Ken Rosenthal: Good thing Hosmer, 21, has Francoeur, 27, advising him at every turn. Want to know what Frenchy told Hosmer, a left-handed hitter, before the series began? You're so good at hitting the ball the other way. Don't be seduced by the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium. Don't get pull-happy. Francouer also says “At 21 years old, I wish I knew half the stuff he does about hitting. His approach and maturity is off the charts.” Virtually everyone with the Royals sees Hosmer the same way. Designated hitter Billy Butler, the team's most accomplished hitter, says Hosmer is “way ahead of his time.” Hitting coach Kevin Seitzer says — not once, but twice — he doesn't want to make predictions or raise expectations for his new prodigy. Then Seitzer, unable to help himself, bursts with praise, recalling a specific sequence from Tuesday night's game. Hosmer struck out on a Freddy Garcia split in the dirt, then “spit” on several similar pitches in his next at-bat, drawing a walk to represent the potential tying run and driving Garcia from the game in the seventh inning. “He's extremely advanced, very talented,” Seitzer says.
He's Relevant
R.J. White: Mark Trumbo was supposed to be a short-term fill-in at first base, but now he’s likely the team’s first baseman for the entire 2011 season. That’s not entirely a bad thing, as Trumbo’s .270/.311/.486 line heading into Wednesday action wasn’t too far from the .290/.346/.487 Morales threw up in 2010. The power is obviously there, as Trumbo is maintaining a 30-HR pace, and his average has made a significant climb during a hot stretch over the last two weeks.
Would you guys be shocked to find out i have a mancrush on scotty?
Passan: “Athletes have to know that you have to look at the market you’re in,” Scott Boras said. “You can’t look at the markets of the past. For players like Hosmer, as you go back and look, as Teixeira had his own market and Fielder had his own market, Hosmer will have his own. And something tells me it’s going to be a rather eventful one.”
How bout some more scribes ..
Tim Brown: Jose Bautista has five fewer home runs than the Twins, which would be totally embarrassing except for the fact he’s missed eight games
John Sickels: Rookie Darwin Barney has taken over the second base position for the Chicago Cubs this year, hitting .331/.355/.424 in his first 32 games, while playing strong defense. No one saw Darwin Barney as a potential Rookie of the Year candidate pre-season, but he's playing like one right now. Who is he, and how did this happen?
Jayson Stark: Finally, here's one sure sign it's been a weird season so far: In the past week, we've heard one scout say he'd "pitch to Hanley [Ramirez] in a heartbeat before I'd pitch to Gaby Sanchez." And we heard another say it might be time to pitch around Matt Holliday and take your chances with Albert Pujols, especially because you don't want to mess with Lance Berkman behind Pujols. And they weren't kidding. Cue the "Twilight Zone" music.
Danny Knobler: Ryan Braun wasn't surprised to see Verlander throw a second no-hitter last Saturday in Toronto. And no, Braun won't be surprised if some day Verlander throws another one. "Any starting pitcher who is throwing 100 [mph] in the eighth inning or the ninth inning should put himself in position to throw a no-hitter sometime," Braun said this week. "As far as dominant stuff goes, he's as good as any pitcher I've ever seen."
Beachymania!
David Golebiewski: the Atlanta Braves’ starters have been among the best in the majors, too, putting together a collective 3.35 xFIP that places second in the NL. While Philly’s rotation is fueled by guys making eight figure salaries, one of the key contributors for Atlanta is a rookie righty who didn’t hear his name called on draft day in 2008. Within the course of a few years, Brandon Beachy has evolved from a part-time pitcher at Indiana Wesleyan who couldn’t buy a Kia with the free agent signing bonus that the Braves gave him ($20,000) to a starter who ranks among the likes of teammate Tommy Hanson and Clayton Kershaw in xFIP. After punching out nearly ten batters per nine innings in his quick trek through the minors and making three starts for Atlanta toward the end of last season, Beachy has a 3.15 xFIP in 42.1 innings pitched in 2011. That’s 15 percent better than the big league average and ranks in the top 20 among NL starting pitchers. How is Beachy befuddling hitters? Let’s take a closer look.
someone should start a list
Carlos Beltran went 3-for-5 with three home runs and six RBIs against the Colorado Rockies Thursday. He hit two-run shots in the first, seventh and ninth innings. It was the first three-homer game of his career.
Greys Greatest hits.
Grey: Carlos Beltran, or as I like to call him Rickie from My So Called Life because of his resemblance, went 3-for-5 with 6 RBIs and 3 homers yesterday. 2006 called they want Beltran back. I’d put Beltran in the same boat as Sizemore. In fact, I did yesterday. He’s not going to steal bases anymore. Those days appear closer in the rearview mirror than they actually are. Beltran hasn’t even attempted a steal this year. Watching him play and you realize Ron Kovic could give him a run for his money. So if someone in your league thinks, Beltran is back to the 30/20 player he once was I’d check raise to the bettor and see what they have to offer.
two n's!
Jordan Zimmerman struck out a career-high 11 hitters in his Thursday outing versus the Atlanta Braves. He allowed three runs on five hits and two walks in 6 1/3 innings, only to watch the bullpen cost him the victory.
Bye Bye Blue.
Jonathan Scippa: Earlier in the week we took a look at which pitchers have been squeezed the most based on total pitches called balls within the PitchFX established strike zone.
sell high
2B Chase Utley (knee) went deep for Single-A Clearwater Thursday, May 12
Props to the three scribes way back in the 1970's that said, "They might as well just give the team to Nolan Ryan", after The Express signed baseballs first million dollar contract ... you were right! That's exactly what they did!
Texas Rangers president Nolan Ryan was approved as the controlling owner of the team Thursday, May 12.
Good thing Hosmer, 21, has Francoeur, 27, advising him at every turn.
ಠ_ಠ
She said always remember never to trust me She said that the first night that she met me She said "there's gonna be a time when I'm gonna have to go with whoever's gonna get me the highest."
Starting Beachy vs Hamels (apparently he's pitching pretty good, eh?), and sitting Arroyo vs Lohse (only so I can use my final start of the week on Lilly vs Ari).
bigh0rt wrote:Funny that on Opening Day, both your 2B and 3B didn't have that eligibility, and your 1B and Util. were both on the WW. That's how #winning is done.
Cafe Home
Fantasy Football
Fantasy Basketball
Fantasy Hockey
by wrveres » Fri May 13, 2011 5:48 am 
![:-]](./images/smilies/smirk.gif "Scottie")
