Going to Round Rock

post from Rangerfans.com on 28 March 2011 11:02:13 PM. © Rangerfans.com

Some of you may remember my noodling around town in a Chevy Cruze that was dooded up with Rangers stickers and some antlers around the time of the World Series last year. That was a cool thing, and I ended up going to a World Series game for the first time in my life due to that promotion.

Well, the folks behind that promotion are at it again. They're sending me, along with three other Rangers bloggers down to Round Rock on Thursday as part of a group roundtable.

The promotion is called "The Chevrolet Line Drive to Round Rock".

Basically myself and three other guys are going to be headed down to Round Rock on Wednesday, and we're gonna take in the game. We'll be in Section 121, Rows 3 & 4. You can come by and say hi during the game. Or, you can meet up with us after the game, where we'll be doing a round table discussion with other Rangers fans to talk about the upcoming season, how the spring went, how jazzed you are for the new scoreboard, or whatever! It'll be cool.

Anyway, the guys I'll be going down there with are:

Patrick McCullough from rangersfanradio.com
Joshua McMurray from IrishP1
Jonathan Collander from NolanWritin.com

It'll all be a blast, and we're all looking forward to it. Hope some of you who are going to be in Round Rock can come by and say hi!

Oh, and this past Thursday night, the four of us appeared on the latest episode of Rangers Fan Radio (02x08 - "To Start or Not to Start"). You can listen to that now by heading over to rangersfanradio.com, or visit the page for the podcast in iTunes, and subscribe there.

Also looking forward to checking out The Salt Lick, a great Austin BBQ joint that opened a new location RIGHT NEXT TO THE DELL DIAMOND!

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Transaction Analysis: You probably know by now

post from Capitol Avenue Club on 28 March 2011 10:40:51 PM. © Capitol Avenue Club

Atlanta Braves Acquired RHP Billy Bullock from the Minnesota Twins for LHP Scott Diamond. As the title of this article indicates, you probably know by now, but the Braves have arranged a trade with the Twins, allowing the latter to keep rule 5 pick Scott Diamond: Twins just announced they retained Scott Diamond by working [...]

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Forgotten Royals: Dean Palmer

post from Royals Review on 28 March 2011 10:01:58 PM. © Royals Review

You never hear about Dean Palmer anymore. That's quite the vague and anecdotal statement, but it certainly feels true. His name rarely comes up in broadcasts and the internet is no different: ole Dean has been mentioned on this site just four times (in stories) and in just 22 comments.

Dude.

Dean Palmer came to the Royals on July 25, 1997 via trade for Tom Goodwin. The Rangers were 50-53 and sat in 3rd in the AL West. The Rangers had Fernando Tatis ready to take over at third, and Palmer was set to become a free agent. I'm not sure why the Rangers wanted Goodwin, but perhaps Dayton Moore was assistant GMing for them in disguise. As a Royal Goodwin was posting OBPs around .330 with no power and lots of running around. Anyway, Texas wanted him. I guess. It was the late 1990s. Who knows.

But back to Palmer. In 42 games with the Royals in 1997, Palmer hit .278/.335/.487, with 9 homers. Like Goodwin, Palmer wasn't much more than an average OBP guy, which limited his potential as a player. In Palmer's case, along with spotty defense, that meant that he was never an elite player. According to the metrics, he was bad defensively, and I remember that that was his general reputation at the time. He led the AL in errors more than once, which would definitely get a guy that reputation. Especially then. Actually, now too.

In a surprising move, the Royals brought Palmer back with a one-year contract for $5.8 million for 1998. Palmer responded with a superficially huge year. Palmer hit .278/.333/.510 with 34 HRs and 119 RBI. 34 homers and 119 RBI. Those 34 homers are still tied for third most in team history, behind Gary Gaetti's 35 (another forgotten Royal) and Steve Balboni's 36. Those 119 stakes are also third most (in a tie with Dye). Palmer managed a 115 OPS+ and made the All-Star team.

Palmer was oh so close to equaling Balboni. During a September 11th doubleheader, Palmer homered twice, getting him to 33 bombs with 16 games remaining. He homered just one more time, on the 23rd. Royal Immortality denied. Balboni's franchise leading 36 homers is somewhat infamous, but Balboni was/is a beloved 1980s oddity. Palmer was just a guy playing in a big offensive era with really no legacy. It's probably good for Royals history that Balboni held on.

The next off-season Palmer signed an ill-fated five year contract with the becoming terrible Tigers. Over the last three years of his contract, Palmer played in just 87 games, hastening his descent into oblivion. Goodwin played with the Rangers through 1999, memorably leading the league in caught stealings one year.

Palmer played for a 72 win Royals team, back when that was considered especially bad for the franchise, and as mentioned above, everyone acknowledged he had a flawed game. I'm not arguing that he should be in the Royals Hall of Fame. Nevertheless, he did have a very loud one and a half years for the team. A period that really didn't register with anyone. Palmer is remembered as the third or fourth bat on those 1990s Texas teams who later, well... what happened to him again? Well, in between the Texas years and the bad contract with Detroit, he was a Royal. A Royal to remember.

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Padres ace Latos to go on 15-day DL (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 28 March 2011 09:53:23 PM. © MLB News Blog

San Diego Padres general manager Jed Hoyer says ace Mat Latos will begin the season on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right shoulder. Hoyer said Monday that the move would be backdated to March 22, meaning Latos would be eligible to come off the DL on April 6. The Padres are scheduled to [...]

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Video: Weekly Mets Report Predictions and Terry
Collins

post from The Mets Report on 28 March 2011 09:39:44 PM. © The Mets Report

In this week’s installment of the weekly Mets Report video with Kerel Cooper of On The Black, we talk about our predictions for the Mets this year. The Vegas line is 77.5 wins this year and check out the video to see if we took the over or under. Also this week, we talk about ... Continue Reading

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Giants Wilson likely out for opener (AP)

post from MLB News Blog on 28 March 2011 09:09:20 PM. © MLB News Blog

San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson isn’t likely to be ready to play by opening day for the World Series champions. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Monday that Wilson’s chances of playing when the regular season begins are “less than 50-50.” He said a final decision won’t be made until after Wilson throws a bullpen [...]

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NL West predictions from 22gigantes

post from 22gigantes on 28 March 2011 09:03:50 PM. © 22gigantes

Last year, I picked the San Francisco Giants to win 92 games. But who knew they'd win the NL West and march through the playoffs on their way to winning their first World Series championship since moving west from New York in 1958?

Well, it's time for my 2011 pre-season predictions and this year I'm feeling more confident than ever. So feel free to take my picks to your nearest sports book and buy yourself something nice (like this).

Let's get right to it...

2011 projected NL West standings:

WLPct.GBSan Francisco 9567.586--Colorado9072.5565Arizona8577.52510Los Angeles7983.48816San Diego7191 .438 24
San Francisco Giants
New faces: SS Miguel Tejada
Gone but not forgotten: Juan Uribe (INF); Edgar Renteria (SS), Eugenio Velez (INF/OF)
2011 keys to success: Staying healthy; productive seasons from Aubrey Huff, Cody Ross, and Pablo Sandoval
Analysis: The World Series champs did little to change their roster in the off-season. While the pitching is strong, they have to hope their smoke-and-mirrors approach to offense pays off again. The Giants will get a full year out of Buster Posey and Cody Ross. If Sandoval can rebound from his mediocre 2010 season, the Giants' offense will be much improved. The team also has Brandon Belt waiting in the wings in the minors.

Colorado Rockies
New faces: Matt Lindstrom (RHP); Ty Wigginton (INF/OF); Jose Lopez (INF); Felipe Paulino (RHP): Willy Taveras (CF); Alfredo Amezaga (INF); Chad Moeller (C); John Maine (RHP)
Gone but not forgotten: Melvin Mora (3B); Miguel Olivo (C); Clint Barmes (2B); Octavio Dotel (RHP); Jeff Francis (LHP); Joe Beimel (LHP)
2011 keys to success: Contract-type years for Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, who both signed fat extensions with the club over the winter; a healthy Huston Street; another Cy Young-caliber season from Ubaldo Jimenez
Analysis: With the best offensive player in the division in Carlos Gonzalez and the most dominant pitcher in Ubaldo Jimenez, the Rockies are a threat. They're hoping the rest of the starting rotation can hold its own.

Arizona Diamondbacks
New faces: J.J. Putz (RHP); Melvin Mora (3B); David Hernandez (RHP); Zach Duke (LHP); Geoff Blum (INF); Juan Miranda (1B); Xavier Nady (LF); Henry Blanco (C); Willie Bloomquist (INF/OF); Armando Galarraga (RHP); Micah Owings (RHP); Russell Branyan (1B)
Gone but not forgotten: Brandon Webb (RHP); Mark Reynolds (3B); Adam LaRoche (1B); D.J. Carrasco (RHP); Augie Ojeda (INF); Rodrigo Lopez (RHP)
2011 keys to success:
Analysis: Ian Kennedy, Joe Saunders, Barry Enright, Daniel Hudson and Armando Galarraga won't be confused with the Giants' or Phillies' rotations anytime soon, but Arizona has some young talent in place in outfielders Chris Young and Justin Upton. That should be enough to keep the team in games. The pitching might actually surprise people.

Los Angeles Dodgers
New faces: n Uribe (INF); Jon Garland (RHP); Dioner Navarro (C); Marcus Thames (OF); Gabe Kapler (OF); Blake Hawksworth (RHP); Matt Guerrier (RHP)
Gone but not forgotten: Russell Martin (C); Brad Ausmus (C); George Sherrill (RP); Ryan Theriot (INF); Reed Johnson (OF); Ronnie Belliard (INF); Scott Podsednik (OF)
2011 keys to success: New skipper Don Mattingly's ability to out-manage veteran skippers; More lightning in a bottle from Uribe; the health of Casey Blake
Analysis: New manager Don Mattingly might provide a spark in Hollywood. Getting more production out of outfielder Matt Kemp and first baseman James Loney would go a long way in making the Dodgers a division threat. But the off-the-filed stuff with the McCourts is still going to be more distraction than its worth.

San Diego Padres
New faces: Aaron Harang (RHP); Cameron Maybin (OF); Orlando Hudson (2B); Jason Bartlett (SS); Brad Hawpe (1B); Chad Qualls (RHP); Jorge Cantu (INF); Guillermo Quiroz (C)
Gone but not forgotten: Adrian Gonzalez (1B); Matt Stairs (OF); Kevin Correia (RHP); Tony Gwynn Jr. (OF); Miguel Tejada (SS); Yorvit Torrealba (C); Jon Garland (RHP); Jerry Hairston Jr. (INF); Chris Young (RHP); Scott Hairston (OF)
2011 keys to success: Cy Young-type seasons from starters Mat Latos, Clayton Richard, Aaron Harang, Tim Stauffer, and Wade LeBlanc.
Analysis: The face of the franchise is gone with the trade of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Now the Padres have to find another one. They certainly have plenty of options, with up to five new position players in the everyday lineup. But there's no way that lineup matches up with the rest of the division. If the rotation slips just a little, the Padres' 10-game losing streak last year will pale in comparison to what we could see this year in San Diego.

2011 Playoff Projections:
NLDS: San Francisco over Milwaukee
NLDS: Philadelphia over Atlanta
NLCS: Philadelphia over San Francisco
World Series: Philadelphia over Minnesota

Who do you think will win the World Series?

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-from-22gigantes.html

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Bell on Bonds: "He threatened to tear out my
breast implants"

A former mistress of Barry Bonds testified in the perjury trial of baseball's home run king on Monday.

Along with former mistress Kimberly Bell, San Francisco Giants' equipment manager Mike Murphy also testified. Both were witnesses for the prosecution.

Bonds is accused of four counts of making false statements and one of obstruction for telling a federal grand jury in 2003 that he never knowingly used performance-enhancing drugs.

This trial was supposed to have started more than two years ago, but an appeal over evidence and subsequent motions set the start date back. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, which he faces as a result of his 2003 grand jury testimony in the BALCO case.

Among other things, Bell testified that Bonds' body changed shape and his mood shifted during their relationship ? all evidence that prosecutors are saying is a result of steroid abuse.

Bell told the U.S. District Court in San Francisco that Bonds threatened "to cut my head off and leave me in a ditch" and that during their nine-year relationship he suffered from impotence, hair loss and acne, which are all known side effects of steroid use.

She also said that Bonds threatened to "tear out my breast implants because he had paid for them."

Bell told the court that Bonds admitted to her that he was using steroids when she asked him about an injury to his elbow.

"He said it was because of the steroids, because it somehow caused the muscle and tendons to grow faster than the joint could handle, it sort of blew out," Bell said on Monday.

Bonds' testicles took an "unusual shape" according to Bell, who added that the former San Francisco Giants star's sexual performance declined over their relationship and that he "had trouble keeping an erection."

She added that Bonds grew and shaved off chest hair and developed acne on his back.

"He was just increasingly aggressive, irritable, agitated, very impatient -- almost violent. It was emotional and verbal, and at one point, physical," Bell told the court Monday.

A model who posed nude in Playboy magazine in November 2007, Bell was called as a witness for the prosecution.

Meanwhile, Murphy, who has worked for the Giants for 54 years, testified Monday that Bonds wore a 7-1/4 size cap when he joined the team in 1993 but that around 2002 his size grew to 7-3/8. Under cross-examination from Bonds attorney Allen Ruby, Mr. Murphy said the heads of other Giants, including Willie Mays and Willie McCovey, also grew, but only after they had retired from baseball.

Prosecutors said Monday they would call slugger Jason Giambi and his brother, former major-leaguer Jeremy, to testify.

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Treanor joins Royals, catches shutout (AP)

Matt Treanor made quite the first impression on the Kansas City Royals. The Royals acquired Treanor from the Texas Rangers for cash on Monday and he caught a three-hit shutout in a 10-0 victory over a Milwaukee Brewers split-squad. “I’m very, very impressed,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

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Loaded Red Sox think 100 wins realistic (AP)

The Boston Red Sox came close to winning 100 games in six of the last eight seasons. Could this be the year they do it? Their lineup is loaded. Their rotation is strong. Their bullpen is improved. Their health is much better. And the addition of two of baseball’s most productive players, Carl Crawford and [...]

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