jung

What I posted earlier might seem hard to imagine. However in truth the well thrown spitter breaks so late and so sharply downward that there is really no mistaking what it is once you have seen it and know what to look for. In fact later in Gaylord Perry's career it got to the point where there was no sense in announcers hiding what was going on. Some of them would in a very matter of fact tone, just in the flow of the broadcast identify the pitch as the spitter just as if they were announcing a curve ball or some other pitch. For the most part the umps had given up trying to find where Gaylord had the stuff hidden that day and managers stopped trying to get umps to look for it. That's one of the things that annoys me about this. These are baseball people. They know what a spit ball looks like.

God the HR Derby is terrible IMO. I would be much more interested in a well conceived and implemented skills competition...especially one that did not have any more inherent chance of injury than the AS game itself. I think that could be some fun. In fact, the casual fan may gain something from it. I am not sure that casual fans can recognize much of a difference in talent levels. Not sure that big guys hitting BP pitches tells you much outside of who is stronger and has quicker wrists. It will never happen though. It would take some thought and HR Derby is easy.

What truly sucked about it in my estimation is that it was contested with such conviction at the first and that is likely to be the only thing that most of the world will see. On a % basis very few will see the opposing arguments and even fewer will see Mr. Dickhead finally admitting that "oh well it sure looked suspicious". WHAT???? I actually wish he had not said anything further with the exception of a full and complete apology which is what he actually owes Buch. He has a public forum and a position that gives him some credibility and that is how he decided to use it? What an ass.

I hate to say it but the HR Derby at the AS Game just bores me to tears. The announcers are doing everything they can do to pump it up but I just don't care about big guys hitting BP pitches one after the other. So what. Then you get the guys that get into a rut and are just hitting long fly balls or some s***. Its ridiculous...STOP already. I would rather see MLB do some sort of a skills contest but nothing that is repetitive like the HR Derby. Have guys target spots in the field to hit to like hitting the other way. Then maybe bunting skills. Then maybe a throwing accuracy deal for outfielders and infield fielding skills for infielders. Again though nothing repetitive. That might be some fun without the potential for injury that the HR Derby creates. I am probably in the minority but honest to God I don't enjoy it and hearing Berman trying to pump the thing up with superlative after superlative just gets silly after awhile. If anything you realize how easy it is to get tired swinging for the fences swing after swing like that.

They would have wanted to use Bailey if he were not hurt. You really really do not want to sit a late innings flamethrower putting him on the shelf for such a long time and then expect that he is just going to perform for you when you call on him. He has to be hurt.

Yea I agree with that Yazman. The guys that could handle those bats had monster wrists and could generate bat speed with those heavier bats...Mantle had no wrists...Mays....had no wrists that I could detect! Cepeda...had no wrists that I could detect...tremendous strength in their wrists all three of them just as examples. Now even the guys with tremendous strength in their wrists are opting for lighter bats. I actually think it does make sense. I don't think we have as many big ball parks as we had back in the day for one thing.

What the hell....is there a sale somewhere on balky biceps? That is the announcement on Bailey.

Farrell is bound to be asked in his presser. So we should know something momentarily. I think health issue, hopefully minor.

Well OK I suppose that one is possible as well (100th save) but now Bailey has only worked once in the last seven days....not exactly how you would like him for a tight save opportunity in Texas tomorrow night. So we have Taz and Ueh going to the department store to buy shirts with longer arms as they are starting to drag a little and Bailey hasn't worked but once in seven days.

But it was announced that Bailey would close and Hanrahan was fine with it. So I am really struggling with this. I suppose the rationalization I posted above is possible but I am more inclined to think something is wrong with Bailey.

AAAAAAnd another flat FB from Hanrahan.

Bailey not looking like he is going anywhere tonight. So now that is worrisome.

Maybe Farrell decided to save Bailey for Texas. Eventually I thought we would see them start to give a few 9th innings to Hanrahan...just did not expect it yet. Two run lead might have prompted Farrell to try to save Bailey for tomorrow night especially with the long flight tonight.

You are correctamento Pal

I am hoping that Bres and Frankie can be set up to be two inning stint guys. This stuff one inning per stint and a stint almost every game for everybody is just wearing these guys out. That much is pretty obvious.

Scary thing about the number of stints for the combo of Taz and Ueh is that we are going great right now....what the hell is supposed to happen when we cool off a little bit? We got a couple guys coming back but I am not sure we could use them the way we have used Taz and Ueh.

Last couple outings Taz has been kinda' shaky Sayonara Mista' Lind

Miller Alert!!!

That was not a good pitch to swing at Pedey. Looks like he was trying so hard to hit behind Ells that he picked on that pitch but really could not do anything with it.

Would have been beautiful if that bounce went over Cabrera's head and to the wall...woulda' been an in the park homer.

The check is in the mail ump:D:D

Lots of holes in the lineup with both Vic and Ortiz sitting. Vic is a great table setting and no need to tell anybody what Ortiz does when the table is set.....HE FEASTS. As it is guys like Carp and Nava can play the Vic roll but Napoli has got to come up big when Ortiz is not there. The Jays are coming right after Naps with Ortiz out of the lineup. Big shoes to fill though

WMB has got to stop swinging at that s***

Guys' an *******...totally senseless accusation...made as if it had merit and foundation in reason or logic....really pissed me off cause the accusation flew in the face of what was actually happening on the field. Yet, initially he made it sound like is was a "no doubter". *******!

Damn it...If we are not careful we are going to end up leaving endless runnings on base while the Jays get one guy on and hit a dinger...their usual offensive formula.