umpbump.com » Rant

What They Need: Dodgers

Nick Kapur — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:20:24 +0000

Look, we could talk about how the Dodgers need a second baseman now that Joe Torre completely alienated Orlando Hudson by benching him in favor of an inferior player down the stretch and in the playoffs, or how the Dodgers need another starting pitcher or two, but why beat around the bush when what the Dodgers clearly need, way more than anything else, is new ownership.

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Tagged: Dodgers, Frank-McCourt, Jamie McCourt, Ned Colletti, What They Need

Jimmy Rollins must bat leadoff no more forever

Coley Ward — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:41:53 +0000

Jayson Stark doesn’t think the Philies should sign Chone Figgins because Figgins is a leadoff hitter and the Phillies already have a leadoff hitter.

From ESPN.com:

“What happens if they try to install Figgins in the leadoff hole? That has the potential to create a … [visit site to read more]
Tagged: Jayson Stark, Jimmy Rollins, OBP, Phillies

A-Rod is a beast

Coley Ward — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:20:45 +0000

So here’s the deal: Today the New York Post Daily News ran this gossip item and I know it’s last minute, but it’s Halloween and … [visit site to read more]

Tagged: A-Rod, Centaur, Yankees

Rollins over Jeter? Really, Bill?

Coley Ward — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:42:20 +0000

I’m going to post my own World Series preview later today, where I go position by position. But first I wanted to point out that Philadelphia Daily News columnist Bill Conlin has his own preview up, where he compares the Phillies … [visit site to read more]

Tagged: Bill Conlin, Derek Jeter, Jimmy Rollins

Mets fans should root for the Phillies

Coley Ward — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:22:44 +0000

Today the New York Times has a story about all the bitter Mets fans who can’t decide who to root for (or against) in the World Series.

Mets fans, let me make it easy for you. (Don’t worry, I won’t use any big words.)

The unfortunate reality for everybody in America who isn’t a fan … [visit site to read more]

Tagged: Mets, Phillies, World Series, Yankees

The honeymoon is over

Coley Ward — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 05:37:58 +0000

After a fantastic honeymoon in Fiji, where we were cut off from television, internet, and all other forms of media other than the Fiji Times (which doesn’t publish baseball standings), the blushing bride and I returned stateside yesterday. We landed at LAX around 4 p.m. to discover 1. The Phillies were still alive! 2. They were scheduled to play … [visit site to read more]

Tagged: 2009, Dodgers, Fiji, honeymoon, Phillies, playoffs

Getting Tired of Joba Rules

Paul Moro — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 16:29:41 +0000

A few days ago, I received my copy of the most recent ESPN The Magazine in the mail and read the article written by Tim Keown describing the current mindset in Arlington in regards to pushing their pitchers physically beyond the comfort levels of the average Major League franchise.

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Tagged: Joba Chamberlain, Joba Rules, Nolan Ryan, Rangers, Yankees

Big-name-itis strikes Dodgers again

Nick Kapur — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:12:49 +0000

At the beginning of this season, we asked if putting Joe Torre and Ned Colletti together in the same organization was going to mutually exacerbate both of their well-known predilictions for big-name “experienced veterans.”

Clearly, the answer is a resounding “YES.”

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Tagged: big-name-itis, Dodgers, Jim Thome, Joe Torre, Jon Garland, Ned Colletti, Ron Belliard, trade, Vicente Padilla

MLB.tv’s Geico caveman commercials are driving me crazy

Coley Ward — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 05:14:10 +0000

There are a lot of brilliant moments in the movie The 40-year-old Virgin,” but the moment where Paul Rudd’s character works up the nerve to ask his boss to play a different DVD in the electronics store where they work is one of my favorites.

David: Hey, Paula.
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Tagged: commerical, Geico, mlb.tv

ESPN analysts are obviously just mailing it in for any teams other than the Red Sox and Yankees

Nick Kapur — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 13:50:31 +0000

I get really tired of all these ESPN “analysts” who don’t seem to know anything about any teams outside of the two eastern divisions. Do they even watch west coast games at all? Are they already asleep on the East Coast by the time the West Coast teams play?

What’s … [visit site to read more]
Tagged: Buster Olney, Dodgers, ESPN, laziness, Steve Phillips, useless