Following Former Red Sox: 2013

[MakMan44]

Carl Crawford's slash line: .410/.465/.615.
 
Almost as nice as the slash line that's gonna be on my wrists.

I know you're making a joke but suicide jokes are never funny.

As to Crawford, after all the shit we've heard him say this offseason about how much he hated the pressure in Boston do you seriously believe he'd put up that slash line if he was still here? I know I don't

 

[JimD]

Carl Crawford's slash line: .410/.465/.615.
 
Almost as nice as the slash line that's gonna be on my wrists.

 
You really think his OPS is going to remain 300 points above his career average?

 

[Adrian's Dome]

You really think his OPS is going to remain 300 points above his career average?

 
Of course not. Still, it's disheartening to see him playing like the guy that tormented us for years once again. We didn't get that for any extended period of time when he was wearing the local laundry.

 

[JimD]

I was disheartened about his performance as a member of the Red Sox in 2011 and 2012, but what he does going forward no longer bothers me since Ben foisted his overpaid contract onto the Dodgers.

 

[mabrowndog]

Grady Hatton, an infielder who spent parts of 3 seasons with the Red Sox, died Thursday at age 90.
 
Wiki page
 
After arriving May 1954 from the White Sox in a trade for George Kell, the lefty-hitting Hatton took over as Boston's starting third baseman. He played 230 games for the Sox, putting up a .262/.381/.355/.736 line. In his first year in Boston, he was moved all over the batting order yet still compiled a .281/.399/.391/.790 line in 366 PA. For most of the '55 season he was a fixture in the 7th spot in the order, hitting between catcher Sammy White and outfielder Jim Piersall. Hatton led the AL in fielding position at 3B in '54 (.969) and finished second in '55 (.976).
 
The arrival of heralded 21-yo shortstop prospect Don Buddin for the 1956 season rendered Hatton expendable. The Sox moved 27-yo incumbent SS Billy Klaus, who'd finished 2nd in the AL Rookie of the Year balloting behind Indians fireballer Herb Score, to third base. Hatton played just 5 games with the Sox in 1956, all as a pinch-hitter, before the 33-year-old was purchased by the Cardinals on May 11.
 
Hatton would spend 12 seasons in the majors with 6 clubs, the bulk of them with the Reds, and would later manage the Astros from 1966-68. He was also a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, and joined the Reds immediately upon his discharge from the military as a 23-yo in 1946.
 

 

[nattysez]

Michael Bowden looks like he may have finally put it together. After posting a 2.95 ERA and 1.25 WHIP to finish last year, he is off to a good start this year with a 2.57 ERA and .86 WHIP through 6 games this year.  Obviously being in the NL Central helps, but still just 26 he may just be for real.

 
Not so fast.  He looked awful today:  .2 IP, BB, H, 3 WP, allowed both inherited runners to score

 

[cwright]

via Phil Rogers (Chicago Tribune):
 

So much for the Brent Lillibridge era with the Cubs. Cody Ransom has replaced him on the 25-man roster, with Lillibridge being designated for assignment. [...] Lillibridge and Alberto Gonzalez shared second with Barney out, and Gonzalez outplayed him. Lillibridge was 1-for-24 at the plate.
 

 
Lillibridge's beautifully symmetrical line of .042/.042/.042 would have been cool if he intended it to be a tribute to Jackie Robinson.  He posted an astonishingly bad OPS+ of -77.
 
 

 

[Bob's up sick]

On the subject of Cahl Crawfid, Dave Cameron has a piece up on Fangraphs today that makes (I think) a couple interesting points: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/the-rejuvenation-of-carl-crawford/

 

[MalzoneExpress]

via Phil Rogers (Chicago Tribune):
 
 
Lillibridge's beautifully symmetrical line of .042/.042/.042 would have been cool if he intended it to be a tribute to Jackie Robinson.  He posted an astonishingly bad OPS+ of -77.

 
That line is the Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Grab your towel and hitchhike out of town Brent.

 

[vadertime]

Jerry Sands who was aquired from the Dodgers in the big trade last year and then shipped to the Pirates in the Hanrahan deal has been suspeneded one game (AAA) for entering the stands in a confrontation with a fan,
 
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/pirates/pirates-minor-leaguer-suspended-for-confrontation-with-fans-683833/

 

[RetractableRoof]

The Dodgers recalled catcher Tim Federowicz from Triple-A Albuquerque to give them the option of DHing their catcher Ellis during interleague play.

 

[TheYellowDart5]

Daisuke Matsuzaka tonight for Triple-A Columbus: 4 innings, 2 hits, 2 runs (both earned), 8 walks, 4 strikeouts.

 

[tims4wins]

8 walks eh? Not nibbling or anything

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

It's a different ball in AAA

 

[MakMan44]

Awesome:

One scout is greatly impressed with what he's seen from Carl Crawford in '13; his stopwatch times to first are fastest since 1st years in TB

 
https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/325688350705078272

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

Beckett still sucks in the AL East.  6 ER including 2 homers in 5 2/3 against the Orioles

 

[Dick Drago]

Derek Lowe with four shutout innings for the win in Texas.

 

[genivive]

Awesome:
 
https://twitter.com/Buster_ESPN/status/325688350705078272

Gammons replied that CC was 240 lbs when he started rehab for us last year.  Jesus....

 

[Pearl Wilson]

Stephen Fife making today's start for LAD against Baltimore.
 

The Dodgers went into Spring Training with eight highly paid starting pitchers, then dealt Aaron Harang. Now, with Billingsley joining Zack Greinke (broken collarbone) and Chris Capuano (pulled calf muscle) on the sidelines, the crisis forced the club to recall Stephen Fife from Triple-A Albuquerque to make Sunday's start against Baltimore.
Billingsley's injury could be the worst of the bunch, as the club has held its collective breath ever since he missed the final two months of the 2012 season with a partially torn elbow ligament, the kind of injury that usually requires Tommy John surgery and a year on the sidelines to fix.

 
Link

 

[sean1562]

Gammons replied that CC was 240 lbs when he started rehab for us last year.  Jesus....

 
yea, cc can cry all he wants about the boston media but if that is true, he literally just took his money, kicked back and got fat. i bet he is liking the environment of la much better thna boston. should have just signed there in the first place. what happens when you make decisions solely around the money

 

[Van Everyman]

Kevin Youkilis removed from 5-3 Yankees victory due to tight lower back

<br /><br />Apparently only three hits in his last 23 at-bats. <br /><br />http://www.nj.com/yankees/index.ssf/2013/04/kevin_youkilis_leaves_game.html<br />

 

[MakMan44]

Well this made me laugh:

The #Astros have sent Roger Clemens out to scout potential No. 1 overall Draft picks.

 
https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/326453874800070656

 

[Al Zarilla]

Cody Ross sure looks strange in a D-backs uni, as he gets a 2 run knock in the first against the Giants. 

 

[tims4wins]

After leaving Saturday's game, Youk has missed the last two games with back stiffness. I for one am shocked!

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

After the Cubs scored 2 in the top of the 13th to take a 4-2 lead, old friend Michael Bowden gave up 3 in the bottom, and the Reds beat the Cubs 5-4 in 13.

 

[Tokyo Sox]

Manny's 3rd CPBL HR: he watches it go, takes forever to round the bases, probably misses the plate.  Deadspin

 

[Rovin Romine]

Manny's 3rd CPBL HR: he watches it go, takes forever to round the bases, probably misses the plate.  Deadspin

Freeze the video during the replay and you'll see the pitcher stops watching and puts his head down.  Manny keeps watching for three backward steps before he puts his head down and starts running.  And yes. he does not touch home.

 

[deconstruction]

Hilarious. It almost looks like he *thinks* he's stepping on it, but just flat out misses. And one of his teammates had a nice little handshake going. Like having a cool, savant uncle on your team. Damn tapatalk line breaks!

 

[sean1562]

Man i really miss the manny shtick

 

[Pearl Wilson]

Sorry Elephant?

 

[ForceAtHome]

Sorry Elephant?

 
The Elephants are the name of a team in the league.

 

[Rice4HOF]

Canadian ex-prospect Jason Blackey, who pitched for GCL, Lancaster, Greenville & Salem during his 4 years in the Sox' system (2006-09), is now the pitching coach for the University of Calgary baseball team. He's also pursuing a career as a Calgary Police officer.

Not that anybody cares, but I umpired his game today.  He served as the first base coach for most of it.

 

[Fred not Lynn]

There's the Monkeys, too. Sounds like CPBL is a real zoo.

 

[derekson]

Anibal Sanchez struck out 17 Braves hitters in 8 innings tonight.

 

[bosox188]

Anibal Sanchez struck out 17 Braves hitters in 8 innings tonight.

 
Too bad Leyland didn't let him pitch the 9th to take a shot at 20, but he was already at 122 pitches so you can't really blame him.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Starting pitcher in Pawtucket tomorrow:  Daisuke Matsuzaka.  But not for the Pawsox, of course

 

[soxhop411]

HR for Nick Green

 

[derekson]

Crawford hit his 3rd and 4th home runs today, both off of Kyle Lohse. So far they account for the only 2 runs scored in the game. The second one also came on an 0-2 count.

 

[tims4wins]

6th straight missed game for Youk today

 

[derekson]

6th straight missed game for Youk today

 
He played yesterday, playing first base and batting fifth.

 

[tims4wins]

 
He played yesterday, playing first base and batting fifth.

Good catch. He has an MRI scheduled for tomorrow. So he's missed 6 out of 7 games and I would guess won't play tomorrow. Where are all those "shoulda signed Youk" folks now?

 

[InsideTheParker]

Good catch. He has an MRI scheduled for tomorrow. So he's missed 6 out of 7 games and I would guess won't play tomorrow. Where are all those "shoulda signed Youk" folks now?

Reporting for duty. Let's wait and see how the year plays out. While WMB was stinking up the joint so badly people were talking about our lack of depth at 3rd, Youks was doing a great job for the Yankees.

 

[threecy]

Reporting for duty. Let's wait and see how the year plays out. While WMB was stinking up the joint so badly people were talking about our lack of depth at 3rd, Youks was doing a great job for the Yankees.

 
And now that Youk is hurt, Middlebrooks has been heating up (hitting .400 with 2 doubles and a homer) in his last 4 games.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Jed Lowrie set an A's record for hits in the month of April. A's announcers reported it but didn't say whether it was franchise (Philadelphia, KC, Oakland) or just Oakland. Maybe he stays healthy this year.   Strange thing is he wasn't supposed to the starting SS (Hiroyuki Nakajima).

 

[Laser Show]

Nick Green hit a game winning sac fly for Miami in the 15th yesterday, but Brandon Moss did him one better, hitting a walk-off home run in the 19th inning for Oakland.

 

[OttoC]

Jed Lowrie set an A's record for hits in the month of April. A's announcers reported it but didn't say whether it was franchise (Philadelphia, KC, Oakland) or just Oakland....

Well, in the earlier days of baseball the season generally did not begin until mid- to late-April, so you can probably rule out Philadelphia and KC.

This is a quick graph of opening day dates for that franchise from 1901 through this season. It represents the day in April for each year; however, for the two May opening dates I simply added teh extra days to April and for the two March openers, I subtracted them.

 

[AlNipper49]

Jed Lowrie set an A's record for hits in the month of April. A's announcers reported it but didn't say whether it was franchise (Philadelphia, KC, Oakland) or just Oakland. Maybe he stays healthy this year. Strange thing is he wasn't supposed to the starting SS (Hiroyuki Nakajima).<br />

<br /><br />In his defense, he's just trying to get all of his hits in before his annual season-ending trip to the DL.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

Looks like Youks is heading to the DL.

 

[InsideTheParker]

Looks like Youks is heading to the DL.

They shouldn't have believed him when he said he was ready to play Saturday:
 

“I think playing him on Saturday was a mistake by everybody involved,” he said.

Youkilis has been battling back pain since April 19 in Toronto. He missed seven games before he told Girardi on Saturday that he was healed and ready to play. But after that game the pain returned, and because he played the Yankees could not backdate his placement on the D.L. to April 20, the day after he was originally injured. If they had, he would have been eligible to come off the D.L. on Sunday. Now he will not be eligible to return until May 13.

Equally important as his eligibility date was that Youkilis was not ready to play, and that may have led to him reinjuring the back while making a diving tag at first base.

“His facial expression from that point on, I was like, ‘We’re going to have a problem,’ ” Cashman said. “And we did.”

Girardi was asked if he would now have to ask Youkilis twice before believing that he was healthy.

“I might ask him six more times,” Girardi said.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/01/sports/baseball/astros-brandon-barnes-finally-gets-to-yankees-andy-pettitte.html?emc=tnt&tntemail1=y
Elsewhere I read that Cashman is looking for more right-handed help. Wonder whose retirement they defer this time?

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Luis Exposito, who was called up to the O's just a couple days ago, DFA'd