MLB News & Notes (other than Cubs or Sox)

[Clapp]

<!--quoteo(post=29458:date=Apr 10 2009, 08:57 PM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 10 2009, 08:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=29457:date=Apr 10 2009, 09:54 PM:name=Clapp)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clapp @ Apr 10 2009, 09:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=29456:date=Apr 10 2009, 08:26 PM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Apr 10 2009, 08:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Looks like Piniero is picking up right where he left off.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
He went 7-7 with a 5.18 ERA last year. I figured this Cards team would be good and our biggest competition, but they're 3-2 at home against the Pirates and what looks like a much worse Astros team than last year. Carpenter looked great for sure, but can he keep it up for a whole season and can he pitch that well against a team that will win over 70 games?

Solid team for sure, but I can't see them winning over 90 even if most everything goes their way.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I don't know why I thought Piniero had a good season. Did he start off strong and fade?
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Probably, I had thought he did better too actually, just looked it up to check. He had a good 07.

[CFOrfan]

This isn't news, but I was reading and caught this...

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->he Dodgers' Albuquerque rotation — Eric Milton, Shawn Estes, Jeff Weaver, Miguel Pinango and Eric Stults, before Stults was called up Friday — has more big-league experience than their big-league club.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[kbwsb]

Hard to believe that Estes is still plying his wares, albeit in the high minors.
But lefties always have a shot, it seems. Too bad he's with the Dodgers; there are probably 20 teams with weaker starting rotations, and if he'd signed with one of them, he'd probably be in the Show.

[leonardsipes]

This is an amazing Estes moment I witnessed.

Bottom of the 5th, Giants Batting, Ahead 4-0, Expos' Jim Poole facing 1-2-3
Jim Poole replaces Chris Widger pitching and batting 7th; Lenny Webster replaces Mike Thurman (P) playing C batting 9th
b5 0 --- 2,(1-0) BX 1% 94% 4-0 SFG M. Benard J. Poole Single to LF (Line Drive)
b5 0 1-- 2,(1-0) BX 2% 96% 4-0 SFG B. Mueller J. Poole Single to RF (Line Drive); Benard to 3B
b5 0 1-3 R 1,(0-0) X 1% 97% 4-0 SFG B. Bonds J. Poole Single (Line Drive to LF-CF); Benard Scores; Mueller to 2B
b5 0 12- 5,(3-1) BBSBB 1% 98% 5-0 SFG J. Kent J. Poole Walk; Mueller to 3B; Bonds to 2B
b5 0 123 R 1,(0-0) X 1% 99% 5-0 SFG J. Snow J. Poole Single to RF (Line Drive); Mueller Scores; Bonds to 3B; Kent to 2B
Mike Johnson replaces Jim Poole pitching and batting 7th
b5 0 123 R 6,(3-2) SBFBBB 0% 100% 6-0 SFG E. Burks M. Johnson Walk; Bonds Scores; Kent to 3B; Snow to 2B
b5 0 123 O 6,(3-2) CBBBFC -0% 99% 7-0 SFG B. Estalella M. Johnson Strikeout Looking
b5 1 123 O 4,(1-2) CBFS -0% 99% 7-0 SFG R. Aurilia M. Johnson Strikeout Swinging
b5 2 123 RRRR 1,(0-0) X 1% 100% 7-0 SFG S. Estes M. Johnson Home Run (LF-CF); Kent Scores; Snow Scores; Burks Scores
b5 2 --- O 3,(1-1) SBX 0% 100% 11-0 SFG M. Benard M. Johnson Groundout: 2B-1B

In the 5th inning a fan wins 10 grand if the Giants hit a grand slam. The Giants have the bases loaded no outs and the 5th hitter up. In all 4 chances for the slam until Estes comes up with 2 outs, and he hits it.

I saw this in person, the other time a saw a winner was on TV, hit by Glen Allen Hill.

[Kid]

Josh Beckett remains a giant bitch.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=29674:date=Apr 12 2009, 04:48 PM:name=Kid)-->QUOTE (Kid @ Apr 12 2009, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Josh Beckett remains a giant bitch.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]
I agree wholeheartedly and unconditionally, but what happened?

[rok]

<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Benches clear in Red Sox-Angels game

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP)—A high pitch from Josh Beckett to Bobby Abreu as time was being called touched off a bench-clearing incident in the first inning of Sunday’s game between the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels.

With Chone Figgins at second base, one out and a 1-2 count on Abreu, Beckett remained in the stretch position for several seconds while getting the sign he wanted from catcher Jason Varitek. Just as plate umpire Paul Schreiber jumped out to call time, Beckett threw the ball over Abreu’s head as he backed out of the batter’s box.

Abreu said something to Beckett and was held back by Schreiber, then both dugouts and bullpens emptied. No punches were thrown, and the Angels were ordered back to the dugout by manager Mike Scioscia, who was in the middle of a conversation with crew chief Joe West when Beckett came off the mound and said something to Scioscia.

Suddenly, the benches and bullpens spilled onto the diamond again, and this time there was some pushing and shoving. Angels center fielder Torii Hunter was ejected by West and had to be restrained by teammate Howie Kendrick. Angels hitting coach Mickey Hatcher and reliever Justin Speier also were ejected.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

[Kid]

First Beckett threw at Abreu. Then when things were starting to calm down, he walked towards the plate seemingly pissed at whatever Abreu was saying. Then, after the players returned to the dugout, he started jawing with Scioscia. He basically started things and then escalated them 2 separate times, but only Angels were ejected.

[Andy]

<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2IFY-XHFoJA&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2IFY-XHFoJA&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>

[ruby23]

Get rid of the DH.

[Butcher]

<!--quoteo(post=29843:date=Apr 13 2009, 12:21 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 13 2009, 12:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Get rid of the DH.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Amen to that. Beckett wouldn't be such a tough guy if he had to stand in the batter's box the next half inning.

[Andy]

<!--quoteo(post=29843:date=Apr 13 2009, 12:21 PM:name=ruby23)-->QUOTE (ruby23 @ Apr 13 2009, 12:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Get rid of the DH.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->

He doesn't throw that if he has to bat.

I can understand following through with your pitch. Considering how late the ump asked for the timeout, I can't blame Beckett for throwing the pitch, but if you look at where Veritek was positioned, he didn't throw that anywhere near where he was initially intending to go. That had some serious velocity and barely missed Abreu.

[The Dude]

RIP Harry Kalas.

[Destined]

<!--quoteo(post=29885:date=Apr 13 2009, 11:27 AM:name=The Dude)-->QUOTE (The Dude @ Apr 13 2009, 11:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->RIP Harry Kalas.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's sad. I keep doing his voice now.

[ruby23]

Citi Field looks better than the New Yankee Stadium.