This was supposed to be the year that the rebuilding Orioles began their long climb back up the AL East standings. They weren’t supposed to win, but they were definitely supposed to improve thanks to the young bats in the heart of their lineup and the first of a strong supply of pitching prospects breaking into their rotation. Mix in some solid veteran stop-gaps such as Miguel Tejada and Kevin Millwood and the Orioles were supposed to be, well, not terrible. That they started the season by going 1-11 and 2-16 was supposed to be a fluke, but in their last 15 games coming into this week’s three-game set in the Bronx the O’s have gone just 3-12. It’s just not happening. The Orioles not only aren’t better than last year’s last-place team, they have the worst record in baseball and a winning percentage below .300.
What happened? Well, to begin with, no one is hitting. Adam Jones, an All-Star in 2009, is hitting .251/.274/.382. Matt Wieters, the organization’s can’t-miss catching prospect is hitting .250/.323/.351 as a sophomore. Nolan Reimold a solid-hitting rookie left-fielder last year, hit just .205/.302/.337 and lost both his job and his roster spot to Corey Patterson of all people. Nick Markakis, the one established star in the Orioles’ youth movement, is hitting .307 with a solid .405 on-base percentage, but is slugging a mere .434 with just three home runs after slugging .476 and averaging more than 20 homers a year over the last three seasons. Tejada is slugging just .365.
Garrett Atkins, signed to be a stop-gap at first base, has been a total bust, hitting .214/.261/.294. Atkins first lost his starts against right-handed pitchers to rookie Rhyne Hughes, but once Hughes stopped hitting, the Orioles were forced to move Ty Wigginton to first base. Wigginton has been the lone bright spot in the Baltimore lineup, putting up MVP-quality numbers, but he only got to play because Brian Roberts has been out all season with a back injury and isn’t close to returning. So with Wigginton at first, the Orioles have turned to Julio Lugo at the keystone. Lugo is hitting .234 in 81 plate appearances with three walks and no extra-base hits.
That just leaves shortstop Cesar Izturis, who wasn’t supposed to hit and isn’t (.227/.295/.250) and Luke Scott, who is doing his modest best as the DH and occasional fill in at first base and in left field. The result isn’t the worst offense in baseball (thanks Pirates and Astros!), but it’s darn close. The Orioles are scoring just 3.43 runs per game. Apparently they heard about Ubaldo Jimenez and thought it was 1968.
As for the rotation, heralded rookie lefty Brian Matusz, who faces Javy Vazquez tonight, got off to a solid start, but perhaps frustrated by a lack of run support (he lost consecutive starts to the Yankees despite turning in quality starts both times because the O’s scored a total of one run in those two games), he’s been struggling of late, turning in disaster starts in three of his last four outings. The young pitcher who was supposed to join him in the rotation this year, 22-year-old righty Chris Tillman, only just got there, making his first major league start of the year on Saturday.
Millwood, who faces CC Sabathia on Thursday, has pitched well, but is 0-5 on the season thanks to a mere 2.75 runs of support on average. In Millwood’s 11 starts, the O’s have scored more than three runs just thrice. The O’s have won four of Millwoods starts, with the veteran righty taking a no-decision all four times, by a combined margin of five runs. One of those came against the Yankees. It was the only time in six games the O’s have beaten the Yankees this season and was a game I, among others, blamed on the Yankees having something of a hangover from a busy off-day in Washington, DC the day before.
Phil Hughes faces Brad Bergesen in the middle game of the series. Bergesen has a 5.96 ERA and has walked three more men than he has struck out, a stat that has more to do with Bergesen’s inability to strike anyone out (just 2.4 K/9) than anything else.
So, yeah, the Orioles are a terrible team right now. They still have the potential to suddenly click and have a solid second-half, but even with a pair of fair pitching matchups (the talented lefty Matusz against the struggling Vazquez tonight and the solid vet Millwood against a struggling Sabathia on Thursday), the Yankees should be embarrassed by anything less than a sweep this week.
Baltimore Orioles
2010 Record: 15-36 (.294)
2010 Pythagorean Record: 17-34 (.333)
Manager: Dave Trembley
General Manager: Andy MacPhail
Home Ballpark: Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Bill James Park Indexes (2007-2009):
LH Avg-104, LH HR-115
RH Avg-107, RH HR-129
Who’s Replaced Whom:
- Corey Patterson (minors) has replaced Nolan Reimold (minors)
- Scott Moore (minors) has replaced Rhyne Hughes (minors)
- Chris Tillman (minors) has replaced David Hernandez in the rotation and Cla Meredith (minors) on the roster
- Frank Mata (minors) has replaced Alfredo Simon (DL)
25-man roster:
1B – Ty Wigginton (R)
2B – Julio Lugo (R)
SS – Cesar Izturis (S)
3B – Miguel Tejada (R)
C – Matt Wieters (S)
RF – Nick Markakis (L)
CF – Adam Jones (R)
LF – Corey Patterson (L)
DH – Luke Scott (L)
Bench:
R – Garrett Atkins (1B/3B)
R – Lou Montañez (OF)
L – Scott Moore (IF)
R- Craig Tatum (C)
Rotation:
R – Kevin Millwood
R – Chris Tillman
R – Jeremy Guthrie
L – Brian Matusz
R – Brad Bergesen
Bullpen:
L – Will Ohman
R – Matt Albers
L – Mark Hendrickson
L – Alberto Castillo
R – Jason Berken
R – David Hernandez
R – Frank Mata
15-day DL:
RHP – Koji Uehara (right elbow strain)
RHP – Alfredo Simon (strained left hamstring)
RHP – Jim Johnson (slight tear in right elbow)
60-day DL:
2B – Brian Roberts (herniated disc)
OF – Felix Pie (surgery to repair ruptured latissimus dorsai)
LHP – Mike Gonzalez (strained left shoulder)
Typical Lineup:
L – Corey Patterson (LF)
R – Julio Lugo (2B)
L – Nick Markakis (RF)
R – Ty Wigginton (2B)
R – Miguel Tejada (3B)
L – Luke Scott (DH)
R – Adam Jones (CF)
S – Matt Wieters (C)
S – Cesar Izturis (SS)
If the game gets rained out will they skip Vazquez?
Please?
I dunno, Javy is an NL pitcher at heart, and the O's have an NL offense. Seems perfect.
Cliff, do you think the Yankees should win 80% of their games against a team like the Orioles? Because you have to have an 80-20 advantage to get even odds of a 3-game sweep. I admit I'll be disappointed with less, but that might be unrealistic...
[1] Rained like a MF here in North Jersey for all of maybe 30 min. Now it's sunny and blue skies. They're playing this one.
[2] 80% is one loss per time through the rotation, so yeah, I'd say they should do that 4-1 every time through the rotation against a team playing as poorly as the O's are now.
Derek Jeter SS
Nick Swisher RF
Mark Teixeira 1B
Alex Rodriguez 3B
Robinson Cano 2B
Marcus Thames DH
Francisco Cervelli C
Curtis Granderson CF
Kevin Russo LF
[2] He's turned in mediocre or worse games against Oakland and Chicago, who aren't exactly lighting the scoreboard up.
Just to give us something to talk about while we wait for what will likely be a rain-delayed start tonite, here's Kevin Goldstein over at BP talking about a couple of lesser known Yankees prospects:
I'm watching MLB Network right now. I love how every year the Blue Jays get off to a nice start, the talking heads declare them "for real," and then never mention it again when they're a non factor in early August.
[7] Sure, laugh, but if they're this good now, just imagine what their offense is going to be like when Lyle Overbay snaps out of his slump!
[8] Overbay since May 14
.292 /.343 /.569 5 HR
[10] Oh, right. No wonder they're doing so well.
Yet for the season his OBP is .289. That was a hell of a slump.
If William is around, I'd like to ask him if he ever does any math for himself.
I don't post during games, and so I won't to post until after the game, and I will probably be too depressed to do so if we lose.
I hope we win, in which case, I will show that his conjectures from today's earlier thread are logically shaky and mathematically utterly incorrect.
I think I'm starting to recall my suspicions from last year that he never really runs any of these numbers for himself and doesn't quite understand how some of the math works.
[12] Dude! You achieved the unusual (albeit not truly rare) five-two-letter-words-in-a-row!
"...to do so if we..."
Congrats. You win a choice of literary works: you may have either All's Well That Ends Well, or The Old Man and the Sea.
This rainy day time-killer brought to you by RIYank.
Cliff, any chance of you Live Blogging on Thursday? Many of us won't be able to catch a midday game. Thanks for your consideration.
Weren't the O's just here a couple of weeks ago?
It just starting pouring here in NH, but only lasted 5 minutes. Nonetheless, we could be looking at a shortened game here, so lets get off to an early lead.
Sure is nice to watch a Yankees game and see the area behind home plate 40% filled night after night ... nice job with the pricing there boys!
Looks like a LOT of empty seats at the stadium tonight.
[17]
They ARE still leading the majors in attendance ...
[18]
Tuesday night, after a holiday ... with thunderstorms in the area ... against the Os ...
I think we can cut them some slack
MK judging ARod by RBI? Smart.
Somebody hit the goddam ball.
[22] Happy now?
=)
Thank you, Captain.
Now somebody else hit the goddam ball.
[23] It's a start!
It ain't a Swisher at bat if it doesn't get to 3-2 ...
Uh oh .... Teix out of game ...
[26] ®
[27] Presumably the result of his HBP. Let's hope it works out like Jeter's...
What have you done with Javy Vazquez???
[28] how you get the trademark? ascii?
[30]
he's been served Oriole Flambe ...
RIPPER!
[31] It's an "entity".
®
5th inning and only 7 posts per inning people! WTF?
[35]
Its the Orioles :-)
[36] touché
The GrandyMan Can!
Hooray for Curtis!
(Evening, Team!)
I miss seeing the court house back there. :(
[39] Horrible.
They should have run a play instead.
oh damn. census guy knocks and Grandy hits a homerun!
[41] Yep. That could have been a two run dinger.
i just realized Gardner isn't playing. just a rest?
[44] or maybe William talked some sense into Girardi?
[41] Hahah. "Run a play."
[45] sense?
I guess it's just a day off, Seamus, on a lefty pitcher day.
[47] or something.
[48] yeah, i didn't see anything on lohud so I guess that's it.
hi people.
i like this javy!
Hey, thelarmis.
Yeah, me too, though I'm worried about what happened to the old one. He wasn't a good pitcher, but, hell, team is team.
[50][51] Ssssssh. Dammit.
Oh, there he is!
[52] wait, no talking?
i don't like that javy.
oh crap. (learn patience young banter poster)
Corey Patterson? Are you freakin' kidding me?
[54] The first rule of "Good" Javy is no talking about "Good" Javy ...
that's, i think, 3 xbh's for curtis off lefties since he's back.
what happened to our double digits offense? i guess we're waiting for the 7th... ; )
[59] score truck took tex to get x-rays. it'll be back.
from lohud:
Update, 8:30: OK, here’s the update on Teixeira. He suffered a bruised left foot when he fouled a ball off during his second at-bat, in the third. X-rays were negative, and he’s day to day.
Maddon is totally frackin' up tampa's game tonight by allowing toronto to score more runs.
[58] Damn, that's right. It summons Bad Javy.
Let's hope it's just a temporary invocation.
[62] 2 more long balls for the blow jays. impressive power outing in canada.
[62] Tito also stinks tonight.
[65] Although Lackey just got out of a bases loaded nobody out jam! Freakin' As.
tims - hit it to the river...avenue!
[65] Tito stinks when Schilling isn't juicing.
[67] maybe he tried too hard
tims...drowns in the river. : /
i have the utmost confidence in brainiac.
Baseball Tonight had a little piece on home run trots. Some guy on the A's (wasn't really paying attention) has the fastest ones, sometimes rounding all the sacks in under 16 seconds. Slowest, by a lot, is Big Papi, who took 31 seconds on his last one.
Is that Playing the Game the Right Way®?
back to back pop ups really sucks. frack it. i'm going to go root for the pirates! ok not really.
speaking of pirates. Strassburg gets MLB debut next Tues against the Pirates.
wow, i'm pretty bad luck on this thread tonight. i shoulda stayed away and just enjoyed my dinner. rack of lamb w/ a side of broccolini. sea bass soup and a glass of red wine to wash it down.
gi joe shoulda put on the suicide squeeze.
[75] phew! i thought you were having sea mus soup for a sec!
[75] I thought you didn't eat.
Well, that didn't go well...
[75] I have never had red wine with sea bass. Really!
[76] I think he tried a hit and run. That's the play for June.
this inning does not have a good feel to it.
[81] glad he got it outta the way early!
[77] get glasses, alice! ; )
[80] hey, me neither! whaddya know...
[83] that's the sea bass soup.
ball tumor has a 54% win ex
[85] ack that should ahve been [82]
[85] my bass player is actually at the braves game. knows next to nothing about the sport. was pissed about the hour+ rain delay and just texted me asking what the hell obp, slg & sb meant. oy vey.
[86] What? No, must be higher. You know they scored again, right?
[88] so are you explaining via text?
[88] Is he a C bass?
I really hope Trembley was in the clubhouse watching YES and reading the Home Depot scouting report.
[88] maybe we can split the responsibilities. i'll text him explaining vorp. you text him explaining obp. and riyank explains whatever it is that riyank explains.
Right now I have the Win Exp of the Orioles at 83%. Three run lead, runners in the corners with two out in the top of the fifth...
Wigginton never rounder third.
... and now it (O's Win Exp) is 86%.
[89] they scored again? FUCK! gamecast must be waaaay behind.
[90] i did quick. i've already gone over my text limit and i was eating. you know, lamb and green stuff....
[91] yes. 5-string, fretless.
it still says 1-1...
i'm seeing an ibb to wheaties to bring up adam jones. that can't be good.
what's happened?
Oh, good! An intentional walk. That's great. I'm glad Girardi isn't just sitting around doing nothing. Much better to do something stupid and destructive.
[97] who scored where? still 1-1 here.
[94] oh.
crap.
[97] Ah, a C bass! Excellent. I don't suppose he's Chilean, that would be too much to ask.
i think RI is fucking with me. : /
[102] yes, he's from Chile. how'd you know?!
Geez thelarmis, I'm an idiot. I thought we were talking about the Sox/A's game, even though I kept saying "Orioles". (I am actually watching the Sox game and only following the Yanks on Gameday.)
[104] No way.
So you just ate him in soup???
I have no idea whats going on at the Banter right now
GENIUS!
My humblest apologies to Joe Girardi. The IBB works out nicely.
(Still freaking stupid.)
[107] provocative banter of the highest order.
[109] i actually like that move. So long as A-rod isn't on deck (that is a DUMB move). Well I like that too but only because he's on my team.
[110] We're in the zone, for sure.
oh, beautiful Javy!
RI - why, i oughtta...
[102] What the fuck are you talking about? The Chilean Sea Bass is not the issue here, Dude. I'm talking about drawing a line in the sand, Dude. Across this line, you DO NOT... Also, Dude, Chilean Sea Bass is not the preferred nomenclature. Patagonian Toothfish, please ...
[111] Not sure I like the move with a fast batter
From RI Yank: Geez thelarmis, I’m an idiot.
June, 1st, two-thousand ten. (travelin' on the one after) 9:09
forever embedded in the banter memory!
[114] You're out of your element, Cult!
[115] fair enough.
[114] True, you're entirely right. Still, thelarmis bass player is a C bass player, and he's Chilean. I mean, what are you gonna do?
[105] you ruined my rack of lamb.
please don't ruin my ice cream. fancy sherbet.
Oh good. Farnsworth is up.
Well, looks like we get to take a ride on the whirlwind that is Joba tonite ...
[117] OK JAZZ TOKYO HAS LANDED! And Tito blew it and let another run in.
Another two hits for Jeter
yeah jetes!
I hate the IBB, almost always. The main reason is that it just puts so much pressure on the pitcher. The second reason is that batters hit better with the bases loaded. (That may not be independent of the first reason.) The third reason is that if you then walk the next guy, it's on the scoreboard. And the fifth reason is that you can make a big inning really big.
[119] actually, i have no idea what a "C" bass is and he's actually a stoner white guy from rural virginia. i was just playing along. payback's a bitch!
Hello Baseball Fans and provocateurs (sp?)!
Javy dominating Baltos? Matuse Rose dominating Yanks?
Banterers getting restless?
Jeter gets a hit to the oposite field, a Kayboshian call from MK.
[116] I hope you bookmarked it, o bandmate of a Patagonian toothfish.
the kryptonite in the strike zone trick works every time!
jamie moyer actually called giving up a homerun a "rally killer" today. i know where he was coming from, but i think i lost some respect.
speakers of homers - corey hart went yard again and rolen has another multi-homer game.
jeter at .307. swish, on base again!
Wait, that wasn't a Swisher at bat, was it, Cult?
[127] Too late. You are now branded forever as the drummer for a Patagonian toothfish.
[124] And a walk
Three-run homer for Beltre, and just like that Tito gets them back in the game. Genius!
[131] wait, the sunglasses at night dude plays baseball?
[129] i did not, but i think i'm gonna start calling my low end rhythm section partner "a patagonian toothfish"! or, at least, "toothfish" for short.
[134] i don't know how he does it.
[131] Jamie Moyer, meet Tim McCarver. Tim, Jamie.
[132] i can live with that.
[135] yes, he most certainly does. even once a member of the 20-20 club!
[134] ah, fuck.
[139] shit he's not even a rookie!
pinch hit gardner for arod?
hernandez has been better in the bullpen. still, a-rod needs to abuse him and score these runners.
Hey, isn't Chilean Sea Bass an endangered species?
I'll take it
7th inning = SCORE TRUCK INNING!
[123] Hmm...jazz eagle has landed but my tinyurl links are now "awating moderation"...so no my Banter #s are going to be 2 ahead? Ah well..
Go Go A-Rod!
arod is always good for an error.
[141] Shoulda. Brett would be on second on that error!
[140] oh, you were serious? yeah man, corey hart. right fielder for the brew crew. been around over 5 years. back-to-back 20/20 seasons. slumped last year. has 14 longballs already this season. wears #1. long and lanky guy. ugly tattoos on his arms. first name is Jon, but goes by Corey. he must really love that song...
Score Truck...getting a free ride.
THANK YOU Miggy Tejada!!!
[147] very nice, man!
[149] i think because it is national league maybe? i don't get how i missed him. i've even been to a brewers game.
so, good javy gets replaced with good joba or bad joba?
Come on Farmaduke
seatbelts, people.
javy threw a very very nice game.
philthies gettin' shutout...again.
[155] Damn, that's good.
Did you come up with that just now?
are they hitting these balls hard to center?
Joba looks a little pasty. He must have had a little too much fun at the barbeque.
Well, Good Joba is fun to watch at least ...
[158] I never claimed to be witty
[159] Not particularly
[163] ok thanks.
joba joba joba!
[162] No, I mean, I liked it. (I realized when I saw the comment that it must look sarcastic.)
And what's with Tino Martinez and David Robertson seeing Taylor Swift backstage (a promo on Yes for those not watching)? That seems a little random.
RI - my bass player calls me his "Hebro"! i think it's hilarious.
our guitar player had a baby girl today. well, his wife did. their first.
[154] I thought there would be some kind of Manichean principle at work: the great balance would cause Good Javy to be followed by Bad Joba. I didn't want to say anything. Fortunately, my theology is not very good.
[167] i'd love to see Taylor Swift anywhere, anytime. not random at all. completely understood diversion! ; )
[169] yes, it is good you ahve no theological grounding in this case.
[168] That must sound cool with a Patagonian accent. And congrats to your guitar player! And his wife!
[171] RIYank: theology :: Joe Girardi: bullpen management. (Though he's done a better job than I have this evening.)
[166] Like I said, I think we've done a great job in protecting him into Fat Farnsworth, so I figured I'd just give him Farnsy's old Banter name
here's where i really miss being able to see Yankees games every day. i'd truly LOVE to be able to see Mo mow down the Hydrox here in the 9th...
[170] All due respect to Taylor, she's cute, writes her own songs, and seems to be a genuine artist, and not a Nashville production (her voice needs some work). Let's see if she progresses with age and experience.
But when did Tino and David Robertson become buddies (lol)?
[174] Oh, I forgot that was Farnsworth's name.
But the "farm" part is better for Joba because, you know, we "farmed" him.
[176] He didn't say he'd like to hear her anytime.
[174] Other than the fact the Yankees haven't protected Joba into anything ... Yawn.
Please stop discussing country music on the Banter while St. Mariano is pitching..it's disrespectful..
That was stupid
Now...that was FUNNY! Wiggington refusing to be tagged.
[176] i've never heard her music.
[178] i'd like to hear her moan & scream.
[180] my jazz trio is backing up a pop-country band for a weekend full of gigs this fri/sat. i'm VERY respectful of it! so is my wallet : )
[179] We've talked about this before. I still say he was doing fine for a 23 year old in his first season as a starter before we started with the SECRET STARTS and the three inning circus starts. Since then he's been a mediocre right handed middle reliever.
thelarmis, i got some really cool jazz news to tell you! but busy here..if you're up in the Sinatra hours later maybe we can chat.
[186] nice, can't wait to hear it! i haven't been on a big jazz kick lately, but i hope to add a coupla nice BN cd's in the next week, or so. got a coupla great latin-jazz discs though.
i might not be around for full attention, but i'll certainly stop by in the wee small hours...
[183] That would serve her well for her artistic developement.
Sox have the sacks loaded with nobody out in the sixth.
[185] except he wasn't. He started struggling before the Yankees started resting him and trying different things to keep his pitch count down but keep him in his role.
uh-oh in beantown. : /
Thanks be to Mo.
Mo, praise.
thanks, miggy!
there we go! A nice win.
[191] My Little GIDP!
[188] and it would serve me well for the rest of my days!!! ; )
going to the 9th in toronto.
I wish Kim Jones would ask me about my groin.
(Post game interview with Grandy)
i like how the last # of our 3 pitchers ERA's today end in a 6.
Satan's Staff !!!
[195] But Professional Hitter™ doubles in a run for the lead. Dang.
[198] i just spit out my ice cream. that's so awesome!
[173] RIYanks theology meet [199] thelarmis theology.
[199] This is why I'm not good at theology. I never would have noticed that. And I have never even tasted Satan's staff!
[203] i am evil.
[190] In the three starts before they started "helping" him, he had a 6.75 ERA.
In the eight starts prior to that, he had a 3.23 ERA, was averaging just under 6 innings a start (not great, but not horrendous) had a 2/1 K/BB ratio and a .266 /.333 /.429 line against him. I don't see how this is any different than the usual ebb and flow of any starter's year
It was his first year as a starter. I don't think those numbers are anywhere close to the dime a dozen player he has become as a reliever since then.
[203] i am glad you've never tasted satan's staff.
i'd like to taste taylor swift...
Kevin Gregg walked Carl Crawford with a two run lead and nobody on in the ninth.
Thank god for Mo.
[204]Sometimes you gotta taste Satan's staff at the crossroads to become all world.
Crawford steals second and third.
Gregg walks Longoria. Unbelievable.
[203] you can call me Jucifer! ; )
ellis up w/ bases loaded at fens. 2 outs though.
pena will gidp
[205] his starts were short because even when he was effective he struggled to get outs and threw a lot of pitches. He destroyed his previous pitches in a season record early and immediately started to suffer. All because he basically was stinking the joint up. Even when he kept the other teams runs down he was throwing too many pitches. It wasn't a normal ebb and flow of a pitcher. It was tired arm from being a pretty poor starting pitcher, nibbling and throwing too many pitches.
[211] I believe the bases were empty, thelarmis...
A's get an F.
didn't they know it was the 7th?! : /
melky up w/ bases loaded.
maddon makes a play and gets ejected.
[213] ah, crap. perhaps the scoreboard was screwed up.
melk got a ribbie about 7 miles from me...
[215] wha'd he do?! argue pena's K?
[216] is melky doing any better? seems like he was doing poorly.
[217] not sure but i'd assume so.
wait, now it immediately says beltre is up w/ 2 outs and the bases loaded. i think the scoreboard is fucked up...
[215] Wow, did he ever.
And he ingeniously gave up the DH. I didn't see when that happened. So, PH for Balfour...
Jaso goes to full count...
[218] a little better. but it's all relative. he was brutal. had assists from both right & left. he's got a higher avg than Tex! ; )
Jaso fouls it off...
Another payoff pitch...
[212] His starts were short because they were in a fit of Mark Prior hysteria and limiting him to three innings. He was going three innings whether he did it in 9 pitches or 100. they were going to slowly build him back up or some such nonsense and by the time they got there he was so awful it wasn't worth it.
[185] Which, of course, isn't to the point. Since he walked off that mound in Texas, he's just been LESS than he was before: less velocity, less break on the slider, less command, less control, less consistent.
Hmmm, let's go to the videotape, as they used to say:
Joba as a starter --
2008: WHIP 1.301 K/9 10.2 K/BB 2.96
2009: WHIP 1.554 K/9 7.6 K/BB 1.74
If I wasn't feeling lazy, I'd go over and pull the Pitch f/x numbers and chart the velocity drop, but I suppose I can just point you in that general direction ...
Gregg walks him. Bases loaded. He walked three guys. Unbelievable.
Thank god for Mo.
Zobrist comes to bat, tying run on second, go-ahead run on first.
Ball one.
Ball two...
fuck. shit sox scored again.
why am i not surprised ... i hate the fens.
Cutter catches the outside corner, 2-1...
Slider away, 3-1!
Gregg walks in a run. Four walks this inning. The fucking closer.
[225] warner wolf!
[224] your confusing what he was doing before and after they started mixing it up. HIs pitch counts were through the roof early and often that year and it got really bad in June (with one exception). They didn't do the 3 inning starts until late July or early August.
[225] which may explain why he stunk as a starter in 2009. But none of it had to do with 3 inning starts. His troubles started before that.
oh well, toronto blew it. i'm gonna roll. later banterites!
Sean Rodriguez picks up 3 RBI with a double!
The Rays take the lead, 7-5.
Wild pitch, Rodriguez goes to third...
[230] and there's the hammer. don't they have a (teh) 8th inning guy??? : o
Navarro walks.
Five walks and a double off Kevin Gregg in the ninth inning. Holy shit.
Gregg is ejected for arguing! Too bad he wasn't ejected for arguing the Crawford walk. Here's Rommie Lewis to attempt to contain the damage.
[233] Well, except I'm not saying he *stunk* as a starter in 2009, because he didn't.
He's just not the same pitcher he was before he walked off the mound in Texas in 2008 and to expect the same level of performance from him is silly.
Can he still be a very good / great pitcher?
I think so, but he's going to have to learn to be a *different* pitcher than he was when he came up.
I don't really think the reason that hasn't happened yet is what the Yankees did with him in 2009 ...
[237] why the fuck did Cito leave him in so long???
never trust guys with 2 first names to close out games!
NOW it says it was the 9th inning in canada. man, the scoreboard's all kindsa fucked up tonite...
[225] As someone over on BBTF posted in a Joba thread (after he blew the game against the Twins):
[240] Gameday shows seven balls pitched to Brignac and two strikes, and declares that he struck out.
Maddon just managed the hell out of Kevin Gregg, by the way. Why the fuck doesn't Girardi put on the Opposing Pitcher Walks the Entire Line-up play?
[225] He wasn't what he was as a reliever. But I don't think he was hopeless. Now i do. He's a mediocre right handed reliever that i dread seeing. And I don't think he'll ever be anything more.
[232] His line from April 12 to August 16 (If you recall, after that, we decided that SECRET STARTS were the solution for one start, before moving on to three inning jokes)
23 G, 126.2 IP (there was one rain shortened .2 IP start) 123 H, 62 BB, 109 K, 3.98 ERA .257/.353/.415
No, not great, but I really don't think its so bad that we should just give up, especially since it was his first real year starting.
trevor got rocked again. lost the game...
[244] speaking of the brew crew, they signed baba bruney. (minor league deal)
Vernon Wells keeps hope alive!
Tying run on second for the Rays now, two away, bottom of the ninth, Bautista at bat...
[243] Sorry not rain, he was removed after being hit by a liner.
i wish RI were still here - my bass player just texted again from the Ted.
"why intentionally walk a guy?"
And Bautista poops to left, ballgame.
Oh well. We gain no ground against the competition today, barring a miracle in Kenmore Square.
Bah...Ways rin.
[249] I'm here!
Tell your bass player: yes, exactly. They grow 'em smart in Patagonia.
rays win 7-6. maddon is a genius. tito is on his way to being a genius...
[252] he is perpetually drunk & stoned. i mean sloshed & gone at all times, everyday, no matter where or when. it's really an amazing existence. i don't know how he does it. he's an absolutely *incredible* bassist though.
[243] Uh, yeah, except my point was that he wasn't what he was AS A STARTER before he walked off the mound in Texas.
I don't know what else to say other than Joba threw harder (on average IN EVERY SINGLE START) as a starter in 2008 prior to the injury than he has as a reliever (on average in any single appearance) since.
Does that preclude him from being effective?
I don't think so, but it does mean I start with the injury when it comes to explaining why Joba's never fulfilled his initial promise.
[254] I guess bassing is one of those things you can do sloshed on stoned.
Not drumming. And definitely not what I do!
Hey, I'm going to buy some tickets to Tanglewood. Not quite sure which dates yet, I have to check with some friends. Tanglewood is an awesome experience. It's a lot like a Yankee game!
[254] Ya know what they call the bass player who breaks up with his girlfriend?
Homeless.
gregg should get TWO losses for that debacle.
shit sox have now scored in 4 frames in a row. : /
[257] that's supposed to be a drummer joke! : )
[259] If the instrument fits...
Good night all. Thanks for sharing this fine NY Yankees victory.
[256] not the way he plays. it's impressive sober or otherwise. his versatility is admirable - upright/electric, 4-string/5-string/6-string, fretted/fretless, soloing, improvising, any and all styles, reading, etc.
and after tons of alcohol and getting stoned beyond comprehension every second off stage, he then DRIVES home after the gig!!! oy vey zmeir!
Here's what a team like the A's should do.
They should have eight starters. Eight starters and three relief pitchers. Note that this is fewer pitchers than most teams carry.
The eight starters pair up, maybe a lefty with a righty, and the set up a four game rotation. If the starting pitcher is good, he goes five innings, otherwise he goes four innings and the "second starter" comes in.
Because the pitchers don't have to work a lot of innings, they have no trouble with the four-game rotation. And there are three relievers around to take care of problems, in case one of the relievers really sucks one day.
I'm going to write to Billy Beane.
i fucking loathe the shit sox.
I guess that'll do it for me. No more baseball tonight.
Ciao, thelarmis. And cheers, Mr. OK, in case you come back later.
[255] He was not as good after the injury. he has not been good at anything since last August. Not a good starter, not a good reliever, not worth a damn.
I'd take a pretty good starter over whatever the hell this is.
new post on joba, courtesy of kevin maas:
http://nomaas.org/2010/06/fist-pump/