Author Topic: Offical MLB Thread! (Read 418595 times)

trueinnuendo · « **Reply #620 on:** February 06, 2007, 09:49:30 AM »

Just how many more HR's Barry needs to break the record?

Saburo · « **Reply #621 on:** February 06, 2007, 09:56:33 AM »

Quote from: trueinnuendo;301873

Just how many more HR's Barry needs to break the record?

Barry is sitting at 734. Aaron's mark is 755.

Barry had an OBP of .454 last seaon. Read that again: four-fifty-four. Forty-plus years old, gimpy knees and he still gets on base almost HALF the time!

Bad publicity or not, Barry still helps the Giants, which may explain their desire to get this contract mess straightened out.

joe_cool · « **Reply #622 on:** February 06, 2007, 05:32:55 PM »

Quote from: Saburo;301875

Barry had an OBP of .454 last seaon. Read that again: four-fifty-four. Forty-plus years old, gimpy knees and he still gets on base almost HALF the time!

I agree Barry had a good season last year. But we walked most the time to get on base, which is not a bad thing unless you have "gimpy knees." I still don't think Barry's is worth the money he'll eventually get paid, thats all.

Saburo · « **Reply #623 on:** February 06, 2007, 05:44:49 PM »

I think opposing teams should abandon their wholesale fears of Barry Bonds and throw him pitches in the vicinity of the strike zone. In time they will learn that the aging process applies to EVERYONE (except Roger Clemens, it seems).

I'm also interested how well Bonds does in left field cause he had a good season defensively in '06 -- he was NOT a liability according to a variety of defensive metrics.

joe_cool · « **Reply #624 on:** February 06, 2007, 05:46:03 PM »

Quote from: Saburo;301799

Nothing fills the seats more than a winner, period.

This is supposedly the philosophy (purely speculative) behind Brian Sabean's (or is it Peter Magowan?) roster construction. That the safest road to success is a team full of "proven" veterans. So you got guys like Bonds, Ray Durham, Omar Vizquel, Russ Ortiz (ECCH!), Rich Aurilia (in his second tour of duty)... umm, it must really SUCK to be in the minor league system of the Giants.

Can they win, with new zillionaire Barry Zito? Prolly not cause for every step forward that Zito provides, guys like Ortiz drag the team down several rungs.

Russ Ortiz was brought back to pitch from the bullpen. Currently the Giants' starting rotation looks like Zito, Matt Cain, Noah Lowery, Matt Morris, and Jonathan Sanchez. But like you said the Giants' can not win with the bullpen and offense they have.

1. Dave Roberts CF
2. Randy Winn RF
3. Ray Durham 2B
4. Barry Bonds LF
5. Rich Aurilia 1B (althogh Ryan Klesko would be better)
6. Pedro Feliz 3B
7. Bengie Molina C
8. Omar Vizquel ss
9. Pitcher

And it looks as though the Giants' do not have a good minor league system which lead to Seaben signing guys like Bonds, Aurilia and and Ortiz.

Saburo · « **Reply #625 on:** February 06, 2007, 11:34:34 PM »

By the way, Bonds and his agent have NOT signed any official contract for 2007. It has been speculated that MLB insiders hope this deal implodes and that Bonds is left stranded holding only his juice-shriveled dick.

joe_cool · « **Reply #626 on:** February 06, 2007, 11:45:30 PM »

Quote from: Saburo;302322

By the way, Bonds and his agent have NOT signed any official contract for 2007. It has been speculated that MLB insiders hope this deal implodes and that Bonds is left stranded holding only his juice-shriveled dick.

Bonds did sign a 15.7 mill contract. However the brian trust at the MLB decided to reject the deal due to certain clauses in the deal.

Go Jays Go

joe_cool · « **Reply #627 on:** February 06, 2007, 11:50:59 PM »

This Bonds debate is meaningless.

Next topic, will Daisuke Matsuzaka's season resemble Hideo Nomo's rookie season or will it look more like Hideki Irubu's rookie season?

I say it, better then Nomo's rookie season. Yes Nomo had better control and a splitter, but Matsuzaka has been working on his two seam fastball so the American League better watch out.

Thimas X · « **Reply #628 on:** February 06, 2007, 11:58:14 PM »

^ hmm dunno...I just hope he plays well next season.

Will A-rod opt out of his contract?!

trueinnuendo · « **Reply #629 on:** February 07, 2007, 01:31:51 AM »

Barry Bonds is said to have planned to play thru 2008. Big pressure for Selig when Barry finally breaks the record.

Saburo · « **Reply #630 on:** February 07, 2007, 05:37:18 AM »

Quote from: joe_cool;302332

This Bonds debate is meaningless.

Next topic, will Daisuke Matsuzaka's season resemble Hideo Nomo's rookie season or will it look more like Hideki Irubu's rookie season?

Haha, WHICH Bonds debate? There can be a dozen topics about him at any given moment...

As for Matsuzaka, did it surprise anyone else that a lot of analysts were bringing up the nightmares (at least for Yankee fans) of Irabu? I mean, jeez "Dice-K" (now more Americans can pronounce "Daisuke" more accurately than "Ichiro") has been described as being the Pride of a Nation. How many games did Irabu win at Koshien anyway?

Irabu had a kind of arrogance before he threw a single pitch in the major leagues. That he later turned out to be a lemon was probably karma in action (he'll forever be a member of the '98 Yankees though). Matsuzaka has confidence in his abilities but it seems to me that it's the result of a second-to-none work ethic that has served his big league sempai well (see: Ichiro, Matsui Hideki). Irabu didn't get labeled a "fat toad" because of extended workouts and long practice sessions.

Barring serious injury, I predict good things for Matsuzaka in '07, probably THE frontrunner for AL ROY (unless dimwit sportswriters flaunt the voting rules and ignore him when he is clearly eligible for the award). Can you imagine the energy of the first Red Sox-Yankee game when Matsuzaka pitches to Matsui?

trueinnuendo · « **Reply #631 on:** February 08, 2007, 12:15:31 PM »

Meanwhile, how's A-Rod's opt-out clause? He can choose to become free agent after 2007 season...

joe_cool · « **Reply #632 on:** February 09, 2007, 06:31:18 AM »

Well his pitches seem to live up to major league standards as his FastBall comes in at around the mid-90's, usually sitting around 93-94 and hitting 96. His slider is probably his next best pitch at around 90, he throws a low splitter around that same speed, and his change is considered a plus pitch which comes in around 80 MPH.

And don't forget the mysterious gyroball(a power curve with a 10 to 4 o'clock rotation).

Saburo · « **Reply #633 on:** February 09, 2007, 07:41:12 AM »

I'm sure MLB insiders are studying hundreds of hours of Matsuzaka game video as we speak. Some other mysteries to ponder on the Koshien King:

-- Can he adjust from six days between starts to five? He had more days off in NPB but higher pitch counts during each start. Is this something that can be easily adjusted?

-- Can he accept the fact that the Red Sox will NOT allow him to throw a hundred pitches in the bullpen every day he doesn't pitch?

-- How will he deal with not being able to finish half his starts?

-- Is it REALLY the attitude of most baseball fans in Japan that they have enormous amounts of emotional capital invested in Matsuzaka? That his success or failure in MLB is a matter of great importance to Japanese pro baseball and a nation? I thought that was all taken care of when Ichiro (tm) won the ROY/MVP in 2001. Come on, those boys can play.

-- Will the Red Sox coaching staff resist the temptation to tinker with Matsuzaka's mechanics? Ichiro adjusted his swing and survived the adjustment to the big leagues. I'm not sure I saw the same changes in Nomo or Matsui Hideki...

-- I read that Uehara Koji will be on the free agent market for the '08 season. Keep an eye on him, especially if Igawa turns out to be a "bargain" for the Yanks.

Hennagaijin · « **Reply #634 on:** February 09, 2007, 07:50:17 AM »

Quote from: trueinnuendo;303452

Meanwhile, how's A-Rod's opt-out clause? He can choose to become free agent after 2007 season...

He should just leave New York, its too big for him. The man can play but its the playoff the matter over there and his just not delivering. I'm think a middle-market team like the Angels or maybe even back at Seattle would do him good. Also he will never play shortstop as long as Jeter as there.....

joe_cool · « **Reply #635 on:** February 09, 2007, 10:57:26 PM »

Quote from: Saburo;304058

I'm sure MLB insiders are studying hundreds of hours of Matsuzaka game video as we speak. Some other mysteries to ponder on the Koshien King:

-- Can he adjust from six days between starts to five? He had more days off in NPB but higher pitch counts during each start. Is this something that can be easily adjusted?

-- Can he accept the fact that the Red Sox will NOT allow him to throw a hundred pitches in the bullpen every day he doesn't pitch?

-- How will he deal with not being able to finish half his starts?

-- Will the Red Sox coaching staff resist the temptation to tinker with Matsuzaka's mechanics? Ichiro adjusted his swing and survived the adjustment to the big leagues. I'm not sure I saw the same changes in Nomo or Matsui Hideki...

-- I read that Uehara Koji will be on the free agent market for the '08 season. Keep an eye on him, especially if Igawa turns out to be a "bargain" for the Yanks.

Judging by all the scouting reports, it's hard to believe that so many trained experts could be so wrong. Matsuzaka should be successful right out of the gate. It just seems a matter of how successful.

Matsuzaka has mastered the art of combinining both pure power and the art of finesse so I doubt the Red Sox will be tinkering with D-Mat's mechanics. D-Mat also has command of all his pitches, (which normally you'll find with Japanese pitchers) so I don't think he has to worry that much about mechanics.

D-MAt has been said to have been trying to get his overall strength up in preparation for pitching every fifth day. Also Red Sox manager Terry Francona will be trying to ease that transition as much as possible. So we'll have to wait and see how that plays out but I think that he will be fine.

As for Uehara Koji I think he be a so so pitcher in the bigs as he is a bit old(he'll be 32 in April). I more interested in Kosuke Fukudodme Outfielder for the Chunichi Dragons who'll also be a free agent after this season. Fukudodme makes good contact with the ball and has power to all fields.

Saburo · « **Reply #636 on:** February 09, 2007, 11:43:17 PM »

Quote from: joe_cool;304435

As for Uehara Koji I think he be a so so pitcher in the bigs as he is a bit old(he'll be 32 in April).

Hmm... I did NOT know this. Interesting. And relevant.

Not that 32 is particularly old (Saito Takashi notwithstanding) but it IS an age when the average baseball player is in a decline phase. I wonder how this will affect him and if he is pondering all options, including staying in Japan.

I watched Uehara pitch in last year's WBC and was impressed with what I saw. Fukudome was the one who was slumping, right? But he did whack a cluch homer in the semis.

ober0n98 · « **Reply #637 on:** February 10, 2007, 12:08:48 AM »

i don't think he should leave NY. where else is he going to get 25 mil a year???

joe_cool · « **Reply #638 on:** February 10, 2007, 04:17:42 AM »

Quote from: Saburo;304456

Hmm... I did NOT know this. Interesting. And relevant.

Not that 32 is particularly old (Saito Takashi notwithstanding) but it IS an age when the average baseball player is in a decline phase. I wonder how this will affect him and if he is pondering all options, including staying in Japan.

I watched Uehara pitch in last year's WBC and was impressed with what I saw. Fukudome was the one who was slumping, right? But he did whack a cluch homer in the semis.

The difference between Saito and Uehara is that Saito is a closer pitching 1 inning at a time while Uehara is a starter who will have to go through the same adjustment curves as D-Mat will go through this season.

trueinnuendo · « **Reply #639 on:** February 10, 2007, 04:58:30 AM »

Sometimes I could not understand the personality of this guy, A-Rod. Or is that bad what the media portrays him as such, I mean the anti-thesis of the good-guy-posterboy Jeter?