Dallas Braden retires

 

"He's a tremendous player and a tremendous talent, and I don't care if I'm Cy Young or the 25th man on the roster; if I've got the ball in my hand and I'm out there on that mound, that's not your mound. You want to run across the mound? Go run laps in the bullpen. That's my mound." - after Alex Rodriguez ran across the mound when returning to a base as a baserunner after a foul ball by Robinson Cano 

"Dallas Braden (groin) played catch"

Love MLB injury updates!

Ever seen Dallas Braden's pickoff move?

It's good.

Like REAL good.

I was only able to catch a few innings of the Tigers/A's game today as it was on at the place where the boys and I were having lunch.

Pudgy Tigers catcher, Gerald Laird who is absolutely no threat to steal was taking a VERY modest lead when Braden threw over there lightning quick and almost picked him off. Before I even knew what was happening, the ball was at first base. The ball beat Laird to the base and the only reason Laird was not picked off was the first basemen did not appear to tag him properly.

Now that I am home and able to do a little "research", I see Braden leads the league this year with 3 pickoffs. He also gave up no stolen bases in 2009 in 133 innings and only one stolen base in 72 innings (I bet Joe West blew the call on that one) in 2008.

?!?!?

How do you get this good?

If I am a runner, I am not taking chances and I am just standing on the bag when he is on the mound. Forget stealing. The batter is going to have to hit me over.

Lead-offs are optional, you know.

Perfect game!

This one is almost too easy but anyway here goes.

"I don't want to extend the 15 minutes of fame he's already had." (You know who)

You know, everything he touches turns to.....well you know what.

There is someone REALLY high up that doesn't like A-Rod for some reason.

You know you can't deny it.

Ok, that's it!

He is getting thrown at!

Not a bad rule of thumb

Something tells me that Bob wouldn't have liked A-Rod very much as an opponent.

Just a feeling.

I might have to reassess this

I originally thought Braden was right in his dispute with A-Rod but maybe a bit melodramatic.(Just stare him down and plunk him next time as opposed to getting into a cat fight with him)

Now that LaRussa has weighed in, I guess I am not so sure.

Yea, not a Tony fan, sorry.

Comments on Dallas Braden's batting stance

1. Not very threatening and this is putting it mildly.
2. A little bend anywhere in the body might help a bit. Loosen up man!
3. You need to be in the same area code as the plate to have any chance of hitting the ball.
4. A walk given up here should trigger a Pete Rose-like gambling investigation of the pitcher.

Just sayin'.

Does the owner-dude know about this?

A report on some of the A's alternate plans on a "free-day" rainout.

I am all for team camaraderie and all and I know that this is not the NHRA or anything but isn't there some fine print in a standard major league contract about this?

What were the other guys doing?

Cliff diving?

Exploring caves?

Just askin'.

Dallas Braden is going to get hazed or something if he doesn't watch out

Per AP, Oakland Athletics' pitcher, Dallas Braden had this to say about his pitching line (5 innings, 10 hits, 7 runs, 6 walks) in last night's 7-5 loss to the New York Yankees: "It's pretty much a blueprint on how to get your team to hate you. It was a total team effort to get us the lead and then I went out and gave it back. Then a total team effort to get us the lead back, then I went out and gave it away again."

Hey guys, don't hurt him too bad, ok?

You know, why not just do a real intense "truth or dare" session or something? Nothing too bad. He seems real remorseful and everything.

If it happens again, well........you see those rocks back there?