With the start of honest-to-goodness real-live almost-competitive games yesterday, I figure the off-season is officially over, so time for a new thread.
Starting now, everything ‘counts’, so we need to start dissecting every move with a fine toothed comb…unless things don’t go too well, in which case it’s ‘only Spring Training’.
And to kick things off, here’s something you don’t see every day…the A’s have got themselves a switch-pitcher.
I remember the last switch pitcher, Greg Harris. I remember he had a special glove to allow him to switch from arm to arm. He was nothing special, but that’s pretty amazing to be able to throw with major league velocity from both sides.
As for spring training, I’m keeping an eye on the Red Sox. I hope their big name acquisitions don’t bust.
Can we please get the Cole Hamels trade either done or abandoned? I’m sick of it already. It’s probably going into mid-season, though.
Hoping Allen Craig is healthy and gets his stroke back. We can use the hitter he used to be.
Almost forgot about Craig, but yeah if he can provide a bat at 1B that would be nice. I’m more concerned with Pablo and Hanley performing up to expectations. Particularly Pablo - I did not like signing him, but we’ll see how it goes.
And Venditte Looks Like The Real Deal. God Bless Billy Beane. Sign him up Billy, sign him up.
I saw Venditte pitch in the low minors. Unfortunately he pitched just one inning and retired the side in order; the fourth batter due up hit left and would’ve forced him to switch sides, but the first three all hit righty.
Still, watching him warm up was cool.
Does anyone know the rule regarding a switch hitting batter versus a switch hitting pitcher in MLB?
How is it decided what side of the plate the hitter will hit and what arm the pitcher will use to pitch with?
Also, can that change from pitch to pitch?
I assume the rule they came up with in the minors will apply:
I remember when he was in the Yankee organization, a little dance would start when a switch hitter came up.
I’m already tired of hearing about the Wrigley bleacher renovations and how they won’t be done. I’m quite sure Ricketts knew there was no way they’d get all that work done in the offseason during a Chicago winter. Now, they get to have a special bleacher reopening game for both the left and right field bleachers.
Best part of a switch pitcher is you can just alternate the elbows on which you get TJ.
Will Josh Hamilton ever play again?
The union is fully backing him, for whatever that’s worth. At least they’re not wishing he’d just go away like they did with ARod.
He’s already 33, with an injury history as well as the drug problem. If he’s back in it anywhere nearly as deeply as he was before, then yes, realistically he’s done.
Damn, Hunter Pence broke his arm. Grrrr
I really hope Josh Hamilton goes away. This coddled man child is a pathetic excuse of a human being as well a a ball player. Him and Jesus are best buds when he’s hitting home runs. When it comes to drinking, drugging, cheating on his wife, base running stupidity, or quitting on his teammates, Hamilton has one lousy excuse after another.
When he’s out of baseball, he’ll have more time for Real Housewives and he’ll be remembered as a trivia question and example of an awful contract.
I wonder if he put off his surgery because he was more interested in drinking and snorting cocaine?
It’s OK, his species heals quickly.
Seriously, it sucks, but it shouldn’t be disastrous. It was a non-displaced fracture, so it ought to heal just fine, and Pence is one player in whom I have absolute faith that he’ll keep him myself in shape while recovering. They’re saying 6-8 weeks; I’ll take the ‘under’ on that one.
And the potential bonus (for me, anyway) is that he might need to spend a few days in AAA to get his timing back…and Raley Field is a 5 minute drive from my house. 
The Texas Rangers must be cursed. Yu Darvish hurt his arm. He will probably need Tommy John surgery after his first outing in spring training.
It’s going to be a long year in Arizona. The Dbacks are starting Josh Collmenter opening day. He’s basically a long relief guy
Royals start out spring training by scoring their first six batters, and are now 6-0. I don’t care that it “doesn’t count”, this is very enjoyable too.
It amazes me the dead horses sports talk radio will beat. Kris Bryant is not starting the season with the Cubs. It’s 3 weeks of the season, with a series at Coors. There’s going to be rain and/or snow outs. The Cubs won’t win or lose the NL Central in April. You squeeze every year you can from a Scott Boras client.