montgomeryadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:
5.10.2006

Off topic: Pitching to Barry Bonds

I love baseball. I think about the game often.

If I was a major-league pitcher right now, I'd savor pitching to Barry Bonds. He's one of the five best hitters ever, the guy has no consistent holes, and I think it would be great to think along with him through an at-bat. Every swing is being carried live on ESPN. This is where stars are born.

Let's pretend for a second that I'm Joshua Beckett. I know he's in the AL. He's my favorite pitcher; I know his arsenal best.

Here's my attitude:
Nothing inside above the hands. Try to catch the low/outside corner with mid-90s fastballs. If I fall behind, throw outside curves and let him walk. If I get ahead, stay low/outside. 0-2, slider inside. 1-2, slider inside. 2-2, low fastball.

If a pitcher surrenders a homer, who cares? Hundreds of guys belong in that club.

If you make him look silly on a strikeout pitch, well, that club is more exclusive.

EDIT: Live cut-in on ESPN showed Carlos Zambrano (Cubs) working Bonds.

Sequence:
Outside FB, 93 mph, 1-0
Outside FB, 97, 2-0
Outside FB, 94, 3-0
Outside/low FB, 93, 3-1
Outside slider, 85, BB

Smart. With Alou out, what's the harm?
5.08.2006

Calvin Booker leaves

Third-team quarterback Calvin Booker today has announced plans to leave Auburn and head for Georgia Tech.

This is a surprise to nobody.

Booker was signed in 2004 out of a high school in Atlanta. Scouts were mixed on him from the beginning because Booker was difficult to categorize. He's fast, he has a great attitude and his arm strength was considered above-average at the time.

The down side was Booker's footwork, which can be described as below-average. Or worse. During his time at Auburn, the footwork improved only marginally. He competed with Blake Field for more than a year to become the team's backup behind Brandon Cox. Field graded out higher every time because of superior accuracy and better form.

Booker simply couldn't throw spirals consistently, and the awkward footwork prevented him from throwing with authority. The arm strength never developed. He's a significant step down from Blake Field.

Booker turned off some teammates with his attitude. Some found his ultra-confident demeanor inspiring, though others felt Booker was too inexperienced to talk tough toward the team's veteran players.

When Neil Caudle and Steven Ensminger signed in February, that was a wrap for Booker. His situation at Auburn became terminal. There was no room.

I like Booker personally. I do not think he can play quarterback at Georgia Tech.

follow me on Twitter

• THE RING OF FIRE •
INAUGURAL CLASS
Phormerly Phred
Scottie B. in Tennessee
crudup
Hoopie
Ron Mexico
hip-hopanonymous
AUnMobilz
Sullivan013
Scott from Tucson
scottatl
jhag **FRANCHISE PLAYER**

CLASS OF 2008
Peter Frankenschmidt
Mr. Sensible
WarEagleRK

CLASS OF 2009
eddie4au
FakeSteveJobs (aka FSJ)
AUBigCat
michael
Steve from Columbia (aka SteveFC)
kristina
Jet

WHERE EAGLES SOAR
AUFan365 was Larry Bailey, 1948-2010

FEELING THE HEAT
WarEagleGirl
TarHeelTiger
Kathy
D. Miller
Dear Leader
j-z
Norm
digger4au
Harrison
LuvAU1968
cincytiger
mytommyd (is supposed to be mrtommyd)
ehyoutiger
wtc
IV
wakeriderof87
Sean
Scott Chocolate
NoVaTiger
Taylor
BinOBA
wes
Aeronaut
chip chip
Spongeworthy
Loganville Tiger
E-Bro
Ephemeral
au1n04
FearlessFreep
coosa
bear82
wartiger
patdyeswildturkey
atlantatiger
JD the Biscuitator
shesaid
depressedAUfan
dnatl

NOTABLE NEWCOMERS
Cousin Humpers = Bammers (aka CH=B)
dan dan the AU fan
bellefay1
API
Jay 'W. not Tate'
missinit
Craig Miller
AU1292
MLF
Comm'r of Flesh Wounds
Stupup74
61northak
Jimmy
bigdaddy334
Secondaid
Andrew
SCoats
astatguy
Jason Crawford
paulmain
Lowcountry Tiger
BigEZ
Will
WDCWE

MY PEEPS
Wifey
cpf
GritzNGravy
roundtable
Josh_Moon
MrsFrontRim & FrontRim
ChuckCrim
troyznoiz

FIRST DOCUMENTED POSTER
Buck

BANHAMMERED
Hamburglar
ROLLTIDEROLL
hairydawg
DavidOku
Jay_G (an impostor)
WarEagleogDotCom

Powered by Blogger

Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]

Advertisement