Spring Training!

[PhillyBirds]

The smell of warm spring baseball is in the air, and it's almost time for teams to start the push to the 2010 World Series. This is a good spot for thoughts before the season starts, and early look-ins to MLB team demographics. Note, these starters are subject to change before the season starts due to injury, ineffectiveness, etc. Here's an early look in to two white-friendly teams, before I start the big rundown in a few weeks:

- St. Louis Cardinals: The Cards made it to the divisional round last year, and hope to make it two in a row after locking left-fielder Matt Holliday in long-term. St. Louis could probably be the team to root for for any CFers that don't necessarily have a "favorite team". They sport a rare all-white outfield with Holliday, Colby Rasmus, and Ryan Ludwick in left, center, and right respectively. Brendan Ryan (and his awesome socks) starts at shortstop, making them the only team in the majors to have both a white CF and SS.

Spring Training white starters: 6/8 (position players)

- Colorado Rockies: The Rockies again show up as a Caste-friendly team, with young star Troy Tulowitzki at short. Not much change in Denver this season, except Chris Ianetta will catch fulltime this year, giving them one more white starter than last season.

Spring Training white starters: 6/8

 

[LabMan]

thanks Philly,
Always look forward to your posts!
LabMan

 

[Colonel_Reb]

Philly, I'll be sure to pass this Cardinal info on to my father in law, as he is a big St. Louis fan. Looking forward to seeing what happens between now and opening day with the Cards and the other MLB teams.

 

[jaxvid]

The Detroit Tigers signed Jonny Damon to a one year deal. Most people in Detroit aren't especially happy with the deal. There are some questions about Damon's age, his reliability, how he will fit in a small market team. Also questions about him taking time away from developing a young prospect in the outfield.

I look at it like: we had a black centerfielder, we got a white one, good deal--hands down.

See that's the good thing about being a racist-it simplifies things.

 

[Colonel_Reb]

I look at it like: we had a black centerfielder, we got a white one, good deal--hands down.

See that's the good thing about being a racist-it simplifies things.

Edited by: Colonel_Reb

 

[PhillyBirds]

I look at it like: we had a black centerfielder, we got a white one, good deal--hands down.

I hate to do it to you jaxvid, but Damon will be your left fielder. Your center fielder is still a black fellow, by the name of Austin Jackson.

 

[jaxvid]

I look at it like: we had a black centerfielder, we got a white one, good deal--hands down.

I hate to do it to you jaxvid, but Damon will be your left fielder. Your center fielder is still a black fellow, by the name of Austin Jackson.

Projected. An untested black rookie centerfielder? Might not make it out of spring training. Of course he only has to hit .250 to get the job but he might not do that. I'll wait and see.

 

[Tom Iron]

Does anyone know what kind of a chance Stephen Strasburg has of making the Nationals right away? If the guy can throw at 103mph, I think he should go north with the team. Koufax couldn't hit the broad side of a barn his first couple of years in the majors.

Tom Iron...

 

[PhillyBirds]

Does anyone know what kind of a chance Stephen Strasburg has of making the Nationals right away? If the guy can throw at 103mph, I think he should go north with the team. Koufax couldn't hit the broad side of a barn his first couple of years in the majors.

Tom Iron...

Tom, it's widely believed that the earliest the Nationals will call up Strasburg would be mid-season. While he may dazzle in spring training, it's probable he'll spend half a season, if not a whole season, at AAA.

 

[LabMan]

Good Question Tom,

Even a guy throwing 100 or better will get lit up if his fastball does not have movement as it gets through the strike zone,these professional hitters will time his pitches if they are flat,also he may need a change up or breaking pitch to offset the heater,he may have had these in college,but in the minors from double A up these guys are very good hitters,Stephen may be an exception,but if the pitching coaches are wrong his confidence may suffer.

 

[PhillyBirds]

Good Question Tom,
<div> </div>
<div>Even a guy throwing 100 or better will get lit up if his fastball does not have movement as it gets through the strike zone,these professional hitters will time his pitches if they are flat,also he may need a change up or breaking pitch to offset the heater,he may have had these in college,but in the minors from double A up these guys are very good hitters,Stephen may be an exception,but if the pitching coaches are wrong his confidence may suffer.</div>

A good point there LabMan, and I agree that he'll also need some seasoning in the minors first. However, the thing that sets Strasburg apart from a raw fastball guy (such as Cuban defector and Cincinnati Red Aroldis Chapman) is his plus-breaking pitch and terrific control. In 2009 in 109 innings pitched at San Diego State, Strasburg notched 195 strikeouts while only walking 19 batters! SOURCE

Admittedly, those were college hitters, but it's clear he's pretty polished for a first-year player. I'm looking forward to see what he's capable of in the future at the MLB level.

Edit: Source.Edited by: PhillyBirds

 

[LabMan]

Good points,and source Philly,control is key!

 

[jaxvid]

Does anyone know what kind of a chance Stephen Strasburg has of making the Nationals right away? If the guy can throw at 103mph, I think he should go north with the team. Koufax couldn't hit the broad side of a barn his first couple of years in the majors.

Tom Iron...

Those were the old days when teams didn't have options on guys like today. It's usually better for a kid to get some work in the minors then to sit on a major league bench for months.

 

[Bear Backer]

Does anyone know what kind of a chance Stephen Strasburg has of making the Nationals right away? If the guy can throw at 103mph, I think he should go north with the team. Koufax couldn't hit the broad side of a barn his first couple of years in the majors.

Tom Iron...

Those were the old days when teams didn't have options on guys like today. It's usually better for a kid to get some work in the minors then to sit on a major league bench for months.

Totally agreed. Nobody ever learns anything from being a bench warmer. I totally disagree with the philosophy that many teams have of taking a young arm and putting them in a rarely used spot in the bullpen, with the notion that they will develop into a starter. There are two completely different dynamics at work between being a starter and a reliever. Most of the old honest baseball men will say that the bullpen is for guys who can't start, for whatever reason. When they are ready, they are ready, and not before.

 

[whiteathlete33]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ti-mauersigns032110&amp;prov=yhoo&amp;type=lgns

 

[Don Wassall]

Joe Nathan, who has more saves than anyone over the past 6 seasons, is going to have Tommy John surgery and will miss the 2010 season. There's a lot of hispanic closers these days, to see the top White one go down is bad news:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2010/news/story?id=5015108

 

[Don Wassall]

What is this cretin still doing in pro ball, much less batting cleanup for a team? The Mariners must truly suck if they need Milton Bradley to bat fourth:

Bradley to hit cleanup for Mariners

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/spring2010/news/story?id=5035398

 

[Don Wassall]

Billy Williams was a very good player but building a statue in his honor is blatant racial pandering:
Cubs to erect Billy Williams statue

The Chicago Cubs are making sure their fans never forget Billy Williams.


A statue of Williams â€" a Hall of Fame outfielder and the best left-handed hitter in team history â€" will be unveiled at Wrigley Field in a Sept. 7 ceremony.


"It's one of the greatest tributes; you don't expect that," Williams said Wednesday. "It's great for me and it's great for the family. The kids, the grandkids, the great-great grandkids will go see it ... and it will be there forever."


The decision to honor Williams with a statue was one of the first moves by new owner Tom Ricketts, a lifelong Cubs fan who made the announcement at a team function Tuesday night.
full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100331/ap_on_sp_ba_ne/bbn_cubs_williams_statue

 

[jaxvid]

The Detroit Tigers upped the ante for stupidity by trading a decent left handed pitcher, Nate Robertson, to make room in the rotation for Dontrelle Willis. Willis is shot as a pitcher, although he has had a passable spring it's not a secret that he's not the pitcher he used to be and wasn't that good then anyway.

Plus he's got head problems, control problems and has lost speed on his fastball. But the Tigers have millions invested on him, he's black and it's Detroit. This is going to end badly for them and I will be laughing the whole time.