As much as I value baseball’s history, from landmark moments such as Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier all the way down to tacky embarassments such as the White Sox’s short pants and Ten-Cent Beer Night, I’m glad the Yankees have played their last game at Minnesota’s Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome. It’s not that the Yankees didn’t do well there, they finished with a 77-64 (.546) record in the dome and went 4-0 there in the playoffs. It’s not that the place was devoid of history; it hosted two World Series Game Sevens, including the legendary extra-inning Game 7 in 1991, as well as an ALCS, three ALDS, an All-Star Game, Dave Winfield’s 3,000th hit, all of Kirby Puckett’s Hall of Fame career, three Cy Young seasons (by Johan Santana and Frank Viola), and a pair of Rookie of the Year campaigns (Chuck Knoblauch and, uh, Marty Cordova). The problem wasn’t what took place there, it was the place itself. Baseball simply wasn’t meant to be played indoors, on artificial surface, under a baseball-colored roof that disguised fly balls, in front of huge air conditioning vents that mysteriously blew harder when the home team was batting, with a oversized Hefty bag for an outfield wall.
Next year, the Twins will be playing outdoors, on grass, in an actual ballpark rather than a multi-purpose dome. Had that been the case on Thursday, the game would have taken place on a lovely, warm, sunny afternoon. Instead it took place inside under gloomy artificial light. Not that it cast much of a gloom over the Yankees dominance of the Twins.
With Chien-Ming Wang on the disabled list, Joe Girardi tabbed Alfredo Aceves to start on Thursday, but saddled him with a 65-pitch limit that gave him no room for error. Unfortunately, error showed up in the second, when Jason Kubel led off with a homer to dead center and throwing errors by Aceves himself and Cody Ransom, starting at third base, plated a subsequent walk to Mike Cuddyer. Aceves got into trouble again in the fourth when Cuddyer connected for a one-out double which was followed by a Brian Buscher single. Aceves then hit Mike Redmond with pitch number 65, putting him at his limit and handing a bases-loaded situation over to the team’s middle relievers.
Girardi called on rookie David Robertson to get out of Aceves’s jam despite the fact that Robertson has the highest walk rate of any of the men in the Yankee pen. Robertson got the second out by striking out Nick Punto with a 3-2 fastball, but then walked Denard Span and the woeful Matt Tolbert to force in a pair of runs before getting Joe Mauer to groundout on a curveball.
Fortunately, the Yankees had already scored five runs off Nelson Liriano by then, the first two of which came without the benefit of a hit in the second inning. That frame began with a walk and a steal by Alex Rodriguez, a pitch that hit Jorge Posada’s foot, an error by Tolbert that loaded the bases, a walk to Ransom, and a RBI groundout by Brett Gardner. Derek Jeter then drove in the third run with the Yankees’ first hit of the game.
With the Yankees clinging to a one-run lead in the fifth, Mark Teixeira, who set a personal record with his 95th homerless at-bat in the third, broke the streak with a solo shot to left. Robertson then returned to strikeout Justin Morneau, but after a walk to Jason Kubel, Girardi got fed up and called on Jonathan Albaladejo who combined with the Phils and Mariano Rivera to shut the Twins out the rest of the way to preserve the 6-4 win.
The win completed the Yankees’ dominance of the Twins this season. After winning four games against them in May by a total of just five runs, they outscored them 20-9 in these three games and never trailed in Thursday’s finale, sweeping the season series in the process. I didn’t much like the Metrodome, but it gave the Yankees a very fond farewell.
Much as outdoor baseball is better, it's going to be interesting to see what happens in early April home games in the Twin Cities.
[1] They'll have to be day games.
Ryan Freel just walked! Go Go Royals!
Good lord. The Boston bullpen simply cannot get Ryan Freel out. I'm not even sure they can slow him down.
This is just great. The Yanks have already won, I have some good scotch, and the Red Sox are being embarrassed.
[3] Good scotch...hm....excellent thought.
Oh hell yes.
I never thought I'd be so happy to see a Willie Bloomquist triple.
[3] Indeed! Happy here too, it's friday and am out tonight with the missus for some 結婚記念日 celebration, a good summer eve for us all..
as long as Joakim Soria can close it out for KC of course...
btw, Youkilis has really cooled down..even with Big PooPoo kinf of back, their lineup is not the monster it used to be..
Note to Joe Girardi:
Can get Billy Butler out by throwing 99 mph fastballs.
[6] Happy anniversary!
Mine was yesterday, as it happens. Very nice, low key, no pressure. I'm a lucky husband.
Let the meltdown begin...
[8] Thanks! Quick work on the kanji there :)
Think the Sox will re-sign Bay? Bay and Holliday worry me..for long-term deals I mean..
I can't believe the ROYALS are winning! All I wanted was to trail the AL East by 2 games at the break and looking at the schedule 2 weeks ago that looked like a TALL order.
Now if we could just take 2 games in LA....even 1 game wouldn't be so bad.
Frankly I think the Sox HAVE to re-sign Bay. He is their best to 2nd best offensive player. They can't afford to let him go.
Jesus. 2 walks to lead off the inning. What a tease the Royals are.
[10] Very hard to say. I think at a 'reasonable' price they will sign him up again; they like him, they're not worried about him wilting in the spotlight, etc. They offered him an extension a month ago or so, and it was clear he wanted to play out his contract and test the FA market. So, nobody knows. If I had to guess, I'd guess they'll hold onto him.
Amazing. With a three run lead in the eighth, they walk Ortiz and Bay. It's Robertsonesque.
Good ol' Els.
Tek's turn. Come on, Cap, a nice GIDP, please.
Good God, take the damn sure out at 1B with a three run lead. Meanwhile, no neighborhood call n that play at 2B.
DAMN! What happened to the ball beating the runner is an out?
Doesn't anybody want to win this game?
Seriously..are the Royals just a baseball vortex where all talent dissapears??
Apparently the home plate umpire thinks an injustice was done on the previous play, so all pitches to Mark Kotsay will be called strikes.
Kotsay catches on and decides to swing at all pitches.
The umpire tires of meting out justice on the seventh pitch.
[17] That's only on a NON-force play.
You can all but smell a shit storm coming here....
A Piazza moment there.
Soria for a 4-out save!
[24] Yep. I thought that was going to clear the bases off the bat.
.179 CAREER BA against Soria..that is damn good..
Nick Green swings from the heels.
[28] Except when he's caught back on his heels by a killer curve ball.
Ladies and gentlemen, the shortstop for the Boston Red Sox, Nick Green!
I love everything about Nick Green. Have you seen him play the position? He's bad. And the Sox are also stuck using Youk as their 3B, I love that. Talking to the Rockies about Garrett Atkins.
Greenie has a .717 OPS. That ain't bad for a UINF.
Every other time I've seen Nick Green this year, he's getting some critical hit or blasting a moonshot. I know this is perception over reality, I just haven't had teh will to look up the numbers and prove it to myself.
[32] Oh, he'd be a very good bench player. It's just that he's their starting shortstop.
F***, Daniel Bard throws really hard. Let's hope he turns into Farnsworth 2.0.
Well, what's going to happen?
Papi with a 2-run shot to tie it? Bay with a walk-off? Or Beantown humiliation?
[35] Somehow, no matter what, Youk and Papi must bat in the 9th. I expect typical Beantown Magic followed closely by unwatchable Sportscenter.
Cripes. Just throw him strikes.
Home plate umpire does seem insistent that Papi should bat.
[37] Well, he's doing that, kind of.
[2] Freel is cool. FARNEY!!! a buddy of mine and i always get a kick outta his imaginary friend!
I like Trey Hillman... he *looks* like a baseball manager.
And now they're even being called strikes.
Oh, nice job. Good Dusty!
If the Red Sox lose this game, after leading 3-0, at Home no less, I think you must call it... must say it's.... have to admit it's.... (what is the word I'm searching for?)
1 out to 1st place...
[38] It is a great burden to be the arbiter of justice.
[43] unacceptable!!!
i accept FIRST PLACE!!!! : )
Oh, too beautiful.
Goooooood baseball today! Tied with the Sox at .600, pretty good win for us, magnificent Mariano finish, and a very satisfying Boston bullpen choke job.
Now one more finger of scotch, and I'm done...
Bonus! Rogers Sports Pacific is carrying Seattle-Texas. Not much of an inspiring matchup, but more baseball nonetheless.
[48] enjoy, my friend! i'm about to start - first beer is on deck! : )
[49] i've been watching Tommy Hanson with a students' dad. he's been effectively wild, as they like to say. either way, he sure is fun to watch!
the Aflac ? was what 2 left-handed batters have more hits than Todd Helton since 1997. Garrett Anderson was easy. the other guy was Johnny Damon!
[51] I wonder how close Ichiro is, depsite giving those guys a four year head start.
should be an interesting series vs the halos. they won't have Vlad or Torii. we won't have Ace in the 'pen. with Joba and Andy throwing the first two games, we'll need to do some mixing/matching. if we can win one of those, i think CC is gonna air it out before the break. i'd love to take 2 of 3 in Cali...
[52] i thought the same thing! i also thought of Omar Vizquel, but quickly realized he's a switch-hitter.
i'd look it all up, but i have to return a phone call. if i don't get thru, maybe i'll get around to it...
[52] Hmm, by my reckoning:
Damon (1997-present): 2162
Anderson (1997-present): 2129
Ichiro (2001-present): 1925
FIRST PLACE!!!!!
I like Branyan. I like the idea of Branyan. I like Branyan's story this season. But he really is a caricature.
[52] Since 1997 (i included 1997 stats)
Damon - 2,162
Anderson - 2,129
Helton - 2,048
Ichiro - 1,925 (since 2001)
Has anyone seen our team's offensive numbers lately? Our WORST batter is Melky with a .767 OPS, which aint terrible. Jeter quietly having a very good year at .848. Matsui is up to .878. JD having a great year at .884. Looking very good. Can we keep it up?
[55] i hate you.
[55] my calculator has a Canada patent on it. it's also older than Angel Berroa...
[60] At least you got Helton!
: )
[62] wahoo! yay!
really is amazing how close Ichiro is with 4 fewer seasons.
in total, JD has 2,355 hits. he's approaching 1,500 runs, 200 homers and 1,000 rbi.
[63] I've disparaged him before, of course, as an "overrated very good" player. But regardless, he is an undeniable hit machine. Has anyone ever piled up hits like this before? Maybe Musial.
New Minn. Stadium:
http://tinyurl.com/lsoeuc
[64] amazingly, JD's only had 1 season w/ 200 hits - his last in KC. he's also only 5 triples away from 100. i don't think there are too many modern players with triple digit 3-baggers. he'll probably reach 500 doubles, too. depending on his next contract, he should also reach 1,000 walks.
he wants to gun for 3,000 hits and a historical run total. who knows what he'll do beyond this year, but he can end up with some seriously impressive career numbers...
If my math is correct, Musial played in 1822 games during his peak 1942 and 1954 (I left out his later seasons), and got 2398 hits, or 1.32 hits/game. In his peak nine consecutive year (1943-1952, missing one year in 1945), he got 1856 H in 1372 G = 1.35 H/G. By comparison, Ichiro in his first nine seasons has 1925 H in 1356 G = 1.42 H/G.
i'm a BIG Musial fan. i'm sure you've read this, but just in case...
http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2008/07/19/musial/
[66] Johnny is the active leader in triples, and you're right--there are not too many recent players at 100+. Molitor, Raines, Lofton had c. 115 3B.
[68] I had read that before but forgot about it. A pleasure to re-read.
[70] yeah man, even some of the comments are really great and enlightening. i can't for the life of me figure out why MLB doesn't have Musial more involved. i hope there's some massive plans to include him in some type of special ceremony next week at the A-S Game, but something tells me it's not gonna be anywhere close to what's deserved.
hey man, keep it hush-hush and don't say a word, but have you checked on Lincecum and the Giants-Friars game?!
Great day to be a Yankee fan!
Uh-oh, King Felix gave up a run..
[72] what's Lincecum doing..something "special"?
[71] One of the reasons I get so mad about PEDs (at the risk of opening that can of worms), the current offensive explosion (especially the emphasis on HRs), and the recent obliteration of records, is because it has further buried some historically great players, like Musial.
that San Diego lineup..jeezum crow..
[73] let's just say - there have been 2 walks in 6 innings, and leave it at that. 7 K's.
picked up an Elvin Jones-McCoy Tyner CD from 1982 today. listening now. it's pretty good. has Richard Davis on Bass and Pharaoh Sanders on Tenor. i also got a live Dolphy and Johnny Hartman cd on Blue Note. everything was cheap! : )
i just saw that about King Felix. i love that kid. at least he just got Andruw out. i'm glad he's been doing better! it's still kinda weird not having him play here in Atlanta...
Beer #2 !!!
[76] at least he just got Andruw out. i’m glad he’s been doing better! it’s still kinda weird not having him play here in Atlanta…
You're a kinder soul. I have an irrational dislike of Andruw Jones and so have cruelly relished his decline. He is having a nice bounce-back season so far, though--nice pick up by the Texas ball club.
[76] now THAT's an "all-star lineup" on that record!
Seeing McCoy Tyner with George Mraz and Al Foster at the Village Vanguard in 1997 (only time I've been there!) was one of the highlights of my life..sat less than 15ft from McCoy, what a vision on the piano!!
fingers crossed for little Timmy O'Lincecum, hope he doesn't fall down the well..
[74] Musial's #'s are sooo laughable. like Gehrig's. did Stan The Man lose any playing time to war or anything like that? i think he missed all of 1945 due to WWII. if he had that season, he'd be a lock for 2,000 runs, 2,000 rbi, 500 homers and 1,600 walks.
[79] Stats back then were insane..Gehrig had a higher lifetime BA than Wade Boggs, Rod Carew or Ichiro!!
[79] Yep. he lost a prime year to WWII, though he didn't suffer the Ted Williams double whammy of WWII and Korea!
[80] And Ruth's average was higher than Gehrig's, no?!?
Fewer walks and Ks and more hits in those days. Plus bigger outfields (or at least more extreme dimensions) meant lots more triples.
[77] i hear ya, man. it's not too terribly difficult to dislike andruw, for many reasons. but living here, he really was a mainstay. his power #'s were impressive and watching him man CF so regularly for so long, truly was an honor. i don't know what the defensive metrics say about him and i'm sure there could be some that aren't that kind (after all, Tex has a negative UZR/150 this year), but he was a pleasure to watch in the outfield.
i love round numbers and historical baseball milestones, regardless of PED crap, so i would've liked Andruw to have stayed on his course. i'm glad he's hitting some longballs in Tex-ass and seems to have matured a bit, as a person. i'd like him to give me a portion of the $18 MILLION dollars he's receiving for a few months of work this year. : )
1.164 career OPS for Ruth...astonishing!
I think only Ted Williams or Bonds comes close to Ruth for being the all-time top offensive machine?
[78] sooo cool you saw McCoy! i think last night, RI mentioned he saw him back at the Village Gate.
this IS a classic lineup, and that's why i bought it. well, that and it was only $5 bucks. (there's some unknown guitar guy on it, but i think i've only heard him on one track, thus far). i wouldn't say it's a "classic" record, though. it's not bad, but it's 1982 and not 1964...
lincecum can blame me for those 2 hits he just allowed. i'd feel worse if he had a perfecto going. oh well...
MP, I know you are very down on the roid-era, but even so..check out Bonds stats again on baseball reference..he just took over the game to the point where they stopped pitching to him..232 walks in 2004?!? the guy's eye and his swing were as close to perfect as anyone who ever played..
[84] Those three are in the pantheon, and maybe Hornsby and Cobb if you include dead ball era guys. The top all time OPS+ list is pretty interesting. Obviously OPS+ is not some sort of super metric, but it does underscore how great some of the greats were--and how good some new guys like Pujols have been:
1. Babe Ruth+ 207 L
2. Ted Williams+ 191 L
3. Barry Bonds 182 L
4. Lou Gehrig+ 179 L
5. Rogers Hornsby+ 175 R
6. Mickey Mantle+ 172 B
Albert Pujols 172 R
8. Dan Brouthers+ 170 L
Joe Jackson 170 L
10. Ty Cobb+ 167 L
11. Jimmie Foxx+ 163 R
12. Pete Browning 162 R
Mark McGwire 162 R
14. Dave Orr 161 R
15. Stan Musial+ 159 L
[87] No doubt. He was the best player in the game for just about his whole career, and then he, um, got better.
i hope Pete Browning and Dave Orr were from the 1800's, or something. is it alright that i've never heard of these guys?!
lincecum now has: walks, hits, runs, unearned runs, etc. still pitching a terrific game, at least...
[88] wow, some real old-timers on that list!
Pujols is just stupidly great..
[89] heh-heh..Bonds' .609 OBP in 2004 is hard to fathom..
not to open up a whole big can 'o worms, but i have a hard time believing Pujols is:
A) 29 yrs old
B) Clean
[87] More fun with the pantheon:
Career Runs Created:
1. Barry Bonds 2892 L
2. Babe Ruth+ 2719 L
3. Stan Musial+ 2562 L
4. Hank Aaron+ 2552 R
5. Ty Cobb+ 2522 L
6. Ted Williams+ 2382 L
7. Willie Mays+ 2368 R
8. Lou Gehrig+ 2233 L
9. Pete Rose 2219 B
10. Rickey Henderson 2164 R
Career adjusted batting runs:
1. Babe Ruth+ 1388 L
2. Barry Bonds 1302 L
3. Ted Williams+ 1138 L
4. Ty Cobb+ 1034 L
5. Lou Gehrig+ 983 L
6. Stan Musial+ 954 L
7. Hank Aaron+ 920 R
8. Rogers Hornsby+ 880 R
9. Mickey Mantle+ 862 B
10. Tris Speaker+ 846 L
Career adjusted batting wins:
1. Babe Ruth+ 130.20 L
2. Barry Bonds 122.30 L
3. Ted Williams+ 110.20 L
4. Ty Cobb+ 109.80 L
5. Stan Musial+ 93.80 L
6. Hank Aaron+ 92.40 R
7. Lou Gehrig+ 90.20 L
8. Tris Speaker+ 87.50 L
9. Rogers Hornsby+ 85.40 R
10. Mickey Mantle+ 85.30 B
Career offensive win %:
1. Babe Ruth+ .8580 L
2. Ted Williams+ .8570 L
3. Barry Bonds .8150 L
Rogers Hornsby+ .8150 R
Joe Jackson .8150 L
6. Ty Cobb+ .8110 L
7. Lou Gehrig+ .8030 L
Mickey Mantle+ .8030 B
9. Dan Brouthers+ .7910 L
10. Stan Musial+ .7810 L
Albert Pujols (29) .7810 R
from Pete Abe: G.O.A.T: Mariano Rivera’s last 12 appearances (starting June 7) have been insane. 12.2 innings, 3 hits, 1 run, 1 walk, 15 strikeouts. That’s an 0.71 ERA as opponents are hitting .071.
Say again..Mo really is the G.O.A.T.!!!
[93] great list! Yes, i think it goes Ruth, Bonds, Williams..but it's close..just offensively you may move Williams ahead of Bonds, but if you add in D and speed the it flips..
but how about our man Rickey in the top ten for Runs Created??!
[90] Yeah, they're 1800s guys. I had to look them up, too.
[92] But Tony LaRussa vouches for both.
[96] Hysterical..I even like LaRussa but..how much cred does he have after his inane comments about McGwire?
[95] Don't forget that Williams' counting stats were hurt by service in two wars.
Rickey might be one of the more underrated all time great players, in my opinion. I was bummed when Bonds broke Henderson's short lived walks record. But Rickey still has career Runs Scored.
[98] Those missed years for Wililams..forgot that.
Hey, I am not real up-to-date on the latest sabre-tools so..how do "runs scored" factor in when assessing a players value? I mean straight "Runs"..I know how both BA and RBI have been discredited but nothing about pure Runs..
Rickey is one of the 10 best players ever I think, unquestionably. Dominated in every area of the game.
[98] i was bummed about the walks record, too.
i am NOT bummed about this Dolphy record, however. i already have the 9cd box set, 3 blue note cd's and a few as a sideguy. but i'm glad i picked up this Live in Holland date. i have a cool cassette from sweden, but i played it sooo much the tape is shot. i don't think it's ever been released on cd. : /
[99] how do “runs scored” factor in when assessing a players value? I mean straight “Runs”..
What is the difference between "straight runs" and "runs scored"? Or do you mean the difference between "runs scored" and "runs created"?
Rickey....is the GREATEST!!! : )
i love that guy. cannot wait for his HoF speech!!! i hope they release it on dvd, with bonus features, like backstage interviews and footage from his time in the Independent Leagues.
man, oh man, i wish he hit THREE more fucking homeruns, so he could be in my favorite exclusive baseball club: 300-300
[102] He still might! Havn't you seen "Mr. 3000"??
[101] Sorry, I was unclear...I meant to simply ask, what does the stat-community think about the simple "runs scored" statistic..useless stat? revealing? inbetween?
According to River Ave Blues, Melancon called up, but no corresponding move yet. What say ye? Robertson or Albaladejo go down? Tomko DFA? Or, maybe go with 13 pitchers and DFA Ransom, and call up Peña after the ASG?
I bet Robertson.
[103] last movie i saw was the LotR trilogy!
listening to Dolphy play Monk, is just wonderful!
in a few seasons, i think we'll be adding the following names to the 300-300 club:
Alex Rodriguez
Carlos Beltran
Alfonso Soriano
Mike Cameron
we'll see...
[103] i would say that "runs scored" is THE most important. it's the whole name of the game! none better than Rickey! (just ask him!!!)
[103] My sense, if I remember articles by Neyer, is that Runs Scored is more valuable than, say, RBIs: you need to get on base and run around the bases, so it relies on OBP and Speed/BAserunning skills, though it is still dependent to some degree on the hitters behind you.
[104] Robertson can at least get a strikeout. he prolly shouldn't have been put in that bases loaded situation today. albie just got back and looked good today. i'm sure he has options, but let him stay. DFA Tomko, should be the way to go.
i'd like to switch Ransom/Pena, just cause... we'll see how Molina fares. we always have Brains in our back pocketses! : )
oh, i'm glad Melancon's up.
Ace is prolly going back to the 'pen after the break, right? so who gets the rest of Wang's starts this mumph? Mitre? will they give McAllister a shot? doubt it...
[105] Dolphy playing Monk..talk about two guys who walked their own path!
[106] that makes sense, thanks.
Soriano..he's fallen off to the extreme..love the guy since he homered off Schilling but man, that contract is bad...
oh good - Guittierez hit a 3-run bomb and King Felix won his 9th game. pitched 8 innings with an in-game WHIP of barely more than .50! struck out 7.
mp - Ichiro had 3 more hits and swiped his 18th bag. his OBP is .392. but with a .361 Avg, his Iso-D, is less than half of league average...
[108] Fangraphs.com had an article about Soriano, saying what we all basically knew, that he can't hit off-speed stuff. But apparently this tendency is becoming more pronounced and pitchers just aren't throwing him as many fastballs.
[109] Ichiro is certainly one of a kind. And he is having a great season, just to spite me! ; )
[109] King Felix..8 yrs, 200million when he's a free-agent..at age 25?!?!
[110] Is it a mental thing with him though? How can you not just lay-off the down&away slider...?
[106] VERY bad contract. Sweet Lou has been benching him lately. Sori's not happy and i don't think he's fully healthy. still, he should be able to reach 300-300. ditto for Beltran. Mike Cameron is treading upwards. he'll prolly get a 2-yr deal somewhere. if he does and continues the same homer rate, he'll make it. A-Rod is less than 20 SB's away. even with the bad hip, he swiped one today and he'll be a lock for the club...eventually. i pegged him for 400-400 EASY, but that was before the roids and bad hip...
i wish boBBy didn't have such a power outage. he was on the fast track to 300-300. unfortunately, i doubt he'll get there. Jetes/Damon might reach 250 homers, but won't make it all the way to 300...
i'll keep my eyes on Hanley Ramirez and maybe Grady Sizemore. too bad Carl Crawford's power potential never materialized...
[110] yeah, i think Neyer linked that.
[111] HA!!! ; )
[112] no $200 mil. for ANY pitcher!!! truth be told, i think if Felix had that, he'd get fat & lazy, then crumble under the NY pressure. i'd take him at a lesser contract, however...
[113] I once thought that Jeter had a shot, figuring he would play until he was 40 or so. But except for 1999, he has never put up big HR numbers, and I don;t think he'll stick around much past 3000 H. There's no way he makes 300 HR, as you say, unless he plays about 7 more seasons.
[115] i hope Jetes sticks around, just 'coz i want his Hits total to be outrageously high! even if he does, i still don't think he has a shot at 300 longballs. Damon will get some kind of contract for the next coupla years, but he most likely won't have our new short-short porch to pepper, so he has NO shot at a hundred more homers, either.
i wrote a few "articles" on the 300-300 a few years ago. i included a lot of the 250-250 type players in there. for some - Ryne Sandberg, Eric Davis, Ron Gant - i listed reasons why they didn't make it. there were obvious reasons why some fell off the cliff...cough-cough-sammy sosa-cough-214 steals early on-cough. others, i was surprised: Don Baylor, Kirk Gibson. at the time, i wasn't familiar with Vada Pinson. the ones who fell criminally short - the aforementioned Rickey Henderson and my man, Craig Biggio. HoF'er's Robin Yount and Joe Morgan, were also on their way...
holy crap - Fish were down 7-zip and now lead 14-7, putting a 10-spot in the 8th vs. the Snakes in the desert!
Holy Crap, I could have been watching that game on Rogers Sports West, but opted for...Star Trek re-runs.
No, I am sitting in my own living room, not my mother's basement.
AZ with the bases juiced--maybe they can make a game of this...
Fish will finish ahead of the Mets this year..
more summertime drums albums on the playlist these days: Ray Baretto "hard Hands"
The D-Backs announcers just cited Win Probability!!! You would never hear Sterling cite this stat, since it would seem to promote the notion that you *can* predict baseball.
[119] Or not...
Aceves can't pitch for four or five days. Might as well send him down.
[118] i learned how to play drums in my mom's basement! but before i had a drumkit, i placed a strikeout with big black duct tape on the wall, with an 'X' inside and my pop and i would play ball down there!
[120] i have Barretto on a bunch of Lou Donaldson BN cd's. do you have the Sabu "Palo Congo" BN cd or Solomon Ilori or the Art Blakey drum albums? they're all okay. i'll take The Real McCoy and Workout! : )
[118] You sure your living room isn't IN your Mom's basement?? you're mighty quick with the nerdy stats there!
See Rob Neyer's bit on Moneyball, Micheal Lewis and Art Howe?
fun bit on the Flyin' Hawaiian getting voted onto the A-S squad:
After Victorino delivered the game-winning hit in the ninth inning Wednesday night, Chan Ho Park walked out of the bullpen wearing a two-sided billboard that read: "Vote Victorino."
[124] Your collection is easily 25 times bigger than mine..a lot of my music knowledge came from friends collections and through..er.."certain websites"...
[125] he's got an excuse - he's in Canada and not from there! he's telling the truth!!!
my mom's basement is about a thousand miles away from me...like the rest of my family...
[127] well, i do get to write off EVERY music related item i purchase!!! : )
i also have what i call " the curse of the completest collector"...
[128] got ya beat there, try 8000 miles and 14 hours time change!
[129] I once met an Ellington collector..over 450+ and counting..just amazing..
AP:
The A's will retire Henderson's No. 24 jersey during a pregame ceremony Aug. 1, deemed "Rickey Henderson Day" by the club in tribute of the career leader in runs scored and stolen bases.
Henderson, 50, spent the majority of his 25 big league seasons -- and some of his best years -- with Oakland, which selected him the fourth round of the 1976 amateur draft.
Henderson will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y., on July 26. He will be the fifth Oakland player to have his number retired, joining pitchers Catfish Hunter (No. 27), Rollie Fingers (34) and Dennis Eckersley (43) and outfielder Reggie Jackson (9).
[123] Except then you lose him for 10 days, including a few games after the ASG.
[130] you win! EASILY!!!
speaking of #'s:
Reggie Jackson - 9 ...just doesn't sound right. : /
[131] that is amazing. i have 150+ Joe Jackson CD's! : )
[133] exactly. if he's not gonna start anymore games, just shut him down for a few days and send him back to the pen a week from today. i'm glad Melancon's coming back...
[133] Fake an injury if you need him.
[136] It really depends on who the Yankees will throw as the #5 starter. If it is Hughes or Aceves, then he should be demoted, stretched out at AAA ad return the next time the #5 is needed (June 20?). But in this case, I would want them to demote TWO pitchers--Robertson/Albie + Hughes/Aceves, and then call up two relievers to milk through the next few days.
If the #5 starter is coming from AAA (Mitre or Igawa or whatever), then they will just swap Melncon for Robertson/Albie.
[137] The recalled player has to replace the injured player, so that would mean faking an injury for a pitcher, whom you would then lose for 15 days. I guess Tomko could come down with a sudden case of tired arm...
[138] didn't they say definitively it won't be Hughes and kinda sorta allude to it NOT being Ace again? i could certainly be wrong on the latter. the former, too!
[139] Not so sudden in Tomko's case..
I once came down with a Tired Arm, my wife said "stop spending so much time on baseballbimbos.com"...ba-dum-dum-TSHHH!
[140] Probably. I'm just running through the possibilities. They way they are moving personnel and what they are saying both suggest that Ace and Hughes stay in the pen, and the #5 starter issue will be left until later.
[141] that "TSHHH!" sounded like a beautiful, dark K Constantinople! (zildjian cymbal)
i'm diggin' this Johnny Hartman Blue Note CD from Japan with all Japanese musicians. i normally don't dig jazz w/ vocals, but this is a nice record. the backup bands are fabulous. another 5 dollar disc...
[143] I don't dig vocals much either..never knew Hartman recorded in Japan..
3 hours till Guinness time!
"Fortunately, the Yankees had already scored five runs off Nelson Liriano"...
Cliff, can't believe no one caught it, but it's Francisco, my man...
[144] i hear ya, man. me neither!
i just drowned my 3rd sierra!
[145] that's okay. ridance, is spelled with just one "R"! tis all good. WAIT...
oh man, thanks for pointing that out - i just realized, i didn't read the recap. went straight to the comments! i'm psyched i get to read my favorite baseball writer! : )
shit. one of my posts got lost in Word Press Hell. it was just saying that the 4-letter network actually has us listed above the Shit Sox in the standings! i don't believe it! in truth, they should be listed before us, considering they've beaten our brains in this season. but our Run Diff is only 1 less than theirs and we've scored more runs than any team in baseball. me likey!
Melancon is on the way!
per petey:
No word as of yet who will be optioned out. I would guess either Jonathan Albaladejo or Dave Robertson.
[146] Sox now listed on top again, of course..it sickens me how upset I get about such trivial things, but still...
Melancon stays the rest of the year??
[148] jesus christ. are those assholes reading the banter and fucking with us?! i know, man - it upsets me too. senseless, but it does...
ooh, i don't think Melancon stays the whole year. i think there's gonna be a Scranton Shuttle for a few of them. we'll see...
how much longer til Guinness?!
[149] T-minus 2hrs, 15mins..
Seriously, NESNESPN is a joke..even Rob Neyer is irritating me recently..
I think the Sox offense isn ot close to ours, but in the playoffs Beckett twice really scares the bejeezus out of me..
[150] i know, re: neyer. i thought he was just a royals guy, but lately he's been dissing the yankees and championing for the sux. frack!
there's just a 2 game swing between the 2 clubs, as far as home-road record is concerned.
man, fuckett is due for a fall in the playoffs.
2 hrs, 10 minutes...
If David Price starts to find the plate then you know the Rays are going hang in there..You rather face them or the Sox in the playoffs? Rays are doubly scary, imgine how many stolen bases they would have in a long series?? Longoria and Pena abotu = to Tex and A-Rod...
[152] my stomach can't handle any of it. the whole thing causes me agita. october just destroys me. i can barely even play gigs when we we're playing playoff games. i'm a total wreck. right now, i just hope to get there!
not 'coz i wanna feel like death...but, 'coz i wanna - WIN!!!
[152] I know..and I watch these games in the morning! Imagine what the rest of the day was like in the 2004 series??
man, check out the review of "Soul Power" at the NY Times website, can't wait to see it!!
please don't bring up 2004. i'm not CLOSE to being over 2001!: (
This is a totally self-serving post, but I trust you guys to steer me right. I'm planning a trip to NYC and I have one day, and one day only, to visit the new Stadium with a couple of friends. What is the best way to get good seats at the new Bombatorium. Should I go through Ticketmaster (online), try a reseller or take a stab at scalping.
[156] Hmmm...methinks I know your secret identity Boatzilla.. :)
No idea about tix am afraid, but have seen others get the scoop here. Maybe wait till it's AM over there for some replies?
[156] sorry i can't help you, but... just a head's up...
this thread may not get too much traffic tomorrow, so you might wanna re-post this on Diane's News Of The Day, or something. you'll get some *excellent* guidance, no doubt!
travel safely and have fun at the Stadium! : )
[157] great minds drink alike! i'm done with my beer; i pass the baton to YOU!!!
[157] who is it?
[159] Not long now...me and the missus out for our anniversary!
Looking forward to a sweep of the Angels, but no Vlad sucks..love watching him hit.
[161] awesome, man! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!!
i dig Vlad, too. read some weird thing - he has like 6 kids...with 6 different moms. yet, he lives in Cali with his own mother. really strange!
have fun, bro!
Cheers
[162] Thanks a lot man!
Oh no..that really ruins my Vlad love..I have no patience for guys who do that, even if he has millions to support them..from all accounts though Vlad is a pretty simple guy, "see ball - hit ball", etc..
Angels don't scare me at all, let's dice up that rally monkey and sweep them!
yeah man, we really have NO idea what these guys do behind closed doors. or in the offseason. or anywhere outside the playing field and dugout, really...
Vlad was on the fast track to the HOF. i wonder how that'll shake out with all his injuries. his contact is up, i believe. who knows how much more he has in the tank. by all accounts, he's been clean...
so, who is Boatzilla?
Thanks for the heads up on traffic, etc. thelarmis. I have been lurking for a couple of years and used to be known as TokyoTom, but my registration expired or something. So I just re-registered. And I have dined with the esteemed Mr. OK Jazz TOKYO. I'm sorry, thelarmis, but forgot how to refer to another quote (yours) as well. .
Happy Anniversary James!
[166] Thanks, man! See you soon..
[164] Vlad's career stats are pretty amazing. .322 career BA, .958 OPS..he has a shot, but needs to rebound for a fewmore years..
[165] very cool! probably best to leave "real" names out of the posts, even if you know that person! i know a few of the folks here personally, but we *always* refer to each other by our "screen names". i think most prefer it that way, i know i do!
no worries, this thread is pretty much done and there'll be new ones tomorrow morning.
welcome back, Boatzilla - hope you'll stick around this time!
[168] exactly.
i'm out, man. congrats and have a wonderful time with your lady! : )
see you here this weekend...
Hey monkeypants - if you happen to catch this here let me know in whatever the morning's thread is - you asked, at some point last night, why someone hadn't done an estimation of pitch counts for like the 50s/60s/70s etc. I'm sure someone has, and a google search confirms I'm right - it was Tom Tango (just follow the links in the linked article).
Hat tip to Steve at WW:
Baseball America: Top 25 Prospects
1. Jason Heyward, of, Braves
2. Mike Stanton, of, Marlins
3. Jesus Montero, c, Yankees
4. Justin Smoak, 1b, Rangers
5. Madison Bumgarner, lhp, Giants
6. Buster Posey, c, Giants
7. Carlos Santana, c, Indians
8. Chris Tillman, rhp, Orioles
9. Brian Matusz, lhp, Orioles
10. Logan Morrison, 1b, Marlins
"If Montero could defend behind the plate—he threw out just eight of 64 basestealers in the high Class A Florida State (12.5 percent)—he could rank first. He has impressive barrel awareness and offensive upside for his age and experience level."
(Bold mine)
Any name there look familiar?
this thread is longer than some game threads. just saying.
[172] wow, are they recycling names in the minors now too?
[156] Try stubhub, then ticketmaster. No need to go to a scalper, there are more than enough alternatives. Not only that with scalpers you never know what you're going to get. It would suck to travel all that way and get shut out of a game because of a fake ticket, or for whatever other reason.
[171] Shaun P.
Thanks for the link. I am somewhat concerned that the formula is somewhat "circular", since it assumes the same constant for pitches per (estimated) plate appearance ( = 3.3 * PA). I suspect that with the increased emphasis on pitch counts, patience and walks, batters are going on average deeper into counts. But that's just a guess.
Still, I may play around with this formula for the old days, at least to calculate the total (estimated) number of pitches thrown per game. Then I can compare that with more recent historical evidence (baseball-reference has the total pitch counts for the league going back into the 1980s, I think).
My operating hypothesis is that there are more pitches thrown per game today than in the old days, but not enough to account for the many fewer innings thrown by starting pitchers. In other words, starting pitchers simply throw fewer pitches (which, I imagine, most of us suspected).
The Homer Dome is still a better place than the Kingdome.
[1]
MLB should schedule more of the early season games in warm weather ballparks - Florida, Texas, SoCal, etc. Thats the answer to the new stadium for the Twins.
[176]
Agreed.
Too bad there is an entire generation of kids in MN who don't even know that baseball was ever played outside in the Twin Cities. I remember going to the old Metropolitan Stadium as a young softball player. Now its a mall - thats even more wrong than the Dome.