Thanks for the plug, Mike! You know, if the Yankees lose this one tonight and Stein blows a gasket and fires Cashman, there's no need to go to another Planet for a replacement... why not hire Fred Claire?

Woodward should catch on somewhere as a utility infielder, a job he should be very well-suited to.

there's no need to go to another Planet for a replacement... why not hire Fred Claire?

Nicely done :)

(the article was good stuff as well)

if the Yankees lose this one tonight and Stein blows a gasket and fires Cashman, there's no need to go to another Planet for a replacement... why not hire Fred Claire?

Very nice. I was going to reply that he's probably been dead for decades.. except I was thinking of Fred Clarke not Claire. Still, though, it wouldn't hurt to have a Hall of Fame manager on the bench. Even if he is 130 years old.

Anyhow, you win 250 million points, a map of Eau Claire, WI:



and a picture of an aquatic creature of some sort. Let's try a freshwater one for a change. How about a sturgeon?

Letting Woodward go is the right move. Good guy, but a mediocre ball player.

Now let's get rid of Eric Hinske, Dave Berg abd Chris Gomez with honorable mention going to Kevin Cash, Frank Menechino, Reed Johnson, Josh Towers and Justin Miller.

Anagram for EAU CLAIRE, WISCONSIN = SILENCER INC., IOWA, USA

What's wrong with Chris Gomez and Frank Menechino? They're both very good utility infielders, and Menechino just crushies lefties.

Jays1fan1, forget about who you want to get rid of... who do you want to bring in to replace them?

And what's wrong with Reed? He's a great fourth outfielder.

http://me.woot.net
After yesterday's roundup, I was sure you'd show a catfish, Mike. :)

who do you want to bring in to replace them?

There's a number of trades that should be made here:

Hinske for Rolen
Berg for Renteria
Gomez for Lance Berkman
Cash for Brian Schneider
Menechino for Jose Vidro
Reed Johnson for Johnny Damon
Josh Towers for Ben Sheets
Justin Miller for Scott Kazmir

Of course, the other team is going to have to eat some salary. ;)

After yesterday's roundup, I was sure you'd show a catfish, Mike. :)

D'oh! That would have been awesome. I don't know why I didn't think of it.

Justin Miller for Scott Kazmir

Why would we want a rag-arm kid like Kazmir? Give me the polished veteran stud like Victor Zambrano.

From Craig's essay:

But beyond that very small disagreement with their judgment, I have to say that I was enormously proud of the umpiring crew last night. On the disputed home run call in the fourth inning, the umpires huddled, discussed the matter thoroughly and got the call right - even though it meant overruling a member of the crew. Similarly, in the eighth, the umpires huddled, discussed the matter to the necessary extent, and made the right call - again overruling a member of the crew.

Not intended to be a shot at Craig, but what this say about the state of officiating in general when we have to be pleasantly surprised that two blatantly obvious plays are ultimately called correctly? I am shocked that they were, but wish I didn't have to be shocked.

I harped about Joe West's inconsistent, bizarro style strike zone last night (strikes are balls, balls are strikes; he says goodbye when he arrives and hello when he leaves) and re-iterate my claim that ARod should have been called out on strikes on a pitch that clearly crossed the plate, even if it was far from Arroyo's target. I thought West's umpiring was brutal. Thankfully the game didn't turn into an umpiring fiasco as at least some of the six men had their wits about them.

Chuck, the point is that this never would have happened even five years ago. The umpires have been fabulous in this playoffs - yes, the occasional (and I think it's very occasional) ball and strike calls have to be excepted.

A play that is "blatantly obvious" to someone who gets even three chances (let along 15) to watch it on TV replay is *not* always obvious to the umpire on the ground, who gets to see it once and that's it. The umpires are not allowed to look at the replays (yet!)... what seems easy to you is not easy to them.

I figured I would get a response from that post, here are my thoughts:

- Hinske I don't think I need to get into again.
- Reed Johnson, is really a 4th outfielder and as long as he's on the team I worry that he will start, and take at bats away from Gabe Gross and Frank Catalanatto.
- Frank Mennechino had a fantastic season, I just don't think he will repeat his success and the Jays will have to overpay to keep a guy who does a job that I'd prefer someone making the minimum salary would do.
- Chris Gomez is an OPS nightmare, and his fielding isn't good enough to make up for it. I just think there's got to be better options available.
- Towers and Miller are servicable back-ups, but I don't want to see either of them in the rotation unless someone is injured.

So a 20 man roster next year?

I thought I would run an idea past people here. Does anyone have an interest in running a baseball-related cartoon strip on the site. It could be maybe start out as a weekly strip (either one-shot panel gag like what is in the print editions of BA and Sports Weekly or a strip with re-occurring characters).
I was thinking that various BB posters could try their hands at writing the gags/strips and I could draw (or others could assist).
My cartoons have been published in various newspapers and online. Just an idea to add a little more visual appeal to the site.

Cash for Brian Schneider

Don't shortchange the Jays here, Mike. Cash is young, saavy and is a gem behind the plate. He slides on his knees with a lot of range. He's Bill Mazeroski, but like, on his knees. That's impressive! Schneider is a whole year older and TOTALLY less saavy. Surely Cash could fetch a Joe Mauer, for example, as his knees make him suspect forever (meaning that he doesn't have the range on his knees that Cash has but Joe's bat makes up for it a bit) or maybe a Johnny Estrada, who is clearly playing over his head. I'm sure John Sure-holtz wants to trade him while his value is inflated. It's a win-win.

The non-strike call against Rodriguez was not excusable. It was a fastball down the middle and it very nearly had a huge impact on the game and the series. It all stems from the way West set himself for the pitch. Varitek set himself up inside and West set himself up even further inside. Joe: the plate is over there to your right.

Craig, I will concede that umpiring is probably much more difficult than it looks (as is most everything in the world). And I do concur that things are happening now that didn't in the past. The umpires are still way too arrogant for my taste, but nothing like in the past.

Still, in the playoffs you've got umpires down the outfield lines. How did the LF umpire initially blow the homerun call? What the hell was he looking at for that not to have been obvious? His is not a long job description.

I don't purport to have super-human vision, but I saw the ARod chop in real time, prior to the replays and would like to assume that the home plate umpire did as well (replays showed that the first base umpire was screened). Certainly the replays made ARod's intentions crystal clear and removed all doubt, a benefit the umpires didn't have.

I guess I'll only be pleased with umpires once they become correct 100% of the time, which is unrealistic, of course what with their being human and all. More realistically, I'd like umpiring to reach the state where a day later, we aren't still making a big deal about them getting calls right.

Marc, re: the baseball strip, I'm intrigued. I thought of this months ago but can't draw worth a damn. Send me an email.

Kevin Cash will never be a good enough major league hitter to justify his defense.

Despite your sarcasm, I'm not suggesting that the Jays replace these guys with all-stars. I just think that there are better options, whether its a prospect or someone that's been non-tendered.

Does anyone know what Menechino's service time is at? I see he's played 6 seasons, but only 379 games.

FWIW, he had a negative OPS+ in his time with Oakland this year. I didn't realize that was possible.

I'd happily contribute ideas to a comic strip as well.

I'm not suggesting that the Jays replace these guys with all-stars

You're not suggesting that they be replaced with *anyone*. You're just ragging on the incumbents for the sake of ragging on them. Not that they deserve praise - this team lost 90 games and looked bad doing it - I just don't see the benefit to taking a bath on a bunch of players whose value is currently depressed.

FWIW, he had a negative OPS+ in his time with Oakland this year. I didn't realize that was possible.

Going 3 for 33 with one walk will do that!

The non-strike call against Rodriguez was not excusable

I didn't say it was. I said the umps have done a good job, but some occasional ball/strike calls have to be excepted from that. That was a lousy call.

Anyone else want to venture down conspiracy theory lane with me and speculate that the umps are being fed an instant replay result?

RE: Content.

We post guest contributions all the time. If you have something that you think would add to the site, feel free to send it along.

RE: Reed taking at-bats away from Gross. That won't happen, since Reed won't be in Syracuse.

Anyone else want to venture down conspiracy theory lane with me and speculate that the umps are being fed an instant replay result?

Nope.

Reading Craig's excellent article on the interference play, if the rule applies to ARod in this situation, shouldn't it also apply to every runner who deviates from his path to try to "take out" a 2B/SS turning the double play?

Bill f***ing Madlock...

I just think that there are better options, whether its a prospect or someone that's been non-tendered.

I understand what you're saying but it's a lot more difficult to actually find those productive players who happen to be available and fit your budget AND want to come here (as is the case with non-tenders and other free agents) than it is to say they exist, especially so with pitchers. Do you have any ideas as to who these players might be?

if the rule applies to ARod in this situation, shouldn't it also apply to every runner who deviates from his path to try to "take out" a 2B/SS turning the double play?

Yes, it does. The takeout slide is illegal at all levels below the pro level, but tolerated in pro ball thoguh clearly against the rules as written.

Menechino just crushies lefties

Sounds horrible.:) Anyways, what with riot police on the field at Yankee Stadium and our own lefty-crushier, I think I'll go hide in a cave.

But, seriously, Moffatt's point is a good one. Menenchino hit lefties well in Oakland, and killed them here. He's got the utility infielder tag, but he's a lot more valuable than Dave Berg.

Fine, here are some suggestions:

- I'd like to keep both Towers and Miller, but only if they accept a role in Syracuse as an emergency starter. Thus not taking a bath on these two.

- As for Hinske, again I'd like to see the team try to dump his contract, I'm not sure if it is possible, but if they can, they should do it. I don't really care who his replacement is because I would eventually give Aaron Hill the opportunity at that position. The Jays need to acquire a big bat and I don't want several small but replaceable contracts holding them back from doing this.

- Gomez should be replaced by J. Sequea

- I would replace Cash with Ramon Castro (if feesable)

- I would either re-sign Delgado or sign another $7-8 million dollar 1st baseman. If I don't think anyone fits this description, I would look into acquiring either Brad Wilkerson or Nick Johnson as the first baseman.

- Mennechino can stay if he doesn't want to much money, or the Jays can look to see if any of these guys will play for peanuts (Jose Hernandez, Mike Lamb, T. Fraffanino, S. Spiezio, Rich Aurillia, etc.)

Sorry to see Woodward go, but it is time. I was at SkyDome for his 3 HR game vs. Seattle on Pat Gillick Night. Woodward just gradually slipped, slipped, and slipped after that.

Johnson and Mennechino should be back. Frank played well, and he looks like a guy that backs down to nobody ("Hey, youze want to play some stickball?"). Reed is just as aggressive and is a good 4th OF who can play a lot.

But why keep Berg? In my opinion, Howie Clark is much more valuable than Berg. He is a left-handed stick, can play anywhere, and aggressive.

At this point, however, we have much more to sorry about (pitching, replacing Delgado, etc.). Boston and New York we are not, sorry to say.

As a side note, does anyone know what Manny Lee is doing these days?

It would also be much easier to speculate on replacements if I had a list of non-tendered players and free agents.

The pitching staff should rotation should be:

Halladay
Batista (I would also try to trade this contract if possible)
Lilly
Bush
Free agent inning eater in the $2-4 million range.

Jays1fan1, that sounds pretty reasonable.

List of actual and potential free agents (not allthe non-tenders are in yet...)

http://kmbumb.people.wm.edu/05agency.html

Would people be comfortable with just Adams, Hudson, and Menechino in the middle infield, or do the Jays need another player on the 25 man roster that could fill in?

If you went with the starting 9, 11 pitchers, a backup C, backup MI, backup CI, and backup OF you still have one roster spot open. Who do you use that on?

----

Did anyone else notice that Hudson's splits disappeared this year?

vs LHP: .262/.326/.472
vs RHP: .272/.346/.428

(prior to this year Hudson hit .210/.264/.332 against lefties)

- I would replace Cash with Ramon Castro (if feesable)

I know Castro seems to be a stathead favorite, but do you really want someone who is (was?) on trial for rape?

Would people be comfortable with just Adams, Hudson, and Menechino in the middle infield, or do the Jays need another player on the 25 man roster that could fill in?

Not me. Menenchino should be the starting DH against lefties, and I'd want another utility infielder on the roster to give additional managerial flexibility in those games.

http://www.suntimes.com/output/baseball/cst-spt-bbnt20.html
Apparently MLB has a radio deal with XM radio. COMN.

The new deal would be worth $470 million over eight years, with Major League Baseball having the option to extend the arrangement by up to three additional years at $60 million per year. That would make the deal potentially worth up to $650 million.

The deal should give each team a little less than $2 million year for the next 8-11 years.

Perhaps this is why the Jays budget isn't a known item, and why we've heard anywhere from $50-$53 million.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/Stats/box_AFL.shtml
COMN for yesterday's AFL boxscore. Big Vito has missed the last few games; I hope his elbow's OK. The boxscore contains a bit of a puzzle. Jason Arnold is listed as a pitcher for the Saguaros in the batting order, and not in the pitching summary. Gabbard is listed as pitching 5 innings for the Saguaros in the pitching summary, but he's not in the batting order. Anyways, John Hattig continued his hot hitting (he hasn't let a homer stolen from him by Delmon Young affect him), and Francisco Rosario pitched well for a 4 inning save.

After going through the list of free agents (briefly) I've come up with the following lists:

- Potential Mennechino and Gomez replacements (I think one guy + Sequea should replace these guys):
Pokey Reese
Rey Sanchez
Eric Young
Todd Walker (probably unrealistic)
Luis Vizcaino
Jose Hernandez
Rich Aurilia
Devi Cruz

- Potential inning eating 5th starters (in the $2-4 million range):
Paul Byrd
Jaret Wright
Wilson Alverez
Glendon Rusch
Brett Tomko

- Also, don't get me wrong, I'd like Reed Johnson back, I just want to see him as a 4th outfielder with his playing time reduced.

Rokey Reese will make too much money for a backup and will likely receive starting assignment offers (even if at 2B). He's an amazing defensive SS. Rey Sanchez is no better than Gomez and he's older. Aurilia is a bust on turf. Eric Young, Todd Walker can't play short stop (neither can Sequea really).

Jose Vizcaino (Luis is the pitcher in Milwaukee) would be my pick, but I think he likes playing in the national league where there is always more playing time for back-ups, but who knows?

I think Tomko has the best upside of any of the pitchers mentioned, but he is known to have a thick head and doesn't take well to instruction. But he might make an acceptable number 4 starter.

I'm getting great feedback on my THT article. Got several asking about why you can bowl over a catcher and not have it be interference... and what if you did the same to a 1B. My response to one...

If a runner bowls over a catcher in his baseline, it's not interference. The runner is entitled to his basepath and to run through to the plate if he wants. In fact, that's obstruction by the catcher, though they don't call it at the pro level. If the catcher is attempting to take a throw, though, it might be considered interference. Runners should try to avoid the catcher in this situation to be on the ump's safe side!

If a first baseman is standing in the baseline, and not making a play on the batter, and the batter runs him over, no interference.

If a first baseman is standing in the baseline to make a tag, and tries to tag him, and the batter runs him over, generally that would not be called interference but by the rules it's a bit ambiguous.

If a first baseman is standing in the baseline to take a throw or make a play on a batted ball, and the batter runs him over, generally that would be interference.

If a batter takes a swipe at the glove, it's interference no matter what the circumstances.

Yes I meant Jose Viscaina :)

I like Rey Sanchez better than Gomez because Sanchez is a better defender. I do agree that both are very week offensively

I don't think Reese will be starting somewhere, however I do think he may be too expensive.

If I had to pick between the two, I'd bring Mennechino back and let Gomez go.

Rokey Reese

I got a laugh from imagining Francona using a Scooby-Doo voice to tell Reese he's playing tonight.

I meant Jose Vizcaino

Me rite goodly.

If a first baseman is standing in the baseline to make a tag, and tries to tag him, and the batter runs him over, generally that would not be called interference but by the rules it's a bit ambiguous.

To clarify a tiny bit : it's definitely not obstruction. Once fielder has the ball, he can stand in the baseline.

I heard an ARod clip this morning where he said the umps told him he would have been fine to run over Arroyo on that play.

Actually the clip was kind of funny. ARod said something to the effect of 'am I supposed to let him touch my stomach'.

A-rod sure learned his lesson for trying to dish out that Metrosexual slap.

Spicol, I sent you an email regarding the cartoon strip idea... NFH, do you have any ideas?

am I supposed to let him touch my stomach

You're not supposed to do anything... but if you try to knock his glove away with your hand, you break the rule. That's all.

Incidentally, there's also good reason to suggest that when the runner intentionally bats the fielder's glove with the ball held in it, he's giving himself up anyway (because he's tagging himself out). That's distinct from the interference call, of course.

Any predictions for tonight?

I'm still going with my comment from yesterday that the Sox would make it all the way to game 7 only to lose. Thus finding the most painful way to lose.

I think it is more painful to Sox fans if they lose to the Yankee's than making it to the World Series and losing.

I'm also going to go out on a limb and predict that St. Louis will still make it to the World Series.

Actually the clip was kind of funny. ARod said something to the effect of 'am I supposed to let him touch my stomach'

People say the weirdest things when they've done the wrong thing. Where precisely was Arroyo supposed to tag him? On the nose? On the toes? On the behind?

Anyways, the normal thing that players do in A-Rod's situation is to try to avoid the tag while staying in the lane, ensuring that the baserunner can advance to second.

I hate to say it, but I think the Sox will lose tonight. The Yankees are just too good in high pressure games, especially with the home crowd behind them. And Brown is the superior pitcher to Lowe. Coming out of the pen, the Yanks also have Vazquez and the Sox can counter with Wakefield, which is also a mis-match... especially if it is a close game and the Sox take Varitek out to play Mirabelli. I would almost start Mirabelli behind the plate and have Varitek DH.

As for the other series... I think the Cards will force a game seven. I hope, anyway. I still think the Cards stack up better against New York in the World Series.

Marc, there's nothin' in the barn that hasn't been used yet. But let me mull it over and I can let you know if I come up with anything.

By the way, I love Pokey Reese. Saw him hit a green monster homer on his birthday at Fenway this summer. If there were somewhere to put Pokey on the Jays, I'd love to have him here.

Didn't he and Orlando Hudson go to school together somewhere?

And speaking of Hudson, while I wasn't explicitly aware of the absence of splits, I've definitely seen an improvement at the plate this year and have loved it.

The General rule is if the guy is in your way you can run him down. Arroyo wasn't in arods way, so AROD couldnt have run him over. In my mens league we aren't allowed to run the catcher, period. However, i have seen some hard slides at second base.

Coming out of the pen, the Yanks also have Vazquez

At the beginning of the season I never would have thought that Vazquez would be relegated to the pen.
I really hope Boston wins tonight, even though I enjoy the whole curse thing. Watching A-Rod on second last night, as if he had no clue why he'd been called out, was just plain irritating.

I would almost start Mirabelli behind the plate and have Varitek DH.

Well, I know he did nothing yesterday but I stil want Ortiz in the lineup...

I think starting Kevin Brown is a mistake by the Yankees. Vasquez looked good against the Sox while Brown looked horrible. Outside of Browns performance against the Jays, he really hasn't looked good since returning from the broken hand.

The Yankee's will come back in the late innings to win this game.

FYI . . .

Japan's Ishikawa to scout for Jays

By BOB ELLIOTT, TORONTO SUN


BLUE JAYS have hired Japanese scout Takashi Ishikawa to cover the Pan Pacific area. Ishikawa is interested in signing Denny Tomori, 37, of the Yokohama Bay Stars. A right-handed submariner, Tomori pitched in 21 games this season as a set-up man, with 24 strikeouts in 25 innings. He was 0-1 with a 4.62 earned run average.

From 1987-2003, Tomori pitched 339 games, with an 18-27 record, recording 30 saves. He recorded 380 strikeouts in 390 innings with a 3.92 ERA.

I think starting Kevin Brown is a mistake by the Yankees. Vasquez looked good against the Sox while Brown looked horrible.

I suspect you'll see both just as the Red Sox will use both Lowe and Wakefield. No great badge of honour being deemed the starter tonight. I'd say it's very unlikely that both starters go 5.

Vasquez looked good against the Sox

I wouldn't call 4 runs in 4.3 innings good. Neither Brown or Vasquez are pitching well right now. Not that Wakefield or Lowe are shutting anyone down right now either.

A big part of last year's game 7 win, that's usually overlooked, was Mussina coming into the game and holding down the fort. I wouldn't be shocked to see him or Pedro come in for a couple of important innings tonight.

Absolutely I would keep Ortiz in the game... but move him to 1B. It keeps Mientkiewicz on the bench (no big deal) and allows either Millar or Nixon to come off the bench to pinch hit in a key situation late in the game. Neither one of them has been "on fire."

He's not "terrible" there and I would much rather see Ortiz at first if it meant Mirabelli's glove could be behind the plate with Wakefield on the mound and a Yankee's runner on 2B or 3B. Varitek had all kinds of trouble with Wake's knuckler... which just goes to show the problem with using a personal catcher during the season, if it's not your regular guy.

Maybe I missed it in the game thread, but how does Torre not pinch run Lofton for Sierra in the bottom of the ninth when Sierra was the tying run on 1b?

On the other hand, the Sox have used their bench well this series (and set up their bench well).

And again, maybe I missed it, but how is walking Matsui to lead off the ninth the *exact* same thing as a leadoff HR like McCarver said? How do Leiter and Buck let that go?

just wondering.... does anyone know where a complete list of the type a, b and c players is listed? I cannot find it anywhere...

Great article, Craig. I'd like to hear what people think Rodriguez should have done... bowl over Arroyo? Slide? Stop running and back up, forcing Arroyo to chase him or throw to first and thus buying time for Jeter & Cairo?

At any rate, I'm really glad the play happened, it'll be an indelible memory of this series. I was expecting it to be a great one, but it was looking like a dog after game 3. Now it's definitely classic.

Predictions for Game 7? I'm calling for a high-scoring Yankees win. I'd love to see Matsui & Ortiz continue their heroics. I'd love to see both bullpens continue their path to being completely burned out for the World Series.

A-Rod is quickly becoming my most hated Yankee. During all his at bats yeasterday he had a grimace on his face like he was giving birth or something. Then after he blatantly knocked the ball out of the pitchers hands he puts on a big show at second and even after the game. I remember earlier this season he threw an elbow at one of the Jays catchers as he was heading home. The throw was off and the catcher was not blocking the plate but he tried to elbow him anyway(he missed).

$25 millon a season can't buy character I guess.

I think the Astros and Red Sox will both win today, validating my preseason prediction and making me look really, really good.

I think Arod did the right thing, if he would have gotten away with that, it could have changed the entire game around. I don't blame him for a second for trying to do what he did.

Then after he blatantly knocked the ball out of the pitchers hands he puts on a big show at second

Yeah, that sticks in my craw. WTF is he cheering for? Is he applauding his incredible skill at grounding out to the pitcher?

It pleased me no end, though, that after Jeter scored with that ridiculous fist-pump they put him all the way back to first base.

http://me.woot.net
This apparent MLB-XM radio deal SUCKS for me. While neither of the two North American satellite radio companies are available (legally) in Canada yet, Sirius and the CBC are partnered and apparently trying to get regulatory approval. Sirius, as some of you may know, is the company who signed Howard Stern and will be broadcasting him as of Jan, 2006 (15 months from now).

I've been getting more disappointed with broadcast radio recently—you need only listen to Q107 for a month to learn their set of played songs which, while good, wear on me after I've been listening for a few months, and talk radio on AM 640 is unlistenable since they apparently don't go for more than 5 minutes at a time (literally) without breaking for commercial—and am looking forward to getting into pay radio. Now, if XM never comes to Canada it's a moot point, but I'd really like to have my cake and eat it too.

I don't blame him for a second for trying to do what he did

I don't blame him per se... doing that doesn't make him a bad person. It makes him a bad player, a poor sport, and a cad. A "cheat"? That's stretching it a touch.

I'm sure A-Rod doesn't care - at the end of the day, when he drives back to his solid gold house in his rocket car, he probably hears only the cheers of the Yankee faithful, not the still small voice of conscience.

if XM never comes to Canada it's a moot point

Is there no possibility of grey-market entry into the Canadian market? Can we get XM now?

Turns out we can - with a US address and US credit card.

It pleased me no end, though, that after Jeter scored with that ridiculous fist-pump they put him all the way back to first base.

Which reminds me: there's something Jeter does at the plate that just annoys me. As he is settling into the box, he holds his right arm up, presumably to let the umpire know that he isn't ready yet. When he's finally got the batter's box the way he likes it, he lowers his arm. It might just be a mechanism to get his stance right, but it looks like he's controlling the game, not the home plate umpire.

But what annoys me more, though, is something that's not Jeter's fault: the Fox announcers, particularly Tim McCarver, seem to fawn all over him. He is a good player (though a poor defensive shortstop), but, jeez, stop it already. If I were a Red Sox fan, I would be having to listen to the game on the radio, as I would have thrown something large and heavy into my television screen.

I was cheered to know that when I complete my plan to retire to a cabin on the beach in Tobago that I'll be able to receive Canadian satellite TV as long as I have a Canadian mailing address and can figure out which direction to point the little dish.

I hate radio here. Remember when CFNY played Sledgehammer twice in the same day and they were flooded with complaint phone calls?

Actually, I've taken to listening to a wickedly entertaining little radio station in Gonzales, Texas, that plays "country, polka and oldies" just because they are so stunningly unpredictable (and their afternoon host sounds like William S. Burroughs) and won't touch anything that would make a major radio playlist with a twenty foot cattle prod.

I don't want to spoil the entertainment for myself by posting their link (they don't support that many streams at a time), but if you want to join me, drop me a line and I'll point you towards them.

NFH, you already posted it here!

Did I? I know I e-mailed some people about it...

Heh.

I propose a new nick for A-Rod: "Slappy" Rodriguez.

I propose a new nick for A-Rod: "Slappy" Rodriguez.

Hehehehe. I like it.

I finally slaw a replay of the slap. All that was missing was A-Rod shouting "That's my purse! I don't know you!" a la Bobby Hill.

That picture is easily the second best one I've ever posted here, trailing only the painting of the monkey on the toilet.

I generally can't stand normal radio for very long either. For any of you who have Rogers as your ISP, I recommend checking out Yahoo's LAUNCHtunes (the premium service is no extra charge for Rogers customers). No commercials, customized to your tastes, skip or pause songs whenever you want. You hear a lot of tunes you like while still hearing plenty of stuff you've never heard before. It does get a little repetitive at times, I believe there are certain albums they're trying to sell.

Ortiz is a terrible first baseman, alas, and Millar is a pretty bad outfielder.

Anyway, if Mirabelli catches, Varitek goes to the bench. If he's the DH and Mirabelli takes a knuckler off the wrong hand - well, you've lost your DH. And its not like Varitek can be expected to provide a lot more offence than Millar or Nixon anyway.

I'd like to hear what people think Rodriguez should have done

Good question. Rodriguez says the umpires told him that if he'd run over Arroyo he would have been OK, which is not quite true. Rodriguez was running in his lane and both Arroyo and Mientkiewicz were converging on the lane. If they were in his lane and Rodriguez ran through them a) he would have been within his rights; b) Mientkiewicz, who didn't have the ball, would have been interfering.

But Rodriguez both slanted towards the right edge of his lane (which is why he ran past 1B without coming near it) and chopped at Arroyo's arm. And neither Arroyo nor Mientkiewicz actually encroached on his running lane. Arroyo was reaching out with his arm and Mientkiewicz was jamming on the brakes. For Rodriguez to have run over Arroyo, he would have had to slant towards the infield, and outside his running lane. He would have been called out for that.

It's hard to work all this out in a split second, especially when you're trying to beat out an infield hit. But in retrospect, the only thing for him to do would have been to just keep running, take the tag, and hope Arroyo dropped it. Jamming on the brakes and hoping for a rundown that would get Jeter to third - not really possible.

http://me.woot.net
A good friend of mine has an XM radio he imported thanks to eBay; he has an american friend's address as his address on the account, and pays for it with his Canadian credit card aiui.

I don't blame him per se... doing that doesn't make him a bad person. It makes him a bad player, a poor sport, and a cad. A "cheat"? That's stretching it a touch.

I dunno. He tried to cheat, and got caught. Ergo he's a cheater, no? That said, I don't think it's any different from, say, an outfielder trapping a flyball, then holding his glove in the air as if he caught it on the fly.

I was SO hoping, though, that Sheffield would've gotten a single, moving Jeter to 3rd (or 2nd), only to have him stranded there. That'd have meant that ARod's cheating would've cost the Yanks a run...

I dunno. He tried to cheat, and got caught. Ergo he's a cheater, no?

I suppose that's true, but if you use the term "cheater" that loosely, any hockey player who has ever gotten a minor penalty is a cheater.

Wouldn't running out of the baseline trying to avoid the tag also be cheating then?

I think cheating has been a part of baseball throughout the years from pitchers scuffing baseballs, to corked bats, to steriods. What Arod did is hardly anything that I find appalling.

LOL. Daygloradio is playing the Cure's "Boys don't Cry" while playing audio from last night's A-Rod incident over top of it. Funny stuff.

What Mike said. This isn't a pattern of behaviour like Gaylord Perry, or Sammy Sosa, or Jose Canseco.

Yeah, I used to, as a kid, get a subscription to Baseball Digest and when I read them now and again, I notice that cheating is seen by that mag as"part of the game," something to not only be overlooked but commended as well. I remember they used to tell stories of third basemen who'd grab the belts of runners rounding third (only had one umpire in that day) and slowing them down or a story about a catcher who'd keep buckshot in his mouth so he could simulate the sound of a foul ball and when he caught the "foul ball" the guy would be out (rules were a bit different in that day- early 1900's).

Can you imagine what we'd think today of Posada having metal in his mouth to simulate a tick ball to get a call (which, I realize, wouldn't work anymore...just thinkin about the premise)?

Baseball has a rule book, but it also has a traditionally forgiving attitude towards those who attempt to evade its provisions. Gaylord Perry was like a weird kind of folk hero...

"A guy who cheats in a friendly game of cards is a cheater. A pro who throws a spitball to support his family is a competitor." (George Bamberger, believed to have taught the spitter to many of his pitchers in Baltimore, New York, and MIlwaukee)

He tried to cheat, and got caught. Ergo he's a cheater, no?

When you say someone's a cheater, I take that to mean they habitually cheat. I don't think that's true of Rodriguez - He cheated in this situation, but he's not a cheater in general.

But in retrospect, the only thing for him to do would have been to just keep running, take the tag, and hope Arroyo dropped it.

Would sliding have been too much of an injury risk, or was he too far from first? I wonder if it would have surprised Arroyo enough to make him screw up the throw to Mientkiewicz. That's what I thought had happened as I saw the play live, that Arroyo couldn't decide whether to tag or throw and just spontaneously combusted, throwing the ball away.

Last night in a dream I saw a slow motion replay of the slap played over the Chariots of Fire theme, with the slap connecting just as the music swelled.

I suppose that's true, but if you use the term "cheater" that loosely, any hockey player who has ever gotten a minor penalty is a cheater.

Yes, just like someone who copies a problem set. Anyone who cheats is a cheater. I don't understand the reluctance to use the term, or see how it's using the term loosely.

Then again, I don't equate "cheater" with "bad person" or "appalling" behaviour... it's this association that I don't really understand.

Rather than responding to all the continuing hope-the-big-bad-Yankees lose posts, there was some mention of predictions? Okay ..

This is pretty specific, so I'm pretty much bound to be wrong:

Brown 2.1 IP 5H 4R 4ER 1BB 3K
Vazquez 1.2 IP 2H 1R 1ER oBB 1K
Loaiza 4IP 1H 0R 0ER 3BB 7K
Rivera 1IP oH 0R 0ER 1BB 2K

Yankees 7, Red Sox 5.

What Rodriguez did reminds me more of a hockey player responding to a gentle hook by performing a theatrical and exagerrated sprawl onto the ice, and then following it up with histrionics with the referees don't penalize the other guy.

It looks a lot worse than it really was - its not so much that he tried to bend the rules, as that he did such a bad job of doing it.

Expect that there's a risk of injury when a player chops at the hand/wrist of an opposing player.

Yes, just like someone who copies a problem set. Anyone who cheats is a cheater. I don't understand the reluctance to use the term, or see how it's using the term loosely.

Because when you use a term that liberally it loses all meaning. By your standards, everyone is a cheater! If the term makes no distinction between people, it's rather meaningless - like saying we're all carbon based life forms. So?

http://www.yesnetwork.com/yankees/news.asp?news_id=675
COMN for Steve Goldman's take on the fracas involving fan behavior last night. A snippet:

Anyone who would attack a ballplayer or an umpire from the safety of his seat, where it is unlikely that they could be identified and prosecuted, or, for that matter, subject to retaliation, is lacking essential qualities of courage and common sense both above the neck and below the waist.

BLUE JAYS have hired Japanese scout Takashi Ishikawa to cover the Pan Pacific area. Ishikawa is interested in signing Denny Tomori, 37, of the Yokohama Bay Stars. A right-handed submariner, Tomori pitched in 21 games this season as a set-up man, with 24 strikeouts in 25 innings. He was 0-1 with a 4.62 earned run average.

My Japanese releivers followup article got postponed when my hard drive seemed to fail and I lost a mostly completed article, not to mention tons of other stuff. Anyhow, Tomori wasn't on my list of premier releivers in Japan but was on the second tier, if I remember correctly.

I believe, not suprisingly, there are definately superior releivers in Japan to be had, but as to whether those pitchers are available or in our price range is another question.

If I have some free time I'll try to restart the article and I can include Tomori to see how he compares.

When you say someone's a cheater, I take that to mean they habitually cheat

Okay, I see what you're saying, just don't agree with it. After all, a murderer doesn't necessarily habitually commit murder.

In any case, Perry et. al. weren't cheaters, because "it's only cheating if you get caught". ARod's problem isn't that he cheated, it's that he did it badly enough to get caught.

Wow Mick, L_____ has 7 strikeouts in only 4 innings?

Arroyo couldn't decide whether to tag or throw

I think Arroyo thought about throwing, only to discover that Mientkiewicz was a:) too close to throw the ball to; b:) not on the bag. Mientkiewicz might have been closer to Arroyo than he was to the bag. He couldn't make a throw.

Would sliding have been too much of an injury risk, or was he too far from first?

I think he was too far from first to slide. Here's a picture.

The main thing isn't that the play is illegal - there's a penalty for that and luckily it was enforced. It's that this specific play is viewed as being grossly unsportsmanlike by the players.

And it really is equivalent to what Fick did: whatever injury resulted does not alter the intent and means used to accomplish it, which are basically the same in these cases.

ACTION of FICK = ACTION of A-ROD,

therefore

If FICK = BAD, then A-ROD = BAD.

Awesome picture. I think it's time for a contest. Just give me a second.

37! Good God!

Pistol, I think Lofton was being kept back to pinch-hit for Cairo if Clark got on...

there's a risk of injury when a player chops at the hand/wrist of an opposing player.

True, and that's another reason for it to be against the rules.

I think there's a bigger risk of injury when baserunners try to take out the 2B on the double play. That rule has been modified since I started watching baseball. The type of body-block we once saw Hal McRae put on Willie Randolph (who was nowhere near 2B by that time is no longer tolerated

this specific play is viewed as being grossly unsportsmanlike by the players.

This is very true. Middle infielders expect the runner to go after them. Orlando Cabrera is pretty enthusiastic about doing it himself when he has the chance.

Remember Bob Boone being asked if there's a gentleman's agreement among catchers when they're running the bases and heading for a home plate collision:

"Yeah, the agreement is you get knocked on your ass."

Mick, I appreciate that it must be unpleasant for you to read all this Boston boosterism, but to predict in response that Loaiza will throw four scoreless innings is a low blow! Keep it clean, please!

Cheater and Jeter, Attorneys at Law.

It's been awhile since I've seen the Fick play, but from what I remember Fick looked like he was intentionally trying to injure the 1B. ARod just made a sissy slap at Arroyo when he knew he couldn't make it by.

Loaiza 4IP 1H 0R 0ER 3BB 7K

Thanks, I needed a good laugh in the lazy afternoon.

As per my promise to NFH last night:

Yo Aaron. How about a title graphic? I dunno how long I can keep the show on hiatus.

No, Fick punched Karros (I believe) in the hand/forearm with the intent of dislodging the ball. He didn't do it for the love of violence.

And while some of you might think a punch is worse than a chop, let me assure you that a well-placed chop can easily break someone's wrist.

And again, maybe I missed it, but how is walking Matsui to lead off the ninth the *exact* same thing as a leadoff HR like McCarver said? How do Leiter and Buck let that go?

You're being too hard on Tim. While a walk and a HR are obviously not the same, in that situation the Yanks needed a baserunner of any kind. The only drawback of a walk is the potential for a DP, force out etc.

The only drawback of a walk is the potential for a DP, force out etc.

Were the Sox holding Matsui on? If so, it'd open up a bit of a hole on the right side, making it a better situation for the Yanks. If not, Matsui should probably have been sent. Would the Sox have bothered trying to throw him out?

What Rodriguez did reminds me more of a hockey player responding to a gentle hook by performing a theatrical and exagerrated sprawl onto the ice

Forget Alex "Slappy" Rodriguez...how about "A-Riberio"?

And while some of you might think a punch is worse than a chop, let me assure you that a well-placed chop can easily break someone's wrist.

Right. We should completely ignore the effects of the action and focus on whatever superficial similarities we can find to declare them identical.

Hey, the Wall Street Journal mentioned my "Interference" article!

It's the first time that I've been mentioned in the Journal.

That I know of.

Art In America, here I come!

Wow.. that's awesome. I'm jealous.

Good work, Craig...but bird droppings and Jobu were on Conan O'Brien. I don't know that the Wall Street Journal really tops that.

;)

Candiotti at ESPN (COMN):
Because there's no tomorrow, both managers will have a quick hook in Tuesday night's ALCS Game 7
[...]
after all, there are six months to heal.

Um...Tom? There is no tomorrow, but there is Saturday...and Sunday...and Tuesday...and Wednesday. It only seems like six months because ESPN takes forever to load all of its little side ads.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/playoffs2004/news/story?id=1905714
New acronym: COMNSIFTLA (Since I Forgot The Link Above).

Sure, there's the Series, but both managers need to manage like there's no tommorow. If Arroyo is getting shelled, the managers can't be thinking "Well, I'd bring in Wakefield, but then we'd be screwed in the series. It's Mendoza time!"

Fantastic job, Craig. I'm glad you linked back from THT to your discussion of Danleygate, when most of us believe a similar conference was botched. Both umpire meetings last night produced correct results; blocked or not, Marsh's initial "safe" call -- made long before A-Rod ever touched first -- was brutal.

it really is equivalent to what Fick did

I never liked Fick, and was quick to judge his far more aggressive act as a last straw. A-Rod used to be my favourite player, and I still admire his talent, but I can't condone what he did. It was instinctive, not so different from Reggie's infamous hip check, but it was an attempt to cheat. If you get away with something like that, it's "part of the game," but when you get caught white-handed, feigning innocence is going too far.

Though yesterday's Roundup may be old news, I just added a "tikky," as my two-year-old daughter once called them, and a shaggy dog story explaining my recent absence.

http://msn.foxsports.com/story/3095672
Just read an opener to an article over at The Sporting News (COMN)and the opening line suggested that the Angels should sign Pavano and trade for V.Wells. I couldn't read the rest because it was one of those registration required places

First question: Who would the Angels have to give up for Wells?
Second Question: Is this a discussion starter or crude rumour mongering?

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?id=1898324
John Sickels discusses Rios. COMN

the Angels should sign Pavano and trade for V.Wells... Who would the Angels have to give up for Wells?

By the way, this is a discussion starter. Repeating rumours we've all heard 1,000 times is boring; repeating new ones is always interesting.

What I want for Wells... John Lackey and Dallas MacPherson. V-Dub don't come cheap.

I'm not a big McPherson fan. He's got big time pop, but he's going to strike out so much that he'll have a hard time hitting .240.

I actually don't see any reasonable match with the Angels' personnel.

it was one of those registration required places

Bud Selig is alive and well at the sporting news apparently ;)

There's only one sentence in the article that mentions Vernon. The writer mostly talks about how the Angels want a new CF (because they want to move Garret to left) but none of the free agents are a good fit. No mention of what the Angels might give up.

I hope it's ok if I quote the single sentence mentioning Vernon, if it's not then feel free to delete it.

"More likely, Stoneman will try to make a trade, with center fielders such as the Twins' Torii Hunter and the Blue Jays' Vernon Wells rumored to be available."

Carlos Beltran isn't a good fit as a centrefielder?

Carlos Beltran isn't a good fit as a centrefielder?

Well in the writer's opinion Beltran might as well be carrying a sign saying "non-Yankees need not apply".

to me, shields and kotchman for wells makes sense for both parties. assuming, of course, delgado does not resign.

The Moreno charm might yet convince Beltran.

The Moreno charm

I take it these would be Moreno's special charms with pictures of Salmon P. Chase on them?

12,000-16,000 of those would be awkward to carry around, but just laying one flat on the table makes a nice conversation starter.