SB Nation Blog: 44FAN

Some Fans the Rays never knew they had.

44FAN — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:30:06 -0000

What they say about Napoli and Mathis

44FAN — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:41:53 -0000

We have all been wondering and complaining why Jeff Mathis is getting more starts lately than Mike Napoli, and why Jeff seems to be carrying the heavy load behind the plate. The truth is neither catcher has played any more games than the other. As of Friday's game against the Dodgers, Napoli and Mathis have started exactly 42 games each.

Napoli has had only one more at bat (131) and scored one less run (16) than Mathis. Their averages are close, Mathis at .215 and Napoli at .206. The big difference is Napoli's 11 home runs and 27 RBI to Mathis' 5 homers and 19 RBI.

Another topic of great debate around HH is which catcher is better defensively and who calls the better game. Here's what Scioscia, Weaver, and Santana have to say:

Jered Weaver, "They're doing as much work as we are. Mathis is more athletic and makes plays that Napoli probably won't make but Mike is good at blocking the plate and things like that."

Ervin Santana, "We're always on the same page. You're thinking of a pitch and they call that pitch. It makes us work quickly and does'nt let the hitter think too much."

Mike Scioscia, "It's a priority to foster pitcher-catcher communication. It's very rare that a pitcher will reach his potential unless there is a catcher out there helping him through things. Mike and Jeff are terrific at pitcher-catcher communication."

It would be great to see Napoli hit some more long balls for us in the near future as well as Mathis stepping it up and do what he is perfectly capable of offensively. I think Soth probably has this figured out some how in his own head and will continue to start his catchers proportionately over the long stretch ahead. Giving them egual starts will keep them rested and reliable down the road toward the post season.

Soth: The Villain of Washington DC

44FAN — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:13:55 -0000

The Nationals fans still hold Soth in contempt for the June 14, 2005 Brendon Donnelly pine tar incident.

This happened, as I'm sure we all remember, at a game where Donnelly was brought in to pitch in the seventh inning and was tossed before he threw his first pitch. Jose Guillen, who was in the outfield for the Nationals, tipped sixty nine year old manager Frank Robinson that Donnelly used pine tar on his glove. Robinson alerted the umpires, and Donnelly was tossed when a substance was found in his glove.

A heated argument ensued on home plate between Soth and Robinson regarding the use of pine tar, and Soth threatened to have each of the Nationals pitchers checked or "undressed" before they came to the mound to pitch. During this confrontation Soth "bumped" Robinson causing outrage and accusations by Guillen that Soth was being unforgivably disrespectful to Robinson. The benches cleared briefly in protest of this whole affair as Donnelly was livid and throwing a fit for being thrown out of the game.

e chigliak, at Federal Baseball, is encouraging his few followers to never forget and never give in to this atrocity, and boo loudly when our Soth is introduced at the beginning of the game in DC tonight and anytime Soth is visible on the field. We will bear witness to the power and hatred of the Nats villagers during the game tonight. Those HH's in attendance must report back the carnage.

Setting the Record Straight

44FAN — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:08:36 -0000

Our friend hittheg seems to have a little bit of a problem with something I posted on one of scottnak's threads, "Week 11 Results: 11 And Fist Shakes!!"

scottnak invited everyone to "come post and say hi!" after he posted the week's pre-game guesses results.

I had moved up two positions in the standings from 20 to 18 and felt I had done well that I was moving on up. That is when the theme song form the Jefferson's TV show popped in to my head, "Movin' On Up." I took a look at the lyrics, and noticed the baseball reference, and thought it would be a good, funny thing to post this verse from the song. I simply copied the verse from the song into my comment in it's given true form.

My post was not a reply to hittheg's previous post, and I cannot see how anyone would relate the two together. In fact, I have never made any comments to the way hittheg posts comments nor would I. I have never even replied to any commment by hitteg.

I realize that this is the internet, and when you write something, people may read a different meaning into the words other than you intended. I do joke and kid with people on this board from time to time, and when I do, I usually indicate so nobody takes anything the wrong way.

So just to set the record straight, the post I made that hitteg thought was a reply to his post, or his "style" of comment, was not directed toward him in any way, my post was simply an independant comment in scottnak's thread.

Sincerely, 44FAN

Rex Hudler, Maicer Izturis, and Brian Downing

44FAN — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:19:33 -0000

Macier Izturis is the first Angel to lead off consecutive games with a home run since Rex Hudler (May 20-21, 1996) and only the third player in franchise history to do it since Brian Downing's consecutive home run games on April 14-15, 1987. Congratulations for your historic offensive performance Izzy!

Rate Me: #59, Halos Heaven value $123,424

44FAN — Thu, 29 May 2008 22:39:42 -0000

List of 100 Most Valuable Sports Blogs This is a list compiled by DN Scoop, a website that places monetary values on websites. They rated the top 100 sports blogs based on links, PR, traffic rank, and other factors. Several other SB Nation blogs also made the top 100 list.

Arredondo In - Speier Out

44FAN — Fri, 23 May 2008 21:28:50 -0000

The LA Times is reporting Soth has more or less officially replaced Justin Speier in the 7th inning relief role with Jose Arrendondo (formerly known as Fancisco De La Cruz). So speaketh the Soth: "Right now, Justin is searching for a few things. He'll get it back and be a big part of the bullpen. Jose is throwing the ball well, and he has added to that mix that will help us bridge the gap from our starter to closer." Justin's excuse: "I know my location needed to be ironed out, and I had to fine-tune a couple of little things, but I don't think it was that big a deal." Speier is in his second year of a four year, $18 million contract. Justin, while you're busy ironing, try using starch it keeps the wrinkles out longer. In the meantime I am thrilled to have Arre filling your spot in the bullpen because in my opinion he may be the Real Deal.

Santana last night.

44FAN — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:02:30 -0000

Good photo of Santana's rosary tattoo

Angels, Garland knock off Twins - Los Angeles Times

44FAN — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 04:41:58 -0000

Macier Izturis congratulates Mike Napoli after he hit his first homerun of the season in the fourth inning off Boof Bosner in Minnesota on Tuesday.

Bigger Wrench Could Be Thrown In The Wheels Of Baseball

44FAN — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 22:03:27 -0000

"Anticipated release of Mitchell Report could have unintended consequences for foreign players."

A NY Times article discusses the further implications beyond possible 50 game suspensions for foreign born players with a Washington DC immigration lawyer, Robert Hill. He says players that claim to have not used steroids and then found through evidence to have lied, could be permanently denied visas to enter the US and play baseball. This could also affect their family members as well. Players that are found to have shared steroids with other players or introduced them to people or places to obtain steroids could be viewed by the US Consular's Office as technically trafficking in the drug.

L I N K -to- S T O R Y

The article reports that in the three years of the testing program, the majority of players suspended were foreign born. It points out that while there have been no deportations in the past or ungranted visas, the media attention the Mitchell Report will attract (not to mention the hot immigration issue during a major campaign season) could focus increased scrutiny on players' resident visa status. Will some of our favorite Dominican Republic players not be around for the 2007 season?