Reading outfielder and Paul Owens Award winner Chris Roberson is playing for Hermosillo in the Mexican Pacific League. After 16 games, the slashing 26-year-old is batting .250 with 2 homers.
In the Arizona Fall League, Reading teammate Michael Bourn is hitting .283, including three triples in 16 games.
The speedy duo combined for 72 stolen bases for the Double-A Phillies.
Bourn, 23, is considered one of the best defensive outfielders to ever play in Reading, while Roberson, a bit more raw in the field, broke a Reading record for hits in a season with 172. Roberson also won Eastern League player of the year.
Collectively, they like to get their hacks, combining for a ridiculously high 235 strikeouts, with Bourn leading the team with 123 wiffs. Ouch!
A friendly reminder (to myself)
The last two weeks have been the least enjoyable stretch I've had running Beerleaguer, trying to generate enough fluff on the GM hunt. I found it necessary because it was topical, there was heavy interest and the hot stove hadn't officially started.
I'm beginning to see why beat writing must totally ruin it. Who wants to write column inch on top of column inch on random, boring front office stiffs? Only space aliens, that's who.
So enough with the empty talk about Pat Gillick, Gerry Hunsicker, Theo Epstein the rest of the men I can't accurately explain. Here are the real reasons why I'm heading down to the Bank every chance I get in 2006 (and I'm not talking about the bat boy on the far right. No, wait. That's Tomas Perez, and even he's a better reason than a new GM).
I understand how boredom could be setting in for you, but please don't abandon us during the long, cold winter. We need some quality baseball talk now more than ever, especially those of us who could care less about football.
Posted by: Ted Cogswell | Wednesday, November 02, 2005 at 05:16 PM
Sound comments Jason on the beat writers, Jason. If there's a reason I'll keep coming back to blogs for insight on the phils it's because the bloggers don't have to do it every day. Instead, you can work on a pet project for several weeks, and publish for all to see at the end. Balancing daily comment with good features is, perversely, easier when you've less time to do it.
Posted by: Oisin | Wednesday, November 02, 2005 at 05:24 PM
Last nite on xm, the Delaware county daily times beat writer was interviewed and the national host and he agreed that gillick will trade howard because thome has zero value
howard should get a solid #2 starter and 3rd baseman...i did not like this but they were speaking as if it was common knowledge that phils fans want thome out/howard in but that will never happen
they talked about it at length..
they also made fun of "gold-glover" bobby abreu
Posted by: Ken | Thursday, November 03, 2005 at 08:19 AM