Was Mazzilli teaching Ponson a lesson?

[sosafan]

by leaving him in there for 128 pitches and a thorough beatdown from the Yanks?

Remember last time out, the TV caught Ponson laughing as he was getting shelled by the yanks last week.

[sosafan]

anybody have any comments?

[Registered_Guest]

Yeah, but not positive ones. Ponson is a fat, unmotivated slob.

Can't believe the O's signed him for that much money long term. He's a #3 starter tops.

Right now for fantasy teams he's obviously not much more than a spot starter.

I have no clue if they were teaching him a lesson, but he quite possibly could be the worst #1 starter in baseball right now.

[Ziggy Zoggy]

Ponson is the #1 fat slob in the majors. Colon is doing his best to catch him though.

[donut]

Ponson is the #1 fat slob in the majors. Colon is doing his best to catch him though.

lol..i'm a big angel fan but...damn, that was funny

[matmat]

yeah... sir shrek is living up to his nickname... too bad he doesn't have a few more incentive clauses in his contract...

[tlef316]

i knew ponson was not a # 1 starter, and im glad to see him(or any pitcher) get beat down by the yankees. ponson is chan ho park Eastern edition, only fatter. seems like he took that new pay check straight to mcdonalds.

[G-Man]

the O's commentators were absolutely ripping ponson last night, commenting on how he says he is a leader but he can't even keep himself in shape and appears utterly unmotivated. the guy must have been pitching way over his head last season btu i don't think he is THIS bad....

[mcmahojl]

I think he really is that bad. He was playing way over his head last year, then when he got traded to SF, he pitched like crap under the pressure of contention. After that nightnmare, the geniuses up in the O's front office thought that it would be a great idea to sign this guy agian...as a top starter?!? As lucky as he should have felt with this signing, he still shows up to sping training fat and out of shape. No offseason workout? I dont get it. I never liked this guy, and never thought he would be any good, even after a slightly-above-par season last year.

[slomo007]

Everyone is being way too hard on Ponson. Look at the teams he has had to face in the most recent starts:

6/1/04 NYY
5/27/04 NYY
5/22/04 ANA
5/16/04 ANA
5/11/04 CWS
5/5/04 CWS

He also faced Boston twice earlier in the year. Even the "easy" matchups he has had came against good Cleveland and Toronto teams. Tampa Bay has been his only true easy matchup, and he pitched a CG against them.

That being said, I realize he plays in a tough division, so he won't have a lot of easy matchups. I'm just trying to point out that he doesn't have a lot of value...not because he sucks...but because the teams he plays against are just too good. NL pitchers have a MUCH easier schedule, and are therefore worth more IMO. I am trying to deal Schilling, due to the fact I don't think he is going to have numbers anywhere close to those he had in the NL West.