Show #137: Our Interview with Craig Calcaterra

post from Atlanta Baseball Talk on 10 March 2011 11:50:11 PM. © Atlanta Baseball Talk

We sit down with the HardballTalk blogger to discuss the Braves, Phillies, Mets and, of course, Frenchy. Follow Craig on Twitter: @craigcalcaterra …[...]

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Harpers throwing error costs Nationals (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 10 March 2011 11:35:31 PM. © MLB News Blog

Moments after making a costly mistake in right field, Bryce Harper was ready for his next opportunity. Harper’s throwing error in the ninth inning sent a split-squad of Washington Nationals to a 6-5 loss against the Houston Astros on Thursday night. Harper, the first overall pick in last year’s draft, missed a cutoff man after [...]

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The Matt Wieters Concern

post from Oriole Post - Baltimore Orioles Analysis & News; The World of Baseball and Beyond on 10 March 2011 11:01:37 PM. © Oriole Post - Baltimore Orioles Analysis & News; The World of Baseball and Beyond

Matt Wieters was supposed to be the savior. The one-man wrecking crew that would put the team, and the city, on his shoulders and carry us back to the promised land. He would be the next Cal. He would be our star. He would be the final piece of the puzzle.

Going into his third second full season in the bigs however there seem to be more questions than answers.

He was called "switch-hitting jesus" by some, other crafted shirts and facts and in the post-modern tornado that is the internet the storm spread and expectations grew. His first major league at bat was the single most jubilant day i have experienced at the ball park. He was met with thunderous cheers that matched the antean task given to him.

He was put on the cover of Sports illustrated.

Now, Baseball Prospectus one of the very publications responsible for the heaps upon heaps of accolades has now deemed him one of the biggest busts of ALL - TIME. It is good to see that even in negative press Matt Wieters still attract hyperbole.

Many Orioles fans have explained Wieters lack of an offensive explosion to his work on being one of the best, if not the best, defensive catchers in the game. And he is. Wieters took to the task of being the field commander every night for the Orioles and that leadership has really started to shine through under Buck Showalter. Wieters looks more muscular this Spring as well. Perhaps THIS is the year that he finally breaks out and as someone once said "unleashes hellfire" on the American League?

So far this Spring it hasn't happened. Granted, In six games and 18 ABs Wieters is batting .278, but the only has one extra base hit, no homers and has not shown much power. A criticism that I have heard is Wieters had a "slow bat" last year and this was the primary cause of his offensive struggles. Perhaps, but I honestly don't know how someone without prior training and really good cameras can really make that determination. I mean, I am sure one can see it that some players have a quicker swing vs others but one would think you need more than an HD tv to make that diagnosis.

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Reminder: Next Book Club Entry

post from Royals Review on 10 March 2011 10:01:22 PM. © Royals Review

Reminder: Next Book Club Entry

Dirk Hayhurst's The Bullpen Gospels is our next entry. First discussion will be next week. Grab your copies now.

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Giants bats, arms subdue Reds

post from 22gigantes on 10 March 2011 08:03:23 PM. © 22gigantes

Andres Torres belted a two-run homer to key a four-run third inning and Madison Bumgarner struck out six in a near-flawless start, leading the San Francisco Giants to a 7-0 win over Cincinnati Thursday in front of 4,087 mostly-Giants fans at Goodyear Ballpark in Arizona.

Bumgarner subdued the National League's most prolific offensive team from last year. The only hit he allowed was a bloop single to Brandon Phillips in the fourth inning. Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto was 0-for-2 with a strikeout against MadBum, who received a nice ovation from the crowd as he left the field after the fourth inning.

Cody Ross and Freddy Sanchez added solo homers in the third, when the Giants scored more than enough runs to beat a Reds team that managed just five hits total against six different pitchers.

Santiago Casilla, Javier Lopez, Jeremy Affeldt, Sergio Romo and Steve Edlefsen all pitched an inning of relief to complete the shutout for San Francisco, which improved its spring training record to 11-4, tops in the majors. The eventual World Champs won a league-high 26 games last spring.

Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo took the loss after yielding all four runs on five hits and a walk in four innings. He struck out two.
Other notes:

Matt Cain (inflamed elbow) threw 47 pitches in a simulated game today. Cain faced live Giants hitters (vs. the dead type) and rested between half innings while Ryan Verdugo threw the other half inning. Giants manager Bruce Bochy told Andrew Baggarly (San Jose Mercury News) that he was pleased with the outcome. The real test will be tomorrow when Cain wakes up. If the elbow feels good, he'll be on track to make a Cactus League start.
Giants prospect Brandon Belt went 0-for-3 today and is hitless in his last nine at bats, with five strikeouts. (He wasn't going to make the team out of spring training anyway).
Darren Ford stole his league-leading sixth stolen base.
Giants catcher Eli Whiteside made his first start of the spring behind the plate. He was 0-for-1 with a walk and a run scored.
World Series MVP Edgar Renteria was a late, defensive replacement for the Reds. He faced former teammate Sergio Romo on the 8th inning and received cheers from appreciate Giants fans in attendance. After grooving the first pitch to Renteria, Romo retired the Reds' free agent acquisition with a lazy fly ball to center.
Former Giant Fred Lewis also appeared against his old mates Thursday. The 30-year old outfielder is trying to make it on as a fourth outfielder for the Reds.

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GAME SUMMARY
Final score:SF 7, CIN 0 [view box score]Winning pitcher: Bumgarner (1-2) Losing pitcher: Arroyo (0-2) Save: noneGame ball: Bumgarner (4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 6 K) Top play: Torres' 2-run blast broke a scoreless tie in the 3rd inningGiant homers: Torres (1), F.Sanchez (1), Ross (1)Giants' record: 11-4Streak: Won 2Next up: SF at SD, Friday, 6:05 p.m. PST [download press pass]TV/Radio: NBC Bay Area (no radio)Starters: Tim Lincecum (1-0, 3.24) vs. Mat Latos (0-0, 13.50)Venue: Peoria Sports Complex

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ST. Game No. 14: Washington Nationals at Houston
Astros

post from The Crawfish Boxes on 10 March 2011 08:01:42 PM. © The Crawfish Boxes

Houston Astros' Brian Dopirak, left, slides after being tagged out at home plate by New York Yankees catcher Russell Martin during the fourth inning of a spring training baseball game Sunday, March 6, 2011, in Kissimmee, Fla. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Grapefruit League record (ditto): 3-10

Pitchers scheduled for work: Wandy Rodriguez, Brandon Lyon, Jeff Fulchino, Douglas Arguello, Sergio Escalona, Ross Wolf, Wesley Wright

Lineup for Astros (courtesy of Alyson Footer)

1) Jason Bourgeois, CF

2) Clint Barmes, SS

3) Hunter Pence, RF

4) Carlos Lee, LF

5) Bill Hall, 2B

6) Chris Johnson, 3B

7) Jason Michaels, DH

8) Matt Downs, 1B

9) Carlos Corporan, C

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-at-houston-astros

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Tigers GM: Cabreras status wont change (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 10 March 2011 07:27:32 PM. © MLB News Blog

Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski says the latest allegations of belligerent behavior by Miguel Cabrera won’t change his status with the team. Documents released by the Florida state attorney’s office accuse Cabrera of threatening a manager at a restaurant shortly before his arrest Feb.

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Ronnie Belliard Returns, But it Could be Too Late

[...]

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High & Inside: 3/10/11

Please welcome Julian Levine (aka SplashingPumpkins), our new media researcher and contributor! He will be putting together links post several times per week. -ed.Links from around the baseball blogosphere...Reliever Strategy | Baseball MusingsDavid[...]

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http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2011/3/10/2041391/high-inside-3-10-11

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