Stupid Is As Stupid Does

[strosrays]

And Whitney Pastorek is looking better and better, every day.

The Link

[MikeyBoy]

And Whitney Pastorek is looking better and better, every day.

The Link

I don't know that I agreed with a single point she made. This one takes the cake though.

Chris Sampson (109 ERA+ as both a starter and reliever), the dark horse candidate for the rotation, actually has the stuff to be a No. 2 starter,

Come again?

[Fredia]

if he is the number two maybe the astros should just forfit the seaso

[Burzmali]

if he is the number two maybe the astros should just forfit the seaso

I agree that he doesn't have great pure stuff, but he was putting together a decently impressive season until he hit a wall in late June, and it was his first full season in the big leagues. I'm pretty excited about his potential.

[JimR]

More idiocy.

[mihoba]

Lefty Wandy Rodriguez developed a very good, sharp curveball last year under the tutelage of Brad Ausmus and pitching coach Jim Colborn;

Ahem, Jim Colborn?? The 2007 Pirates coaching staff was helping Astros pitchers?

[otterjb]

I don't know that I agreed with a single point she made. This one takes the cake though.

Chris Sampson (109 ERA+ as both a starter and reliever), the dark horse candidate for the rotation, actually has the stuff to be a No. 2 starter,

Come again?

"Stuff" can be way over-rated. Just ask Greg Maddux.

[Froback]

While I agree Sampson looks like he is getting by with smoke and mirrors, it is amazing to me that he has been as servicable as he is when he is given Starts.

I keep thinking, eventually his luck will run out and he will just get abused.  And sometimes he does throw out clunker games (but then most pitchers do that too).

I keep thinking about him like I did about Moyer.  He was/is a pitcher that I just could never figure out how is remained as successful as he did, even being lefty.  He did have good stuff, he didn't seem to fool a ton of people, he didn't throw a knuckler.  And yet he lasted 21 years in the majors (and I am not sure if he is going to make a team this year for yr 22).

Now I am not saying Sampson will have a career like his, but I keep thinking of him (Moyer) as the proto-typical no-stuff guy that just seems to make rotations each year and is pretty decent 4/5 starter.  Sampson just seems like that kind of starter each time he gets a chance.

It will be interesting to see if Chris sticks in the rotation this year and pulls a Moyer type season.

[pravata]

Sampson is now one of only 4 pitchers being considered for the 2 remaining starting positions.  Hernandez was eliminated Link . Now it's between Chacon, Williams, Sampson and Cassell.  I think Cooper is leaning towards including Chacon.  Williams faces the Dodgers who didn't go to China today in a very emotional game.   It's about as big as it gets in spring training.  The last game in Dodgertown.

[Mr. Happy]

Sampson is now one of only 4 pitchers being considered for the 2 remaining starting positions.  Hernandez was eliminated Link . Now it's between Chacon, Williams, Sampson and Cassell.  I think Cooper is leaning towards including Chacon.  Williams faces the Dodgers who didn't go to China today in a very emotional game.   It's about as big as it gets in spring training.  The last game in Dodgertown.

I think that Williams' spot is on the line today. I think that if the Dodgers jump all over him, he'll retire and not put the Astros in a bad position.

[Bench]

I think that Williams' spot is on the line today. I think that if the Dodgers jump all over him, he'll retire and not put the Astros in a bad position.

I can think of six and half million reasons to doubt that he would retire based on a bad spring training game.

[MusicMan]

I can think of six and half million reasons to doubt that he would retire based on a bad spring training game.

Some people won't put a price on their reputation.

[Froback]

I think that Williams' spot is on the line today. I think that if the Dodgers jump all over him, he'll retire and not put the Astros in a bad position.

Given you have been calling for his head for a while, don't be upset if I generally ignore your comments on him for awhile.

[Bench]

Some people won't put a price on their reputation.

Woody's reputation wasn't built in spring training.

[MusicMan]

Woody's reputation wasn't built in spring training.

My point is that "he won't retire, he's got a contract" doesn't always hold true.  If he thinks he'll embarass himself, he'll probably retire.  Do I think he'll do that in ST?  No - but it won't be a money decision.

[Mr. Happy]

Given you have been calling for his head for a while, don't be upset if I generally ignore your comments on him for awhile.

I'm truly not pulling against him. He's an Astro. However, I just think that he's reached the tipping point of his career. Do you want him to go through another half-a-season shellacking that he got last season? I don't. And I don't think that Wade/Cooper will either. I love Woody for what he brings to the clubhouse and to our young pitchers. But there's a point in every player's career where it is over.

[Mr. Happy]

Woody's line today:

IP  H  R  ER  BB   K
4   9   6    5    1    2      1 homer allowed. ERA for spring now 13.89.

[Burzmali]

More idiocy.

Why do you say that?

[Limey]

Why do you say that?

Good point.  It was the same idiocy.

[Burzmali]

Good point.  It was the same idiocy.

Which part of what I said do you find idiotic?:

1) That he was putting together a decently impressive season until late June
2) That it was his first full year in the majors
3) That he doesn't have great pure stuff

I hope to get an actual response, not another non-answer.

[MusicMan]

Because any person that has watched more than a handful of MLB games could tell you that Sampson doesn't have great "stuff", much less "#2 starter stuff"?

Because she selectively alters her timeframes to fit her argument?

Because she uses ERA for individual relievers and W/L/Sv for the bullpen as a whole?

Because she uses OPS+ to measure the bench, which has nothing to do with a bench player's typical roles?

Because she uses a single season's away splits to predict a player's overall performance?

Because she honestly thinks that opposing teams will routinely walk Lance Berkman to get to the Lee/Tejada/Pence combo?

Or is it because she has proven herself to be a singularly untalented, horrible writer with no knowledge of either baseball or the English language?

[Burzmali]

Because she uses a single season's away splits to predict a player's overall performance?

Because she honestly thinks that opposing teams will routinely walk Lance Berkman to get to the Lee/Tejada/Pence combo?

She was using that split to exclude the Coors stats, which I don't find terribly unfair.

Also don't see what's wrong with this. With presumably 1 out and first base open, slow runner on first, slow hitter at bat, wouldn't you rather put the best hitter on and go to work on a double play?

[MusicMan]

She was using that split to exclude the Coors stats, which I don't find terribly unfair.

Except that Coors didn't play nearly as offense-happy in the past.

Also don't see what's wrong with this. With presumably 1 out and first base open, slow runner on first, slow hitter at bat, wouldn't you rather put the best hitter on and go to work on a double play?

Intentional walks in the first inning?  I want you managing the oppposition.

[BudGirl]

Also don't see what's wrong with this. With presumably 1 out and first base open, slow runner on first, slow hitter at bat, wouldn't you rather put the best hitter on and go to work on a double play?

You do know Ausmus is not the next batter, right?  How many GIDP have Pence/Lee/Tejada hit into?

[Bench]

You do know Ausmus is not the next batter, right?  How many GIDP have Pence/Lee/Tejada hit into?

Last year? 59 in 1597 at bats (once per every 27 at bats).

What do I win?

[BudGirl]

Last year? 59 in 1597 at bats (once per every 27 at bats).

What do I win?

a seat next to Limey on his next flight.

[MusicMan]

Last year? 59 in 1597 at bats (once per every 27 at bats).

In other words, this would be the winning play once every three days, if the scenario presented itself every inning.

Again - I want burzmali managing the opposition.

[JimR]

i just want Burzmali gone.