Spring training thread

[Dick Whitman]

I'll start it off with this story from the Red Sox. Bobby Jenks had a life-threatening situation last year after back surgery in which he was, as far as I can tell, leaking spinal fluid:

http://espn.go.com/boston/mlb/story/_/id/7606198/boston-red-sox-bobby-jenks-feared-life

For a guy often thought to be a backwoods goober, Jenks is impressive in recounting the condition he had.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Another backhanded compliment from Mr. Culture.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Another backhanded compliment from Mr. Culture.

Not at all, Conan.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Since this was "another backhanded compliment," perhaps you can enlighten me and list some of the past ones? I'm unfamiliar.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

You are just so gosh-darned impress that the guy you thought was a backwoods hick can string together a couple of coherent sentences. Save the condescension.

 

[Matt Stephens]

Never a good idea to fly within a few weeks of back surgery. My doctor cleared me to fly Tulsa-to-Denver a couple weeks after I went under the knife and, sure enough, I started leaking fluid.

 

[Dick Whitman]

You are just so gosh-darned impress that the guy you thought was a backwoods hick can string together a couple of coherent sentences. Save the condescension.

Do your homework. Jenks had a really rough upbringing in some really poor, rural parts of the Pacific Northwest. I've dealt with him professionally. Have you, Conan? In between filing another Judy Blume novel in the young adult section? I know that Jenks isn't a moron. My post was directed at others, posters here perhaps but mostly the public at large, who figured otherwise.

I found the stereotype - much of it fueled by an ESPN: The Magazine piece on him when he was still with the Angels system - to not fit, even though he has at times succumbed to his roots. I'm impressed when anybody can speak fluently on medical issues, actually. Not sure what that has to do with "culture," though.

I'm glad he's OK.

 

[JackReacher]

Nats will win 103 games.
Strasburg will win Cy Young.
Harper will win Rookie of the Year.
Zimmerman will win World Series MVP.

 

[Matt Stephens]

Nats will win 103 games.
Strasburg will win Cy Young.
Harper will win Rookie of the Year.
Zimmerman will win World Series MVP.

Replace all Nationals players with Cubs, then I'd be OK.

 

[jr/shotglass]

Nats will win 103 games.
Strasburg will win Cy Young.
Harper will win Rookie of the Year.
Zimmerman will win World Series MVP.

They're going to be better than many realize, that's for sure. But I don't know if Harper arrives until midseason. He was still in learning stages when his season ended last year in Harrisburg.

You are just so gosh-darned impress that the guy you thought was a backwoods hick can string together a couple of coherent sentences. Save the condescension.

FWIW, you impress me daily.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

Tigers will win 103 games.
Verlander will win Cy Young.
Jacob Turner will win Rookie of the Year.
Miguel Cabrera will win World Series MVP.

 

[Steak Snabler]

Board snark and sniping aside, Jenks' reputation as having merely "walking-around sense" is nothing new. When he was coming up with the Angels, he was considered dumb even for a ballplayer.

From a 2005 2003 Tom Friend ESPN Insider article on Jenks (it's subscriber-only, or I'd post the link):

"From the neck down, he's a major leaguer," says a part-time scout for the Phillies, Dave Ryles.

From the neck up?

"Maybe a Little Leaguer," says Ryles.

 

[PCLoadLetter]

Board snark and sniping aside, Jenks' reputation as having merely "walking-around sense" is nothing new. When he was coming up with the Angels, he was considered dumb even for a ballplayer.

From a 2005 Tom Friend ESPN Insider article on Jenks (it's subscriber-only, or I'd post the link):

"From the neck down, he's a major leaguer," says a part-time scout for the Phillies, Dave Ryles.

From the neck up?

"Maybe a Little Leaguer," says Ryles.

He only played as a sophomore in high school because he was academically ineligible the other years.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Board snark and sniping aside, Jenks' reputation as having merely "walking-around sense" is nothing new. When he was coming up with the Angels, he was considered dumb even for a ballplayer.

From a 2005 Tom Friend ESPN Insider article on Jenks (it's subscriber-only, or I'd post the link):

"From the neck down, he's a major leaguer," says a part-time scout for the Phillies, Dave Ryles.

From the neck up?

"Maybe a Little Leaguer," says Ryles.

He only played as a sophomore in high school because he was academically ineligible the other years.

No way. I was just jumping to conclusions. Ask the expert.

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Board snark and sniping aside, Jenks' reputation as having merely "walking-around sense" is nothing new. When he was coming up with the Angels, he was considered dumb even for a ballplayer.

From a 2005 Tom Friend ESPN Insider article on Jenks (it's subscriber-only, or I'd post the link):

"From the neck down, he's a major leaguer," says a part-time scout for the Phillies, Dave Ryles.

From the neck up?

"Maybe a Little Leaguer," says Ryles.

He only played as a sophomore in high school because he was academically ineligible the other years.

No way. I was just jumping to conclusions. Ask the expert.

So your defense for your condescending post is that others think he's an idiot who can't string together coherent sentences as well. Got it.

 

[SoCalDude]

Three days in, Albert pissed at the Angels for their billboard campaign calling him "El Hombre." He apparently told the Cardinals he didn't want that nickname in deference to Stan "The Man" Musial. Angels didn't know.
By the way, Albert, owner Arte Moreno is the Southwest billboard king and those billboards are paying your $246 million contract.



http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-0223-angels-pujols-20120223,0,2968586.story?track=icymi

 

[jr/shotglass]

Board snark and sniping aside, Jenks' reputation as having merely "walking-around sense" is nothing new. When he was coming up with the Angels, he was considered dumb even for a ballplayer.

From a 2005 Tom Friend ESPN Insider article on Jenks (it's subscriber-only, or I'd post the link):

"From the neck down, he's a major leaguer," says a part-time scout for the Phillies, Dave Ryles.

From the neck up?

"Maybe a Little Leaguer," says Ryles.

He only played as a sophomore in high school because he was academically ineligible the other years.

No way. I was just jumping to conclusions. Ask the expert.

So your defense for your condescending post is that others think he's an idiot who can't string together coherent sentences as well. Got it.

TSP012

Just bookmarking this for easy reference the next time somebody says I'm the moral compass for this board.

 

[spikechiquet]

I'm not a huge Tigers fan..but the battle for the 5th slot in the rotation will be a fun one to watch.

Top prospect Jacob Turner vs. Drew Smyly, Andy Oliver, Casey Crosby, Duane Below, and Adam Wilk.

 

[Dick Whitman]

Board snark and sniping aside, Jenks' reputation as having merely "walking-around sense" is nothing new. When he was coming up with the Angels, he was considered dumb even for a ballplayer.

From a 2005 Tom Friend ESPN Insider article on Jenks (it's subscriber-only, or I'd post the link):

"From the neck down, he's a major leaguer," says a part-time scout for the Phillies, Dave Ryles.

From the neck up?

"Maybe a Little Leaguer," says Ryles.

He only played as a sophomore in high school because he was academically ineligible the other years.

No way. I was just jumping to conclusions. Ask the expert.

So your defense for your condescending post is that others think he's an idiot who can't string together coherent sentences as well. Got it.

I'm saying that Jenks - who I have met several times and like - has clearly grown up and isn't the dumb bumpkin that people thought he was when he was coming up through the minors, as evidenced by his impressive grasp of some pretty arcane medical facts.

The rest of it is you projecting.

 

[spikechiquet]

Nats will win 103 games.
Strasburg will win Cy Young.
Harper will win Rookie of the Year.
Zimmerman will win World Series MVP.

And will beat the Royals in 6 for the crown?

That's what I would like to see anyway.