7/23/2006

Sunday Reading

Brett at RattlersReport.com had a chance to talk with Frank Mattox, the Director of Player Development for the Mariners, during the last homestand. Two topics of interest to Rattler fans Brandon Morrow, the top pick of Seattle in the 2006 draft, and Anthony Butler, the Oak Creek, Wisconsin pitcher taken in the 4th round.

Here are two quotes pulled completely out of context.

About Morrow:

"We're going to build him up," Mattox said. "And I would say the present plan is probably for him to go to (high Class A) Inland Empire."
About Butler:

"Everett's probably the right jump for him," Mattox said. "He may still have that opportunity (to play at Wisconsin). We're not ruling it out. I'm sure he and his family would like to have that happen, and that would be great if we could accommodate him. But our first and foremost thing is to make sure we continue with his development.
Also, in the notebook this week are notes about the roster moves and the Teddy Bear Toss on August 17.

Never get into a spitting contest with an official scorer. Former Rattler manager Gary Thurman had one recently with the Lake Elsinore OS.

After the game, Sixers manager Gary Thurman talked to the official scorer, who said the first ball was ruled a hit because it bounced off Johnson awkwardly and had to have been hit hard. Thurman explained the ball, in fact, hit the player in the foot, which is why it caromed off in another direction.

Thurman left with the impression that the first call would be changed to an error. When Thurman looked into the matter the next day, he found that not only had the first call not been changed, but the second ball, which was originally ruled an error on Johnson, was changed to a hit after considerable lobbying from the Storm coaching staff.

Thurman also said the Storm coaches were heckling him from the third base dugout when he was coaching third because they heard he questioned the calls. First base coach and hitting coach Tom Tornincasa also was heckling the Sixers dugout on the first base side when he was coaching first.

The next meeting between the 66ers and Storm is August 15th.

Also in that above story is this little nugget:

The Stockton Ports' trip home from San Jose on Saturday night had a bizarre ending.

Their departure was delayed almost two hours because their bus driver was arrested after accidentally hitting a city light pole while backing the bus up during the game. A scan of his driver's license revealed a prior misdemeanor.

This AP Photo captures the Brewers recent road trip perfectly.

With the Trade Deadline looming, Tom Hardricourt looks at bad deadline deals, top players on the market, Jason Marquis taking one for the team, and a few more items at jsonline.com.

Primal Scream Therapy was hot for awhile. Now, there is blogging. The guys at The Wisconsin Sports Bar are venting HERE, HERE, HERE, & HERE.

With the Trade Deadline looming, Larry Stone of the Seattle Times also looks at buyers, sellers, and a trip down memory lane:

Seattle fans still recoil in horror at David Arias for Dave Hollins in 1996 (Arias later changed his name to David Ortiz and has done quite well for himself in recent years), and Jason Varitek and Derek Lowe for Heathcliff Slocumb in 1997. But Ken Phelps for Jay Buhner in 1988 didn't work out too badly for Seattle, nor did Darren Bragg for Moyer in '96, or Randy Johnson for Freddy Garcia, Carlos Guillen and John Halama in '98.

I'm not sure if he meant to do it, but my reading of the article lumped Dontrelle Willis in as a deadline deal. That wasn't a deadline trade that sent Willis from the Cubs to the Marlins for Antonio Alfonseca. It was a panic trade near the end of spring training in 2002. The reason I know this is Willis was like 15-0 with a 0.02ERA and 500 strikeouts against the Rattlers for Kane County in 2002.

I can't believe, I am about to do a Berman rip-off, but The Times They Are A-Changin' for the Tacoma Rainiers.

A representative of the Texas-based group that has signed a purchase agreement for the Pacific Coast League team spoke for the first time Friday, promising a jolt of energy for the franchise that has called Tacoma home since 1960.

“We’re not coming in there with the idea that we’re going to move the team,” said Mike McCall, president of Schlegel Sports Group. “But we’re also not coming in there with the idea that we’re going to keep things stagnant and the way they are. We want to make it a vibrant environment. We’re not looking for a handout. We’re the type of group that will bring something to the table.” McCall said primary owner Kirby Schlegel of Dallas wants to quickly sign a new Cheney Stadium lease.

He said the lease would be for more than one season, but also implied that the 46-year-old ballpark is the centerpiece of his vision of change.

To cleanse the thought of that I give you The MightyMJD's A Letter from Chris Berman's Bull Mastiff

You gotta get me the hell outta here. You got a phone book? Go get it, call an animal shelter, and tell them a dog is being abused. I’m not using the word “abuse” lightly here. Why don’t you live with this obnoxious jerk for a week or two, and we’ll see how you like it. Seriously, do whatever you have to do, but get me the hell out of here.

Why, you ask? Well, for starters, my name is “Chris Berman.” I kid you not. And that’s just a nickname, my full name is actually, “International Superstar, The Beloved Chris Berman of the Worldwide Leader In Sports, ESPN.” Seriously, that’s what the guy named me. Lucky for me,
he only uses my full name sometimes, like when he’s mad at me. But that happens pretty often, because I try to run away three or four
times a week.

No Lance at the Tour d' France? No d' Problemo for another American to step in and win. Floyd Landis makes it 8 straight Americans in the Yellow Jersey at the end of the race. USA! USA!

From Velonews.com

No comments:

Site Meter