Quick Hits: Peterson on pitching, roster decisions and the ALCS sked
ByInteresting stuff, no?
* * *
As we await the weekend start to the ALCS, the Yankees are busy attempting to put together a 25-man team best suited to take on the rival Angels. Brian Costa of The Star-Ledger says the roster won’t change much for the ALCS, but he does highlight a few questions the Yanks are attempting to answer.
First, Costa notes that the Jose Molina/A.J. Burnett/Jorge Posada love triangle has yet to be resolved. Girardi liked what he saw when Burnett threw to Molina on Friday, and the two could be battery-mates again this Saturday. If the Yanks pair up Jose and A.J., Francisco Cervelli will be on the roster. Otherwise, the speedy Freddy Guzman could earn a spot on the team.
Next, Costa takes on Damaso Marte. The lefty couldn’t get out the only two lefties he had to face against the Twins, and since the Angels are a right-hand heavy team, Marte may find himself sitting this round out. In his place, the Yanks would take Brian Bruney instead. For what it’s worth, the Angels’ team platoon splits were incredibly consistent. They hit .285/.353/.440 against righties and .286/.342/.446 against lefties. Bruney, who has been throwing in Tampa to stay ready, is probably the better choice for this round.
* * *
Finally, we have a full ALCS schedule, and the game’s start times are, well, odd. Take a look. All times are Eastern, and all games are on FOX:
Game 1 (Friday, Oct. 16 @NYY): 7:57 p.m.
Game 2 (Saturday, Oct. 17 @NYY): 7:57 p.m.
Game 3 (Monday, Oct. 19 @LAA): 4:13 p.m.
Game 4 (Tuesday, Oct. 20 @LAA): 7:57 p.m.
Game 5* (Thursday, Oct. 22 @LAA): 7:57 p.m.
Game 6* (Saturday, Oct. 24 @NYY): 4:13 p.m.
Game 7* (Sunday, Oct. 25@NYY): 8:20 p.m.
* If necessary
Those of us who work will miss a good chunk of Monday’s game, and if the Yanks and Angels need six games, the Saturday afternoon affair will start amidst shadows in the Bronx. That’s the power of high-priced TV deals for you.
* * *
Here’s your open thread for the night. There’s no baseball until Thursday, plus all the local hockey teams are off tonight. The only local sports on tonight are the Nets and Knicks on YES and MSG, respectively. Hopefully you have dinner plans, or at least some stuff on the DVR to catch up on. Chat about whatever you like here, just follow the guidelines and be excellent to each other.
I just got a headache from reading some comments on mlbtr about the Sox trading Paps.
This is by far my favorite:
“Papelbon, DelCarmen, Lars Anderson and Ryan Kalish for Josh Johnson and Hanley.”
“Does anyone think the Braves will trade Jair Jurgens and Yeneul Escobar to the Red Sox for say delcarmen, bowden maybe?”
Another good one.
Now, what the Sox should do…
Trade For Mauer, Get him and a right handed outfielder… Maybe Justin Upton. Those two would help and get rid of both Youk and Martinez.
Papelbon and Beckett for Upton and Drew and a boat load, some top prospect…
4 Team Trade
Mariners: Youkilis and Bowden
Dodgers: Martinez
Twins: Buchholz, Anderson, and Truinfel plus
Red Sox: Mauer, Loney, and King Felix
Sign Adrian Beltre and Aroldis Chapman
Unbelieveable…
I enjoyed “Dice-K is good for four prospects.”
Cliff Lee got traded for four prospects. Dice-K missed most of the year with a shoulder injury.
Yeah that comment was completely idiotic.
I’ll give the Red Sox Eric Duncan, Marcos Vechionacci, Eric Wordekemper, and Christopher Smith. Technically, they’re all prospects.
He’s gonna have to eat some salary, though.
Vechionacci and Wordekemper can’t be included, their last names are too awesome.
They’re probably going to both be given their unconditional releases within the next two months anyway. It’s moot.
Gee willikers that’s upsetting
I would hold out if I were the Red Sox for both of the Duncans.
YOU’LL TAKE WHAT YOU GET AND LIKE IT, GORILLA-SUIT-BOY!!!!!!!
I find it really hilarious that some Sox fans really do think that they’re going to get Felix Hernandez or Adrian Gonzalez.
I find it really hilarious that some Sox fans really do think that they’re going to get Felix Hernandez
orand Adrian Gonzalez.What’s real funny is when/if Mauer hits FA. The Sox brass/ESPN/media will be saying how Theo was so smart to let Mark Teixeira so he could use that money on Joe Mauer.
Oh, Mike, you know me so well.
Sincerely,
Peter Gammons
If you ever want a laugh, just head over to soxandpinstripes(dot)com and read the Red Sox writer. He’s a hoot!
I cut my blog-commenting teeth on that one
it’s fun–once he is down to bashing the Yankees for their payroll, you know he is out of things to say. go back and read the preseason stuff if you really want to laugh
He’s a smug little fucker too. Gets annoying but I don’t take him serious. You can’t.
eh, I treat him like alex gonzalez
at the end of the day, neither of us cares what the other one has to say
Next, Costa takes on Damaso Marte. The lefty couldn’t get out the only two lefties he had to face against the Twins, and since the Angels are a right-hand heavy team, Marte may find himself sitting this round out. In his place, the Yanks would take Brian Bruney instead. For what it’s worth, the Angels’ team platoon splits were incredibly consistent. They hit .285/.353/.440 against righties and .286/.342/.446 against lefties. Bruney, who has been throwing in Tampa to stay ready, is probably the better choice for this round.
Full disclosure mea culpa: A few days ago, I vehemently argued for Marte over Bruney because of Marte’s value as a LOOGY, but a few commenters (I think maybe MattG, can’t remember whom else) pointed out that the Angels have basically no lefties who we’d use a LOOGY for and said that Bruney was the better choice.
They were right; I was wrong. I glossed over the facts in this matter wrongly. Marte really doesn’t have a value on the ALCS roster; the Angels are the one team where we’d never use him. So, I retract my argument and concede defeat on this matter. Let it never be said that I don’t admit when I’m wrong.
They do have five switch hitters, including Figgins and Morales. I wonder what their platoon splits look like.
I tried that, but no. Figgins can’t hit lefties, so he may be worth turning around, but he’s the only one, and Abreu, the only real lefty, hits lefties fine. Coke alone should be more than sufficient. Leaving Marte off and putting Bruney on makes sense.
I was right on the more central point, however, that you can’t take Marte off to put Guzman on. We have to stay at 11 pitchers and 14 position players; no swapping a pitcher for a position player or vice versa.
Figgins, 2009:
vs RHP as LH – 497 PA, .323/.427/.437
vs LHP as RH – 231 PA, .246/.325/.305
My comment got lost, but I would turn Morales around also.
Morales hits lefties, but not for much power:
.287 ISO against RHP, but .185 ISO against LHP. 4 homers in 140 PAs all year against LHP.
Morales hit 34 HRs this year. 4 came as a RHB. I’d like to see him turned around as well.
Okay, maybe two then. Still, I’ll say that Coke by himself is probably still sufficient. There won’t be a ton of times where we’ll want a LOOGY to turn Figgins or Morales around rather than just bring in Hughes or Mo to mow them down.
One LOOGY will most likely be plenty.
Or even better, their power/finesse splits, since Bruney is a power pitcher. Even more so than Marte, who’s stuff has been down this year.
http://www.baseball-reference......2009#power
Bruney it is.
tommie , your a big man , i applaude your admiting your wrong there
I’m 99% positive that the reason that the Monday Game 3 in LA is an afternoon game is because the Yankees requested the 1:13pm local time start so they’d be able to get the whole game in, change, shower, and head out to catch Bernie Williams And Friends at the West Hollywood House of Blues. It’s the most feared smooth funk jazz fusion of it’s era, baby.
http://events.nbclosangeles.co.....nd-friends
We laugh, but you know Jeter, Posada, those guys will be there to support their homey.
Four Rings™ 4 Life.
They’ll go, but only because they’re afraid of Bernie coming to beat the shit out of them if they don’t show up.
He’s so feared.
No, they’ll be there because they have to make sure he shows up. Knowing Bernie, hell forget he ever booked the gig in the first place.
“Four Rings™ 4 Life.”
Hopefully not. Jetes, Andy, Posada and Mo can start the Five Rings™ crew in a few weeks.
So the Sox might dangle Papelbon this winter. Now, I know Bard is the future closer and all but are they really ready to make him the closer now?
The 2009 Red Sox offseason will be like Macbeth: Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
They’ll “dangle” Papsmear, and they’ll be “in on” Felix, and Josh Johnson, and Hanley Ramirez, and every other hot trade rumor, and they’ll end up with a fat sack of nothing.
I don’t even know what teams would be in on Papelbon. They’d have to be a contender to pay the 8ish mil he will get and they’d have to have a hole in their closer spot. The list of those teams is not a long one. Then, I’d probably cut that list in half considering that “contending” AL teams are unlikely to make a big swap.
St Louis and Philadelphia perhaps?
Philly: Paps is not enough of an upgrade over Lidge or Madson for them to part with anything of substance.
St. Louis: Perhaps, but I don’t think Mozeliak is dumb enough to trade valuable pieces for a closer who isn’t even all that good anyway. Bad business.
I don’t know, he has been pretty consistently among the best relievers in the game. four full seasons, and his WAR among relievers is 2nd, 7th, 2nd, and this year 11th (and of the guys ahead of him, Hughes will be starting next year, and I doubt CJ Wilson and the kids from Oakland can repeat what they did this year).
If their pen melts down again in the NLCS, I can see them entertaining offers
Yeah, St. Louis is probably the only truly realistic one. I just can’t see Mozeliak giving up quality pieces for him.
Especially when Soriano, Gonzalez, and Valverde are all on the market for nothing but money.
That’s a good point. Those three are very good relievers too.
I guess they’ll just have to settle with Dice-K for JJ Hardy.
The Cards have Franklin to close at 3 mil and is a bargain for what he did this year.
Philly is paying Lidge 12 mil.
Franklin is also 36. Gotta figure the Cards would at least listen to a proposal
At 36 he’s coming off of a career year. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing but I doubt they’d give up prospects or a decent bat for a closer that will probably make 16 mil over his last two years under team control.
“they’d have to have a hole in their closer spot.”
They’d end up with an a-hole in their closer spot is more like it.
After narrowly missing the World Series in 2009, my sources tell me that the Red Sox are going to be cautious this off-season and that Theo Epstein is not willing to move any of the tremendous talent that the Sox have waiting in the minors. So, instead they’ll see whether teams such as the Padres or Marlins would be willing to consider taking on disgraced closer Jonathan Papelbon for a lesser bat like Adrian Gonzalez or Hanley Ramirez. While privately the players tell me that they no longer have confidence in Papelbon after his embarrassing performance in the final game of the ALDS ended a magical season for the Sox, scouts I have spoken with say that they think that he could still be a vital pickup for teams like the Padres, who play in larger stadiums that are more forgiving to players like Papelbon who struggle in big spots.
For Diamond Cutters, I’m Peter Gammons.
If the Sox don’t get what they’re asking for, then Gammons can always hype him as still being a potential starting pitcher.
We all know how much more valuable starters are than relievers, and the Sox have such a surplus that they have to keep them stashed away in the ‘pen.
Watch the Royals swoop in and trade their 3 of their top prospects for him. They can then claim how they’re committed to winning and spending some money. Clueless organization.
Heh, the Royals would probably trade for Big Papi.
They love those types.
Moore: Theo, I’ll give you Aaron Crow, Tim Melville, Eric Hosmer, and Mike Moustakas for Papelbon, David Ortiz, and Casey Kotchman.
Theo: I don’t know, Dayton, that seems a little light. Tell you what, gimme Joakim Soria as well, and I’ll throw in Jason Varitek.
Moore: Okay. How much money do I need to throw in?
… aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand, SCENE!
and claim he is improving their defense
in left field
YOU WILL EAT THAT CAT POOP
I WILL NOT EAT CAT POOP
YOU WILL EAT THE CAT POOP
I’ll eat the damn cat poop
They won’t deal him. Bard is a tantalizing arm, but Papelfuck is the real deal. If they deal Paps and Bard can’t handle closing, they’re fucked. Manny Delcarmen will be closing games for them. I don’t believe they’ve seen enough out of Bard to deal Paps.
I don’t believe they’ll EVER see enough out of Bard to deal Paps.
And like I said before: Papelbon is a massive asshat douchebag. Boston is a town of massive asshat douchebags. They’re made for each other. Dealing Papelbon away would be like the Oilers dealing away Gretzky; it would be a
nationallocal crime that the fanbase would never forgive or forget.Jon Papelbon is like every single Red Sox fan’s brother (and thus, probably also every single Red Sox fan’s cousin; inbreeding causes lots of dual-labels).
You don’t trade away your brother-cousin.
Bing-a-rin-o
That video was very cool. It’s too bad a smart guy like that can’t get a job on Baseball Tonight or the like. He’d be invaluable for mechanical analysis.
He interviewed for BBTN, but he was overconfident and only blocked off ten minutes for the interview and then left, even though they still had more questions.
You answered your own question, Peterson is smart, ESPN doesn’t like smart people. Look at Kruk for example.
A shame really.
They’re in the ratings business, and there will always be 10 idiots out there for every 1 really bright guy. They BROADcast, not NARROWcast. PBS and NPR narrowcast, and get a fraction of the audience that the big networks do.
Get used to it, my friend. Such is life.
Bill Moyers FTW!
Bill Moyers is a pretentious fuckhole.
And yet, his show is the bomb, because it’s smart in ways that all similar shows on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, etc. are dumb.
He narrowcasts and has informative, valuable, in depth examinations of today’s issues, and NOBODY watches his show. Bill Moyers’s audience is like 1/100th of Keith Olbermann’s and Glenn Beck’s, probably smaller.
He’s a perfect example of the broadcasting/narrowcasting concept you brought up.
I’m going to be sitting at the bar watching the game yelling, “Damn you AJ. Get that arm angle more at 45 degrees. WTF, your elbow is not horizontal with your shoulder”.
People will buy me drinks for my vast pitching knowledge. Thanks Rick Peterson.
“People will throw their drinks at me and tell me I know nothing about pitching. Thanks Rick Peterson.”
Fixed that for ya.
Andy: See that? Joba’s dragging his plant foot and not supinating his elbow enough, that’s why his command is off.
Bar Patron #2: NO, HE JUST SUCKS BECAUSE HE BELONGS IN THE PEN LIKE MY BOY MIKEY F SAID AND THE YANKEES ARE SCREWING WITH HIS BULLDOG MENTALITY!!! SHUT UP YOU STUPID NERD!!!
(punches Andy in the gut and pours his Natty Ice all over his head)
IETC
Luckily, no one down here knows who Mike Francessa is. But, Natty Ice, that’s very prevalent, unfortunately.
Are you guys still drinking Billy Beer down there in central Florida?
Goebel. Or Carling’s Black Label if we want a fancy import.
You get that imbecile Sid Rosenberg down there?
Those of us who work will miss a good chunk of Monday’s
gameworkfixed.
awesome
It was hard not concentrating on Peterson’s vagina throat.
Seriously. I guess that’s why he’s repping this company, to get some money for a neck lift.
Migraines can go suck bahston cack.
Ah’m wicked psyched tah be heah. You guys ready tah rent some cahrs?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD4eGDmrb4w
Haha poor guy. Why’d they make him talk for like 3 minutes straight in the beginning? He repeated himself and sounded like an idiot doing it all in one take.
Once he got into the mechanics it was awesome, though. I always thought he was a good coach. Also like that he called them by their first names.
Hey Guys,
Hoping someone can help me. I’m a huge Yankees fan up here in Canada, and if they make the W.S. I am hoping to go to game 2 at the Stadium.
My question, how is the “Ticket Market” around the stadium?
I have been looking on Stub Hub but would prefer to avoid this.
I understand there is likely no parallel, but I was in Denver sunday and had previously purchased tickets on stub hub for Phils vs Rocks, I paid through the nose, only to find out I could have paid close to face at the stadium.
If I take my chances showing up without tickets will I get in? I don’t mind paying a premium.
Any suggestions?
I wouldn’t count on getting “close to face” walking up to the stadium, but that’s just my gut instinct, I haven’t actually tried that in forever.
By “Close to face” I mean double face value as opposed to Stub Hub which is anywhere from 3x to 4x.
Just like you wouldn’t count on the Dolphins beating you on Monday Night Football.
awww, too soon!
/tsjc’d
Jets: A good team still in first place in their division coming off a tough loss
Cowboys: A shitty team, treading water, fighting with the Redskins to NOT be the worst team in their division, who just barely beat the pathetic Chiefs last week and frankly, are lucky to not be 0-5
Hah. They were lucky to beat the Bucs? Sure.
Ya, Cowboys have looked shitty that’s a no doubter. Bad coaching man, bad coaching.
3-2 baby. Just like you. Lost to two unbeaten teams.
I never said Cowboys > Jets.
They weren’t lucky to beat the Bucs.
They were lucky to PLAY the Bucs. If they had had to face a real Week 1 opponent, they’d be out of it already and Wade would have been fired for Jason Garrett (who himself would be fired by Week 15.)
Hah. I want them both gone brother.
Bring me the Chin!
If I’m Bill Cowher, I refuse to work for the following owners unless they give me total, and I mean TOTAL control of the ENTIRE organization:
1) Al Davis
2) Jerry Jones
3) Dan Snyder
And when I say total, I mean total. As in: Jerry, you’re not allowed to TALK to the media without running your statement by me first.
Don’t hold your breath.
You’re breaking my balls here man.
I know that’s not going to happen especially since Jerry won’t give up his GM position. Sad really. The franchise could be so much better. The team also, with good coaching.
Regardless, I’m still going to enjoy watching my team play. Just bought tickets for the Gmen game and the Philly game.
We making playoffs, you watch!
We making playoffs, you watch!
Did they start a consolation bracket and not tell me about it? Great, bully for you.
You might get close to face outside the stadium if (no joke) you’re willing to miss the first 3-4 innings. Before the game and up to the 2nd inning? No shot whatsoever.
I’d also hang out by the bowling alley, or 161st, all the regular scalpers hang out there. The guys walking around the perimeter of the stadium could be one shot guys looking to scam you with a ticket that’s already been sold on StubHub.
Just walk around the Bronx proclaiming loudly:
“I’m a tourist from Canada, with a fist full of cash. Can anyone help me with a World Series ticket?”
Scalper: That’ll be $800 for the pair.
Phil “Bud” Selig: Can I pay you in loons?
That is why I’ll be wearing cargo pants actually.
Hahahah!
Do you really think he’ll need to scream it? I think the 70’s rock band T-Shirt, bottle of Labatts in his hand and the red hat with earlaps will shout it loud and clear.
http://img17.imageshack.us/img.....canada.png
He wouldn’t be allowed to wear that suit, as it doesn’t have the flags of every nation we take immigrants from and is thus exclusionary.
Vote Liberal.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_xBo8CNuR.....C_3281.JPG
Actually with the temps dipping I’ll be wearing a plaid wool work jacket or a “Quebec dinner jacket” as I prefer to call it.
I’m sure you’ll blend right in in the boogie down, my friend.
Apparently, the Angels are starting Joe Saunders in Game 2.
Really? Joe Saunders, he of the 6.28 career ERA against the Yankees, is starting over Scott Kazmir, he of the career 2.67 ERA against the Yankees?
Not to mention that Kazmir was a hundred times better down the stretch, and is really just a better pitcher.
Of course, Angels fans are touting it as the best idea ever, and laughing that the Yankees are ‘forced’ to start Sabathia in Game 4, while they have teh starting depth to start Matt Palmer. Please, please start Matt Palmer in Game 4.
(passes out bayonets)
Wedding ring ball scuffing fuck.
He put a ring around his balls at his wedding?
What is he, Presbyterian?
Palmer had a solid start against the Yankees in YSIII, even though he has middling stuff. He had his wedding ring on his glove hand, and was rubbing the ball vigorously with both hands from time to time, as pitchers are wont to do.
I think he was scuffing.
Saunders is room service for this year’s Yankee team.
Kazmir must be hurt (as usual).
I should say that this isn’t official, but the guys at HalosHeaven seem to think this is what will happen.
Don’t try to read the analysis on that site, at least recently. It’s bordering on aggressively stupid.
it’s in the probables on mlb.com also
I like Peterson’s stuff, but that’s the first time I’ve seen the name of his website written down; I had thought it was “three-piece sports,” which was somehow a reference to a three-piece suit. I didn’t know what that meant, and I don’t know what 3p means either, so maybe a bit more thought could have gone into that name, is what I’m here to say.
Reading the game chat gave me a good chuckle.
http://tinyurl.com/ygsltbu
does anyone here listen to Bill Simmons?
Despite him being a huge Boston fan, i find him tolerable and kind of funny at the same time.
I listened to a podcast he twittered yesterday.
I definitely enjoyed it or I wouldn’t have listend the whole 45 minutes.
He’s a funny dude.
I’ve actually always liked Bill Simmons. He loses me when he starts going into four-paragraph breakdowns of various Sylvester Stallone movies, but other than that, I enjoy his writing.
My favorite parts of his columns are Sly’s movies and “The Karate Kid” trilogy.
I’m sure it’s hilariously funny. I just don’t get the jokes, because I’ve seen like 15 cumulative minutes worth of Sylvester Stallone movies in my life. I avoid him like the plague.
Watch “Rhinestone”, it will change your life…..FOR THE BETTER.
http://www.curragh-labs.org/bl...../oscar.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyN7Tekf0q4
Wow, Curtis and Laird killed it today. IPK did the usual as well.
http://mlb.mlb.com/milb/stats/.....n_perwin_1
Would you say they played “surprisingly” well?
I have to admit, it took me a minute to get that.
http://sadtrombone.com/
I should be punished
For every pun I shed
Spare not a puny shred
Of my punnish head
You’re on the (rocky) road to redemption.
Ouch.
Once again, Drew, you have sullied the great name of “Andrew”. YOU HAVE RUINED DOTF FOR TONIGHT!!!!
Just for that…..Melky Sucks!!!
“Peoria Javelinas”
Is there a more phallic name for a sports team than this one?
Have you ever seen an actual javelina?
http://grrl.files.wordpress.co.....velina.jpg
It’s not exactly a super-masculine animal.
They taste delicious.
I was sort of hoping we would go in the dick-joke direction with that one. Something like:
YOU THINK THAT’S PHALLIC? HOW ABOUT THE WICHITA WOODPECKERS!! HAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!
So I have a request…when it comes time for the playoff games, can you guys (TSJC, Andy in SD, Matt, MikePop, The Artist, et al.) have your very own game thread, unsullied by trolls?
Your comments are fucking hilarious.
Otter: You guys up for a toga party?
Bluto: TOGA! TOGA!
Otter: Ah, I think they like the idea, Hoov…
Greg G.: We need you. Hell, I need you. I’m a mess without you. I miss you so damn much. I miss being with you, I miss being near you. I miss your laugh. I miss your scent; I miss your musk. When this all gets sorted out, I think you and me should get an apartment together.
The Artist: Why don’t you sit the next one out, Greg. Just stop talking for a while.
Wild guess, Brokeback Mountain?
Anchorman! Come on Artist.
YOU should sit the next one out, bub
Thank you Greg, but do you find it at all odd that a blog with such intelligent, well researched, well thought out posts attract guys like us? You would think there would be a bunch of nerds in here, arguing the virtues of WAR over VORP, especially on a day like today when Mike A. posts one of his charts. But instead, you have the 5 of us making fun of Canadians, Bostonians, Presbyterians, and animals that nobody outside of Arizona has ever seen.
+27, Fisted.
Agreed. We’re all not nerds.
I happen to be friends with Merlin Olsen. He comes over on occasion.
But do you have many leather bound books and an apartment that smells of rich mahogany?
Seriously, though, I’m a total nerd.
You NEED this shirt:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISA.....0428069480
Am I missing something? Nothing’s loading.
My bad, gave you the ‘enlarged’ version.
http://tinyurl.com/ykx77×5
Haha, fantastic.
My bad, gave you the ‘enlarged’ version.
That’s what I said!
http://www.mindlessthreads.com.....eryone.jpg
Nice.
damn it! I got caught reading w/o refreshing…
It’s okay putt. Matt’s got the fastest fingers in the northeast.
So I see your mother told you what she calls me?
I walked right into that one.
And although I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany, I don’t think I’m a nerd.
Q.E.D.
4:13 on a monday? Gonna cause some problems
Yea, Im gonna be in class for 2 hours from that time. No paying attention in class for me that day.
No
paying attention ingoing to class for me that day.leaving work early AND no going to class
I have one class on Mondays. It’s at 5pm. Guess Monday’s a holiday for me!
“If Boston had won on Sunday, the way Dustin Pedroia turned a double play in the sixth inning would have been a highlight.
Instead, the double play that Pedroia could not make in the eighth became an issue. And Pedroia took a couple swipes at the grounds crew because of it.
It took a bad hop,” Pedroia said. “Our infield (stinks). It’s the worst in the game.”
“I’m not lying about that. That is true. I think about those things. That stuff upsets me,” Pedroia said. “My job is to take 1,000 groundballs a day. Other guys’ job is to get the field perfect so we can play baseball.”
http://morningsentinel.maineto.....70557.html
Cant make this shit up.
Cano would be too lazy to care.
As much of a stupid, whiny excuse it is, isn’t it widely accepted that Boston’s IF isn’t very good?
Were the Angels playing somewhere else?
Point, The Artist.
Hey Leprechaun Boy: Only a bad musician blames his instruments.
http://hiyoooo.com/
I think he just won the 2009 Nobel Prize for Outstanding Accomplishments in the area of Extreme Douchebaggery.
Wow, you know your season’s ended badly when you’re calling out the groundskeepers.
Nah, that’s just Pedroia, he’s a whiny asshole bitch.
isnt that a requirement to play for the sox ?
He’s right. Fenway is a dump of a park.
My bold, and most assuredly dumb, NFL predictions, after 5 weeks of watching these teams:
Predicted record, team, current record
AFC EAST
10-6 NY Jets (3-2)
9-7 New England (3-2)
8-8 Miami (2-3)
4-12 Buffalo (1-4)
AFC NORTH
11-5 Cincinnati (4-1)
10-6 Baltimore (3-2)
10-6 Pittsburgh (3-2)
2-14 Cleveland (1-4)
AFC SOUTH
11-5 Indianapolis (5-0)
8-8 Jacksonville (2-3)
6-10 Houston (2-3)
5-11 Tennessee (0-5)
AFC WEST
10-6 Denver (5-0)
7-9 San Diego (2-2)
5-11 Oakland (1-4)
4-12 Kansas City (0-5)
———-
NFC EAST
13-3 NY Giants (5-0)
11-5 Philadelphia (3-1)
8-8 Dallas (3-2)
8-8 Washington (2-3)
NFC NORTH
11-5 Minnesota (5-0)
11-5 Chicago (3-1)
7-9 Green Bay (2-2)
6-10 Detroit (1-4)
NFC SOUTH
12-4 New Orleans (4-0)
9-7 Atlanta (3-1)
5-11 Carolina (1-3)
2-14 Tampa Bay (0-5)
NFC WEST
9-7 San Francisco (3-2)
7-9 Seattle (2-3)
6-10 Arizona (2-2)
1-15 St. Louis (0-5)
——————————
AFC Playoffs:
Baltimore beats the Jets, Denver beats Pittsburgh
Baltimore beats Cincinnati, Indianapolis beats Denver
Baltimore beats Indianapolis
NFC Playoffs
Minnesota beats San Francisco, Chicago beats Philadelphia
NY Giants beats Minnesota, New Orleans beats Chicago
New Orleans beats NY Giants
Superbowl
Baltimore beats New Orleans
At some point I need to start rooting for my skins to go 6-10 so they make some serious changes. I’m tired of the fucking Jason Campbell show. We’re wasting one of the best backs in the league because Campbell can only throw inside slants.
We’re wasting one of the best backs in the league because Campbell can only throw inside slants.
(scratches head; goes to NFL.com and checks Redskins roster; thinks; doublechecks roster again; realizes Drew just referred to the legally-dead Clinton Portis as “one of the best backs in the league”; shudders; takes a shower)
…how bout that Wildcat? heh
Drew: 1
Red Herring: 0
Seriously though, Portis is still the total package. He has the rare combination of elusiveness and an ability to run over tacklers. Let alone the fact that he can catch with anyone.
He’s constantly seeing 8 men in the box because Campbell isn’t a threat for the big play.
Think any big trades are going to go down?
Ok so this is a little random, but I’ve been thinking a lot about OPS and i feel like it’s a bit of a strange stat in that it weighs batting average twice. First, in OBP, and then in SLG. So I was thinking that it would be better to have something like OPI, as in on-base + isoP. Then I started thinking about a total offense stat that takes SB and CS into account as well. I know there are similarities to WPA, but unlike WPA, this would be situation independent, and could therefore by comparison to WPA provide an “isoClutch” metric, as follows:
(TB + BB + SB + HBP – CS) / TPA = Total Offense
Then there are two methods of developing the “isoClutch” method. The first is a direct comparison between a player’s TO and WPA:
(TO/TOavg) * 100 = TO+
(WPA/WPAavg) * 100 = WPA+
WPA+ – TO+ = isoClutch
The second version of isoClutch would be achieved by measuring average (expected) WPA in relation to raw TO, measuring the distance, i.e. WPAactual – WPAexpected.
Of course now somebody is going to come on and point me to this exact stat somewhere and make me feel bad about myself, but what do you guys think? I’m really more interested in the TO stat, since I feel like OPS is a tad redundant.
Interesting.
Compare it to wOBA and tell me what your stat does that wOBA doesn’t, or what you find lacking from wOBA.
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs.....y-of-woba/
I love wOBA, but it does have some problems. It’s not position or park adjusted, which hurts it a bit–not much, but just a bit.
Granted, the problems with the positional adjustment get weeded out when wOBA is converted into runs then that gets converted into WAR.
Yeah, I kind of like leaving wOBA non-adjusted. Having the raw production stat is a useful tool too, and as you said, there are also adjusted stats that can stand side by side to show both sides of the coin.
Yep. wOBA is teh awesome.
but that’s the thing. It still ascribes more value to certain events than others; i.e., two walks are more valuable than one double. I’m not disagreeing with this notion, just saying that I think it would be useful to have a rate stat that essentially measures bases gained vs. outs made. Of course Accent Shallow had to shit all over my parade by telling me that this stat already exists, but whatever. I still think that pitting a player’s WPA against his expected WPA, based on his total average, would be an interesting way of determining if some players are more clutch than others. If, as one would suspect, this “isoClutch” varies drastically from year to year for each player, it would essentially put the “clutch” myth to bed. which’d be nice.
You’re making us look bad to Greg G. He thinks we’re a bunch of cool guys and not stat nerds. Thanks Pete.
Don’t worry Andy, I just can’t quit you.
Here, this should help you with the TO stat
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.c.....yers/3664/
Let me know if you need anything else.
http://tinyurl.com/ohlgan
You mean total average?
http://www.baseball-reference......al_Average
Meh.
damn. yeah i do.
Also, WPA isn’t too useful beyond telling the story of the game.
Here’s the link on Andrew YFs post about Saunders starting Game 2.
http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com.....p?c_id=nyy
I can’t believe my eyes, Kazmir must be hurt. Weaver has fared horribly against the Yanks, so pushing him to Game 3 doesn’t surprise me. But Kazmir has pitched well (though not deep) in games where he’s faced the Yanks.
LoHud reports that Veas still favors the Yanks to win the WS. They were also favored preseason.
Leading to the question…how often have the preseason favorites (as picked by Vegas) actually won the WS?
Fun stuff:
Playoff Predictions from May 2009
Heh, is it funnier not having the Yankees in the postseason at all or having the Mets not only in the playoffs but in the world series. And having Papelsuck as the ALCS and WS MVP. Awesome
I love how many playoff predictions this year left the Yankees out. It’s like the finally missed the playoffs ONCE and it opened the door for every Yankee-hater to come out and predict that they would never make the playoffs again.
Not like they added 2 top of the rotation starters or a power-hitting, gold-glove first baseman or anything…
Oh, and I love how they have Papelbum as the CS AND WS MVP. He’s just that awesome.
You could argue that he was the Angel’s MVP for the series.
Some baseball news:
ESPN scroll is relaying news that Billy Wagner has decided to retire. I guess this means that Theo has lost a couple high draft 2010 draft picks. Theo was gonna slap Wagner with an offer of arbitration, which if Wagner declined would’ve really shrunk the market of suitors. Good for Wagner…
TIM HUDSON looks to be leaning towards Free Agency. Kinda crazy to think Hudson would turn down $12 MM, but if he’s looking for 2 years at lesser money i’m sure a bevy of teams would call. Would the prospect of adding Tim Hudson tempt the org to keep one of Joba or Hughes in the ‘pen?
I’d hope not.
“hey, we’ve got this long-term strategy to develop a pitching surplus in-house so that we can, at worse, use the excess to get stuff we need. Oh! Tim Hudson! Fuck that plan, stick those guys in the pen to ruin their value.”