Volquez profile

by redandblue on May 14, 2008 9:46 AM EDT Comment 24 comments

I found this piece, http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3392657 , on ESPN.com very interesting. There was a lot in the story about Edinson Volquez's experience with the Ranger's that I had not known before I read this article.

Other interesting things in the article that I'm going to list so that this is 75 words long:

Paul Bako, Scott Hatteberg and Josh Fogg say that Volquez would be a household name if Volquez pitched in NY or BOS. How frustrated do players find it to play outside of the ESPN universe?
During his time in the majors, he's had 2 different birth dates and 3 different names. During my time on Reds Reporter, I've only had one name but I've aged greatly.

Little Pedro!

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According to that article

The Wagon has now tied the Mike Norris for the lead for the most consecutive games giving up one earned run or fewer to start a season. Awesome!

by Brendanukkah on May 14, 2008 10:21 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

believe it or not

he’s still got two Reds to pass to get to the top of the list for any time during the season for the last 52 years (that’s how far back we have game logs).

"Hard being everybody’s hero, I suppose." - Buck O'Neil on Willie Mays

by Slyde on May 14, 2008 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jose Rijo did it for 10 games, but only got three wins?

Aaron Harang sympathizes.

by Brendanukkah on May 14, 2008 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well

twice in that stretch he only pitched 2 innings or fewer, so it’s a little deceptive. And two other times he only pitched 5 innings. So, that’s probably why he didn’t get more wins. Though he did go 7 innings 3 times and only won one of those.

"Hard being everybody’s hero, I suppose." - Buck O'Neil on Willie Mays

by Slyde on May 14, 2008 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those numbers Bob Gibson put up are staggering!!!

11 games straight, 99 innings (11 CG’s, 8 Shutouts, 0.27ERA!)

Jeffery Hoke Brantley had 6 between the end of the ‘92 season and the start of the ‘93 season.

"To me, boxing is like a ballet, except there's no music, no choreography, and the dancers hit each other." - Jack Handey

by JJ on May 14, 2008 12:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea but

Brantley’s still an idiot.

Often wrong, never uncertain.

by sidnancy on May 14, 2008 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This seems a bit ridiculous:

Among the rules he had to follow:
• Run on and off the field within 12 seconds.

• On days he pitched, only speak to his catcher, manager and pitching coach.

• Write down a plan for the nine hitters.

• Use a No. 2 blade when shaving his head.

• Throw 60 percent first-pitch strikes.

• On 80 percent of 0-1, 0-2 counts, throw an action pitch, or quality purpose pitch.

• Chart pitches on days he is not starting.

• Always have his shirt tucked in, and his pants tidy.

Any violation of those rules would result in a $250 fine and a possible skip in the rotation. At first, Volquez was dejected, then his attitude brightened and his drive to get back to the majors became intense.

I mean, I am glad he got his game together but I am surprised that treating him like child worked out. I guess, in a sense, it didn’t- at least not for Texas.

12 seconds? Was there someone there with a stopwatch?

A part of this article was also printed here today in the newspaper Hoy.

Tanzen!

by Verka Serduchka on May 14, 2008 11:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it was suppose to piss him off

but I was surprised he didn’t just sulk. It may have made him work like hell to get back to the Major Leagues.

The Dusty Path to the World Series!*

*Note this is not an endorsment of Dusty Baker.

by justin007000 on May 14, 2008 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This story has some real sports talk radio potential

It can’t be long before some asshat on WLW gets the bright idea that rules mandating 12 second on/off field times, proper hair cuts, and "professional" uniform appearance might turn Jr., Dunn, and everyone who has been sullied by their erstwhile leadership into more competent and Freel like ballplayers. The reinstitution of Marge’s facial hair ban can’t be far behind! Clearly these were more responsible for Volquez success than his immense talent and learning to game plan like a pro.

by Bill Doran on May 14, 2008 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That's Why....

....he’s no longer with the Rangers. If you need to force someone to sign some extra contract to make them do any of these things (although the 12 second rule is silly), that is a sign of a field manager’s inability to work with and motivate/discipline a young player. It reeks of something George Steinbrenner would do. This might also explain why the Rangers have had such difficulty developing good starting pitchers of late (although its home ballpark might be another). I’m glad he’s here. He’s been one of the few bright spots on this team this year.

by tonywf on May 14, 2008 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hamilton for Volquez

This trade will set up the Rangers and Reds for great success for many more years. Hamilton is tearing up the AL, leading the league in RBI and is in 15th in homers. Hamilton wasn’t needed with Jay Bruce coming up, and the Rangers have some weird hatred of pitchers ever since they signed that Ho Chi Minh guy to a 10 year, 4.2 billion dollar contract or what not. This was a great trade for both teams.

coltshomer.blogspot.com

by Colts Homer on May 14, 2008 9:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wasn't Ho Chi Minh with the Reds?

Marty may have a shirt on, but Billy Beane just ripped his off and is squeezing his nipples. - Brendan's ukkah

by boobs on May 15, 2008 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he sure kicked the yankees butts awhile back

BRING UP BRUCE!

by Daedalus on May 15, 2008 2:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So tru:

Hamilton wasn’t needed with Jay Bruce coming up,
BUT Hobbs is tearing it up at MLB
J.Bruce is tearing it up at AAA -

The art of losing isn’t hard to master;
. - Elizabeth Bishop

by Madville on May 15, 2008 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hamilton was never superfluous

Imagine an outfield of Dunn-Hamilton-Bruce, instead of Dunn-Patterson-Griffey. But the saying goes that you have to give up something to get something, and just imagine what our record would look like without Julio Reyes in our rotation. It was the rare trade that worked out for everybody (although my gut feeling tells me that Hamilton in Cinci would have been more productive than Volquez in Texas).

Hamilton was never “not needed.” He was the man we chose to give up so that we could get Volquez. I’m happy we made the trade, and I’m even happier that Josh has been so dominant. Nothing but the best wishes for continued success to both Hamilton and Volquez.

by Brendanukkah on May 15, 2008 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hamilton or Bruce

This is an excellent point. The Reds had to give up someone, is it inconceivable that they should have given up Bruce instead of Hamilton?

If you're not having fun, stop participating.

by redandblue on May 15, 2008 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

a 21 year old with a head on his shoulders

vs. a 25 year old recovering addict with a history of relapses who wasn’t well liked in the clubhouse?

i think this was a no brainer.

BRING UP BRUCE!

by Daedalus on May 15, 2008 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget

Injury Prone..

-Do not play golf behind Dave Parker.

by snohio on May 15, 2008 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

just for the sake of argument . . .

the 25 year old (still quite young) is doing very well versus MLB pitching. The 21 year old has been doing very well versus minor-league pitching. I agree with you but I don’t think it is a no-brainer.

If you're not having fun, stop participating.

by redandblue on May 16, 2008 7:28 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ah, the power of hindsight

josh had good numbers last year, esp for a rookie who’d not played much in three or four years, but no one could have predicted he’d have 50 RBI before memorial day.

and like snohio said, add injury prone to that list.

don’t get me wrong. i love hobbs. but if someone had to go, let it be the one with the problems.

BRING UP BRUCE!

by Daedalus on May 16, 2008 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs