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Monday, March 03, 2008

STLtoday: Sidney Ponson reappears

Don’t ANY of Copperfield’s tricks take?

The Cardinals will lend former pitcher Sidney Ponson a place and a mound to throw for scouts Thursday at lunchtime.

Ponson, who made 13 starts for the Cardinals in 2006, is said to have slimmed down to 245 pounds and cranked up his fastball to 91 mph.

Because he’ll be on their spring-training campus, the Cardinals will have scouts in attendance, and they are interested is seeing what he has. “Just keep an open mind,” manager Tony La Russa said.

Repoz Posted: March 03, 2008 at 04:56 PM | 39 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. The Essex Snead Posted: March 03, 2008 at 05:09 PM (#2704814)

Those numbers attached to the "slimmed down" and "cranked up" sections of the quote don't really inspire too much confidence. I hope he brought a box of wine or twelve.

2. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: March 03, 2008 at 05:13 PM (#2704823)

Baseball needs more pitchers about whom you can say with a straight face that they "slimmed down to 245 pounds". That's priceless.

Buster Olney reported this morning that Kyle Lohse is willing to take a one year contract, and "multiple teams expressed no interest".

3. Guts

Posted: March 03, 2008 at 05:19 PM (#2704835)

NOOOOOOO!!!!

4. Shooty: Applying to be Fearless Leader

Posted: March 03, 2008 at 05:24 PM (#2704845)

Buster Olney reported this morning that Kyle Lohse is willing to take a one year contract, and "multiple teams expressed no interest".

I don't get it. Lohse is useful. Why the fiscal restraint all of a sudden?

5. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: March 03, 2008 at 05:27 PM (#2704848)

I don't get it. Lohse is useful. Why the fiscal restraint all of a sudden?

He has a bad rep for his attitude. At least, I know he did in MN. I'm not sure if that's the motivator.

6. Sparkles Peterson Posted: March 03, 2008 at 05:39 PM (#2704867)

The first article I read on this mentioned that a dozen teams were expected to be at Ponson's exhibition, so hopefully he isn't necessarily ticketed back to the Cardinals.

I want to see the dollar figure attached to Lohse's one-year contract demand before I comment. Given his agent, it could well be for an exorbitant amount with a number of easily-vested, expensive option years tacked on.

7. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: March 03, 2008 at 05:40 PM (#2704870)

According to Olney, it's "between $4 million and $10 million". Yeah, I know. Very useful.

Even at 1 year, $8 million, there should be teams lining up for the services of a LAIM. I just got done writing about this, but there's something about Lohse that GMs know that we don't.

That, or Olney's misinformed and Lohse's contract demands are still exorbitant.

8. Dan Szymborski

Posted: March 03, 2008 at 06:36 PM (#2704946)

Sidney Ponson reappears.

Time of eclipse, 2 hours, 34 minutes.

Next Full Ponson Eclipse, 9/8/2009, 02:14 GMT

9. Crispix Attacks Posted: March 03, 2008 at 06:44 PM (#2704963)

I have no idea what the deal is with Lohse. He seemed indistinguishable from Carlos Silva a couple months ago.

Staying with the Phillies still seems like the most logical thing. Gavin Eaton is still not any good, none of the Durbins are likely to be any good, and I see no reason why Travis Blackley would be any good aside from the fact that they did use a Rule 5 pick on him, so they must see something they like. Come back Kyle!

Where can I find out if someone is a groundball or flyball pitcher, aside from just looking at home run rates?

10. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: March 03, 2008 at 06:50 PM (#2704974)

Where can I find out if someone is a groundball or flyball pitcher, aside from just looking at home run rates?

The Hardball Times

11. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: March 03, 2008 at 06:53 PM (#2704982)

Where can I find out if someone is a groundball or flyball pitcher, aside from just looking at home run rates?

Why, the Hardball Times of course! I'm pretty sure they do GB%

12. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: March 03, 2008 at 06:55 PM (#2704984)

Coke or a beer, Pops?

13. Pops Freshenmeyer Posted: March 03, 2008 at 06:56 PM (#2704987)

Coke or a beer, Pops?

A beer if you're ever in Southern Indiana.

14. Andere Richtingen

Posted: March 03, 2008 at 06:58 PM (#2704989)

Slimmed down? He's listed on bb-ref at 225!

My memory had been kind to him. I would have guessed his last sub-5 ERA to have come much more recently than 2003.

Ponson, 2004-07:

468 2/3 IP, 6.26 ERA. It seems he sucks by the pound.

15. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:05 PM (#2704996)

I'm guessing Sean got his numbers from say, this Sidney Ponson as opposed to this one.

16. Charter Member of the Jesus Melendez Fanclub Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:08 PM (#2705000)

Next Full Ponson Eclipse, 9/8/2009, 02:14 GMT

Is that per the Farmer's Almanac, or a ZIPS projection?

17. Crispix Attacks Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:11 PM (#2705003)

I like the use of the word "reappears". Like he's the Jersey Devil or something, rampaging through the village after everyone thought he had drowned in the swamp.

18. Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Griffin (Vlad) Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:13 PM (#2705006)

No fat pitcher thread is complete without the Jimmy Anderson photo.

19. Crispix Attacks Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:14 PM (#2705008)

And the Ruben Quevedo photo.

20. TFTIO who can remember his past lives Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:15 PM (#2705009)

I think they should have used "resurfaces" instead of "reappears". It captures the Sir Sidney aesthetic better, in my opinion. Good luck to the Aruban Judge-Puncher, and stay off the Jupiter beaches, Florida magistrates!

21. Crispix Attacks Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:17 PM (#2705011)

And a new classic, Bartolo Colon in the costume he wore as Seth in Superbad.

22. Andere Richtingen

Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:19 PM (#2705013)

This guy set the standard that all fat pitchers can only hope to achieve.

23. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:20 PM (#2705017)

I like Then and Now for Fat Pitchers:

Livan Hernandez: Then and Now

Bartolo Colon: Then and Now

It's like The Biggest Loser in reverse!

24. RB in NYC (Now with New Running Goal!) Posted: March 03, 2008 at 07:29 PM (#2705030)

David Wells: Then and Now

25. Belfry Bob Posted: March 03, 2008 at 08:28 PM (#2705092)

As long as he didn't topple an isolated lighthouse or eat a longshoreman or a policeman, I guess no harm is done in his resurfacing.

26. Gamingboy Posted: March 03, 2008 at 08:52 PM (#2705110)

I still await his long awaited Sumo match with David Wells..............

27. flournoy Posted: March 03, 2008 at 09:00 PM (#2705115)

LAIM

This is killing me. I think I've got the "League Average" part. I'll bet that 'I' is "Innings." 'M'? League Average Innings Marauder? League Average Innings Mop-up-guy?

Edit: I really hate these acronyms. IIRC... AFAICT... just type out the damn phrase!

28. Crispix Attacks Posted: March 03, 2008 at 10:56 PM (#2705205)

Lard Ass Island Man? No, that's Ponson, not Lohse.

29. PASTE is not impressed by Albert Pujols (Zeth) Posted: March 03, 2008 at 11:17 PM (#2705222)

Muncher. Tim Wakefield is the Patron Saint of LAIMs.

30. The Bones McCoy of THT Posted: March 03, 2008 at 11:49 PM (#2705238)

He has a bad rep for his attitude. At least, I know he did in MN. I'm not sure if that's the motivator.

I think Boras is his agent as well.

Best Regards

John

31. Gotham Dave Posted: March 04, 2008 at 04:23 AM (#2705356)

Really? Really?

31 posts and not one mention of El Guapo?

32. Russlan will never be fond of Jason Bay Posted: March 04, 2008 at 04:31 AM (#2705360)

Colon actually looks like an athlete in that Indians picture.

33. GotowarMissAgnes Posted: March 04, 2008 at 04:33 AM (#2705361)

The Cardinals will lend former pitcher Sidney Ponson a place and a mound to throw for scouts Thursday at lunchtime.

I'm thinking Ponson's more interested in the free lunch than the mound.

34. Lassus: Posted: March 04, 2008 at 04:36 AM (#2705365)

Batgirl had a lot of fun with Lohse's temper.

DAMN I miss Batgirl.

35. Russlan will never be fond of Jason Bay Posted: March 04, 2008 at 04:37 AM (#2705367)

Is Nick Johnson really this fat?

36. Crispix Attacks Posted: March 04, 2008 at 05:26 AM (#2705378)

That does not look like a normal body shape, even a fat body shape. It looks like he has a hot water bottle sticking out of the top of his pants, bulging out the bottom of his shirt.

Probably a trick of the photography.

37. Russlan will never be fond of Jason Bay Posted: March 04, 2008 at 05:31 AM (#2705381)

It might be the wind. He's got the double chin going and that's what made me think he actually was that fat.

38. Newtype Posted: March 04, 2008 at 06:28 AM (#2705391)

LAIM = League Average Innings Muncher ?

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STLtoday: Sidney Ponson reappears

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