in post season flurry of stats, lots of love for Beltre.  In a top 50 list, and rated 4th best 3B overall at our sibling "beyond the box score"

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2008/10/31/649202/best-third-basemen-of-2008

Somebody on the Cincy Reds site says Adrian "doesn't want to play for a team in rebuilding mode" like the Mariners. 

http://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2008/10/31/649202/best-third-basemen-of-2008 But trade wise, that is not his decision, is it?  In contract year, the guy is gonna give the best performance he can.

so for my $.02, I'd rather pursue Beltre than all those shortstops who, especially in 2nd and 3rd year of contract likely no better than Manny B.   Burriss looks to have an upside with the bat, especially since he covers shortstop decently.  Put him at second, the value declines a lot

Meanwhile Jayson Stark says Astros are trying to move Tejada to drop payroll.  Maybe something could be worked out there.  I realize his hitting has been declining for 4 years, gradually lost 100 in the slugging column.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/printedition/la-sp-angels29-2008oct29,0,1414414.story

84 RBIs last year--that would stand out up here.  but can he play second or center? 

The LA Times article says LA bought out his option agent and will talk with Anderson about signing as a free agent cheaper than under the existing contract which would pay him 14 million.  They have some real pricey FAs to worry about.  And Matthews, Rivera, Vlad getting much of the outfield ABs, plus Tori Hunter.  Listing Kendry Morales as an OF now too.

LA has 15 days of exclusive time to negotiate.

Reading about Cain getting tagged with a "loss", a statistical baddy, I realize there’s lots of parallels to the movie I saw last night--"Mongol", a biography of Genghis Khan’s (Temudgin’s) early years. Temudgin was a decent and brainy person, and rose to greatness because of his mercy, fairness, and ability to bring order and peace. The film portrays this part of him well, and shows that he led people in battle only as a last resort, to subdue unruly groups of neighbors.  

Maybe that’s what Matt C will have to do–eliminate several teammates with swords, clubs, pikes, and long-distance arrows in order to get some help and unity. Watching a Cain game always gives me mixed emotions–fine quality, classic pitching, sneaky opponents, and usually a Giants loss. And so, with the movie "Mongol," the upsides include the accurate portrayal of tribal life in that area (I’ve read a few books, seems right to me), and of the bond between him and wife Borte (Bourtai), friends since childhood.  Also great scenery, lovely details in terms of music, crafts, animals, and even jewelry.  Then there’s bodies flying and blood spurting, some folks will get more of a kick out of that than I did. All lovely to watch and professionally directed by Sergei Bodrov (his "Prisoner of the Mountains" is a brilliant fictional film about at the human side of the Chechnya conflict).

Now I’m eager for a sequel–the film ends just as he gets Mongolia unified, but before they conquer outside it. Next one ought to cover Temudgin’s creativity with military tactics and peacetime administration. I hope Cain sticks around for the Giants’ rise to greatness, but I’m in suspense.   He's got the physical and mental toughness of a Mongol tribe leader.   Just needs better warriors.

Some Oxford professor made a TV documentary series, and wrote a book, about re-creating Ibn Batatu's long trip from Morocco to India & China and Saudi Arabia & lots more places.  10 wives and many concubines.  Drug use. Eating full variety of sheep organs.  Oud music and belly dancing.

It's called "travels with a tangerine", and Sacramento's channel 6 is airing it Wed nights at 10.  I liked the first one, last week.  You Bay Area Ibn Batuta fans can lobby your station or your library or  video outlet. 

Continue reading this post »

the Extra Baggs blog is becoming a must read for me (OK I learned about it here).  Here's the start of today's piece on Omar's response to Cleveland's tribute to him.  At the end he repeats his stance on coaching:  he wants to manage, and feels he is about ready.

"This is why Omar Vizquel is a class act: During his pregame news conference, a Cleveland reporter asked if he knew the hat he would wear if he enters the Hall of Fame. Now, it’s pretty obvious he would wear an Indians cap. He spent 11 seasons here, played on six playoff teams, won eight of his 11 Gold Gloves here, etc.

Omar could have said, “The Indians, of course,” and nobody would think he was being disrespectful to anyone. But …

Omar gave an answer in which he acknowledged the Seattle Mariners for giving him a chance to reach the major leagues and also the Giants for giving him an opportunity to finish his career. He mentioned how well the Giants organization has treated him. And of course, he acknowledged all the great moments that he enjoyed in Cleveland.

“It’s too bad that two of them have to be left out like that,” he said.

You could tell it wasn’t a fabricated answer. That’s the way he felt. You stay classy, Omar......" 

go to the blog for more!  

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/extrabaggs/2008/06/24/you-stay-classy-omar/#more-99

Bochy continues a pattern I like. Sadler has had several good outings in relief of Sanchez.  And again last nite.

relieving after Lincecum continues to be a tuff job.  I want Hinshaw there

75 75 the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy durhammy

hackman rules now is the time to come to the aid of our bullpen now is the time to promote Ishi, Romo and other fine fellows go lil gints, big gints, grizzlies et al et al et al

thanks to NY Daily News and google for this story. Perez set a record for division 2 Junior Colleges with 24 homers this year.  The story is from back in October:

Almonte, Perez take JUCO route in pursuit of pro dreams

BY IAN BEGLEY Tuesday, October 9th 2007 NY Daily News

One ballplayer has been known in the Bronx - and around the country - for six years. The other has been toiling in local men's leagues since his high school playing days ended two seasons ago. But when Danny Almonte and Juan Carlos Perez fly together to Oklahoma on Thursday, both will be clinging to the same goal.

Almonte and Perez will enroll in Western Oklahoma College, a two-year junior college 1,600 miles from the Bronx; both hope to play for the Pioneers this spring, and both hope to attract the attention of a major league organization.  "It's going to be all baseball, all the time," Perez said.

Both ballplayers say that's all they've ever wanted. They'll room together at the 2,000-student school in Atlus, Okla., but the two Bronx kids will have taken decidedly different paths to the dorm.  Almonte gained national infamy when he led the Rolando Paulino All-Stars to a third-place finish in the 2001 Little League World Series and was later found to be two years older than the rest of his 12-year-old competition.

Perez said he played against Almonte in youth leagues in the Bronx, and the two opposed each other in the Monroe-Clinton rivalry in 2006.

Perez, who hit .529 with eight steals his senior year, remembers his stats against Almonte: 1-for-2 in the regular season and 2-for-3 with an RBI in the Governors' playoff loss to Monroe.

When asked about Perez's success against him in high school, Amonte shrugs and smiles. "I don't really remember; it was all a blur," the 20-year-old lefthander said after he and Perez helped the their team to a victory in the Triboro Adult Baseball League last Thursday.

Almonte has been all over the country since he pitched to Perez in the quarterfinals of the PSAL playoffs, his final high school pitching appearance.   Almonte went unselected in the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft and turned down an offer to attend New Mexico Junior College.

Instead, Almonte, Perez and Manny Rodriguez, a former Monroe third baseman, spent the winter at Play Baseball Academy in Miami.  Perez, who stood out in center field during two Triboro Adult League games at Taft HS last week, said he became a student of the game at the academy, learning the finer points of defense and base running from former and current pros.

Perez returned to the Bronx this spring and said he worked out each morning at Mullally Park next to the basketball courts near Yankee Stadium, along with playing in the Triboro league and another one at Crotona Park.

Almonte decided to take his chances in the independent Frontier League, signing with the Southern Illinois Miners in Marion, Ill., last spring. Manager Mike Pinto released him after six starts due to control problems. Almonte posted a 0-1 record with a 5.28 ERA and issued 19 walks in 30 2/3 innings.

Pinto said Almonte had a tendancy to overthrow, and suggested he needed to work a little harder to succeed. "For Danny to be successful, he has to step up his work habits," Pinto said.

Perez and Almonte have played in the Triboro league since Almonte came back to the Bronx in August, and the center fielder said he'd make sure Almonte puts in the requisite work at junior college.

So will Western Oklahoma assistant coach Manny Paula, who played with Almonte at Monroe and against him in the Frontier League.  "That's what we're going to do every day: it will be baseball before class and baseball after class," Paula said during a recent telephone interview.

Almonte said he'd like to play outfield and first base as well as pitch for the Pioneers. Almonte hit .511 and drove in 31 runs in 16 games as a senior at Monroe."After the Little League thing, everyone thought of me as a pitcher," Almonte said. "But I have good numbers as a batter and the coach said I can go down there and ... prove to people I can hit."

Perez plans to pursue a degree in engineering in case things don't work out on the diamond. As for Almonte, he said he would continue to pursue his big-league dream, even if he remains unsigned out of Western Oklahoma.

"I love baseball," Almonte said Thursday after they'd turned the lights out at Taft HS field. "I'm always gonna keep playing, no matter what happens."

and getting the news his days were over, from Torre, one spring.   In today's ny times, no less, a thoughtful article.  Could be printed on some nice paper and hand delivered to several players we could think of.

75 word minimum, add durham ray, roberts dave, aurilia richie, klink simon, leone justin, gryboski, and that's just for now.  Make way for the Osegueras and Hinshaws of the world.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/opinion/25glanville.html?ref=opinion

will do a quick summary for you starving prospect hounds

Fresno wins 3-2.  Pitchers duel between Max Scherzer of Tucson and Victor Santos, who went 6 innings, just 3 hits.  Chulk chucked 2 scoreless, and told the Fresno Bee he is headed to SF, did not mention mode of transport.  Fortunato allows a run but gets the win, Hinshaw the save.  Wald hits a pinch hit homer.  Good baserunning by Horwitz who scores the winning run on a WP by Coutlangus.  With the game on the line, Horwitz pinch hit for leadoff guy TImpner, then Burris bloops a single.

Defenders win 4-3. Joe Martinez allows just 4 hits and 1 run for 5 innings, then allows 2 hits in the 6th and is pulled for Waddell.  Jason goes 2 and 2/3, allowing 3 hits but credited with a blown save and 2/5 GO/AO, Ronnie Ray finishes the 8th and gets the win, Romo the save.  A Klink double in the 9th the winning hit.  EME homered.  Antoan singles, steals second and third, scores on a Ishi grounder.  Denker has 2 hits, up to 214.  Maroul hits fifth, at 083.  Defense turns 3 DPs, Rosario at short.

San Jose over Bakersfield  5 to 1 on a combined 5 hitter--English goes 5 plus; Shaver 2 plus hitless; Whitaker the 9th hitless.  Graham 2 hits; Pablito a 2 RBI single; Downs steals once and is caught once; McBryde a steal; Felmy, Rohlinger and D'Alessio all K twice.   Sloppy D by Bakersfield.

Augusta wins 5-3 at Lexington.  MadBum goes 5, no walks, 4 Ks, 4 hits, 2 runs, not bad for a young guy.  Maday and Runzler each get 3 Ks in 1.2 innings, Otero closes.  Augusta starts with a bang, scoring 3 on a Corona single, Noonan triple, and Angel V double, plus an error.  In the second, a Simmons bunt single and a Noonan double scores another.  According to milb, Corona plays short, Baker second, and Noonan left.