Random MLB News And Discussion

[TheCrew07]

Well since no one else will say it, I will... Escobar was wasted... on the bench, he only started 134 games last season which is basically like playing a MiLB schedule. I personally believe that nothing is more important to a young player than building confidence, and that's why I thought Macha had to go. You can't play the "production" card on young players, they need to have room to fail, recover, and grow. Every time Escobar slumped at all he was sat down... I know from experience having played for a basketball coach that took us out if we missed a shot, you end up playing not to fail, instead of to succeed. In my case I passed up tons of open shots because I wanted to stay on the floor and wasn't going to risk mising a wide open 3. In baseball when the odds are stacked heavily against you to begin with, I don't know how you can succeed always worried about what's going to happen if you don't get a hit.

 

Look at Sam Shields... he was up and down all season and in different parts of each game for that matter, but he managed to make some impact plays at key moments in certain playoff games for the Packers because they believed in his ability even though he was inconsistent. They had other options, they could have went back to a veteran like Harris which would have been the "safe" move, but they cut him and kept the younger more dynamic player. Escobar didn't look like the same player to me in 2010 as he did in 2009, he didn't have any kind of swagger about him. Yea yea I know it's not measurable, but I still believe that reading body language can tell you as much about what is going on as someone's stats do.

[Ennder]

134 games is about standard for a rookie player, they should pretty much never play every day unless you are in the middle of a title race. 552 PA is plenty for a rookie player.

 

I had a lot of issues with Macha but not playing Escobar enough certainly wasn't one of them.

[jeffy]

NL shortstops games started 2011:

 

1 Stephen Drew ARI 143

2 Hanley Ramirez FLA 140

3 Ian Desmond WSH 136

4 Alcides Escobar MIL 134

 

 

NL shortstops innings played 2011:

 

1 Stephen Drew ARI 1260

2 Hanley Ramirez FLA 1217

3 Ian Desmond WSH 1208

4 Jose Reyes NYM 1171

5 Alcides Escobar MIL 1151

[davemakovec]

In other news, the Cubs just put 40% of their starting rotation on the DL. Wells and Cashner to the 15-day DL, to be shut down for 10-14 days and then evaluated. I hate to see guys get injured, but this helps the Brewers immensely, and if anyone's going to suffer injuries, it might as well be Chicago.

[TooLiveBrew]

I swear Freddie Freeman is Corey Hart's long-lost brother:

 

http://projectprospect.com/files/media/content/Freddie-Freeman300x450%20AFL.jpg?0

[GoudaBrew]

As tough as the start of this season has been for Brewers fans, the Red Sox are now 0-6. They just got swept by the Indians who beat them today 1-0 (scoring on a squeeze play in the 8th). How fantastic!

[Funketown]

Speaking of the Indians, their attendance numbers are horrendous. Their past five games have each drawn between 8,500 and 11,000. That's Marlins bad.

[owbc]

That's Marlins bad.

I think you meant "That's Expos bad" or "That's pre-Jacobs field Cleveland bad". In fact, Cleveland was already 30th in attendance last year, averaging 17,000/game. They will almost certainly be last in attendance again this year, probably in the 14,000-16,000/game range. The Marlins average in the 18,000-19,000 range but will likely be over 30,000/game next year with the new retractable roof ballpark opening.

[docduany]

Does anyone in Charter territory know if the Friday night Crew vs. Scrubs game is going to be televised? I can't seem to find it anywhere?

[Vgmastr]

Doubtful, the FSN TV Listings don't list the game as airing on the alternate channel. If you notice, next Wednesday's game, which is also on WMLW because of the Bucks, is listed as airing on the alternate. Why they aired two games on the alternate but not the other two I have no idea.

[davemakovec]

Edit: never mind. I figured out the Nasty Factor.

For your viewing pleasure: I just purchased gameday audio for the first time, and it's much more enjoyable listening to the Spanish broadcast of Yankees games than that shrill, terrible woman on the Yankees English broadcast, and I barely speak any Spanish.

[Thurston Fluff]

Just heard today that 10 teams are having their home opener today. Isn't that kind of a lot to be opening at home so late or has it always been that way?

[endaround]

There have been more and more teams wanting home openers on weekends as so to allow for that teams will go on the road for a week if need be.

[Thurston Fluff]

Thanks for the info. Seems backwards to me though. The only time some teams get large weekday crowds early in the season is opening day. Seems like a wasted opportunity to have an extra big attendance day by opening on a day that would have already had a big crowd.

[GormanHarvey]

Weird...JJ Hardy is hurt

 

EDIT: Not like DL hurt so far as I know. I just turned on the Orioles/Rangers game and the O's announcers mentioned an oblique problem

[SoCal Brew Crew Fan]

JJ has an oblique problem? He must be soft too.

[TheEndless7]

Just saw the worst baserunners interference call I've ever seen in like the top of the 13th in the Jays/Angels game.

 

In other news, Dan Haren in to pitch now for the Angels. Long games can really kill your bullpen.

[Marc Newfield of Dreams]

Cappy got a win in his first start for the Mets tonight. He's one of those players I'll always root for.

[Gobias Industries]

LOL. Red Sox up 4-0 in the bottom of the 9th...Texiera up with 2 outs and the ump calls him out on a pitch that nearly hit the dirt.

[bacon06]

With Dave Campbell no longer on color for the Sunday Night Game of the Week on ESPN Radio, I really have no reason to tune in anymore.

[greeg35]

Has Maddon gained a lot of weight or have I always just been distracted by his glasses?

http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2011-04/60800972.jpg

[jeffy]

I think it was the combination of the glasses and the hoodie, although...

http://cwardhenninger.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/joe-maddon-hoodie.jpg?w=233

[trwi7]

Dice-K got rocked tonight. It was pretty funny to watch.

[PrinceEatMeat]

After tonight, the Rays and Red Sox will both be sitting at 2-8. And we thought we had a bad start.

[MkeSouthSide]

Josh Hamilton out 6-8 weeks after hurting his shoulder sliding headfirst into home plate. He blames the 3rd base coach.