Danyaal in NY: Where do you think the Mets will go with Benitez and Burnitz? I've heard rumors of the Marlins and the Expos expressing interest. Do you think an Adrian Gonzalez and Justin Wayne package is possible from Florida?

 

Buster Olney: San Diego makes a lot of sense to me. Like the Phillies last winter, the Padres are in the process of trying to load up for their new ballpark, and they could land Benitez, make him understand how comfortable he can be -- and San Diego is the perfect place for his sensitive soul -- and sign him to an extension. There are no guarantees about what condition Trevor Hoffman will be in when he returns, and if San Diego is going to make a splash next year in the standings, it would have to be on the strength of their pitching...

this answer made no sense, the question is about the marlins and he blabs about the padres

 

David (Miami): Why is Mike Lowell still not getting any respect in the league and how good can the Marlins be?..

 

Buster Olney: I think Mike Lowell has a lot of respect in baseball circles; it would have been interesting if the Marlins had decided to trade him, because unlike the Alomar/Benitez/Burnitz/Gonzalez types, in which the team has to assume a huge portion of the contract, there would've been an actual trade war for Lowell. It'll be interesting to see how he does in the second half, because historically, he's always collapsed, and at some point, opposing pitchers are going to simply refuse to pitch to him...

 

Matt (Burlington, MA): Do you have any reasonable explanation for the absense of Donrelle Willis on the All-Star Team?

 

Buster Olney: Did a couple of pieces on Willis and what struck me was how so few baseball execs had seen him pitch bu mid-June. I wonder if he had flown under the radar for so long that when the ballots were being filled out, he was still a mystery. But I don't understand why they don't have Willis and Clemens on the teams, at least to be there as names fans have talked about this season, one guy coming in and one guy going out. It's pretty clear baseball is struggling in a gray area with its approach to the game, trying to decide whether its serious or an exhibition... You are right, though -- makes no sense not to have Willis there...

Jesse (NYC): Who, to you, is the best young prospect called up this season? Dontrelle? Reyes? Cabrera?

 

Buster Olney: Dontrelle. Big-time staying power, because he pitches down in the strike zone so well...

that last quoate i couldn't agree with more. since the first day i saw dontrelle pitch i knew he would be very good. any lefthander that throws hard and low in the strikezone with control will be successful.

The thing with Dontrelle is, I hear ALL the time, "He's only good now because of his delivery. Wait 'till they figure him out!"

 

When I hear that, all I say is, "Remember when he made his first few starts? They were hitting him left and right. Dispite his delivery, they were hitting him. Now he has settled down and is pitching with his 'stuff' he is awesome, like they said he would be. It has nothing at all to do with his delivery at all, seeing that they did well against him when they didn't even know anything about him."

The thing with Dontrelle is, I hear ALL the time, "He's only good now because of his delivery. Wait 'till they figure him out!"

 

When I hear that, all I say is, "Remember when he made his first few starts? They were hitting him left and right. Dispite his delivery, they were hitting him. Now he has settled down and is pitching with his 'stuff' he is awesome, like they said he would be. It has nothing at all to do with his delivery at all, seeing that they did well against him when they didn't even know anything about him."

And the Reds and the Mets, two teams hes beaten twice, would have gotten to his delivery by the second time around.

last start vs. Chicago, i didnt see him use his Backdoor slider to much

that pitch would be sick if he could work on that more...but anyways i also agree with the last quote.

last start vs. Chicago, i didnt see him use his Backdoor slider to much

that pitch would be sick if he could work on that more...

I think he's got a good 15+ years to work on it...

last start vs. Chicago, i didnt see him use his Backdoor slider to much

that pitch would be sick if he could work on that more...but anyways i also agree with the last quote.

I'm not sure if you mean backdoor sliders. Thats not a real pitch, its more of an accident.

last start vs. Chicago, i didnt see him use his Backdoor slider to much

that pitch would be sick if he could work on that more...but anyways i also agree with the last quote.

I'm not sure if you mean backdoor sliders. Thats not a real pitch, its more of an accident. i know its not really a common pitch....but i heard somewhere that he figured it out as a kid, so i dont know, hopefully he'll get better at it...and like WildCard said he has a good 15 years to work on it. :lol

last start vs. Chicago, i didnt see him use his Backdoor slider to much

that pitch would be sick if he could work on that more...but anyways i also agree with the last quote.

I'm not sure if you mean backdoor sliders. Thats not a real pitch, its more of an accident. i know its not really a common pitch....but i heard somewhere that he figured it out as a kid, so i dont know, hopefully he'll get better at it...and like WildCard said he has a good 15 years to work on it. :lol If he knows how to actually throw a backdoor slider, then he is not only the first person I have ever seen to be able to but is almost guaranteed the H.O.F. Like the pitcher who threw the Eufis pitch (or however you spell it).

Willis throws a back door slider. A Back Door slider is a late Breaking pitch. It works well for willis.

 

I hope Mike Lowell doesnt go in one of those slumps he has every year. We need him while we are in the Wild Card Race...

We need him while we are in the Wild Card Race...

A.K.A.....now! :unsure :

 

 

start hitting MIKE!