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?

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.