The Cat and I actually had to spend time defending Berkman around here over the past couple of years. I guess some people forget quickly when an elite player is struggling for one reason or another. The negative stuff tossed at him in recent by local media was idiotic and insulting. In a sport so full of cheaters and schmucks, Puma is one of the good ones - not perfect but a genuinely good guy. Not to mention, he is Top 50 all-time in OPS+: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/onbase_plus_slugging_plus_career.shtml Top 20 all-time in straight OPS: http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/onbase_plus_slugging_career.shtml That's like being in the Top 5 or 10 all-time in PER in the NBA given the scale of the sport. Check out some of the names just above and below him on the list. Elite company for sure. And he did that without the juice, unlike some of the other players who have put up similar numbers. Imagine what he would've done if he chose to cheat. He'd be even higher on that list. He's already the 2nd best switch-hitter of all-time, behind only The Mick, his father's childhood idol.
Games like this tease everyone into wondering what Bud Norris can truly become. Is he a #1 or #2 guy or is he simply a consistent #3?
He was a generally good guy who at times had a big mouth and who half-assed it on ground balls sometimes. His last two or three seasons, though they ended up decent (by his huge standards) statistically, were wildly streaky. Dude was the king of slumps here recently. Given that the early projection of career was near-Ruthian (and I only exaggerate a little with that), one can understand why fans felt disappointed. Can't blame the guy for his bad knees, though. But still, it was a let-down for Bagwell's heir-apparent to devolve into "bad knees guy who had a lot of potential but is still productive".
Pretty much agree, the guy struggled all of last season and his 2009 was deceiving. He had a good year but during the 1st half of that season he struggled badly and when everything was decided in the 2nd half, he turned it on to get to a nice OPS. Whether it was health, decline or motivation...Puma was trending downward and while it hurts to watch him rebound this season, I think a lot has to do with motivation and being on a contender. I still worry about his health and playing the outfield so much, he has already had a few nagging issues. We got our closer of the future and a nice prospect out of it while allowing Wallace to blossom at first so no issues moving the guy. Just wish we didn't have Lee in left or Puma returning this season would have been more feasible.
He just missed it. They gave a great look on MLB Quick Pitch this morning. He actually touched the ball with the tip of his glove. Would have been play of the year, IMO, especially if Bud went on to complete the no hitter.
You can actually blame him for at least 1 bad knee. It's just frustrating to see the Lance that we all knew and loved finally return...for the Cardinals. I still hope for the best for him and would never be one to boo him. Heck...as long as the Astros are not a contender...I hope he gets his ring.
I can make an association of lance and a guy whom was thought to be doing steroids since the early nineties. lets not go this player cheated, that player didn't, we don't know, just leave it alone
I bet they bring Brandon Lyon along slowly and, despite what Mills says, will only replace Melancon if Lyon is pitching better.
only conspiracy theorists and people who believe acne is "proof" "thought that individual to be doing steroids since the early nineties." The rest of us look at the mountain of real evidence that points to the contrary and say, "we just have no way of knowing."
It is true that we can never assume, even now with testing. 1) New drugs are always being developed to beat those tests 2) HGH isn't tested for 3) We know people have cheated drug tests in the past (Not necessarily MLB's) That being said, I don't think Berkman has used, but its really just perception.
http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/blo...yon-activated-could-regain?urn=fantasy-wp3557 I love this quote: "Mark's done a good job for us all year and is going to continue to do a good job. He's got the stuff, and is a good pitcher. We want to be able to do things the right way, and doing them the right way is being able to have veteran guys at the end of the game that have success in doing that in the past, like Brandon has. This is the kind of crap that a $15MM, 3 yr deal gets you. I like the writer's analysis: So basically, regardless of whatever success Melancon may have had, you need an old person in the ninth. Experience. Guile. Steely determination. Terrible goatee. Three-year, $15 million deal. CLOSER'S MENTALITY!
I'd like to see them let Lyon close again only because if he has success, then he could be a very marketable chip at the trading deadline.
What major contenders don't have a closer though? There are a lot of really solid young closers out there right now. I think Lyon would be just as marketable as a solid 8th inning guy, and based on his history, much less likely to implode in that position.
A closer signed through next season at $5 million is a better bargain than a setup guy signed for $5 million.
