Migs-miguel said:I have to give it to you. 3 years ago, in my opinion, Freddy Garcia had all the "tools" to be a great, great pitcher. What happened, I really don't know. He had it all. He is still young and can rebounce. The talent on that kid is amazing!.
We must be talking about two different people. "Studs" are great when you need to get your horse laid, but in pitching terms, an ACE is a stud. Someone the team can lean on to break losing streaks. That is NOT CZ.toneloc24 said:Regarding Venezuela, Carlos Zambrano has been the stud for the Chicago Cubs staff for the past 3 years, even though his W/L record doesn't reflect it. The Cubs just don't score many runs for him. His worst year of the 3 is this year, and he's 7-4 with a 3.42 ERA!!! Check the records. Prior and Wood get the acclaim, but both have missed much of the past 3 seasons between them, rendering them useless as aces.
There's no way in hell you can compare him to Bartolo Colon, Odaliz Perez, Jose Lima, or Pedro Astacio. Same with Freddy Garcia. Then there's K-Rod!!! Throw in Santana, quality pitching or not?
I think the teams and all the parties involved can come to some sort of agreement on letting players play. With a proper marketing approach, having the Yankee or Baltimore lgoo on the field will be a good thing.miguel said:Do you think that "The Boss" will be happy if some of his players play?. I don't think so!.
So you like Venezuela because they are underdogs?. Well, I hate to tell you that they do not have 25 great players to play . Some very good, but not many great ones.
I have to give it to you. 3 years ago, in my opinion, Freddy Garcia had all the "tools" to be a great, great pitcher. What happened, I really don't know. He had it all. He is still young and can rebounce. The talent on that kid is amazing!.
No, it will not be take seriously since many will not be allowed to play. If you were an owner, yould you let your 25m dollars investment play on a tournament where he can get hurt?. I would not, not in this life!.
Cleef said:We must be talking about two different people. "Studs" are great when you need to get your horse laid, but in pitching terms, an ACE is a stud. Someone the team can lean on to break losing streaks. That is NOT CZ.
If he doesn't have his best stuff, he's a train wreck. No one wants that as their ace. An ace has to be someone that can pitch, not just throw. If CZ doesn't have exceptional location and power, he melts down, or more common, will give in and hit too many bats.
I've only seen him pitch a handful of times, (but I follow the nutjob's every start as he's on my miserable fantasy team) and in none of those outings did he impress me with anything but power. He had a habit of shaking off the catcher repeatedly, especially in big (critical) situations. This breaks the rythm and more importantly tips off pitches to the batter. In a big game? Fuhgetaboutit! Once he starts missing locations, he tries to overthrow. Just my opinion, but when it comes to big games, the physical follows the mental.
If that doesn't convince you, (here's one bet I will agree to) I'll bet my nuts that if you asked any opposing team who'd they rather face in a game 7 (from the Cubs), it would be CZ first, second and third, followed by Wood then Prior. That's highly logical. A good team, with a walk, a bloop and a blast would have CZ out of the game in the first inning (mentally anyway).
When you add Jose Lima (especially) and then Pedro Astacio to the discussion, you've completely lost me. Mental midgets and trainwrecks when the heat is on.
I'm a big fan of Krod, but he's a short reliver, and without a lead, he may never play. In addition, what experience does he have closing out big game situations?
The answer is very very little - if any!
Agreed.toneloc24 said:K-Rod reminds me a young Mariano Rivera. They have ridiculous stuff and were both brought up the same way, set-up to closer. Give him time, he's doing it.
Regarding Zambrano, we got something else in common, go figure. He's on one of my fantasy teams as well. Yes, I'll admit, he does meltdown at times and it's funny as ****!!! However, he can usually be counted on for quality starts (<=3 runs over 6 innings), without getting the wins.
Again, over the past couple of years, he and Maddux have held that pitching staff together. In 2003 and 2004, when Wood and Prior were battling injuries, Zambrano stepped up with the quality starts. This year is no different. He keeps the Cubs in games.
In the 7th game of a series, I'd love to say "I'd take Wood or Prior first." However, as any Cubs fan knows, those two as more frail than a 50 yr old crackhead. You can't count on them to be healthy.
Cleef said:Nonetheless, I'd still root for the Venezuelans. I love arepas - and underdogs.
ARod has to play for the US. This was in the news - although a much smaller item than his chest pumping hystrionics of "I'm all Dominican" - a couple days later.
I'm sure this was one of the first rules/guidelines they worked out. I don't remember the language, but something about where you were raised, basically.NY1 said:I'm just curious how MLB will force someone with dual citizenship to play for the country that they choose?
I believe - and I could be confused with something similar - there was one dissenting vote.NY1 said:As for those that say the owners won't let certain players play. This tournament was a few years in the making. This tournament was not only approved by the owners, but by the MLBPA as well. Anything MLB does that is sanctioned has to be approved by both parties, and it was.
So Steinbrenner may not be happy if some of his players play, but rest assured, he cannot forbid them to play!
He has no choice. He has to play for the US. Don't make me look it up, go find it yourself.NY1 said:Thus if Arod has dual citizenship, which he supposedly does, he would be able to play for either country he wishes to play for.
Because the DR doesn't recognize dual citzenship, and he was born in the US, he plays for the US.NY1 said:Cleef, I've found the articles showing that the owners unanimously approved the world cup, and that the players citizenship is being used as the determining factor, ie Olympic rules. Not sure what else you want.
I did find this nugget:
After saying he planned to play for the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, Alex Rodriguez was told by Bud Selig that it wasn't his choice to make. Selig didn't say whether Rodriguez would be asked to represent the U.S. or the Dominican Republic in the competition, but it is known that A-Rod was asked to be the representative of the U.S. in Monday's home run derby. Rodriguez was born and raised in the U.S., but telling him he can't pick his country when he does qualify to represent both seems a little more significant than telling him which cap he'll be wearing in the Hall of Fame.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/playerFantasyNews?categoryId=85368
Now, if Selig forbids him to play for DR, that's one thing. Whether or not he qualifies, per the stated rules of the competition, is undeniable.
According to this, you are incorrect:Cleef said:Because the DR doesn't recognize dual citzenship...
I found that to be odd as well. Just goes to show you, don't believe everything you read elsewhere besides DR1.rellosk said:According to this, you are incorrect:
frank alvarez said:Well, I started this thread 95 posts ago just to have some fun and I guess to brag about the offensive talents of some Dominican players. However, this is just for our entertainment since we still don't know who's going to play, etc.
I hate to see people getting upset over insignificant subjects such as sports and end up fighting with each other, even through a keyboard. C'mon guys, it's all in fun and everyone's opinion is important and should be respected.
