Hump Day

The game on Sunday was ugly enough that I haven’t written here in 3 days. I was at 3 games in 4 days last week and, in general, the Giants stunk. Now after 2 days in Houston, all is well, with the offense banging in 24 runs.

Meanwhile, Barry got plunked yesterday by Russ Springer. It was clearly intentional. Everyone seems confused. Can someone explain? Meanwhile, Barry had 2 singles, both balls hit hard and pulled hard. Barry’s inability to pull makes me wonder why any team is still putting on a shift defense, but maybe he’s working his way through the problem.

Classic fantasy moment: I’m rooting for the Giants on Sunday, but Dodger’s starter Jae Seo is also a Pickled Peckler. So I’ve got that strange dilemma of what to root for. Seo gave up a run in the first, but settled down, and left the game after 6 innings with a 2-1 lead. Odallis Perez, newly banished to middle relief, came in and immediately gave up the tying run. The Dodgers then scored the winning runs in the top of the eighth, so Perez stole Seo’s win. The combination of Seo pitching well but not getting the win when the Dodgers did just sucks. If the Dodgers were going to win, the Pecklers might as well have benefited.

Random Pickled Notes:

J.J. Hardy is headed to the DL with a bad ankle. Bill Hall will become the starting shortstop for the Brewers, and one would think Brady Clark will start playing every day, and possibly hit higher in the order. Clark is currently the biggest disappointment on our team. One homer, no steals, 8 RBI’s, and a crappy BA. Last year he hit .306 in 599 AB’s with 13 homers and 10 steals. He’ll come around, and we’ll move back toward the middle of the steals pack.

Reggie Abercrombie went 3 for 4 yesterday with 2 steals, bringing his BA over .250. The Doc was skeptical when I said $8 on Abercrombie, but I figured a young starting outfielder with power and some speed who had beaten out a major prospect in Eric Reed had to be worth a single digit bid.

Tom Glavine, $11, 6-2, sub-3 ERA, was the last solid starter available in the draft. If we end up playing for next year (we’re not, by the way), you’ve got to figure he’ll end up on another BABI team.

Mark Prior is throwing. It looks like early June. If he comes back like Mark Prior, it will be a major additional both to our staff and our team. It will give us a 5th starter with good numbers, and making one of our starters available for trade. Our 5 starters are all cheap and keepable. It’s actually part of the overall plan.

Cesar Izturis is close enough to returning to spark a debate about where he will play. Raffy Furcal sucks at short, and Izturis has a gold glove. There’s a possibility one of them will move to 3rd in Bill Meuller’s absence, and there is talk of the outfield too. It’s not clear what Izturis’ future is, but I’ve always liked him. He can hit, he’s fast, and he can field. Getting him for $2 was an absolute bargain for this year. And if he stays in the National League, he’ll be remembered as one of the real bargains in the BABI draft this year.

Kenny 9 purchased Damian Jackson, who we were targeting in the auction as a cheap source of steals along with Hector Luna. He then traded him in that deal with the Cartel, who waived him a week ago. We were tied for 11th on Monday, but technically 10th on tie breakers, ahead of Kenny 9 and the Pounders. Kenny claimed him back ahead of our claim. He’s not doing all that much, but we figure he was worth more than Jose Hernandez, who no longer has the respect of the Pounders.

We’ve got both backup catchers in Washington, yet neither has played since Wiki was brought up. Why? If we end up selling, we want flexibility to trade Michael Barrett. Lecroy and Fick are both really 1st basemen who qualify at catcher.

I saw the end of the Dbacks-Padres last night on INHD. I got to see Medders, Lyon and Valverde shut down the Padres on 24 pitches in 3 innings. The only hit was a soft opposite field single in the 8th off Lyon. This trio, along with Luis Vizcaino, give the Dbacks a formidable bullpen, one the Giants can only dream of. And I still think Valverde is an injury waiting to happen with his jerky throwing motion. Meanwhile, Shawn Green is leading the NL in batting, but has completely lost all of his power. Steroids? It’s not obvious from his body, but I’d be suspicious. Maybe the same for Private Luis Gonzalez. How did that guy hit 56 homers?

Boof Brittain is after Carlos Lee and Ryan Dempster. We’re still playing. And they are both keepers, so they’ll cost you, or any of you.

As for his trade with the Pounders (Utley and Coffey for Wagner and P. Wilson), it looks on the surface like a dump deal, but here’s what I see. Kevin got one of the top keepers for next season in Utley, a true 4 category player. He got a young guy in Coffey who is pitching lights out and could be a $6 closer at any moment. Meanwhile, his numbers are pristine. He gave up one of the league’s premier closers and an overpriced guy who hasn’t been right in 3 years, who is striking out 1 in 3 AB’s. He improved his hitting, gave up a closer he doesn’t need, and got the premier closer of the future in the NL. Nice trade by Kevin. Boof, meanwhile, wanted that closer in Wagner so he can try to trade the much maligned Brad Lidge. That could work out, but will depend on who bites on Lidge. Wouldn't it be funny if he ended up back with the Leaguers? Or with the team that originally drafted him at $3 (that would be us)?

Speaking of the Astros, how ‘bout that pen last night?

Eight BABI teams are now at 49 points or higher. I said early on not to count out the Bums (now in 6th place). But with Gagne and Bonds costing $61, I don’t know how Dot Net is doing it.

John Rodriguez, down to .410. Bum.

Brandon Webb has allowed 7 walks in 64 innings. He used to be a WHIP wrecker. What happened? Looks like a sure candidate for contract extension.

Hobo is fading a bit. What’s the chance they finish the season with both Capuano and Carpenter?

Busch Leaguers, 38 points. Is it fixable? Floyd $25 is hitting .205 with 3 homers. Abreu was kept at $40, but only has 4 homers and 5 steals. Who the hell is Joe Borchard? And Joe Borowski, $17. Ouch. Get in line for Mr. Leaguer’s 06 contract guys.