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17888 pitches in 4 at bats, I don't see Brantley drawing many walks like that - let alone every at bat for a whole game.
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1789Another perspective is that he is seeing the ball well now, and doing something with what he sees.civ ollilavad wrote:Bratnley's being rather agressive at the plate; he saw only 8 pitches in his 4 AB's yesterday; Choo saw 20, Kipnis 21.
I think Brantley has worked pitchers well when it's been in order in the past.
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1790MIght just be one of those things. Yesterday Brantley saw 14 pitches, Kipnis 10, each had one singel in 4 tries.
Brantley's average of 285 looks nice, but his OPS is still only 714, not impressive for an OF.
Brantley's average of 285 looks nice, but his OPS is still only 714, not impressive for an OF.
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1791Baker fires back at Lowe’s charges
By Hal McCoy | Thursday, June 14, 2012, 11:32 AM
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CINCINNATI — This is why his players respect manager Dusty Baker, why they play hard for him, why they defend him.
Because, he defends them. And his memory is long and vivid.
He didn’t forget the fact that Cleveland pitcher Derek Lowe ripped a fastball into the middle Joey Votto’s back three years ago.
So when Lowe batted in the fifth inning Wednesday night, Baker told pitcher Mat Latos to buzz his tower with a high, hard one. Don’t hit him. Just send a breezy message close to his cheeks.
Latos, the good soldier, did it. And after the game, Lowe responded angrily.
WHEN LOWE CAME to bat in the fifth inning Wednesday night, Latos threw a high-and-tight 96 miles an hour fastball toward Lowe.
It didn’t hit him, but it was close.
After the game, Lowe launched into an expletive-filled tirade against Baker during which he made it clear that he holds zero respect for the Reds manager.
“This goes back to my last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2008,” said Lowe. “He made up some phony story. A lot of people got involved. People almost got fired over it. You can ask him right now and he’ll say she has no idea what you’re talking about. But just watch the game.
“Mat Latos has nothing to do with what has gone on. How would he know? Why in the world would you throw a 96 miles per hour fastball, first pitch, inside to a pitcher? Ask him,” Lowe added.
SO BAKER WAS asked. And as he talked, he gritted his teeth as if trying to hold back, but he couldn’t.
And he admitted that he did order Latos to throw Lowe high-and-tight, but not to hit him. Just send a message.
Baker said the message was to remind Lowe that Baker and the Reds remember April 25, 2009 when Lowe, pitching for the Atlanta Braves, hit Reds first baseman Joey Votto in the middle of the back in the first inning of a game in Great American Ball Park.
Baker didn’t address the 2008 issue brought up by Lowe, but said, “This is something I want to make a public scene or a public spectacle out of. He’s the one who brought it up. He had some really choice words for me, but I don’t care if he respects me or not. I don’t care what he says. Doesn’t matter.”
Baker, though, brought up Joey Votto and the fact Lowe hit Brandon Phillips Wednesday night.
“Then he takes exception to a ball inside that didn’t hit him,” said Baker. “Then he hits Brandon Phillips. I’m not denying nothing. I didn’t tell (Latos) to hit him, but I did tell him to buzz him and make him uncomfortable. And that’s what happened.
“Nobody hit him, but then he hit our guy,” said Baker.”
OF THE 2008 issue/incident, Baker said, “What he was talking about was something he said and did a few years ago and you have to ask him what that was. And he got a lot of people involved in the situation that didn’t need to be involved in the situation.”
Lowe was pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 and Baker was in his first year as manager of the Reds.
“Since he made it public, go ask him what he said and what he did,” Baker continued. “Since he is such a big man who likes to run his mouth about himself.”
Asked if it bothered him when a player says he doesn’t respect him, Baker said, “Man, I don’t care. A lot of people don’t respect me, but he doesn’t respect himself. The word was, that whatever he did and said, he was probably drinking at the ballpark at that time, three or four years ago. So he doesn’t remember what he said, or what he did.”
LOWE SAID BAKER was shaking his finger at him Wednesday night to try to indicate that Baker had nothing to do with the high-and-tight pitch, Baker said, “I wasn’t shaking my finger to say I had nothing to do with it. That means, ‘Don’t mess with me or my team.’ That’s what that means. So he better learn sign language.”
Latos, who was merely the instrument to what happened, was ready for whatever transpired and said, “I never thought a veteran player like him would whine so much about something. Seriously.
“If I wanted to hit him, I would have hit him,” Latos added. “Flat-out. I would have hit him. It wouldn’t have been something that was close. It was 96 and inside, a two-seamer. I throw inside to pitchers and I’ve never heard a veteran pitcher whine so much. It is whatever he wants to think and we’ll let him play into his ego. If he wants to whine about it, let him whine about it.
WHEN LATOS WAS told that Lowe could have retaliated by throwing at him, he said, “Lowe doesn’t throw hard enough for it to hurt, so I wasn’t too worried about it. If he wanted to retaliate, he could have. But he didn’t. That’s pretty crappy, to be honest.”
About the Dusty-Lowe history, Latos said, “I’ve heard this and I’ve heard that. He drilled Joey in the back a while back, but if I wanted to hit the man, I would have and could have. No ifs, ands or buts about it.”
After having his say Wednesday night, Lowe had no further words on Thursday and refused to respond to Baker or the media.
AFTER THE LOWE discussion subsided, somebody noticed a book on Baker’s desk: ‘Have We Lost Our Common Sense?’ Baker smiled and said, “I haven’t started reading that book yet.”
THIRD BASEMAN Scott Rolen is heading out for a weekend of rehabilitation and is expected to join the team in Cleveland on Monday.
“If everything goes fine, we hope he’ll join us in Cleveland, if everything goes fine,” said Baker. “We’re sure hoping so. We had to determine if he needed the rehab or not, but since he’s missed so much time we determined it would be best if he got a couple of games in before he joins us.”
And the club is not yet certain what to do with Drew Stubbs and Baker said, “We haven’t made up our minds yet. We’re trying to wait on him. We hoped he would take some hitting today but it depends upon how he feels.”
By Hal McCoy | Thursday, June 14, 2012, 11:32 AM
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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CINCINNATI — This is why his players respect manager Dusty Baker, why they play hard for him, why they defend him.
Because, he defends them. And his memory is long and vivid.
He didn’t forget the fact that Cleveland pitcher Derek Lowe ripped a fastball into the middle Joey Votto’s back three years ago.
So when Lowe batted in the fifth inning Wednesday night, Baker told pitcher Mat Latos to buzz his tower with a high, hard one. Don’t hit him. Just send a breezy message close to his cheeks.
Latos, the good soldier, did it. And after the game, Lowe responded angrily.
WHEN LOWE CAME to bat in the fifth inning Wednesday night, Latos threw a high-and-tight 96 miles an hour fastball toward Lowe.
It didn’t hit him, but it was close.
After the game, Lowe launched into an expletive-filled tirade against Baker during which he made it clear that he holds zero respect for the Reds manager.
“This goes back to my last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers (2008,” said Lowe. “He made up some phony story. A lot of people got involved. People almost got fired over it. You can ask him right now and he’ll say she has no idea what you’re talking about. But just watch the game.
“Mat Latos has nothing to do with what has gone on. How would he know? Why in the world would you throw a 96 miles per hour fastball, first pitch, inside to a pitcher? Ask him,” Lowe added.
SO BAKER WAS asked. And as he talked, he gritted his teeth as if trying to hold back, but he couldn’t.
And he admitted that he did order Latos to throw Lowe high-and-tight, but not to hit him. Just send a message.
Baker said the message was to remind Lowe that Baker and the Reds remember April 25, 2009 when Lowe, pitching for the Atlanta Braves, hit Reds first baseman Joey Votto in the middle of the back in the first inning of a game in Great American Ball Park.
Baker didn’t address the 2008 issue brought up by Lowe, but said, “This is something I want to make a public scene or a public spectacle out of. He’s the one who brought it up. He had some really choice words for me, but I don’t care if he respects me or not. I don’t care what he says. Doesn’t matter.”
Baker, though, brought up Joey Votto and the fact Lowe hit Brandon Phillips Wednesday night.
“Then he takes exception to a ball inside that didn’t hit him,” said Baker. “Then he hits Brandon Phillips. I’m not denying nothing. I didn’t tell (Latos) to hit him, but I did tell him to buzz him and make him uncomfortable. And that’s what happened.
“Nobody hit him, but then he hit our guy,” said Baker.”
OF THE 2008 issue/incident, Baker said, “What he was talking about was something he said and did a few years ago and you have to ask him what that was. And he got a lot of people involved in the situation that didn’t need to be involved in the situation.”
Lowe was pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2008 and Baker was in his first year as manager of the Reds.
“Since he made it public, go ask him what he said and what he did,” Baker continued. “Since he is such a big man who likes to run his mouth about himself.”
Asked if it bothered him when a player says he doesn’t respect him, Baker said, “Man, I don’t care. A lot of people don’t respect me, but he doesn’t respect himself. The word was, that whatever he did and said, he was probably drinking at the ballpark at that time, three or four years ago. So he doesn’t remember what he said, or what he did.”
LOWE SAID BAKER was shaking his finger at him Wednesday night to try to indicate that Baker had nothing to do with the high-and-tight pitch, Baker said, “I wasn’t shaking my finger to say I had nothing to do with it. That means, ‘Don’t mess with me or my team.’ That’s what that means. So he better learn sign language.”
Latos, who was merely the instrument to what happened, was ready for whatever transpired and said, “I never thought a veteran player like him would whine so much about something. Seriously.
“If I wanted to hit him, I would have hit him,” Latos added. “Flat-out. I would have hit him. It wouldn’t have been something that was close. It was 96 and inside, a two-seamer. I throw inside to pitchers and I’ve never heard a veteran pitcher whine so much. It is whatever he wants to think and we’ll let him play into his ego. If he wants to whine about it, let him whine about it.
WHEN LATOS WAS told that Lowe could have retaliated by throwing at him, he said, “Lowe doesn’t throw hard enough for it to hurt, so I wasn’t too worried about it. If he wanted to retaliate, he could have. But he didn’t. That’s pretty crappy, to be honest.”
About the Dusty-Lowe history, Latos said, “I’ve heard this and I’ve heard that. He drilled Joey in the back a while back, but if I wanted to hit the man, I would have and could have. No ifs, ands or buts about it.”
After having his say Wednesday night, Lowe had no further words on Thursday and refused to respond to Baker or the media.
AFTER THE LOWE discussion subsided, somebody noticed a book on Baker’s desk: ‘Have We Lost Our Common Sense?’ Baker smiled and said, “I haven’t started reading that book yet.”
THIRD BASEMAN Scott Rolen is heading out for a weekend of rehabilitation and is expected to join the team in Cleveland on Monday.
“If everything goes fine, we hope he’ll join us in Cleveland, if everything goes fine,” said Baker. “We’re sure hoping so. We had to determine if he needed the rehab or not, but since he’s missed so much time we determined it would be best if he got a couple of games in before he joins us.”
And the club is not yet certain what to do with Drew Stubbs and Baker said, “We haven’t made up our minds yet. We’re trying to wait on him. We hoped he would take some hitting today but it depends upon how he feels.”
Re: Articles
1793Sign Manny?
Friday, June 15, 2012
Manny Ramirez released by A's
Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Manny Ramirez is a free agent again after he asked the Oakland Athletics to release him and the team granted his request on Friday.
"The A's treated me amazingly during all this time, but sadly didn't have space for me and this is something I can't control," Ramirez told ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas by phone. "I'm going home to continue my training hoping to get the chance to play again. I'll be waiting for that call and if God believes (playing) is the best for me, then it'll happen. If not, I'll understand.
"It was an amazing experience. I was given tremendous treatment by Oakland's major league and Triple-A staff. I'll always have them in my heart. I was ready to play, but Oakland didn't have a space in its roster. I understand."
“
Manny believes he has demonstrated that he is ready to return to the major leagues. However, given that the Oakland Athletics could not give Manny any assurance that they plan to promote him in the immediate future he asked for his release. Manny thanks the A's for providing him with this opportunity.
Ramirez signed a minor league deal with Oakland on Feb. 20, and hit .302 with 14 RBIs in 17 games with Triple-A Sacramento. He served a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy last year, but remained in the minors when the ban ended on his 40th birthday on May 30.
The dreadlocked slugger was expected to make approximately $500,000 if he was added to Oakland's big league roster.
"Manny believes he has demonstrated that he is ready to return to the major leagues," Ramirez's agents, Barry Praver and Scott Shapiro, said in a statement. "However, given that the Oakland Athletics could not give Manny any assurance that they plan to promote him in the immediate future he asked for his release. Manny thanks the A's for providing him with this opportunity."
Ramirez, who has 555 career homers and 1,831 RBIs, retired last season rather than serve a 100-game suspension for failing a second drug test. But commissioner Bud Selig cut the suspension in half after Ramirez sat out the balance of the season.
He served a 50-game suspension in 2009 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization, playing parts of three games in Albuquerque during his rehabilitation assignment.
The 12-time All-Star went 1 for 17 (.059) in five games last season for Tampa Bay, which had signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.02 million.
Information from ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas was used in this report
Friday, June 15, 2012
Manny Ramirez released by A's
Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Manny Ramirez is a free agent again after he asked the Oakland Athletics to release him and the team granted his request on Friday.
"The A's treated me amazingly during all this time, but sadly didn't have space for me and this is something I can't control," Ramirez told ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas by phone. "I'm going home to continue my training hoping to get the chance to play again. I'll be waiting for that call and if God believes (playing) is the best for me, then it'll happen. If not, I'll understand.
"It was an amazing experience. I was given tremendous treatment by Oakland's major league and Triple-A staff. I'll always have them in my heart. I was ready to play, but Oakland didn't have a space in its roster. I understand."
“
Manny believes he has demonstrated that he is ready to return to the major leagues. However, given that the Oakland Athletics could not give Manny any assurance that they plan to promote him in the immediate future he asked for his release. Manny thanks the A's for providing him with this opportunity.
Ramirez signed a minor league deal with Oakland on Feb. 20, and hit .302 with 14 RBIs in 17 games with Triple-A Sacramento. He served a 50-game suspension for violating Major League Baseball's drug policy last year, but remained in the minors when the ban ended on his 40th birthday on May 30.
The dreadlocked slugger was expected to make approximately $500,000 if he was added to Oakland's big league roster.
"Manny believes he has demonstrated that he is ready to return to the major leagues," Ramirez's agents, Barry Praver and Scott Shapiro, said in a statement. "However, given that the Oakland Athletics could not give Manny any assurance that they plan to promote him in the immediate future he asked for his release. Manny thanks the A's for providing him with this opportunity."
Ramirez, who has 555 career homers and 1,831 RBIs, retired last season rather than serve a 100-game suspension for failing a second drug test. But commissioner Bud Selig cut the suspension in half after Ramirez sat out the balance of the season.
He served a 50-game suspension in 2009 while with the Los Angeles Dodgers' organization, playing parts of three games in Albuquerque during his rehabilitation assignment.
The 12-time All-Star went 1 for 17 (.059) in five games last season for Tampa Bay, which had signed him to a one-year deal worth $2.02 million.
Information from ESPNDeportes.com's Enrique Rojas was used in this report
Re: Articles
1796But he is right handed.
"I've suffered a great many tragedies in my life....most of them never happened". Mark Twain
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1797Kevin Youkilis trade could come soon, as Boston Red Sox shop 3B ‘everywhere’
Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Kevin Youkilis, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates
Kevin Youkilis could be flipping to a new uniform soon, as trade talks have intensified between the Boston Red Sox and several clubs. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox could soon trade third baseman Kevin Youkilis as talks have picked up steam recently, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi reported Monday night. One National League executive said Youkilis is being shopped “everywhere.” From the Fox Sports report:
The Red Sox have made clear that (a) Youkilis is available and (b) they are willing to include cash to facilitate a better player return. In response, a number of clubs have indicated that they have interest in acquiring the three-time All-Star. …
The Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates are among the teams with varying levels of interest in acquiring Youkilis, sources say.
The 33-year-old Youkilis is posting easily the worst numbers of his career this season, though he has been hampered by a lower back strain for most of the year. He’s hitting just .213 with a .301 on-base percentage. He has four homers and 13 RBI in 39 games. He is currently mired in a dreadful 1-for-21 slump.
Fox Sports reported that Youkilis is still due about $7 million this season. He has a $13 million club option for next season. Or his next team could buy out his contract next season for $1 million.
One team to which Fox Sports says he won’t be traded: his hometown Cincinnati Reds. Third baseman Scott Rolen was activated from the disabled list on Monday, and 26-year-old third baseman Todd Frazier had also been playing well while Rolen was out of the lineup.
Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Kevin Youkilis, Los Angeles Dodgers, Pittsburgh Pirates
Kevin Youkilis could be flipping to a new uniform soon, as trade talks have intensified between the Boston Red Sox and several clubs. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
The Boston Red Sox could soon trade third baseman Kevin Youkilis as talks have picked up steam recently, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi reported Monday night. One National League executive said Youkilis is being shopped “everywhere.” From the Fox Sports report:
The Red Sox have made clear that (a) Youkilis is available and (b) they are willing to include cash to facilitate a better player return. In response, a number of clubs have indicated that they have interest in acquiring the three-time All-Star. …
The Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates are among the teams with varying levels of interest in acquiring Youkilis, sources say.
The 33-year-old Youkilis is posting easily the worst numbers of his career this season, though he has been hampered by a lower back strain for most of the year. He’s hitting just .213 with a .301 on-base percentage. He has four homers and 13 RBI in 39 games. He is currently mired in a dreadful 1-for-21 slump.
Fox Sports reported that Youkilis is still due about $7 million this season. He has a $13 million club option for next season. Or his next team could buy out his contract next season for $1 million.
One team to which Fox Sports says he won’t be traded: his hometown Cincinnati Reds. Third baseman Scott Rolen was activated from the disabled list on Monday, and 26-year-old third baseman Todd Frazier had also been playing well while Rolen was out of the lineup.
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1798Indians' Perez believes pine tar use is widespread
By KRISTIE RIEKEN | The Associated Press – 52 minutes ago
HOUSTON (AP) Outspoken Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez says he believes there are pitchers on every team who use pine tar and other substances to manipulate the ball.
Clarifying comments he made earlier on a satellite radio show, Perez, a former Cardinal, said Friday he wasn't specifically calling out St. Louis for doing it. Instead he was saying that he's only been with two teams and ''more guys did it on the Cardinals than here.''
Tampa Bay reliever Joel Peralta was suspended for eight games on Thursday for having pine tar on his glove.
Perez says he only uses rosin, but that he's seen players use pine tar, sunscreen, rosin, dirt and a mixture of those things.
By KRISTIE RIEKEN | The Associated Press – 52 minutes ago
HOUSTON (AP) Outspoken Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez says he believes there are pitchers on every team who use pine tar and other substances to manipulate the ball.
Clarifying comments he made earlier on a satellite radio show, Perez, a former Cardinal, said Friday he wasn't specifically calling out St. Louis for doing it. Instead he was saying that he's only been with two teams and ''more guys did it on the Cardinals than here.''
Tampa Bay reliever Joel Peralta was suspended for eight games on Thursday for having pine tar on his glove.
Perez says he only uses rosin, but that he's seen players use pine tar, sunscreen, rosin, dirt and a mixture of those things.
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1799J.R. wrote:Indians' Perez believes pine tar use is widespread
By KRISTIE RIEKEN | The Associated Press – 52 minutes ago
HOUSTON (AP) Outspoken Cleveland Indians closer Chris Perez says he believes there are pitchers on every team who use pine tar and other substances to manipulate the ball.
Clarifying comments he made earlier on a satellite radio show, Perez, a former Cardinal, said Friday he wasn't specifically calling out St. Louis for doing it. Instead he was saying that he's only been with two teams and ''more guys did it on the Cardinals than here.''
Tampa Bay reliever Joel Peralta was suspended for eight games on Thursday for having pine tar on his glove.
Perez says he only uses rosin, but that he's seen players use pine tar, sunscreen, rosin, dirt and a mixture of those things.
What about Vagisil, Bardol, Crisco and jalapeno peppers?
Re: Articles
1800And do not forget VIAGRA powder.
Makes the ball harder and tending to jump up at the last minute.
It is often called the screwball.
Makes the ball harder and tending to jump up at the last minute.
It is often called the screwball.