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Official 2007 MLB Thread - The quest for another .500 champion

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NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The batting coach for the Tulsa Drillers was pronounced dead at a hospital Sunday evening after being struck in the head by a line drive as he stood in the first-base coach's box during a Texas League game with the Arkansas Travelers, police said.

The game was suspended in the ninth inning after Mike Coolbaugh, 35, was hit by a hard-hit foul ball off the bat of Tino Sanchez and taken to Baptist Medical Center-North Little Rock.

Phil Elson, spokesman for the Travelers, said Coolbaugh was struck by the ball on the right side of his head, or on the forehead -- "I'm getting conflicting reports" -- and fell to the ground immediately.

According to a report posted on the Drillers' Web site late Sunday, Coolbaugh was knocked unconscious and CPR was administered to him on the field.

Sgt. Terry Kuykendall, spokesman for North Little Rock police, said Coolbaugh was still alive when he was put in an ambulance for the trip to the hospital, but quit breathing as the ambulance arrived at the facility.

"They tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.," Kuykendall said.

Coolbaugh played 44 games in the major leagues over two seasons, his last appearance with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002. The Drillers' web site said Coolbaugh joined the Tulsa team's staff on July 3.

The Travelers, an Angels affiliate, led 7-3 at the time the game was suspended with no outs and a runner on first in the top of the ninth inning. Officials said a date and time for finishing the game had not yet been chosen.

Tulsa is a Rockies affiliate.

Holy shit =/

Imagine how that batter feels
 
Dave Cameron said:
So, the following is a list of performances by the 10 best pitchers in baseball today, as determined by me, during their age 21 seasons:

Johan Santana, Minnesota - 86 IP, 6.49 ERA 102 H, 54 BB, 64 K, 11 HR
Brandon Webb, U. Of Kentucky - 112 IP, 4.58 ERA, 123 H, 41 BB, 123 K, 14 HR
Roy Halladay, Syracuse (AAA) - 116 IP, 3.79 ERA, 107 H, 53 BB, 71 K, 11 HR
Jake Peavy, San Diego - 98 IP, 4.52 ERA, 106 H, 33 BB, 90 K, 11 HR
Ben Sheets, Stockton (A+) - 28 IP, 3.58 ERA, 23 HH, 14 BB, 28 K, 1 HR
Erik Bedard, Delmarva (A-) - 111 IP, 3.57 ERA, 98 H, 35 BB, 131 K, 2 HR
CC Sabathia, Cleveland - 180 IP, 4.39 ERA, 149 H, 95 BB, 171 K, 19 HR
Josh Beckett, Portland (AA) - 74 IP, 1.82 ERA, 50 H, 19 BB, 102 K, 8 HR
John Lackey, Lake Elsinore (A+) - 101 IP, 3.40 ERA, 94 H, 42 BB, 74 K, 9 HR
John Smoltz, Atlanta - 64 IP, 5.48 ERA, 74 H, 33 BB, 37 K, 10 HR

Puts Felix's current numbers in perspective. Doesn't take the sting off our offense being shut out for two straight games.
 
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The batting coach for the Tulsa Drillers was pronounced dead at a hospital Sunday evening after being struck in the head by a line drive as he stood in the first-base coach's box during a Texas League game with the Arkansas Travelers, police said.

The game was suspended in the ninth inning after Mike Coolbaugh, 35, was hit by a hard-hit foul ball off the bat of Tino Sanchez and taken to Baptist Medical Center-North Little Rock.

Phil Elson, spokesman for the Travelers, said Coolbaugh was struck by the ball on the right side of his head, or on the forehead -- "I'm getting conflicting reports" -- and fell to the ground immediately.

According to a report posted on the Drillers' Web site late Sunday, Coolbaugh was knocked unconscious and CPR was administered to him on the field.

Sgt. Terry Kuykendall, spokesman for North Little Rock police, said Coolbaugh was still alive when he was put in an ambulance for the trip to the hospital, but quit breathing as the ambulance arrived at the facility.

"They tried to resuscitate him, but he was pronounced dead at 9:47 p.m.," Kuykendall said.

Coolbaugh played 44 games in the major leagues over two seasons, his last appearance with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2002. The Drillers' web site said Coolbaugh joined the Tulsa team's staff on July 3.

The Travelers, an Angels affiliate, led 7-3 at the time the game was suspended with no outs and a runner on first in the top of the ninth inning. Officials said a date and time for finishing the game had not yet been chosen.

Tulsa is a Rockies affiliate.

heh maybe i should watch the local news more, i live in north little rock and this is the first ive heard of this.
 
We need Bills to go the distance. Our bullpen has been used and abused like a crack whore
 
McCann three run double!

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damn! Oh well Bills needs to put this away.

Good game boys...crap! Hendrickson pitching tomorrow.
 
Rare blown lead by the White Sox bullpen that costs them the game. Good thing this doesn't happen often or I'd be mighty frustrated.
 
:lol Colon. What a freaking joke. Thanks for that Cy Young year... but freakin' take a long stint on the DL please. As long as you aren't replaced by Santana...

And wow, the way Seattle lost today... that had to have sucked. Even though I get the pleasure of the fact you lost, ouch.
 
F-ing A my fantasy team takes a hit and now I have no reason at all to follow the stros :(


"HOUSTON -- Hunter Pence will be out four to six weeks with a small chip fracture in his right wrist, general manager Tim Purpura announced following the Astros' 10-2 loss to the Dodgers on Monday night. Pence was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

Pence, 24, suffered the injury while sliding into second base in Pittsburgh on Sunday. X-rays were negative, but an MRI exam taken on the wrist Monday revealed a much more serious injury.

The Astros have recalled outfielder Jason Lane from Triple-A Round Rock. He will be in uniform in time for Tuesday's game with the Dodgers."
 
scottnak said:
:lol Colon. What a freaking joke. Thanks for that Cy Young year... but freakin' take a long stint on the DL please. As long as you aren't replaced by Santana...
Moseley playing like shit isn't helping, either.
 
are sea/tex really playing a doubleheader with the first game at 5:00 then the next at 8:30?

and did anyone during tonights game on YES mention why the yankees are taking the train home after baltimore sunday night? (yet another night getaway game for the yankees......)
 
Joe said:
are sea/tex really playing a doubleheader with the first game at 5:00 then the next at 8:30?

and did anyone during tonights game on YES mention why the yankees are taking the train home after baltimore sunday night? (yet another night getaway game for the yankees......)

Yup, double header. Should be good for some hilarity!

AJsavior.jpg


If only, if only.
 
Eminem said:
Peter Gammons reporting that the White Sox and Braves are discussing a Renteria/Garland trade.

**** that shit.

Most likely Schuerholz is just driving up the price for Escobar, making him look untouchable. We have too many young players to depend on, I doubt we would trade a all star caliber veteran mid-season.
 
Sad Astros season just got more depressing :( I'll miss Ya Bidge!

"Biggio reveals '07 will be last season
Astros legend to retire on own terms after 20 years in game
By Alyson Footer / MLB.com

"Retiring is not an easy thing to do," Craig Biggio said. "But it's time." (Pat Sullivan/AP)
Astros Headlines



HOUSTON -- Over the course of baseball history, very few players leave the game on their own terms. Sometimes, injuries force them out. Often, their skills have eroded but they just can't bring themselves to call it a career. So they hang on for the sake of hanging on, until no one wants them.
Craig Biggio had a different plan. He wanted to go of his own volition, and he's doing just that. On Tuesday, Biggio revealed he's retiring from baseball, effective upon the conclusion of the 2007 season.

Sept. 30 will mark Biggio's final game, ending a potential Hall of Fame career that spanned 20 years and produced more than 3,000 hits, in excess of 650 doubles, nearly 300 homers and six postseason appearances.

Biggio is grateful to be one of the few to leave the game with dignity, but that's just one of a myriad of emotions that have gripped him since he made this decision months ago. This is an incredibly sad time for the second baseman, and the next two months will be understandably difficult.

"I love the game," Biggio said. "I'm going to miss putting my feet in the spikes every day. I'm going to miss the dads coming up to you and thanking you for the way you played the game, the little kids coming up to you and asking for your autograph, seeing them smile and having a good time at the game. I'm going to miss all of that."

Biggio has known for quite a while that this would be his final year. He had in his mind how he wanted to end his career, and he repeatedly promised to reveal his plans when the time was right. He had three goals in mind when the season started: record his 3,000th hit, play in the postseason and announce his retirement.

It doesn't look like the Astros are headed for the playoffs this year, but Biggio is satisfied that the rest of the plan went off without a hitch.

"Retiring is not an easy thing to do," Biggio said. "But it's time. How many guys get the opportunity to do it the way they want to do it? You're pretty much writing your own story here, as far as walking away when you want to walk away. It's not taken away.

"It's just time. That hurts. But you hear bad stories sometimes that guys waited too long (to retire) and I don't want a bad taste in the fans' mouths that I played too long. Then they remember me on the down side, the bad side. It can't get any better than it has been this year.

"I'm going out on top. Other than a World Series, the (3,000th) hit thing was unbelievable. To me, I'm going out on top. It makes me feel great, being able to do it this way. And the fans can remember you on a positive note."

The fans have been front and center in Biggio's thoughts ever since he decided to retire. His playing time has recently been reduced, but for those who want to see him play one last time before the year is over, he and manager Phil Garner have worked out a plan that involves doing their best to announce ahead of time when Biggio will play.

"There have been so many meaningful games I've played over the course of my career," Biggio said. "I think the fans should know that you're not going to play anymore, and they can come back and watch you play one more time, come back and boo one more time. Whatever.

"The fans have been great to me, at home and on the road. It's important for the fans to be able to know what your future is."

On the road, Biggio can be expected to play the first game of each series. Chris Burke will likely receive the remainder of the playing time at second base, as he has ever since the start of the second half of the season.

But there will be exceptions. Biggio considers three ballparks sentimental favorites and will likely play the first and last games in those stadiums.

Busch Stadium in St. Louis and Wrigley Field in Chicago are especially dear to Biggio, who has played in more than 100 games in each, more than any other ballpark he's visited in his career. And Shea Stadium in New York isn't far from the Long Island home where he grew up, so that ballpark holds sentimental value, as well.

The Astros will be in Chicago Aug. 31-Sept. 2, New York Sept. 7-9 and St. Louis Sept. 20-24. Biggio can expect to get two starts in each of those series.

When the team is at home, Biggio will receive the majority of the starts at second base, give or take the handful of day games remaining on the schedule. It's also highly likely he'll play all three games against the Braves to end the season Sept. 28-30.

Biggio also hopes to crouch one more time behind the plate during that final game Sept. 30. The former catcher-turned second baseman-turned center fielder-turned left fielder-turned-second baseman would like to end his career at the position where it all started nearly 20 years ago.

Out of respect for the visiting Braves, Biggio will only try to implement this plan if the NL East race has already been decided. If all goes as planned, he'll catch one inning.

Biggio has also thought a lot about how he'll feel when that game is over, when it's time to take the uniform off for good.

He remembers watching former Houston shortstop Craig Reynolds play his final game in 1989. Biggio was 23 years old and in his first full season in the Majors.

"I remember walking behind him as he was walking toward the clubhouse," Biggio said "The cameras were following him, but I was following the cameras. I looked at him and thought, 'Wow, that was tough.'"

Biggio also remembered Buddy Bell telling him he didn't leave the clubhouse until 6 in the morning after his final game, as he grappled with taking the uniform off for the last time.

Biggio probably won't wait that long after his final game, but he will try to prepare as best he can for what he is sure will be a very difficult day.

"I'll probably keep it on all day," he said. "Once you take the uniform off, it's off.

"It's going to be tough, but I'm at peace with all of this. I'm at peace with my decision and I'm at peace with how things have gone for me. I'm in a good place. I've had a storybook career. It's been an incredible journey."
 
who's this craig biggio i keep hearing about?

and hbo is showing a 2 hour brooklyn dodgers documentary and from the little i saw it's really, really good. i can't watch anymore but im recording it...it's really good, keep an eye out for it.
 
You know, first home back back off a successful 4-3 roadtrip, playing the Pittsburgh Pirates, finally get back on posting here and what happens?

Eddie Coleman just reported that Moises Alou is not in the lineup today, he has tendinitis in his right shoulder...

I hate life.
 
rc213 said:
Radio Rumor: Royals Dotel to the Dodgers for Tony Abreu. Hmmnnn....
Makes sense. Dotel and Abreu are odd men out and Grady Little is desperate for bullpen pitching after what happened over the weekend. But I'd wait until Saito is confirmed out for a month first. Dotel is a 8th inning guy only who now has a track record of not handling closer duties well.

And oh yeah, if I was gay I'd think David Wright would be dreamy.
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Pirates - 1
Mets --- 2
Bottom 1st
 
NomarTyme said:
NOOOOOO! Who the hell is going to replace? Kent?

The Dodgers expressed interest in Dotel even before injury questions surfaced regarding All-Star closer Takashi Saito. They also have a bundle of young talent bubbling up through their system. The Dodgers rebuffed interest in second baseman Tony Abreu, believed to be the Royals' top preference, because they view him as a long-term replacement for Jeff Kent. A possible alternative is shortstop Chin-Lung Hu, who is batting .349 with nine homers and 46 RBIs in 92 games this season at Class AAA Las Vegas and Class AA Jacksonville.

:D

Who else is there to trade?


The Frankman said:
Makes sense. Dotel and Abreu are odd men out and Grady Little is desperate for bullpen pitching after what happened over the weekend. But I'd wait until Saito is confirmed out for a month first. Dotel is a 8th inning guy only who now has a track record of not handling closer duties well.

Even with Saito 100% Dodgers still need a 7th inning guy. Ever since Billingsley was moved to the starting rotation that 7th inning has been a problem. Bills was lights out as the 6th/7th inning guy.
 
rc213 said:
Even with Saito 100% Dodgers still need a 7th inning guy. Ever since Billingsley was moved to the starting rotation that 7th inning has been a problem.
Wait who was your previous 7th inning guy? Roberto/Beimel/Houlton should be ok in that role, there's no pressure. I thought Dodgers were planning to make that deal with the intent of Dotel closing/8th inning guy. I can't see him accepting a demotion. Then again, it's Kansas City.

Why not make Brox 6th/7th guy and Dotel 8th inning guy? Puts a veteran in that role so incidents like Sunday happen far less.
 
The Frankman said:
Wait who was your previous 7th inning guy? Roberto/Beimel/Houlton should be ok in that role, there's no pressure. I thought Dodgers were planning to make that deal with the intent of Dotel closing/8th inning guy. I can't see him accepting a demotion. Then again, it's Kansas City.

Why not make Brox 6th/7th guy and Dotel 8th inning guy? Puts a veteran in that role so incidents like Sunday happen far less.

Blowberto Hernandez and D.J. Houlton weren't on the roster prior to Bills moving into the starting rotation. Dodgers had Bills pitch the 6th & 7th when needed or just the 7th, Beimel has always been the Lefty/Ground Ball Specialist.
 
Crap, I was hoping Littlemind would rest Martin considering he is in a bit of a slump @ 3 for 23.

Hendrickson:
2006 As Starter

5-15 record, 4.44 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, .276 Opp BA

2006 As Reliever

1-0 record, 0.84ERA (only 10 innings), 0.84 WHIP, .158 Opp BA



2007 As Starter

3-4 record, 4.59 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, .291 Opp BA

2007 As Reliever

1-0 record, 2.63 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, .200 Opp BA
 
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