Rotoman

ESPN.com – MLB – MLB GAME LOG:

“MILWAUKEE 7TH
-Bottom of the 7th inning
-K Ginter doubled to deep left.
-B Clark hit by pitch.
-W Helms struck out looking.
-K Ginter to third, B Clark to second on wild pitch by R Johnson.
-C Moeller walked.
-B Hall hit for B Ford.
-B Hall grounded out to third, K Ginter scored, B Clark to third, C Moeller to second.
-S Podsednik tripled to deep right, B Clark and C Moeller scored.
-R Choate relieved R Johnson.
-C Counsell walked.
-O Villarreal relieved R Choate.
-J Spivey singled to left center, S Podsednik scored, C Counsell to third.
-G Jenkins doubled to deep left center, C Counsell and J Spivey scored.
-K Ginter homered to left, G Jenkins scored.
-B Clark singled to center.
-W Helms singled to center, B Clark to second.
-C Moeller lined out to shortstop.”

At first glance the box score looks ugly for the Big Unit, but then it becomes obvious that he ran out of gas. The good news is that this should be containable. If he really loses it after 100 pitchers or so he becomes a lesser pitcher, but still a very good pitcher if this game is any indication.

The bad news is that he ended up throwing 125 pitches. All indications are we should be more worried about his knees than his arm, but in either case it seems like a good idea to ration his use in an attempt to find out what works. It isn’t like he’s getting any younger.

Satellite DIRECT Magazine – This Month’s Features

I talked to Greg Djoc one morning at the start of spring training, it appears just as the coffee was kicking in. The subject was teams that might surprise, for the Direct TV magazine. I’m still keen enough on the Padres and Reds, though I think it’s the Reds’ pitching that would put them over the top. If they were to go over the top.

If you aspire to track everything I’ve ever said, this is for you.

ESPN.com – MLB – D-Backs’ Alomar hit by pitch, breaks hand

The batspeed was pathetic and the get-out-of-the-way speed clearly was a problem. All the hype on Robbie this spring was negative, which is why I thought he was worth a shot. Nope.

And yet I’ll be giving him a shot next year for $4, on the chance…

ESPN.com – MLB – BOXSCORE: Ryan Wagner Meltdown

He looked so good his first time round, but this year isn’t starting out the way it was supposed to. Reports are that his arm is fine but he’s having a hard time blocking out his surroundings, and the pressure that can come with it. This is a place a good coach and a good organization help frame things in a productive way.

For now it looks like Wagner’s not nipping at Danny Graves’ heels.

cleveland.com:Milton Bradley Explains it All

I won’t say I buy Milton’s “god bless us everyone” sendoff, but his explanation of what happens sure makes more sense to me than the hysteria that followed the incident.

He doesn’t have to be a saint to not be a sinner. I just wish he’d come back to the AL.

Yahoo! News – Rove Rues ‘Mission Accomplished’ Banner: “Last October, Bush said the White House had nothing to do with the banner; a spokesman later clarified that the ship’s crew asked for the sign and the White House staff had it made by a private vendor. It wasn’t clear who paid for the sign.”

I’ve been a low-end TV producer for long enough to know that grubbing for good pictures is reflex, not science.

For publicists, creating good pictures is the reason they draw a paycheck.

ESPN.com – MLB – Stark: Rumblings & Grumblings

While the capsule about Smoltz in my magazine is total gobshite, Jason Stark seems to have some real information about Smotz’s condition.

The magazine deadline precluded post-surgery info, but the profile was still very weak. It should have been better.

Texas Seattle Box Score

When I was growing up newspapers didn’t run box scores with batting averages. I assume this was because of night games and deadlines. But my dad had scrapbooks from his childhood, when there were no night games, in which the box scores had updated batting averages for the New York Giants and whatever team they happened to be playing.

Batting averages in box scores don’t mean much, of course, but a look at the Rangers’ lineup tonight is impressive. Only one hitter below .300 as I write this (Kevin Mench, .267) and six above .333. And those six are the regulars in the lineup. One of the regulars not in the lineup, Mark Teixeira, went on the DL today and phenom Adrian Gonzalez was called up from Triple-A.

At one point Gonzalez was considered as strong a prospect as Miguel Cabrera. Wrist problems that have robbed his bat speed and dubious strkezone judgment have dimmed his star, but he’s still a prospect to become a big league regular. He just not likely to join those Rangers with big batting averages this time.

ESPN.com – MLB – Rockies’ Wilson to undergo knee surgery

There you go. It wasn’t as if there weren’t warnings, but most indicated he’d be able to play through it. I’m surprised they’re being so negative about the length of his rehab, it seems there’s a decent chance he’ll be back in a few months, but that’s probably wise.

Major League Baseball : Ask Rotoman

This week’s column is up. An imaginary conversation with Scott Rolen, info about FAAB, advice about old pitchers gone wrong, and something about vetoing trades.