Bjan on Baseball

[bjan]

The Pittsburgh Pirates are holding a mini camp in Bradenton Florida at this time,and it will run for 4 or 5 days.Joe Rutter,sports reporter for the Pittsburgh Tribune Review commented in a column on Wednesday 1/12/05 that catchers Benito Santiago and Humberto Cota were at the "voluntary"workouts.

He then went on to say that "Jason Kendall never attended any of the previous four mini-camps when he was with the Pirates"! I don't know why that statement had an effect on me,Oh,lets just call it Bjan paranoia!

 

[IceSpeed]

I am a die hard Redsox fan and do not think Rice belongs in the
Hall. He was master of the homerun in a blowout when pitchers are
just trying to end the game. Also, if he goes in, Dwight Evans
and George Scott also have to go in.

 

[bjan]

The New York Mets are attempting to sign Carlos Delgado.It is interesting that the Mets are spending so much money to compete with their cross town rivals,and still I have heard it said that they are in the process of locking up third place!

Raul Mondesi claimed that he agreed to a one million dollar, one year contract with the Atlanta Braves.However,assistant G.M.Frank Wren said Mondesi's claim is not true.

The family of Bud Selig sold the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday for $223 million dollars.The new owner, Mark Attanasio,an investor from L.A.

 

[right winger]

Mondesi shouldn't even be allowed to play in the major leagues. This is the same creep who has been a clubhouse cancer on every team he's played for, and quit on the Pirates outright and went home to the Dominican Republic in the middle of last season. The Angels shouldn't have been allowed to sign him after that move, and they ended up terminating his contract when he refused to attend rehab sessions. Mondesi should have been banned from MLB, but here he is still receiving contract offers from different teams.

 

[bjan]

Good post,Right Winger,and right on the money!It was confirmed today that Mondesi did sign with Atlanta.

If there is any manager in baseball who can deal with someone of Mondesi's ilk,it is Bobby Cox.A fine manager,and a fine man,as I know from personal experience.But I also know that Bobby Cox has pretty much had it with overpaid players egos,and the problems that they cause.

I Don't know how much longer Cox will manage,but my gut tells me that he may be replaced by Terry Pendleton

 

[bjan]

Washington Nationals.......Tim Foli hired as manager of New Orleans Zephyrs: Triple A

Minnesota Twins.....Paul Molitor returning as roving minor league instructor

Pittsburgh, Pirates.....Pitcher Josh Fogg signs one year deal @ $2.5 million.

 

[bjan]

Good news in Pittsburgh.......
One of the signings that I was hoping for,has happened.Outfielder Ben Grieve,has been signed to a minor league contract with the Pirates.Lets hope he does not get "Caste" aside!

 

[Don Wassall]

Grieve has really hit rock bottom, being signed to a minor league contract with Pittsburgh. This guy has so much talent that he was one of the few white baseball players being heralded by the media as a sure superstar when he was a rookie. It would be great to see him at least get back to where he was for a few years there when he was hitting 25-30 homers and averaging about 90 RBIs, and maybe even better than that. He's still only 28 years old.

 

[bjan]

Good Points all Don,I have followed this guy from the start of his career,and could never figure out what was holding him back.
He seemed to be a five tool player.Maybe expectations were to high for him,personal problems,or a victim of the caste system?
In any event I,m glad that he is here!
Carlos Delgado signs with Marlins.....A four deal 52 million.

 

[bjan]

Mike Piazza Marries......
Mike Piazza has always been one of my favorite baseball players! He has the look of a real American Hero!
Besides being one of the great power hitters of the game,he brings a quiet dignity that I respect.
When he was with the Dodgers he commented that the Dodger clubhouse was a scene of bedlam most of the time because there were so many different languages spoken,that nothing that was said made any sense!
Not long ago rumors were spread around about Piazza being gay!
Could this step into "John Rocker" land have earned him the wrath of the "Open Borders Lobby"?
Mike Piazza has just married former playmate,and "Baywatch" star Alicia Rickter!

 

[right winger]

Piazza also said that the white players on the Dodgers naturally hung out with each other, the hispanics with the hispanics, etc. He came close to getting a full-fledged hate attack from the media. The homosexual rumours were their way of launching a "back-door" retaliatory smear. Congratulations, Mike, great catch and way to show up all those media jerks!

 

[bjan]

"It's official:Sosa joins orioles"!
This was the screaming headline from my sports page today!It included a picture that took up half of the page of the smiling outfielder!

The starting lineups of the following teams will be very interesting to me;
The Washington Nationals
The New York mets
The Baltimore Orioles
The Florida Marlins

It will be interesting to see how the rest of baseball shapes up,as our "American Pastime".

What becomes of all of the excellent White players,who hit .370 and upwards,can run like the wind,carry themselves as gentlemen,that play in the college world series every year!

Not to sound cynical,but I'm starting to "Caste" some doubts as to the fairness of Minor,and Major league baseball!

 

[bjan]

More Sammy Hysteria............

On the sports page today in Pittsburgh,We are again treated to a large picture of Sammy Sosa!
I understand that,because sometime a players likeness can change in one day!
The headline below "this' picture bellows."Sosa acquisition saves Orioles off season"!
Cal Ripken probably saved the whole franchise,along with the top notch,"White" pitching staff of the 70's.I don't know if they ever received these kinds of accolades!

When the fine powerhitting third baseman Troy Glaus was traded from the Angels to Arizona there was one very small side bar story, and no pictures! I just don't understand................!

We do get an abbreviated look at the batting order,now that "Slammin Sammy" has arrived.
Sosa,bats 4th
Behind Melvin Mora
andMiguel Tejada

ahead of Rafael Palmeiro
and Javier Lopez stay tuned.........

I have to "Caste" another glance at this situation!

 

[jaxvid]

Is that the Santa Domingo Orioles???

Personally I'd take the all black Pittsburgh Pirates line-up of the 70's instead of the all hispanic line-up of the 00's.

 

[bjan]

Former Pirates pitcher Nellie Briles dies at 61.....

Nellie Briles,former Pirates pitcher and world series hero,died Sunday of an apparent heart attack.
Briles was attending a golf function in Orlando,Fla.when he passed away.
Larkin retires,joins Nationals......

Former Reds shortstop,Barry Larkin,who spent his entire 19 year career with Cincinnati has retired and joined the Washington Nationals in their front office.

 

[bjan]

Always a great time of year.........
Spring training,who among us as baseball fans cannot feel good at this time of year!
Not a whole lot has to be said to the very intelligent folks who post at this site,about the social engineering that has brought our "National Pastime" to where it is today!So,a few thoughts about spring training!
The New York Mets....Quite a different look here,with the addition of Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran,and the staff already in place consisting of Tom Glavine,Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano.A nice pickup of Doug Mientkiewicz at first base will allow the fine "Throwback" power hitting catcher Mike Piazza,to go back to catching full time.
First year manager Willie Randolph should feel good about fielding this team.
But wait.....There goes that Mike Piazza trying to tell the truth again,"We have looked good on paper before,but that does not guarantee that we will win"! Imagine that!
As we at Caste Football know,Mike told the "truth" about the makeup of his old Dodger team,and was immediately accused of "possibly being gay"!
I look for Mike to bounce back,with good year,and big power numbers,as he settles in "back home" behind the plate.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have pretty much stayed the same,and did not help themselves by trading over .300 hitting catcher Jason Kendall.
Lets see how much we hear about solid catcher J.R.House.