Comments on: Performance Of The Week 6/22 – 6/28 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=performance-of-the-week-622-628 There's always room for one more on the bench. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:56:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Wally http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5244 Wally Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:30:08 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5244 Pete -- New Comiskey ("The Cell" or U.S. Cellular Park) recently underwent renovations that particularly improved the feel of the game on the "inside" of the park. They put in a lot of retro stuff that gave it an older look, and especially improved the outfield area. The outside of the park isn't particularly inviting ... I agree ... esp from the highway. One thing they'll never be able to recover from ... except at great expense .... is that they really botched the upper deck ... it is way too steep and hence too far from the field of play. So if you're past row 10 up there, not only will you need binoculars, but you may lose your balance going up and down. Really risky after 3 beers!!! Unfortunately, the new Comiskey was the very first of the "new generation of stadiums" and it was unfortunately built just before Camden Yards was built. Had they waited until after Camden was built, I believe a lot of the bad things about it never would have happened. Or maybe Camden learned it's lessons from Comiskey instead? I don't know, but sometimes it sucks to be first. Pete –
New Comiskey (“The Cell” or U.S. Cellular Park) recently underwent renovations that particularly improved the feel of the game on the “inside” of the park. They put in a lot of retro stuff that gave it an older look, and especially improved the outfield area. The outside of the park isn’t particularly inviting … I agree … esp from the highway.

One thing they’ll never be able to recover from … except at great expense …. is that they really botched the upper deck … it is way too steep and hence too far from the field of play. So if you’re past row 10 up there, not only will you need binoculars, but you may lose your balance going up and down. Really risky after 3 beers!!!

Unfortunately, the new Comiskey was the very first of the “new generation of stadiums” and it was unfortunately built just before Camden Yards was built. Had they waited until after Camden was built, I believe a lot of the bad things about it never would have happened. Or maybe Camden learned it’s lessons from Comiskey instead? I don’t know, but sometimes it sucks to be first.

]]> By: Crossword Pete http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5243 Crossword Pete Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:32:42 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5243 I'll tell you this much; the "new" Comiskey park (is it celluar one?)" looks very stark from the outside. we pass by it often as we go to visit our grandchildren in north chicago. obviously not memorable if i'm not even remembering the name for sure, but that's on the highway view. maybe it's a good venue on the inside. It's like soldier field in chicago. renovations make it look uninviting. I’ll tell you this much; the “new” Comiskey park (is it celluar one?)” looks very stark from the outside. we pass by it often as we go to visit our grandchildren in north chicago. obviously not memorable if i’m not even remembering the name for sure, but that’s on the highway view. maybe it’s a good venue on the inside. It’s like soldier field in chicago. renovations make it look uninviting.

]]> By: Chas http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5242 Chas Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:35:50 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5242 That's a good one, Casey. Wally, I remember being pretty impressed with Old Comiskey, but those memories are mostly faded. It sounds like your haven't. That’s a good one, Casey.

Wally, I remember being pretty impressed with Old Comiskey, but those memories are mostly faded. It sounds like your haven’t.

]]> By: Casey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5235 Casey Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:55:46 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5235 Just stumbled on this one - Ian Snell took out some frustrations on Sunday. After receiving a surprising demotion by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Snell responded by striking out 13 consecutive Toledo Mud Hens. Snell's line for the Indianapolis Indians - 7IP, 2 hits, 1BB, 17 Ks. Just stumbled on this one – Ian Snell took out some frustrations on Sunday. After receiving a surprising demotion by the Pittsburgh Pirates, Snell responded by striking out 13 consecutive Toledo Mud Hens. Snell’s line for the Indianapolis Indians – 7IP, 2 hits, 1BB, 17 Ks.

]]> By: Wally http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5227 Wally Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:18:49 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5227 Chas -- What did you think of old Comiskey Park? I have very fond memories of that place ... probably went to 5-8 games a year there as a kid. And then again after college until they tore it down. A classic baseball stadium. I'm getting teary-eyed. :( Chas –
What did you think of old Comiskey Park? I have very fond memories of that place … probably went to 5-8 games a year there as a kid. And then again after college until they tore it down. A classic baseball stadium. I’m getting teary-eyed. :(

]]> By: Chas http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5226 Chas Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:32:54 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5226 I was at the game when Bobby Thigpen recorded his 50th save that year. That was my only visit to Old Comiskey. I like Joe Nathan's consistency. He's the forgotten man in the discussion of the best closers today. Everybody wants to talk about Rivera and Papelbon in the AL, and he gets left out. I think he'll get to 400 saves. I was at the game when Bobby Thigpen recorded his 50th save that year. That was my only visit to Old Comiskey.

I like Joe Nathan’s consistency. He’s the forgotten man in the discussion of the best closers today. Everybody wants to talk about Rivera and Papelbon in the AL, and he gets left out. I think he’ll get to 400 saves.

]]> By: Wally http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5225 Wally Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:49:11 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5225 Another F-I-P was Bobby Thigpen (ChiSox)... had about 3 great seasons, set the saves record that Gagne broke ... and then he disappeared. There's something about the pressure, having to throw fastballs almost all the time, etc that wears you down. Another F-I-P was Bobby Thigpen (ChiSox)… had about 3 great seasons, set the saves record that Gagne broke … and then he disappeared. There’s something about the pressure, having to throw fastballs almost all the time, etc that wears you down.

]]> By: Chas http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5224 Chas Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:13:00 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5224 Next on the list among "active" players (age in parentheses): Billy Wagner (37) - 385 Troy Percival (39) - 358 Jason Isringhausen (36) - 293 Francisco Cordero (34) - 229 Francisco Rodriguez (27) - 228 Joe Nathan (34) - 219 If Wagner hadn't suffered that career threatening injury, he would've had a shot at 500. Otherwise, K-Rod is the obvious choice for the guy with the best chance. Here's a few other guys under 30: Jose Valverde (29) - 148 Bobby Jenks (28) - 135 Jonathan Papelbon (28) - 132 Chad Cordero (27) - 128 Huston Street (25) - 113 Papelbon would seem to me to have the best chance in that group, although he is older than K-Rod. I agree, Wally, that it's going to be really difficult. Not just because of injuries, but good closers seem like they have a tendency to fall into the flash-in-the-pan category. See Eric Gagne, although I guess injuries (and steroids) had something to do with his fall from grace. Next on the list among “active” players (age in parentheses):

Billy Wagner (37) – 385
Troy Percival (39) – 358
Jason Isringhausen (36) – 293
Francisco Cordero (34) – 229
Francisco Rodriguez (27) – 228
Joe Nathan (34) – 219

If Wagner hadn’t suffered that career threatening injury, he would’ve had a shot at 500. Otherwise, K-Rod is the obvious choice for the guy with the best chance. Here’s a few other guys under 30:

Jose Valverde (29) – 148
Bobby Jenks (28) – 135
Jonathan Papelbon (28) – 132
Chad Cordero (27) – 128
Huston Street (25) – 113

Papelbon would seem to me to have the best chance in that group, although he is older than K-Rod. I agree, Wally, that it’s going to be really difficult. Not just because of injuries, but good closers seem like they have a tendency to fall into the flash-in-the-pan category. See Eric Gagne, although I guess injuries (and steroids) had something to do with his fall from grace.

]]> By: Wally http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5222 Wally Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:17:35 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5222 Back to Mariano Rivera and 500 saves. Remember the discussion a few weeks back after the Big Unit got his 300th win and we asked if he'll be the last one to achieve that. Well, I wonder if we should ask the same Q about 500 saves? That seems like an AWFULLY hard mark to hit. Rivera got there because of 1) durability and 2) he's got GREAT stuff. Seems like closers can be quite injury prone and most of them seem to sputter out after 5-6 years of 50+ appearances, esp the real hard throwers. Who's next in line on the saves list? Back to Mariano Rivera and 500 saves. Remember the discussion a few weeks back after the Big Unit got his 300th win and we asked if he’ll be the last one to achieve that. Well, I wonder if we should ask the same Q about 500 saves? That seems like an AWFULLY hard mark to hit. Rivera got there because of 1) durability and 2) he’s got GREAT stuff. Seems like closers can be quite injury prone and most of them seem to sputter out after 5-6 years of 50+ appearances, esp the real hard throwers. Who’s next in line on the saves list?

]]> By: Casey http://www.pickinsplinters.com/2009/06/29/performance-of-the-week-622-628/comment-page-1/#comment-5221 Casey Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:58:11 +0000 http://www.pickinsplinters.com/?p=3685#comment-5221 Bunch - great call!!!! Bunch – great call!!!!

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