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Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Arizona Republic: D-Backs roll in Dunn’s debut

Dunn didn’t figure into any of the run scoring in the Diamondbacks’ 4-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies - a win that was No. 294 in left-hander Randy Johnson’s career - but he did make an impact at the plate.

Dunn, hitting cleanup and wearing No. 32, was on base three times with a double and two walks.

“It was good,” Dunn said. “It was the first time I’d been a part of a win in a long time.”
...
Dunn looked comfortable at the plate, but not necessarily in right field - a position he had not played since 2003 - as he was hesitant going back on an Ian Stewart line drive in the second inning that went for a double.

“It felt OK, but it was weird, because you just feel backward,” said Dunn, a left fielder by trade. “As soon as that gets over with, I think I’ll be fine.”

NTNgod Posted: August 13, 2008 at 01:53 AM | 36 comment(s)
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1. Russlan wants Pedro to be a Met again Posted: August 13, 2008 at 02:03 AM (#2900849)

Randy Johnson is really in a groove right now with a 1.08 ERA in his last 5 starts. The NL West race is going to be really interesting the rest of the way.

2. We don't have dahlians at the Palace of Wisdom Posted: August 13, 2008 at 02:10 AM (#2900852)

Randy Johnson is really in a groove right now with a 1.08 ERA in his last 5 starts.

When he has his command he can still put up zeroes. In that span he has 26K/2BB.

3. Craig Calcaterra Posted: August 13, 2008 at 04:55 AM (#2900872)

4. Belfry Bob Posted: August 13, 2008 at 05:53 AM (#2900878)

“It was good,” Dunn said. “It was the first time I’d been a part of a win in a long time.”

Liar! Everyone knows you care nothing about winning!

5. Grumbledook Posted: August 13, 2008 at 06:12 AM (#2900880)

Dunn is arguably the one of the best active players to have been utterly reviled by the local media. Someone should compile a list of such players. Ted Williams immediately comes to mind, but I'm sure others can come up with more players.

6. 1k5v3L, Useless

Posted: August 13, 2008 at 09:09 AM (#2900987)

Russlan, please stop trying to jinx the Unit.

7. robinred

Posted: August 13, 2008 at 09:15 AM (#2900995)

He would have gotten on a couple of more times if he actually liked baseball.

8. 1k5v3L, Useless

Posted: August 13, 2008 at 09:29 AM (#2901015)

Obviously, Dunn hates baseball and supports terrorists.

9. kthejoker Posted: August 13, 2008 at 09:39 AM (#2901028)

Dick Allen, Bobby Bonds, Sammy Sosa.

Jesse Burkett.

10. Trevor Crowe T. Robot (Dan Lee) Posted: August 13, 2008 at 09:40 AM (#2901029)

Sure, Dunn got on base three times in five plate appearances, but he did not move any runners along with fiery, productive outs to the opposite field or whatever, so he continues to be an abomination as a player and a human being.

Any sac flies? No? Yeah, that's what I figured. Dunn really needs to work on hitting more sac flies.

/generic Cincinnati sports talk host

11. Rodder Posted: August 13, 2008 at 09:51 AM (#2901044)

Ted Williams immediately comes to mind, but I'm sure others can come up with more players.

Barry Bonds.

12. Rodder Posted: August 13, 2008 at 09:52 AM (#2901046)

Although, on second thought, Bonds wasn't really reviled by the SF media. It was obviously more the national media.

13. shoewizard Posted: August 13, 2008 at 11:08 AM (#2901177)

He did strike out twice with men on base. But he did have a positive 0.066 WPA for the game thanks to the bloop double and two walks.

14. bfan Posted: August 13, 2008 at 11:18 AM (#2901197)

"Sure, Dunn got on base three times in five plate appearances, but he did not move any runners along with fiery, productive outs to the opposite field or whatever, so he continues to be an abomination as a player and a human being."

This also sounds like the flip side of Braves' announcers praise, when dealing with Jeff Francoeur's recent efforts (along with "he had some good swings in that at-bat", which generally refer to the foul balls he was able to generate in the AB). When did outs by your RF and (former) #5 hitter become "productive outs" and worthy of praise?

15. The Buddy Biancalana Hit Counter Posted: August 13, 2008 at 11:23 AM (#2901207)

16. Swoboda is freedom Posted: August 13, 2008 at 11:51 AM (#2901246)

Mike Schmidt

17. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: August 13, 2008 at 11:57 AM (#2901257)

I've got some sympathy for anyone whose job requires commenting on several hundred Jeff Francoeur PAs ca. 2008. Even as a neutral observer, it's profoundly unpleasant to watch him attempt to hit major league pitching.

that minor league stint was just what the doctor ordered--since his recall, he's hit 202/282/260

18. baseball chick (now, with NEW blog) Posted: August 13, 2008 at 12:05 PM (#2901269)

i'd bet dunn is GLAD to be out of cincy where marty brennaman is delighted that dunn will be replaced by the vastly superior ryan freel

19. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: August 13, 2008 at 12:07 PM (#2901275)

that minor league stint was just what the doctor ordered--since his recall, he's hit 202/282/260

Wow, he's been pretty awful this year. Have the Braves made any statements regarding his future in Atlanta?

20. flournoy Posted: August 13, 2008 at 12:19 PM (#2901293)

Since he hopefully has no future in Atlanta, maybe they feel that no comment is necessary.

21. baseball chick (now, with NEW blog) Posted: August 13, 2008 at 12:32 PM (#2901321)

and me i'm really worried that hunter pence is headed to jeff francoeur land. once the reat of MLB pitchers catch up to the fact that pence can't hit sliders unless they hang or lay off em or hit low and away FB doubt he's gonna see much of anything else

i can't see any future for francoeur unless he gets himself a real hitting coach. watching him IS painful

22. bfan Posted: August 13, 2008 at 12:55 PM (#2901382)

given that frank wren is in charge (bringing us to his Baltimore oriole glory days), as long as frenchie flosses and keeps that oh so appealling smile intact, I would pencil him in for 160 games in RF next year, with a robust 260/295/410 line for next year.

23. flournoy Posted: August 13, 2008 at 01:01 PM (#2901403)

That line would be an amazing improvement on his performance this season.

24. Walt Davis Posted: August 13, 2008 at 03:13 PM (#2901715)

With Andruw Jones on the DL, Francoeur's got a chance to catch up to him in the worst OF in modern memory competition. But at least he's not fat.

25. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: August 13, 2008 at 03:24 PM (#2901734)

Did Jermaine Dye's 2003 somehow escape your notice?

26. bfan Posted: August 13, 2008 at 03:25 PM (#2901736)

"With Andruw Jones on the DL, Francoeur's got a chance to catch up to him in the worst OF in modern memory competition. But at least he's not fat."

Classic. And the good news is that will give the Braves fans something to watch and cheer for, in these last 6 weeks of the season. We have the ghost of suck past and the ghost of suck present to watch; maybe they can call up someone from the minors and put the ghost of suck future on the field too.

27. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: August 13, 2008 at 03:46 PM (#2901768)

maybe they can call up someone from the minors and put the ghost of suck future on the field too

Maybe they will sign Francoeur to an extension this September and he can fill both roles.

28. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: August 13, 2008 at 03:48 PM (#2901772)

Did Jermaine Dye's 2003 somehow escape your notice?

But only 221 ABs. I would argue he was less unvaluable than his teammate, Terrance Long.

29. flournoy Posted: August 13, 2008 at 03:55 PM (#2901779)

ghost of suck future

Cody Johnson

30. Mike Emeigh

Posted: August 13, 2008 at 03:59 PM (#2901783)

Cody's not having a terrible year, for a guy who's not even 20 until next week. But he's got to show some signs of progress making contact soon.

-- MWE

31. flournoy Posted: August 13, 2008 at 04:01 PM (#2901786)

Of course, "not having a terrible year" is not the kind of praise I want to hear about a guy who was the first round pick a couple of years ago.

32. Crispix Attacks is in the best shape of his life. Posted: August 13, 2008 at 04:15 PM (#2901794)

When you adjust for position and consider defense, Jim Thome's 2005 was not un-unvaluable. Especially from the perspective of an LVP voter, since the Phils finished one game out of the playoffs that year.

33. Pasta-diving Jeter (jmac66) Posted: August 13, 2008 at 04:16 PM (#2901797)

worst outfielder OPS+ since 1990 (qualified for batting title)

1 Brian Hunter 48 1999
2 Darren Lewis 57 1999
3 Vince Coleman 59 1994
4 Marquis Grissom 63 2000
5 Darren Lewis 64 1995
6 Endy Chavez 65 2003
7 Brian Hunter 65 1998
8 Chuck Carr 65 1994
9 Brian McRae 65 1992
10 Derek Bell 66 1999
11 Peter Bergeron 67 2000
12 Juan Pierre 68 2002
13 Gerald Williams 68 1997

Frenchy's at 68 now & dropping

(Andruw is at 35--can't beat that)

34. Chris Needham Posted: August 13, 2008 at 04:26 PM (#2901809)

Austin Kearns laughs in your general direction. And he's the only one of that sad crew that's hitting cleanup!

35. scareduck Posted: August 13, 2008 at 04:28 PM (#2901810)

Ted Williams immediately comes to mind, but I'm sure others can come up with more players.

Milton Bradley, at least in Los Angeles.

36. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: August 13, 2008 at 04:33 PM (#2901816)

But only 221 ABs. I would argue he was less unvaluable than his teammate, Terrance Long.

You underestimate just how hard Dye sucked. He managed to pack an extra 1.2 wins below replacement into 269 fewer plate appearances.

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