Yardwork: Things To Do in Six Hours and 16 Minutes
Baseball April 18th. 2008, 9:40am
Patrick Imig had a sit-down interview this morning with the always-scheming Bobby “the Brain” Heenan, so we handled Yardwork.
Colorado 2, San Diego 1: Kudos to anyone who watched this six hour, 16 minute snoozer (like this guy), but here are three things we’d rather do with that kind of time on our hands: Read this book while fantasizing about the return of Lost in six days, drive to Nags Head, North Carolina (and pray they have wi-fi), and stare at this moderately NSFW photo of Rhona Mitra.
Baltimore 6, Chicago White Sox 5, 10 innings: How awesome has Gavin Floyd been through three games? We totally called this. Six innings, two hits, and the two runs were unearned. He was fine until Bobby Jenks got coughed up two runs in the ninth.
Cincinnati 9, Chicago Cubs 2: Ted Lilly, whom we like immensely, has been horrific in three starts (9.16 ERA) for the Cubs, and he let young Joey Votto (five RBI) batter him last night.
Cleveland 11, Detroit 1: The only top-tier starter who has been nearly as bad as Lilly is Justin Verlander, who also dropped to 0-3 and saw his ERA balloon to 7.03. He’s also given up a homer in each of his four starts.
Boston 7, New York 5: Man Ram took Moose deep twice and Josh Beckett overpowered the Yankees for eight innings to help the Sox salvage a split in the Bronx.
105 Responses to “Yardwork: Things To Do in Six Hours and 16 Minutes”
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April 18th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Where is Imig? I want to know what he thought about the Cards blowing that game.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:45 am
That box score from the Rockies-Padres game is great. Brad Hawpe went 0/7, Willy Taveras went 3/10 and Brian Giles went 1/9. Plus, both catchers went the distance.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Did anyone else hear Gammons call Farnsworth a AAA pitcher bc of the pitch he threw behind Manny’s head? I have watched Farnsworth pitch a ton when he was with the cubs and he wasn’t exactly known for his great control. If he was trying to hit Manny he probably would have thrown a strike.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:46 am
Rhona Mitra makes an appearance in Yardwork. The day is picking up!
April 18th, 2008 at 9:47 am
RE: Verlander
But we don’t heckle our ace, you know, because he has won all those games before.
/Cleveland fans are gay
April 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
The words “Bobby the Brain Heenan” just made my morning.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:48 am
@tommy Z
Farnsworth should go back to where he came from, the year 2076.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:49 am
That Farnsworth beebee at Manny was great. Guy hits two home runs, you gotta make him move his feet.
Long overdue, Torre was way too respectful.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:50 am
That card of Johnny Grubb explains where Farnsworth stole his new look from.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Thankyou San Diego for insuring the Diamondbacks win the series this weekend. Should have just lost in the 14th
April 18th, 2008 at 9:52 am
I was just suprised at how much Gammons overreacted at it. He said he should be fined by MLB and suspended. I just think they should have let Beckett retaliate and then let it be at that.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:53 am
tommy z: all the guys at BBTN went off the rocker over it. they are all too soft.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I think three straight games for both Linebrink and Jenks caught up with them a bit…if the Sox have a real glaring weakness it’s depth in the bullpen
Couldn’t be happier with Gavin Floyd up to this point…I’d say KW won that round seeing as how I think Freddie Garcia won one game for the Phillies
April 18th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Please don’t mistake sleeping for being respectful.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Mags…Verlander isn’t turning down $20 million offers yet. then again, we’re also not content with losing.
joking aside, why is it verlander has such problems with our lineup, he’s unbelievable against everyone else?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:55 am
A depleted Padre bullpen (which hasn’t been good yet this season) and a worn out ballclub??? Let’s go Dbacks. clap clap…. (you guys get the idea)
April 18th, 2008 at 9:55 am
I’ve tried to not watch BBTN lately but I just caught that part and I couldn’t watch the rest of it. I’m pretty sure Peter King will be bringing it up Monday too.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:56 am
when did the Gammons-Farnsworth thing happen? I want to get the video. ESPN or ESPN 2? Last night?
April 18th, 2008 at 9:57 am
Wait..no love for the exciting Mets Nats game…it was exciting…compelling…dramatic…oh wait no it was the Mets leaving a shit load of guys on base and kicking the ball around..Beltran took the night off with a sandy vagina and we won in the 14th on a single, passed ball, intentional walk intentional walk. wild pitch sequence that should go down in baseball history as vomit inducing…Mets win…I’ll take it..Johan/Hamels tonight which of course will be bumped from Yardwork
April 18th, 2008 at 9:57 am
@spencer
Ha ha ha get over yourself. It isn’t just your mighty Cleveland line-up, jeeze. He has lost his velocity this year for some reason. He is down about 5MPH from last year, which is a ton. We all do shudder at just the thought of might Casey Blake though and his tree choppin’ beard. Good lord.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:57 am
A bean ball is one thing, and Gammons said as much. A 90+ MPH fastball inches from a guy’s face is completely different. That’s why Gammons was pissed. That’s just completely uncalled for.
Hit the guy in the thigh.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:57 am
It was the 10 BBTN last night on ESPN. I think it was towards the beginning of the show.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:58 am
@Maggs:
I’m not a Cleveland fan, but coming from a guy who cheers for a team that runs out Clete Thomas, Brandon Inge, and I-Rod on a nightly to semi-nightly basis, look in the mirror.
April 18th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Its uncalled for if he did it on purpose. Farns has NO control. It was no Pedro throwing behind someones head
April 18th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Unless you are Ricky Vaughn
April 18th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Maggs..to be fair it is April an alot of guys don’t get up to their top velocity until mid-may..it doen’t help playing cold weather for the first month of the season
April 18th, 2008 at 10:02 am
@Nick
what are you even talking about? If you aren’t a Cleveland fan then where is your frame of reference here? You are like a child who wanders into a movie halfway through and… also, dude, Ivan is a hall of famer who could call a game better than any of your precious Reds.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:02 am
verlander has struggled against cleveland last yr too…they mentioned he lost some MPH from his fastball too…whats up with that?
April 18th, 2008 at 10:03 am
@maggs- that was good
+1
April 18th, 2008 at 10:04 am
TBL, it was the 10 oclock hour on ESPN. i think it was the second half of the show.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
@Maggs: Ken Griffey, Jr. is a hall of famer. It doesn’t mean he’s good TODAY. Same goes for I-Rod. What does calling a game have to do with his bat? He’s a useless hitter.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:05 am
@Nick: Conversation doesn’t start and stop at your convinience.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:06 am
TBL, I’m surprised you’ve stuck with LOST. I loved it at first, but it’s just been too inconsistent in airing episodes, and it sort of feels like the whole plot has unraveled. I just hope for your sake, and for the sake of others that have been faithful to the show, that they air it to the finish.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:10 am
That Tegada video when the reporter showed him his real birth certificate is priceless.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Nick..Griffey is not bad Today either..he is playing well…he played really well last year..as for Pudge (he is not I-Rod..Linda Cohn calls him that..it not his nickname) he is not the force he once was but he is stilla useful player…not everyplayer need to have a 300 batting average hit 40 hRs and have 450 OBP…guys do different things..he is defense and situational hitting at this point in his career
April 18th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Someone from Cleveland is “not content with losing?” I thought complacency was administered via I.V at the Cleveland Clinic upon birth.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:14 am
@Nick
If you think calling a game isnt important enough to put an aged bat out there you obviously don’t know baseball. You should probably stick to cheering for whatever sport needs no thought what so ever to be a fan of. Try being a bowling fan or something, I don’t really know.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Stolen from Neyer’s blog.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Verlanders troubles have nothing to do with Cleveland. He could not throw a strike and was just bad last night. He has not had a truly good outing yet this year…hence the 0-3 record. Last time out, he pitched 7 strong and blew it in the 8th inning of a 1-0 game.
The AL Central will end up Detroit-Cleveland in the end. ChiSox and the others will fall back.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:18 am
@Maggs: I agree completely. It’s extremely important. Especially in regards to your Tigers. Where would their ERA be without Pudge’s game-calling ability? Granted they’re already dead last in ERA, so their rank wouldn’t change, but the ERA itself would be way higher than 6.00, right?
Funny thing about game-calling ability. The best game-callers generally call games for the best pitchers. Interesting dynamic.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Never give up! Don’t ever give up!
April 18th, 2008 at 10:22 am
@Nick/Maggs: I agree and disagree. I wouldn’t say Pudge is a useless hitter yet. Sure, he’s been pretty brutal so far this year, and is on the decline, but he’s not quite useless. But I also think that a catcher’s ability to call a game is completely overrated. NickP took the words out of my mouth…I think it’s a chicken vs. the egg type thing. The catchers that are often lauded as best game-callers are the ones with the best pitchers. I think the pitchers should get the majority, if not all of the credit for that. Just my two cents.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Nick..I disagree…If you could watch what Brian Schneider is doing for a guy like Mike Pelfrey this year you would change that toon…Pelfrey has great stuff but he is too pensive to use it correctly..Schneider calls a good game..aggressive and it has gotten Pelfrey to be very successful with his hard breaking stuff…Pudge did wonders with a young Marlins staff a few years ago and with a young Tiger staff two years ago..he is good..and it makes difference
April 18th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Game. Set. Match. – Nick P
April 18th, 2008 at 10:25 am
ATL..I agree, any one could catch Johan, Pedro, SMoltz etc…I think a catchers true work is with guys that have good stuff but don’t know how to use it…a good catcher is not going to turn shit in to gold but he will definitely help polish up some guys make then more effective
April 18th, 2008 at 10:25 am
@RWH–I see where you’re coming from, but maybe Pelfrey just got better this year after getting some experience last year and working in the offseason/spring training. And as for Florida, those pitchers have done just as well without Pudge…so I don’t know how much credit he should get there.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:26 am
@Roman: So why are their pitchers so awful?
Paul Bako has never been regarded as a great “game caller,” but the Reds have exceeded last year’s pitching by a mile. Is it because of him or the fact that we have young studs finally and aren’t relying on Eric Milton and Kyle Lohse? (Josh Fogg notwithstanding, who’ll be DFA’d soon)
April 18th, 2008 at 10:27 am
@RWH–fair enough…I think a catcher’s value is overstated to some degree, but I will concede that there are certainly instances where a catcher can have a valuable influence on a pitcher
April 18th, 2008 at 10:27 am
Oh sweet Jesus the OHIO just got flustered. We should all go back to our holes now and let you guys talk about your awesome teams that just about win something sometimes.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Is that where you went for sabbatical a few weeks ago?
April 18th, 2008 at 10:29 am
Ok, Maggs, go back into your hole and watch I-Rod call great games. We’ll be back here in common sense land when you want to talk.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Once again Nick…a good game caller is not turning water into wine but he makes a difference…a good one…knows the hitters..calls the type of game that best utilizes his pticers strengths..if they weren’t that important how come so many of the greats had “personal catchers”…as with Pelfrey…the differenc this spring from whne he was having Schnider cath and the other guys was dramatic…I will say these catchers act like psycho analysts half the time for these guys…Baseball is not played by robots in a vaccum…they are human and a catcher pitcher relationship as is human as it gets…it involves a lot of trust
April 18th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Catchers also provide value for young pitchers who are not familiar with opposing lineups. I think that’s a big reason why Boston’s young pitchers (Lester, Bucholz, Delcarman, Papelbon) are somewhat successful because Veritek can take their good stuff and show them the best ways and times to use it.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:34 am
@Roman: How many did? The only one I can think of is Greg Maddux (Eddie Perez) for maybe 3-5 seasons in Atlanta (atlantasportsfan will know more).
Some knuckleballers use personal catchers, but that’s a bit different.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:36 am
the Gammons thing was great. almost as funny as when he flipped his lid about the Yanks getting Aaron Boone a few years back.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:37 am
or it can be just a matter of a catcher and pitcher having a good relationship and feel comfortable with each other as was the case with shoppach and byrd for Cleveland last season…however they dropped it now i think
April 18th, 2008 at 10:37 am
@Nick–Eddie Perez was Maddux’s personal catcher for most of his time in Atlanta, but that was more because Maddux and Javy Lopez didn’t click…not because Maddux & Perez had a special bond or anything. When Perez left the Braves, Maddux still continued to use the backup catcher (whether it was Paul Bako, or someone else…just not Javy. Javy’s a fucking idiot.)
April 18th, 2008 at 10:37 am
TBL – “Never give up! Don’t ever give up!”
um…I beleive the quote is “Don’t quit, don’t even quit.” Moron.
/ E. Smith
April 18th, 2008 at 10:39 am
Nick…Steve Carlton had Tim McCarver as did Bob Gibson. Maddux had Perez. Whitey Ford prefer Elston Howard over Yogi Berra…and I amissing another big one that slipped my mind but I though of before
April 18th, 2008 at 10:40 am
Spencer – Big Papi & IRod for Mike Jacobs & VMart?
April 18th, 2008 at 10:40 am
oh and don’t forget the Nelson Figeroua/Raul Casanova battery that is going down as one of the greats.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:40 am
When Randy Johnson was on the Yankees he had a personal catcher (I think John Flaherty) instead of No-Chin Posada.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:41 am
St. Bear…thanks…that’s the one.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Smoltz preferred Charlie O’Brien back in the day.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Glavina also had problems with Mike Piazza early on but than again TOm Glavine had problems with everyone early in his Met career
April 18th, 2008 at 10:43 am
A lot of these “personal catchers” weren’t given to a guy because they had a special rapport, though. A lot of managers like to give their starting catcher a day off, and figure that it’s good to do every fifth day. So a guy becomes a pitcher’s personal catcher almost by default.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:44 am
And Piazza was also a shitty catcher.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Have fun in the barrier islands of NC TBL. Water has to be cold up there on that coast
April 18th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Hi, I live in a vacuum and have a short attention span and have (somehow) already forgotten that there was a writer’s strike that broke up the airing of the episodes of LOST. That is all, just calling attention to my own poorly constructed argument. Here’s another one. The Tigers are the best team in baseball because they have the worst record. Did I blow your mind??? That Just Happened.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:46 am
My head is spinning like a top!
April 18th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Gammons can be a real bitch about his Red Sox.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:54 am
While I agree with Gammons to some extent (the pitch was pretty close to the head, even though, as a Braves fan, I’m intimately familiar with Farnsworth’s lack of control, as is Brad Ausmus), I agree with you–Gammons can sometimes be quite transparent in his love for the Red Sox. Just look at his reaction to the A-Rod thing being announced last year during the Sox world series. It was like someone had raped Gammons’ daughter in front of him with a broken broomstick. He was absolutely mortified. I obviously respect Gammons as a journalist, and think he’s generally pretty awesome. But I tire of his Northeastern bias, evidenced by his constant love for the Red Sox, the Cape Cod league, etc. Fuck Boston.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:55 am
@Nick
Awful lot of people commenting against something that is common sense.
April 18th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Anyone know a proxy server I can use to bypass websense?
Greg Maddux is a genius. Only geniuses know how to fart just enough not to combust.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:02 am
Farnsworth was trying to hit him, he was trying to hit him as hard as he could, and his control sucks, so the ball got up. Don’t remember Gammons ever wanting Pedro to be fined or suspended with his head hunting. Farnsworth hitting Manny was retaliation for A-Rod getting plunked again the night before, not because of what was happening to Moose.
Ken Rosenthal is now the man when it comes to baseball news and info. What makes Rosenthal so much better now than Gammons is that he doesn’t show any particular rooting interest.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Don’t remember Gammons ever wanting Pedro to be fined or suspended with his head hunting.
Amen to that Sparty. How can you suspend someone for not even hitting the guy?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:05 am
If Farnsworth’s control is so terrible that he can’t ManRam’s ass from 60 ft 6 inches he needs to look for another line of work.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:07 am
@the412
if the yanks could get rid of farnsworth they would. but another ridiculous contract that the Boss gave out.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Maybe the Tigers need 5 new personal catchers to lower that 6.00 ERA.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Nick, I know you’re not sold on the Tigers, but I think you’re being harsh. Are you on a high because the Redlegs won last night?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:12 am
RE: catchers calling games from way up there..Nick P is 100% right.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:16 am
@gonzo: Nah, I actually picked the Tigers to win the Central. I’m sticking with it. My pick doesn’t hinge on Pudge calling great games, though.
I don’t think they’re as bad as they look, and I’m betting on Dombrowski to find some pitching somewhere.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:21 am
We are not even one-tenth of the way through the regular season. The Tigers will not have great pitching, but 16 games does not a season make or break.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:21 am
Ok..if calling games and defensive catching is overrated why are there so many .220 hitting cathers in the game? If it is just getting back there and receiving the ball why not just find a good bat to squat back there? It’s not softball. There is nuansce, skill, knowledge and a signifcant human element involved in the position. Johhny bench is not going to make a shitty pitcher better…but he is going to take a pitcher with ability and guide him and make him effective…right now the Tigers are throwing shit out there it doesn’t make Pudge a bad catcher.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:22 am
@fetch
From Ohio?
@Gonzo
he just doesnt like me which is the only reason I can explain him chirpping in on a conversation that was not directed at him.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:22 am
If pitchers throwing bad doesn’t make pudge a bad catcher, why when they throw well does it make him a good one?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:23 am
and Mags, actually I’m from North Dakota, the greatest professional sports state out there.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:24 am
@fetch
GO FIGHTING RACIST MONIKERS!
April 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
@ Maggs–Haha yeah I actually go to the school, it’s pretty interesting right now to say the least, although the hockey team laid the biggest egg ever.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:27 am
@fetch
Uhhhh yeah, YOUR team laid the egg. Ugghhhh.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:28 am
@Maggs: Sorry, I forgot this was the “Maggs and other direct stakeholders in the Detroit Tigers are the only ones permitted to talk about the Detroit Tigers” message board.
@Roman: There’s a certain level of performance needed in a catcher. I personally think a catcher has very little influence on a pitcher’s performance, but you do need a guy that can catch & squat for 9 innings without letting a ton of passed balls go by. Plus holding on and throwing out runners is also important, another thing that has nothing to do with calling a good game. Those guys aren’t in as high supply as you may think.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:29 am
fetch..its not that good pitchers are throwing bad it is that they are shitty pitchers…once again..the statement is and has been…A good catcher can take people with talent and guide them and make them better…a good game caller makes a difference over a bad one..Pudge has done that many times in his career…I will never say Mike Piazza was a good catcher…he had a lot of talent throwing to him over the years and it helped but watch Mike when a young guy needed help…bad news…watch Pudge with the young pitching in Florida or two years ago in Detroit..he helped them significantly…watch what Brian Schneider is doing with the Mets young Pitchers it’s an improvement…I never said calling good game was the end all be all but it is important if it wasn’t baseball teams and organizations would not stress it so much.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:30 am
@Nick
friends?
April 18th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Deal
April 18th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Nick: I’m not your friend, buddy.
Maggs: I’m not your buddy, pal.
Nick: I’m not your pal, guy.
Maggs: I’m not your guy, friend.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Nick…I will give two more examples of how important it is to call a good game…A) Carlos Zambrano and Michael Barret last year…Z obvioulsy relies heavilty on his catcher to call the game and Barrett was not calling what he was looking to pitch now part of my argument is human element and obviuosly the human elemnet in that realtionship made a shitload of difference…the Cubs thought so highly of Barret they dumped him..B) the Brewers…they had a competent Major league catcher in Johnny Estrada…they did not like how he was catching and calling games so they traded him and picked up the terrible hitting Jason Kendall, who they bat 9th (for a few reasons)because they feel he will be able to guide and handle a young pitching staff…we willsee how it works out but if teams didn’t think it was important these decisions would not be made
April 18th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Nick and Maggs
April 18th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Jason Kendall had a poor 2007, but his track record suggests he’s a pretty good hitter (especially for a catcher) [297/.375/.394, 101 OPS+]. A perfectly average hitter at the catcher spot is pretty valuable. Also, the reason they bat him ninth is to have more men on base for Weeks & Hardy at the top of the lineup. Moving the pitcher to 8th actually has a positive impact on total runs scored — not a big impact, but still it’s something.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:43 am
One of the main reasons they gave for Kendall hitting 9th was he also hits into a lot of dps.
April 18th, 2008 at 11:46 am
Kendall used to have exceptional speed for a catcher and was actually a fair hitter. This was before he had a gruesome injury to his ankle. The Pirates subsequently signed him to a ridiculous long-term contract…and he pretty much went in the shitter after that.
April 18th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
f
April 18th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
You said a mouthfull there.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
@ RWH: I totally get you’re saying, but there’s a stat called catchers’ ERA that tried to find out or figure out what impact a catcher had on the runs allowed and basically they found there was no correlation. I’d like a guy who can call a good game like Varitek or whomever, but I’d rather have a guy who can throw guys out (although that has a lot to do with the pitcher, too) and can hit. If nothing else the dugout can call the pitches.
April 18th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Oh and @ Maggs: Michigan was still a year away IMO. We went to the Frozen four years in a row with a grand total of one win in those four years. Granted few teams go four years in a row, but still.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
I’ll add the Marlins were bent over last night. Collectively and sexily.