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Sam Fuld
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Author:  Northside_Dan [ Tue Apr 19, 2011 8:35 am ]
Post subject:  Sam Fuld

is flat out slaying mother fuckers. Now, you can have his cape!
Image

Author:  good dolphin [ Tue Apr 19, 2011 9:02 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

That looks more like a wife beater than a cape. Maybe they can have wife beater t shirt days for Milton Bradley and that pitcher in Houston.

Author:  Urlacher's missing neck [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

Sam Fuld has 7 more extra base hits than Carlos Pena. There is something fundamentally wrong with that. Early Scmearly....the season is already more than 10 percent over.

Author:  bigfan [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

'Sam just can't play everyday because of his condition (diabetes)" Jim Hendry directly to me and 2 others at Union League Club Jan, 2010?

Author:  Mr. Reason [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

bigfan wrote:
'Sam just can't play everyday because of his condition (diabetes)" Jim Hendry directly to me and 2 others at Union League Club Jan, 2010?

I really fucking despise Hendry. Too bad Hendry wasn't around to say the same thing about Santo fifty years ago.

Author:  bigfan [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

Yes, Jim Hendry is the epitomy of a bad GM.

Worst thing is that for years and still today, there was NO checks and Balances on him.

It was just what he thought. Maybe he explained it to someone at the Trib company, but none of them wanted to say Yes or NO and then have the media start asking them about why they did something.

Author:  RFDC [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

Come on guys, Fuld is a nice little story to start the year. But surely none of you really think he should still be on the Cubs and that he is what they are missing. He will be Reed Johnson throughout his career.

Author:  jimmypasta [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

RFDC wrote:
Come on guys, Fuld is a nice little story to start the year. But surely none of you really think he should still be on the Cubs and that he is what they are missing. He will be Reed Johnson throughout his career.


Yeah,I think your right but that's not terrible either. Reed looks like he can still get a hit here or there.

Author:  Urlacher's missing neck [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 9:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

RFDC wrote:
Come on guys, Fuld is a nice little story to start the year. But surely none of you really think he should still be on the Cubs and that he is what they are missing. He will be Reed Johnson throughout his career.

I believe Reed Johnson has more extra base hits than Carlos Pena right now.

Fuld is playing out of his mind right now and he will fade away soon enough. I am just emphasizing how historically awful Pena's hitting and power are right now.

Author:  RFDC [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

I do not understand the connection between Pena and Fuld though. It is not like Pena is on the team because Fuld isn't or that Fuld was traded for Pena.

Author:  Urlacher's missing neck [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

I just think its weird how a little base hit puncher known more for his defense and being a fringe 4th outfielder has 7x as many extra base hits than the 10 million dollar left handed power hitter.

It's just a statistical oddity early in the season. I'm sure I could find a dozen pitchers with better power numbers than him right now. His hitting (and I truly hope he takes off and starts raking) is fun bad now.

Author:  jimmypasta [ Thu Apr 21, 2011 10:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

The guy does have a bad thumb. BUT if I'm a GM,I don't throw 10 mil at a .196 hitter.

Author:  sinicalypse [ Fri Apr 22, 2011 4:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

Did you mention that the Sam Fuld superhero cape promotion is replacing the Manny Ramirez bobblehead night promotion?

"Ain't that a kick in the head?"

I wonder what's going to happen to all of the Manny Ramirez Tampa Bay Rays bobbleheads... do you think some kids in Ethiopia are going to have that much more of a Merry Christmas (or happy Kwanzaa!) when they receive the greatest gift of all time: a Manny Ramirez bobblehead?! =D

Author:  Urlacher's missing neck [ Fri Apr 22, 2011 7:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

sinicalypse wrote:
Did you mention that the Sam Fuld superhero cape promotion is replacing the Manny Ramirez bobblehead night promotion?

"Ain't that a kick in the head?"

I wonder what's going to happen to all of the Manny Ramirez Tampa Bay Rays bobbleheads... do you think some kids in Ethiopia are going to have that much more of a Merry Christmas (or happy Kwanzaa!) when they receive the greatest gift of all time: a Manny Ramirez bobblehead?! =D


They are going back in for paint where they will return as an Edison Volquez bobblehead.

Author:  312player [ Sat Apr 23, 2011 7:40 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Sam Fuld

When the Tampa Bay Rays sent top starting pitcher Matt Garza to the Cubs for a few hot prospects in a seven-player trade this winter, folks barely noticed that a couple of intellectual outfielders were also exchanged in that same deal. Fernando Perez, an Ivy League product of Columbia, went to the Cubs, and Sam Fuld, the Stanford product known mostly for his lack of height and daredevil plays in the outfield, went to the Rays.
The Perez-for-Fuld part of the equation was largely overlooked, which was nothing new to Fuld, a speedy 5-foot-9-ish player who'd been up and down with Lou Piniella's Cubs, where he never had more than 97 at-bats in a season. Fuld, now 29, has had to overcome a lot, from smallish obstacles like growing up in a decidedly non-baseball hotbed such as Durham, N.H. (where his dad is a dean at the University of New Hampshire and his mom a New Hampshire state senator) and being a 24th-round Cubs draft choice, to larger ones like overcoming Type 1 diabetes. So he never was one to complain about something like playing time, not when he understands how everyone at this level is talented and everyone deserves a chance. If anyone gets the odds, he does; he showed a unique aptitude for numbers as the small child of a professor.
No sir, there aren't many undersized, Jewish bookworms (he had a 3.15 GPA at Stanford, according to Wikipedia) in the bigs. But the diminutive Fuld harbored big goals all along.
Of course, he never could have imagined a start that has spawned talk of "the Legendary Sam Fuld" or "Superman Sam", where he is seen as the offensive sparkplug on a team that began the year with all-around superstar Evan Longoria (who's been injured) and a couple of famed ex-Idiots, Johnny Damon and Manny Ramirez. Coincidentally, Fuld grew up watching and admiring Damon, Ramirez, Mike Greenwell and Mo Vaughn as a member of Red Sox Nation in New England.
Rays manager Joe Maddon, a lover of Fuld's superb, acrobatic defense and historically high on-base marks, was finding time for Fuld even before Ramirez ignominiously departed. But once the Manny era abruptly ended, Fuld's spot as a full-fledged starter became clear. His standout performance has only solidified that. Lo and behold, Fuld was leading the league in hitting at .396 after going 4-for-4 vs. the White Sox this past Monday.
"I never anticipated this kind of start,'' Fuld said in a recent phone interview. "Sure, I have high expectations for myself. But do I think I'm going to win an American League batting title? No. At the same time, I think I can make a significant contribution.''
Fuld is doing more than making a significant contribution. The Rays' leadoff hitter is currently hitting .348 (now fifth-best in the AL) and has seven stolen bases, tying him Oakland's Coco Crisp for the league lead. Fuld is this space's choice for the biggest early surprise of the 2011 season. While former MVPs Alex Rodriguez and Joey Votto lead their respective leagues in hitting, there have also been some great surprises (the top 45 are listed below).
Fuld always has been known as an excellent defender who can play all three outfield positions, and he has been nothing short of brilliant playing left field. (Gold Glove-caliber B.J. Upton is the Rays' center fielder.) But he admitted this spring he still needed to prove he could hit at the major league level, which he is now doing.
Thanks to superior, daring defense (one catch he made crashing into the ivy-covered brick at Wrigley Field is still recalled) and very high on-base percentages (the self-confessed stat freak and early Moneyball reader has more walks than strikeouts in his career), he was given a few small chances with the Cubs. Piniella often spoke glowingly about the all-out style and effort of Fuld, but the iconic manager took weeks to give him an at-bat during his first call-up, so long that one teammate hung a sign at his locker proclaiming him "Moonlight Graham.'' In his best chance as a Cub, in 2009, Fuld posted a stunning .409 on-base percentage; however, some seemed to focus on the fact that he only had two RBIs in those 97 at-bats.
He took the trade as a positive because it meant "someone wanted me,'' he said. The irony is that it took the sudden departure of one of his childhood heroes, Ramirez, who quit after failing a drug test. (A Rays person said of Manny's short stint with the ballclub: "We went into it with our eyes wide open as to the number of minefields that existed.")
Fuld actually wasn't expecting too much when he got to Port Charlotte, although the Rays are known for putting a high premium on defense, a stance that has been key to the team's two AL East championships in the last three seasons. His outfield versatility, style and attitude opened their eyes midway through spring. "A lot of what happened was unexpected. I was pretty thrilled just to make the team,'' Fuld said. "Manny's retirement came as a shock to everyone.''
Fuld's overall performance may shock some, but nothing was more astounding than his first game at Fenway, where he'd hung out as a New Hampshire kid. Before 30 friends and family, Fuld had four extra-base hits: a homer, a triple and two doubles (a record 11 total bases for a Fenway debut). Going into his last at-bat, Fuld only needed a single to become the second Rays player after Upton to hit for a cycle, and he lined a shot into the left-field corner. While some Rays people were shouting for him to stop at first, he wouldn't think of it. Not his style. "It never really crossed me mind,'' he said. "I think that would have been pretty selfish.''
Fuld has never been considered anything but an organization and team man and he wouldn't do anything to change that. He's come this far his way, despite his short stature, intellectual upbringing in a cold locale, health concern and more. The obstacles seem too many, and too big, to overcome. "I think they're all pretty sizable,'' Fuld agreed. "I've always fought the odds against me. A little left-handed outfielder from New Hampshire is probably not going to be in the big leagues. But I thought, why not? I gave it a shot.''
Beating the long odds, Fuld said, "makes it a lot more gratifying.''
A few major leaguers have successfully battled Type 1 diabetes, such as All-Star pitcher Bill Gullickson and Cubs legend Ron Santo, but the disease is no small concern. Daily shots, which help control it, incite teasing about "shooting up'' from teammates. Fuld said, "It's something I have to be aware of. It's a big juggling act. You have to do your best to keep your blood sugar in a good solid range.''
Fuld continues to overcome, without complaint. "I had times where I was frustrated,'' he admitted. "There were moments where I thought I deserved a little better. But baseball's not fair. Realistically, not being a big prospect, I have to overachieve and outplay guys.''
So far, he is outplaying almost everyone.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/w ... z1KLjGPNdK

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