The maddening pace of perfection

...off, even when he works with a catcher for the first time, as he did with Ramon Castro on Thursday. "You put down the sign and I'll throw it," Buehrle had told Castro...

Blog Entry | Conversation | July 24, 2009

Joe Mauer's prowess isn't just with the bat

Joe Mauer used to offer tentative opinions in the Minnesota Twins' meetings with pitchers before every series, maybe because he is unfailingly polite ...

Blog Entry | Conversation | May 06, 2009

Bad news for Cardinals

The start of the Phillies-Cardinals game was delayed by rain, so I switched the channels back and forth last night, hoping to catch Mark Mulder's firs...

Blog Entry | Conversation | July 10, 2008

Wild night at Shea

I didn't realize until Sunday night that I would, when visiting Shea Stadium on Monday night, be seeing one of the best pitching matchups of the seaso...

Blog Entry | Conversation | June 23, 2008

Joba's adjusting to starter role

Before Joba Chamberlain made his first start, Yankees pitching coach Dave Eiland asked him what time he would like to begin his pre-start routine of h...

Blog Entry | Conversation | June 09, 2008

What we don't know about Mets

All we know on the morning after Willie Randolph's vote of confidence is that the Mets are 79-83 in their last 162 games. But there is so much we d...

Blog Entry | Conversation | May 27, 2008

Three Strikes: Mets in a fine mess?

...outfielder Ryan Church. He hit cleanup, with utility man Marlon Anderson batting third and backup catcher Ramon Castro hitting fifth. It's possible the only other position player who got off the bus who...

Blog Entry | Conversation | February 28, 2008

Mets get little for Milledge

...and 2009]. Why not sign another veteran catcher, go to spring training with Johnny Estrada and [Ramon] Castro and the third catcher, and hang onto Milledge, to see if he turns it around? The...

Blog Entry | Conversation | December 01, 2007

Athletics to weigh trade options

Early next week, Oakland executives will sit down to consider what they might get in return for trading pitchers Dan Haren and Joe Blanton. The Dodger...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 21, 2007

Ten free agents with good value

...peers in the current free agent class, his home run rate is behind that of only Ramon Castro and A-Rod, as Mark Simon of ESPN Research details here: HR Per PA (100 PA...

Blog Entry | Conversation | November 14, 2007

Randolph, Mets caught in a funk

Willie Randolph's expression never changed Tuesday night, not when the Nationals cut the Mets' lead to 5-2, not when Washington began rallying again a...

Blog Entry | Conversation | September 19, 2007

Historic catching in fantasy so far

...was signed on Monday. Rob Bowen is the free agent leader in ownership. Brad Ausmus and Ramon Castro are owned. I'm still starting Mike Redmond as my No. 2, weeks after Joe Mauer...

Blog Entry | Conversation | July 03, 2007

Diamondback Thoughts

The Diamondbacks aren't in action this fine, sunny Thursday, which is a good thing, because the beginning of this blog will still have the same releva...

Blog Entry | Conversation | May 10, 2007

Talked to J.P. Ricciardi, the general manager of the Blue Jays, a few days ago, and he was unequivocal: If Roy Halladay hadn't gotten hurt, Toronto wo...

Blog Entry | Conversation | August 31, 2005

...easy option of pitching around Cliff Floyd and instead going after Piazza's light-hitting backup, Ramon Castro, hitting .238 with no homers at the time. Now, if Sexson and Piazza had repeatedly objected...

Blog Entry | Conversation | June 19, 2005