Tribe Prospect Countdown: #20 RHP Rob Bryson

6'1", 200 lbs, 24 in 2012

2011 Stats (A Lake County/ A+ Kinston/ AA Akron): 2-1, 2.19, 1.12 WHIP, .199 OBA, 3.7 BB/9, 11.0 K/9

Another talented, yet injury plagued young pitcher; Bryson is a strikeout machine.  The 11.0 K/9 last season may seem impressive, but Rob posted 17.1 for Kinston in 2010 and averages 11.9 for his career.  These big numbers are thanks to a 96 mph fastball that he rides in on the hands of hitters from both sides and two quality secondary offerings.  A "wicked" slider is devastating to righties and his consistently improving change has nearly reached par with the slide.  Additionally, he is working on a "get me over" curve to complete the arsenal. 

Bryson is the last piece of the CC Sabathia trade; the one that we haven't heard from due to his relative youth and extensive time on the disabled list.  While the most severe setback was a rotator cuff tear that affected him from late '08 until mid '10, Rob almost missed two months last summer with a broken foot.  As opposed to many who have spent large chunks of time on the DL, fagility is not a concern for Bryson.  He is fully recovered from the shoulder surgery and the foot was a Mantle-esque freak as he stepped in a hole while running at his high school field. 

You might ask what is so special about this particular right handed reliever, something that the Indians have a plenitude of.  First of all, there is now a monkey full of hope riding on Rob.  With Matt LaPorta an unmitigated bust and the organization seemingly lukewarm on Michael Brantley (although I don't have any idea why), Bryson is the last opportunity to salvage a big contributor from the ill-conceived Sabathia deal.  Secondly, the dude's stuff really is electric.  It is difficult to explain without watching him throw, but the ball simply explodes out of his hand and, when he is on, Rob is about as unhittable as they come.  Combine all of this with an easy delivery and a strong lower half and Bryson has every opportunity to become a premier back-end pitcher in the bigs.  Expect him to begin 2012 at AAA.

Up Next: #19 RHP Jason Knapp

Pretty Girl Update! - Selena Gomez

An irrefutable argument against the Toys R Us theme song... ;-j

That's Right Ya Freakin' Prudes

So, like, sometimes I present the purely philosophical argument that the 16 to 18 year old ages of consent across the US are just a touch puritanical.  In fact, I wrote a bit on the subject awhile back.  Today, we briefly examine Europe...

Note that I did not create these memes and that I searched them out based on visual stimulation rather than wit and wisdom.  Anyway, let's get started.  Ohio's age of consent is 16 (again, why did no one tell me this until 2011!) as is that of England.  The whole friggin' country.  Jolly Ho!

How's about France?  I visited once, totally unaware that l'âge du consentement is a perky 15. 

We're not nearly finished.  In Germany, the frauleins are free at 14.  The same is true in my Hungarian homeland.  I feel a trip to the fatherland coming on.

And our magical mystery tour comes to a close on the Iberian peninsula where the Spaniards allow their joven out to play at the quasi-fantastical age of 13.  Me encanta España!

Was all of this a thinly veiled excuse to post this series of pictures to stir up the conservatives and pep up my compatriots?  Well....  yeah, but the info is interesting regardless.

Cheers and happy fuckin' belated 2012 bitches.

Pretty Girl 01.04.12 - Cate Blanchett

I've got one buddy who swears that she's the hottest woman of all time and another who fell in love with her and then married a chick who looks just like her.  Good enough for me.