Late Innings

Is the shit motherfuckers. He was the Minor League pitcher of the year for the O’s in 2008, and I’ve been clearly drinking in 2009.

Major League Debut mfs.

Strange stat of the day, Kansas City leads the majors in runs allowed, allowing only a paltry 21 runs. Conversely speaking, they have also scored the fewest amount of runs in the majors as well (touching plate only 18 times!)

Now on to the brawn, Baltimore is fifth the majors in runs scored, crossing the plate 43 times. They are also fifth in the majors with runs allowed, allowing a whopping 45 runs. It’s not as bad as Cleveland, and it’s been a well-known fact that Baltimore’s bats can rake. Adam Jones, Nick Markakis, Brian Roberts and co. are doing their jobs, it’s the pitching staff that isn’t. Now for kicks, if we could just supplant the Royals’ rotation and bullpen in Baltimore, we’d have a pennant team that will probably win about 125 games.

In case anyone’s watching, the Rockies’ young combo of Franklin Morales and Ubaldo Jimenez have only allowed one earned run in 13 innings. The combo has struck out 14 hitters in the process. While the “FU combo” has been dominating, they’re clearly the best (and healthiest) pitching prospects that have come up in the past decade for the Rockies. Adding more immaturity to this joke, the FU combo is pitching to a tune of a 0.69 ERA.

The mixed-bag writers at RotoWorld are channeling the spirit of Rush Limbaugh, in referring to Diamondbacks’ manager Bob Melvin play of the talented, and young Justin Upton:

Upton is likely to remain just about worthless if this is how manager Bob Melvin wants to use him. It’s not just sitting him every other day, but it’s also the decision to bat him eighth, guaranteeing that he sees a heavy dosage of breaking balls while hitting in front of the pitcher. It’s like Melvin wants to see him fail.

Seriously. Even after a few beers, I’m still not buying this claim. Upton is talented no less, however he’s as green as a Barack Obama energy policy.

The Orioles will shatter the major league record for runs scored plus runs against. It’s just a hunch. Will you go over or under on 1,700?

I thought this was an interesting story to come up today, an interesting Opening Day indeed. Seattle’s first round draft picks from the last three drafts, that is Brandon Morrow (2006), Phillippe Aumont (2007) and Joshua Fields (2008), could all find themselves in the M’s bullpen by the end of the season. Granted I know that Morrow and Aumont were drafted as starters, but Bill Bavasi and the team’s scouting department grabbed Fields in hope of him being their future closer. They’re all outstanding arms, don’t get me wrong, however it’s interesting that these three prospects ended up in the same situation. Morrow is the team’s closer going forward (due to a diabetes issue), and these two complementing arms could constitute an excellent bullpen in Seattle. Another unexpected consequence of the Bavasi administration…

Updating Sabathia

I’m watching the O’s/Yanks currently, and Baltimore has plated three runs against the Yankees’ 161MM man C.C. Sabathia. Jeremy Guthrie looks very sharp, and apparently has shaken off his rough Spring. It’s a shame that Cliff Lee couldn’t do the same thing himself today…

Please release Adam Eaton.

Sincerely,
Mike

So the Marlins acquired Hayden Penn today (I honestly thought this was an April Fools’ joke when I first saw it.) It was essentially a swap of players who are out of options who probably wouldn’t pass through waivers. Some of the moves that the Marlins are making confuse me. It started last night with them releasing Dallas McPherson. Tossing the political barb aside from the piece ("the Marlins lean further to the right than Fox News"), the main point here is that Emilio Bonifacio is the third baseman.

I agree with many that they should have moved Dan Uggla to third a month ago (and installed Bonifacio at second) if they were playing for defense, but this move essentially leaves them in the same situation that the L.A. Angels have, which is no power at the hot corner. They moved Jorge Cantu to first, and also acquired Ross Gload today from the Royals (a big head-shaking move.) Wow.

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I’m glad the Orioles at least got something for Penn, whom I think will make out well in the National League. I understand that the term “top prospect” has been floated around in regards to Penn. Keep in mind that this is the Sid Thrift Orioles. Penn at least landed on Prospect Top 100 lists across the country, but he wasn’t the pitching prospect that Brian Matusz or Chris Tillman is. John Sickels regards Penn high however, when asked the question if he sees another John Maine developing in Penn:

I can see that, yes, though the parallel is inexact as I think their styles of pitching are rather different and the things that have held Penn back are different than the things that held Maine back.

When Penn first came up in 2005, he was fed to the wolves as a 20 year old. He started out well, and was very good for the first month or so, then fell apart. 2006 was a disaster, and he hasn’t been in the majors after that. With the Marlins he’ll at least make the roster.

I’m looking today at all the pitchers that are being rushed into rotations across the country. We have Trevor Chahill and Brett Anderson in Oakland, James McDonald in Los Angeles, Jordan Zimmerman and Shairon Martis in Washington, and Ricky Romero and Scott Richmond in Toronto. Had it not been for the rotation depth in Atlanta, they probably would have had Tommy Hanson in their rotation as well. Oh, and Rick Porcello made the Tigers’ rotation as well (Detroit doesn’t like their talent sitting around apparently, with their 2008 draft pick Ryan Perry making the bullpen.)

I saw what rushing a prospect can do to a young arm in Penn. Hopefully the same fate would fell these young arms as well. In regards to the infielder that the Orioles got back from Florida, I like Robert Andino, who fits into Andy MacPhail’s shortstop mold (all glove, bonus points hit.) He could potentially be a good long-term fit for the club, since they’ll only have Cesar Izturis through 2010. Now hopefully he won’t become the next Luis Hernandez.