Notes and Links
Tue, Jun 14, 2005
by Geoff Young
Greetings from Toronto. It was warm and rainy last night when we arrived, very much like Hawai’i, of all places. After settling into our room, we wandered around what I believe was the Financial District before eventually stumbling onto an open restaurant. After spending the entire plane trip scouring various tour books, we ended up having pasta and beer at the place closest to the hotel. Isn’t that the way.
We are within walking distance of SkyDome, and I’ll be at the Battle of the Birds (Cardinals/Blue Jays) this evening. Thank goodness an NL team is playing, eh? (”Eh, I said ‘eh’, eh?”) And apparently they have this deal here where you can get into Tuesday night games for $2 Canadian. That’s like $1.50, or roughly six peanut shells at Petco.
Okay, onto the links:
- Burroughs out to increase power, production at plate (NC Times). From the article: “Boston reserve Kevin Youkilis has driven in the same number of runs as Burroughs in 49 at-bats.” Ouch. Well, at least Burroughs is aware of his need to step it up at the plate. Let’s hope he can do it. Another potent bat in the lineup would be most helpful.
- Faux GMs: Let’s make a deal for Barry Zito (U-T). My question would be, How do you work in Zito’s salary without moving someone else? I’ve actually identified a few starting pitchers that I think the Padres would have a realistic chance of acquiring and it ain’t pretty. Casey Fossum? Brandon Backe? Joe Kennedy?
- Scouting more art than science (U-T). Praise for Khalil Greene and Tim Stauffer, the latter of whom was left off Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects this year. Alert: the term “sabermetrics” is used in this article. And since we are in Toronto, I’ll take this moment to point out that sabermetrics is very hard to fake.
Off to the hockey Hall of Fame. I’m not a great fan of hockey, but I watched enough of it as a kid (grew up following the Triple Crown Line era Los Angeles Kings) to appreciate the sport. Plus I’ve discovered over the years that pretty much any opportunity to visit a sports Hall of Fame shouldn’t be missed.
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June 14, 2005 at 4:23 pm
It’s not obvious to me that “Burroughs is aware of his need to step it up at the plate.” … for example …
“Obviously, stats don’t lie,” Burroughs said. “I just have to keep working. My next-door neighbor the other day was like, ‘Look at (Padres second baseman Mark) Loretta —- he has no homers, (five) doubles.’ People just don’t understand. It will come.”
… what does that mean? Seems like a “2 wrongs make a right” argument? … and/or a “head in the sand” attitude! (ie. saying “it will come” seems like denial that it hasn’t yet come for reasons that he can control) … as I’ve said before, I’m DONE waiting … if it happens, that’ll be great … but if Towers punts before it happens, I’ll support that decision no matter what.
June 14, 2005 at 8:56 pm
“Just because I don’t know what sabermetrics means, doesn’t mean I’m lying.”
Burroughs plays scared at the plate. He’s big, strong, and has a good swing–he should be putting the scare into opposing pitchers, rather than dinking the pill around like a Tony Gwynn wanna-be.
June 14, 2005 at 10:27 pm
Farm Report:
Sean Thompson with his first AA win … http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....x_mobaax_1 …
2-hit game for Matt Bush … and a decent start by Luke Steidlmayer to run his record to 7-2 (ERA = 2.15) … http://www.minorleaguebaseball.....x_ftwafx_1