Thursday, May 25, 2006
Nationals - Frank Tracy
Frank Robinson, showing his ability to create a lineup, has decided that Alfonso Soriano should bat leadoff, and he has Jose Vidro hitting third. Now, I can understand that Soriano has a speed advantage, but this just doesn't work. Soriano is an annual candidate for the 30-30 club, but he's also an annual member of the 100-strikeout club. You always want the leadoff man to be able to do what Grady Little calls "that Oakland thing." Soriano has improved in plate discipline, but he still has 42 strikeouts on the year to a mere 15 walks. Soriano also has 16 home runs on the season. Jose Vidro, the Nats' second baseman, is hitting .347 with a .407 OBP, with 18 walks to 20 strikeouts, and 4 home runs on the season. Soriano and Johnson batting 3 and 4 - both players have double digit home runs 48 games into the season - would solidify the lineup more. In addition, Marlon Byrd and his .330 slugging percentage were sitting in 6th today in the lineup, as Ryan Zimmerman, who went 2-3 today, is slugging .441. In creating a lineup, you want someone who gets on base at the top, then you want someone to at least move him in #2, then power in at least 3-5, and Soriano, Johnson, Guillen are a good trio for that. Players around that core provide protection.
Sure the Nationals won today, but Andy Pettite is having a terrible start to his season, which was typified by the fact that he only lasted 3 innings. Tony Armas is pitching effectively, but not efficiently, as he can't go deep into games because of his pitch count. But Soriano had an outfield assist.
Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to watching the first game of the Dodgers sweep of the Nationals.
Sure the Nationals won today, but Andy Pettite is having a terrible start to his season, which was typified by the fact that he only lasted 3 innings. Tony Armas is pitching effectively, but not efficiently, as he can't go deep into games because of his pitch count. But Soriano had an outfield assist.
Nonetheless, I'm looking forward to watching the first game of the Dodgers sweep of the Nationals.
Labels: Nationals
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
In the news - another politician saves the world
Or so he would want you to think.
Sen. John McCain said something "behind closed doors" that someone wrote down. And because he's someone that apparently people care about, that got reported. I don't have that problem, personally, because I can't get people to read something I write on the internet, much less care about anything I say privately.
But since his closed-door comments are kind of funny, as he remarks the following.
Why didn't anyone else think of that? I mean really. We have these Muslim-majority countries, many of which tend one way or another to be vastly Sunni or Shiite by majority. These two particular groups have a history of not getting along, going back to when the groups were first formed. All over whether or not the Prophet had a hereditary successor! Honestly, just because this is a debate that's raged for over a millenium, it's obvious that a call to "stop the bullshit" would definitlely take care of things.
John McCain, having established his wisdom, now provides for us a domestic application of his plan for ensuring domestic tranquility.
What is the problem? According to McCain, it is not illegal immigration, unless he has secret information telling him that Limbaugh, Dobbs, and Savage are secretly sneaking Mexicans across the border to take over the town of Rio Linda, CA.
The problem is with "ghettoizing," which is to imply that Mexicans are being forced to the ghetto, which invokes the first law of wisdom: when in doubt, make comparisons to Nazi Germany. It is clear to this brilliant man that the fact that France's socialist setup and near-impossible hiring conditions, not to mention its double-digit employment for the nation as a whole, are not the cause of this. McCain, uninterested in such a silly concept such as whether or not a nation has the right to sovereignly declare who may immigrate into that country, is addressing the real issue: anti-Mexicanism.
In drawing the comparison with France, McCain knows better than to think that the 20% and higher unemployment rate among young Muslim males in France is the cause of unemployment, because that would not translate to the American situation in which Mexicans cross the border specifically for employment, often staying because they find what they want. The fact that the US has an unemployment rate nationally of under 5% is clearly irrelevant to the ability of these immigrants to obtain jobs. What McCain knows is that the problem in France is nothing more than people hating Muslims simply because they are Muslims, and that does not satisfy the traditional definition of being French. The problem clearly translates, as logic would dictate, that Americans do not care about legal or illegal immigration, but are more interested in the definition of American as defined by the societal dictates of what it is to be American. Such arguments that the definition of being French is far more narrow than the definition of being American are silly, as both countries are very similar because their flags are red, white, and blue and they both had a revolution in the late 18th century. This clearly trumps any notion that American national identity is more broadly defined just because of a greater religious and ethnic diversity in non-segregated segments of society.
McCain gets picked on a lot in this respect, but he is no different from any other politician. Politicians in general do not set out to create schemes which will cause economic harm, restrict freedom, or fail to solve their objective. They are successful in these things, though, because they are too busy acting in accorance to what rhetoric would help them most to get re-elected, because that is what the people want. Yet at the same time, they have to think differently from the supposed "common sense," because they are the great minds that run Washington, and after all, they have to come up with such brilliant thoughts that the common folk (or "the masses," as Karl Marx so eloquently described those individuals who are not in some position of great power or stature) cannot understand, and need them. That is how Congressmen sleep at night.
Sen. John McCain said something "behind closed doors" that someone wrote down. And because he's someone that apparently people care about, that got reported. I don't have that problem, personally, because I can't get people to read something I write on the internet, much less care about anything I say privately.
But since his closed-door comments are kind of funny, as he remarks the following.
“One of the things I would do if I were President would be to sit the Shiites
and the Sunnis down and say, ‘Stop the bullshit,’” said Mr. McCain, according to
Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi, an invitee, and two other guests.
Why didn't anyone else think of that? I mean really. We have these Muslim-majority countries, many of which tend one way or another to be vastly Sunni or Shiite by majority. These two particular groups have a history of not getting along, going back to when the groups were first formed. All over whether or not the Prophet had a hereditary successor! Honestly, just because this is a debate that's raged for over a millenium, it's obvious that a call to "stop the bullshit" would definitlely take care of things.
John McCain, having established his wisdom, now provides for us a domestic application of his plan for ensuring domestic tranquility.
He cautioned against ghettoizing immigrants, which he noted has brought about
disastrous results in France, and criticized elements in his own party as
“nativist” before lambasting the punditry of Rush Limbaugh, Lou Dobbs and
Michael Savage for helping to “fuel the problem,” according to two of the
sources.
What is the problem? According to McCain, it is not illegal immigration, unless he has secret information telling him that Limbaugh, Dobbs, and Savage are secretly sneaking Mexicans across the border to take over the town of Rio Linda, CA.
The problem is with "ghettoizing," which is to imply that Mexicans are being forced to the ghetto, which invokes the first law of wisdom: when in doubt, make comparisons to Nazi Germany. It is clear to this brilliant man that the fact that France's socialist setup and near-impossible hiring conditions, not to mention its double-digit employment for the nation as a whole, are not the cause of this. McCain, uninterested in such a silly concept such as whether or not a nation has the right to sovereignly declare who may immigrate into that country, is addressing the real issue: anti-Mexicanism.
In drawing the comparison with France, McCain knows better than to think that the 20% and higher unemployment rate among young Muslim males in France is the cause of unemployment, because that would not translate to the American situation in which Mexicans cross the border specifically for employment, often staying because they find what they want. The fact that the US has an unemployment rate nationally of under 5% is clearly irrelevant to the ability of these immigrants to obtain jobs. What McCain knows is that the problem in France is nothing more than people hating Muslims simply because they are Muslims, and that does not satisfy the traditional definition of being French. The problem clearly translates, as logic would dictate, that Americans do not care about legal or illegal immigration, but are more interested in the definition of American as defined by the societal dictates of what it is to be American. Such arguments that the definition of being French is far more narrow than the definition of being American are silly, as both countries are very similar because their flags are red, white, and blue and they both had a revolution in the late 18th century. This clearly trumps any notion that American national identity is more broadly defined just because of a greater religious and ethnic diversity in non-segregated segments of society.
McCain gets picked on a lot in this respect, but he is no different from any other politician. Politicians in general do not set out to create schemes which will cause economic harm, restrict freedom, or fail to solve their objective. They are successful in these things, though, because they are too busy acting in accorance to what rhetoric would help them most to get re-elected, because that is what the people want. Yet at the same time, they have to think differently from the supposed "common sense," because they are the great minds that run Washington, and after all, they have to come up with such brilliant thoughts that the common folk (or "the masses," as Karl Marx so eloquently described those individuals who are not in some position of great power or stature) cannot understand, and need them. That is how Congressmen sleep at night.
Labels: Politics
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Dodgers - OWhere is Odalis?
Odails Perez pitched the first time I ever saw the Dodgers live in a Major League stadium. It was in Dodger Stadium. I had gone on a trip to LA with my family, and we took in a game Sunday night of the trip. Dodgers vs. Cardinals. The game was on July 20, 2003, and best known for being the most home runs ever hit in Dodger Stadium in one night: 9. While that was nice, the unfortunate thing was that the Dodgers 5 home runs were pretty much all solo shots, while the Cardinals got people on base and then launched the ball out of the park. So the first time I saw the Dodgers play, they lost, by a score of 10-7.
That being said, I will admit to my frustrations with Odalis Perez. His performance in the 2004 playoff series, where he lost twice, didn't make me feel any better about him. Last season was not good for him either, particularly with the injury. I figured it wasn't too much to worry about; after all, a lot of the games ended up as no-decisions, 4.5 isn't a terrible ERA when he'd get more run support this year, and he plays well in even-numbered years.
The Dodgers essentially made up their minds that after he blew the game and gave away a 6 run lead to the division rival Diamondbacks, after blowing a 5 run lead in a previous game against the Braves, and just getting off to a lousy start against the Houston Astros, that he was out of the rotation. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt claimed that there were problems with his mechanics, although these clearly have not been effectively communicated as Odalis refuses to acknowledge any mechanical problems on his part. Looking simply at his W-L record says that he has a 4-1 record in 7 games, and a 3-1 record in his 6 starts. His ERA, though, is a whopping 6.9.
Odalis claimed that the reason for his poor performance against Arizona was because he couldn't help but think about his mother, and this is believable since he claimed a similar distraction during the 2004 playoffs. Whether that distraction caused the mechanical problems he had is uncertain, although what was certain was that he proved himself unstable, unable to hold when the Dodgers give him the run support which he has publicly criticized the team for not giving him in the past.
Odalis' last good outing came April 21, also against Arizona. He lasted 6 innings, struck out 4, walked one, and surrendered just 4 hits and one run. A stellar performance for sure. Said Grady Little after the game
And then, the next two starts for Perez were rather disasterous. Grady Little had the following to say after that one
Now after that start, Odalis went on bereavement, Aaron Sele made a replacement start, and pitched rather well. Perez was then moved to the bullpen right when he got back. For an explanation, the most logical one is this:
That would be the apparent trigger of Perez's demotion, although his number do tell a distinct story.
Odalis had never had an opponent's batting average above .290 against him after a season (2001 with Atlanta) - never above .267 as a starter (2003), and already opponents are thus far hitting .330 against him.
The teams that have gotten the most out of him are the Astros, the Diamondbacks, and the Braves.
What is most telling is the WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched). For his career, this number is 1.26, and as a starter never exceeded 1.28 (2003), and in fact got as low as .99 (2002), but this season it is 1.71. Over 6 innings, that's more than 10 guys on base.
Perez tended more towards grounders in 2003 and 2004, having close to a 2-1 GO-AO ratio in those years, but currently that number is closer to 1.2-1. This is not completely relevant, though, with a 1.34 number in his best year, 2002, and a 1.4 number last year, which was acceptable.
While the 5 bases stolen on him already this season can also in part be blamed on Navarro, the fact is that Perez is letting baserunners on, and they are more apt to score. Last year in 108 innings, 14 were swiped off him in 19 starts compared to 5 in 6 starts and 31 innings this year.
Perez is on track for a normal season with regard to home runs allowed, as he has surrendered 4 thus far.
The
That being said, I will admit to my frustrations with Odalis Perez. His performance in the 2004 playoff series, where he lost twice, didn't make me feel any better about him. Last season was not good for him either, particularly with the injury. I figured it wasn't too much to worry about; after all, a lot of the games ended up as no-decisions, 4.5 isn't a terrible ERA when he'd get more run support this year, and he plays well in even-numbered years.
The Dodgers essentially made up their minds that after he blew the game and gave away a 6 run lead to the division rival Diamondbacks, after blowing a 5 run lead in a previous game against the Braves, and just getting off to a lousy start against the Houston Astros, that he was out of the rotation. Pitching coach Rick Honeycutt claimed that there were problems with his mechanics, although these clearly have not been effectively communicated as Odalis refuses to acknowledge any mechanical problems on his part. Looking simply at his W-L record says that he has a 4-1 record in 7 games, and a 3-1 record in his 6 starts. His ERA, though, is a whopping 6.9.
Odalis claimed that the reason for his poor performance against Arizona was because he couldn't help but think about his mother, and this is believable since he claimed a similar distraction during the 2004 playoffs. Whether that distraction caused the mechanical problems he had is uncertain, although what was certain was that he proved himself unstable, unable to hold when the Dodgers give him the run support which he has publicly criticized the team for not giving him in the past.
Odalis' last good outing came April 21, also against Arizona. He lasted 6 innings, struck out 4, walked one, and surrendered just 4 hits and one run. A stellar performance for sure. Said Grady Little after the game
Manager Grady Little said of Perez's performance, "He had a very consistent
approach to the game and gave us another strong six innings. We're happy for him
and for us."
And then, the next two starts for Perez were rather disasterous. Grady Little had the following to say after that one
"He kept firing, but they kept hitting," said Little, who lifted Perez after he
allowed a grand slam to Chad Tracy to tie the game and walked Luis Gonzalez, the
eighth batter of the inning, putting the go-ahead run on base.
"Too many
times this year we've had five-run leads, six-run leads. Today, we made great
strides with our offense, and it continued throughout the ballgame, but, [dang],
we've got to make a pitch when we've got to make a pitch."
Now after that start, Odalis went on bereavement, Aaron Sele made a replacement start, and pitched rather well. Perez was then moved to the bullpen right when he got back. For an explanation, the most logical one is this:
Owner Frank McCourt visited Colletti in his press-level suite above home plate
moments after Chad Tracy's grand slam against Odalis Perez tied the score, 6-6,
in the fifth inning.From their animated gestures, it appeared McCourt vented for
several minutes, then Colletti made a few points. Eventually both men sat back
in their chairs and chatted amiably for two innings before McCourt departed.
That would be the apparent trigger of Perez's demotion, although his number do tell a distinct story.
Odalis had never had an opponent's batting average above .290 against him after a season (2001 with Atlanta) - never above .267 as a starter (2003), and already opponents are thus far hitting .330 against him.
The teams that have gotten the most out of him are the Astros, the Diamondbacks, and the Braves.
What is most telling is the WHIP (walks + hits per inning pitched). For his career, this number is 1.26, and as a starter never exceeded 1.28 (2003), and in fact got as low as .99 (2002), but this season it is 1.71. Over 6 innings, that's more than 10 guys on base.
Perez tended more towards grounders in 2003 and 2004, having close to a 2-1 GO-AO ratio in those years, but currently that number is closer to 1.2-1. This is not completely relevant, though, with a 1.34 number in his best year, 2002, and a 1.4 number last year, which was acceptable.
While the 5 bases stolen on him already this season can also in part be blamed on Navarro, the fact is that Perez is letting baserunners on, and they are more apt to score. Last year in 108 innings, 14 were swiped off him in 19 starts compared to 5 in 6 starts and 31 innings this year.
Perez is on track for a normal season with regard to home runs allowed, as he has surrendered 4 thus far.
The
Labels: Dodgers
Friday, May 19, 2006
Fantasy Baseball - Update
I am currently in the 7th week of fantasy baseball. I constantly adjust the team, and last week I actually placed first in my league (of 10, if you recall). My lineup for last week was
Batters
Lopez - C
Molina - C
Sexson - 1b
Kent -2b
Glaus -3b
Crosby - ss
Bay -of
Gibbons - of
Griffey - of
Kearns -of
Ichiro - of
Zimmerman - utility
Wiggington - utility
Pitchers
Contreras
Gonzales
Gordan
Halladay
Hernandez
Jenks
Penny
Sheets
Verlander
I've made a few changes since then, though, and I think I just about have my lineup set for next week. Scott Kazmir of the Devil Rays has been pitching well, and the impression that I get is that he is the real deal. Felix Hernandez needs refinement, and might get sent down to the minors. I've also switched Javy Lopez for another former Atlanta player, Johnny Estrada, behind the plate. Sexson is out because the reason he's not hitting is a bone bruise, and I put Gibbons at first and added rookie-of-the-year candidate Prince Fielder. I also have Robinson Cano as a utility player, as the Yankees second baseman is hitting well, even though he is a terrible base stealer, and I put Wiggington on the reserve list since he's kinda been fading. Also I switched Gagne and Sheets (I had Gagne on reserve) since Gagne will be back, and he will be Gagne when he's back. My season may yet be salvaged.
Batters
Lopez - C
Molina - C
Sexson - 1b
Kent -2b
Glaus -3b
Crosby - ss
Bay -of
Gibbons - of
Griffey - of
Kearns -of
Ichiro - of
Zimmerman - utility
Wiggington - utility
Pitchers
Contreras
Gonzales
Gordan
Halladay
Hernandez
Jenks
Penny
Sheets
Verlander
I've made a few changes since then, though, and I think I just about have my lineup set for next week. Scott Kazmir of the Devil Rays has been pitching well, and the impression that I get is that he is the real deal. Felix Hernandez needs refinement, and might get sent down to the minors. I've also switched Javy Lopez for another former Atlanta player, Johnny Estrada, behind the plate. Sexson is out because the reason he's not hitting is a bone bruise, and I put Gibbons at first and added rookie-of-the-year candidate Prince Fielder. I also have Robinson Cano as a utility player, as the Yankees second baseman is hitting well, even though he is a terrible base stealer, and I put Wiggington on the reserve list since he's kinda been fading. Also I switched Gagne and Sheets (I had Gagne on reserve) since Gagne will be back, and he will be Gagne when he's back. My season may yet be salvaged.
Labels: Fantasy
Thursday, May 18, 2006
In The News - Don't Ask For Directions, Under Penalty of Law
I saw on the news, yesterday I guess, an item about a couple who went to a Baltimore Orioles game and were arrested. A little more information has come out about the whole thing, but here's the recap of what happened. Essentially, the couple got lost on the way over to Camden Yards, and got lost coming out.
There is, of course, a bit more to the story, which one would hope with the extremity of the account. From the Baltimore Sun
Well that seems to tell a bit more. It was dark, and the officer was unsure what this couple was doing in the neighborhood.
The officer claimed that there were signs around that said no trespassing, but based on some experience I have had, police officers always know where all the signs are in the area, even if the drivers don't. It is possible that the signs got caught up in the brush, etc.
Now I can understand the officer getting apprehensive if the driver did actually try to tear the ticket out of the officer's citation book, because that is a belligerent act, no question. Arresting the couple does seem to be a bit over the line though. When arresting someone, police officers have high standards so that prosecutors do not dismiss charges so quickly, but this looks like the officer could not control her temper. That the officer would hold out-of-towners on trespassing charges is also a bit absurd, especially after they asked for directions. After seeing out-of-state plates the officer should have gotten the idea that the couple was lost, and that people in unfamiliar areas often miss street signs. The officer instead played a ticket trap that is more stereotypical of one-horse drive-through towns that want revenue from passing travelers, suggesting that perhaps she should be fired and find work in such a town.
I had a similar experience getting lost in Baltimore, but fortunately for me, it was during the daytime. That says something though; the stadium parking lots for Camden Yards are horribly marked; they are not labled along the sides very well, and signs are put in place poorly. Perhaps Virgina is just good at putting up signs, but that is no reason for Maryland to do a poor job in such an area. Had I gone to a night game in Oriole Park, I could have been just as horribly lost, certainly. There is something to take away from this. I am rather sure that Joshua Kelley has learned his lesson and will not listen to his girlfriend, or any woman, again if prompted to ask for directions.
Besides a bad joke, this is bad for Baltimore, and bad for the Orioles. This is a couple from Chantilly, VA, and now if they want to see Major League Baseball, they have every reason to go to RFK instead. They can park at the Metro station for free on the weekends, and sit and read the Post to find out who's starting and how yesterday's game went. Peter Angelos was very much worried about losing fans to the Nationals, and despite the quality of the team, the Nationals will continue to draw fans. John Patterson will return from injury, Livan Hernandez will pitch like Livan Hernandez, and Ramon Ortiz will get kicked out of the starting rotation (sure he won, but everyone's beating the Cubs right now; the fact is he has a WHIP over 1.7 and he hasn't been good since 2002).
The couple stopped in the 800 block of Bridgeview Drive in Cherry Hill to
ask a Baltimore police officer for directions. Brook said the officer was blunt:
“You found your way in. You can find your way out.”After writing a citation for failure to obey a stop sign — a ticket Kelly
disputes — the officer told them to leave. Confused, the couple drove about “40
feet” and stopped.“We still didn’t know how to get out,” Kelly said.
But the officer pulled up behind them and arrested Kelly for “trespassing,”
according to the ticket.
“The officer said we were on private property,” Brook said. “But we were parked on a public street.”
Kelly said the officer told him that “no trespassing signs” were evident “up and down the block,” but he didn’t see any.
After Kelly’s arrest, Brook said, she was told to “get lost.” But because the car was being impounded, she didn’t know what to do.
“I didn’t know where to go, so [the officer] arrested me.”
There is, of course, a bit more to the story, which one would hope with the extremity of the account. From the Baltimore Sun
A Baltimore police officer who arrested a young Virginia couple who claim
they were asking for directions after getting lost in a South Baltimore
neighborhood stated in a report that the driver argued with her and tried to
tear a ticket out of a citation book.
Officer Natalie N. Preston wrote in police documents that, after she
ticketed the driver for running a stop sign on Round Road in Cherry Hill, the
man held onto her pen before she grabbed it back and that he then refused to
leave, prompting her to arrest him and his girlfriend on suspicion of
trespassing on public housing property and failing to obey a lawful order.
The account offers the first explanation of the arrests from police
after complaints by the couple in which they said they were arrested after
asking an officer how to leave South Baltimore's Cherry Hill neighborhood.
Authorities declined to elaborate on the police report yesterday, saying
the matter is being investigated by the department's Internal Affairs Division.
Prosecutors at Central Booking and Intake Center, where Joshua Kelley, 22,
and Llara Brook, 20, were taken after their arrest, reviewed the officer's
statement and decided not to pursue the case.
"This did not rise to a case that we believe should be criminally
prosecuted," said spokeswoman Margaret T. Burns. She said the couple, who were
arrested Saturday evening, were held at Central Booking for more than eight
hours until prosecutors ordered them released without charges.
Police said the stop occurred about 8:25 p.m. Saturday when an officer
stopped them near Round and Bridgeview roads.
Well that seems to tell a bit more. It was dark, and the officer was unsure what this couple was doing in the neighborhood.
The officer claimed that there were signs around that said no trespassing, but based on some experience I have had, police officers always know where all the signs are in the area, even if the drivers don't. It is possible that the signs got caught up in the brush, etc.
Now I can understand the officer getting apprehensive if the driver did actually try to tear the ticket out of the officer's citation book, because that is a belligerent act, no question. Arresting the couple does seem to be a bit over the line though. When arresting someone, police officers have high standards so that prosecutors do not dismiss charges so quickly, but this looks like the officer could not control her temper. That the officer would hold out-of-towners on trespassing charges is also a bit absurd, especially after they asked for directions. After seeing out-of-state plates the officer should have gotten the idea that the couple was lost, and that people in unfamiliar areas often miss street signs. The officer instead played a ticket trap that is more stereotypical of one-horse drive-through towns that want revenue from passing travelers, suggesting that perhaps she should be fired and find work in such a town.
I had a similar experience getting lost in Baltimore, but fortunately for me, it was during the daytime. That says something though; the stadium parking lots for Camden Yards are horribly marked; they are not labled along the sides very well, and signs are put in place poorly. Perhaps Virgina is just good at putting up signs, but that is no reason for Maryland to do a poor job in such an area. Had I gone to a night game in Oriole Park, I could have been just as horribly lost, certainly. There is something to take away from this. I am rather sure that Joshua Kelley has learned his lesson and will not listen to his girlfriend, or any woman, again if prompted to ask for directions.
Besides a bad joke, this is bad for Baltimore, and bad for the Orioles. This is a couple from Chantilly, VA, and now if they want to see Major League Baseball, they have every reason to go to RFK instead. They can park at the Metro station for free on the weekends, and sit and read the Post to find out who's starting and how yesterday's game went. Peter Angelos was very much worried about losing fans to the Nationals, and despite the quality of the team, the Nationals will continue to draw fans. John Patterson will return from injury, Livan Hernandez will pitch like Livan Hernandez, and Ramon Ortiz will get kicked out of the starting rotation (sure he won, but everyone's beating the Cubs right now; the fact is he has a WHIP over 1.7 and he hasn't been good since 2002).
Labels: Other News Items
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Dodgers - Colletti's report card
Ned Colletti brought in a bunch of people to the Dodgers this year after becoming the new GM. Let's see how his big acquisitions are working out:
Rafael Furcal - .223 BA, .335 OBP, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 9 SB, 9 errors for .946 FP
Bill Mueller - DL, .252, .357 OBP, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB, 8 errors for .905 FP
Kenny Lofton - .286BA, .343 OBP, 8RBI, 9 SB, 1 error for .984 FP
Nomar Garciaparra - .360 BA, .424 OBP, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 1 SB, no errors thus far
Brett Tomko - 4-1, 2.93 ERA, 43 IP in 7 starts, 28 K to 11 BB, 1.16 WHIP
Jae Seo - 1-2, 6.00 ERA, 33 IP in 6 starts and 1 relief appearance, 24K to 11BB, 1.55 WHIP
Danys Baez - 2-2, 3.38 ERA, 18.2 IP in 18 appearances, 14 K to 4 BB, 1.45 WHIP
Grady Little - 18-19, has a personality
What would I say in grading these acquisitions?
Furcal : C+. It's nice that he has speed and plate discipline, but his BA and fielding percentage are terrible. So we're supposed to leave a gold glover on the bench while he bobbles around trying to play short? Furcal only committed 15 errors last year, but is looking more like years past when he committed 20+ at short. He has only made 1 error at second, and would be better off moving there than Izturis.
Mueller: B. The guy is solid in the lineup, and a decent third baseman, but he his prone to injury, which caused his downward slide. He was probably not necessary, with Willy Aybar's impressive debut last year, but the injury allows the Dodgers to give Aybar another tryout, to determine how good he actually is.
Lofton: A-. He has done about everything you would expect, except maybe hit for a slightly higher average. He does not have much of an arm in the outfield, but has good range thanks to his speed. His speed, on top of Furcal and Repko make the Dodgers a speedy team again.
Nomar: A+. Nomar has learned a new position well, he has hit well, he has hit for power, and that alone would give a guy liscence to be a prima donna. Nomar's personality is still great. An excellent acquisition for Los Angeles, and he should stick around as long as he can.
Tomko: A. Brought over to replace Jeff Weaver, and exceed expectations already. Coming off an 8-15 season last year, not much was expected of him except pitching 180-200 innings. He has been solid and consistent. Also a great clubhouse guy. No ace, but solid nonetheless.
Seo: D+. He's anything but consistent. Duaner Sanchez, who was forgone for him, was and has been that. Seo is an upgrade over past 5th starters, but right now is barely looking better than Jose Lima. Not a lot of presence.
Baez: F. Is it harsh to judge him in the wake of the loss to the Giants? Absolutely not. He was given a 3 run lead, so it was just barely a save situation for him. He had the last two days to rest, even. He blew it, and quite miserably. Even with Aybar's error and JD Drew's terrible throw, he blew it. He now has a walks + hits per innings pitched ratio of 1.45, which is worse than everyone else on the team except for Seo, Perez, Hamulack, and Osoria. The closer should be at the top of that list. Also, he had a situation with the bases loaded, and he gave up a flyout on a 1-2 count. Had he gone for the inside corner at least he might have been more successful, but he pitched in the same spot as the two pitches fouled away, low outside corner, inducing a flyout, the last thing he would have wanted then. The groundout would have been risky if the double play didn't work. The strikeout was critical, and he failed. He has blown more than a third of his save oppurtunities, and that makes him a failure.
Little: B-. Still is too trusting of pitching staffs, and veteran position players. Invites too much second guessing from fans. A fun manager to hear talk though, and encouraging when talking to him.
Rafael Furcal - .223 BA, .335 OBP, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 9 SB, 9 errors for .946 FP
Bill Mueller - DL, .252, .357 OBP, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 1 SB, 8 errors for .905 FP
Kenny Lofton - .286BA, .343 OBP, 8RBI, 9 SB, 1 error for .984 FP
Nomar Garciaparra - .360 BA, .424 OBP, 5 HR, 21 RBI, 1 SB, no errors thus far
Brett Tomko - 4-1, 2.93 ERA, 43 IP in 7 starts, 28 K to 11 BB, 1.16 WHIP
Jae Seo - 1-2, 6.00 ERA, 33 IP in 6 starts and 1 relief appearance, 24K to 11BB, 1.55 WHIP
Danys Baez - 2-2, 3.38 ERA, 18.2 IP in 18 appearances, 14 K to 4 BB, 1.45 WHIP
Grady Little - 18-19, has a personality
What would I say in grading these acquisitions?
Furcal : C+. It's nice that he has speed and plate discipline, but his BA and fielding percentage are terrible. So we're supposed to leave a gold glover on the bench while he bobbles around trying to play short? Furcal only committed 15 errors last year, but is looking more like years past when he committed 20+ at short. He has only made 1 error at second, and would be better off moving there than Izturis.
Mueller: B. The guy is solid in the lineup, and a decent third baseman, but he his prone to injury, which caused his downward slide. He was probably not necessary, with Willy Aybar's impressive debut last year, but the injury allows the Dodgers to give Aybar another tryout, to determine how good he actually is.
Lofton: A-. He has done about everything you would expect, except maybe hit for a slightly higher average. He does not have much of an arm in the outfield, but has good range thanks to his speed. His speed, on top of Furcal and Repko make the Dodgers a speedy team again.
Nomar: A+. Nomar has learned a new position well, he has hit well, he has hit for power, and that alone would give a guy liscence to be a prima donna. Nomar's personality is still great. An excellent acquisition for Los Angeles, and he should stick around as long as he can.
Tomko: A. Brought over to replace Jeff Weaver, and exceed expectations already. Coming off an 8-15 season last year, not much was expected of him except pitching 180-200 innings. He has been solid and consistent. Also a great clubhouse guy. No ace, but solid nonetheless.
Seo: D+. He's anything but consistent. Duaner Sanchez, who was forgone for him, was and has been that. Seo is an upgrade over past 5th starters, but right now is barely looking better than Jose Lima. Not a lot of presence.
Baez: F. Is it harsh to judge him in the wake of the loss to the Giants? Absolutely not. He was given a 3 run lead, so it was just barely a save situation for him. He had the last two days to rest, even. He blew it, and quite miserably. Even with Aybar's error and JD Drew's terrible throw, he blew it. He now has a walks + hits per innings pitched ratio of 1.45, which is worse than everyone else on the team except for Seo, Perez, Hamulack, and Osoria. The closer should be at the top of that list. Also, he had a situation with the bases loaded, and he gave up a flyout on a 1-2 count. Had he gone for the inside corner at least he might have been more successful, but he pitched in the same spot as the two pitches fouled away, low outside corner, inducing a flyout, the last thing he would have wanted then. The groundout would have been risky if the double play didn't work. The strikeout was critical, and he failed. He has blown more than a third of his save oppurtunities, and that makes him a failure.
Little: B-. Still is too trusting of pitching staffs, and veteran position players. Invites too much second guessing from fans. A fun manager to hear talk though, and encouraging when talking to him.
Labels: Dodgers
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Dodgers and Nationals - The Inexcuseable and the Unstoppable
There is no joy in Los Angeles, because the left side of the infield went down the toilet. Bill Mueller made two errors, including screwing up on a rundown. The rundown play got so bad Derek Lowe even came over. Lowe was once again victim of awful defense, as after that play, Rafael Furcal threw away the ball, when he was supposed to throw to Nomar, and gave up 2 runs. Derek Lowe has an Earned Run Average of 2.98, but an Earned Run Average of 3.85. The Dodgers are playing terrible defense for everyone else too; in 35 games, they have given up 29 errors.
The 2004 Dodgers team, if you would remember, had the best defense in the National League, committing only 73 errors for a .988 team fielding percentage. It took more than good hitting from the likes of Beltre and Izturis (hit .290 that year). As it stands now, only the Brewers, Marlins, and Reds are fielding the ball worse than the Dodgers, who have a .979 team fielding percentage. Today's game demonstrated that all the dinners and pep talks that Colletti and Little wanted won't make up for playing ability. The Blue Team needs to take infield practice, as the number of errors is just unacceptable, especially behind Derek Lowe. If you can't play defense behind Lowe, he's useless. This is also why Cesar Izturis needs to see a lot of time at shortstop. Those two errors in that inning and Jeff Kent's booted ball in the opener are two games that the Dodgers lost to defense, and 2 losses Derek Lowe did not deserve.
Is fielding the only problem? Well, consider the following Dodger team batting averages
2004 ______ .262
2005 ______ .253
2006 (so far)_.264
And the team ERA's
2004 ______ 4.01
2005 ______ 4.38
2006 (so far)_ 4.20
Not that drastic a difference. But if you compare unearned runs
2004 ______ 37
2005 ______ 60
2006 (so far)_ 14
then it becomes apparent that after 35 games, the Dodgers are certainly not on course to have a good year. But just as the Rockies are not likely to keep up their season, the Dodgers have a few good things going for them later in the season:
1) Eric Gagne is feeling better. There is no update as to whether or not he is back at 97mph, but he is pain-free and scheduled for a rehab apperance on May 25. His return means that the 9th inning is safe, and that Baez has the 8th. Broxton, Beimel, and Saito are making a good case to keep their job, and it is a duel between Hamulack and Osoria to see who will stay with the big club. The Dodgers would be smart to give Odalis Perez an inning to prove he has fixed his mechanics tomorrow, and then if he looks good let him start. Jae Seo would be a much more likely candidate to become a long reliever, with Sele earning a spot in the rotation if he can repeat himself in San Francisco.
2) Cesar Izturis is scheduled to begin rehabbing on the same day, starting at class A to DH, then going to AAA to try 2nd base, and then test his arm out at 2nd base. His major league callup is scheduled to coincide with the "boo Beltre" series against the Mariners. The Dodgers would be smart to start experimenting with Furcal in left field, especially with only 4 outfielders.
3) The Dodgers from AAA that have come up have not disappointed. Aybar may see a start Friday in place of Bill Mueller. Ethier has thus far played reasonably well. Russell Martin has been outstanding. Chad Billingsley still has yet to see time with the big club, and everyone wants to see him come up.
4) The Dodgers own Brad Lidge. Every time they have faced him, he has faltered. It's not game over until we say so.
#######################
Nationals
The Nats managed a nice 9th inning comeback to keep the game going, but their pitching gave out in the 11th. Starter Zach Day did well, although he intentionally walked David Ross to get to Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo struck out every time he batted, and struck out 8 Nationals. Frank Robinson was too impatient with Rauch, and pulled him after allowing a single run, only to be replaced by two of the weaker relievers on the team. Felix Rodriguez got nobody out, nor did Joey Eischen, who had a 9.58 ERA before facing Ken Griffey Jr. Memo to Frank: don't bring in a left-handed specialist against Griffey. He's GRIFFEY! Had Robinson been more patient with Rauch, the Nationals could have still won the game, but Robinson clearly has no patience left, which will probably lead to his retirement.
The 2004 Dodgers team, if you would remember, had the best defense in the National League, committing only 73 errors for a .988 team fielding percentage. It took more than good hitting from the likes of Beltre and Izturis (hit .290 that year). As it stands now, only the Brewers, Marlins, and Reds are fielding the ball worse than the Dodgers, who have a .979 team fielding percentage. Today's game demonstrated that all the dinners and pep talks that Colletti and Little wanted won't make up for playing ability. The Blue Team needs to take infield practice, as the number of errors is just unacceptable, especially behind Derek Lowe. If you can't play defense behind Lowe, he's useless. This is also why Cesar Izturis needs to see a lot of time at shortstop. Those two errors in that inning and Jeff Kent's booted ball in the opener are two games that the Dodgers lost to defense, and 2 losses Derek Lowe did not deserve.
Is fielding the only problem? Well, consider the following Dodger team batting averages
2004 ______ .262
2005 ______ .253
2006 (so far)_.264
And the team ERA's
2004 ______ 4.01
2005 ______ 4.38
2006 (so far)_ 4.20
Not that drastic a difference. But if you compare unearned runs
2004 ______ 37
2005 ______ 60
2006 (so far)_ 14
then it becomes apparent that after 35 games, the Dodgers are certainly not on course to have a good year. But just as the Rockies are not likely to keep up their season, the Dodgers have a few good things going for them later in the season:
1) Eric Gagne is feeling better. There is no update as to whether or not he is back at 97mph, but he is pain-free and scheduled for a rehab apperance on May 25. His return means that the 9th inning is safe, and that Baez has the 8th. Broxton, Beimel, and Saito are making a good case to keep their job, and it is a duel between Hamulack and Osoria to see who will stay with the big club. The Dodgers would be smart to give Odalis Perez an inning to prove he has fixed his mechanics tomorrow, and then if he looks good let him start. Jae Seo would be a much more likely candidate to become a long reliever, with Sele earning a spot in the rotation if he can repeat himself in San Francisco.
2) Cesar Izturis is scheduled to begin rehabbing on the same day, starting at class A to DH, then going to AAA to try 2nd base, and then test his arm out at 2nd base. His major league callup is scheduled to coincide with the "boo Beltre" series against the Mariners. The Dodgers would be smart to start experimenting with Furcal in left field, especially with only 4 outfielders.
3) The Dodgers from AAA that have come up have not disappointed. Aybar may see a start Friday in place of Bill Mueller. Ethier has thus far played reasonably well. Russell Martin has been outstanding. Chad Billingsley still has yet to see time with the big club, and everyone wants to see him come up.
4) The Dodgers own Brad Lidge. Every time they have faced him, he has faltered. It's not game over until we say so.
#######################
Nationals
The Nats managed a nice 9th inning comeback to keep the game going, but their pitching gave out in the 11th. Starter Zach Day did well, although he intentionally walked David Ross to get to Bronson Arroyo. Arroyo struck out every time he batted, and struck out 8 Nationals. Frank Robinson was too impatient with Rauch, and pulled him after allowing a single run, only to be replaced by two of the weaker relievers on the team. Felix Rodriguez got nobody out, nor did Joey Eischen, who had a 9.58 ERA before facing Ken Griffey Jr. Memo to Frank: don't bring in a left-handed specialist against Griffey. He's GRIFFEY! Had Robinson been more patient with Rauch, the Nationals could have still won the game, but Robinson clearly has no patience left, which will probably lead to his retirement.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
Nationals - What to do?
I've focused a lot on the Dodgers, my primary favorite team, but what of the Washington Nationals? They have problems. I address what I would take care of here.
* * * * *
The Washington Nationals, after operating on a $27 million operating income, expanded their payroll from $48 million to $63 million. There is no reason for their payroll to be below $70 million, as they have the fan base to support them from the vast DC metro area. Attendance last year was the most in franchise history - more than quadruple the previous year's attendance - and with an acutal owner, things should look up for the Nats. Washington is a much different town than it was in 1972, and the local counties happen to be among the wealthiest in the nation. RFK Stadium still has plenty of empty seats remaining, should Washington attract more fans.
* * * * *
Frank Robinson has made it standard practice that the big screen in the clubhouse stays blank before the game to give the players focus. Grady Little clearly had a better idea with looping video from the starting pitcher. A blank screen does not create focus, just a void. It still leaves the players to talking, playing cards, or whatever before the game begins, and there is no guarantee of unity in purpose. Little's concept is not only more positive, but more proactive, as it presents a common image for the players, so that they would have a common focus. While the bullpen could benefit from watching the other team bat, it does focus everyone on the common objective of beating the other team's pitcher, and thus the other team. This is only part of the problem.
* * * * *
The Nats absolutely botched the Soriano deal. Jim Bowden should be immediately fired for his complete lack of gracefulness in handling the situation, including his threat to put Soriano on the DQ list, which would bar Soriano from playing in the majors for the Nats or any other team, although a DUI conviction would certainly help put the point across.
Soriano should stay, as should Guillen. While Jose Guillen is off to a slow start, he is a quality player. Jose Vidro is a good second baseman, and should stay. Nick Johnson is playing excellent ball, and Zimmerman gives hope to the future of the organization. Byrd and Church both have excellent plate discipline, with on-base percentages that show the power of walks in comparison to their batting averages (Byrd .258 BA / .410 OBP; Church .239 BA / .386 OBP). Either one of these guys would be good at the top of the order, as they will not only get on with high likelihood, but they can make a pitcher throw a few extra pitches, which makes the whole opposing pitching staff more accessible.
Livan Hernandez is a quality starting pitcher, as is John Patterson, and rookie Michael O'Connor is promising too. Tony Armas needs to prove he can last 6 innings in his starts - basically go 180 innings - or he should be converted to a long reliever. The Nationals pitching is better once healed, given that Brian Lawrence and John Patterson will return eventually. That leaves
Hernandez
Patterson
Lawrence
O'Connor
Armas
* * * * *
The bullpen, incidentally, is the Nationals' biggest worry. The untold story of the World Baseball Classic is that the Nationals lost their setup man, Luis Ayala, to the WBC; he's got to undergo Tommy John, and apparently the team couldn't stop him from participating. Good for a 2.75 ERA over 232 innings, with 149 K and 42 walks over that time period. Losing 80 innings from Ayala will cost the Nationals dearly, as only closer Chad Cordero, John Rauch, and near-39-year-old Mike Stanton have ERA under 4 in the bullpen. With starters that can pitch deep into games, Washington can get by with this bullpen, but otherwise can consider themselves in trouble. The Nationals need to get one more quality relieve, which can be achieved easily enough by calming down the young Gary Majewski, and returning him to his career ERA of 3.31. This will keep Washington in control of games.
* * * * *
Aside from patience in waiting for the starting pitching situation to get better, the Nationals need to upgrade their shortstop position, likely in the offseason, since they do not really have an extra player to give. I don't know what the free agent market has up for grabs, but the Lerners should show that they care by getting the best free agent shortstop available, as I'm sure there will be someone for the taking.
If finding a free agent shortstop is a problem, the answer is simple enough - ask Jose Vidro to move to the other side of the middle of the infield. Then, instead of looking for a quality middle infielder, the Nationals can get a power-hitting left fielder, and put Soriano back at 2nd base where he belongs. Chipper Jones demonstrated that it is entirely possible to go from the infield to the outfield back to the infield.
Defenders of the Nationals would suggest that Soriano's defense was a liability, and that he does less harm in the outfield. While that may be, there is also to consider that power hitting left fielders are far more common than power hitting left fielders. If Ken Griffey Jr ever gets off the DL, Cody Ross will be up for grabs, and would be a worthwhile pickup for the Nationals. He has potential and can hit for power. He is also young enough that he Nationals can get him to a long term contract rather cheaply now. Once their new stadium opens, their players can demonstrate their hidden power. The point is it makes more sense to put Soriano back at second after giving him experience as a good defensive player. Then, the Nats can focus on upgrading starting pitching, so that Tony Armas can be a long reliever. If they are serious, they'll offer big bucks for 2 years to Greg Maddux.
* * * * *
The biggest changes the new ownership should make are the firings of Jim Bowden and Frank Robinson. Bowden missed the oppurtunity to get Cody Ross (come on, a player to be named later?), and has produced miserable results for Washington lately.
Frank, while a hall of famer, is frankly too old and senile to contribute anything positive to the team. It would be best for the team if he were to simply retire after this season, remarking that he is ready to retire, because it would not look ugly. It's hard to fire a hall of famer who was also the first black manager in the majors. In 1976, Robinson batted .224 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI, those homers his only extra-base hits. At that point he realized it was time to step down, and now that he cannot be pleased with his current team, it is once again that time.
* * * * *
The Nationals do not have a whole lot of a farm system left, so extending the quality of their current team will gradually get more expensive (making extending Soriano and acquiring Cody Ross good moves). Paul Depodesta, despite his infatuation with Hee Seop Choi, was a defender of the farm system, and could be effective for a team with more payroll limitations. Otherwise, I would love the job.
As for a manager, that will be the most difficult decision for the Nationals to make. It would need to be someone with a good work ethic, someone to motivate and inspire confidence in his team, and to bring out the best in his players. Again, I would love the job, but I think the best person available I can think of for this job would be Orel Hershiser.
* * * * *
So my dream scenario would be, I am the GM, Hershiser manages, and the Nats post the following lineup
Byrd/Church - CF
Vidro - SS
Soriano - 2B
Johnson - 1B
Guillen - RF
Ross - LF
Zimmerman - 3B
Schneider - C
pitcher
and rotation
Hernandez
Maddux
Patterson
Lawrence
O'Connor
and then I'd spend some money on some guys that can be reserves so that the rookies can come up slowly. As for draft picks, I would take college players only if they fill more immediate needs for the next two years and if they are among the best in the NCAA. Otherwise, I'd take high schoolers that are coachable and talented for the long range.
Now let's see if Washington can do that.
* * * * *
The Washington Nationals, after operating on a $27 million operating income, expanded their payroll from $48 million to $63 million. There is no reason for their payroll to be below $70 million, as they have the fan base to support them from the vast DC metro area. Attendance last year was the most in franchise history - more than quadruple the previous year's attendance - and with an acutal owner, things should look up for the Nats. Washington is a much different town than it was in 1972, and the local counties happen to be among the wealthiest in the nation. RFK Stadium still has plenty of empty seats remaining, should Washington attract more fans.
* * * * *
Frank Robinson has made it standard practice that the big screen in the clubhouse stays blank before the game to give the players focus. Grady Little clearly had a better idea with looping video from the starting pitcher. A blank screen does not create focus, just a void. It still leaves the players to talking, playing cards, or whatever before the game begins, and there is no guarantee of unity in purpose. Little's concept is not only more positive, but more proactive, as it presents a common image for the players, so that they would have a common focus. While the bullpen could benefit from watching the other team bat, it does focus everyone on the common objective of beating the other team's pitcher, and thus the other team. This is only part of the problem.
* * * * *
The Nats absolutely botched the Soriano deal. Jim Bowden should be immediately fired for his complete lack of gracefulness in handling the situation, including his threat to put Soriano on the DQ list, which would bar Soriano from playing in the majors for the Nats or any other team, although a DUI conviction would certainly help put the point across.
Soriano should stay, as should Guillen. While Jose Guillen is off to a slow start, he is a quality player. Jose Vidro is a good second baseman, and should stay. Nick Johnson is playing excellent ball, and Zimmerman gives hope to the future of the organization. Byrd and Church both have excellent plate discipline, with on-base percentages that show the power of walks in comparison to their batting averages (Byrd .258 BA / .410 OBP; Church .239 BA / .386 OBP). Either one of these guys would be good at the top of the order, as they will not only get on with high likelihood, but they can make a pitcher throw a few extra pitches, which makes the whole opposing pitching staff more accessible.
Livan Hernandez is a quality starting pitcher, as is John Patterson, and rookie Michael O'Connor is promising too. Tony Armas needs to prove he can last 6 innings in his starts - basically go 180 innings - or he should be converted to a long reliever. The Nationals pitching is better once healed, given that Brian Lawrence and John Patterson will return eventually. That leaves
Hernandez
Patterson
Lawrence
O'Connor
Armas
* * * * *
The bullpen, incidentally, is the Nationals' biggest worry. The untold story of the World Baseball Classic is that the Nationals lost their setup man, Luis Ayala, to the WBC; he's got to undergo Tommy John, and apparently the team couldn't stop him from participating. Good for a 2.75 ERA over 232 innings, with 149 K and 42 walks over that time period. Losing 80 innings from Ayala will cost the Nationals dearly, as only closer Chad Cordero, John Rauch, and near-39-year-old Mike Stanton have ERA under 4 in the bullpen. With starters that can pitch deep into games, Washington can get by with this bullpen, but otherwise can consider themselves in trouble. The Nationals need to get one more quality relieve, which can be achieved easily enough by calming down the young Gary Majewski, and returning him to his career ERA of 3.31. This will keep Washington in control of games.
* * * * *
Aside from patience in waiting for the starting pitching situation to get better, the Nationals need to upgrade their shortstop position, likely in the offseason, since they do not really have an extra player to give. I don't know what the free agent market has up for grabs, but the Lerners should show that they care by getting the best free agent shortstop available, as I'm sure there will be someone for the taking.
If finding a free agent shortstop is a problem, the answer is simple enough - ask Jose Vidro to move to the other side of the middle of the infield. Then, instead of looking for a quality middle infielder, the Nationals can get a power-hitting left fielder, and put Soriano back at 2nd base where he belongs. Chipper Jones demonstrated that it is entirely possible to go from the infield to the outfield back to the infield.
Defenders of the Nationals would suggest that Soriano's defense was a liability, and that he does less harm in the outfield. While that may be, there is also to consider that power hitting left fielders are far more common than power hitting left fielders. If Ken Griffey Jr ever gets off the DL, Cody Ross will be up for grabs, and would be a worthwhile pickup for the Nationals. He has potential and can hit for power. He is also young enough that he Nationals can get him to a long term contract rather cheaply now. Once their new stadium opens, their players can demonstrate their hidden power. The point is it makes more sense to put Soriano back at second after giving him experience as a good defensive player. Then, the Nats can focus on upgrading starting pitching, so that Tony Armas can be a long reliever. If they are serious, they'll offer big bucks for 2 years to Greg Maddux.
* * * * *
The biggest changes the new ownership should make are the firings of Jim Bowden and Frank Robinson. Bowden missed the oppurtunity to get Cody Ross (come on, a player to be named later?), and has produced miserable results for Washington lately.
Frank, while a hall of famer, is frankly too old and senile to contribute anything positive to the team. It would be best for the team if he were to simply retire after this season, remarking that he is ready to retire, because it would not look ugly. It's hard to fire a hall of famer who was also the first black manager in the majors. In 1976, Robinson batted .224 with 3 home runs and 10 RBI, those homers his only extra-base hits. At that point he realized it was time to step down, and now that he cannot be pleased with his current team, it is once again that time.
* * * * *
The Nationals do not have a whole lot of a farm system left, so extending the quality of their current team will gradually get more expensive (making extending Soriano and acquiring Cody Ross good moves). Paul Depodesta, despite his infatuation with Hee Seop Choi, was a defender of the farm system, and could be effective for a team with more payroll limitations. Otherwise, I would love the job.
As for a manager, that will be the most difficult decision for the Nationals to make. It would need to be someone with a good work ethic, someone to motivate and inspire confidence in his team, and to bring out the best in his players. Again, I would love the job, but I think the best person available I can think of for this job would be Orel Hershiser.
* * * * *
So my dream scenario would be, I am the GM, Hershiser manages, and the Nats post the following lineup
Byrd/Church - CF
Vidro - SS
Soriano - 2B
Johnson - 1B
Guillen - RF
Ross - LF
Zimmerman - 3B
Schneider - C
pitcher
and rotation
Hernandez
Maddux
Patterson
Lawrence
O'Connor
and then I'd spend some money on some guys that can be reserves so that the rookies can come up slowly. As for draft picks, I would take college players only if they fill more immediate needs for the next two years and if they are among the best in the NCAA. Otherwise, I'd take high schoolers that are coachable and talented for the long range.
Now let's see if Washington can do that.
Labels: Nationals
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
In the News - Congress is Retarded
Ok, so that isn't news, but the idea of a national statute on "price gouging" is. According to the AP
Worried about the political heat from high gasoline prices, the House is preparing to vote on a bill that would impose criminal and civil penalties on any energy company caught price gouging.
The legislation, offered by Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., calls for penalties of up to $150 million for refiners and other wholesalers and $2 million for retailers.
The reason they are worried about the political heat is that people get upset over price changes in cheap things. There's no political heat in house gouging with housing bubbles. But gas, a relatively cheap liquid is different, as it is the only variable cost in owning and driving an automobile. And consuming less means a change in behavior. So let's see, how does AP represent the argument that the market causes changing prices?
Rex W. Tillerson, chairman and CEO of Exxon Mobil Corp., defended the company's record profits and high gas prices in an interview on NBC's "Today" show Wednesday.
"Obviously, the truth is we do not get together and manipulate prices, that would be illegal," he said, adding that there have been several past investigations of price collusion in the oil industry and none of them have found any evidence of collusion.
"The profit we earn is what the market gives us ... the price is set on the open market."
Of course, the CEO of Exxon, despised because he's successful. But there was a gem that I found in this piece, no diamond, but a ruby at least. "Nationally there is no common definition of price gouging," Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard told a Senate hearing in November. He said some states have laws that apply only to emergencies, while others allow up to 20 percent price increases.
No common definition. Because Price Gouging is held to the standard of "I know it when I see it." Because Price Gouging is a subjective, normative term. That's like mandating fairness; it cannot be done, except subjectively. Fairness from subjective standards, of course, always leads to unfairness.
The government, of course, takes no role in accepting that new regulation regarding the production and processing of gasoline (MTBE regulations) played a role, because only people that read the whole article know that, and these congressmen have to be re-elected, after all!
Labels: Politics
