Links and Laziness. They go so well together.

by Allen Chace on Mar 7, 2007 3:08 AM EST in News

THT selects the top 3 AL benches. Sneak peak: We're not in the top 3, or in the honorable mention category. Does the presence of Doug Mirabelli really hurt us this much? Let's run down the list. Capable backup MI? Check. Capable backup 1B/3B/LF/RF with LH power? Check. Capable backup OF with RH power? Check.
Rocker linked to steroid investigation. I don't even care about the <pun>substance</pun> of this article. John Rocker has a publicist? Is there any way to reverse such a staggering amount of damage?
How do you get a three-year extension while being your team's third or fourth best starter? Beats the hell out of me. Ask Javier Vasquez. Okay. I guess his peripherals aren't actually that bad.
More fun with ESPN news, plus Gary Sheffield. Article headline: Sheffield expects big year from A-Rod; dismisses Hall. I can re-arrange that very headline and predict the future. In 8 seasons: "Big year from A-Rod. Hall expected to dismiss Sheffield."
Young Marlins pitcher to miss 2 months. Could this be the future for Philip Hughes if the Yankees give Girardi the helm? Discuss.
Some guy named Matsuzaka pitched yesterday. This just gets more and more exciting. The summary on the rotoworld sidebar is sufficient. Digging a little deeper, Matsuzaka says he's only 40 to 50% ready? That's actually kind of exciting. If he's showing a range of 74-94 mph while only being 50% ready? Well. You do the math. I keep coming up with the wrong answers.

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Best benches

I just don't buy that article at all, and it's not sour grapes because we're omitted from the top six. (And it's only partly because it starts by posing an Alex Cora vs Neifi Perez question.)

Would you really take the Royals or White Sox benches over ours? Would you really describe Toby Hall as an asset?

Vote for Pedroia

by britsoxfan on Mar 7, 2007 8:54 AM EST reply actions

Re: Links and Laziness. They go so well together.

I do agree with the article that the Angels have a very strong bench and good flexibility in the line-up, but Garrett Anderson is starting to get brittle and old and Vlad has a family history of one leg being longer than the other. That sounds like two DHs to me. Wood, Aybar, Morales will all valuable guys off the bench.

I'd discount the KC Royals because their starting line-up is so bad, who can predict who'll start.

Don't dis Toby Hall. I'd rather have him backing up 'Tek than Mirabelli. If I wasn't worried about "ruining" Kottaras, I'd play him instead of Dougie.

"You know you're having a bad day when the fifth inning rolls around and they drag the warning track." - Mike Flanagan, Baltimore Orioles pitcher, 1992.

by SoxDevil on Mar 7, 2007 9:32 AM EST reply actions

Toby Hall vs Doug Mirabelli

Is there really any clear blue water between these two?

Hall's PECOTA suggests a VORP of -2.0. Mirabelli's PECOTA has a projected VORP of -0.5 for 2007. Hall's projected WARP1 is just 0.5 above that for Mirabelli. Call it a wash.

I'm no fan of Doug's, but there's really very little to choose between them. Plus you need to consider the need for someone to catch Wakefield.

Vote for Pedroia

by britsoxfan on Mar 7, 2007 10:10 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Links and Laziness. They go so well together.

I find it kinda interesting that a team with 3 ligetiment starters on many team on the bench and ready to cover any fielding position between the 3 or them (minus catcher) doesn't even get an honorable mention.

by Realistic on Mar 7, 2007 9:38 AM EST reply actions

Re: Links and Laziness. They go so well together.

Agreed. Though we are missing a couple bench tools in speed and OF defense. Is Alex Cora really our top pinch runner? And WMP is our back-up CF? Of course, if Terry opted to use 11 pitchers and keep David Murphy with the team, thos issues coule be nicely resolved.

On the subject of Matsuzaka, I got a kick out of this article. Apparently all this gyroball talk has gotten into the head of major league hitters. Or maybe he did actually throw a couple. Either way, it's amusing.

Just my two cents. Keep the change.

by tommy.otm on Mar 7, 2007 10:40 AM EST up reply actions

Re: Links and Laziness. They go so well together.

And hey, if this season is like last, then Cora will be our emergency catcher again. So really, they can handle every position between the three of them.

"Sorry? Sorry doesn't cut it Melissa, I want an apology."-Jason Penopolis, Home Movies

by Allen Chace on Mar 7, 2007 6:06 PM EST up reply actions