Some news items as Matt Kemp is once again a walkoff hero for the Dodgers…
- Ryan Braun and his agent, Nez Balelo, initially approached the Brewers about the long-term extension Braun signed with the team today, reports Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “We didn’t have to do this and he didn’t have to do this,” said GM Doug Melvin. “Very rarely does it happen where a player understands a franchise and where he’s at, and where he wants to be in the future."
- ESPN's Keith Law discusses the Braun extension, Joe Mauer's future at catcher and several draft prospects in a chat with fans.
- Kyle Lohse is finally living up to his contract and helping the Cardinals' rotation survive without Adam Wainwright, writes Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- Ryan Franklin's recent criticism of St. Louis fans might ensure that this is his last year with the Cardinals, says ESPN Insider's Doug Mittler.
- How does Brandon Wood compare to other disappointing prospects? Baseball America's Ben Badler investigates (BA subscription required).
- Adrian Gonzalez talks to Chris Jenkins of the San Diego Union-Tribune about how the slugger is adjusting to the heightened expectations that come with playing for the Red Sox.
- Baseball America's Matt Eddy has this week's compilation of minor league transactions.
Kyle Lohse has had what? 4 starts this season? And has faced the Pirates, Giants, Nationals, and the Dodgers. All of which aren’t exactly the strongest offenses in the league. It’s way to early to say he’s finally living up to his contract.
a CG SHO against any MLB team is impressive id say…
it also doesn’t mean he is living up to his contract
Yes it does. Each shutout’s worth 41 million dollars, didn’t you know?
If you looked throughout the history of the MLB you’d find plenty of mediocre or worse players who have thrown a complete game shutout. Is it a good outing? Absolutely. But to say a player is earning his contract from four starts against four weak offenses is ignorant. Like Josh Beckett is pitching lights out so far this season but just because he is doing this so far doesn’t mean he will continue to do it (I’m hoping he will).
The Braun extension could end up being a stroke of genius if the future market for free agents explodes. I dunno though…I just looked at Baseball Reference and his top 4 comparable players through the same age are Chuck Hafey, Manny Ramirez, Raul Mondesi, Shawn Green. Three of those four guys flamed out VERY quickly in their early 30’s (and all three were very athletic body types), and it’s questionable how Manny managed to stay productive for so long.
Franklin is terrible, he is getting old and his stuff shows it. Your mad because you were booed for blowing 4 out of 5 saves…really? Cardinal fans never boo any of their players, you have to really be messing up to have that happen…and well Mr. Franklin, you have been. He does not have a very good fastball, his pitches are very flat with very little late movement and he can not hit his spots which makes him very ineffective in any role…especially a closer role. Stop blaming the fans who pay to watch their lead only to have you blow the game. The Cardinals are 9-8 right now and you have blown 4 saves, obviously you (Franklin) are the problem right now because the team could be 13-4 right now.