SB Nation User Blog: Carlos

I have a crush on Rox Girl

Carlos — Fri, 04 Aug 2006 04:14:34 -0000

Oh yeah, I do.

There's something about a girl that knows s'metrics, baseball and likes the Rockies.

Alex Gonzalez retires

Carlos — Sun, 21 May 2006 20:59:19 -0000

I wish him well.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2452920

Gonzalez had a .243 career average with 137 home runs and 536 RBI. He was the starting shortstop on the Cubs when they advanced to the postseason in 2003 and hit a career-high 20 homers that season.

No word on when he'll buy the the car he owes to Steve Bartman.

Freddy Garcia positive for banned substance (WBC)

Carlos — Tue, 02 May 2006 03:21:17 -0000

ESPN just reported that Freddy Garcia tested positive for a banned substance, reportedly marijuana, during the WBC.

It might carry a two-year international suspension. Link: http://www.cadenaglobal.com/default.asp?pgm=detail&Not=107720&sec=19 Text in Spanish!

Garland re-signed, 'Beernitz' to replace Sosa

Carlos — Wed, 28 Dec 2005 19:07:52 -0000

According to ESPN Wire, the White Sox finally bought into the Jon Garland hype and re signed him to a contract worth seven, ten and twelve million dollars through the two thousand and eight season. See him go back to his 4.48 ERA self next year. With all due respect, check Esteban Loaiza's season two years ago and there's your last season Garland; at least they didn't sign Loaiza to a long term deal back then.

Also, the Orioles are close to signing RF Jeromy 'Beernitz' to be their replacement of Sammy Sosa in the outfield for 2006; the deal is reportedly worth twelve million dollars for two years of service.

Seems like they don't learn not to sign ex Cub outfielders.

One less in the mix for RF.

Carlos — Tue, 13 Dec 2005 05:32:13 -0000

http://www.mlb4u.com/chi.html

Calvin Murray, starting CF of the Iowa Cubs and Dusty boy, retired this offseason and took a job with Scott Boras, in his agency.

Oh man. That's bad for the Iowa Cubs. What are we going to do now?

Dempster resigned through 2008, no options announced

Carlos — Sat, 01 Oct 2005 20:57:11 -0000

Link.

"It's a big day for me in my career to get some security like that," Dempster said. "It's definitely a little surreal."
--Redster.

Chicago Cubs closer Ryan Dempster agreed Saturday to a $15.5 million, three-year contract extension through the 2008 season.

"Obviously, it's been one of those things that you're really happy about," Dempster said. "It shows a lot of respect for me and I have a lot of respect for the way they've handled me. I'm glad to be here for three more years. Hopefully, I can help them reach their goals and get to the World Series."

Prospect Retrospective: Greg M.

Carlos — Tue, 23 Aug 2005 20:33:37 -0000

John Sickels (http://www.minorleagueball.com) per request, made one of his famous prospect retrospectives about Greg.

It's well worth a visit. Check it out, here.

A 'perfect' kind of night.

Carlos — Mon, 08 Aug 2005 06:42:32 -0000

I always hear how beautiful pitching duels are.

After tonight's AAA game between my home team, the Yucatan Lions, and the Oaxaca Warriors of the Mexican League, I'll start appreciating them more.

---

With ninety pesos on my hand, I was hesistating on whether to buy a new CD or whether go to tonight's play-off game above mentioned, and I'm sure, after the game, that I made the right decision. So did the other friends that joined me in the journey.

I turned right on the following exit and drove all the way to Kukulkan Park, which is located barely off town, just left of the interstate road and the peripherical highway.

It was a play-off game, the series-finale of the first round (Div. Series) and scheduled to start was the sensational sophomore-year lefthanded pitcher, Oscar Rivera.

Oscar, before the game, had declared that he'd do his best to win the game, no matter who gets the win or how. Boy, he was wrong.

Rivera pitched a perfect game, striking out nine batters; the first one in the Mexican League since June of 1992, when Don Heinkel pitched one with the Campeche Pirates.

Thirteen years. Rivera, 23, was just a child when Heinkel pitched his jewel.

"I wasn't decided to throw a perfect game, nor had I realised I had one going on until my teammates told me in the eight inning", said Rivera. "The only thing I wanted tonight was to win, not to earn the win, but this game is more than welcome."

Yucatan advanced to the next round of play-offs, and Rivera said he was eager to get going. He's not going to be named now as a future star of baseball, but as the author of a play-off perfect game.

As soon as he struck out pinch hitter Jose Montenegro in the ninth, on a full count pitch, the sellout crowd of 14,000 started cheering the pitcher's name and some even dared to jump into the field to congratulate the young man. This person whose text you're reading, made sure to be one of those who entered the field. Don't worry, I didn't cause much trouble.

Rivera said that the only thing that he wanted to do when as he finished his gem was to get off the field and kiss his wife, who was seating on the home plate section thoughtout the game; he did so, but just after heaps of interviews and fanatic yells.

Not even his love for baseball can overcome what he feels for his family, let alone his wife.

I'm so glad I turned right on the highways' exit. I'm eighteen. I've seen one of the best things in the game of baseball. Well worth the ninety pesos.

I scream just at the thought of...

Carlos — Tue, 02 Aug 2005 22:29:51 -0000

...this.

Yawn.

Keeping healthy?

Carlos — Mon, 01 Aug 2005 19:04:11 -0000

Originally posted here.

Nomar Garciaparra went one for two on Sunday (with a walk) in his second rehabilitation game with the West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

According to ESPN.com:

Garciaparra also flawlessly handled his one chance in the field, turning a double play in the fifth inning to end Carolina's rally. He was also active on the basepaths, attempting to steal second base three times but the batter fouled off the pitch each time.

"The best thing so far is I'm moving instinctively out on the field and not worrying about the injury," Garciaparra said. "Things went well today."

Because of the high temperature, Nomar only played for five innings.

"The five innings was a planned thing," Garciaparra said. "I wanted to get three appearances at the plate and then go ahead and get out of the game. I felt great out on the field, but there's no reason to push your luck by playing in the heat all day."

Kerry Wood is also doing some rehab work at Class A Peoria. Reportedly, he reached 96 miles per hour in the radar gun (an accurate one -- said ESPN) while working an inning of work with Peoria.

I'm ready to pitch," said Wood, 3-3 with a 4.67 ERA in 10 starts this season. "Obviously, I've got a few more days and we're going to take this time to go somewhere and come out of the `pen and see it what it's like and get used to it and to prepare for it.

"It's going to be something different for me, but obviously something that if I want to help this team and pitch up here, it's something I'm going to have to get used to pretty quick," he said.

Scott Williamson finally earned a run with Triple A Iowa. He's been looking pretty sharp since joining the team, though, so a Friday callup is likely.

Williamson threw two innings for Triple-A Iowa on Friday, giving up two runs and three hits in two innings, and is expected to pitch again on Monday and Tuesday. Williamson, a right-handed reliever, had elbow ligament replacement surgery last October and signed a minor-league deal with the Cubs in January.

It's a matter of time until we see how all those deals pan out.