Reading Material

Rany Jazayerli of Baseball Prospectus explains his unhealthy obsession with knuckeballer Charlie Haeger.  My favorite quote:

"To put it bluntly: what Charlie Haeger has already done—reached the major leagues before his 23rd birthday while throwing knuckleballs almost exclusively—is almost unprecedented."

CubDumb chips in with some stats you won't find elsewhere - though a small sample, Haeger's knuckler looked better than Tim Wakefield's last year.

More reading material:

Matt Hurst may have debunked the K-Rod cheating theory.  All he had to do was ask.  Do you buy it?

Fire Joe Morgan takes on Shaughnessy again.

Jeff Sackmann likes the early returns on J.J. Hardy and Derrick Turnbow.  If those two play to their potential, the Brewers are the team to beat in the NL Central.

Derek of CubTown discusses Ted Lilly's Cub debut.  There's something about Lilly and Hill's style that I enjoy, the lefties racking up Ks with big curves and 89 mph heaters.  Derek also discusses Lou Piniella's little "pep talk" to Ryan Dempster.  It was awesome watching Lou give him the business like that.  I doubt that will make him a good closer but I liked it anyway.  I should add that despite yesterday's save for Dempster I have to recommend Bob Howry in fantasy leagues.  Demp did not appear in control.   

DRays Bay throws around a few trade possibilities involving Jorge Cantu.

Found by way of a Keith Law chat - J.C. Bradbury has asked around, and it appears HGH has no real performance-enhancing benefits to baseball players.

Jayson Stark's new Rumblings and Grumblings is a must-read.  One tidbit: Jose Capellan to Colorado? 

Comments

[wihargo]

The stuff about HGH was very interesting.

[rhodes]

Rosin on the cap would still be illegal:

Rule 8.02(a) Comment: If at any time the ball hits the rosin bag it is in play. In the case of rain or wet field, the umpire may instruct the pitcher to carry the rosin bag in his hip pocket. A pitcher may use the rosin bag for the purpose of applying rosin to his bare hand or hands. Neither the pitcher nor any other player shall dust the ball with the rosin bag; neither shall the pitcher nor any other player be permitted to apply rosin from the bag to his glove or dust any part of his uniform with the rosin bag.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/official_rules/pitcher_8.jsp