Baseball and Stuff
Baseball and Stuff
The Milwaukee Brewers did a very smart thing on Monday. They locked up their young catcher, Jonathan Lucroy, to a new 5-year extension. Lucroy, 25, batted .265 with 12 HR and 59 RBI in 136 games in 2011. A smart move. It’s tough to find a star catcher.
@BusterPosey - and I’m looking forward to finishing strong as we head into the season. –Buster
Jeremy Barfield @Baseclogger - So pumped to be playing meaningful baseball again next week. Hurry up regular season!
The Astros have released Zach Duke and Jack Cust.
The Red Sox option shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias to Triple-A Pawtucket
Rockies release third baseman Casey Blake
New York Yankees release Preston Mattingly, son of Don Mattingly
Wonderful Willie Smith, one of the last truly 2-way players
With the Angels in 1964, Willie Smith- Played 87 games in the outfield, LF, batting .301 with 11 HRs in 373 PAs and a 125 OPS+; in the field, he made just 2 errors and had a positive dWAR.
On Opening Day 1969, Willie Smith pinch-hit for Jim Hickman in the bottom of the 11th with the Cubs down by a run, and smacked a 2-run HR off Barry Lersch for the walk-off win
Smith came up with Detroit. In his last minor-league season before his MLB debut, Smith went 14-2 in 17 starts at AAA, with a 2.11 ERA in 145 IP, and batted .380 in 50 games (31 of them as a nonpitcher). http://seamheads.com/2012/03/27/a-best-of-collection-of-favorite-obscure-baseball-players/
Speed Check:
Jamie Moyer – One Mississippi… two Mississippi…
5 comments:
Some team will pick up Casey Blake, probably in the AL so he can DH. I think he can still hit, and he's OK in the field.
Hi Mack,
Just a couple of observations that I wanted to get your take on. First, is it just me or has Tejada taken a little step backwards defensively this spring? I wonder if bulking up has taken away some of his athleticism. I still am concerned that he will be able to withstand a full year as a starter and Cedeno is awful even as a backup. The other part of the double play combination also is concerning me. Is it just me or has Murphy altered his swing so that now he will have even less power? I like the line drive stroke but if he hits more than 5 homeruns with his current approach at the plate I'd be shocked. If the Mets aren't getting both some power and average from Murphy should he really be starting? Don't get me wrong I love Murphy's attitude but I'm just not sure either Tejada or Murphy should be starting and I'm more bullish on the Mets this season than most. Duda looks great but Davis needs the at bats to come back from missing almost a year and he can't get them because the Mets don't want him to get runned down because of the valley fever. Finally any updates on Mejia? I have heard he is way ahead of schedule so does that mean he will start the season with Buffalo or will the Mets still hold him back in extended spring training until the weather gets a little nicer? As always thanks in advance. Keep up the good work.
Mejia: his is currently pitching off the mound in camp and is on target to return to action around June 1st.
Re: Tejada - I stopped years ago judging play in ST. His pro stats are higher than Reyes at the same age. He's also hitting .300+ in ST.
His backup plan is the same as Murphy. Jordany Valdespin is waiting in the wings, preferably as a 2Bman.
This the best defensively you're going to get out of Murphy. You can't turn a giraffe into a swan.
Mack's right ST really doesnt mean much...
Of all the things Im worried about on this team, Tejeda's defense and Murph's bat are not one of them.
Expect Tejeda to make about 13-15 errors this year in total. Murph should hit around .305 with 15 HRs IMO.
Even Sandy Alderson was complimentary about Ruben's defensive skills
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