Tuesday's Frosty Mug

by Kyle Lobner on Jul 15, 2008 9:24 AM CDT Comment 37 comments

Ok, let's be honest, there's really not a lot going on today, but someone needed to write a post to bump Roguejim's New Kids on the Block post off the top spot.

Sadly, there's not a win expectancy graph or BR Box Score for the Home Run Derby.

Since not much has changed in 24 hours, we're still talking about the rotation platoon idea. Between the Green Pillars takes a look at the potential availability of the non-starter in the platoon and argues the platoon would effectively waste a roster spot.

On injuries:

Jerry Hairston Jr. has a mild hamstring strain and will be re-evaluated on Thursday.
Nats OF Wily Mo Pena has a slight tear in his rotator cuff and fraying of his labrum and will undergo surgery.

I had an unexpected moment yesterday. Since I'm officially back from vacation and not overwhelmed with other stuff, I'm back to casting a weekly ballot in the blogpoll for postseason awards. This week I sat down with a spreadsheet, put in all the numbers, added bonuses for playing on winning teams, playing a premium defensive position, playing everyday...and my AL MVP turned out to be Ian Kinsler. He likely won't even be the leading vote-getter on the Rangers, but he's my AL MVP. And in a strange coincidence, he's also profiled today at Beyond the Box Score.

So Josh Hamilton started out with all kinds of talent, found cocaine and heroin, spent years working to clean up his life, found God, turned it around and hit 28 home runs in 38 swings last night at Yankee Stadium. All of this prompted Rick Reilly to say "It's a lousy night to be an atheist." It seems to me like being an atheist would be pretty much the same every day.

On the other hand, the combination of a booing crowd and a mic he didn't know was live prompted Chase Utley to drop an F. bomb. Oops.

Jose Capellan is on the move again, this time signing with the Royals and heading to AAA Omaha. It's the right Jose Capellan this time, right? I don't even know which one to tag, so both get it.

Tangotiger takes a look at payroll distribution among teams. About 43.2% of the average team's payroll is spent on pitching. You can see the breakdown by position via the link.

Oh, and if you're looking for work, this job with the Cardinals looks like a nice starting point in the front office/player development field. I've been watching the team jobs boards for a while now and jobs like this don't pop up very often.

Drink up.

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I could've sworn Dan Uggla let out an expletive too

Early on when he popped one up.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jul 15, 2008 9:51 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Remember when Burnitz was in the Derby?

What was that, 1999? Didn’t he let out a giant f-bomb after he hit a pitch poorly?

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 15, 2008 11:32 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

gee maybe because I am an atheist

I was a tad bit insulted by statement gee the guy was a total loser pissed away his life then turned to his imaginary friend to help him get out of the hole he dug himself. Yup that totally invalidates my beliefs or lack there of

See he is still a loser he cannot even give himself the credit for getting back on track

Can you imagine the outcry if the reverse of that statement had been made?

Its all about the Bullpen this season that is the key.

by WSB Chris on Jul 15, 2008 10:19 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

There would be outcry if the statement had been made the other way.

But I think you’re underestimating the power of faith. Regardless of what got him there, whether it was faith, rehab, friends, baseball, Josh Hamilton was on the verge of crapping his life away and he found something that gave him the strength to turn it around.

Whether you believe in a higher power, acknowledge the possibility or don’t believe altogether we can certainly agree that Josh Hamilton’s life is better because of his faith.

I’m not defending what Reilly said, but I certainly think Josh Hamilton’s turnaround is a testament to the power of faith.

Derek Jeter is day to day after being hit by a pitch and being gorilla press slammed by a Bizarro Ray.

by Kyle Lobner on Jul 15, 2008 10:39 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

I like Jon Lester's story better

On a separate note, the Cardinals job, isn’t that the job that George Costanza held for the Yankees. :)

by brewfan2 on Jul 15, 2008 10:44 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last summer

I interviewed for a job with the Yankees. After the first meeting, I told a few people about it, and everybody said, “hey, just like Costanza!” I quickly realized I did not want that job :).

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 15, 2008 10:51 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Probably has to do with..

I’d say Hamiltons turn around has to do with hanging out with a better crowd then a divine intervention. The power of faith is pretty crazy, and is one of the foundations of AA and NA. So I could see how he become extremely devoted.

I’m agnostic and not atheist. I find the crazy faithful pretty disturbing.

by SgtClueLs on Jul 15, 2008 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I had a pretty dang nice day yesterday being an atheist, and was still super happy for Josh. Rick Reilly can go ** after saying that stupid **.

by Braunstalker on Jul 15, 2008 10:53 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I liked reading Rick Reilly's Sports Illustrated comments,

but he is terrible in any sort of commentating role, and he comes up with weird stuff sometimes. Like this from last week at Interactivegangbang.com:

Reilly: “It’s not just NBA players who have the fiscal sense of the Taco Bell Chihuahua.”
Some questions.

1. Why the Taco Bell Chihuahua? Did the Taco Bell Chihuahua famously live large? Did he make it rain in Chihuahua nightclubs? Are beagles famously more thrifty, or something?

And neck size to baby eating ratio.

by Jordan M on Jul 15, 2008 10:57 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

FJM is so awesome.

I get tired of it, or I forget about it for a while, but then I go back, and laugh my ass off for 20 minutes.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 15, 2008 11:17 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I liked the conspiracy theory that it was to promote Bevery Hills Chihuahua

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 15, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Reilly’s comment was so monumentally stupid that I was actually agog when he made it. I don’t care about religion so much that I can’t even quantify what I am not or what I am. Who gives a flying F if Josh Hamilton found God to kick the drugs? I say good for him. It helped him when he really needed it and I hope he stays clean. If he needs God and Jesus and the Bible to get clean and stay clean, then he needs it. It’s better than where he was before.

I also interpreted the stupid athiest comment as directed at Ryan Braun as well because omg the Jews right? Fuck you Rick Reilly. You’re truly incompetent.

"While conservatives tell you 'leave things alone and no one will lose,' and liberals tell you 'interfere a lot and no one will lose,' baseball says 'someone will lose.' Not only says it - but insists upon it! ... Democracy is lovely, but baseball's more mature." BVCE supports SF Dugout and Manny Burriss.

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 15, 2008 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

"omg the Jews, right?"

Sigworthy.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 15, 2008 11:33 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Two in one day!

by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jul 15, 2008 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

well said

by Braunstalker on Jul 15, 2008 12:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Selig “Chat” today.

My submitted question (odds of being chosen to be answered?)

Mr. Commissioner, I imagine the individual owners have to be very happy with the job you have done as commissioner. The game has flourished under your leadership, congratulations. Your salary is about $15 million a year, which if you compare your salary to the CEOs of other corporations would suggest that MLB is worth over $50 billion. This is roughly four times more than what is publicly believed to be true. Are you overpaid relative to other corporate leadership, if so why, or is MLB worth far more than we believe it to be?:

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jul 15, 2008 12:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I asked a question once and it actually got answered

But then again it wasn’t directed at Selig personally. Mine was the second question answered here. It’s fun to compare Selig’s response to Roger Goodell’s answer.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on Jul 15, 2008 12:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You can't put a market value on something like MLB.

It’s all about the intangibles.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 15, 2008 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Dare I say...

We have no concept?

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 15, 2008 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Braun unmiked

Apparently Braun was the only one of the eight contestants not to be miked. Too bad.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 15, 2008 12:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

it was gonna be awkward

for parents across America to explain to their children what “mazeltov” meant.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 15, 2008 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

seriously...I read that as "milked"

I was wondering if they were specially serviced before or after the event, but that he didn’t partake in the festivities.

In any case, I was confused and was considering consulting an urban dictionary.

by PagsBrewCrew on Jul 15, 2008 2:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

(reposted from before because I am an idiot)

We’d be remiss not to link to dixie’s latest THT article, about whether relievers struggle if they throw multiple innings.

Also, dixie/Josh is going to be writing for Driveline Mechanics, which helpfully is becoming part of the SBN global takeover effort.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jul 15, 2008 3:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Interesting article on Brett Lawrie and his sister

link

Danielle Lawrie, in addition to being an Olympic athlete, is also really hot:

Turns out she knows Taylor Green pretty well, which you can read about in the interview with him that I’m putting up tomorrow.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 15, 2008 3:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

i like this guy more the more I read about him...

you get the sense that, if the draft had been a month later, he’d have gone higher…a month after that, higher still.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 15, 2008 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Consider yourself seduced

Brett is 6 feet and 200 pounds of lean muscle. He has a 46-inch vertical leap. He has the discerning eye of a modeling agency and quick wrists and an aggressive approach, the tools that seduce baseball men.

"He's been very, very impressive," Yost said. "I mean really impressive. I mean really, really impressive."

by MadJimiBrewha on Jul 15, 2008 5:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

O Canada!

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on Jul 15, 2008 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Did he sign yet?

I see that he mentioned his pro career in the fall. But I did I miss that he actually signed?

by SgtClueLs on Jul 15, 2008 3:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No, he hasn't signed yet, but it's just a formality

He’ll get ~$1.6-1.7M, and he’s not going to play in the organization this year, but he’ll officially sign sometime between the World Juniors and the Olympics.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Jul 15, 2008 3:44 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs