Anyone following baseball this season?

[Crestion]

Two big things this morning:

1. Matt Holliday signs a new contract in St. Louis.
2. Randy Johnson hangs up the spikes.

[dfreely]

Sorta surprised at the Matt Holliday signing, since it seemed like the Cards were saving up to sign Pujols to a bigger deal.

It amazes me that Randy Johnson has pitched this long, as how dominant he was in the latter half of his career. He just had so many years where he pitched ~250 innings, had an ERA around 2.50 and struck out 300+.

[Crestion]

Sorta surprised at the Matt Holliday signing, since it seemed like the Cards were saving up to sign Pujols to a bigger deal.

Its a good signing... Holliday behind Pujols takes away the option of putting Pujols on, and forces folks to pitch to him.

It amazes me that Randy Johnson has pitched this long, as how dominant he was in the latter half of his career. He just had so many years where he pitched ~250 innings, had an ERA around 2.50 and struck out 300+.

Throwback guy... we may never see another guy who can do it the way that Johnson did, as hard as he threw and make it that long.

Two favorite pitchers all time:
1. Ryan
2. Johnson

[dfreely]

Ironically, Pujols actually did worse with Holliday behind him - his OPS dropped about 150 points after the Cards traded for him. Still, gotta wonder if the Cards can keep Pujols when he hits free agency, considering the money they spent on Holliday, and now giving Pujols a better idea of how much he can make.

[Crestion]

However both will be coached now by Mark McGuire, who despite his PED history, was still a very good technical hitter for the long ball, even during his Oakland days before he bulked up...

Should be an interesting year for St. Louis.

[coolmoors]

Now, I've decided to make my WS predictions for next year. I still think it it going to be the Phillies vs, Yankees.

[dfreely]

I just don't see the Phillies making the Series this year.. but then again, I didn't see them making it the past two years. Luck always seems to play into their hands.

However both will be coached now by Mark McGuire, who despite his PED history, was still a very good technical hitter for the long ball, even during his Oakland days before he bulked up...

I doubt McGuire can really improve either that much. Pujols is Pujols. You don't try to change a guy who hits .330 and 40 homers year in and year out. Holliday is already being instructed by McGuire, and has been so for years. McGuire's the reason he went from a 15-home run guy to a 30-home run guy.. I can't imagine there's much more he can teach him. Rather, it'd be interesting to see what he can do with Rasmus and Ludwick.. if Ludwick can even come close to replicating his 2008 season, that's one extremely dangerous heart of the order.

On a related note, the news today is that La Russa is actually considering using McGuire as a pinch hitter if the Cards are in a playoff hunt.

[Crestion]

On a related note, the news today is that La Russa is actually considering using McGuire as a pinch hitter if the Cards are in a playoff hunt.

This would be very significant, historically, as it would be only the second time that a player who had received votes for the HoF would play in a major league game, at least only the second time to my knowledge. (The first being Jose Rijo)

I don't know if that would reset his eligibility with the BBWA ballot or not though.

[dfreely]

I doubt it'll actually happen, though it was an interesting tidbit of news. The last time he played baseball was nearly a decade ago and he couldn't even hit the Mendoza line that year.

He also just admitted to using steroids, news that absolutely shocked everyone. /sarcasm

[Crestion]

At the time, we didn't care, at least I didn't... McGuire and Sosa brought people back to watching America's pastime. That immortal duel of 'who's going to break Maris' was amazing. McGuire knocked 62 on 8 Sept 1998, a significant date for me, as it was my 18th birthday, and it was good. That duel saved the game, because post-strike, American's drifted away... That excitement was good for the game, regardless of the use of PEDs.

But I'm reminesing.

Does anyone have any info on the Cuban fireballer that the Reds signed.