nc42dad

Sorry No 1 two plus pitches average third pitch plus plus command plus makeup No2 two plus pitches average third pitch average command average makeup No3 one plus pitch two average pitches average command average makeup No 4,5 Command of two major league pitches average velocity consistent breaking ball decent change up

To shed a little light that might explain some of this #1 vs. #3 vs #5 starter. No1 No2 No3 No4-5 starters Two plus pitches Two plus pitches One plus pitch Command of two major league pitches Average third pitch Average third pitch two average pitches average velocity Plus-plus command Average command average command consistent breaking ball Plus make-up Average make-up average makeup decent change up I think if you read these descriptions it kind of better explains where these guys get grouped. No1 starters are basically perennial All-Stars. I think that there are teams out there that technically have no true #1's. The White Sox have Mark Buerhle who is their #1 pitcher but he probably rates as a #3 on this prospect ranking system. Barry Zito - same scenario. The Sox traded Jon Garland who didn't miss a start for like 4 years, ate up a lot of innings, pitched in a hitter friendly park and in my opinion was our best pitcher. However, he is a sinker ball pitcher who throws to contact and never accumulates a lot of strike outs. Scouts generally like to rag on these kinds of guys - but to me - he was a great pitcher for the Sox. Now, all he is gonna do in '08, is win 18 games in Anaheim and the Sox will be lucky to get a guy to 14 wins IMO.

Even if he did catch it, it would have only been the 2nd out of the inning so w/e. Living in Chicago I have come to learn over the years that the Cubs & their fans have an excuse for everything. Somehow this poor guy sitting in the stands cost them the World Series, ya right. Everyone watching the game (other than Cub fans) knew he wouldn't have caught the ball. Finally, he admits it.

Wow! Its defenetely because each Muslim man has at least 3 wifes, and has at least 3 kids with each. Im defenetely not surprised. This is pretty dangerous if you ask me though Dangerous? Catholics were responsible for, among other things, the inquisition and the crusades. They are pretty dangerous if any religion is. I haven't seen any Catholics flying airplanes into buildings lately.

le stats when it was their affiliate. The stadium is awesome but I am not so sure it is a great place to develop pitchers..... How long are we committed there? Forever. (j/k) Someone one probably knows but I believe it's a lengthy contract. I'm pretty sure it's 30+ years I never knew teams committed to a place so long. WOW

I think that has been the plan for some time. He has been playing minor league (spring training) games with that squad for a few weeks and just coming over to the Marlins to play a game or two to see what progress he was making. From what I understand he's not physically able to play more than a couple of games in a row so he's absolutely a work in progress. At least in Albuquerque he'll be playing as often as his body allows, my only complaint is that he won't see the range of pitches he needs to see before he comes back to MLB. Perhaps he'll be added to the Carolina roster before he comes South to Florida for some work there as well. The Isotopes, from everything I read is a terrific minor league franchise and well liked in the community, and I'm not bad-mouthing them in the least, but it is said the air is so thin in a number of PCL cities that beaking pitches are virtually non-existent, at least compared to say the International League. I would love to see the Marlins swap AAA franchises with perhaps one of the west coast or central teams that want a closer presence for their affiliate, so that the Fish could find a home in the IL. It probably would be a tremendous benefit to kids coming up through the organization. But good luck Dallas. We look forward to seeing you later this year. Right on about Albuquerque - a tough place to pitch. Dodger minor leaguers ran up unbelieveable stats when it was their affiliate. The stadium is awesome but I am not so sure it is a great place to develop pitchers..... How long are we committed there?

*walks into room, waving* Not sure if this is the place to post this or not, but I took a look around and didn't see an introduce yourself forum, so if there is one please feel free to move me there. Anyway, howdy everyone. The name is Rob and I'm a Cubs fan...but I'm not here to troll. Rather, I'm here to talk Cubs baseball when our teams should meet later in the season (and maybe a little off topic stuff before then.) So, feel free to consider me your personal Cubs fan whipping boy and have a nice day. Hey Rob, Hi from a fellow Illinois person. I am one of those who has "seen the light" for personal reasons. Go Marlins. As a White Sox fan I feel for you Cubbie fans. Don't root against them but I grew up with the Sox. Nothing personal but I hope the Cubbies don't win it all this year so I can say they went 100 years between World Series. Just wait until you see rise again for the 3rd time & next time with a new stadium!!!! Wasn't the 57 degrees nice today! Come over to the dark side (black & teal.)

Sad thing though, is I don't hear from our candidates on how to address the problem. Sounds like you've been listening to the wrong candidate. :shifty Allright...I'll bite. Who has addressed the issue best in your opinion? Define and explain. . . . Ron Paul has been attacking the Fed for years now as a result of our printing dollars to quench runaway spending for foreign affairs and domestic programs. While this is theoretically part of a business cycle, that is only short term thinking. Oil companies I do not feel are as greedy as most people think. They set the prices on crude to match demand for gasoline. We have increased demand and yet the dollar is being destroyed by most other major countries. If you look how the price for oil has increased over the last several years, the increase has been far less pronounced in the Euro. In gold, next to nothing. This entire issue is about the devaluation of the dollar. Don't expect any of the major candidates to address this problem though. They receive vast sums of cash from Wall Street and lobbyists to fuel the military-industrial complex. I agree with the thought that the main issue here is the devaluation of the dollar. As for what's caused it, it's been addressed by some of the candidates, IRAQ, mainly. The world can see that we're throwing hundreds of billions a year into this sinkhole. Where's the money coming from? The only place that it can come from, the ether, by way of the Fed. The Fed really has no choice but to create this money, but it does obviously debase the existing money, as we've seen. Iraq (and our other foreign bases) are indeed the major problem. So, yes, I would agree with you on that's where the money is coming from, but Paul has been opposing the actions of the Fed outside of the demands of military spending. No other candidate has done so. The only Republican response to these issues (including the housing crisis) is to simply cut taxes. It isn't so simple. The Democrats want to increase taxes for the wealthy and redistribute the money. Even if the increases match perfectly the costs of the new programs they still won't be solving the problem, either. My economist friends tell me that things will get better over time but I still fail to recognize this runaway inflation (Iraq or no Iraq) as being beneficial to the United States in the long term. Even the thought of what is happening turns my stomach. A lot of what is happening now takes place behind closed doors and they do not have appear to have just authority. Paul isn't lobbying for the elite rich here either. He is trying to lift the burden from the lower and middle classes who are struggling with housing and gas costs. What we need is some REAL leadership in Washington. Unfortunately, I do not see enough people willing to put to tackle the tough issues.

I think the school of thought in the 80's was that when Reagan started the arms race with the USSR, that we spend so much money that the USSR couldn't keep up. It was a factor that led to the demise of the USSR & the Soviet block. Do you think our enemies (and there are many) are now using the same tactics against us? Really, how long can this keep going on?

Sad thing though, is I don't hear from our candidates on how to address the problem. Sounds like you've been listening to the wrong candidate. :shifty Allright...I'll bite. Who has addressed the issue best in your opinion? Define and explain. . . . Ron Paul has been attacking the Fed for years now as a result of our printing dollars to quench runaway spending for foreign affairs and domestic programs. While this is theoretically part of a business cycle, that is only short term thinking. Oil companies I do not feel are as greedy as most people think. They set the prices on crude to match demand for gasoline. We have increased demand and yet the dollar is being destroyed by most other major countries. If you look how the price for oil has increased over the last several years, the increase has been far less pronounced in the Euro. In gold, next to nothing. This entire issue is about the devaluation of the dollar. Don't expect any of the major candidates to address this problem though. They receive vast sums of cash from Wall Street and lobbyists to fuel the military-industrial complex. Yes, I would agree. Ron Paul doesn't get the publicity that McCain/Obama/Clinton get and he never really was a factor. I would really like to hear answers/solutions to those questions from the big three. The public doesn't want to easily give up their gas guzzling vehicles and let's face it, there are not a lot of alternative out there anyway. It takes leadership at the Federal level but they seem more intent on keeping their jobs than anything else. Same old, same old.

Would not surprise me. We continue to flood the world with dollars (oil and consumer goods from China) & it shouldn't shock anyone why the value of our dollars continues to go down. Sad thing though, is I don't hear from our candidates on how to address the problem. Something like $5 trillion going to leave the country in the next 10 years, just for oil. What if that $5 trillion was being pumped into our economy? Talk about a stimulus package!

Miller needs to improve his line to home plate. I watch him last year with the Tigers and he really throws across his body. That is going to be tough on the shoulder as well as hard for him to repeat his delivery and maintain consistent control. I am sure the pitching coaches are aware but when someone throws that hard I can see where they are a little worried about "tinkering." Kerry Wood has had that same problem with his line to homeplate as well. Respectfully, I have to disagree. I mentioned this last week subsequent to the Baltimore game in FTL, that only by luck I had an opportunity to sit 20-30 feet directly behind his left arm in a direct line with the bullpen homeplate. For two innings of baseball I watched him warmup, throwing pea after pea right over the plate, and no he does not throw across his body, at least not often. When he does it appears premeditated. His arm is slotted, he finishes with his momentum and his pitching hand right toward the plate as if it were attached to a wire in the catcher's mitt and only after the pitch is thrown does he "fall" to one side or the other. What you're seeing is his momentum when he throws a certain pitch falling off the mound to the third base side, and with it his left hand, which gives the appearance of him throwing across his body but he's not, he has already thrown the pitch well before. For a good example watch the multimedia video of Miller vs the Red Sox in 2007. Most times he winds up straight at, or even slightly to the first base side. It's only when he throws one type pitch that he winds up falling off toward third. If anything, he may be getting caught up too much in being perfect in his mechanics (trying too hard to throw "good" pitches vs pitching), guiding rather than throwing the ball, which is part of what I suspect happened yesterday. That and he was Steve Trachsel-like to the consternation of those playing behind him. This is not a knock at Treanor (it was his birthday after all and his homerun was huge) but I suspect had Rabelo caught him he would not have allowed Miller to take so much time between pitches, if only because Rabelo knows the kid so much better. I have not seen him throw since last year versus the White Sox. I understand what you are saying about the falling off & if you watch Randy Johnson he finishes that way as well. Perhaps, and it sounds like he has, corrected that "line" problem. I know that his line was really bad last year when he pitched against the White Sox and our TV announcers were talking about it the whole time he was on the mound and showed a lot of slo-mo on it. He was tough on lefties because he was stepping straight at them, however, I don't think he made it thru the 5th inning - wildness. Where is that video of him from last year. Would love to see it. I wish I had something to show you from that W Sox game because it was not good on that day! You would have noticed.

I watched Miller in his first start Monday. Not a good outing. 56 pitches, 23 for strikes, walked 5 and hit one in 3 innings. He really never looked comfortable out there. Call it nerves if you want, but... While warming up Wiley was paying close attention to him. It seemed like mostly his footwork. Mark kept walking around him getting different views while looking towards his feet. Leads me to believe his problem is mechanics, and Wiley is the right guy to figure out a cure for that. De La Cruz seems like a pretty quiet guy. He mostly sits on the bench by himself and watches the game. "Studies" the game may be a better way of saying it. He did get up in the 9th and threw a few pitches. Didn't look bad. Had some pop, that's for sure. It's a great day when "not a good outing" produces no hits for the opposition. He ain't going to be Daniel Cabrera. As soon as those walks get down, think Kazmir and Cain's early BB issues, we're talking a great starter. Cruz hits 100. Plenty of 'pop' in that arm. Miller needs to improve his line to home plate. I watch him last year with the Tigers and he really throws across his body. That is going to be tough on the shoulder as well as hard for him to repeat his delivery and maintain consistent control. I am sure the pitching coaches are aware but when someone throws that hard I can see where they are a little worried about "tinkering." Kerry Wood has had that same problem with his line to homeplate as well.

Here is to wishing him the best! It takes guts to fight this battle.

What a great day to be a Marlins fan! My thoughts - http://www.marlinbaseball.com/?p=59 Congrads to you all. I remember back when we (White Sox) got our new stadium here in Chicago. Good things will follow.... hope to come visit the new park in 2011. It was great following the events on this site yesterday from some passionate baseball people! It will be great for baseball everywhere!

yenta - i write a lot of unions (there is good money in them compared to other non-profits) and I can ensure you that a solid 99% of them do not claim any union employees on their applications - if they did it would be cheaper for them i think people underestimate how much pull and power they have if they choose to negotiate on their own behalf and learn the regulatory environment that their industry must comply with you could have recourse againts both your district (failure to employ/promote) and your union (professional liability / breach of duty) - i would definitely consult a private attorney outside of your union - just get all your facts together, did you even work with the district to determine your status? - did they ever raise concern over your status? - did you retain copies of your evaluations? - did the district post when and where you could take the highly qualified tests? there are also tons of jobs out here in AZ - still have to pass the tests if you teach at middle school or above - but the districts will reimburse you if you pass on your first attempt PhxPhin- Thanks. Will try and work on finding someone again. No one seems to understand educational law & they refer me around in circles. I have copies of everything. Apparently, the District was supposed to check the highly qualified status in '05 of all its employees & then give them two years to fix any problems. They didn't. I have a valid secondary cert. for AZ, highly qualified and everything. My problem is losing lots of retirement $$$'s here in IL. IL is a very difficult State. AZ was much more helpful. Thanks again.

keep buying into it did you know that from a risk analysis we consider union employees less likely to sue - not because they have better benefits, but since everything is collectively bargained their main source of recourse is through the union also - unions are a riskier class and as a neat twist, none of the employees of the union actually are in a union in todays society a couple motivated employees who ask tough questions on their own behalf and get the thought of litigation into a corporation are a lot more powerful than a union that is looking to just preserve their own well being That's not true. In United Teachers of Dade, there are a few teachers on leave. Those positions are teachers who are released by the District to work on other projects. The Union has 'bought' their days and they are essentially teachers working for other entities. Yes, there are Union members working for the Unions. nc42dad- that's horrible!! Why won't your Union do anything to help you? Are you being surplussed or straight out laid off? Isn't there a pecking order? First one hired, first one laid off? Will they pay you while you're being laid off? Where is your status in your county? You ask me why my Union won't help, I have no answer. Last spring they told me it "wasn't their issue." Other than my first year teaching I have had nothing but EXCELLENT evaluations. I am not surplused.... Basically because the District failed to check whether IL considered me to be Highly Qualified (NCLB) back in 2005, I am being the scape goat for their failure to do their job. I will more than likely be replaced with a younger/cheaper version. Not gonna get paid a dime. Lose many retirement dollars in the process. Thanks for asking. Probably get another job (not teaching) until my kid graduates next year & then move out of State. I know I am good as gold in AZ (home state). Thank you Teachers Union. I'd like my $10,000 in back Union dues!

Even though unions are not as powerful in Florida as they are elsewhere (for example, striking in Florida would be useless, since it's right-to-work), they still serve a purpose. For example, in the four years I've had my current position, I've seen an average annual pay increase of 6% due to union-negotiated contracts. BTW: nc42dad, I'm sure Barack Obama would love to hear from you. I contacted Mr. Barack way back last September & never heard a word. Not a single word/letter/nothing. IL is a crooked State IMO, and he is part of the system. Our current governor doesn't live at the State Capital, he commutes from Chicago at Taxpayer expense (over $60,000 last year). Our ex-Gov just went to prison... He can say what he wants, but the fact of the matter he is gonna say whatever it takes to get elected. If I had a different last name & had some political connections I am sure my fate would have been different. Fact is though, my Union did nothing for me. Next thing is they will tell me I am not eligible for unemployment. I can understand everyone there and the frustration with the stadium issues - believe me.

I am in a Teacher's Union in IL. Teaching for 18 years & I am being laid off next month because of the NCLB Act. No help from my Union what so ever. I have been fighting with the Stae of IL for over a year. I cannot get one of the Union lawyers to help me, they all partner up with the school districts & don't want to step on toes. Perhaps I should sue the Union for all the things they promised and didn't deliver on and recoop so of the $500 a year that I had fed into that pit. This has changed my opinion of Unions. This one anyway, is totally worthless. Anyone know a good lawyer?

I know about 4 baseball kids who go there. They were in the field house practicing when it happened. It is a sick world.....

Can't for the life of me figure out why Clemens would put himself before that commitee to begin with. He didn't have to and it didn't help his cause at all. Dumb move. I watched the whole thing and he really didn't look very credible. I think most people feel the same way. I keep thinking back to how adamant Pete Rose was for all those years that he never gambled. How many years did it take before he fessed up? Seems like we are re-visiting the same cocky personality.

It sounds as ridiculous as Richard Nixon & his "non-functional statement." I wonder if Clemens lawyers versed him on the use of "misremembered?" Wonders never cease. Personally, I wish they would give up with this whole charade & move on. It is what it is......

Not that I am an English major or anything but is MISREMEMBERED even a word? Yep, http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/misremembered Thanks Admin. I will try to add a new word to my everyday vocabulary. Maybe it will work with my wife!Ha.

Not that I am an English major or anything but is MISREMEMBERED even a word?

http://www.azfamily.com/news/local/stories...a.776b8a82.html Sounds like he is coming.