TooLiveBrew

The Astros beat the Cubs again

The only thing Gwynn should do this September is pinch hit late in a game. I assume you mean pinch-run? I'd agree with that. Yost manages time after time after time based on what he wants to see happen, and PHing TGJ was yet another example.

Your example of Delgado actually is perfect. The Brewers really don't have a guy like that (maybe Kendall?), but a guy like Delgado knows his end is soon and some hotshot coming up might be a distraction. If you think Delgado is sweating any call-up right now, we're just going to have to agree to disagree.

I thought tampering only applies when a front office exec is talking directly with a potential FA target.

As far as his power goes, I understand where Ennder was coming from with the "walks too much" comment, but the truth is that Prince has given away far too many ABs this year, especially after Braun hits a HR in front of him. Could you share the results of Prince's ABs following a Braun HR? I'm not sure where to find that.

I don't know how much minor league baseball you've been around, but in reality these call-ups want to come and win a job for next year. It is exactly why veterans aren't fans of it. Imagine where you work that for one month there will be more people hired in your position just for a 'call-up'. Of course, but the notion that having these guys up is enough to make a discernable impact on the concentration level of veteran professional athletes is laughable to me. If the impact isn't enough that there's something showing in the on-field play, what's the point for Kruk claiming the call-ups are 'disruptive'? Equating this to a normal workplace doesn't work for me, since this is the way the job works. It happens every season, and each veteran was likely once upon a time, a September call-up. Kruk specifically 'broke it down' to explain how the disruptions happen on teams contending, and how they affect teams out of contention, too. Just an odd bit to me. Sure, I can see how a scrubby vet that has a placeholding job could be unsettled, but to say that someone like Carlos Delgado (just my random example) is going to get all out of rhythym when the Mets call up those benchwarmers is completely laughable imo.

His reasoning is because of the spin? No spin Not true -- replays clearly showed the ball spinning/rolling towards 3B. This was my problem with the play when it happened. The ball was rolling away from where CC needed to throw it. I think there's an optical illusion at play in the video due to the shadows. I haven't yet seen an angle where I'm convinced that CC actually got the ball in his hand. What I thought happened at the time (& have not changed) is that he went to grab the ball, but he was trying to grab it in the direction in which it was already spinning & moving. So, in effect, CC's contact with the ball served to nudge it further along its course, making it harder to pick up. For those of us that used to play 'Quarters' in middle/high school, think of it that way. CC's effort was akin to the best method of keeping the quarter spinning, which is to flick the coin following the spin it already has. The normal & easier way that a baseball is fielded in regards to its spin is the equivalent of flicking a spinning quarter against its current spin... which makes sense since the objective in picking up a rolling baseball is to change its direction/movement. Now, how that plays into whether or not it should have been an error, I'm not completely certain. But hearing the scorer use that as part of his judgment makes me think there's only a very slim chance this gets overturned. My computer isn't current enough to handle MLB.com videos, so I'd ask others to please look at the precise moment that CC goes to pick up the ball. Instead of watching him 'pick it up', which imo is the implied action there, watch the ball alone (if you can) to see if it ever definitively makes it into CC's hand. Even if it doesn't the play may still have been an error, but the ball's spin/rolling imo weighs heavily into this.

I think all TLB is saying no one like to see a baserunner get wiped out, only to see the next batter get a hit that would have scored him. Yep. I realize the outcome of that specific at-bat for Parra doesn't necessarily make the hit-&-run a good or bad idea. I think it's a crappy idea in the vast majority of scenarios, and especially when your pitcher is batting.

Facing the Pirates isn't much different from facing a Triple-A lineup

John Kruk just got done 'arguing' the point on BBTN that, "September call-ups disrupt veterans" You think you've heard every lame, weak, non-sensical thing that crap network can throw at you...

I've learned that I don't find much value in most defensive metrics, ZR included -- ZR is strange since it's so highly subjective by definition (as are many D metrics). Eckstein is sure-handed, but covers little ground & has a below-average arm (at best). He's just not very helpful at this point, and I wonder why anyone would give up a young arm to get him. I understand adding depth for a playoff run, but they must not feel that losing Beck means much. Ojeda & Eckstein are basically identical at this point -- BA below .300, OBP around .350, & no power. I haven't seen anything that makes me think Ojeda couldn't at worst give you the same defense as Eck. eckstein is a two time world series champion and world series MVP. can't figure this trade out???? oh brother !!!! And Brewers fans have seen first-hand the huge impact of the mighty Craig Counsell!!!

The Oakland announcers are now talking about the CC no-no-gate. P-b-p guy Glen Kuiper watched the replay, and stated of the Brewers, "They are making a big deal of this." <-- That was not meant as a dig at the Crew, as his next comment was, "It was not a clean base hit"

Why did the DBacks pursue Eckstein? I know Phillips is hurt, but I can't they get equal or greater production from the their in-house options (Augie Ojeda & Chris Burke)? I hope Chad Beck is seen as having little to no upside, for Arizona's sake. If this was done on the 'He's been through the fires!' angle... ugh.

So there's no media bias against us after all?

(3) v. NYM: 2-1 (4) v. SD: 3-1 (3) v. Cincy: 2-1 (4) @ Philly: 2-2 (3) @ Chicago: 1-2 (3) @ Cincy: 1-2 (3) v. Pitt: 2-1 (3) v. Chicago: 2-1 15-11

It was all that stupid flag pole! Berkman talks too much to their baserunners at first!

(bumped up font size in quote --1992) Thanks Casey. Maybe the notion comes from the fact that September days of service don't count against rookie status. (September at bats and innings pitched count against rookie status, however.) That's my guess, but then again kramnoj makes a good point that the part I quoted only deals with 25-man status.

I'm not sure what comparing what he did his rookie year to this year proves, but he has been a disappointment. I didn't expect 50 homers again but I don't think it should be unrealistic for a first baseman as big as him to slug at least .525. Not sure where I was unclear -- I talked about his overall progression as a player. Yes, this season has been a bit disappointing, but only in terms of HR count for me.

It's my understanding that september callups do not start arby clocks...that's still true, right? The clock runs... I think it counts the same as any other service time. From Cot's Baseball Contracts' Transactions Glossary: "A player earns Major League service time for each day he spends on the active (25-man) roster or on the Major League 15-day or 60-day disabled lists. A player also continues to earn service time while serving any disciplinary suspension or serving in the military. Under the CBA, 1 year of service is defined as 172 days. A player may earn up to 172 days of Major League service during a championship season (regular season), which generally lasts 183 calendar days. If a player is sent to the minor leagues on optional assignment for a total of 20 days or less during a season, he receives service time for the entire season." The notion that Sept. callups don't burn service time is a myth, as best I can tell. (bumped up font size in quote --1992)

No kidding -- even just a 'stretch run' rotation that would have Bush/Suppan as the #5 is exciting

I am not sure if there are other reasons but I can say with 100% confidence that carrying 80 pounds of extra fat will lower your ability as a baseball player. 80 extra pounds? If Prince's ability wasn't hindered in 2007, the argument here would have to be that he gained 80 pounds. It's baseball -- it's variance. Well, coupled with unrealistic expectations from the fans. Guys just don't hit 50 bombs every season. I'm certainly not disappointed with Prince's season. His plate discipline has gotten even better, and like Ennder said, with that one huge hot stretch that still may be coming, this discussion really isn't even sensible. Now of course he hasn't gotten hot like that yet (insane hot streak), but just pointing out how small the difference is. As of today, his BA is actually lower at this point than 2006, but his OBP is 20 points higher, and his OPS+ is 12 points higher. I think that, in general, he's showing growth & polish as a hitter, and that's about all I can ask for in a 24-year old. I really think that Prince is either going to have a monstrous power surge in September, or continued improvement in his OBP. I'd be fine with either one.

Wow. Please keep us informed if you learn anything more Madtown. To say that that's exciting is putting it mildly. How is Yo's playoff availability affected by this, though? Doesn't he have to be on the 25-man roster by 9/1 to be eligible? EDIT: Ok... from casey's post above --Players must be on a team's 25-man roster as of August 31 to be eligible for post-season play. The only exception is that a player on the 60-day disabled list may be replaced by another player from the team's 40-man roster (as of August 31) who plays the same position. I agree with RyDogg66. The Wikipedia quote seems to jump from the obvious to the least obvious while missing the in-between. I think the proper language is something like "Players must be on a team's 25-man roster or disabled list..."--

RHP Tim Dillard, LHP Mitch Stetter, RHP Mark DiFelice, UT Joe Dillon, C Vinny Rottino, 3B Mat Gamel, OF Tony Gwynn and 1B/OF Brad Nelson Mat Gamel will need to be added to the 40-man roster, and in turn, look for the formal addition of Michael Brantley to the Arizona Fall league team to take Gamel's place. Great news for Michael! Congrats to all involved here. Let the Gamel era begin... for now. This is great news. Not only is it neat in a trivial sort of way, but it says that the organization feels Gamel can produce now against MLB pitching. I'm very excited... just hope that defense isn't as bad as we fear.

THIS year he is .284/.365/.407 for an OPS agaisnt of .772. I would consider that pretty good but not great by any means. A .365 OBPA is teh suck, imo. I'd take that offensive line for just about any position on the diamond. My vent is that Yost, 'seen 'im get sum rightees out -- he gets rightees out!'

Here are the top five: DiMaggio 75 Kiner 74 Matthews 72 Pujols 71 Braun 68 It's too bad Ryan isn't in elite company. That would have been cool. Nice post, homer. Pretty freaking cool.