Shawn Green, a classy guy. Never wanted him in Arizona in the first place, but appreciated how he handled his demotion and his trade to the Mets. Best of luck to him.

Another concern: [Carlos] Gomez will not hit, according to one scout, because he is "afraid of the ball."

"Throw the ball anywhere near the inner third, and this guy jumps," the scout said.

Well, that's just great.

Padres right-hander Mark Prior is expected to throw off a mound within the next week, and club officials believe he might start a minor-league rehabilitation assignment in April and return in early May.

Prior's agent, John Boggs, advocates a more cautious approach.

In other words, Mark wants to make two token starts in September before he hits free agency.

"Throw the ball anywhere near the inner third, and this guy jumps," the scout said

Oh brother. You'd think if this was true maybe someone other than this one scout would have noticed. I call BS; although I'm sure this anonymous scout said that, the veracity seems suspect.

Oh brother. You'd think if this was true maybe someone other than this one scout would have noticed. I call BS; although I'm sure this anonymous scout said that, the veracity seems suspect.

I agree. This would assume minor league pitchers are too stupid to notice something this obvious and take advantage. On the other hand, anonymous scouts quotes are usually a lot of fun. Gammons' use of Anonymous Scout always cracked me up when he was still free on ESPN. I loved the guy's columns, but man...

Any idea what the Cubs would get from SD for Murton? I haven't heard Murton to the Padres rumored.

Hendry couldn't extract a thumb tack from his behind, what makes you think he can extract anything for Murton? The Padres are offering a third base bag as a gift for Lou.

"Throw the ball anywhere near the inner third, and this guy jumps," the scout said.

Hell, it works for Jeter.

Sanders' OPS+ since 1995, relative to the year before:

ODD YEARS:
+44
+7
+35
+41
+24
+24
+49

EVEN YEARS:
-51
-21
-58
-10
-28
-41

In other words, Mark wants to make two token starts in September before he hits free agency.

Yeah, that'll certainly maximize his earnings potential. I've never seen a player so universally despised for no damn reason as Mark Prior is.

Yeah, that'll certainly maximize his earnings potential. I've never seen a player so universally despised for no damn reason as Mark Prior is.

Mark Prior was supposed to have the best mechanics around and be immune to injury. So people are mad a Prior for showing them up by being injured so much.

Frank Thomas is scared of the ball, and he still hits.

When Mark Prior or his agent say he'll be back in May, it always means next May.

"Throw the ball anywhere near the inner third, and this guy jumps," the scout said.

I do that a lot when up in the count and taking all the way to try to "sell" the pitch as a ball to the umpire.

It doesn't usually work, and I imagine big league umpires are a bit better than men's league umpires.

How slow can you take it with a guy on a one year deal.

"Oh brother. You'd think if this was true maybe someone other than this one scout would have noticed. I call BS; although I'm sure this anonymous scout said that, the veracity seems suspect."
"I agree. This would assume minor league pitchers are too stupid to notice something this obvious and take advantage. On the other hand, anonymous scouts quotes are usually a lot of fun. Gammons' use of Anonymous Scout always cracked me up when he was still free on ESPN. I loved the guy's columns, but man..."

Oh come on. Is that really impossible that maybe the scout is right? Or at least that maybe his viewpoint is informed and somewhat accurate?
Gomez wouldn't be the first guy who gets uncomfortable when the heat comes in on his wrists.

At it isn't like he has dominated the minors offensively, so maybe they have noticed this to some extent and keep bringing the heat inside to prevent him from stepping into the pitch and driving it.
Plus, minor league pitchers aren't necessarily the smartest bunch so I'm sure it is possible that many haven't noticed this (if true). Also, maybe some have but they top out at 87 and can't quite instill the fear (even though 87 still hurts like a Bia when it hits ya) like a guy tossing 93 can.
I don't see why the scouts opinion isn't at least worthy of being considered

Any idea what [one might] get from SD for Murton? I haven't heard Murton to the Padres rumored.

Hopefulli Antonelli; the Orioles are going to need a second baseman.

Don't need to... BS already bought it.

Has Jody Gerut really been out of ball since spring training 06?

Has he been in Japan? Because the least regular season ABs I see him having (major or minor) are from 07.
Thats a pretty quick fall.
Even when he wasn't hitting well he was still a solid reserve type player. Some speed, some power, good defense in the corners

I don't see why the scouts opinion isn't at least worthy of being considered

You make good points and yeah, this scout's take could be right. But a lot of scouts who aren't anonymous have put him in their top 50 lists and the scouting department of the Twins has basically staked their reputations on Gomez. I'm extremely skeptical of the anonymous scout because after too many years of reading their take on things, I've become wary. The BS to good information ratio is weak.

Jody Gerut got hurt. I forget what the malady was, but he was injured for a long time.

"But a lot of scouts who aren't anonymous have put him in their top 50 lists and the scouting department of the Twins has basically staked their reputations on Gomez."

How many scouts make and publish top 50 lists?
Law kind of counts, having some pro scouting background, but BA and Goldstein have contacts with scouts (they keep anonymous) but readily admit they are not scouts themselves.
But yeah, the reputation (and a strong one at that) of the respected Twins scouting organization deserves merit.

Any scout info you get will be anonymous, unless you personally know some. Teams obviously don't want their guys going on the record.

And yeah some of the "anonymous scout" stuff later proves to be off the mark, but there are lots of factors that go into that. Part of it, surely, is players making adjustments. If Gomez DOES in fact have inside fastball issues and develops into a good MLB hitter I'm sure the inside fastball issue (if it exists) is something he will work on eliminating.
Moreso, scouting is so difficult there are always going to be a wide range of views. From a writing perspective it is the fringe viewpoints that are the most interesting so I can see the possibility that columnists are more likely to publish those quotes

From a writing perspective it is the fringe viewpoints that are the most interesting so I can see the possibility that columnists are more likely to publish those quotes

This makes sense. Also, my brain--the sticky bastard--has probably latched onto the whoppers I've read attributed to anonymous scouts and, over the years, Anonymous Scout has slowly evolved into a comical character for me. At least with Goldstein or Law or Sickels or Callis, I have a baseline of their former opinions I can use to decide whether I trust them or not. I guess for me, the opinions of anonympus scouts are useless since I ve no idea how good the scout is or if the scout has even seen the player he's talking about, or if the scout has an axe to grind for his organization or against another organization. What would an anonymous scout working for the Mets have said about Scott Kazmir a couple of years ago? I'm perfectly willing to accept that this is my loss. But yeah, it's kind of douchey for me to be snarky about the scout's opinion. Snarkiness is a bad habit. It really is.

Jody Gerut got hurt. I forget what the malady was, but he was injured for a long time.

His knees took two years off for tax purposes.

I call BS

Don't need to... BS already bought it.

Nice one!

Hendry couldn't extract a thumb tack from his behind, what makes you think he can extract anything for Murton?

Uh, Hendry might have his weaknesses, but his track record as a trader's pretty damned solid.