I could use a draft - how about you?

My annual ritual: creating the Newberg Report Draft Page.


It is complete and online.



Right now I could use a pint of Guiness with a shot of Bailey's -- Marla Hooch

Miss Stella Wants To Know

Miss Stella is my roommate, confindant and a baseball fan. She loves baseball season because I'll be sitting on the couch for a good part of the evening, she can curl up on my lap. She loves it when Vincente Padilla pitches since that means I'll be there for a while, she doesn't like it when Chris Davis or Elvis Andrus make a great play (or get a hit) since that means I'll start clapping or occasionally yell some encouragement at the TV - which wakes her up.

Miss Stella is very...um...vocal - just ask the New Mexico Bean, every time she calls Miss Stella can be heard from wherever she is in the house sending greetings to the Bean.

Miss Stella is curious about a few things and thus the title and substance of today's blog entry.

The first thing she wanted to know was: Why did it take me so long to write this week? I don't really have a good answer for that - sometimes life gets in the way of baseball and sometimes I just can't think of anything original to write.

Now she wants to know: Have you changed my mind about Nelson Cruz yet? Not quite - but I am on the verge of saying - maybe I was wrong.

Next thing she wants to know: Why do some of the local wags write so much about Chris Davis's strike out rate - when Jarrod Saltamacchia's is just about the same lately? I have no idea - if you look at the last ten games - Salty has 17 K's and Davis 19 K's.

Miss Stella noted this about these two pitching performances on the road trip:

Derek Holland: 4 2/3 IP, 6 Hits, 4 ER, 1 HR, 2BB, 5K

Brandon McCarthy : 4 IP, 6 Hits, 6 ER, 1 HR, 3BB, 3K

Holland is 22 years old pitching in just his 12th major league game, while McCarthy has 104 games in 4 years in the big leagues. My faithful cat asks: Which pitcher do you feel better about when goes to the mound?

She also wants to know: What minor league numbers caught your eye this week, and are you ever going to another minor league game? First things first - yes I'm going to Frisco on Monday to see Kasey Kiker pitch and I might even write a game report. OKC, I'm not so sure, gas prices being what they are and Sunday games starting at 4:00 p.m. instead of 2:00 p.m. have kind of made me re-think my trips up north. Plus, I'm going to more Ranger games this season - they are closer to Hooch World HQ - and the Rangers are alot more fun to watch this season (and I still love those $10.00 Friday night tickets and $5.00 parking).

The minor league numbers that caught my eye are all pitching: the leaders in IP at AAA and AA are also the leaders in ERA - which appears to be a pretty good thing. Those pitchers are: OKC's RHP Doug Mathis 56 IP - 2.89 ERA (and now holding down a spot in the major league bullpen) and Frisco's LHP Kasey Kiker 52 1/3 IP with a 2.92 ERA. The other number that still intrigues me is Yoo Hee Nam at Class A Hickory: 38 IP, 12 BB, 35 K - 0.71 ERA - I know it's low A ball - but those are some very nice numbers.

When you are not watching baseball, or working, or "having a life" (as you so often say to no-one in particular - but I do hear you) what have you been doing? I've read a couple of good books including Laura Lippman's latest (not a Tess Monaghan story - but still an excellent read) "Life Sentences" and "Old City Hall" - the first novel by Toronto based writer Robert Rotenberg that I would also recommend. I've already set the TIVO this week for the premier episodes of "The Closer" and "Saving Grace". I've left ymy roommate alone on a couple of Sunday afternoons while I went to the movies: "Angels and Demons"-- wait for the video - it's okay - but I'm just not big Dan Brown fan - and I'm not sure what kind of grudge Ron Howard has against the Catholic Church - it's a bit disturbing. "Night At The Museum 2: Battle Of The Smithsonian" - just as much as the first - Hank Azaria is one of the most verstile and talented actors I've ever seen. He was hilarious. (Just a little bragging - I saw him on Broadway in "Spamalot" when the Dickie Thon Fan Club Girls Dorm did 4 plays in 4 days - he was fantastic - it was also a great trip)

Final question: Where are my Pounce treats? Let's go downstairs to the kitchen and find them.

No pepper on grass and watch out for hairballs - Miss Stella and Marla Hooch
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