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Posted: |
Jul 28, 2008 - 8:47 AM
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By: |
ANZALDIMAN
(Member)
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I love ESPN analysts. With Jose Reyes' miscue at second base (running to the bag instead of throwing it to second), Skip Bayless said that Reyes lacked good "baseball instincts." Which IMO means Bayless thinks that Reyes is dumb. The term "baseball instinct" is also used as a backhanded compliment, like when a player isn't articulate, they use it as a backhanded compliment: "He has great baseball insticnt." Meaning he's dumb as a post but knows what to do in a game. Now that Reyes is hitting, and providing a spark to the Mets offense once again a lot of this kind of stuff will be forgotten. That does not mean, however, that Reyes gets a free ride if he makes boneheaded defensive plays on the field. Reyes has his good days and bad days defensively, but for the most part he makes all the routine plays plus a few sparklers on a daily basis and given the threat he provides the Mets lineup when he's on, I can live with that. He's been in the league a while now, and at age 25 he should be establishing his credentials. Right now he's playing well, and if Mets hitting coach Howard Johnson can continue to work with him and keep him away from his yearly bad habit of trying to swing for the fences and popping balls up he should be okay. Reyes will get his home runs, but he needs to wait out pitchers in counts, spray the ball around, get on base, and just take advantage of that enormous speed of his. In other words, he needs to concentrate better. He's not "dumb" by any means, but perhaps it will take him some more time in the league to fully mature as a player. The talent is obviously there. Time will tell.
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Posted: |
Jul 30, 2008 - 9:59 AM
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By: |
ANZALDIMAN
(Member)
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As the trading deadline in MLB rapidly approaches, my prediction is that Manny will stay put in Boston. It would take some quality to get him, and the guy is loved up there in Boston, so it will take more than a few scrubs and a Joe Smith to pry him loose even though he is in the walk year of his contract. Would I like to have him on the Mets? Of course I'd like to have one of the most feared right handed hitters to have ever played the game on my team. Even at age 36. He'd fill a corner outfield spot, and provide that bat that has had pitchers around both leagues peeing in their pants when they've faced him for years. But the Mets would have to give up two of their last best prospects in the minor leagues to get him. The Mets other need is some bullpen help, and if they can work out a deal to somehow get Street from Oakland, that would give us a boost. As for last night, good win for the Mets down in Florida. This looks like it's going to be a tight race between three teams in the NL east to the finish in the fall. Mets.. Phillies..Florida Marlins. Meanwhile.. The Braves officially dropped out of the race yesterday by trading away power hitting first baseman Mark Texeira to the Angels for some prospects. The Braves, it seems, after many years as a force in the NL east are preparing to enter a rebuilding phase. I wonder how long it will be before Bobby Cox calls it a career as Braves manager?
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I have just returned from a memorable day at the ballpark, where I saw my third Yankee game of the year, and it involved my first ever viewing of a game from the Bleachers, and it marked the fourth time I'd ever been to the great tradition that is Old Timer's Day. The first time was way back in 1981 when the occasion was the 25th anniversary of Don Larsen's perfect game. Today, for the final OT Day in Yankee Stadium, 72 players spanning seven decades of Yankee history were introduced and it was a great experience. The biggest ovation came for the surprise guest of the day, Willie Randolph, his first time back in pinstripes in four years. And Willie and his old DP partner, Bucky Dent, seemed to go back in time with a couple nice plays in the field during the one inning game that followed. The game itself turned out to be great with the Yankees snapping their losing streak with an 8-2 win, and an outstanding pitching performance from Mike Mussina. I have one more visit left at the old ballpark in the Bronx, two weeks from today.
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Just about everyone you would have hoped they could get for the last OT day at the old ballpark was there. Don Mattingly was an understandable absence. And I guess Tommy Henrich, who is the oldest surviving championship Yankee (going back to the 1938 team) is just not well enough to travel any longer. I don't know what the state of Ralph Houk's health is, but he was the one notable ex-manager in team history other than Joe Torre not present. The only absence that really surprised me was Roy White, who I know has been at the Stadium earlier in the year.
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