Posted on 08/08/2005 7:17:31 AM PDT by ken5050
OK, all you Freeper baseball fans..exciting week on and off the field. As usual, let's recap the races, then we'll talk about off the field shenanigans...
Millar, like Adam Stern, is wasting space that could be filled by Kevin Youkilis.
Stern is supposed to be the designated runner and I have seen him screw up three times costing them outs. Millar might be good in the club house but his power has left him. Yes, he can draw walks but that should be getting him better pitches to hit and he's just not getting the job done. Youkilis is not a first baseman and he's also not the hitter or defender that Bill Mueller is. He is still young and needs to play so expect him next year.
I think that the Sox will be solid for years to come with the pitching that they have in the minors.
These kids in the minors have really electrifying stuff. I think that they can all throw heat but their off speed pitches are not developed yet. I think that once they get a good second pitch like a split or slider and a good change they will have the tools. Playing in Boston requires a certain mental capacity which is another story....
?????
Millar and Trot had the infamous playoffs bar-dancing episode IIRC.
Millar has lost it.
I dunno, he's always been a very streaky hitter, and even when he gets out he often goes deep in the count and has good ABs. He seems to be having a lot of problems with lefties this year. His OPS by month:
March/Apr - .673
May - .593
June - .986
July - .793
August - .491
Obviously not a good start to August, and a down year any way you slice it, but he's been written off for dead before only to come through with a strong finish.
In Pawtucket yesterday, Youkilis played first base, and played as well as a typical first baseman would. WHile he didn't make any spectacular plays, he didn't embarass himself either. I don't think it would take him long to get used to the new position at Pawtucket. Hopefully, when the rosters are expanded in September, he will get some playing time at first.
My Bravos have their most exciting team in years, thanks to their young talent...Brian McCann, Kelly Johnson, Ryan Langerhans, Wilson Betemit, and the guy who SHOULD be the NL Rookie of the Year, Jeff Francouer.
You know, it doesn't matter if they make it to the series this year. Billy Beane has once again proven himself to be one of the top 5 GMs in baseball. Next year they take it all as no one will be able to compete with their pitching, young players and the fact that Billy will have some extra money to spend with new ownership.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/3867778
Check this article out about Millar.
The 'Stros avoided getting the broom yesterday in San Fran thanks to the masterful Clemens
Hey Cyclo, I remember some talk bout the Stro's picking up a game/week on the Cards? Started the week at 9 out ended at 10 out.
How about a little middle infielder hitting a walk off grand slam in the bottom of the 9th against the Braves.
Baseball -- I live for this .
C ompletely
U seless
B y
S eptember
On which basis? Cy Young is not an ERA title..if it were, Claude Osteen would have had several. Rocket could have helped avoid the recent sweep of the Astros by the Cards but wasn't good enough.
Carpenter is having the best year of the reasonable contenders(Clemens, Carpenter, Martinez, Willis).
NLWC from the East...
As far as hitting he's a pretty good copy of Mueller:
Youkilis career: 271 AB, 8 HR, 44 RBI, .371 OBP, .417 SLG, 788 OPS
Mueller 2005: 339 AB, 5 HR, 44 RBI, .373 OBP, .410 SLG, 783 OPS
Mueller 2004: 399 AB, 12 HR, 57 RBI, .365 OBP, .446 SLG, .811 OPS
The Cards are once again justifying their sterling reputation. Everyone's coming through for them. Eckstein plays with heart and he's got the talent to compliment that (as evidenced by his clutch hit yesterday).
I'm not giving up my fool's hope that the 'Stros can catch the Cards, but as you've said they've fallen farther behind this last week as a result of the G-Men's Schmidt and Lowry. It may be a challenge, but I find that one need have someone to chase in order to keep focus. Since the 'Stros are leading the WC (for now), we might as well set our sights on St. Louis.
As I've said before, both St. Louis and Houston will be in the playoffs (regardless of who wins the Division and who wins the Wildcard), and that there will be a rematch of last year's NLCS.
I'm not sure at what point optimism becomes foolishness, but I remain dedicated to the ultimate triumph of the Astros in the Central Division. Loyalty trumps reason, I guess. :)
Is there an age handicap for the Cy? If so, show me Wilhelm's and Niekro's collections.
Clemens is having a good year, but not the best year in the NL..probably the fourth best.
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