The Baseball Thread 2007

[Johnny E]

Go !!!

I was wondering when you were going to drop in!

My condolenses on the Rangers. It sucks when your seasons over by June.

[Dan Gould]

Two interesting moves by the Red Sox in the past 24 hours, one positive, one negative, imo.

Dustin Pedroia has been moved into the leadoff spot and the terribly struggling Julio Lugo has been dropped down to number 9. That puts Pedroia and Youcklis ahead of Papi/Manny, which eliminates the possibility of speed on the bases messing up the pitchers. But what it really does is put two strong OBP guys in front of the mashers, and in all likelihood it takes an at-bat away from Lugo and gives it to Pedroia. Considering that one is hitting .300 and the other is heading toward the Mendoza line, that's probably a good move. After all, after the first inning, no one is batting "leadoff" anymore.

The negative move, in my opinion, was optioning Jon Lester, the comebacking cancer kid, to Pawtucket. Apparently they continue to believe that Tavarez is the better option in the number 5 spot, which I just cannot fathom. I also think they are treating this kid in a manner that can come back to bite them in the ass down the road, like when its time for free agency. Lester lost his spot on the roster to a cancer diagnosis, and has since gotten a clean bill of health and pitched to a 2.01 ERA in his AAA rehab starts. What more does he need to do to prove that he is 100%? Now they are telling him that he has no pitch count, go out there and dominate and force your way back. That's B.S. No one can seriously believe that the team isn't better off with Lester in the rotation and Tavarez' rubber arm in the pen. And I think he can't be happy to be back in the bus league when he went 7-2 with cancer coursing through his veins and now he is healthy again. Maybe its football where you "don't lose your starting job to an injury" but its still not right.

It makes no sense at all - unless they are telling him that he got his opportunity last year only because they were desperate and they think he needs more development time. And that is bogus.

[Quincy]

I think that the best correlation might be K rate and staff ERA rather than winning percentage or championships. Too many other factors go into winning, while a correlation of pitching stats would have less "noise". Those highest Ks in history - its hard to argue that the Bartman Cubs weren't a good pitching team, particularly for their two short-lived aces plus Zambrano.

I don't think it'll do much for ya though, surprising as it seems. You can't just look at the 2003 Cubs, look at the other years;

2006 - 14th in NL ERA at 4.74. Also tops in BBs given up. 11th ERA+

2005 - 9th in NL ERA at 4.19, 2nd best NL BAA. ERA+ 102, 7th in NL.

2004 - Better. 3rd in NL ERA. #1 in ERA+

2003 - Same as '04 ERA-wise. Led NL in BBs given up. 5th in ERA+.

2002 - 12th in NL ERA. 3rd highest BB, middle of pack in BAA. 7th in ERA+

2001 - 4th in NL ERA. 2nd highest BAA in NL. 3rd in ERA+

So the ERA+ (since this is Wrigley we're talking about) for the run of Cubs as NL (not MLB) K leaders (16 teams in the NL):

11th

7th

1st

5th

7th

3rd

That's just 6 years, and 1/2 the time they're middle of the pack or worse. One really needs to get the count up to 20-25 looking at other league leaders. (Maybe tomorrow, though I now have more work to do after this goofing off!)

Personally I'd rather have Ozzie Smith & Ryno (though not at current ages ) behind my pitcher than a guy wild thing who can strikeout 10+. Not that you'd want Wild Thing either, just saying I think you have to look at the control part of the equation. Makes sense, since the best predictors by far for winning are (offensive) OBP & SLG.

[Chalupa]

Verlander pitches a no hitter!!!

[Tim McG]

# 747, Boyz!

Read it and whine.

[Dan Gould]

Verlander pitches a no hitter!!!

Cool!

[Dan Gould]

# 747, Boyz!

Read it and whine.

Hey, I hope he gets hotter than hell so he can be within one or two when he gets to Fenway.

Then when 35000+ scream "YOU USED STE-ROIDS!" it can just confirm for him how "racist" Boston is.

[Big Al]

(Odds are they would've won the division in '94 if the lockout hadn't ended the season, but so it goes.)

So would the Rangers! When the lockout started, the Rangers were in first place...... and they were 10 games under .500!!!!

[Big Al]

Verlander pitches a no hitter!!!

Cool!

Very cool indeed! ESPN has all 27 outs on a video clip, and the nice thing about this no-no is you can see how much of a team effort a no-hitter is. Absolutely stunning defense on display in this game! Congratulations to Verlander and all the Tigers!

[Big Al]

# 747, Boyz!

Read it and whine.

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz...............

[BERIGAN]

# 747, Boyz!

Read it and whine.

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz...............

Now AL, to be fair this was his second home run in just the last 4-5 weeks....he just needs to adjust the meds a bit, and he will be killing the ball again!

[BERIGAN]

Amazing game by Verlander! 102 MPH in the 9th???? You know what is even more amazing?(Kinda, sorta) Buster Olney said the Padres could have picked him in the 1st round in 2004, and skipped him for a guy named Matt Bush, who was an infielder, but who now is going to try pitching. Can you imagine how good the Padres staff would be with Peavy and Verlander???? Double

[Big Al]

And 12 strikeouts to boot! Verlander pitched a masterpiece last night!

[ghost of miles]

Yanks knocked off the Diamondbacks again today, 7-1, for a series sweep, and are now 33-31...have gained six games on the Bosox in the past two weeks. Looks like they might have a decent season after all.

Edited June 15, 2007 by ghost of miles

[Dan Gould]

Yanks knocked off the Diamondbacks again today, 7-1, for a series sweep, and are now 33-31...have gained six games on the Bosox in the past two weeks. Looks like they might have a decent season after all.

Let's see ... Beckett is getting pounded tonite, and has allowed two home runs allready. If he's back to last year, his season will go south in a hurry. Regardless the lead will be 7.5. The Yankees get the Mets now as the Mets also hit their biggest streak of incompetent baseball of the season. Mark them down for two out of three. Drew, Lugo and Crisp can't hit their way out of a paper bag. My best hope is that it will be all even by the time the ASB rolls around.

We joke about Yankee injuries but at that point I will be sticking pins into any Yankee object I can get my hands on.

[BERIGAN]

Yanks knocked off the Diamondbacks again today, 7-1, for a series sweep, and are now 33-31...have gained six games on the Bosox in the past two weeks. Looks like they might have a decent season after all.

We joke about Yankee injuries but at that point I will be sticking pins into any Yankee object I can get my hands on.

Note to Ghost, stay away from Dan all season long!!!!

[Patrick]

...in a (feeble?) attempt to keep this from returning to nyy/bos fulltime

Nice start tonight for Tribe by Jason Stanford. Second career win, first game since Apr 2004. Tons of rehab. Getting a spot start before Jake Westbrook (who has been barrutal in several rehab starts) gets activated. For Stanford, 6 innings, 6 hits, 7K, 0BB, 1 ER against Dontrelle and the Marlins. Borowski tried hard to blow the game in the ninth, but managed to "earn" his 19th save (and raised his ERA to 6.58).

Tribe bats have been in deep slumber mode for awhile. I am underwhelmed by these platoons that include David Dellucci and Trot Nixon--not that I was expecting a ton, but .240 BA from corner outfielders ain't gettin' it done. Sabathia and Carmona have pitched very well (Unless he has some bad outings in June, Sabathia should be an allstar), Byrd has started to return to his mediocre form (still has only 4BB in 68 innings), while Lee and (recently demoted) Sowers have been brutal. Maybe they give Stanford another start before bringing back Westbrook.

At least the Tigers are having their problems, and the Tribe is still only 2 games back of league-leading Bosox.

[Quincy]

...in a (feeble?) attempt to keep this from returning to nyy/bos fulltime

Let's go even farther away!

Top KC Royal prospect Alex Gordon who has been in a deep funk all year has finally broken out. .433 over his last 30 AB, homered the past 2 games and 9 RBI over the past 4. This is the guy who George Brett was ready to pay the difference ($200k I think) out of his own pocket (over 10 or 20 years) during negotiations because he so wanted to watch the kid play.

The Royals have put up some runs 17 twice this week. Sorry 'bout bringing that up J.H.

[Chalupa]

The Royals have put up some runs 17 twice this week. Sorry 'bout bringing that up J.H.

Eh, shit happens.

Here's a rare feel good story about Philly fans and an ex-Philadelphia sports hero....

Thome gets appreciative rise out of Phillies fans

By MARCUS HAYES

hayesm@phillynews.com

White Sox' Jim Thome tips his helmet during ovation before his first at-bat in Philly since 2005.

DAN BAKER, the public address announcer at Citizens Bank Park, added the relish and flourish normally reserved for the home team when he unfurled Jim Thome's name in the first inning of yesterday's game, the first time Thome's name was announced during a Phillies game since 2005.

The crowd of 42,677 reacted predictably: It rose and cheered.

Thome stepped out of the batter's box and enthusiastically doffed his batting helmet.

"I tip my hat to the people of Philadelphia," said excitable White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "That's a class act."

That's what Thome was in Philadelphia.

He revived interest in the Phillies when he signed as a free agent for the 2003 season. A season later, the club set records with more than 24,000 season tickets and more than 3.2 million in total attendance at new Citizens Bank Park.

For his part, Thome hit 96 homers with the Phillies before he was traded to the White Sox to make room for ascending first baseman Ryan Howard. He left part of his heart in Philadelphia.

These days Thome is a designated hitter. He started at first base for the first time since the White Sox played the Cubs last July. He did not even get an at-bat in the first two games of the series, so he and the crowd were primed for a lovefest.

"They showed me the love when I was here," Thome said. "When I tipped my cap, I showed them the love back."

[BERIGAN]

The Royals have put up some runs 17 twice this week. Sorry 'bout bringing that up J.H.

Eh, shit happens.

Here's a rare feel good story about Philly fans and an ex-Philadelphia sports hero....

Thome gets appreciative rise out of Phillies fans

By MARCUS HAYES

hayesm@phillynews.com

White Sox' Jim Thome tips his helmet during ovation before his first at-bat in Philly since 2005.

DAN BAKER, the public address announcer at Citizens Bank Park, added the relish and flourish normally reserved for the home team when he unfurled Jim Thome's name in the first inning of yesterday's game, the first time Thome's name was announced during a Phillies game since 2005.

The crowd of 42,677 reacted predictably: It rose and cheered.

Thome stepped out of the batter's box and enthusiastically doffed his batting helmet.

"I tip my hat to the people of Philadelphia," said excitable White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen. "That's a class act."

That's what Thome was in Philadelphia.

He revived interest in the Phillies when he signed as a free agent for the 2003 season. A season later, the club set records with more than 24,000 season tickets and more than 3.2 million in total attendance at new Citizens Bank Park.

For his part, Thome hit 96 homers with the Phillies before he was traded to the White Sox to make room for ascending first baseman Ryan Howard. He left part of his heart in Philadelphia.

These days Thome is a designated hitter. He started at first base for the first time since the White Sox played the Cubs last July. He did not even get an at-bat in the first two games of the series, so he and the crowd were primed for a lovefest.

"They showed me the love when I was here," Thome said. "When I tipped my cap, I showed them the love back."

Very nice of them to do this!!! Not a battery was tossed I hear! Seriously,

[Big Al]

...in a (feeble?) attempt to keep this from returning to nyy/bos fulltime

Hey, that's not fair! I've devoted equal time to how much the Rangers suck this year!

This weekend's series against the Reds will determine who is the worst team in baseball, a contest between the worst of the NL and the worst of the AL. Finally, a contest the Rangers actually have a decent shot at.... er, winning!

[Patrick]

Hey Big Al, I applaud the efforts and encourage them to continue. It takes a village.

How's Kevin Millwood? 2-6 7.82 ERA. ouch! Is he hurt, or just cashing checks now?

Like Millwood (though at the other end of the rotation), Scott Elarton is another pitcher that passed through Cleveland, had a good year, and appears to have gotten overpaid elsewhere (8.54 ERA in KC). And it looks like Bob Wickman is up to his old tricks of putting out fire with gasoline...

[jlhoots]

Brewers (maybe) back on track.

Won last 2 against Detroit, Cordero up to 24 saves.

[Big Al]

How's Kevin Millwood? 2-6 7.82 ERA. ouch! Is he hurt, or just cashing checks now?

OYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Patrick]

This weekend's series against the Reds will determine who is the worst team in baseball, a contest between the worst of the NL and the worst of the AL. Finally, a contest the Rangers actually have a decent shot at.... er, winning!

Watch out for the Reds. During the (ongoing?) Cleveland batting slumber party, Reds took 2 out of 3. Included was a 1-0 game in which Sabathia pitched 9 innings of shutout ball (3 hits, 6 K's), and had 2 of the 7 Indians hits, but came away with a no decision. The recently activated Matt Miller threw only one pitch in the bottom of the 12th--Alex Gonzalez singled home the only run. Ouch. Aaron Harang, starting for the Reds, was similarly impressive: 7 innings, 3 hits, 10 K's.