Links for Tuesday, as J.J. Hardy hits the disabled list…
- Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told MLB.com's Ken Gurnick that he's sticking with Garret Anderson despite the former slugger's struggles as a pinch hitter and occasional outfielder this year.
- As Danny Knobler of CBS Sports points out, Barry Zito is making that $126MM contract look a little more tolerable to Giants fans these days.
- The White Sox named Jerry Krause their director of international scouting. The former Chicago Bulls GM had been overseeing the team's scouting in the Dominican Republic.
- If you have experience designing databases, MLBTR has a project for you. We’re interested in finding someone to design a searchable database for the site, so send an email to mlbtrdatabase@gmail.com if you are the right person for the job.
- The Mets released Shawn Riggans, who had been in the minors, according to Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times (via Twitter).
- Check out Tim's appearance on 590 KFNS in St. Louis right here.
- The Reds released outfielder Josh Anderson from their Triple A club, reports Michael Grant of the Courier-Journal.
- Brad Penny told Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch he'd like to re-sign with the Cardinals, but if he doesn't he appreciates the opportunity they've given him. Penny ranks eighth in the NL with a 1.99 ERA, a figure he'll look to improve upon against the Astros tonight. The Cardinals also have Adam Wainwright and Jaime Garcia in the NL's top ten.
- The Mariners were choosing between Brandon Morrow and Daniel Bard for the fifth overall pick in the '06 draft, learned WEEI's Alex Speier.
- Yahoo's Jeff Passan looks at ten popular phenoms making waves this year.
- Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News solves the mystery of the new delivery Barry Zito busted out in his first Giants bullpen session a few years ago.
- Chuck Hixson of PhillyBaseballNews.com looks at a few closers who might be available should the Phillies start looking.
So how did Bard from 5 to 28? Signability issues?
Or that he was a reliever and its kinda dumb to take relievers with early 1st round picks (making exception for Drew Storen, since the Nats had no idea how much it would cost to sign Strasburg, and you wanted big time signability from that second pick).
Boston attempted to stretch him out into a starter the 1st year.. But it did not work out very well…
To further defend that pick, Boston also had several first round/supplemental picks. They had several picks in the top 50, IIRC.
Picking relievers with first round picks and trying to stretch them out doesn’t really make sense: why not just pick a starter.
The whole “fast track them to the majors to help a contending team” argument also doesn’t make sense, since you have no idea how a reliever will adapt to MLB, and whether he will legitimately be able to be fast tracked or run into huge problems (see: Devine, Joey).
Bard was a starter in college. They didn’t have to “stretch him out” per se.
You are correct, my mistake Casanovawong. Boston did have a terrible time with him as a starter that 2007 season. He walked *78* batters in 75 innings. In 2008, it all changed once the conversion to RP began.
Bard was a starter in college as well.
*Sorry didn’t see Casanova’s response.
Nevermind, already been talked about
I always kind of halfhearted wonder if the Yanks would trade us Javy back in exchange for Melky and a lesser prospect than Vizcaino. I know its never going to happen due to money, pride, roster space, talent level etc etc but its fun to muse over.
It would be pretty amusing if they did, and then he morphed back into the stud pitcher that he was in Atlanta. I’m sure you’d love to dump Kawakami on them, that guy is brutal. Not sure why he’s even starting at this point other than money.
If you are watching the game you can tell Kawakami isn’t as bad as his stats say. He had a rough start last year but then was very solid (like mid-three ERA) for most months last year. Sure he is maybe overpriced and doesn’t go terribly deep into games but he is and should be a solid back of the rotation starter. Now that Medlen is now starting in place of a hurt Jurrjens he really has to keep starting.
Javy is starting because he has a 13 year track record of being a good healthy starter. You don’t cut, trade, or demote a guy because of a bad few games.
So far I’m eating my words on Penny. The ownership needs to find a couple more bucks for payroll….hey DeWitt – -how about increased rights fees (and ratings) by moving back to KMOX-AM?
Javy needs a game against the Astros, or Indians… or Braves (sorry bbxxj)
Or Mariners.
The Mariners were deciding between Morrow and Bard, even though Tim Lincecum was still on the board and he’s from Washington state. Bavasi is dead. Long live Bavasi.
Matt Kemp struggles and its the end of the world, yet GA has got almost 50 PA and hes garbage but hey hes a Ned guy. The Dodgers would be better served if Jason Repko was the 5th outfielder.