SB Nation User Blog: rlpete

Know your HOF's?

rlpete — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 13:40:08 -0000

Know your HOF's?

Here is a fun game. It takes 20 minutes. No studying before you start. I got 126. It is funny how your mind goes blank when the pressure is on.

Zack Greinke

rlpete — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 19:26:45 -0000

Zack Greinke

For those of you that thought that he was available, Royals just signed him for 4 years. No salary reported here.

1929/1930 Home Video at Wrigley.

rlpete — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:06:45 -0000

1929/1930 Home Video at Wrigley.

This is some nice old footage.

The first part is the 1930 flag raising of the 1929 pennant. Based on the games on the scoreboard it must have been June 21, 1930.

The second part is from Game 1 of the 1929 World Series. Note sidearmer Howard Ehmke warming up for the A's. He was the surprise starter for that game. Connie Mack passed up 20 game winners Lefty Grove and George Earnshaw for Ehmke. Mack thought Ehmke's style would work aganist the Cubs and he was right as Ehmke won 2 games in the series. Grove didn't start a game in the series. Charlie Root is the pitcher for the Cubs.

Some good shots of Wrigley from that era. There is also a brief shot outside the park of the Herald Examiner's old scoreboard where fans could keep up with the game.

A great old Cubs picture

rlpete — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 22:35:17 -0000

A great old Cubs picture

I posted this link in today's Name that Cub post but it's worth a separate fanshot. This is a great old picture of the Cubs from 1962. Be sure to click on the link for the larger image.

Jose Ceda

rlpete — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:06:32 -0000

Jose Ceda

Baseball America just named him the #10 prospect for Florida. He's not quite as high a prospect in a better farm system. Florida's is top 10.

In defense of Jacque Jones

rlpete — Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:47:34 -0000

I just don't understand the hatred. Hatred isn't too strong of a word either. He's a decent complementary player. He's not a star and he's paid comparable to his production. He should be batting 6th but sometimes with injuries, the lineup gets juggled. Let me post some reality from 2006:

RISP: .298
RISP w/ 2 outs: .277
Men on base: .314
Bases loaded: .385
Tie game: .297
Within 1 run: .307

Those were Jones' numbers in 2006. Pretty solid to me. Incidently, last season he hit best in the 6th spot with a .343 average.

Winter Meetings Day 2: The "Shocking" Trade

rlpete — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:32:42 -0000

A diary for Day 2 rumors and such.

The Washington Post this morning had more information on the rumored "shocking" trade that Jim Bowden mentioned yesterday and was posted in a diary here. The big name is Manny and the Nationals could be involved in the 3 way deal including the Giants not the Cubs. Felipe Lopez would be one of the players heading to Boston. Washington would get prospects/young players with Manny heading to SF. Noah Lowry was mentioned as one possibility for Washington. It wouldn't surprise me if Jon Rauch was also included since his value won't be higher than right now after his performance last year. In a separate note, the Nats are shopping Ryan Church so he could be included. Seems he has aggravated the organization for the second straight year.

Wickman traded for a Class A low prospect

rlpete — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:34:28 -0000

Cleveland traded Bob Wickman to Atlanta for a Class A catcher. While Wickman has struggled at times, he still has closed in the past. He's definitely a better option than Williamson and you could argue Howry based on salary and the history of closing. Wickman might be a similar choice to Dempster except for the contract (Thanks Hendry). It does show the current market price for relievers. Not very high.

The prospect, Maximiliano Ramirez, is hitting .285 with 9 homeruns. He is a prospect but not on Atlanta's top 10 per BA.

Defending playing Neifi

rlpete — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 19:25:41 -0000

I'm sure this will result in a few flaming responses. Everyone complains about Baker playing Neifi but what options does he have?

Cedeno: Neifi is a better fielder and at least right now a better hitter. If Baker's job is to win games (and maybe until recently it was), Neifi is a better choice then Ronny. The minors is supposed to be where players learn and develop, right now Cedeno looks like he needs some development time.

Walker: Obviously Walker is a better hitter but if defense matters up the middle, Todd is a tough play. It does say something that Hendry tried to trade Walker before the season and no one wants him. Should Walker play over Neifi even with his defense, probably but after seeing last Sunday's game, I can see why Baker sometimes wants a more steady defender.

Womack: No discussion needed.

Theriot: Probably the new favorite choice. At this point, Ryan should play but earlier in the season, I can see not playing him. I really doubt he'll amount to anything. After all, 275 AB's and zero homeruns. I can see it now, teams will call the outfielders in and pitchers will roll the ball to him and say hit it. Unless he develops Pierre speed from the right hand side, he's never going to be a starter.

Now I'm not going to say Neifi is a good player. He isn't. He should never bat second. He's a terrible hitter. In fact, in some seasons he was the worst offensive player in baseball but it's not like Dusty is sitting Ryne Sandberg for Neifi. The Cubs roster is just bad. Time for Fontenot now.

Guzman leaves early in Iowa

rlpete — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 14:32:38 -0000