It’s time for another impromptu session of Ask Billfer. Fire away.
5 thoughts on “DTW Open Chat”
Billfer: Yeah, my question about Joyce was about the breaking balls. I think it was you who pointed out, right before Joyce was first sent down in May (I think) and when his BA was at .208 or so after a good start, his weakness for the low inside curveball off the plate. Seemed like he could neither lay off of it or hit it.
I was really surprised to see him come on so strong right away after being called up again, considering that pitchers obviously had some kind of book on him by then. No one was able to answer definitively whether he had worked hard back at Toledo to correct that one specific problem.
Although he’s slipping a bit again, from the very limited perspective of ocassionally watching on Gameday, it does seem like his plate judgement has improved. I’m bullish on the guy to make Thames expendable, something I never wanted to happen but which I’ll take if it improves the team (of course).
Sean: Why you always gotta break balls?
Some interesting nuggets from mlbtraderumors:
A Gary Sheffield acquisition by the Rays is “unlikely but not impossible,” according to one Buster Olney source.
White Sox acquired reliever Franklyn German from the Pirates for a player to be named later. (he still can’t throw strikes, either: 17bb in 27.2ip at AAA).
Joe Christensen has details on the Twins’ uncharacteristic claim of Washburn. He heard they offered the Mariners Boof Bonser (plus apparently the salary relief), but the Ms wanted someone like Nick Blackburn or Kevin Slowey. It is hard to see this as anything but a blunder for the Mariners’ front office. (thank god for the Mariners, I guess. Making us look good. Man that’s a bad move).
SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Twins won the Washburn claim and the Tigers won the Ibanez claim. (this may have appeared elsewhere around here, but I was only aware that we made a claim, not that we won it. No deal likely, apparently, and I’m not sure what we would do with Ibanez anyway other than take the draft picks when he leaves as a free agent.)
“Sean: Why you always gotta break balls?”
Chris: Hey, I didn’t break his balls. The pitchers did.
That reminds me of that old song by Mister Mister:
Take… these broken balls And learn to hit again Not to swing so free
Hey Bill-any chance we go after Jimmy Rollins over the winter?
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Billfer: Yeah, my question about Joyce was about the breaking balls. I think it was you who pointed out, right before Joyce was first sent down in May (I think) and when his BA was at .208 or so after a good start, his weakness for the low inside curveball off the plate. Seemed like he could neither lay off of it or hit it.
I was really surprised to see him come on so strong right away after being called up again, considering that pitchers obviously had some kind of book on him by then. No one was able to answer definitively whether he had worked hard back at Toledo to correct that one specific problem.
Although he’s slipping a bit again, from the very limited perspective of ocassionally watching on Gameday, it does seem like his plate judgement has improved. I’m bullish on the guy to make Thames expendable, something I never wanted to happen but which I’ll take if it improves the team (of course).
Sean: Why you always gotta break balls?
Some interesting nuggets from mlbtraderumors:
A Gary Sheffield acquisition by the Rays is “unlikely but not impossible,” according to one Buster Olney source.
White Sox acquired reliever Franklyn German from the Pirates for a player to be named later. (he still can’t throw strikes, either: 17bb in 27.2ip at AAA).
Joe Christensen has details on the Twins’ uncharacteristic claim of Washburn. He heard they offered the Mariners Boof Bonser (plus apparently the salary relief), but the Ms wanted someone like Nick Blackburn or Kevin Slowey. It is hard to see this as anything but a blunder for the Mariners’ front office. (thank god for the Mariners, I guess. Making us look good. Man that’s a bad move).
SI.com’s Jon Heyman says the Twins won the Washburn claim and the Tigers won the Ibanez claim. (this may have appeared elsewhere around here, but I was only aware that we made a claim, not that we won it. No deal likely, apparently, and I’m not sure what we would do with Ibanez anyway other than take the draft picks when he leaves as a free agent.)
“Sean: Why you always gotta break balls?”
Chris: Hey, I didn’t break his balls. The pitchers did.
That reminds me of that old song by Mister Mister:
Take… these broken balls
And learn to hit again
Not to swing so free
Hey Bill-any chance we go after Jimmy Rollins over the winter?