Hot, hot, hot!
That’s how my stepfather Martin Smith described Ryan Howard in a email this morning after he slugged two more home runs last night for the Red Barons. At present, he’s leading the league in batting with .377. Perhaps his stock is on the rise after all. Damn you, Goodman.
Polly party
Placido Polanco is gone but not forgotten by the Beer Leaguer. Polly played a key role in the Tigers sweep of the Padres in a classic interleague grudge match. He went 6-12 in the series.
Julio! Julio! 
He's the best ageless wonder since Satchel Paige. Julio Franco went 2-5 last night and stole two bases, batting out of the three-hole. Let me repeat that: a 47-year-old stole two bases last night. You go with your bad self, Julio!
Polly's hitting better than .400 since joining Detroit.
Everyone keeps pulling for Howard to come up right now, especially on the AL road trip, but he isn't as consistent, nor is he a record breaker, when he moves up to the majors. We've seen that already. So yeah, while I agree that Old Man Thome should DH when we're playing in an AL park and Howard should field first, I don't think he's the everyday guy we need yet.
Posted by: Jeff | Friday, June 17, 2005 at 12:21 PM
Poly may be hitting well, but even having missed 1/3 of the season so far, Utley is second in the league in VORP at 2nd base, and charging hard on Jeff Kent (Jeff has 70 more ABs, and only 2.7 more VORP). Someone get that kid into the all-star game!
Posted by: pawnking | Friday, June 17, 2005 at 02:00 PM
Re: Damn you, Goodman.
Always happy to oblige, I think.
Howard cannot be judged on his brief stint here. It is ridiculous to do so given the limited, episodic nature of his use by Charlie Manuel.
Posted by: Tom Goodman | Friday, June 17, 2005 at 03:42 PM
I am thrilled for Polanco, whom I alway admired. Isn't it just like him to go to a new team and fit right in. The guy is a real pro.
Posted by: Tom Goodman | Friday, June 17, 2005 at 05:06 PM
Who else thinks that PK invented VORP? I've never seen someone use one stat so much. But somehow he's right most of the time.
Posted by: Jeff | Friday, June 17, 2005 at 11:27 PM
Julio Franco's birthdate is suppossedly August 23, 1958 (if you believe him).
That makes him only 46 yr old.
Posted by: Mark | Tuesday, June 21, 2005 at 01:59 AM