05-08-2007, 10:29 PM | #601 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
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I love Rickey.I have no doubt that Rickey today would have a higher OBP than Pedro Feliz.
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05-08-2007, 10:52 PM | #602 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Decatur, GA
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Barry is now 10 away... jacking 745 against the Mets tonight.
11th of the season, not a bad final year (I'm assuming) for him so far.
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05-08-2007, 11:08 PM | #603 |
Dark Cloud
Join Date: Apr 2001
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Indeed. He's swinging the bat nicely this year.
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05-09-2007, 07:57 AM | #604 |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: In Absentia
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"Henderson said the "bitter" thing about it is that he didn't get to leave the sport on his own terms: finishing on the field."
He can console himself with the fact that not many guys get to finish losing an NLCS by playing cards in the clubhouse.
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
05-09-2007, 08:25 AM | #605 | |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: In Absentia
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Quote:
I guess I wasn't just imagining it. I'd like to see his career numbers for this, because I don't think it's limited to this year: First inning aside, Bonderman sharp May 9, 2007 BY CHRIS LAU and JOHN LOWE FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITERS If it weren't for the first inning, Jeremy Bonderman would be leading the American League in ERA this season. Bonderman's first-inning ERA is 15.43. After the first inning, it's 1.18. Overall, it's 4.20. The trends continued Tuesday night. Bonderman gave up three runs to Seattle in the first inning, then gave up two runs in his five remaining innings. In the first inning Tuesday, Bonderman allowed a homer on an 0-2 count. In each of his previous four seasons, Bonderman allowed one homer on an 0-2 count. Richie Sexson's three-run homer Tuesday was the first homer Bonderman has allowed this season on 0-2.
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
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05-09-2007, 02:27 PM | #606 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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I wonder if anyone has done a study on this phenomenon - I know I've heard broadcasters mention this before, the whole "You have to get to this guy early, because once he gets in a rhythm he'll shut you down" kind of thing.
My inclination is to think this is just a phenomenon of selective memory - someone observes a particular pitcher struggling in the 1st inning of a few games, decides that pitcher has an issue with this, and then ignores all the times the pitcher doesn't struggle in the first while using the times the pitcher does to reinforce his theory. Still, it may be that certain types of pitchers are more prone to struggling early in a game based off the types of pitches they throw or the complexity of their mechanics, etc. |
05-09-2007, 03:07 PM | #607 |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: In Absentia
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I did a quick scan of the boxscores for all of his starts, and it's a mixed bag:
2003 - 28 starts, 17 1st inning runs - 5.46 ERA; all other innings (including relief appearances) - 5.57 ERA 2004 - 32 starts, 21 1st inning runs - 5.90 ERA; all other innings (including 1 relief appearance) - 4.68 2005 - 29 starts, 31 1st inning runs - 9.62 ERA; all other innings - 3.65 2006 - 34 starts, 14 1st inning runs - 3.70 ERA; all other innings - 4.15 ERA Other than this year and 2005, he hasn't been demonstratively worse in the 1st inning. There were several games where he didn't give up a run in the 1st, but got tagged pretty good in the 2nd and 3rd, but what struck me was how many times he would give up a run or 2 in the 1st and still pitch 6-8 innings, maybe giving up 1 more run. So on certain nights, I'd say the old addage was probably correct. But that's more of a hindsight comment than a predictive quality based on a general pattern.
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M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." Last edited by Ksyrup : 05-09-2007 at 03:11 PM. |
05-09-2007, 03:20 PM | #608 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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By the way, I'd like to take this opportunity to point out how much Horacio Ramirez sucks. Of course, it's not like anybody saw this coming or anything.
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05-09-2007, 03:26 PM | #609 |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: In Absentia
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Look on the bright side...ERA-wise, he's only half as bad as Jeff Weaver!
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
05-09-2007, 03:29 PM | #610 |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: In Absentia
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I find it remarkable that the Mariners are at .500 given their awful starting pitching and the fact that the Jose's appear to be the only full-time hitters who are playing way above-expectations. Must be the superlative job of their coaching staff...
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
05-09-2007, 03:29 PM | #611 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Georgia
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Tom Glavine used to have this problem too. He would give up a couple runs in the first or even 2nd innings and then shut the team down the rest of the way.
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05-09-2007, 04:05 PM | #612 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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Also, hey, how about that trade for Jose Vidro?
Yeah yeah, he's hitting .298, but it's a toothless .298. Despite a reputation for great plate discipline, he's only seeing 3.31 pitches per plate appearance (ahead of only fellow Jose's Guillen and Lopez and behind noted hacker Yuni Betancourt) and just a moderately above average OBP of .344. And he has no power any more, with a well below-average SLG of .360 while being a lard-ass that is on pace to ground into 29 double-plays (which would be the highest total in the majors since 2000). All that for the bargain price of $3.5M this year (the Nats sent over $4M in the trade), $8.5M next year and an easily reached vesting option to add 2009 to the deal. Meanwhile, Chris Snelling has hit .250/.400/.344 so far, can actually play the field unlike Vidro, is just 25 and is making the minimum MLB salary. And down in AAA for the Nats, Emiliano Fruto has started 5 games, going 26.1 IP with just 10 hits allowed and 25 K's. He has 20 BB's, so control is obviously an issue, but he's just 22 and is showing he can miss bats and potentially be a useful MLB pitcher. The sooner Bill Bavasi is fired, the better off the M's will be. |
05-09-2007, 04:08 PM | #613 | |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
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Quote:
Bottom line is, unless they improve, they both need to go. |
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05-09-2007, 04:09 PM | #614 | |
Coordinator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Puyallup, WA
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Quote:
I had always thought Jim Hendry was the worst GM in baseball. Then I saw a BP article that outlined Bavasi's moves since was hired and I have to say I was wrong. Bavasi is easily the worst GM in baseball now and I agree 100% with your statement. |
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05-09-2007, 04:17 PM | #615 | |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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Quote:
I'd argue that none of the Jose's are playing above expectations - Vidro has been just as mediocre as most analysts figured, Guillen has been about what you'd expect assuming he's healthy, and Lopez is continuing to show the promise he flashed last year. The thing is, there's talent here - once Sexson's luck turns (he's hitting .143 on balls in play, an unsustainably low rate due to bad luck) and Beltre hits his stride in the warmer weather as he's always done as an M, this is actually a decent lineup, if short on guys with any patience. The only guy that really worries me is Ibanez - he may be hitting the inevitable wall due to age. The rotation though - assuming Felix comes back fully healthy you've got one of the top starters in the game, and in Washburn you have a #3 guy on a good staff. After that though, it gets ugly. Batista is a serviceable #4/#5 guy, but Ramirez and Weaver are awful, and I don't think Baek will prove to be that much better. The bullpen is decent, with Putz, Morrow and Sherrill doing well in the high-leverage situations and the potential return of last year's phenom Mark Lowe later this summer (though I'm not counting on it). The M's do have some trade chits in the minors, so they could potentially address the rotation issues before the trade deadline. I'm just not thrilled with the idea of Bavasi being allowed to make any more trades for this team given his track record. |
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05-09-2007, 04:20 PM | #616 |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
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My comments on the Jose's play were due to very low expectations. Washburn could really be helping a good team right now. Too bad he's stuck in Seattle.
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
05-09-2007, 04:21 PM | #617 | |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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Quote:
Problem is, the current roster has a chance in a down year in the AL West to stay in contention most of the year, and it's possible he and Hargrove both hang on to their jobs for another year. |
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05-09-2007, 04:22 PM | #618 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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I'm just saying that most pre-season projections for those guys were pretty close to what we're currently seeing, so I don't really see them as over-performing.
Last edited by dawgfan : 05-09-2007 at 04:22 PM. |
05-09-2007, 04:22 PM | #619 | |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
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Quote:
What he's doing with Brandon Morrow is criminal - wasting a year of that guy's stuff by using him in the bullpen. That will look great in 2012. |
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05-09-2007, 04:24 PM | #620 | |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Quote:
That's probably true. But they're overperforming based on my expectations!
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
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05-09-2007, 04:37 PM | #621 | |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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Quote:
I'm skeptical Morrow will ever leave his bullpen role at this point, which is a shame - it sure would be nice to see if he could be the #2 guy in this staff eventually to team with Felix. |
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05-09-2007, 04:39 PM | #622 |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Prairie du Sac, WI
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Brewers finish up a 9-1 homestand and head to New York with the best record in the majors at 24-10.
I know it's early, but my god, I think I've died and gone to heaven. So are you non-homer outsiders believers in the Brewers or do ya think they'll be crashing back to earth soon? They head to New York to start a series on Friday against the Mets. There's no way they will keep up this pace so I wouldn't be surprised to see them drop the series to the Mets. Then I'll watch everybody say how they are a fluke and only beat up on crappy teams. Good thing the NL Central is filled with crappy teams. |
05-09-2007, 04:44 PM | #623 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2003
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The Brewers are a good team, but the problem is that they have no obvious areas of improvement. Braun, Capellan, and Gallardo can all help the team, but unless they want to swap Tony Graffiano, David Bush, or one of the relievers for minor league prospects, I don't see obvious improvement. IMO, they should deal Graffiano by June or so, (allowing Braun to come at that point, without triggering the arb clock early) - and add to the minor league depth.
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05-09-2007, 05:18 PM | #624 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Dayton, OH
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I think the Brewers are for real, but I also think that one of the gaggle of mediocre NL Central teams will get hot at some point and give the Brewers a run.
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05-09-2007, 05:19 PM | #625 | |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Prairie du Sac, WI
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Quote:
Yep, that's pretty much my take on the team. Gallardo is pitching very well in AAA but he is also in his first year at that level and is only 21 years old. There's really no need to push him as I think Bush is a much better pitcher than he has shown thus far. The obvious place the team could improve right now is third base. If they don't want to trade Graffanino, one of Gabe Gross or Tony Gwynn could be sent down as there are 6 outfielders right now. Corey Hart also has been out with a wrist injury that if it does not improve, he could be DL'ed in favor of Braun. Then again, Braun has a minor groin injury right now and the team is winning games. Why start his service time clock? JJ Hardy is hitting well above average for a shortstop so I guess it isn't so bad that there is a below average offensive platoon at third base. Capellan could replace Spurling this instant but I'm not sure if he hasn't burned his bridges with the team. Walking out on your team for two days in AAA isn't the best way to get back to the majors. Quite frankly, Capellan wasn't all that impressive last year. He does still have enough upside that Doug Melvin isn't going to give him away, though. I did think it was rather telling that they recalled Chris Spurling over Capellan when Greg Aquino went down. |
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05-09-2007, 05:29 PM | #626 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Back in Houston!
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There's good and bad news for the Brewers. They're in the NL Central and that's great news.
They have decent pitching but it's likely not quite as good as it looks right now. Capuano is pitching out of his mind but Bush is pitching quite a bit below his standards so those two will even out in time and revert to form. Suppan and Vargas are both pitching too good for what they are but Sheets is an ace and isn't pitching like one. Similarly, the hitting is doing a bit better than it should but only a bit. So, there's just going to be some regression to the mean. However, there's a lot of talent there and some good potential- as I said above, last year, they were everyone's dark horse but they just happened to be one year later in arriving. Having a nearly 10 game lead in May makes you a target, particularly at 14 games above .500 because even this early, you start playing games with "If the team plays .500 the rest of the way, team X has to play .600 or .700 ball the rest of the way to catch them. Then again, we saw this in KC in 2003 when the Royals watched a 7 game lead at the All Star Break slip away in less than 2 months- so it's certainly not a perfect scenario. Still, would much rather be you than anyone else in that division. Oh, and did I mention that being in the NL Central really helps? SI
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Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" Last edited by sterlingice : 05-09-2007 at 05:29 PM. |
05-09-2007, 08:01 PM | #627 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Where Hip Hop lives
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I tend to agree with the Bavasi drubbings here, knowing how he ran the Angels before going to the M's. All that said, strangely enough, it was mostly guys he brought in that won the Angels the World Series in 2002.
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05-10-2007, 03:05 PM | #628 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Early, TX
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Biggest FA bust so far goes to the Mariner's Jeff Weaver. 0-6 14.32 ERA and a WHIP close to 3. Ouch.
I still can't believe Detroit got Bonderman for that scrub. Stupid "Moneyfraud" Billy Beane. Last edited by Schmidty : 05-10-2007 at 03:06 PM. |
05-10-2007, 03:14 PM | #629 |
Grizzled Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Seattle
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Weaver has sucked, no question. But even without his bad luck (and he has been unlucky on top of being just plain bad), it's still just a 1-year deal. I have a strong suspicion this won't be the worst financial decision on a free agent from this past off-season.
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05-10-2007, 03:28 PM | #630 |
Head Coach
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: NYC
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You guys hear Rickey Henderson caught a foul ball the other day?
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05-10-2007, 03:31 PM | #631 |
Hall Of Famer
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Location: Troy, Mo
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05-10-2007, 04:58 PM | #632 | |
Pro Rookie
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Canada eh
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And the Jays woes worsen
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slu...v=st&type=lgns Quote:
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05-11-2007, 06:46 AM | #633 |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Looks like Beane's front office may get bolstered by the mid-season acquisition of JP Ricciardi. Man, that guy's having a tough year.
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
05-11-2007, 06:13 PM | #634 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Jan 2006
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And things go EVEN further south for the Jays. Halladay out 4-6 weeks with appendicitis. Can't get any worse than this....or can it?
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05-11-2007, 11:08 PM | #635 |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
Join Date: Nov 2000
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Glaus got hurt!
Washburn has been incredible tonight. I hope he/they can finish the job.
__________________
M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
05-11-2007, 11:20 PM | #636 |
College Benchwarmer
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Los Angeles, California
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A's inked Swisher to a 5-year extension:
http://oakland.athletics.mlb.com/new...=.jsp&c_id=oak The A's announced that the club has agreed to terms with 26-year-old outfielder on a $26.75 million five-year contract through the 2011 season with a one-year club option for 2012. I think its a good move, he's improved every year so far and hopefully the trend continues.
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05-12-2007, 09:20 PM | #637 | |
Hall Of Famer
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Quote:
"Vernon Wells gives up baseball, joins cult" SI
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Houston Hippopotami, III.3: 20th Anniversary Thread - All former HT players are encouraged to check it out! Janos: "Only America could produce an imbecile of your caliber!" Freakazoid: "That's because we make lots of things better than other people!" |
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05-13-2007, 10:54 AM | #638 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Oct 2003
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"The blind soldier fought for me in this war. The least I can do now is fight for him. I have eyes. He hasn’t. I have a voice on the radio, he hasn’t. I was born a white man. And until a colored man is a full citizen, like me, I haven’t the leisure to enjoy the freedom that colored man risked his life to maintain for me. I don’t own what I have until he owns an equal share of it. Until somebody beats me and blinds me, I am in his debt."- Orson Welles August 11, 1946 |
05-13-2007, 01:33 PM | #639 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
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Dirty dirty Josh Beckett. He's got 5 K's through 2 IP's.
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05-13-2007, 01:39 PM | #640 | |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
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Quote:
putting it in this context gives me chills that I was alive and a fan during this time. |
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05-13-2007, 02:01 PM | #641 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
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3.1 IP...7K's
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05-13-2007, 02:48 PM | #642 |
Coordinator
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Puyallup, WA
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Mets take the series against the Brewers and their 1-4 starters look really good. Pelfrey has no idea how to pitch, though, and is killing them as the 5 starter right now. All he's doing is throwing his fastball has hard as he can and mixing in a splitter or a changeup every few pitches.
Oliver Perez is looking the player he was supposed to be a couple years ago and is proving that the Pirates organization needs to be overhauled because they have way to many pitchers that end up screwed up and either being traded away for nothing or wasting away until they have major surgery. btw, why the hell was Carlos Gomez called up? |
05-13-2007, 03:48 PM | #643 |
Head Coach
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05-13-2007, 04:31 PM | #644 |
College Starter
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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And then he develops a blister. What else is new
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05-13-2007, 04:33 PM | #645 |
Hall Of Famer
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That's ok, the Sox score six in the ninth to win 6-5
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05-13-2007, 04:34 PM | #646 |
College Starter
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I hadn't seen that. i was only listening to the game in the car. Typical Orioles.
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05-14-2007, 01:02 AM | #647 |
College Prospect
Join Date: Jul 2001
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Typical Sam Perlozzo. You take out Guthrie who was only at 91 pitches when he left. Guthrie was interviewed after and said he felt fine and wasn't tired. Sam's excuse? It was the most pitches Guthrie had thrown this year and the bullpen was fresh.
Whatever you say, Sammy. It's probably the most overworked 'pen in baseball. |
05-14-2007, 01:05 AM | #648 |
Hall Of Famer
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Massachusetts
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not a blister, an avulsion. From what I could understand of it, it's like when your skin splits and you have a little hanging-flap of skin (like say from a papercut type thing) and then the hanging skin keeps ripping. |
05-14-2007, 02:59 PM | #649 | |
This guy has posted so much, his fingers are about to fall off.
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If I was baseball, I'm not sure what I would be trying to avoid more - bad ratings on a Friday night, or the embarrassment of getting its ass kicked going head-to-head with MNF.
Updated: May 14, 2007, 11:01 AM ET Report: World Series to start on a Wednesday
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M's pitcher Miguel Batista: "Now, I feel like I've had everything. I've talked pitching with Sandy Koufax, had Kenny G play for me. Maybe if I could have an interview with God, then I'd be served. I'd be complete." |
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05-14-2007, 03:23 PM | #650 |
College Prospect
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Mountain View, California
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Uhh, didn't the Saturday start avoid both problems?
Sat-Sun-(Monday off)-Tue-Wed-Thu-(Friday off)-Sat-Sun |
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