HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: hhenderson@vax.clarku.edu
Subject: Hot Stove Quotes
Organization: Clark University
Date: 21 NOV 92 23:09:23 GMT

A few more good ones:

1.  In the Yogi-ism category:  Yogi Berra, responding to the question
"What time is it" -- "You mean, now?"

2.  In the Casey-ism category: Casey Stengel, while manager of the
Mets, during spring training practice:  "Take those guys to that
other diamond over there, so we can see how they play on the road."

3.  In the Insult category:  "Carl Yastrzemski is an All-Star from
the neck down" (variously attributed).

Number 3 could also be considered to be in the Astute Observation
category, depending on your feeling for Yaz.

Heather
HHENDERSON@vax.clarku.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: niguma@ug.cs.dal.ca (Gordon Niguma)
Subject: Re: Clemens Market Value (trade with Toronto)
Organization: Math, Stats & CS, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
Distribution: na
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 19:57:05 GMT

In <By6GDK.5vL@nic.umass.edu> s6420120@titan.ucc.umass.edu (Mark LeLacheur) writes:

>       sign cone ,keep clemens , sign mcgwire, pay off and get rid of matt and 
>jack and yes mo vaughn

>1b mark mcgwire
>2b tim naerhing ( cross your fingers he stays healthy)
>ss john valentin (who cares as long he plays great defense
>3b scott cooper (he'll be better than charlie hayes)
>cat.  tony pena (let us hope he doesn,t play too much winterball again)
>lf mike greenwell (for now )
>cf ellis burks (if healthy )
>rf phil plantier
>dh any from (quintana,brunansky,zupcic)
>if going badly they can always platoon(ugh)

>sp
>clemens
>cone
>viola
>dopson(still getting stronger after major surgery)
>anybody  (maybe darwin)
>relief  harris,darwin,ryan,fossas,quantrill or hoy  

>budget up maybe 3-4 million , but better defense and mcgwire make for a lot of

 Ummm, sorry the budget from Big Mac and David Cone knock the payroll 
up drmatically (about 12-14 million probably). Paying off Matt Young and
Jack Clark can't be so easy if their in a middle of a guaranteed contract
if so the "out" clause would be worth some pretty big bucks.

					Gord Niguma
					(fav player: John Olerud)

Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: rbd@flash.ece.uc.edu (Bobby Davis)
Subject: Re: Bucs losses
Organization: University of Cincinnati, ECE Dept
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 21:16:50 GMT

Dr. Dave writes:
>	Losses:	Hector Fajardo
>		Kurt Miller
>		one year in which Kevin Young didn't play in Pittsburgh
>		one year in which Jeff King *did* play in Pittsburgh
>		whichever free agent they could have signed with the money
>		   they paid Buechele (maybe even Bonilla, or McGwire this yr)
>
>	Gains:	1.3 years of Buechele at third
>		.3 years of Danny Jackson
>		Danny Jackson's remaining salary commitment
>
>Have I missed something here?

Gee, Dave, don't you see the overwhelming value in a total of 1.6 years
of veteran leadership?

Bob Davis
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: spira@panix.com (Greg "Sarcasm Is A Way Of Life" Spira)
Subject: Re: Eck Wins MVP in Horrible Voting
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 21:22:57 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Boo! 

In <22NOV199212300507@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> doctor8@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu (Jason Abner Miller) writes:

>In article <By4Jt6.Cqv@cs.dal.ca>, niguma@ug.cs.dal.ca (Gordon Niguma) writes...
>>In <21NOV199212140657@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu> doctor8@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu (Jason Abner Miller) writes:
>>>In article <1992Nov20.184840.9657@Princeton.EDU>, niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent) writes...

>> 
>> Rickey Henderson did nothing this year? Yeah I guess 207 times on base is 
>>nothing. Of course he only ate up 295 or so outs so he couldn't have been
>>any good. (Deveraux was on base 224 times, but made 481 outs). Rickey only 
>>stole 48 bases while being caught only 11 times. That's nothing. Rickey only
>>hit 15 HR; that's nothing. OK, now I see your point.......

>	Yeah, I guess that Devereaux couldn't have had nearly as big
>an impact batting 575 times for the Orioles as Henderson did batting 375
>times for the A's.
>	Maybe Henderson was impressive during the times when he decided
>to get off of his lazy *** and play poorly (for someone of his caliber)
>for a while.  But for League MVP???  What good are those great numbers
>if you're gonna play 3 or 4 times a week. Devereaux played every day, 
>and was a consistent part of the O's rush.  I think Mike Bordick was
>several times for valuable to Oakland than Rickey the Dude was.

Bordick had all of 67 more plate appearences than Henderson.  67.
Bordick batted .300/.358/.371, Henderson .283/.426/.457.

Considering that Henderson's OBP and SLG were both higher in '92
than his career OBP and SLG, I don't see how you can say that he
played poorly for someone of his caliber.

According to Jeff Sagarin's markov chain analysis, Rickey created 87 runs
this season while Bordick created 70.  Henderson made 287 outs, Bordick 372.
17 more runs using up 85 less outs is a lot of offensive value.

Now, granted, offense at a middle infield position is worth more than
offense from a left fielder, but that doesn't make up the huge difference
in offensive contribution between Henderson and Bordick.

And, by the way, Tony LaRussa insists that Rickey is not lazy, and in fact
told the press at least once that he played Henderson when Henderson 
shouldn't have been playing because of his injuries.  I see no reason not
to believe Rickey when he says that he's hurt.  Baseball people, fans,
and the media seem to think that they can determine when a player is or
isn't in pain; I'm rather skeptical that anybody has these kinds
of telepathic powers.  Eventually, this attitude is going to kill someone,
as it almost did J.R. Richard a decade ago.

Greg
From: kbanaian@bernard.pitzer.claremont.edu (King Banaian)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: creative managing
Summary: Another idea
Date: 16 Nov 92 22:12:28 GMT
Distribution: usa
Organization: Pitzer College

In article <BxtI46.9u5@deshaw.com> baseggio@deshaw.com (Franco Baseggio) writes:
>
>What about a lefty-righty reliever combo where they can both play
>left-field?  Has a pitcher ever been moved to a non-pitching position
>and then back again?  
>
I've seen Herzog pull this trick with Worrell and (I think) Dayley in the 
mid-1980s.  On the assumption Dayley is pitching to a righty, you move 
Worrell to right, not left field.

Sparky "Please don't let them take Burks!" Banaian
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: jfe@alchemy.tn.cornell.edu (Brian Chung)
Subject: Re: Marlins fans are merely jealous...
Organization: Alchemy International
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 07:26:57 GMT

In article <timlin.722202605@spot.Colorado.EDU> timlin@spot.Colorado.EDU (Michael Timlin) writes:
>
>I heard on the news that Harvey is guarenteed more money over the length
>of his contract than all the Rockies picks combined have coming.  I
>didn't do the math, so if this isn't true, it's my ignorance not stupidity.
>Wait, if I parrot what I hear on TV, maybe it is my stupidity :).
>
>Mike Timlin
 ^^^^ ^^^^^^

	Yeah, and I bet Harvey makes a LOT more than what Toronto is
paying you.  Oh, by the way, nice save in the World Series...  :)

-- 
T. H. Brian Chung                      | Happiness is...              
Internet: jfe@alchemy.tn.cornell.edu   | "Tea, Earl Grey, hot."
Bitnet: jfe@cornella                   | 210 Lake St. Apt. 11-A 
DECnet: CESR10::THC                    | Ithaca, NY 14850  Tel: 607-272-1543 
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: ron@osf.org (Ron Birnbaum)
Subject: Negro League Players (Was Re: HoF Votes)
Organization: Open Software Foundation
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 23:25:49 GMT

In article <wilbanks.722210751@spot.Colorado.EDU>, wilbanks@spot.Colorado.EDU (Wendell Gee) writes:
|> 
|> How about we open a wing of the r.s.b Hall of Fame for Negro Leaguers? 
|> A seperate election, too. Not knocking the current system, but I think that 
|> if we can just recognize them for their accomplishments and get 'em in, 
|> we can make sure people don't forget Josh Gibson and Cool Papa Bell.

  Forget them? How many people today ever knew anything about them? Not
  many even in this group, I figure. What are the stats on these and other
  Negro League players??

-Ron Birnbaum
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: kettler@pierre.mit.edu (KETTLER, THOMAS R.)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: He's baaaaaaack...
Date: 15 Nov 92 18:56:00 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: MIT Lab for Nuclear Science
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1

In article <13NOV199215541235@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu>, yankees@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu 
(Kenneth M Gelfa writes...
> 
> 
>	For those of you who haven't heard, Steve Howe was today reinstated
>by arbitrator George Nicoleau.  Nicoleau said that Howe has a hyperactive
>condition brought on by years of untreated drug use and deserves one more
>chance.  This follows a pattern of baseball players (Ferguson Jenkins, 
>Gil Reyes) having their sentences overturned by arbitration.  It seems
>what baseball needs now is a definitive policy like the NBA has.
> 
>	Howe is now a free agent and may sign with any teams he wants.
> 

I have three things to say about this. First, it is Nicolau, not Nicoleau. Next
this is a big joke since although I feel that people should be given a second 
chance, this jerk hasn't had just two chances but seven. Now he gets an eighth 
chanced just because he can throw a baseball faster than 80 mph. What if it 
happens again, will he be given another one? What does this say to youngsters 
who are put in jail for selling the junk? Did anyone think of this? Finally, if 
the jerk must be given another chance, then I have an idea. Why doesn't 
baseball require that all of his salary go to drug prevention and treatment? 
Here is the necessary d::-) since I know that won't happen.

					Sincerely yours,

					Thomas R. Kettler "Expos Fanatic"
From: paul@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Paul R Krueger)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Commentary--Rounds2&3, Expansion Draft
Date: 20 Nov 1992 03:55:50 GMT
Organization: Computing Services Division, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
NNTP-Posting-Host: 129.89.7.4

>
>>> 9) Jim Tatum, IF, Milwaukee              9) Tom Edens, RHP, Minnesota
>>Boy, the Rockies sure got lucky, didn't they?  I assume this means Seitzer
>>coming back is a done deal.  Edens went to Houston for a couple of pitching
>>prospects.
>
>	Why was Milwaukee so down on Tatum?  I wasn't too suprised when he
>missed the first 15 list but I'm amazed that he lasted this late (amazed both
>that Mil. let him go and the he wasn't taken earlier since he was one of the
>few 3b possibilites with any real offensive potential).
>
   The word from beertown is that Tatum wasn't a highly thought of prospect.
   Had a good year at Denver, but is a serious project defensively. Doesn't
   have a lot of power either. I have a feeling that B.J. Surhoff will be
   starting at 3B next year. I don't know why they're so high on Surhoff, but
   I trust Bando's judgment on Tatum.

   Overall, the day went pretty well for Milwaukee. Holmes had about a 2.55
   ERA, while Fetters and Austin were both under 2.00 and Tabaka is a 28-year
   old so it's not like he's a big prospect. Then we rid ourselves of Dante
   "I've never met a rundown, pickoff or boneheaded running play I didn't
   like" Bichette and acquire a left-handed hitter w/decent power. Reimer's
   a defensive liability, but they'll find a way to get him in the lineup on
   occassion.

   --salty
From: demers@cs.ucsd.edu (David DeMers)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: Comments on Astros protected list
Date: 16 Nov 92 04:49:23 GMT
Organization: =CSE Dept., U.C. San Diego

There is indeed a Todd B. G. Jones.  Born 4/24/68,
he has 4 years of pro ball, none particularly excellent,
though this year he was 3-7 with 3.14 ERA and 25 saves
at Jackson (AA)
He was converted  from a starter to reliever this year,
apparently, and in 66 IP gave up 53 H and 44 BB, with 60 Ks.
He pitched 4 innings in AAA, giving up 1 hit and 10 walks (!).

Minor league career before this season, 4.22 ERA, 266 K, 225 BB
and 290 H in 329 IP.  I'm not impressed, really... 

-- 
Dave DeMers			 ddemers@UCSD   demers@cs.ucsd.edu
Computer Science & Engineering	C-014		demers%cs@ucsd.bitnet
UC San Diego					...!ucsd!cs!demers
La Jolla, CA 92093-0114	(619) 534-0688, or -8187, FAX: (619) 534-7029
From: dougr@meaddata.com (Doug Ritter)
Subject: Re: Mitchell for Charlton and other trades.
Organization: Mead Data Central, Dayton OH
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 1992 16:01:15 GMT

In article <1992Nov20.012208.28300@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu> kstrohm@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Kyle W Strohm) writes:
>As a loyal Reds fan, I feel I must say something here.  Even as big a risk it 
>sounds, the Reds are wheeling and dealing again and doing it successfully.  
>Last year they landed Swindell, Belcher, and Roberts and all three had pretty 
>good years especially when compared to who they traded away for them.  And, 
>this year they picked up Kelly for O'Neil which I have a hunch will work out in
>the Reds favor.  O'Neil was a good player but he had his weaknesses and 
>everybody knew about them.  Now they pick up Mitchell for Charlton.  BIG RISK!
>But, you have to face up some facts.  I'm not sure how many home runs the Reds 
>hit last year but they must have been close to the bottom of the league.  
>Roberts, Larkin, Morris, and Sanders all hit for average for the most part.  It
>was obvious that a power hitter was needed and considering what a tightwad that
>Schott is, Mitchell is the best any Reds fan could come to expect.  As for 

I'm not a big fan of "The Large One", but let's give credit where credit is due.
If we do that, then when we attack her it will be more credible. ;-)

Marge is a businesswoman.  She isn't running the Reds as a hobby, like most of
the other owners.  She has proven that she's willing to pay out the big-bucks
to keep the players that are essential.  Her big beef with player salaries is
paying guys a million dollars a year to hit .220 - can you *really* argue with
that????

The Reds' latest offer to Greg Swindell is *serious*money*.  Marge is making an
all-out effort to sign Greg, because she knows he's important to the team's
hopes in '93.  The rumor is that it's a 3 or 4 year deal worth $7M+/year.  She
gave Davis what he wanted, she gave Larkin what he wanted, and remember that
coin-flip in the parking lot in Plant City a few years ago where Kal Daniels
got the extra money he wanted to end his hold-out?  That was rigged, by Marge,
so that Kal would win and get the money!

What makes her look bad is the comparison with people like George Steinbrenner
who throw millions around to players like I give dimes to my kids.  Marge is out
to make money.  She knows she has to keep the cost to the fans down and put
a good team on the field.  She knows she can't put a good team on the field
without paying the *good* players what they want.  She is also astute enough
to know that paying Glenn Braggs $1M/year is *NOT*NOT*NOT* the way to build
a winning team!

Jeeze, I can't believe I'm defending Marge.

>Charlton, he will be missed.  Who's going to cover for Dibble when he gets 
>suspended?  And, in case if my thoughts actually influence anything...sign 
>Swindell or else.....
>-- 
>*************************************
>* Kyle Strohm    *  hi mom!!        *
>* kstrohm@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu *
>*...........I GOT SKILLS!...........*
From: demers@cs.ucsd.edu (David DeMers)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Re: NL MVP voting oddities
Date: 21 Nov 92 04:31:48 GMT
Organization: =CSE Dept., U.C. San Diego

In article <steph.722300266@perseus.cs.uiuc.edu> steph@perseus.cs.uiuc.edu (Dale Stephenson) writes:
>In <1992Nov19.180112.26096@Princeton.EDU> niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent) writes:
>>Barry Bonds won his 2nd MVP award in 3 years yesterday.

>Mike Royko wrote today:

>"...Barry Bonds, the Pittsburgh outfielder, who is considered a super-duper
>star after having a season that would have made Ted Williams or Joe DiMaggio
>blush with shame and take a cut in pay."  Which makes me wonder -- how
>many seasons did Ted and Joe have worse than this year by Barry?

Well, not many people have had *any* seasons better than a normal
Williams' year.  But Barry had a year better than Ted's 1939 & 1940
(first two years), maybe 1951, even with 1956, better than 1958 & 1959.
So, 5 or 6 of Ted's 17 seasons were worse than Bonds' 1992 (BB92).
Though, most of these seasons were VERY GOOD, and close to BB92.

DiMaggio, however, probably only had three better seasons -
1937, 1939 and 1941.  1940 was .352/.425/.626 with 31 HRs & 133 RBI,
good for 3d in the MVP voting.  Looks slightly less than BB92.
But in 1947, Joe won the MVP with .315/.396/.522; 20 HRs 97 RBI.
Joe, of course, was probably a better defensive player than Bonds,
but Bonds is so good I can't believe the difference is meaningful.

The main point, really, should be that this was by far Bonds best
year, whereas Joe D had many years in the same class, and of
course Teddy B had virtually EVERY season at the MVP level at the plate.

Royko is amusing, but often an idiot...


-- 
Dave DeMers			 ddemers@UCSD   demers@cs.ucsd.edu
Computer Science & Engineering	C-014		demers%cs@ucsd.bitnet
UC San Diego					...!ucsd!cs!demers
La Jolla, CA 92093-0114	(619) 534-0688, or -8187, FAX: (619) 534-7029
From: 5912ramasubr@vms.csd.mu.edu
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
Subject: Brewers protection
Date: 18 Nov 1992 02:50:47 GMT
Organization: Marquette University - Computer Services
Reply-To: 5912ramasubr@vms.csd.mu.edu
NNTP-Posting-Host: vmsd.csd.mu.edu

Can anybody in the know post the list of 
or rather the 4 people protected by the
Milwaukee Brewers in the 2nd round?
Thanks a lot.

		******   ******
                     *   *
                ******   ******
                *        *    *
                ******   ******        and counting down .
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: spira@panix.com (Greg Spira)
Subject: Re: the anti-hit is gone
Date: Sun, 22 Nov 1992 02:49:45 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: PANIX Public Access Unix & Internet, NYC

In article <1992Nov21.154635.6448@Princeton.EDU> niepornt@phoenix.Princeton.EDU (David Marc Nieporent) writes:
>In article <1992Nov20.182132.4452@panix.com> spira@panix.com (Greg "Sarcasm Is A Way Of Life" Spira) writes:
>
>
>>The only explanation I can think of is that there is a secret race between
>>the Royals and the Angels to see who can put the worse offense on the field
>>next year.  With this masterful stroke, it appears that the Royals have taken
>>an early lead, but I'm sure the competition will continue to be fierce.
>
>Well, the Angels just signed Torey Lovullo.  That's a start.
>
Actually, Lovullo's MLEs the last two years aren't that bad, especially
relative to the Angels:

1991 .244/.329/.373
1992 .265/.339/.445 - Age 27 Peak Year 

Compared to Gary Gaetti, he's almost Babe Ruth!


>Incidentally, the Angels last year managed something I've never seen before.  
>They had no players, NONE, who slugged .400.  Not even a September
>callup.  Rene Gonzales lead the team with a .398.  (He also managed to
>be the only one, besides Dick Schofield's 3 ABs, to have an OBP above .350)
>
>Now, Gonzales has a good year, but when he's your only above average
>offensive player...  And the worst part is, you look at their team and
>don't even see any hope.  Who even has the *potential* to be above
>average?  No one at c,1b,2b,ss, OR 3b. Chad Curtis, maybe.  Anyone else?
>
STATS projects Tim Salmon to a .250/.340/.418 year.  He's their best
hope.

Greg 


Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: nlu@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Nelson Lu)
Subject: Re: Mitchell for Charlton and other trades.
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University.
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 18:24:15 GMT

In article <1992Nov23.045543.11686@netcom.com> arrow@netcom.com (Les Arrow) writes:

>Okay, but I don't buy Boggs as an optimal leadoff hitter. In 1988, he scored
>128 runs despite posting a .476 OBP. Brady Anderson was able to score
>100 runs posting only a .373 OBP this year. Granted they're two different 
>hitters, on two different teams, but give Brady 100 more points in on-base and 
>what happens to his run total. Who knows, but I think we'd all agree it rises. 

But no one is an "optimal leadoff hitter."  Not even Rickey Henderson, since he
has too much power.  If Martinez is the best leadoff solution the Mariners
have, then he should leadoff.
>
>But the real argument is whether the Mariners would be a better team with
>Martinez batting first or Cotto or Briley batting first and Martinez batting
>somewhere else. Personally, I don't believe the Mariners could afford
>to lose Martinez to the top of the order. 

And Cotto and Briley aren't just going to get on base much.
>
>Optimal solution is to go out and get a leadoff man. But who is
>available on the Free Agent Market? I can't see much of a trade happening.
>Who on this team is expendable who has any market value?

I don't think they should go out and "get a leadoff man."  What they should do
is to try to improve the offense, period.  Then worry about who should leadoff.
For example, if they acquire Barry Bonds, it would definitely be logical to
put Martinez at leadoff and Bonds 3rd, with Griffey batting either 2nd or
cleanup.
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: baptist@rintintin.Colorado.EDU (Robert P. Baptist Jr.)
Subject: Re: Post-Draft Thoughts (was: Reaction to Rockies Draft)
Organization: University of Colorado, Boulder
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 1992 19:44:57 GMT


>The Rockies are the Mariners of the future.
>
>-Valentine


    Spoken like a *TRUE* Red Sox fan.. After all, who better to tell us about
losing?  I know, because now the Red Sox are my 2nd favorite team..

   Long live Eric Wedge and the Rockies!

           - Robert 

Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: doctor8@jhuvms.hcf.jhu.edu (Jason Abner Miller)
Subject: Re: Minor trade
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41    
Organization: The Johns Hopkins University - HCF
Distribution: na
Date: Sat, 21 Nov 1992 16:54:00 GMT

In article <By17wB.DEs@news.iastate.edu>, sckelm@iastate.edu (Steven C Kelm) writes...
>I heard that the Twins traded Darren Reed to the Mets, but who did they get
>in return?  I'm assuming it was little more than a six-pack and a bag of 
>peanuts.  Just curious.

	You forget - he was traded to the METS.  Al Harazin masterminded this
deal.  I don't know anything about Darren Reed, but since the Mets want him,
I assume he's a non-prospec that Harazin was DYING to get.  We probably
gave up either A) Sid Fernandez and the best PTBLN in the organization, or
B) Pete Schourek, Butch Huskey, and Jeff Kent.

	Does anyone know about this trade?  I shudder to think what Harazin
pulled this time.
> 
>Steve Kelm    sckelm@vincent1.iastate.edu
> 
> 	
							Jason Miller
						Quayle/Harazin '96
						Get Al out of New York!!!!!!
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball
From: tedward@cs.cornell.edu (Edward [Ted] Fischer)
Subject: Re: Red Sox and the draft
Organization: Cornell Univ. CS Dept, Ithaca NY 14853
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 1992 20:57:53 GMT

In article <kbanaian.23.0@bernard.pitzer.claremont.edu> kbanaian@bernard.pitzer.claremont.edu (King Banaian) writes:
>
>My bacon is fried about Wedge, however.  Exactly who was protected after 
>Reed's selection?  (Boston readers, send mail!)  Here we have a rookie, age 
>25, who has 5 dingdongs in 68 ABs.  He can hit, and *was* a good defensive 
>catcher in the minors.  He was injured this year and relegated to DH.  While 
>I agree that Pena is the #1 catcher still (oh, I know I'll get hammered for 
>this!), don't you think the #20 guy on the team might be the back-up catcher 
>who hits .240-.250 with 6-8 HRs in 240ABs?

I think you severely underrate Wedge.  Note that he hit 5 HR in *68*
AB last year.  Given 200 AB, he should hit 10-15 HR.  And he walks a
*ton*.  Probably will only manage a .220-.230 BA, but who really cares?

Platoon him against lefties, and you can improve those numbers.

Wedge should be quite happy in Colorado.  And whoever predicted that
Girardi will be	the starting catcher for the Rockies is simply not
paying attention.

-Valentine
Newsgroups: rec.sport.baseball