The Water Cooler
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Title: 2015 Texas Rangers
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Published: Oct 14, 2014
Author: CZ82
Post Date: 2014-10-14 18:08:52 by CZ82
Keywords: None
Views: 376706
Comments: 1454
For those of you who would like to comment on what might happen with the 2015 version of the Texas Rangers or any other MLB team for that matter.
Poster Comment: BTW Stone the Rangers are going to steal Cueto from the Reds!
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#536. To: redleghunter (#532)
Grant: How 'puzzle player' Jeff Banister is piecing together Rangers' lineup amidst injuries If he wasn't reading our posts he wouldn't have a clue!! LOL... “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Good game last night both pitchers went deep before coming out. Chirinos was almost the chump last night (his admission) but ended up being the hero with his walk off homer. You know it seems to me that he hits his HRs later in the game than earlier, which is a good thing. I would say the team likes red Powerade for some reason, maybe it's because it shows up so well on TV and white dresses!! :) “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I'm really surprised at how Chi Chi is pitching in the bigs, he wasn't doing that great down in AAA only was averaging pitching 5 innings. He's pitched 30 innings now and has only given up 3 ERs, that's pretty good for 4 starts those are ACE numbers. Oh BTW did you see Princes "face plant" rounding 3B last night? It had everybody in the dugout rolling and he was even smiling BTA what else could he do.. Here's a video of it... :) http://m.mlb.com/cutfour/2015/06/16/131075062/prince-fielder-belly-flops- rounding-third-base “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I've noticed the Latino players on the Rangers make a very good effort to learn English and speak it in interviews. I think the only player who still uses an interpreter for interviews is Martin Perez and maybe Lyonys Martin. Both are still young players. Plus it helps to learn English in a club house with veteran Latinos who can help them. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Yes great game. I read the article on how Chirinos took responsibility for calling the pitch. However, I watched most of the game and there's more to the story. He and Chi Chi are right about Justin Turner making an adjustment, but it was not a 'figuring out the pitch' adjustment. Turner clearly (from my viewing on TV) adjusted his batting stance to be more 'open.' I remember looking at his feet prior to the pitch and say 'that looks different.' So the adjustment other teams may make on Chi Chi is to actually adjust their stance. Which is a huge adjustment for some players to make. Good news is anytime a pitcher has a batter move his feet around or tweak a stance, chances are they have an adjustment waiting. Chirinos should have caught where Turner's feet were and that he turned his stance more open. Then a call for an outside pitch. Maybe because the slider walked the previous batter they went with what was left in the tank. Oh heck, the kid had a great outing and is human and still only what 22-23 years old? So 'if' Bannister is monitoring our sage advice, see above Banny:) Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Had to watch the replay. I was in the other room doing something and my son yells "dad you gotta see this!" Too funny and the good thing is Prince has been a big boy most his life so he takes it well when he does things like he did last night. Warrior, though...hole in the knee of the pants looked like some blood there too:) Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Like father like son. He actually runs pretty well for a big guy, earlier this year he did a 1st to home on a 2B by Beltre I think. He was safe, not by much but was safe. Speaking of the big boy I wonder if he is going to be in the lineup tonight since there is no DH? Either he or Moreland will sit unless they put Mitch in LF.. Guess I need to go find tonights lineup somewhere. Hmmm can't find a lineup but I did find this... "Without a DH Rangers manager Jeff Banister said the plan is for Mitch Moreland and Prince Fielder to split the next two games against the Dodgers at first base". So I guess Joey may play LF again, maybe... “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I always had my catchers tip off the pitcher as to just exactly how deep/shallow the batter was in the box, cause after the 1st inning the batters box was usually gone. And if you were 2nd, 3rd or 4th game it was nothing but a hole on either side of the plate. If he's shallow you pitch deep and vice versa, if he's crowding the plate you pitch inside and vice versa. The box being gone also lent itself to the umpire calling deeper strikes especially if your pitcher had a pretty arc. A lot of teams just never picked that up but we did and won a hell of more often than they did... :) “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
And to think I seen an article a week or so ago about using him to get Hamels, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Just found a lineup looks like both Prince and Mitch are getting the night off, (getting as many RH bats in the lineup as possible) Joey is in LF. Looks like Banny wants to see how Joey will do against a good LH pitcher like Kershaw, this "might" help determine if he will stay or go when Adrian comes back. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
And to think I seen an article a week or so ago about using him to get Hamels, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!! Now one pitcher I could see them going after from the Phillies is reliever Ken Giles, he would make a nice addition to the BP. He would be a very good 8th inning setup man and maybe a closer with some more experience, the boy can bring some heat 99 MPH!! But as he is a reliever I wouldn't give up any of the more promising prospects in the system for him. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Looks like Banny wants to see how Joey will do against a good LH pitcher like Kershaw, this "might" help determine if he will stay or go when Adrian comes back. Looks like Prince getting the night off went out the window Blanks came up lame again, but all's good he went yard in the 9th to give them a little cushion. Kela came in for the 9th and did alright nothing spectacular, wonder if he's going to be tried out for the closers role I wouldn't think just yet but....... Joeys "interview" against Kershaw went alright even though he had 3 Ks for the night. After the first K he made the adjustment and made Kershaw pay then Kershaw made the next one and struck him out for the 2nd time, good battle nonetheless. It's obvious he still has some learning to do but he's doing alright so far. Latest thing I heard about Beltre is that he still can't grip a bat, looks like Joey will be around a bit longer. :) “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Fraley article this morning...best quote from Kershaw: “This is probably the most frustrating game I’ve ever pitched,” said Kershaw, the three-time National League Cy Young winner. Frustrating because two young left-handed hitters beat Kershaw in the first career start against his home-town team. 3 straight against probably the toughest line up in the NL if not the MLB. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
A lot of teams just never picked that up but we did and won a hell of more often than they did... :) Yes a good catcher and coach will teach a pitcher to work the batter's stance. Some kids are either so far off the plate when hitting or crowding the plate. Out of the three catchers I used this year two were really good where to put the 'target' for the pitch. Hitting that target by the pitchers at that age is sometimes a crap shoot:) Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
NO WAY!!! Chi Chi is a keeper. That's future material there. He is (like Gallo) learning with each pitch, each batter, each game. Both are intelligent baseball players and talented. They are keepers {you hear that JD}:) Who's the idiot calling for that trade? Fraley or Grant? Or someone else? Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Joeys "interview" against Kershaw went alright even though he had 3 Ks for the night. After the first K he made the adjustment and made Kershaw pay then Kershaw made the next one and struck him out for the 2nd time, good battle nonetheless. It's obvious he still has some learning to do but he's doing alright so far. Latest thing I heard about Beltre is that he still can't grip a bat, looks like Joey will be around a bit longer. :) Watched most of the game (tired of course today:)) Good game. Joey going yard and frustrating Kershaw. Odor had a good night and Prince with the clutch insurance run. Kela 'going after' the toughest part of the Dodgers order. I like this team:) The 'kids' on the Rangers don't scare easy. They are aggressive. I like that. That is Texas baseball. Kela even threw two high heaters to Puig to get him off the plate. Then pitched him low and outside to get him to swing wild. Good stuff. Nolan Ryan would be proud. Freeman was a stud. He whipped that 97-98 mph fastball by some very good batters. Another hold for him. Now we face Greinke tonight. Right handed pitcher so Gallo in again and we will probably see Mitch tonight. Fielder as a PH later in the game. If you rattle Greinke's cage early he makes awful mistakes. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Grant mentioned it in the Rangers blog, I think he worded it as "Would you trade Chi Chi Gonzalez for Cole Hamels"?? Now that I do some snooping I see Hamels has been dropped from his Friday start because of hamstring issues. So now he might be damaged goods which is a good thing in my mind cause it "SHOULD" scare Daniels away from that deal. BTA the Phillies could use a "good" (cough, cough) SS theirs isn't that hot, so trade "Evis" and a prospect or 2 if JD is damned bound and determined to do the deal... That trade I would do in a heartbeat!! “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
They called up Renaudo to give the starters some extra rest, hope he does better than his last start he wasn't too good. Did you see that David Murphy came it to pitch for Cleveland last night when they were blown out? “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
You would think that Kershaw would know not to throw to most LH power hitters low and inside, guess not. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Good GM decision there:)
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Renaudo hanging in there. Almost lost the bubble in the bottom 5th but Puig lined out with two on. Renaudo was hanging some off speed stuff the Dodgers kept missing. Hope they have Bass ready. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Yes Murphy came in relief in 2013 during a blow out.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Renaudo made it to 6-2/3 before they brought in Detwiler. Kela just balked in the winning run in the bottom of the 9th and they lose 1-0. And I thought I had seen everything. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Ouch lost on a balk in the bottom of the 9th with Kela on the mound. He had a 1-2 count and balked.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
I see you're still up too, hope you took a nap earlier like I did or your butt is gonna be draggin tomorrow... :)
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Yep a little stutter step after he set to pitch. I'm sure he will receive some counseling:) Dodgers were desperate not to be swept:) Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Lot of fly ball outs last night. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I watched the replay and he looked like he was going to try to pick the guy off at 3rd and then changed his mind, just looked like he shifted his balance slightly then stopped instead of finishing the move. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Now they have to go play the Giants who IIRC swept them earlier this year. Now that I've seen the Dodgers and their gazillion dollar payroll I'm not impressed, looks like they need to send about 1/2 of it packing and start new. Rangers now get to go to Chi town and see if they can beat Chris Sale. Also seen that Perez and Josh could start their rehab assignments as early as Monday, Adrian still can't swing a bat. Harrison is still down on his velocity during rehab and can stay there until 2 July, then they have to decide if he comes to Arlington or do something else. I have a sneaking suspicion he'll do one start then they'll find a reason to get him some more rehab especially if he's bombed. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Dodgers were desperate not to be swept:) When you watched the game Wed night did you see this happen?? Hopefully the next time they see each other Kela prangs the first Dodger who comes to the plate, if it isn't in a tight situation. :) That would tick Mattingly off court and show him the kid won't be rattled. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
I just found this looks like his MRI went alright, wasn't it last Friday? “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Well they activated Rua and recalled Claudio, optioned Renaudo back to RR and designated Smolinski for assignment. Makes me wonder if this isn't the last we'll see of Smolinski?
“Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Yes I saw the sleeve thing. First time I ever saw that. Rule is you must have two sleeve extensions not just one like Kela did. Kela sent two high heaters to Puigs head. That might have ticked Mattingly off.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Took the family to Harrison's rehab assignment tonight at RR. He looked good and got the FB up to 92-93mph. Not bad. Oh the box score looks worse than the performance. RR infield and outfield combined for 4 errors. Harry was getting ground balls mostly. Good news . Ground balls not finding the Infielder gloves. Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Oh yeah there was a benches and bull pen clearing fight at the game.
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. (Psalm 62:1-2)
Fastballs, faith and family: Pat Neshek on Father's Day 17h - MLB, Houston Astros Eddie Matz, ESPN The Magazine The house is a collection of collections, starting with the jerseys. Fourteen of them, to be exact. All the way from high school through the big leagues and everywhere in between, each of them framed and overlooking the staircase that leads to the second story from the kitchen. Just off the back of the kitchen, in the family room, there's another collection, a cluster of framed photos hanging on an otherwise stark wall. One is of a glowing mother kissing her newborn. Another shows a beaming father kissing the same infant. A third is the baby by himself. In each shot, Gehrig Neshek is one day old, just as he is in the fourth and final piece in the series, a photo of father, mother and son. Then there are the baseballs, Lord knows how many. Locked in a safe is one signed by Babe Ruth. On a shelf in the family room are two more, each containing a tiny black footprint taken from Gehrig the day he was born. But the most priceless baseball in Pat Neshek's collection -- the most precious object in the entire house -- sits on the entertainment center in the master bedroom and has a rubber stopper on the bottom. Tucked inside it are Gehrig's ashes. The journeyman reliever sits in the skipper's office, his face flush with disappointment. He's been lights-out in this 2012 spring training, but baseball is a numbers game. He'll start in Norfolk, Virginia, playing Triple-A ball. "You'll be back soon," Orioles manager Buck Showalter tells him. The journeyman believes him. Believes him so much that he doesn't even bother getting an apartment in Norfolk. Instead, he uses Priceline.com. His wife, who is three months pregnant with their first child, is staying at their Melbourne, Florida, home for the duration of the season. A hotel will do just fine, thanks. Before the Norfolk Tides' first homestand, Neshek books a four-star hotel. After all, it's only a matter of time before he gets called up. The next couple of homestands, it's three stars. When June rolls around, he's still stuck in Norfolk, 800 miles from his wife and unborn child, Pricelining one-star dives for 30 bucks a night. For the first time since shredding his elbow back in '08, Neshek feels like his mojo is back. The velocity is there. The K's are there. During one two-month stretch as Norfolk's closer, he goes 16 straight appearances without allowing a run. Still, the phone never rings. I got something here, he thinks, but nobody sees it. It's the final series of the 2012 regular season, just hours before the start of a three-game set against the first-place Texas Rangers. The pitcher squirms in the general manager's office, uncertain of how to deliver the news. "My wife's pregnant," he says. "She's about to have the baby." He tells the GM about the headaches and the blurred vision she's been having and how she's been diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. He asks to leave the team immediately. Under normal circumstances, it would be a no-brainer. But these are not normal circumstances: With a win in the opener, Oakland can clinch a playoff spot. Billy Beane, the controversial and obsessive subject of "Moneyball," is the GM. "We need you tonight," Beane says. "It's the only picture we have of all three of us," says Neshek of the image of Gehrig, Stephanee and Pat taken the day after his son was born. Josh Goleman Truth is, the A's have needed Neshek a lot down the stretch. He's pitched three of the past four days and appeared in nearly half the team's games since the trade from Baltimore in early August. Neshek stares at the floor, conflicted. As badly as he wants to push the issue, he knows he's something of a baseball vagabond -- the A's are his fourth club in two years -- and would be better served holding his tongue. So he clenches his jaw and listens, first as Beane scolds him for not revealing the pregnancy earlier, then as the GM begrudgingly grants him permission to fly back East. But not until after the game. With the smell of champagne still in his hair -- the A's clinch the playoff spot with a 4-3 win in which he doesn't pitch -- Neshek hops a predawn flight to Orlando, where his father, Gene, waits for him. On the hourlong drive south to Melbourne, the two talk about what fathers and sons often talk about: baseball. They talk about the playoffs and about the once-in-a-career clubhouse chemistry Pat has stumbled upon in Oakland. They talk about the impending arrival of Gene's first grandchild, whom Pat and Stephanee will call Gehrig, after the legendary Yankees first baseman. They arrive at the hospital just before sunset, just in time for Pat to witness the arrival of an 8-pound, 5-ounce baby boy. Just past midnight, after snapping a few photos, fetching Dunkin' Donuts for his wife and holding Gehrig in his arms, a bleary-eyed Pat -- he's been up for two days straight -- goes home and crashes. He returns to the hospital the next morning and spends a few hours there before leaving around noon so that Stephanee, who barely slept overnight, can take a much-needed nap. He kills time by walking the dogs and tuning in to the A's-Rangers game. It's the final day of the season, and the two teams are now in a flat-footed tie for first. Whoever wins game No. 162 will be the AL West champion. In the fourth inning, right after Neshek watches Rangers center fielder Josh Hamilton drop a routine fly ball that would've been the third out but instead breaks the game wide open and essentially hands the A's the division title, the phone rings. It's Stephanee. "You gotta get down here right now," she says. "He stopped breathing." Stephanee and her friend Robin are sitting in the maternity ward, eating veggie burritos, talking about motherhood. "Does he always look that yellow?" Robin asks. Stephanee looks down at Gehrig and notices he isn't moving. Not responding. So she shakes him gently. Still nothing. "Something's wrong with my baby!" she screams, as she runs to the nurse's desk just across the hall. Before she knows it, Gehrig is plucked from her arms and whisked away to the nursery. She follows closely behind, but when she tries to go through the double doors, a barricade of nurses stops her. "That's the mom," one of the nurses shouts. "Don't let her in there!" As he speeds over the causeway, Pat chokes the steering wheel and waits for an update from his wife. But his cell sits there, silent. When he finally gets to the hospital and finds Stephanee, she is sitting on the edge of her bed, shaking. He sits beside his wife and puts his arm around her. "What happened?" he asks. "Pat Neshek opens a small closet and sees a plastic bag containing a tiny Oakland A's onesie with a matching knit hat and booties. He grabs the bag and wheels his wife out of the room. They leave the flowers. They leave the balloons. They leave their son." His heart pounding as he listens to his wife finish the story, Pat springs up and rushes down the hall to the nursery windows, where the shades have always been open. Where just yesterday he watched Gehrig sleep peacefully. Only now the shades are drawn shut. Every last one of them. When Pat gets back to the room, Stephanee is where he left her, on the edge of the bed facing the door. Behind her, sitting in chairs on the other side of the bed, are Pat's parents. He sits next to his wife once more and waits. A couple of minutes later, just after 6 p.m., a doctor enters the room, accompanied by five nurses. They stand in a line, shoulder to shoulder, facing the bed. An older nurse -- Pat recognizes her as the one who took care of his wife earlier that morning -- is shaking her head and holding back tears. The doctor, a middle-aged woman whom neither Pat nor Stephanee has met before, speaks: "We tried to resuscitate him, but it was too late," she says flatly. "He didn't make it." Pat turns and looks at Stephanee. Her head is tilted toward the floor, and she's bawling. As he reaches out to embrace her, he starts sobbing too. Behind him, he hears his father shrieking, "Noooo!" A social worker comes in and asks if they want to say goodbye. Pat walks down the cold corridor, holding his wife's hand tightly. When they reach the room where Gehrig is, they look in and see a nurse cradling their son. The sight of his ashen face and sunken eyes is more than Stephanee can bear. "I can't do this!" she wails. She drops her husband's hand, turns around and runs back to her room. Pat stands there a moment, not knowing what to do, then opens the door and holds his baby boy for the last time. Back in the room, Pat sits, numb, and watches his wife sign an autopsy consent form. It's been only a few hours since she filled out the paperwork for Gehrig's social security card. He hears a staffer come in and tell Stephanee, who endured 13 hours of labor, that she's welcome to stay as long as she likes. No thank you, she says. They need to leave. Need to be anywhere but here. So they pack up. Pat opens a small closet and sees a plastic bag containing a tiny Oakland A's onesie with a matching knit hat and booties. He grabs the bag and wheels his wife out of the room. They leave the flowers. They leave the balloons. They leave their son. The bereaved baseball player arrives in Detroit, just before Game 1 of the team's AL Division Series, to find every member of his surrogate family wearing a black, circular GJN patch on his right uniform sleeve. Gehrig John Neshek, says the birth certificate. And the death certificate. Three days after his son died, Neshek returned to the mound in the seventh inning of Game 1 of an American League Division Series. Wearing the same circular GJN patch on his sleeve as each of his teammates, he induced two key outs against the Tigers. Gregory Shamus/Getty Images "We probably won't use you today," manager Bob Melvin tells the reliever during pregame warmups. That evening, as the brisk northern night darkens, Neshek sits on a cold metal bench in the visitors' bullpen, wearing out a wad of Bazooka bubble gum and wondering if the phone will ring. In the seventh inning, it does. Just like that, Neshek is up and throwing. Holy s---, he thinks, I'm actually gonna pitch. Next thing he knows, he's standing atop the mound in front of 43,000 screaming fans, numbed by adrenaline. He retires both batters he faces; and as he walks off the hill, Neshek barely knows where he is. Oh yeah, he thinks to himself, we lost our baby. He points to the sky and touches his glove to the patch on his shoulder. The autopsy report cites "heart failure" as the cause of death, but according to Neshek, medical experts who review the records suggest the hospital might have been negligent -- that the facts don't quite add up. The rushed autopsy papers and missing placenta. That Stephanee tested positive for Group B strep, a bacterial infection that can affect both mother and child, but was given the wrong antibiotic, thereby exposing Gehrig to the infection during the 12 hours after Stephanee's water broke. That infection, the experts say, ultimately could be what stopped the baby's heart. After Gehrig's death, Stephanee grieves by seeing a psychologist and forming a bond with another woman who recently lost an infant. Pat turns inward, losing himself in his lifelong passion: collecting. Instead of the one or two hours a day he usually spends with his baseball cards in the offseason, it's more like four or five. He zones out on eBay and works on building his prized 1970 Topps set, the one he started collecting in 2009, the one that's rated a 9.42 out of 10 (best in the world) and features a second-season Nolan Ryan card worth 30 grand. He leaves the house infrequently because when he does, all he sees are strollers. He doesn't drink or smoke. Instead he uses a plain green plastic binder, the one that houses his precious '70s set, to dull the pain of that first holiday season, when there's no tree and no presents and, wouldn't you know it, parents with a newborn sitting right behind the Nesheks at church on Christmas Eve. The following season in Oakland, Neshek finds himself in a flat spin. He's fallen in love with his slider and throws it almost exclusively. Eventually, the scouting report is out. Hitters know what's coming and react accordingly. He thinks back to the beginning of his career, with the Twins, when the heater was his primary weapon. When his low-90s fastball played more like high-90s thanks to an unorthodox sidearm delivery -- Neshek's college coach still calls him a mechanical train wreck -- that baffled hitters from day one. Neshek remembers how, in 2006, he set an MLB record for most strikeouts in his first 100 batters (38), only to rupture an elbow ligament two years later. He recalls returning in 2010 after a 17-month recovery from Tommy John surgery to find that his velocity had dropped nearly 10 miles an hour. Three years later, he still has no faith in his heat. No faith in anything, really. As little faith as Neshek has in his fastball, the A's come to have even less faith in him. According to Baseball Reference's Average Leverage Index (aLI), whereby a normal relief pitching situation is assigned a value of 1.0 (closers who throw high-tension innings at the end of the game typically come in anywhere between 1.5 and 2.0), Neshek's aLI of 0.342 is MLB's lowest in 2013. In other words, no team in baseball has less faith in any pitcher than Oakland has in Pat Neshek. Not surprisingly, Neshek has trouble finding work after the 2013 season. "I think I might be done," the pitcher tells his wife one morning while they're out in Melbourne walking the dogs along a quiet street with no sidewalks. Slender palm trees wrapped in Christmas lights line the way. It's January, and Stephanee, pregnant again, is starting to show. In the three months since the season ended, the Brewers are the only team that has called, and their offer is borderline insulting: a minor league deal for $15,000 a month. "It's just not worth it anymore," Pat tells Stephanee. But in late January, when the Cardinals call with a spring training invitation, he reconsiders. He knows there's little to no chance of a pitcher like him -- a freak show sidearmer who could maybe touch 90 mph with his fastball if a gale-force wind blows in from center field -- cracking the defending champs' roster. That is, if he even has the courage to throw the fastball. But a spring training invite is a spring training invite. Better yet, Neshek also knows that because the Cardinals train in Jupiter, Florida -- just 90 minutes south of Melbourne -- he won't have to be away from Stephanee during her last trimester. He demands a couple of opt-out dates. If he doesn't make the big club, he won't spend another season in the minors. He waits a couple of weeks, just in case anyone else calls. No one does. So on Feb. 6, 2014, six days before pitchers and catchers report, Neshek signs with St. Louis. On the first day of live batting practice, Cardinals manager Mike Matheny stands behind the backstop and watches as hitter after hitter flails at Neshek's train wreck cheese. "They can't pick up your fastball," Matheny says. The manager is so surprised that he walks out from behind the backstop and steps into the box himself -- he needs to check out Neshek's fastball firsthand. After watching a few deliveries whiz by, he shakes his head and smiles in disbelief. "Jesus," he says, "you keep throwing like this and I'll use the crap out of you." In early March, smack dab in the middle of an audition for a job he thinks he has no business getting, Neshek leaves the team to be with his wife. Stephanee isn't due until April, but she's had another rough pregnancy. Once again, she's pre-eclamptic. The headaches and blurred vision have returned. She has gained 12 pounds in a week. And now she's about to have a C-section three weeks early. "Take as much time as you need," Matheny tells Neshek. GM John Mozeliak says the same thing. Both of them know the family history. They know about Gehrig. As for Neshek, he thinks he'll be gone one day, maybe two. Be there for the birth, make sure everything's OK, then back to baseball. An aging journeyman on the outside looking in, he can't afford to be scarcer than that. And besides, his wife will be in good hands. Stephanee will give birth at a big Orlando hospital this time around. Hoyt Robert Neshek is born on Thursday, March 13, with an air pocket outside his lungs. A pneumothorax, the doctors call it. Between that and the pneumonia, the doctors have no choice but to send him directly to the neonatal intensive care unit. For three hours after the delivery, the Nesheks don't see their child. This can't be happening, Pat thinks. Not again. Around midnight, when a nurse finally comes to escort Pat to the NICU, it's almost too much to bear. Hoyt's little body hooked up to all kinds of wires, a heater keeping him warm. Pat touches his baby boy ever so gently. Then he snaps a picture. The next day, he checks on his son every two hours, like clockwork. "He's a fighter," another nurse says. Pat thinks, A fighter? Holy s---, this is serious. Anxious about missing too much time at work, he calls Mozeliak. "Don't worry about baseball," the GM tells the pitcher. "Just worry about being a father." Four months after fearing that his career was over, Neshek was pitching in the All-Star Game in his hometown of Minneapolis. Mark Cunningham/MLB Photos/Getty Images Finally, on Sunday night, Hoyt turns the corner. The next day, Neshek returns to the team. Two weeks later, the Cardinals break camp. On the way to St. Louis, they stop in Memphis to play one final spring training game against their Triple-A club. Neshek assumes he'll be one of the final cuts and will be asked to start the season in the minors. But with a bunch of over-the-top flamethrowers already in the bullpen, the Cardinals like that Neshek gives them a different look. What was Oakland's trash is now the Cardinals' treasure. "We were hoping to catch lightning in a bottle," Mozeliak says. "And we did." Neshek starts 2014 without a clearly defined role. He pitches when the Cards are ahead; he pitches when they're behind. Sometimes he works the sixth inning, other times he works the seventh or eighth. He even finishes a handful of games. But no matter when or where Matheny uses him, Neshek steamrolls: Through May, he allows just 10 hits in 24 2/3 innings with an absurd 27-3 K/BB ratio. By the time June rolls around, he's an eighth-inning staple. A month later, just shy of his 34th birthday, he's named an All-Star for the first time in his career. In a matter of months, he's gone from baseball's most forgotten mop-up man to its most dominant setup man. In his hometown of Minneapolis, Neshek stands on the mound in the fifth inning of the Midsummer Classic and looks up and into the crowd. He spots his wife and baby boy and nods his head, marveling at how he arrived at this All-Star Game appearance, at how the fastball has come back to him, at how the low-70s changeup has been confounding lefties again, at how he's winning late-inning battles against veteran stars such as Andrew McCutchen and Jonathan Lucroy with first place on the line. At how his son has brought a different kind of perspective to his pitching -- the kind that comes from being a father. "Hoyt was a huge reason I was so successful," says Neshek, who lived with his wife and son in an apartment right next to Busch Stadium during the 2014 season. "Every day I knew I was going to come home and see the little guy laughing." Stephanee agrees. "The game wasn't as stressful for Pat because he was in such a better place at home," she says. "Hoyt was his good-luck charm." The house is a collection of collections, starting with the jerseys. Hanging above the staircase next to the kitchen, all the way from Park Center High to St. Louis and everywhere in between. At some point, an Astros jersey will join the exhibit: During the offseason, Neshek, one of the most coveted pitchers on the free-agent market after helping the Cardinals get to the NLCS last year, signs a guaranteed two-year, $12.5 million contract with Houston. The second year alone will net him $6.5 million, which is $5.5 million more than he's ever earned in a season. The deal is paying off for both sides: The surprising Astros lead the AL West, and Neshek leads the team with 29 appearances and is tied for the most holds in the majors, with 18. He doesn't issue his first walk until June 7, in his 25th game of the year. "Hoyt was a huge reason why I was so successful [in 2014]," Neshek says. "Every day, I knew I was going to come home and see the little guy laughing." Josh Goleman In the winter, before he reports to the Astros for spring training, there's a new card collection too, in the house, just off the front of the kitchen, in the dining room. Not baseball cards; holiday cards. They dangle from the archway that connects the two rooms, facing the front door and greeting all who enter. There's a card from Eric Sogard, the A's infielder who was Neshek's roommate out West. There's one from outfielder Coco Crisp, another close friend from the Oakland days. Both cards feature smiling, Rockwellian photos of the players with their families. Neshek has buoyed the Astros' bullpen; through June 18, he was tied for the most holds in the majors, with 18. Kevin Sousa/Icon Sportswire/AP Images Then there are the dachshunds. Four of them now -- including a white one named Kirby, a blond one named Juicy, a black one named Lulu who generally does not like people but makes a special exception for Sogard. Four days before New Year's Eve, the dogs scamper in and out of the dining room as Yuletide music fills the space. A squealing towheaded child, blue-eyed and pink-cheeked, cruises around a 15-foot evergreen in an exersaucer. Nine months old and already 27 pounds, Hoyt looks like the Gerber baby, supersized. "We're so thrilled to have him," says Pat, seated at the dining room table with Stephanee. "But whenever I look at him, I can't help but think how cool it'd be if his older brother were here." He glances toward the front door and smiles. Out on the front porch, the fourth wiener dog -- an oversized inflatable one dressed in a red jacket and matching red Santa cap -- sends a clear message to the neighborhood: After two years absent from the Neshek household, Christmas has returned. http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/13090519/how-fatherhood-helped-houston-astros-reliever-pat-neshek-rediscover-fastball Here thought you might like this little Fathers day story from Pat Neshek. There is a good video and some good pictures at the link. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
So what was that all about?? Let me guess either they were throwing at each other or they were just tired of each others dugout running it's mouth?? :) “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Not bad. Oh the box score looks worse than the performance. RR infield and outfield combined for 4 errors. Harry was getting ground balls mostly. Good news . Ground balls not finding the Infielder gloves. Sounds like he's pretty much back to his old self. Can't wait to see him back in Arlington, in a "6" man rotation!! IIRC he only threw about 93-94 tops anyway? “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
So the rain has finally stopped down there long enough to go see a game, cool. We are dealing with the remnants of the tropical storm that passed thru there a few days ago. Looks like it's going to rain all day but only a slow steady rain. I need to mow the grass but that ain't gonna happen unless I put on a rainsuit and get out the old weed whip... NOT!! :) I'd bet a lot of the lakes are filling back up with all the rain you guys have had lately, I know some of them were pretty low. I've been wanting to do a fishing trip down there to my old "Fishing grounds" (Lake Coleman, Lake Brownwood and Lake Ivie) but from what I've seen from the fishing reports most of them the boat ramps were out of the water. Oh well... “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Good job kid keep it up!! “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
Then this means you missed a good pitchers duel, both Sale and Colby went 8 innings but Sale was the more dominating with 14Ks and only 2 hits. But once he came out of the game they found a way to get to Robertson for 2 runs to win the game. Good clutch pinch hit by Mitch to get the runs home. Astros lost so they picked up a game and are 6 over .500 for the first time in who knows how long. Todays afternoon game is Martinez vs Rodon. “Political correctness is a doctrine, fostered by a delusional, illogical minority, and rapidly promoted by mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.”
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#537. To: redleghunter (#533)
(Edited)
#538. To: redleghunter, Liberator (#532)
You have to admit for the most part guys they've brought up from the minors and guys other teams have released have done the job they've been asked to do. Otherwise they would be in last place at least 20 games under .500, maybe more...
#539. To: CZ82 (#535)
I would also imagine he got his ass chewed (thru an interpreter of course nobody speaks English nowadays) over his behavior...
#540. To: CZ82 (#537)
#541. To: CZ82 (#538)
Oh BTW did you see Princes "face plant" rounding 3B last night? It had everybody in the dugout rolling and he was even smiling BTA what else could he do..
#542. To: redleghunter (#541)
Too funny and the good thing is Prince has been a big boy most his life
#543. To: redleghunter (#540)
Chirinos should have caught where Turner's feet were and that he turned his stance more open. Then a call for an outside pitch.
#544. To: redleghunter (#540)
Oh heck, the kid had a great outing and is human and still only what 22-23 years old?
#545. To: redleghunter, Justified (#542)
#546. To: All (#544)
Oh heck, the kid had a great outing and is human and still only what 22-23 years old?
#547. To: redleghunter, Justified (#545)
Just found a lineup looks like both Prince and Mitch are getting the night off, (getting as many RH bats in the lineup as possible) Joey is in LF.
#548. To: CZ82 (#538)
#549. To: CZ82 (#543)
If he's shallow you pitch deep and vice versa, if he's crowding the plate you pitch inside and vice versa. The box being gone also lent itself to the umpire calling deeper strikes especially if your pitcher had a pretty arc.
#550. To: CZ82 (#544)
And to think I seen an article a week or so ago about using him to get Hamels, NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!
#551. To: CZ82 (#547)
Looks like Prince getting the night off went out the window Blanks came up lame again, but all's good he went yard in the 9th to give them a little cushion. Kela came in for the 9th and did alright nothing spectacular, wonder if he's going to be tried out for the closers role I wouldn't think just yet but.......
#552. To: redleghunter (#550)
Who's the idiot calling for that trade? Fraley or Grant? Or someone else?
#553. To: redleghunter (#551)
Now we face Greinke tonight. Right handed pitcher so Gallo in again and we will probably see Mitch tonight. Fielder as a PH later in the game. If you rattle Greinke's cage early he makes awful mistakes.
#554. To: redleghunter (#551)
Joey going yard and frustrating Kershaw.
#555. To: CZ82 (#552)
#556. To: CZ82 (#553)
#557. To: CZ82 (#553)
#558. To: redleghunter (#556)
(Edited)
#559. To: CZ82 (#552)
#560. To: redleghunter (#559)
#561. To: CZ82 (#558)
#562. To: redleghunter (#556)
Renaudo was hanging some off speed stuff the Dodgers kept missing.
#563. To: redleghunter (#561)
Yep a little stutter step after he set to pitch. I'm sure he will receive some counseling:)
#564. To: redleghunter (#561)
Dodgers were desperate not to be swept:)
#565. To: redleghunter (#561)
Manager Jeff Banister said rookie reliever Keone Kela handled a potentially disruptive situation well on the way to getting his first save on Thursday. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly had Kela remove a sleeve from his left arm before his first pitch. Banister declined to say whether this was gamesmanship by Mattingly.
#566. To: redleghunter (#561)
Left-hander Derek Holland, out because of a strained shoulder muscle, will start a progressive two-week throwing program. He will undergo another MRI before returning to the mound.
#567. To: redleghunter (#561)
#568. To: CZ82 (#565)
#569. To: CZ82 (#566)
#570. To: CZ82 (#565)
#571. To: redleghunter, Justified, SOSO (#570)
#572. To: redleghunter (#570)
Oh yeah there was a benches and bull pen clearing fight at the game.
#573. To: redleghunter (#569)
Took the family to Harrison's rehab assignment tonight at RR. He looked good and got the FB up to 92-93mph.
#574. To: redleghunter (#569)
Took the family to Harrison's rehab assignment tonight at RR. He looked good and got the FB up to 92-93mph.
#575. To: redleghunter (#568)
Kela sent two high heaters to Puigs head. That might have ticked Mattingly off.
#576. To: redleghunter (#569)
Took the family to Harrison's rehab assignment tonight at RR.
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