Let's take a look at a few more assorted Friday links….
- After seeing Mike Leake earn a spot in the Reds' rotation without pitching in the minors, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon lists the other 20 drafted players who once made the leap straight to the show.
- The Giants officially optioned Buster Posey to Triple A Fresno, writes Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. Earlier today, we looked at a potential timeline for when we could see Posey in the majors.
- Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets that the Indians will pay $900K to purchase Jamey Wright's minor league contract. Wright had a provision in his deal that allowed him to opt out if he wasn't on the big league roster by today.
- Julio Lugo expects to see a good deal of playing time in Baltimore, according to the Baltimore Sun's Jeff Zrebiec.
- Tim MacMahon of ESPNDallas says that the Rangers anticipate a "continued improvement" from Scott Feldman over the course of the contract they signed him to today. In a separate piece, MacMahon notes that recent addition Ryan Garko will have his playing time dictated, to a certain extent, by how Chris Davis fares early on against lefties.
- Corey Hart doesn't intend to let recent trade rumors involving him become a distraction, according to Anthony Witrado of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
I think Julio Lugo will play really well for the Orioles. Oriole Park at Camden Yards is a great place to play and Baltimore is a great city. The fans are great and I don’t expect there to be any pressure such as Boston or St. Louis.
He actually played pretty well in St. Louis down the stretch! I was pleased with him. There just wasn’t room for another middle infielder on the roster after we signed Lopez! But I wish him luck
Lugo getting more playing time = Good news for the rest of AL East.
If Hart got any more distracted he’d wind up lost on the drive to the ballpark.
Trade rumors are the least of his problems.
Actually just looking at the Ballpark, it does look hard to get to…
You kidding? I used to have a gf who lived near there… one of the easiest places to get into.
Your girlfriend, or the park?
(Sorry, I had to)
Heh, nice. No problem, she’s an ex so feel free to make the jokes.
Yes I am kidding you.
They should have non-tendered Hart and severed themselves.
It really is so great that The Reds are letting Mike Leake actually do this. He is the next Greg Maddux.
I’d say that claiming Leake the next Maddux is jumping the gun just a little bit. 😛
No really I’m serious I really think he is going to be the next best control pitcher. Greg Maddux.
Maddux didn’t just have control.
He had multiple plus offspeed pitches, a mid-90’s fastball with insane movement on it, the ability to induce groundballs and historically great command and control.
That’s like saying that Desmond Jennings is the next Willie Mays. You just don’t compare unproven players to legends like that.
Well I just did.
Which is fine. But nobody is going to listen to you.
You are really nice.
Well, I could just lie and let you keep saying silly things. But I thought that maybe you would prefer to not sound dumb.
But honestly have you seen Mike Leake pitch?
No, but I don’t really listen to my eyes, I’m not a professional scout.
But I have read scouting reports from actual scouts who have seen him pitch, and nobody believes that this guy is the next Greg Maddux, or even a top of the rotation starter.
He was drafted so early because he’s so polished and developed, but nobody really thinks that he’ll be anything more than a No. 3 starter. Which is of course exceptionally valuable. It’s just that Greg Maddux is a once in a generation pitcher.
Come on man we all have our opinions.
But nothing supports your opinion other than your memories of him pitching, and no offense, but that doesn’t retain much credibility.
Opinions need to have a basis. You’re argument essentially amounts to saying, “Because I said so.”
And while that’s fine, it makes your opinions significantly less credible.
I didn’t even tell you why I think so yet.
You want me to tell you?
Yes just freaking say it, I don’t know why you’d wait to offer your evidence.
Sorry man. Just that nobody asked.
Yes, he was picked because he was extremely polished, but his control is amazing. He also changes speeds really well and gets hitters off balance. When I compare him to Greg Maddux, that is because of his incredible control. He also has really good deciption for a little guy. A little guy with a pretty good fastball. Just give him a chance I’m telling you he is the next “really really good pitcher”. He doesn’t have strike out stuff, but he will not walk many batters and he will certainly get a ground ball when he needs it. Good thing because 3/4 of the Reds infield are gold glovers and Joey Votto will eventually win himself a gold glove.
Posey will be next Super STAR at the Catcher Position….Joe MAUER (MIN) & Matt Wieters (BAL)in the AL Allstars and in the NL Buster Posey and Brian McCain (ATL)
where you leave yadier molina and geovanie soto???
Soto needs to have a better season if he wants to be in the same sentence as any of the them. In my opinion Yadier is way behind Mauer, McCann and Weiters.
I don’t know, if his offensive improvement from last season is sustainable, then with his defense he’s damn close to being at that level.
But frankly, what’s silly is that you’re putting Mauer at the same level as McCann and Wieters. Mauer is clearly something else, something special. He’s far and away the best catcher in the game right now.
Uh did I ever say Mauer was on the same level as those two? No.
No, but you did group together Mauer, McCann and Wieters, so that was the impression I was given.
Yeah looking at it now I can see how you got that impression. But yeah its not even close its Mauer in his own group and then everyone else.
Everyone else, for now. I’m still very bullish on Wieters.