tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post111617882491587546..comments2023-11-05T04:54:27.364-05:00Comments on The GYS Network: A couple of Surprises so far this season (AL only) Part IEarlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16528300608952663063noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post-1116703635260582942005-05-21T15:27:00.000-04:002005-05-21T15:27:00.000-04:00Actually, that's a good point Andrew. Rookies liv...Actually, that's a good point Andrew. Rookies living up to their potential is pretty significant. At least worth mentioning. In that case, can we put Mauer in the same boat? Granted he's not a real rookie, but it looks like he is hitting as expected and so far avoiding the DL.I-believe-in-Dinosaurshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06898846088677890590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post-1116467289043087802005-05-18T21:48:00.000-04:002005-05-18T21:48:00.000-04:00Point taken (and, thanks for the plug). Though, I...Point taken (and, thanks for the plug). Though, I've got to say that I'm always a little surprised when rookies actually do live up to the hype.<BR/><BR/>Also, I have to say: I totally called Brian Roberts before the season. I didn't call 11 homers and a better OPS than Manny... but I totally called him.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post-1116466300366021742005-05-18T21:31:00.000-04:002005-05-18T21:31:00.000-04:00I'd like to thank Andrew for bring this post back ...I'd like to thank Andrew for bring this post back to topic! Plus we should all check out his <A HREF="http://12eight.blog.com/" REL="nofollow">cool blog</A>.<BR/><BR/>As for his point about Morneau, the key word is suprise. I think a lot of people expected Morneau to hit the tar off the ball. Granted, maybe not this efficiently but it's not a huge suprise.I-believe-in-Dinosaurshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06898846088677890590noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post-1116386771385332352005-05-17T23:26:00.000-04:002005-05-17T23:26:00.000-04:00I should also point out Twins 1B Justin Morneau, w...I should also point out Twins 1B Justin Morneau, who has been absolutely scorching since coming back from an injury early in the year. And by absolutely scorching, I mean to the tune of .375/.402/.727 with 7 HR. Maybe not wholly surprising, but the hot start has been pretty impressive (and helpful, for a couple of my fantasy teams).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post-1116270385391174852005-05-16T15:06:00.000-04:002005-05-16T15:06:00.000-04:00I do not think there are any Asians in the HOF. T...I do not think there are any Asians in the HOF. The likely candidate is Sodahiro OH - their HR all-time champ (I think over 800).<BR/><BR/>He is not in the Hall, so that would lead me to think they are not eligible - it is the National Baseball Hall of Fame. I guess the national piece is just US. Sad. But true. The rules state something to the affect that a player must play in at least parts of ten baseball seasons and my guess is that it specifically states MLB. Too lazy and hungry to look up.Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07619431779431103280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post-1116269343953509282005-05-16T14:49:00.000-04:002005-05-16T14:49:00.000-04:00A-Rod underrated. Priceless.Good point about the ...A-Rod underrated. Priceless.<BR/><BR/>Good point about the Japan factor. I wonder how much of that was lost when Matsui (the good Matsui) signed with that New York team (the good New York team).<BR/><BR/>Yeah, the highlight of the first Safeco game I saw (Indians-Mariners, whoop-de-doo) was an Ichiro play in the outfield. Guy on second, fly ball to middle-shallow right...and he just stood there watching it start to drop. A little scary-looking. Then he charged in at nearly full speed (which is <I>fast</I>), caught it, and threw to third, with an extra 10-15 mph on his throw, than if he'd waited under it. It was insane.<BR/><BR/>My other big Ichiro memory was when Pedro opened a game at Safeco by striking him out with 3 pitches. He then went on to strike out the next two guys on 3 each -- an amazing feat in itself, made even more so by the fact it involved <I>Ichiro</I>.<BR/><BR/>This is a seriously off-topic thread, but are there any Asian-born ballplayers in the HOF?Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16528300608952663063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post-1116266109154527152005-05-16T13:55:00.000-04:002005-05-16T13:55:00.000-04:00Safeco is great. It reminds me of PacBell with a ...Safeco is great. It reminds me of PacBell with a roof - although Pac Bell has the open OF and the Cove. And, I guess, better food.<BR/><BR/>I guess the underrated comment on Ichiro was more along the lines of thinking that a lot of people don't have a full appreciation of how he alters the game. Being able to see the entire field adds to how much he disrupts the defense, while at bat and on base. <BR/><BR/>And his arm is incredible. Sveum, who loves to send runners, held up Miller on a single to right with the ball a good 8 feet away from Ichiro. The general rule is send the guy if the fielder has not gotten to the ball. After Tek was dead on Friday, Sveum had to think twice. And on the Friday play, why did Tek not deck the C? Professional courtesy?<BR/><BR/>And sure Ichiro is an all star and sells merchandise, but those are largely due to the Japan factor. And what got me thinking about the subject was I recently read someone (can't remember who) touting A-Rod as the most underrated player in the game. <BR/><BR/>I basically agree with you on Boone - somehwere between Leiter and Justice. Which was just my way of saying he shouldn't quit his day job.Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07619431779431103280noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post-1116257990223567462005-05-16T11:39:00.000-04:002005-05-16T11:39:00.000-04:00Yeah, sorry about that weekend in Seattle. I was ...Yeah, sorry about that weekend in Seattle. I was close to going myself too. Safeco is really great (I've been a few times now), and I agree that Ichiro is amazing. Very fun to watch in the outfield also. Not sure I'd call him "underrated", given he has a ROY, MVP, is a shoo in for the ASG every year, and probably is in the top 5 for players' merchandise sold, but whatever.<BR/><BR/>I still don't agree with you about Boone being "terrible" in the booth. Sure, Al Leiter was better, but who else? Boone was a thousand times better than David Justice. He was quiet, but that's okay in my opinion. His jokes were pretty funny. <BR/><BR/>That said, the funniest part was the stunned silence when his kid brother, a far worse ballplayer, became the newest Yankee Hero. I wish they'd cut to the booth just so we could've seen his face.Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16528300608952663063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10243036.post-1116257059049949562005-05-16T11:24:00.000-04:002005-05-16T11:24:00.000-04:00Team X does hold its collective breath a bit on Hi...Team X does hold its collective breath a bit on Hillenbrand more so than Roberts. But I guess about the time they slow down is when Vernon Wells and Edgar Renteria will hear up.<BR/><BR/>As for Posada, that was my prediction this year, that all the innings will catch up with him. <BR/><BR/>I think it was two years ago that I "sold you" on Hairston??<BR/><BR/>"it looks like Boone might be starting to fade with age" - is it age or should we cover him with a scarlet S. Plus he was pretty crappy as an analyst during last year's playoff. Let's hope he's saved some money during his career.<BR/><BR/>And my final observation after a somewhat lost weekend in Seattle. Ichiro is the most underrated player in the game. Period. I don't care what anyone says, there is only one other player (Bonds) whose at bats completely change/disrupt the other team the way Ichiro does. It should be noted that the Red sox intentionally walked Ichiro more times in this 3 game series than they walked Bonds in the 3 game series last year.Xhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07619431779431103280noreply@blogger.com