Meanderings on a Quiet Day

Wednesday was a relatively quiet day for Baseball (at least in these parts), as close to the trade deadline as we are.  Rumors about Josh Johnson being dealt persist, although most of the bloviaters seem to think that the asking price is prohibitively astronomical. If JJ is still a Marlin on Wednesday, it will stifle some of the “here we go again” comments that have surfaced since the Hanley Ramirez deal. However, if he lands someplace like Texas, and we don’t get two or three all-stars and a top prospect in return, I think that knives will be sharpened all over town. Until that worst-case scenario actually plays out, I wish this guy’s editor would make him blow into a paper bag until he’s capable of writing something rational..

Oakland and Pittsburgh continue to ink their place as the Cinderella stories of this season. Both are on hot streaks of epic proportions, and are looking like they will embarrass preseason prognosticators. Like Jack Sparrow’s compass that points to what he wants the most, the compass that is George Will (always points to good baseball) has been pointing towards the West.  He’s been seen at a couple of A’s games, sitting in the always available Billy Beane seats.

In bizarre baseball news that rivaled the off-season kidnaping of Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos, Vi Ripken was apparently carjacked near her Baltimore-area home.  Fortunately, she was found unharmed. Also related: On their return from a road trip, a number of the Rockies visited an Aurora hospital.  No need to go into why. Good on them for the visit.

Christopher Orlet penned an article  for American Spectator on the pros and cons of air conditioning. I suspect anyone who has endured a matinee game at SunLife stadium would find themselves firmly in the pro-A/C camp.  I got uncomfortably warm sitting in the sun at Safeco field in September, so I know where I stand.

Tim Lincecum continues to struggle on road trips.  Here’s a link to a video analysis of the mechanics that earned him a Cy Young a few years ago.  I’ve always liked watching him throw, and I hope he regains what he seems to have misplaced. Another rabbit hole to go down is to compare the mechanics of Josh Beckett from one year to the next. He’s got to be near the top of the heap when it comes to consistency in his mechanics and delivery. It’s also illuminating to look at PitchF/X data to see how consistent the release point is for good Major-League pitchers.