Friday Musings

I’m depressed. My Sharks, and yes I’m still claiming them even after the stinker they laid last night, now trail the Ducks 1-0 in their first round series after falling to their rivals from the south 2-0 in Game 1. Look, everyone knows that you can’t win every game, but that doesn’t mean it takes the sting out of things when the inevitable occurs. Still, the way it happened almost made me physically ill. The Sharks, who led the NHL in points (117) as well as posting the best record in the league at home, they lost only five games at the “Tank” all year in regulation (they went 32-5-4), looked awful in an embarrassing shutout loss. They had better bring it in Game 2 on Sunday, and by bring it I mean they had better bring a passion and dedication to sacrifice and lay “it” all on the line, something that they all said they were ready to do this year but barely flashed at all in Game 1. Disappointing.

Joba Chamberlain was awful today needed 93 pitches to make it through only 4.2 innings. Maybe he was drunk. OK, that was tasteless and I want to say I’m sorry, but come on Joba, you’re killing me with these up and down performances. Either bring it or head back to the bullpen. Scratch that. Stay in the rotation. I don’t have much use for my second starting pitcher hurling 98 mph cheese in the 8th inning.

Alex Gordon’s hip surgery was a success and he could be back on the filed shortly after the All-Star break according to initial projections. I can just hear all those people who took my advice and grabbed him to be their starter at third base this season saying something like ‘that’s just dandy.’

Mike Pelfrey will likely be scratched from his next start due to lingering concern over forearm tendonitis. Does anyone in a mixed league care? I’m not ready to predict a Fausto Carmona like fall for Pelfrey this season, but at the same time I really don’t see much of a difference in either guy’s stuff or outlook. Think I’m full of it? Check out the numbers.

Carmona (’07): 3.06 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 5.73 K/9, 2.25 K/BB, 0.67 HR/9
Pelfrey (’08): 3.72 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 4.93 K/9, 1.72 K/BB, 0.54 HR/9

Carmona (’08): 5.44 ERA, 1.62 WHIP, 4.33 K/9, 0.83 K/BB, 0.52 HR/9
Pelfrey (’09): OK, it wouldn’t make any sense to list his numbers after just two starts and 10 IP, but the point is that both players rely on sinkers and their defense, and neither one excites me for fantasy purposes. I see Pelfrey at risk, if this injury issue lingers at all, of having a substantial drop off in his performance from last season.

Chris Perez laid a fat pitch in at the knees right over the plate to Alfonso Soriano in the bottom of the eighth inning. As a result, the Cards went from 7-6 lead to an 8-7 deficit as Soriano deposited the pitch in the bleachers. Give the quickness with which Tony LaRussa has made decisions this year we may never see Perez pitch with the Cardinals every again. That statement is clearly hyperbole, but at the same time this outing likely will mute the rush to the waiver-wire to add the since recalled reliever. Speaking of relievers in this game, that Carlos Marmol kid is flat out filthy. His fastball was “only” registering 94 on the gun in his battle with Ryan Ludwick, but for a guy who has a 20-game hitting streak and also one who blasted two home runs earlier in the day he looked completely overmatched in the at-bat. It was good morning, good afternoon and goodnight for Ludwick, all on fastballs that he missed by plenty. Still don’t really get why the Cubs aren’t using Marmol in the ninth every time the need arises and not just here and there like today (what does Kevin Gregg have on Lou Pinalla?).