Your tax dollars at work:
A federal judge on Friday told the government to re-craft its perjury case against Barry Bonds, saying prosecutors had improperly lumped multiple alleged offenses into each of four counts of its indictment of the former Giants star.
At a hearing in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Judge Susan Illston said the [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:20 pm | Cheating | Permalink | 7 Comments
February 29, 2008
Rotation Evaluation, San Francisco Giants
The series looking at team pitching rotations using the Marcel the Monkey projections continues with the San Francisco Giants. Their starters posted 4.24 ERA in 2007, fourth in the National League.
Note that in figuring ERAs, I’m using Marcel’s mIP and mER columns. The ERA listed in the spreadsheet uses the average of mER [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 2:38 pm | Team Evaluation | Permalink | 3 Comments
February 29, 2008
The Eyes Have It
Jason Kendall is seeing the ball better after laser surgery:
“I feel like I’m 18 again,” Kendall said of his vision improvement. “I’m picking up the rotation on the ball like I used to.”
That’s good news for the Brewers.
Posted by David Pinto at 12:00 pm | Players | Permalink | 7 Comments
February 29, 2008
Two Chances for Frandsen
Ray Durham’s shoulder is bothering him:
Second baseman Ray Durham’s sore right shoulder had been improving, but the pain was worse when he reported to work and was to undergo an MRI exam Thursday evening to determine the nature of his injury.
Manager Bruce Bochy had hoped Durham could be the designated hitter for today’s game against [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:52 am | Injuries | Permalink | No Comments
February 29, 2008
Fixing the Outfield
The San Diego outfield is in flux, but Chase Headley took a step toward bringing it into equilibrium:
Headley, a former third baseman who is the Padres’ top prospect, was starting in left for the first time as a professional player. Suzuki, the Mariners’ leadoff man whose late-swing flicks are notoriously difficult to defend, sliced a [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:22 am | Rookies | Permalink | No Comments
February 29, 2008
What’s With the Cardinals?
Another Cardinals player is in trouble with the law:
Cardinals minor-league pitcher Donnie Smith was jailed Wednesday night and faces a felony battery charge stemming from a bloodied nose last September.
Smith, 25, is accused of punching a Florida man in the face at a restaurant near the Cardinals’ facility at Roger Dean Stadium. He was arrested [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:12 am | Crime | Permalink | 4 Comments
February 29, 2008
Bowa’s Head
Jon Weisman makes a number of good points about Larry Bowa’s refusal to wear a helmet.
Posted by David Pinto at 10:38 am | Management | Permalink | 3 Comments
February 29, 2008
Guest Blogging
Phil Hughes guests blogs at Yark Work.
Update: Meanwhile, the real Phil Hughes answers questions readers of his blog and The LoHud Yankees blog sumitted.
Todd: Is there a nickname you like to see for you, Ian and Joba? Is there any you’ve heard that you liked?
Phil Hughes: As far as the three of us combined [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:25 am | Humor | Permalink | No Comments
February 29, 2008
Parasites Strike Again
Julio Lugo’s poor offensive performance in 2007 is now being blamed on parasites:
Stomaching portions of last season was even more difficult for Julio Lugo than most realized.
The Red Sox shortstop admitted yesterday he never regained his strength during his first year with the team due to a stomach parasite he picked up during a month-long [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:13 am | Illnesses | Permalink | 5 Comments
February 29, 2008
Brian May Want to be a Cub
Brian Roberts put on a show for the Cubs scouts on Thursday:
Roberts, who hit .290 last season with 12 homers, 57 RBIs and 50 steals, led off the bottom of the first with a walk, stole second and third, and then scored on Melvin Mora’s chopper to the left side that was booted by third [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:07 am | Players | Permalink | 1 Comment
February 29, 2008
Coaching Restrictions
In addition to wearing helmets, the majors are going to enforce the coaching box boundaries:
Starting this year, first- and third-base coaches must not cross the lines toward home plate or the field until batted balls pass them. Only then can they take up other spots to guide runners.
Third-base coaches routinely stand much closer to the [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:23 am | Management | Permalink | 5 Comments
February 29, 2008
More Pitching Problems
Sergio Mitre suffered elbow problems today:
With Josh Johnson and Anibal Sanchez still sidelined for the foreseeable future, Mitre is expected to be leaned on a lot this season, anchoring the Marlins’ young staff of hurlers. A tight elbow in February is bad news. Mitre is also coming off of a season in which the injury [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 12:26 am | Injuries | Permalink | 1 Comment
February 29, 2008
Three Elements
Kosuke Fukudome reached base three times today using each element of on-base average:
The Japanese newcomer was plunked on the first pitch he saw in the first inning, walked in his next turn and then hit an RBI single to help the Cubs beat the San Francisco Giants 12-6 Thursday in an exhibition opener.
That’s a perfect [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 12:20 am | Players | Permalink | 3 Comments
February 29, 2008
Bobby’s Brain
Doctors are concerned about Bobby Murcer’s health again. They’ll perform another biopsy of his brain. I wish him the best.
Posted by David Pinto at 12:17 am | Illnesses | Permalink | 4 Comments
February 28, 2008
Watching Liriano
Joe Christensen watched Francisco Liriano’s first bullpen session. He was told to take it easy today:
His pitching motion looks very similar to what we saw in 2006. So it’s not like he’s revamped everything. He’s just bigger. He threw several change-ups in this bullpen session and only a few sliders. The mere fact he’s [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:59 pm | Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
February 28, 2008
Remembering Wriers
Alex Belth remembers W.C. Heinz and Myron Cope.
Posted by David Pinto at 2:59 pm | Deaths | Permalink | No Comments
February 28, 2008
Shoulder Development
Frank Stevenson looks at x-rays of pitchers and comes to a couter-intuitive conclusion:
In the old days, kids were not limited with any pitching counts or which kind of pitches they were allowed to throw. Instead they just kept pitching, and pitching, and pitching, and pitching over and over again. When pain began they would typically [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 2:34 pm | Injuries | Permalink | 6 Comments
February 28, 2008
Concerned Rookies
Jay Bruce and Joey Votto issue an ultimatum. Here’s why:
Yesterday, Jay was taking some simulated at-bats off Gary Majewski and drew a walk. Dusty spit out his toothpick, stormed over and told Jay that “Walking is for dogs, not baseball players.” Then he made Jay sit out in left field with a [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 1:48 pm | Humor | Permalink | 10 Comments
February 28, 2008
Corpas Cash
The Rockies sign another player cheap:
After only a half season as their closer, Manny Corpas agreed Thursday to an $8 million, four-year contract with the Colorado Rockies that could be worth up to $22 million if the team exercises options for 2012 and 2013.
The 25-year-old Panamanian right-hander replaced three-time All-Star Brian Fuentes as Colorado’s closer [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 1:34 pm | Transactions | Permalink | 2 Comments
February 28, 2008
Guest Speaker
I’ll be the guest of the Harvard College Sports Analysis Collective tonight. They’re meeting at 6 PM in Winthrop House if you’re on campus and interested in stopping by.
Posted by David Pinto at 1:25 pm | Blogs | Permalink | No Comments
February 28, 2008
Wanting Santana
Emma Span looks at why the Yankees and Red Sox fans were happy they didn’t get Santana. She closes with a great paragraph:
Of course, these concerns are a luxury few teams can afford, and you won’t hear many Mets fans complaining about overspending. Their team hasn’t won a championship since 1986, and last year’s [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 12:44 pm | Trades | Permalink | 1 Comment
February 28, 2008
The Forgotten GM
Joe Posnanski, in his unique style, wonders why Bob Howsam isn’t in the Hall of Fame. It sort of goes with this Roy White post.
Posted by David Pinto at 12:17 pm | Management | Permalink | No Comments
February 28, 2008
TBS Schedule
TBS announced their early season Sunday afternoon game of the week schedule.
“For the first time in Turner Sports’ 30-year history of MLB coverage we’re proud to present an exciting weekly package that showcases some of the top teams and players in baseball,” said Jeff Behnke, Turner Sports executive producer. “Every Sunday afternoon for 26 straight [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:23 am | Broadcasts | Permalink | 6 Comments
February 28, 2008
Green Out to Pasture
Jon Weisman muses on the retirement of Shawn Green.
But though I wish the Dodgers and Green had faced up to his declining play sooner, I always liked Green. It’s probably been a couple years since I’ve even thought about it, but remember the joy of waiting to see him cross home plate at Dodger Stadium [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:55 am | Players | Permalink | 2 Comments
February 28, 2008
Rotation Evaluation, Arizona Diamondbacks
The series looking at team pitching rotations using the Marcel the Monkey projections continues with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Their starters posted 4.23 ERA in 2007, third in the National League.
Note that in figuring ERAs, I’m using Marcel’s mIP and mER columns. The ERA listed in the spreadsheet uses the average of mER and [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:50 am | Team Evaluation | Permalink | 3 Comments
February 28, 2008
Remembering Kennedy
In a Wii coincidence, I received this press release yesterday:
2K Sports Partners With the Baseball Wives Charitable Foundation for Third Annual 2K Sports Videogame Challenge and Fashion Show
As Major League Baseball® players get ready for Opening Day, a number of players from the Cactus League will be taking time out for charity to participate in [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:39 am | Charity | Permalink | No Comments
February 28, 2008
Clemens Probed
The Department of Justice is looking into perjury charges against Roger Clemens. Given the location of the alleged injections, Roger might want to turn to Cartman for advice:
Posted by David Pinto at 8:30 am | Cheating | Permalink | 3 Comments
February 28, 2008
Heart of the Matter
Mark DeRosa undergoes heart surgery today:
Cubs second baseman Mark DeRosa is scheduled to undergo surgery this morning to correct the heart arrhythmia that sent him to a Mesa hospital over the weekend. And barring a setback, the club expects he’ll be ready to take batting practice as soon as Monday and be ready for games [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:25 am | Illnesses | Permalink | 1 Comment
February 28, 2008
Never Hyped
Matt Bouffard weighs in on whether Roy White was really a better leftfielder than Jim Rice. Growing up in Bridgeport, CT during Roy White’s prime, I got to watch him a lot. Roy was never hyped as a player. Bobby Murcer, the centerfield from Oklahoma got that, or Thurman Munson. Even [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:12 am | All-Time Greats | Permalink | 2 Comments
February 27, 2008
Baseball Musings Radio Show
If you missed tonight’s show, you can hear the recorded version here. It’s also available on demand at TPSRadio.
Posted by David Pinto at 9:13 pm | Podcasts | Permalink | No Comments
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