Open Thread: A little Melky magic
By
Way to go, kid.
Here’s the clip of Melky’s cycle in case you missed it; it’s the 15th in Yankee history. I wonder how many guys have picked up the first three legs of the cycle from one side of the plate, then finished it off from the other like the Melkman. Can’t be many, right?
There have been 263 no-hitters and 286 cycles in MLB history, but think of it like this: on any given night, there are just 30 chances for a no-hitter (one per team), but there are 270 chances for a cycle (nine hitters per team). The event-per-opportunity ratio for a cycle is way, way smaller than it is for a no-hitter. Crazy, huh?
Anyway, use this for your open thread for the night. The Dodgers and Braves matchup on ESPN’s Sunday night game, but feel free to talk about anything here. Just be nice.
218 Comments»
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The Mason Williams Watch
If you haven’t seen “Funny People” yet, go see it.
For the most part I agree, expect for the unnecessary 15-20 minutes they added to the end of the movie without making the story more touching or funny. It felt like the writers went to sleep then.
It’s an Apatow movie. You go in expecting it to be 45 min too long.
Is that a screencap from the WGN feed?
THE F$%#&ING WGN FEED? That’s it, Axisa, that’s the final straw. I’m revoking your membership in the YES Network® Blogging Network™. You’re fired. Get the hell out of my face.
/BigGeorge’d
Doesn’t Hawk lead the broadcast for WGN? That guy is a disgrace!!! I hate his face!!! He’s unprofessional!11!
/RAB’d
IRTC
I resemble this comment
MAMAHUEVO
on any given night, there are just 30 chances for a no-hitter (one per team), but there are 270 chances for a cycle (nine hitters per team)… The event-per-opportunity ratio for a cycle is way, way smaller than it is for a no-hitter.
Moreover, hitting for the cycle much more arbitrary of a feat than throwing a no hitter. Throwing a no hitter contributes to a victory more than hitting for the cycle does. Lauding hitting for the cycle is rewarding a player for doing four things we’ve basically chosen to praise (a single, double, triple, and homer) rather than lauding a player for doing the best possible thing in all four instances.
4 XBH should be more “special” than hitting for the cycle.
/DebbieDowner’d
Sorry about that. Nevermind.
Did you know that feline AIDS is the number one killer of domestic cats today?
http://www.sadtrombone.com
Did you know that feline AIDS is the number one killer of domestic cats today?
http://www.sadtrombone.com
I thought that it was worth reiterating.
I thought that it was worth reiterating.
I’ve always argued that. Isn’t Alex’s 3 HR performance more valuable than a cycle? Yet, the cycle is heralded in history while Al’s 10 RBI night is only remembered on days when YES plays that Yankees Classic or when Al faces Bartolo Colon.
I think you’re kinda arguing against a straw-man here. I mean, it’s great that Tony Fernandez hit for the cycle, but I remember A-Rod’s 10 RBI night more clearly and think it was more impressive than Tony Fernandez’s cycle. I don’t think anyone in their right mind would argue that hitting for the cycle is more valuable than driving in 10 runs in one game.
Well I’m just saying, the cycle goes down in the books as a feat accomplished less often than a no-hitter. Al’s doesn’t necessarily go down in the books as one of those great feats. Most fans remember the cycle for it’s historical stature.
Fans also very clearly remember World Series titles. I feel like that’s more important than all of the above
Of course, that reigns supreme. Just think, in a few years when we’re watching “Yankeeography 2009″ the season recap will begin with a CF battle, a Melky Cycle, then #27!
Sure, I hear you. I agree with TSJC’s point, above. The Cycle is totally arbitrary. It’s just one of those things that’s easy to identify and doesn’t happen often, and once upon a time someone decided to keep track of its occurrence, but it’s really pretty unimportant. But who cares if it’s logged in the record books? Nobody really cares about it, the truly great performances (like A-Rod’s 10 RBI night) are what we remember.
So, uh, does ‘oyes mama huevos’ mean what I think it means?
It means, “I’m the fuckin man, and everybody knows it!”
In olde English it would be: “Hear ye those that sucketh my testicles”.
I don’t think Melky has stuck out his tongue that far since his night with Mary Carey…
+42
aaaaaand WINNAR
you son of a bitch. I came specifically to comment in regards to his tongue and Mary Carey.
Well played.
Who would have guessed the first cycle from the Yanks would come from Melky especially after last year?
Anyway, a cycle usually gets a lot of attention on ESPN but nope, not much this time. The featured video is the Sox 18-10 victory, which is okay I guess since that’s a slugfest. However, they usually still feature cycles even if a crazy game like the Sox=O’s game happens. So much bias.
It seems like I am or someone can point out 100 things that happen on ESPN that favor the Sox every day. This could be a whole blog if someone wanted to start one.
Well, BBTN did start off the show with the Yankees and spent time on Melky’s cycle and the acquisition of Hairston.
At least he got some love on Baseball Tonight. Then again, they spent the same amount of time talking about Jerry Hairston.
‘hes important because Yankees didnt have a player that could play every position’
because to win the WS you need to have one of those guys
Really? they said that…wow
yeah chris singleton or whatever his name is
Mike, tell the truth, you died a little inside when Melky was safe at 3rd
I think it needs to be said that Melky threw to the wrong base the other night. I’ve petitioned MLB to see if they can rescore his triple into a double and an error on Dye as suitable punishment.
I can’t wait for Grit Gritner to heal and continue on his sub .620 ops that he posted in July. I’m looking forward to hearing more about his incredible speed and ignoring that it doesn’t really translate into runs or RBI’s.
But that’s just me…
on that argument, Melky also slumped horribly in May and June while Gardy was hot.
Whoa whoa whoa, I don’t agree with Mac’s abrasive style of broaching the subject but don’t act as though Melky slumped for two months. He slumped for a few weeks, one week before he hurt his shoulder then about two weeks after. Your wording was a bit misleading. He’s not Nick Swisher, he didn’t go invisible for two months out of the year.
Yea, that was a bit of a hyperbole. Im as big of Melky fan as you are (yes, I know he’s your boy and still) so it hurts me to point out his slump but at the same time, I didn’t like the way he said Gardy’s offensive skill and speed doesn’t translate into runs.
He hasn’t been all that great though. In my book, they’re roughly the same value if you include defense. If Melky could learn to throw to the right base or throw accurately, I feel like he’d be better but then again Gardner could find his stroke and start hitting like a mad man. It’ll be interesting to see what they do next season
I’m not bashing Grit, he brings something to the table that not many players can, that wasn’t my point.
As for Melky throwing to the wrong base, get over it. Baseball player’s make mistakes, he doesn’t make many. I’m sure when Grit plays too shallow to be able to cut off a liner in the gap you don’t say anything..
And I’m also not bashing Melky, I love that guy. I’m just saying that he makes a TON of bad throws. He makes mistakes in throwing to the wrong base that little leaguers know not to make. I’m sure Gardner sometimes plays too shallow but at least there can be a positive in that he might catch a blooper where Melky isn’t doing anything when he makes bad throws.
Melk hit .321 with a .777 ops in May – that’s not horrible.
No defending June – it was FUBAR but still not as bad as Gardy’s .525 ops in April.
Gardy had a total of 100 ab’s in May and June and while the #’s look very good, his stats were increased by an inside the park HR that was really a single and a 3 base error and some big performances in blow out games that he really didn’t impact very much – notably his game against the Mets and future HOF Elmer Desens.
Melk had over 160 AB’s in May and June btw.
You can’t just throw out things because you don’t agree with how they happened. I could say the same thing about how Ichiro would have caught both his triple and double in this game but it doesn’t take away from the fact that it happened.
I’m not throwing out things, I’m looking at the situations in which things occured.
Example, one of the things they track now is how hard a ball is hit when an out is made – to give some additional information on what a players development/potential is.
One of the things I like about Melk is he’s stuck it to big name pitchers – Halladay, CC, Buhrle, Carmona.
Another example is when someone just looked at the triple slash #’s between Melk and Gardner (in close and late) and they looked similar – what wasn’t looked at was AB’s and RBI’s – Melk had about 60 to Gardy’s 30, but Melk had 16 RBI’s vs 3 for Gardy.
The Clutch stat on baseball reference for Gardner is .38 while Melky has a .19 which would lead me to think that Gardner just hasn’t been up in as many situations as Melky. Of course I don’t know this but I do remember Gardner’s walk-off 20-hopper off Paps last year which made ma happy
I remember Gardy just getting one past a pulled in infield as well.
The sample size thing is tricky, I’d make the arguement not only has Melk had more chances, he’s done more with them – and again, the “quality” of the hit – line drive, HR, even hitting to all fields – is very impressive.
I know you are probably giving Mike a hard time but no sensible Yankees fan (which, IMHO, includes Axisa and many others here) would have any problem being proved wrong by a Yankee player due to their action on the baseball field
Of course, if the player proves us wrong by underperforming that is another story.
Yep I’m kidding, but its human nature to want to be right about something – and Melky polarizes alot of people.
I also do think that some people want to see guys do poorly and hope that their roles get reduced or eliminated in a timely manner for the betterment of the team.
I’m a big Melky fan, and I was hoping he would be what Roy White was to those teams – I think the Melkman is probably a great fourth ofer – but I’m still hoping he finds that extra something that lets him become the .290/.370/.450 guy I thought he could be – with + defense.
That would be crazy awesome even if it just lasted a few years. Hopefully Austin Jackson can fill that profile
The K’s for A-Jax worry me. Melk only had about 120 AB’s when he got called up to Scranton in 05 and was the same age – his triple slash were 300/400/500+.
If Melk wasn’t rushed to the bigs to take over for the now infamous Lofton\Womack duo, his triple A #’s probably would have come down.
DOn’t think they should rush A-Jax – if Melk can keep from falling apart like he has at the end of the year, maybe the Yanks can get by with another year – 2010 -of Melky\Gardy\Hairston
Yeah I agree that they should keep him down as long as they can afford to but I’m holding out hope that A-Jax discovers the power that scouts seem to think is there. Melky always seemed like a high-floor guy while A-Jax is the high-ceiling type who could blossom into something special.
I want a doubles guy – if HR’s come that’s great but not important if he can post a .350 obp and run the bases well with plus D.
Honestly, if he was a bit better than this version of Melky, he probably could be an All Star.
If he’s gonna K 100+ times a year w\o power that could be a deal breaker – get the K’s down and shoot for a .450 slg – that would be great – he’s got time – I hope the Yanks let him learn more before he comes up.
C-Grand type would be awesome. Though Curtis has more power, at least now anyway.
Granderson – this version – or more like last year -.850 ops is my ideal – especially when you factor in his D.
He “peaked” in 2007 – been going down since – it really makes you wonder if anyone was clean.
http://tinyurl.com/mactonight
I don’t think I will EVER get sick of Melky’s shouting Oyes mama huevos!
In the same way I’ll never get sick of Luis Castillo dropping a pop up
Or Joe Girardi hitting that triple
or…
Jesus Montero hitting the walk-off homer for Scranton in the season opener next year.
then for the Yanks the year after
Ajax getting big knocks off the Red Sox. Let’s hope this continues for years and years.
Cory Hart’s undergone an emergency appendectomy
http://bit.ly/yCTOH
“Don’t switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh no.”
Hawk is truly the worst announcer in history.
“That ball hit hard”
“That’s trouble.”
Don’t bother describing the action, you’re not the play by play guy or anything.
On the Getz triple: “Stay fair. And it did. Thank you very much!”
Bobby Mercer never showed emotion for the Yankees in the booth?
Yes I know he’s passed on so I dont want any messages that i’m disrespecting the dead
Hey I don’t have too big of a problem with it. I was just pointing out what he said. It’s annoying but it’s OK and I’m not going to complain because I don’t listen to him at all.
Not like Harrelson.
I lived in Chicago for a while and I’m pretty familiar with Hawk’s exploits… Look, every team has announcers who are homers and who probably don’t have the most progressive approach towards modern baseball metrics and all that… But Hawk is in a league of his own. The rooting is one thing – and let’s be honest, other announcers do NOT root for their team like Hawk does (I hate Kay and Sterling and the lot of them just as much as the next guy, but they certainly don’t openly cheer for their team like Hawk does for the ChiSox) – but to me the more egregious offense is his complete and utter lack of objectivity or even any attempt to appear objective. When there’s a close play Hawk will scream about how the Sox got hosed and how the umpires and the whole world is conspiring against the Sox, without fail. Frankly, that’s not what I want out of my commentators. I want, and expect, them to try to give an informed opinion and description to their audience. With Hawk, you know that you’re not getting that.
At the end of the day, I live in NY and I don’t have to watch him, so I don’t care. But he’s still clearly an awful commentator.
He literally said “…and heading into the 7th inning stretch it is stil 7-4 bad guys.” today.
Many people agree with you, but don’t act like he’s a radio broadcaster. He doesn’t need to paint a picture for you.
A commentator on TV should add something to the broadcast. When the sox are batting, he’s a cheerleader. When the visiting team is batting, he’s a mime.
No you’re absolutely right. Those guys are HILARIOUS and notorious for the way the call the game when the opposing team does something.
I remember when the Tigers beat the pants off them. The HR calls went exactly like this; in the most monotone voice:
That’s hit hard… and gone.
Question:
Can anyone remember a fourth outfielder (which Melky probably is) having so many big moments?
Robbing a HR against the Red Sox
Hitting a HR and throwing a guy out at the plate vs. Cleveland in the ALDS
Hitting a HR off some guy named Sabathia last year in a 1-0 Yanks win
The three walk offs this year and today’s cycle – but more importantly 4 RBI’s and 3 Runs scored, and a pretty nice catch to avoid an ugly sweep
Clutchy McClutchbrera
Shane Spencer
That September was magical – good one.
Melk has done it longer
amazing September and he continued it into the Division Series (three for six with two home runs) before falling off a cliff
and I don’t know if September 1998 counts as “big moments”, they were on cruise control at that point.
If he’s starting 120+ games for 3 seasons in a row, including playoff games, then you can’t label him a “fourth outfielder”
Maybe thats where his talent are best utilized, but getting 400+ ABs, damn even Cody Ransom would make some big plays
No, he’s a fourth outfielder. I consider terms like that to mean ability not where you are on the roster. For instance, John Lannan is not an ace, he’s just the only decent pitcher on a horrible Nationals team.
CF with an OPS+ above 100 and more than solid defense including a gun are probably more than just a backup.
The ability point is exactly what I was trying to say.
I agree, if Melky can finish the year with those #’s – or lets say .290/.360/.450 – it will put him probably in top 7 of CF’s.
He’s slumped bad in September before – I’m hoping a bit more maturity/conditioning and a bit of rest can help him finish strong.
Don’t want to get my hopes up or overestimate him – right now he’s a WIP and has had more than a few chances to prove himself. He’s only 25 in a few days, but its getting to the point where he has to show he’s taken the next step.
Didn’t he have like a HR in a Wang-Halladay game last year which was the difference in the close game? Maybe that was the Sabathia game…not sure.
Yeah, he had a couple walk off hits last year too. I’m not sure how to look that stuff up.
And DON’T post the Google link/thingy in reply! I’m talking to you TSJC.
http://www.bing.com
Damnit.
Heh.
How about:
http://www.baseball-reference.com
Yep, Halladay hung a breaking ball and Melk just got it over the rf fence. Melk whooped it up a bit and Halladay yelled at him – something to the effect that you can’t celebrate a cheap hr like that.
Next AB Doc dialed it up and K’d him on 4 pitches.
Melk hit two HR’s off Carmona the same way – hangers – I attributed some of these shots to the pitcher relaxing against him and looking ahead to the top of the lineup.
That aside, I admired the way Melk seemed to guess right on those pitches
Opening day of last year Melky made two great catches in the same inning (I think) and hit a solo homerun that was the difference in the game. It was Wang v Halladay. Pretty sure that is the game you are talking about, if I remember correctly.
thats the one yes
Wow, back-to-back home runs by Uggla and Ross to tie and win the game respectively against the Cubs in the bottom of the 9th.
I dont see why Martinez’s 5-hit day is all that impressive. He lucked out yesterday on a bloop hit and today got a blooper, 2 groundballs that a decent 1B would have gotten (not Huff), another grounder between the SS and 3B (though it was hit decently hard) and a grounder up the middle. That luck will turn hopefully.
He’s a good hitter, but it’s not a big deal. Not like Lee throwing a CG in his debut. But anything he does with the Red Sox will be amplified x 1,000. Jason Bay had a good 2 1/2 months and he’s already the most clutch Red Sox hitter since David Ortiz.
I hope they sign him to a huge 5 year deal.
That dude went from a killer at the plate to a disappearing act. I can’t believe he’s hitting 250. I knew he wasn’t as good as he showed for the first two months but where he’s at now its just wild.
The league adjusted to him. He was a career .280 hitter in the NL he wasn’t going to tear up AL pitching for too long.
and it looks like the Sox fans have finally realized that he is no Manny
It’s not ESPN without an Ellsbury highlight.
they only CF worse defensively than him is Vernon Wells
Neftali Feliz is getting called up to the big club
yep
A few friends of mine (all cubs fan living in the NY area) called me to deliver the good news that they would be attending the NYY-Red Sox series at the stadium later this week. The bad news: they are going to wear Red Sox caps not because they have any feelings for the grittiest team on earth but simply because they hate the Yankees. Sigh.
I wonder if misery (loser cubs) loves the company of misery (Yankees not winning the WS this decade)? Has Red Sox truly become America’s baseball team?
I would think winning multiple WS in the last few years would make the Red Sox more disliked with fans of other teams. Every true baseball fan I know of continues to favor the Red Sox over the Yankees. Why?
(I wasn’t a fan in the 90′s so I am guessing this is payback for all the WS that the Yankees won in that decade?)
Lastly, I won’t make it for the series this weekend; I hope you guys will jeer the hell out those Red Sox fans in the stadium.
Every true baseball fan I know of continues to favor the Red Sox over the Yankees. Why?
The media. And by that I mean ESPN.
Yeah, to the casual observer I could see how the Red Sox could seem more hip and popular.
Somehow, I think this has all to do with the money stats; yankees spend a lot, they have an advantage, they suck.
Because people like rooting for the underdog and the Yankees are almost never the underdog.
It’s why shit would go crazy if the Cubs ever won.
I can’t understand how someone watching baseball over the past 5-9 years would call the Red Sox underdogs compared to the Yankees?
They were in 2004 – Sox, underdogs. They apparently also had much better “stuff”
How are the underdogs when they have 2 titles and we have zero the past 8 years?
It’s the Grit.
BTW, I’ve seen a big increase in Bahston hats here in Denver since 2007. And I mean a really big increase. They’re not as big as yanks hats but still. Most of the people wearing Yankees hats HERE aren’t really fans (not anymore I think) now but wear it for its style. I doubt anyone will wear a Bosotn hat for style, many bandwagonners. And the ones I’ve talked are really arrogant and cocky about their team.
If a “1918″ chant doesn’t break out in the stadium next weekend I will be VERY disappointed. It’s too perfect.
I don’t care what anyone says, 2000 is in this decade. Is 1950 in the 40′s? Is 1980 in the 70′s? No and No. 2000 is in this decade, and next year starts the 10′s.
Shit. Jurrjens is having a hell of a year.
i am watching the rangers game, hoping they bring in feliz
ian snell pitching for the mariners against the rangers tonight
he got one guy to pop out already.
I wonder how good he’ll be on a winning team
well snell gives up a HR
1-0 rangers
ooh, good start with a pop-out and a K but he just gave up a HR to Murphy now
1 hitter through 5
Watching the Braves-Dodgers game:
You know, I cheer for A-Rod but I’d never show up at a ballpark with frosty tips in order to show my appreciation for him.
LOL! heh, the frosty tips aren’t quite as cool. Frosty tips? No. I have no objection to showing up with a stripper though.
Take this however you want RAB; as someone who feels that site is in a class of its own when it comes to content, cleanliness, and quality of commenters and admin overlook, it pains me to see simple grammar mistakes like “Can’t be man, right?” go left unnoticed. I know other quality blogs like PeteA do it too, but that shouldn’t be an excuse for RAB.
I forgot a “y.” I beg for your forgiveness.
With respect, I’m making a constructive criticism. I am not insulting, or making sarcastic comments.
I know, I’m just being a dick.
Now that;s a proper sentence.!
Kettle, pot, etc.
Seeing as we are unfamiliar with sarcasm, I shall close the register at this point, and state that 99 cents is the rental price.
i’m pretty sure he did that on purpose
RAB frequently has the most entertaining typos ever.
Like “shit happens” from two nights ago.
Love it.
It’s OK, Mike and Joe have been mired a long slump.
I’m thinking about sending them to the 8th (or should I make them starters since the 8th is the most important inning ever).
Send them back down altogether to learn how to type?
Nah, we fire Ben, the GM of the site and typing coach. This administration is an utter embarrasment. It’s ALL his fault. And we can’t send them down as they’re out of options. But who cares, I say we straight up release them.
Can we trade Ben for Cody Ransom?
Increasing his trade Value.
Joe Morgan- it takes years to grow into a #1, you have to give them time.
So why the hell is he a b-jobber?
Don’t take what he says seriously. He’ll completely contradict himself somehow next week.
I know that, but you’d think Joba-bullpen is such a huge topic in these guy’s head maybe they would show a little consistancy. Oh well, its funny
Joe Morgan has never cared about being consistent.
Because he saw how good Joba was in the pen with HIS OWN EYES.
Also, whatever the Yankees are doing is the wrong way to play baseball.
I love Billingsley. Gives me so much hope for Hughes. Comparable 4-seam, 2-seam, curve and command.
+1, love him.
And can they stop trying to say hes not a #1
Yeah he’s definitely the #1 of that staff. It’s tough to be a #1 at that age. They’re few and far between…although Kershaw may take over sometime real soon.
The way this game is going, I bet by the 7-8th inning they’ll say this is his coming out party of being the #1 of the staff.
Seriously. Weren’t people getting on the Dodgers for not being willing to trade Billingsley+ for Doc in a heartbeat? That’s stupid. Guy’s great, and the marginal upgrade from him to Doc wouldn’t cover the rest of the pieces they’d need to send.
exactly, hes 25 (the Buchholz age). and had an ERA below 3 through his first 15 starts this year, granted hes sucked in July but still. His walks are a little too high, but he can be there for the next 10 years, trade that and more for Halladay? No.
Wow! Steve Phillips with the hilarious snide remark to Joe & John.
John: I’m expecting bunt here.
Steve: Wow. We’ve got two Hall of Fame managers here tonight but they’ve got nothing on you two.
That’s too funny. That just shows how bad Joe Morgan and John Miller are to have Steve Phillips smake them across the face with sarcasm.
*smack
No such thing as “smake” as far as I know.
Phillips and Morgan just discussed that some prolific bunter’s lifetime batting average was 20 points lower if you took out all of his bunt attempts because of how many he beat out, ignoring that sacrifice hits aren’t included in batting average…
They were talking about bunting for a hit….
I realize that that helps the argument but if you beat out a bunt hit in a sacrifice situation then it counts as a hit, whereas if you’re thrown out it doesn’t factor into your batting average. Looking at someone’s batting average without all bunt attempts doesn’t take this into account
This is BASEBALL, not MATH class!
nerd.
eh, he didnt give all the details on what the calculation was so im not holding them too it. maybe the guy did factor in the sacrafices and morgan just didnt mention it, maybe he didnt.
Imagine if the Tigers didnt trade for Renteria.
Verlander-Jackson-Jurrjens-Porcello
don’t forget Washburn and his 2.64 ERA
him too, but they probably wouldnt have needed to make that trade
They probably wouldn’t have traded for Jackson
True
I can’t believe Pavano dominated the indians
the tigers*
Well he is in a contract year.
yeah the tigers, my bad
Is it wrong to want the Braves to tailspin further out of WC contention?? It’d sure make it easier to convince Wren to put Tim Hudson on waivers.
Lowe, Jurrjens, Vazquez, Kawakami, Hanson.
Why wouldnt he put him on waivers? Someone has to go
That’s what I’m hoping for actually, but it was pointed out last night that Wren could decide to simply hold onto Hudson to help out the team down the stretch. I still think that Wren looks at the books and at the slim WC chances and decides to do the smart thing… waive Hudson.
Depth concerns?
Lowe just got 60m, Vazquez is getting 11m, Kawakami is getting 8m. Can you really justify moving those 3 out of the rotation for a guy rehabbing form TJ?
Can you move Hanson or Jurrjens just to get the 15m arm back in the rotation? I dont know if Hanson has an innings limit, but the most he’s gone is 138, and hes at 127 this year already so maybe he’ll get shut down for September. But isnt Hudson close to returning?
AFAIK, the Braves are thinking about putting him in the pen.
coming of of TJS, being a starter his entire career is it really worth it or even a good idea? In a week it’ll be his “1-year anniversary of TJS”
They already have a top bullpen. I’m sure they want to evaluate his stuff to see if they want to pick up his option, but hes going into his last year of a contract and their rotation is full anyways, why not deal him?
I can’t believe I got free field level tickets to the Met game today and had to leave because of the monsoon, and then when i got home it was sunshine.
Atleast I got to see the new Ebbets Field.
Hmm, Kendry Morales has a higher SLG% and OPS than Tex. Who knew??
Though to be fair, his OPS only went above Tex’s after today but his SLG was higher.
Yeah, he’s been slugging this year. Sucks at D, though.
And he has a MASSIVE platoon split, at least this year.
wow. of his 21 hrs he only has 1 against lefties
.253/.266/.387 and OPS .652 against LHP
wow that umpire screwed Jurrjens in the behind
damn Jurrjens looked sick nasty against billingsley
if the dodgers lose, the angels will have the best record in baseball. considering all the injuries they’ve had, that’s pretty impressive
Holy fuck Angels, stop it
Without Torii and Vlad, no less.
wither Santana injured/sucking all year. Shields ineffectibe/out for season. Arredondo ineffective/injured earlier. Lackey hurt/ineffective earlier.
my god jurrjens v billingsley has turned out to be everything we hoped
Jurrjens has to be one of the most underrated pitchers in the game
Hard to believe he’s only 23.
You forgot Joe Beimel, Steve.
Heh, complain that Kemp uses too light a bat and then *boom*!
Well, complain probably isn’t the right word. More like “question”.
Matt Kemp is good.
In other news: sky blue. Details at eleven.
Call me a dork but I effing love Shark Week.
Dork.
Well I guess I walked right into that one.
Served it up like the laptop thief.
Shark week is sick, right now though, Megan Wants a Millionaire is on my tv. heh
I want to live every week like it’s Shark Week!
-Tracy Jordan
oh well, jurrjens finally screwed up
So what exactly are the Phillies gonna do with Pedro when he’s ready? They’ve already got Hamels/Lee/Blanton/Happ/Moyer? I guess they could move Moyer to the ‘pen or put him on waivers but it seems that with the Lee trade, they’ve blocked Pedro (not a bad thing). I’m just curious about all of this.
It has to be Moyer to the pen as long man(is anyone going to pick up his contract on waivers?)
Word, that’s what I’d assume. I still can’t believe they gave that dude a two year contract.
maybe a 1yr + option, but 2 guaranteed? WITH escalators?
performance bonuses: $0.25M each for 150, 160, 170, 180, 190 IP
2010 salary increases by:
$0.25M for 150 IP, 23 starts
$0.5M each for 160, 170, 180, 190 IP and 25, 27, 29, 31 starts
Amaro fail.
They’re like the Red Sox, they simply have too much pitching. I mean, the Sox are what, 8 or 9 starting pitchers deep?
Brad Penny 5.07 ERA
Clay Bustholz 6.05 ERA
John Smoltz 7.12 ERA
Dice-K 8.23 ERA
Really, this is the wonderful depth we heard about all spring/April/May. When does the MSM acknoweledge that they were dead wrong.
All 4 of them are aces and all four are potential Cy Young winners. Damn add that with Lester and Beckett and you have a 5 year dynasty!
Perhaps it’s a testament to their depth that they’re not only in the race, but 1/2 a game out of the division with those performances?
maybe, but can they live with that for 2 more months? i mean we’re bitching about our #5 starter, they dont have a 3, 4, or 5 (once Wake comes back they still have 2 holes)
Either that or putting up an 18 spot while you’re team gives up 10. They have 2 great starters and a bunch of riff raff. Their offense has been very good, recent slump notwithstanding. And their pen has been great. Their rotation, which was supposed to be the greatest of all time, has, simply put, sucked. Lester and Beckett have by far the most innings pitched and the two best ERA’s, and they still have a 4.50 ERA out of their starters.
Have we gotten any official word on Marshall other than a myspace page?
PeteAbe said it in his game post I believe.
I did see that but he didn’t say his source. I was just wondering if he was picking it up from here.
Good lord, Chad Billingsley. Did you see how he made Greg Norton almost do the splits on that inside curveball?
too bad hes not a #1
/morgan, phillips, miller
I’m not watching–did they really say that CB isn’t a number one?
yeah had a whole discussion the first few innings. Morgan even admitted it takes years for a pitcher to develop into a #1, which it does- but he IS a #1. ERA below 3 for the first 15 starts this year, just above 3 last year through 200 IP
The Braves organist just played the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song when Schmidt singled.
Alsome.
“Ghostbusters” for Manny.
why is he PH? you know because he’s always so healthy.
When exactly do the Yankees plan on getting Marte back in the Bronx? He’s had six outings in Triple-A.
PAbe said he was throwing 88, then again… who knows.
Sexy ladies? In my baseball game?
It’s more common than you might think.
Hey Joe Morgan, the problem with having too many starting pitchers is that there are so many that suck, which is what boston has
Then John Miller with this gem:
Have you heard of Josh Reddick? Well, you better, because he hit a HR today. He launched one at Camden Yards for Boston, part of the Red Sox assault on the Orioles today.
Josh Reddick?? Really? Really!?!? He’s minor league filler. He had two RBI.
I think it’s a requirement on ESPN to mention the Red Sox twice an hour. It’s like the time and weather on the radio.
He’s not minor league filler, he’s 22 and hit .277/.352/.520 in AA this year and was the red sox #5 prospect coming into the year. At the same time, they make him sound like the next babe ruth.
[...] an all-around ugly game on Saturday resulted in the team’s third straight loss. Powered by Melky Cabrera’s cycle, the Yankees escaped from Chicago with a win in the series finale [...]