Lohse Makes Baseball Forget Pujols… Just for One Night

Posted on April 5, 2012 by kvschnitz

(AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Kyle Lohse didn’t mean to steal the show. The St. Louis Cardinals right-hander was just entering another day at the office. He stepped into the opening day start after Chris Carpenter had been shelved with an injury. Lohse stepped into the exotic city know as Miami.

The crazy water spitting homerun, monster in centerfield at Marlins Park didn’t distract Lohse. The Brazilian dancers that escorted Jose Reyes out onto the field didn’t make Lohse do a double take. The fish tank that wrap around the backstop at Marlins Park is distracted PETA, but not Lohse. The new buzz that South Beach carries has enough distraction to hurt Lebron James, but not Kyle Lohse?

All Lohse did was throw 7.1 innings, surrendering two hits while allowing one run in a win over the Miami Marlins on the opening night of the baseball season. For 6 innings, Lohse flirted with a no-hitter, before Jose Reyes roped a screamer into right field (Thank Dan Shulman for jinxing that). Bob Feller remains the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter on opening day. But for those 7.1 innings, Kyle Lohse made St. Louis and baseball forget they lost Albert Pujols. Kyle Lohse was the distraction. (more…)

Filed under: Digging Deep - Analysis | Tagged: , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Reds Sign Andrew Brackman; It Makes Sense

Posted on January 5, 2012 by kvschnitz

The Cincinnati Reds have had a questionable off-season. First came the lopsided deal. The Reds dealt prospects Yonder Alonso, Yasmani Grandal, and Brad Boxberger; along with veteran/injury-prone starter Edinson Volquez for the San Diego Padres ace Mat Latos. For most of the baseball world, the trade was a wonder. It’s one of those deals where you’ll look back 5 years and wonder what the Reds were thinking. The Reds better hope their current core stay together. Who knows if first basemen Joey Votto will resign? Can Devin Mesoraco repeat his success at the major league level?

But now I am scratching my head a little more. On Wednesday, the Reds announced the signing of the former New York Yankees first-round pick Andrew Brackman to a 1-year Major League contract. Let me repeat this, the Reds signed Brackman, a 6’10” flame thrower, with a combined 5.11 ERA since being drafted out of North Carolina St. in 2007. What is even more mind-boggling is the fact that general manager Walt Jocketty signed Brackman to a major league contract. But hey, I don’t sit behind the desk.

However, I view this signing as a win/win situation for the Reds. Brackman, a Cincinnati native, could fit into the vacant closer situation, incase the Reds do not bring back Francisco Cordero. The details of the contract have not been released. I can’t see the deal being worth anything expensive. Maybe Brackman can find himself as a starting pitcher again?

(more…)

Filed under: Digging Deep - Analysis | Tagged: , , , | 3 Comments »

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