Category Archive:
Roch Kubatko
The lineups
For the Orioles:
Brian Roberts - 2B
Luis Montanez - LF
Nick Markakis - RF
Aubrey Huff - 3B
Ramon Hernandez - C
Luke Scott - DH
Kevin Millar - 1B
Jay Payton - CF
Juan Castro - SS
Brian Burres - P
For the White Sox:
Cabrera - SS
Swisher - CF
Quentin - LF
Dye - RF
Griffey - DH
Konerko - 1B
Ramirez - 2B
Crede - 3B
Hall - C
Floyd - P
No truth to the rumor that the Orioles will try to set a record tonight by playing three games, including one that was suspended in 1972 with Tom Shopay leading off the top of the 14th.
Who's batting second Chico Salmon?
I think it was Sergio Robles, he was known for causing atmospheric disturbences.
Roch,
Does a September call-up count as an option for the minor leaguer?
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It's so confusing. For a non-roster guy, yes. If you're on the 40-man and got sent down in spring training, you've already used an option and it doesn't matter how many times you're recalled. At least, that's how it's been explained. I'll try to make that more clear later. - Roch
A Tom Shopay reference?
Wow.
Gee, maybe DT has finally seen the light on Lou Montanez. Three games in a row. Now if we can just keep him from pinch-hitting for him in the sixth inning. He's still hitting the ball well, but playing every 4th or 5th day has definately affected his power stroke.
Replace Payton with Adam Jones and that lineup is not too shabby. Replace Burres and starters #2-5 and the starting rotation is not too shabby. Can those of you clamoring for Smoak give MacPhail a little credit?
Why is Mora out of the line-up? Just some rest, is he injured or does he have crappy numbers against Floyd?
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I touched on this subject in the entry I just filed. It's a regular night off, nothing related to health. He's 0-for-3 lifetime vs. Floyd. - Roch
Terpfan,
You raise some very good points; however, you didn’t mention that Palmer and the others PITCHED DURING A TIME WHEN THEY WOULD START EVERY FOUR DAYS, and not the five they do now. This becomes even more puzzling when you consider that players today are in better shape than they were then, and that sports medicine has improved significantly.
Having been a pitcher in high school and studying the science of pitching I’m convinced that we are babying these pitchers into their arm problems. First, these kids should be pitching on three days rest (every four days) with a side session on the middle day off. You build up a repetitive muscle BY REPETIVE USE.
Second, these kids need to build up their legs with running stairs and dead lifting MODEST weights. Stamina comes from the legs. Once the legs tire out, a pitcher compensates by placing extra strain on their arms, elbows, and shoulders. Of course, this strain is placed on muscles that are not developed properly because the pitchers are not using them enough.
Steve Carlton used to build up his arm by pushing it to the bottom of a five gallon bucket of dry rice. Sounds easy? Try it some time. Nolan Ryan would pitch a 140 pitch complete game and then ride his stationary bike in the clubhouse for 45 minutes after the game. If Earl Weaver would have told Jim Palmer that he was coming out of game because he had thrown 100 pitches, he would have planted Earl with his tomatoes.
Our pitchers should be placed on a year round weight, exercise and stretching program designed to build up the pitching muscles without building bulk or inflexibility that causes pitching injuries. No program is going to avoid pitchers getting hurt, the “mortality rate” is too high, but we can make sure that the ones that do survive the learning process and make it to the majors can finish what they started at least as often as Roy Halladay.
Roch: They're not gonna call you "honey bear" in that commercial are they?
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I'll be more concerned if any of the players call me "honey." - Roch
Roch - Maybe I missed it, I was at the game last night, but I was very surprised that neither you or anyone else here mentioned Trembley's decision to intentionally walk Griffey last night in the 14th inning. The walk moved the winning run to 2nd base and brought up the league's 2nd best homerun hitter in Jermaine Dye.
Dave Johnson was questioning it on the postgame radio show. He simply said that maybe, somehow, DT had info that suggested it was the right move.
He was lucky. Dye's bloop goes another 30 ft and the Orioles lose. I'm not sure DT has made an in-game decision that would have been questioned more in his brief career as manager.
Your thoughts, Roch???
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Actually, Trembley was asked about putting the winning run on second base, and he said he wasn't going to let a future Hall of Famer beat him. Very risky move, but it worked. - Roch