thoughts from the Grizzlies-Sky Sox game Sunday

1) that stadium is really a dump. I know I said that last time I was here but it really is bad. On back to back pitches in the second inning, they had Waldis at 102 mph and then 48 mph. that's some changeup.

2) Man, Velez really does look like Zorak. Holy hell, it is funny. You can kind of see what they like in him as he seems to square up the ball pretty well and make contact but he is just clueless on the basepaths. He had an awful jump and was thrown out at second on a steal attempt where the ball was halfway to the plate before he took off. Another time, he was picked off as he broke early but the pitcher threw the ball into the bullpen and he made it to third. Decker was visibly pissed the second time. Also, his fielding is awful; he didn't break in on a ball in the 7th inning and then threw the ball into the dirt, which led to two runs scoring. On the last play of the game he almost booted the ball for an error and was really lucky the ball stayed in front of him and barely got the guy at first.

3) Willis has a long way to go. He started off well by getting two quick strikes and then hit the guy. Walked the next guy on 4 pitches, had a wild pitch that allowed a run to score. Stadium radar gun (see above as to accuracy) had him in the high 80s. Man, he had a nice hit however and he is a big dude. I wonder if he's given a position switch any thought.

4) I don't get it; all Brock Bond does is work the count, foul off a tough pitch, get a hit, steal a base, and then come out of the game (he was pinch hitting). Then Burriss comes up and hits a ball as hard as he can (sounds good off the bat even) and it just settles in about 290 feet later in a waiting outfielders glove. I want to believe, too. I do think he got screwed out of a hit in the 9th where they gave the third baseman the error. That would have been a pretty tough play, but I guess I defer to the scorer as it was right in front of me and I couldn't get around to it right away.

5) They were getting around pretty well on Bautista. A bunch of other guys pitched for the Giants whose names I didn't recognize. The kid who got the win looks like a potential LOOGY and the Edelfson kid pitched pretty well (at least one seeing eye base hit).

6) I think Jesus can hit. Someone would have to give him a shot and his defense is pretty bad.

7) Rohlinger is a really nice guy, I hope he makes it.

8) Brett Pill is a big dude.

9) Is it just me of have the Grizzlies been doing a lot of starting a guy for one or two innings and then going to the pen? By the way, Waldis throws hard (102 mph!) but doesn't seem to have a great idea for where the ball is going.