SB Nation Blog: battlekow

Brevard's graveyard

battlekow — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 00:16:48 -0000

Not as alarming as it sounds; it's an article about how tough a place it is to hit in.

Friday's Crystal Callix

battlekow — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:26:06 -0000

Did the Brewers have a game yesterday? Hmm, must not have noticed.

The biggest news this morning, courtesy of Ken Rosenthal, is that Matt LaPorta is officially on the trading block, and that Alcides Escobar might be packaged with him to acquire C.C. Sabathia. That price sounds a little steep to me, but Tom Haudricourt reports that the Indians have also been scouting Taylor Green. LaPorta and Green sounds about right, which would free the Brewers to trade Escobar or J.J. Hardy (who is confirmed to be available, along with Rickie Weeks) for A.J. Burnett, because the Blue Jays need a shortstop. Haudricourt doubts the Brewers are really offering LaPorta and/or Escobar, but given recent history, I think I'd believe Robothal first.

The Yost Infection takes umbrage with BA & Rock's fellating of Hardy's defense, citing his terrible zone rating, but fails to note the fact that Hardy leads all of baseball in out-of-zone plays; in other words, the Brewers' defensive shifting is messing up his zone rating. He's still not as good as Escobar, though.

LaPorta, Escobar, and Mat Gamel all made what I guess is best called Baseball America's Midseason Prospect All-Star Team, which roughly means they're near the top of their positions in all of prospectdom, but the corrosponding chat casts doubt on whether Gamel and Angel Salome can stick at their current defensive positions.

At FanGraphs, Marc Hulet (who I'm beginning to suspect is a big Brewers fan) points out that there are other interesting prospects in the system beyond the big names, namely Michael Brantley and Cole Gillespie. The point is especially well-taken about Gillespie, who's hitting like a mini-LaPorta, putting up a .273/.374/.498 line. Hulet also put Brad Nelson on his AAA non-prospect All-Star team; I think Nelson would make an excellent throw-in in whatever trade the Brewers end up executing, as he's never going to get a shot in Milwaukee.

Speaking of trades, ~~Scott Linebrink~~ Cutter Dykstra hit his first professional home run for Helena.

Dykstra's fellow draftee, 41st-round Cal State Fullerton SS Joe Scott, is playing summer ball in Alaska and "there's a chance he might sign a professional contract if he plays well this summer." He previously spurned the Brewers last year when they drafted him in the 39th round.

Tired of reading about prospects? Michael Garciaparra probably is too, though he doesn't regret choosing minor league baseball over a two-sport college career at the University of Tennessee.

Back in the big leagues, Tim Lincecum dropped the hammer on the Cubs while Mike Pelfrey dominated the Cardinals, keeping the Brewers from losing any ground after the game I don't remember. David Pinto notes that Lincecum exhibited unusually good control.

Speaking of which, having nightmares about the bullpen after yesterday? This should help.

At Recondite Baseball, TheJay takes a look at players who achieved the Alex Sanchez Special, having a lower on-base percentage than batting average. He ran down the Brewers' leaders in an earlier post.

Before today, all I know about Max Scherzer was that he threw really hard and had heterochromia. Now, thanks to Eric Seidman's interview, I know that Scherzer's a pretty sharp guy with an interest in cutting edge baseball research. I'm amazed that he's able to get anyone out pitching from his mother's basement.

That'll do it. What's that? You wanted another song? If you don't got Mojo Nixon then your store could use some fixin'!

Sabathia Sweepstakes update and other rumors

battlekow — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:16:10 -0000

According to Buster Olney, the Rays, who were thought to be #2 in the Great Sabathia Derby, have no interest in acquiring him:

Right now, the Red Sox and Rays essentially have no interest in completing a trade for C.C. Sabathia, because of other concerns. For Boston there may be a developing need for a bat, depending on how David Ortiz recovers from his wrist injury, as well as bullpen help, and for Tampa Bay the priority is going to be a right-handed hitting outfielder -- someone like the Pirates' Xavier Nady -- and perhaps some bullpen help.

In other news, both the Dodgers and the Blue Jays need a shortstop, with the Jays potentially reciprocating with A.J. Burnett; we have two shortstops, both of whom are really increasing their value with hot streaks right now.

[UPDATE] Ken Rosenthal says the Brewers are offering LaPorta:

The Brewers' offer for Sabathia includes Class AA left fielder Matt LaPorta, according to sources with two other clubs that are interested in acquiring the pitcher.
Class AA shortstop Alcides Escobar also may be in the Brewers' proposed deal, one of the sources says.
The Brewers likely would prefer to substitute a lesser player for Escobar, or perhaps would insist upon additional talent if the Indians demanded his inclusion. But if the Brewers indeed were willing to give up both LaPorta and Escobar, the Sabathia sweepstakes might be over before they started.
"I can not imagine anyone would top that," the first source said.
The second added, "That deal should get it done."

Jesus Tapdancing Christ, that was awful. Timmeh! is our only hope for salvaging the day.

battlekow — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:32:18 -0000

http://www.chrisoleary.com/projects/Baseball/Pitching/Images/Examples/Example_HipsRotatingBeforeShoulders_TimLincecum_2007_007.jpg

Yahoo Sports gives the Brewers a first-half B+

battlekow — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 22:24:50 -0000

And can't be bothered to spell Salomon Torres' name correctly.

Gamel, LaPorta, and Escobar make BA's midseason prospect All-Star team

battlekow — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:37:12 -0000

Three out of eight is a good percentage. As BA says in LaPorta's comment: "With LaPorta, Gamel and Escobar, the Brewers have the type of position-player prospect depth to rival any organization."

Nice picture of the Official Underdog Prospect of BCB, Mike Roberts, tagging a guy out at home.

battlekow — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 20:12:21 -0000

http://www.missoulian.com/content/articles/2008/07/03/sports/sports01.jpg

Thursday's Xillac Latsyrc

battlekow — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:24:10 -0000

My dewy-eyed Disney bride, what has tried
Swapping your blood with formaldehyde?
Monsters?
Whiskey-plied voices cried "Fratricide!"
Jesus, don't you know that you could've died
You should've died
With the monsters that talk, monsters that walk the earth!

And she's got red lipstick and a bright pair of shoes
And she's got knee-high socks, what to cover a bruise
She's got an old dance kit she's been meaning to use
She's got blood in her eyes, in her eyes for you
She's got blood in her eyes for you

Certain fads, stripes and plaids, singles ads
They run you hot and cold like a rheostat
I mean a thermostat
So you bite on a towel
Hope it won't hurt too bad

My dewy-eyed Disney bride, what has tried
Swapping your blood with formaldehyde?
What monsters that talk, monsters that walk the earth!

And she says "I like long walks and sci-fi movies
You're six foot tall and East Coast-bred
Some lonely night we can get together
And I'm gonna tie your wrists with leather
And drill a tiny hole into your head."

Brewers-D'backs trade?

battlekow — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 06:51:21 -0000

Apparently Daron Sutton said something was in the works and would be completed "very, very soon". Interesting.

I'll take two. Come chat about the Cubs-Giants game, now 5-5 in the 8th

battlekow — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 04:41:15 -0000

http://adsoftheworld.com/files/images/nailbiter_02.jpg