.
I actually like this trade, with Rodriguez injury. Braves tried to get Phillips back in November, and now in this version of the deal, of the $14 MM he is owed, the Reds will pay $13 MM. The Braves get a veteran 2B for a Million bucks until Ozzie Albies is ready? Fine by me.
By the way, here's the new stadium, if you haven't seen it. My seats: http://atlanta.braves.mlb.com/atl/ballpark/suntrust-park/live-webcam/ Pros: - The new stadium is awesome in all kinds of ways and puts the Braves in a better position to succeed for a long time. Cons: - WAAAAAAY more expensive tickets. - Will take me 30-45 minutes longer to get there, depending on traffic. - The stadium is oriented like no other park in MLB, and now the sun is going to be in my face for mid to late Summer games.
They're now saying Rodriguez may be out the whole season. I really don't see a downside to this deal for the Braves. Phillips is a steady performer, will be a great influence on the youngsters, and will only cost the Braves $1M. That's a great deal for them.
They have 4 middle infielders on the roster. They had to move him to let Perraza play the bulk of the time. Phillips would be awesome if the Reds were going to compete this year. But they aren't. So you play the guy you have under contract for the next 6 years hoping he gets it together before Votto loses it.
He even threw it like an out of shape middle-ager, but putting his insane sauce on every pitch. Classic. King Bullseye still has It.
I'm at work, so I haven't listened to it, but just watching Bryant's facial expressions I could tell he was dumbfounded.
When Bryant turns and says "he actually might be better than the other guy," I lost it. That was awesome.
Motherfuckershitfuckfuckfuck. Going into effect this season: Sources: MLB, union agree to use dugout signal for intentional walk " In an age in which intentional walks actually have been declining -- there were just 932 all last season (or one every 2.6 games) -- that time savings would be minimal. But MLB saw the practice of lobbing four meaningless pitches as antiquated." Fucking idiots.
Another one of the reasons I don't like it is the possibility of future stalling, which of course will make the games even longer. There have been plenty of times in late innings when a pitcher gets in trouble, and first base is open. The current pitcher will lob four up there while the bullpen is stirring. Now, to try and grab that time, managers will hem & haw to make up for the reduced time it takes to just hold up four fingers. "What?! No, I wasn't signaling to put him on, Blue. I was just fixing my hair! Let's review the video then. . . . oh, okay, well, gee, I guess I did signal. Ok, put him on."
When you actually go to the ballpark, instead of watching at home - where you don't have announcers telling you everything - and your girlfriend or child says, "Hey, why did that guy just get to go to first? What happened?" "Oh, uh, I guess they put him on. I couldn't see the manager from here." "Baseball is dumb."
"Hey! They now throw 4 less pitches every 2.6 games! I think I'll watch a baseball game now!" said no one ever.
I think my favorite part was KB innocently asking "do you still want the bat" and Maddux scoffing and saying no with juuusst the right amount of dickish disdain. He's the best.
I want a second fence hung thirty feet over the outfield wall/fence. If you hit it over THAT fence, you get a "Super home run" where you not only score runs but you get to watch the pitcher's wife in the shower. What? Aren't we all trying to ruin the game here? MLB is doing a bang-up job on their own already.
Ah the first day of spring training! Wonder how long it'll be before Josh Hamilton gets inju...never mind. He's down.