I know this is an LA baseball blog, but this man deserves his own post.
Alright, I'm not teh ghey, but JJ or should I say JJ's pitching makes my heart flutter. The one bright spot on my fantasy baseball team, I had the joy of watching him pitch live last season, and within 10 pitches, knew that this kid was going to be something special for a long time.
- Josh has not disappointed, leading the league with a 1.61 ERA, tied for the NL lead in strikeouts, and 9-3 on a Marlins team that has given him little run support, and is lol awful defensively. On a better team, he would and still should be getting as much if not more than love than Greinke did last year.
- Johnson features a hard fastball, power slider, and hard change which throwing from his 6'7" frame is like pitching straight downhill on batters who rarely if ever square up on him. His 11 strikeout performance today was spoiled by the Marlins' bullpen blowing the lead for him.
- <3 <3 <3 JOSH JOHNSON, he will 100% be one of my keepers for next year, and hope he keeps up this pace, and wins his first of many Cy Youngs.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Angels Trade
Well in case you haven't heard, the Angels made a trade with the Royals today:
Angels receive: Alberto Callaspo
Royals receive: Sean O'Sullivan and Will Smith (no relation to the Fresh Prince)
- Long term I like this deal for the Angels. Yes O'Sullivan pitched well on Tuesday, but he's not a long-term solution, and neither is Smith. While the 5th starter spot is going to be a problem for the Angels for the time being, Callaspo gives them depth (2B, SS, 3B eligible) and should fit in nicely to the 3rd base role for the time being, after the failure of Brandon Wood. While Frandsen has played well, he probably isn't the long-term solution that Callaspo can be.
- Callaspo hit .300 last year with a .457 SLG and .813 OPS. While those numbers have declined a bit this year, he's hit 60 doubles in the last season and a half which is always a good sign for me. See 2009 Aaron Hill for stories of guys where doubles can start translating into more home runs. Callaspo doesn't walk a lot, but rarely strikes out either (71 BB: 80 K in the last 2 years).
- All told in a better lineup, and a winning environment, Callaspo will get an opportunity to reach his full potential, and has 20-25 HR upside with a good BA/OPS from an infielder who can play many positions. Solid pickup, still not enough though, and the need to shore up the back-end of the rotation is even greater now.
Angels receive: Alberto Callaspo
Royals receive: Sean O'Sullivan and Will Smith (no relation to the Fresh Prince)
- Long term I like this deal for the Angels. Yes O'Sullivan pitched well on Tuesday, but he's not a long-term solution, and neither is Smith. While the 5th starter spot is going to be a problem for the Angels for the time being, Callaspo gives them depth (2B, SS, 3B eligible) and should fit in nicely to the 3rd base role for the time being, after the failure of Brandon Wood. While Frandsen has played well, he probably isn't the long-term solution that Callaspo can be.
- Callaspo hit .300 last year with a .457 SLG and .813 OPS. While those numbers have declined a bit this year, he's hit 60 doubles in the last season and a half which is always a good sign for me. See 2009 Aaron Hill for stories of guys where doubles can start translating into more home runs. Callaspo doesn't walk a lot, but rarely strikes out either (71 BB: 80 K in the last 2 years).
- All told in a better lineup, and a winning environment, Callaspo will get an opportunity to reach his full potential, and has 20-25 HR upside with a good BA/OPS from an infielder who can play many positions. Solid pickup, still not enough though, and the need to shore up the back-end of the rotation is even greater now.
July 22: Dodgers 2 Mets 0
- In the 6th ever duel between two Japanese pitchers, both pitchers were exceptional tonight. Hiroki Kuroda pitched 8 shutout innings, and Hisanori Takahashi of the Mets gave up only 3 hits in 7 innnings.
- Unfortunately for him and the Mets, two of those hits were an RBI double, and solo HR to Matt Kemp. The Dodgers offense was pretty spastastically bad for most of the night, but for the 2nd straight night our starter picked the team up, and Hong-Chi Kuo proved why he should be this team's closer, shutting down the Mets in the 9th, striking out two.
- Solid win for the boys in blue, they're within 5 of the Padres now, and need to build on this momentum this weekend, heading into a 10 games stretch where they play 3 with the Giants and 7 with the Padres, a stretch that may make of break their season.
- Unfortunately for him and the Mets, two of those hits were an RBI double, and solo HR to Matt Kemp. The Dodgers offense was pretty spastastically bad for most of the night, but for the 2nd straight night our starter picked the team up, and Hong-Chi Kuo proved why he should be this team's closer, shutting down the Mets in the 9th, striking out two.
- Solid win for the boys in blue, they're within 5 of the Padres now, and need to build on this momentum this weekend, heading into a 10 games stretch where they play 3 with the Giants and 7 with the Padres, a stretch that may make of break their season.
July 22: Rangers 3 Angels 2
- The first of 7 head-to-head season defining matchups between these two clubs in 10 days went Texas' way.
- Both teams had their ace on the hill, but Cliff Lee outdueled Weaver notching his first win with the Rangers. It was a great-pitched game by both guys, but Lee was just a little bit better, and Weaver was done by some sloppy Angel defense in the 6th.
- The Angel bats were quieted for much of the night, as Lee walked none, and the Halos just couldn't string hits together. They now face an almost must-win game tomorrow with Saunders looking to change his fortunes against CJ Wilson the tough southpaw.
- Both teams had their ace on the hill, but Cliff Lee outdueled Weaver notching his first win with the Rangers. It was a great-pitched game by both guys, but Lee was just a little bit better, and Weaver was done by some sloppy Angel defense in the 6th.
- The Angel bats were quieted for much of the night, as Lee walked none, and the Halos just couldn't string hits together. They now face an almost must-win game tomorrow with Saunders looking to change his fortunes against CJ Wilson the tough southpaw.
July 21: Dodgers 2 Giants 0
- Perhaps the catastrophe of the day before, the ejections, the hits batsmen, and the suspensions were what this team needed to wake the fuck up!
- BILLINGSLEY was phenomenal pitching a complete game shutout, keeping the Giants off-balanced all night, and Blake drove in the two Dodgers runs. Can't put into words how big a start this was for Bills to give the bullpen some badly needed rest, build his own confidence, working out of jams in a tight game for much of the night.
- BILLINGSLEY was phenomenal pitching a complete game shutout, keeping the Giants off-balanced all night, and Blake drove in the two Dodgers runs. Can't put into words how big a start this was for Bills to give the bullpen some badly needed rest, build his own confidence, working out of jams in a tight game for much of the night.
July 21: Yankees 10 Angels 5
- For the first time in a long time, Pineiro did not hop aboard the quality start train, but that's to be expected in the House of Pain.
- Scott Shields' struggles on the season continued, and the 3 run bomb surrendered to the Yankees' rookie PH (Curtis?) was the nail in the coffin.
- Anaheim still had plenty of chances to get back in the game, and take the lead, but a lack of timely hitting, and some terrible base running gaffes killed their rallies, they seriously look like the Dodgers sometimes while running the bases.
- On a side note, LOL just LOL at the Yankees bullpen outside of MO. Joba is the most overrated clown in baseball.
- Scott Shields' struggles on the season continued, and the 3 run bomb surrendered to the Yankees' rookie PH (Curtis?) was the nail in the coffin.
- Anaheim still had plenty of chances to get back in the game, and take the lead, but a lack of timely hitting, and some terrible base running gaffes killed their rallies, they seriously look like the Dodgers sometimes while running the bases.
- On a side note, LOL just LOL at the Yankees bullpen outside of MO. Joba is the most overrated clown in baseball.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
July 20: Giants 7 Dodgers 5
- I can't even begin to describe what a catastrophic loss this was. I was on the verge of tears the whole night, had a nervous breakdown, and if we miss the playoffs, this will be the game that haunts me until next season.
- Xavier Paul you just cannot flat out be dropping fly balls son!
- Broxton= WORST big game pitcher ever!
- WHY THE FUCK was Kuo taken out of the game?!
- DIE GEORGE SHERRILL DIE!!!
- Xavier Paul you just cannot flat out be dropping fly balls son!
- Broxton= WORST big game pitcher ever!
- WHY THE FUCK was Kuo taken out of the game?!
- DIE GEORGE SHERRILL DIE!!!
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