Players such as Fontenot earn Super Two status and get an early start on arbitration, which can bring hefty raises. Other Super Twos include Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum, Rays pitcher Matt Garza, Cubs pitcher Tom Gorzelanny, Royals third baseman Alex Gordon, Orioles pitcher Matt Albers, Pirates pitcher Jeff Karstens, Astros outfielder Hunter Pence, Rangers pitcher Dustin Nippert and newly acquired Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez.

Those players can file for arbitration in mid-January and those who don't settle go to hearings the following month, with three-arbitrator panels selecting the salary proposed by either the player or club.

Went to local fair threw speed pitch. Got mad and told the guy his radar gun was wrong, then punched him N the face and took a bear anyway!!

The Rangers have announced that hitting coach Rudy Jaramillo has declined a contract offer and will not return to the coaching staff next year. The remainder of the big league coaching staff has been invited to return for the 2010 season.

Just got back talking to former manager John McLaren, who is in the stands scouting for the Tampa Bay Rays. McLaren just got back from a month-long stay in Italy, where he was managing MLB's academy in that country. He got a good look at Seattle's Class A team in High Desert this season and came away awfully impressed.

Come on Sox fans, you had to have seen this coming. For God sakes, Ben Affleck has become the celebrity poster boy of your fanbase. For years you were the lovable losers with a humorous outlook and refreshing sense of humility that endeared you to the sporting world. Hell, you were the Susan Lucci of baseball and everyone loved you for it! But then, in 2004, after winning the World Series you became the nerdy girl who grew boobs one summer, got really hot, and became an unbelievable bitch to everyone around her because she didn’t know when this new found popularity or social success would end. Sox fans became more arrogant than Yankees fans ever were, and suddenly began spending Steinbrenner-type money while still bemoaning the Yankees' business structure. The irony, much like the douchebags that line Fenway Park, is getting out of control.

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Pena, who faced the World Champion Philadelphia Phillies in the 2008 World Series, will appear on MLB Tonight October12 and 13

#
Bill from Brandon
Sep 24th, 2009 8:47 am

Upton is so lazy, I'm sure if that ball was 5 or 6 rows into the stands, he doesn't catch it.

Did anyone go to the instructional league game at Tropicana Field yesterday?

Except for Beckham and Sheridan (who I saw play in Bowling Green), it was the first time I had seen any of the players. I would love to know what someone else thought of those s/he saw.

It was nice to see Beckham get a solid line drive hit to RF, although I think he swung at a high pitch out of the zone (which he did in his previous AB as well). And exactly as happened in Bowling Green, he threw wildly to 1B while moving after the catch. I am not making anything of this, just observing.

It seemed to me that Moore does indeed have an impressive curve that young hitters simply cannot figure out. He threw a lot of balls, but not really wildly, just a bit off the plate. The stadium gun was clocking his fastball in the 87-89 range.

And it was nice to see Luke Bailey take a couple of ABs and to watch Lobstein pitch as well.

But, that’s the only reason. Otherwise, the Gold Gloves should go to Franklin Gutierrez, BJ Upton, and either Ichiro or Carl Crawford. They are the ones that are considered stars by Fans, by bUZR, and have played full time.

This is from Perotta at BP, On the Beat column. It is near the bottom under the heading what scouts are saying about players:

"Rays left-hander Scott Kazmir: "He’s just not right physically. He’s become a soft-tosser, and his pitches lack bite. If Tampa Bay does get to the postseason, I don’t think [they] can afford to pitch him."

I did not think this was true. Seems to me his fastball has returned somewhat if not all the way. I don't know if his slider is as sharp as it was, but my impression is that it is also improving.

I don't know when the scout said this.