Get To Know Your First Place Pittsburgh Pirates
by DanUpBaby on Jul 19, 2011 8:01 AM EDT
Email
Print
The Pittsburgh Pirates are six games over .500 this morning, and look, through their Baseball Reference page, to be what you'd get if you inverted the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals. The offense has been predictably terrible, though not as terrible as might have been predicted, and their star player is playing over his head; the pitching has been outstanding, driven mostly by an inexplicably excellent bullpen. Oh, and Jeff Karstens's ERA is half his ZiPS projection, while Ryan Franklin's ERA was twice his own ZiPS projection.
If you want to know how well things have been going lately for the Pirates, Brandon Wood's OPS+ is over 10! Since June he's hit .253 with a slugging percentage of .475, doing his best to avoid scoring a point for people who believe in the idea of AAAA hitters.
I don't think the Pirates are the most pressing of the Cardinals' concerns—their win over the Reds is good news to me, and not just as someone keyed up from the Reds' status as rivals of the year—but it's worth noting that flukes like these happen to make good teams into successful teams as much as they do to make bad teams into good teams.
Outliers from the last few World Series champs, with ZiPS OPS[+]/ERA[+] projection on the left and next year's numbers on the right:
San Francisco Giants: Aubrey Huff, 100/140/82; Pat Burrell, 101/136/113
For all the press Brian Sabean gets about being a kind of standard-bearer for the last pre-Moneyball generation of baseball execs, his offensive strategy for 2010 was basically to grab everybody who got good press in Baseball Prospectus 2003 and then wait for them to start raking. He must not have been able to reach Josh Phelps, Jack Cust, or Ben Grieve through their Friendster accounts.
New York Yankees: Pass. Not only can I not find the Yankees' 2009 ZiPS projections, they're also mostly fluke-free, unless you count their immense wealth or their players' nonstandard aging patterns—Johnny Damon, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Mariano Rivera, and Hideki Matsui all had mid-peak years despite being in their mid-to-late thirties.
Philadelphia Phillies: Jayson Werth, .778/.861/.879; Jamie Moyer, 4.96/3.71/4.94; Brad Lidge, 3.88/1.95/7.21
The weird thing about this Philies team is that it weathered severe projection misses from Ryan Howard, who missed his projection by more than 100 points of OPS, and Jimmy Rollins. Of course, Pedro Feliz overshot his projection by 40 points to help make it up; he got his OPS+ all the way up to 81 that year.
Boston Red Sox: Mike Lowell, .807/.879/.798; David Otiz, 1.015/1.056/.877; Dustin Pedroia, .741/.823/.869; Josh Beckett, 4.55/3.27/4.03
This is a nice set of all possible best-case-scenarios for a championship team—Lowell, the veteran playing way over his head; Ortiz, the star who gets even better; Pedroia, the rookie who makes good on his promise all at once; and Beckett, the erstwhile star/prospect who puts it all together again after some uncertainty.
The Cardinals mostly have veterans playing over their heads and stars getting even better, though if you put Jon Jay and Allen Craig together it makes for one nice Rookie-Type Makes Good. It looks like Lohse has already lost the fluke-season luster, and I'll worry about Berkman and Holliday for the rest of the year, but that the Cardinals' offense is currently being carried on Lance Berkman's knees is not necessarily a disqualification for postseason glory.
#
How desperate are you for relief help? Desperate enough for apparently released ex-Met Aaron Heilman? Heilman went from polished starting prospect to Terrible Mets Failure to set-up man success story to punching bag so fast that it's hard, in hindsight, to see when, exactly, any of that was supposed to have happened.
At this point he's given up a few too many home runs for four years running, and while there might be something left in Heilman more interesting than P.J. Walters, I don't see the Cardinals fighting off a crowd to figure out what it is. If they go after a reliever at the deadline I'm still fond of Hong-Chih Kuo, who between his struggles with anxiety and the Dodgers' struggles with not squandering millions of dollars could be a K-Roddian bargain.
Actually, discussion question: What's your pet scrap-heap trade proposal for what ails the Cardinals in July? For me it's Kuo or fellow struggling-Asian-LOOGY Hideki Okajima, currently sporting a 28:2 K:BB ratio with the Red Sox' AAA affiliate. The more ridiculous LOOGY stats begin to look to me, the more I'm convinced that the best possible way to install one on the cheap is to pick up a guy with a funny delivery that most hitters in the league haven't seen before and then pitch him into the ground until he gets spooked and starts walking everyone.
556 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'd much prefer snagging one of those lefties to over-paying for a "closer" guy.
Of course, if the price is right I wouldn’t mind under-paying for one of those “closer” guys either. I just hope that we don’t give up anything substantial if we’re going after relievers.
The very symbol, the outward and visible expression of the drive, and push, and rush and struggle of the raging, tearing, booming nineteenth century! -- Mark Twain
how do you underpay for a closer in an MLB trade
shane robinson and a pack of size-15 tube socks would actually be about fair value for most relievers
Read that as Kerry Robinson
Was momentarily happy he was still in MLB….
by YearOfGlad on Jul 19, 2011 9:47 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Other than grabbing a lefty, i still don't see why we need any bullpen help
the last couple of losses have mainly been due to a couple of poor pitchers in the rotation and some poor defense. The pen’s been mostly good for the last month or so.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 19, 2011 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah
i’m not convinced that salas is going to be some elite shutdown closer; he just doesn’t have that kind of stuff. but he’s certainly been good enough that we shouldn’t be shopping for a closer. and then motte boggs and lynn are a damn good rest of the right side of a ’pen
by prophetjohn on Jul 19, 2011 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree.
You add a started send K-Mac back to the bullpen and all of a sudden that looks like a damn good pen.
I've said this before, but I think Salas is literally as good now as he's ever going to get
but if he can maintain even 90% of his current production, he’s a pretty decent closer.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 19, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
I just wouldn't mind more pitching help of any kind given it were cheap enough
That’s not going to happen for a “closer” type guy. But a lefty reliever might be.
The very symbol, the outward and visible expression of the drive, and push, and rush and struggle of the raging, tearing, booming nineteenth century! -- Mark Twain
Tat lady on the right is either really mad at superfan
Or she’s helping him summon the GOB
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jul 19, 2011 9:20 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
*that lady
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jul 19, 2011 9:21 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
With everyone wearing red, it's hard to tell who is rooting for the Cardinals and who is rooting for the Reds.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Bucs
I sort of wished you would have expanded more on them. Living in Western PA and watching them on FSN Pit Root Sports has been kind of fun this season, obviously. There is a different tone of excitement, the players are into it and jumping out of the dugout on almost every play it seems like. It’s a fun feeling that I wish the Cards had more often this season. I know that is all based on expectations, but the Cards need a serious morale boost. Last night Morton looked awful in the first but after the delay he had it working and the team was pumped. I enjoyed watching them (or anyone) beat the Reds.
cards were so exciting to watch earlier in the season
remember when they had the best record in the mlb? every inning was a joy and clutch hits and the team had so much life. if they can find the mojo that they had a month ago, this team could easily take first place with so much talent in the clubhouse.
by hr on Jul 19, 2011 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions
all the morale guys are on the DL
or traded
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
right.
teams always seem to have great morale when they are winning consistently…they also have team chemistry.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
There was quite a lot of angst about the bullpen during that time, if I remember correctly.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
remember the first week
when there was a lot of angst about everything?
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
My buddy is a Shannon fan
From listening via MLB online during this NYC project. Was thinking or trying to get to new Shea early tonight and get an autograph, but not sure who/where to als in the Cards or KMOX. Probably a little late now…
YOG
Hmm
One person being overlooked in the Pads pen is Luke Gregerson. Heath Bell/Mike Adams gettin all the love. I’d take a look there. I know Joakim Soria lost his closer duties for a while…though his contract might scare off teams. Jon Rauch only for his “holy shit that is a big dude” intimidation factor. Plus moving from the AL east to the NL cantral should help. I like Bailey from the A’s, although I don’t know if he’s available.
Starter wise I know I like Jeff Francis. I think another lefty starter would be great. Especially if we make the playoffs. (I’m looking at you Philly.) I also like Derrick Lowe and I heard the braves would part with him. Perfect compliment to DD pitching philosophy.
"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance." - Aesop
somehow I don't think many on VEB overlook Gregerson...
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Yeah
Mr. Green always had the best pre/post game interviews. That in itself was almost worth the trade. (No not really) This was IMO the worst trade of MO and Co.
"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance." - Aesop
It was really difficult.
His quotes were so sad. I don’t know that I’ve ever pulled for a player as much as him, except for Ankiel. I hope he’s doing better now.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
poor guy...made 7.8 mil playing the base ball. #whitegirlproblems
www.stlgatekeepers.com
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
But his condition was even called SAD, because that's how he felt
http://www.google.com/m/search?tbm=isch&hl=en&source=hp&biw=362&bih=471&q=no+you+can‘t+have+a+pony&gbv=2&aq=0&aqi=g4&aql=&oq=No+you+can’t+h#i=1
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jul 19, 2011 10:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
Except,
likely due to his brain chemistry, he was unable to enjoy playing a child’s game and getting paid $7.8MM to do it. That is sad.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Having Social Anxiety Disorder and being unhappy aren't necessarily correlated
and even if that was the case, the guy wasn’t happy making his 7.8 mil? where do I send flowers?
www.stlgatekeepers.com
"How depressing is it being you? Would you equate it to being a lifelong Cubs fan?"
the guy was allegedly cutting himself
and he struggled with the everday failure of playing baseball. You don’t have to feel sorry for him. You don’t even have to acknowledge that he may or may not have been unhappy. Trotting out the, “he made lots of money” argument is nothing more than annoying. I bet you he’d give all that money back to be able to be a “normal” baseball player.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
by scoot on Jul 19, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
Was it ever confirmed what Spiezio was on when he flamed out?
by peppermartin on Jul 19, 2011 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I miss Scott
and SANDFROG
"Nothing Motte does is quiet. It's mostly screamy and intense." - sheckiezx
by monkeysareblue on Jul 19, 2011 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Weirdly enough, I was looking at the 2006 Cards team today (off work with V&D)
and had totally forgotten about Speizio’s existence. He really did put up a genuinely excellent season as a backup guy – his wOBA was basically identical to Rolen’s, and only trailled Albert and that flukey good half-season of Chris Duncan that year.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:30 AM EDT up reply actions
didn't you know money=happiness?
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
Having some family experience with cutting
makes me much more sympathetic towards Khalil Greene than most I think. I hope he’s gotten the help he needs to overcome his demons. At that point it’s not about baseball or money. It’s about his life and happiness.
"Go crazy, folks, go crazy! It's a home run, and the Cardinals have won the game, by the score of 3 to 2, on a home run by the Wizard! Go crazy!" - Jack Buck (my earliest baseball memories)
https://plus.google.com/u/0/111459762327473828979/posts
by WizardofOz1982 on Jul 19, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Me too.
I really liked (like, I guess, he’s not dead) Khalil. Tigers stick together.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
No they're not.
As long as you avoid whatever makes you so anxious you can’t even function. Which for Khalil was apparently at least partly playing baseball, his job, so that was nearly impossible. Just because he didn’t always feel that way doesn’t mean it was a legitimate problem for him either. Mental disorders can surface at any point in life. And money has nothing to do with it. I am very confused why it is still a common misconception that money buys happiness. At this point all his money may help him achieve happiness only because he has the means to pay for the best help he can get.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
You sound like someone who has never had or known anyone with any sort of mental disorder.
Lucky you.
Has romantic inclinations toward Tony Cruz.
you obviously haven't read many of his past posts
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
In retrospect maybe
but nobody, not even Luke Gregerson, thought Luke Gregerson was going to be this good. We were trading a future middle reliever for a guy who seemed like a pretty good bounceback candidate; maybe they didn’t do their due diligence on Greene’s problems, but other than that I think the trade was fine. Gregerson, at the time, had probably a one-in-a-thousand chance of being this good.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 19, 2011 10:24 AM EDT up reply actions
John Mozeliak traded FOR Pedo Feliz.
"I kinda like the Wong" -Aranathor
by Alxfritz on Jul 19, 2011 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
why you gotta bring dat up?
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions
Y would you remind us of that?!
Also who the he’ll dud we give up in that trade? Not that it matters
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jul 19, 2011 10:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Sigh
5:0 k/bb
/SSS
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jul 19, 2011 10:43 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
He's only just begun.
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
by TBender on Jul 19, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 6 recs
Seeing this only makes the voices in my head scream
PEDROOOOO FELIIIIIIIIIIZ
can’t remember where I saw that first, but I rec’d whoever it was.
"Nothing Motte does is quiet. It's mostly screamy and intense." - sheckiezx
by monkeysareblue on Jul 19, 2011 4:46 PM EDT up reply actions
And there aren't enough asterisks to mask that one.
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
What
did the Cardinals give for Feliz though? Hindsight being what it is, the Green trade was pretty shitty.
"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance." - Aesop
Major leaguer David Carpenter
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
not like we didn't have enough carpenters, though
by prophetjohn on Jul 19, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
you can never have too many
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 12:51 PM EDT up reply actions
And the Greene trade is only shitty in hindsight
It was a damn good idea at the time. Two right handed relief prospects for huge potential at SS
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
I'm too young to know what the context of that trade was
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Man, Edmonds was good:
8 seasons as a Cardinal: 45.3 B-Ref WAR
Brock, 16 seasons: 37.5 WAR
"I kinda like the Wong" -Aranathor
Brock
I believe Brock has the lowest OBP in the HOF or something, doesn’t he?
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
And wore half shirts
Stupid UCL's.
by Bring Back Tommy Herr! on Jul 19, 2011 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
double puke
Feliz: -0.5 WAR in 40 games
Greene: -0.8 WAR in 77 games
"I kinda like the Wong" -Aranathor
True, but at least Greene had been an above average player at some point prior to the trade.
Feliz was never even an average major league player for 3 years prior to the pickup.
The Greene trade had some upside, and we didn’t really give up anything that we were immediately going to need for him (nobody, including the Padres, thought that Gregerson was going to be that good).
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Point
being the worst trade from a what the guy we gave up is doing perspective the Greene trade was worse.
"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance." - Aesop
the same logic
that should have led to a hardy signing over the off season
by prophetjohn on Jul 19, 2011 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions
the funny part is,
Brendan Ryan already had playing-time when this was done.
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
cup of coffee, sorry.
it was a few cups, though for whatever reason he kept getting stuck at third. I believe the one, the only David Eckstein blocked him at SS.
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Feliz probably cost us about 1 WAR (as opposed to just running out Tyler Greene or pushing Matt Carpenter up from AA or something)
Gregerson is probably a 1-2 WAR reliever (going by the ropey way FG calculates WAR) and Khalil likely cost us at least 1 WAR instead of just playing Ryan/Greene that year, AS WELL as $7m. I think the trade was OK at the time, but in hindsight it’s a bit of a disaster.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I think Lowe would work
although he’s on contract next year for about 14m and is getting very old. Not sure I really want to be paying him next year. That said, I guess they part with him for very little. Not keen on Francis and there’s no way the Pads trade Gregerson (or that we trade for him after trading him away a couple of years ago).
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 19, 2011 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions
pet scrap heap
LOOGY is certainly a need, and I would love a Kuo sighting in St. Louis. In order to be original, I’ll head in another direction.
Assuming pitching, collectively, is our priority. (one SP, one LOOGY) here goes…
LOOGY—What about George Sherrill? At first, I thought he was still on LAD and struggling, but I realized that was last season. Now I see he’s improved quite a bit this year (from last) on ATL, but with their abundance of effective relievers, would they part with him? Probably not. Therefore, I’m calling Florida to ask for Randy Choate. He seems to be the “trevor miller” of two years ago, which obviously worked out well for us then.
SP—Staying in Florida, I want Javier Vazquez ( i know his stats are terrible, but hear me out). I think he makes an intriguing, potentially impactful starter that could be had. I think he has the following going for him to be traded.
1) FA at the end of the year. With Westy, Lohse, Garcia, and assuming Wainwright all coming back in 2012, we have enough of a decision on Carpenter/McClellan/Lynn.
2) like a Harden or Bedard, which I’ve seen both mentioned here in pockets, I think Vasquez has upside that far outreaches the middling starters that appear to be available (Francis, Harang, Marquis, etc.). Could he be a Chuck Finley 2.0?
3) plays for FLA. He’s making 7M a year, and Florida is not going to catch either Atlanta or Philadelphia. As they prepare to get into their new stadium next year, any potential near-majors grab would be helpful.
I’m not good at evaluating what potential deals could be made. My assumptions about trying to get both Choate and Vasquez from Florida would lead me to believe that FLA would want close to ML or ML-ready. I certainly don’t want to part with Jay or Craig, but could guys like Hamilton, Ottavino, Walters, be enough, if packaged with a decent prospect at the lower levels? My heart wants it to be, but my head doubts it.
Stupid Sexy Flanders!!!
by timmycardinals on Jul 19, 2011 10:15 AM EDT reply actions
I think they'd deal Choate/Vazquez for not very much, as a salary dump as much as anything
i’m not 100% sure they upgrade us much, though.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 19, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Have you looked at Javy's last 5 starts though?
He has a 22/1 K/BB ratio in his last 5 starts. He had real problems with his command early in the season, but has since straightened those issues out. ZiPS (U) has him for a 4.13 xFIP at the end of the year, which is 25 points below where his season xFIP stands right now, so the model is a believer that he’s figured it out at least.
In any case, he’s likely to be better than McClellan the rest of the way, and would give us a nice 3rd starter for a playoff run if he can continue to pitch as well as he has the last month.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
yes, I saw that on fangraphs
i suppose he might be worth a look.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 19, 2011 10:58 AM EDT up reply actions
Put Vazquez in the rotation
bump McClellan to the pen.
In other scrap heap pickups, Aaron Miles currently has 6x Ryan Theriot’s WAR per Fangraphs. As far as Dodgers go, Juan Uribe and Jamey Carroll would both be cheap improvements. I’d be interested to see if Cliff Pennington could turn things around away from Oakland. Hell, after watching Theriot’s defense, I’d give our buddy Khalil another shot.
In the “Exploiting Market Inefficiencies” category, do you think Koji Uehara could handle a move back to the rotation? That could be something to watch.
I would love to see Okajima turn things around in St. Louis (when he’s on, he’s fun as hell to watch). Zach Duke has been insanely good against lefties this year (SSS), has just been shifted to the bullpen, and a poor ERA masks a fairly decent season. Jeff Francis has been even better, and is a name I’m surprised hasn’t gotten more traction. He’s a ground-ball, great-control lefty. He’d also make one great LOOGY if you don’t think his arm could hold up.
"Nothing Motte does is quiet. It's mostly screamy and intense." - sheckiezx
by monkeysareblue on Jul 19, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
i would rather just have Koji Uehara in the bullpen
dude is nails in the AL East, imagine him in the NL Central. one of the few relievers of “worth” (i.e. would cost more than a scrapheap prospect to get) i would actually be interested in trading for.
"not everything is about you, Rains" -Fritz
Not keen on Okajima at all
he’s not really a LOOGY (no real split) and he looks pretty much done as a major leaguer at his age. Uehara, though, would look nice in our bullpen, although I don’t really think we need another righty.
I quite liked Jamey Carroll at the start of the year – relatively under-rated, and perennially somewhere around average. That said, we could just use Descalso at 2B – hits similarly to Skip and is a better defender. That or Punto when he’s healthy. Getting a shortstop would be much better. I suppose Carroll’s played most of his games at short for the Dodgers, and is definitely better than Theriot in every regard. So yeah, I’d be all for that, if we could make that move.
I think Jeff Francis is a bit expensive to put in the pen. Someone mentioned him the other day, but I’m not convinced he’s a big upgrade as a starter. He’s also a ball-in-play kinda pitcher, so while we’re giving starting roles to Theriot, Schumaker and Berkman, I’m not sure I want any more of those.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:41 AM EDT up reply actions
Choate has been pretty good recently.
i feel like he has to be at least a minor upgrade.
"not everything is about you, Rains" -Fritz
Speaking of lefties and Florida...
the Rays apparently have 4 southpaws in their pen. I didn’t do an due dilligence to see if we’d be interested, but one (or two) of those guys plus Sheilds and we’re immediately favorites in the division!
Jimmy Ballgame for 2011 RFer!!!
by cardzfanbub on Jul 19, 2011 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions
I think that'll cost us a lot more than Rasmus, unfortunately
but I guess if it was something like Colby + Lynn for Shields + a lefty (although I don’t think any of them are really very good), it’d be worth it.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:43 AM EDT up reply actions
The Pirates' starters don't strike people out and don't get ground balls,
and they’re the strength of the team. I’m no sabermetriciawizard, but I don’t see this working out for them.
by Fendi Hotdogbun on Jul 19, 2011 10:45 AM EDT reply actions
As a fellow not sabermetriciawizard i still know that you are right and they should regress
But accidents, and fluke seasons, happen and we need Colby to regress fast and hope our starters get lucky/are ugraded at the back of the rotation or just that we keep hitting so much that it doesn’t matter
"IF CARDS CAN SIGN SUPPAN THEY CAN GIVE ME A HOME"
by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Jul 19, 2011 10:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
but he was in the Wild West
now he’s in the National League Central, which other than the ALC is its own ironic expletive.
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Is it just me, or did everyone else think of Trever Miller/Tyler Johnson/Randy Flores/Ray King when they saw this:
The more ridiculous LOOGY stats begin to look to me, the more I’m convinced that the best possible way to install one on the cheap is to pick up a guy with a funny delivery that most hitters in the league haven’t seen before and then pitch him into the ground until he gets spooked and starts walking everyone.
Our problem seems to be that we then sign those guys to multi-year contracts after the league has figured them out.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
almost to a T
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions
most LOOGYs just have good seasons based on year-to-year variability I think
I remember Miller looking almost unhittable in 2009, but prior to that he’d been kinda mediocre. And Denys Reyes had a better prior career, only to mostly suck when he was here. I can’t think of any LOOGYs off the top of my head who’ve put together 5-10 years of consistent, dominant pitching. I think, basically, they tend to be pretty variable and fungible assets. I’m hoping we can get at least one functioning left-hander out of Additon/Gast/Freeman/whoever next year, if not two. It’s generally not worth paying for them.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 19, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Arthur Rhodes and Darren Oliver come to mind.
"And a boring game for boring people. Did you ever watch golf on television? It's like watching flies FUCK. Think of the intellect it must take to draw pleasure from this activity: hitting a ball with a crooked stick and then WALKING AFTER IT" -George Carlin
President of the Tyler Greene fan club - In need of Secretary and Public Speaker
by stlcardsfan4 on Jul 25, 2011 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions
That's why I liked the way Mo approached adding a LOOGY this season.
And Tallet did not justify my positive feelings with results.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
if everyone else thought of them when they saw that
it did its job.
Though I always thought Johnson had a chance to be a legitimately useful pitcher, given his high strikeout rates and that outstanding slider.
IIRC he had a drink/substance abuse problem or something didn't he?
went to the Rangers and then sank without trace?
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I heard whispers about that, but nothing confirmed
he was with the mariners for a while but never quite finished rehabbing, or whatever it was he was doing.
So I missed the Colby thread last night
But I will reiterate:
Since May 14, Colby Rasmus has a BABIP of .200, walk rate of 11%, and an ISO of .171
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
The only thing that's "slumping" is the percentage of balls in play that go for hits
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
yep. and his SO rate is way down from last year
I don’t get the doubled IFFB though. That’s weird.
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Could just be a small sample size thing, could be a bad luck thing, could be an mechanics thing
Who knows
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
i bet it's the lack of an early-pubescent mustache.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
His facial hair doesn't give 100%.
"I kinda like the Wong" -Aranathor
by Alxfritz on Jul 19, 2011 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
i heard it's afraid of running into walls.
Rick Ankiel’s mustache feared no wall, and we saw what happened to him.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
by SheckieZx on Jul 19, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
we appreciate you not taking the easy "mustache ride" angle
by prophetjohn on Jul 19, 2011 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions
we were saving that for you to bring up
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I thought that was pencil transfer from his thinking pose from when he pens those homeric poems.
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
That would indicate to me
that he’s having trouble making good contact consistently, and that’s something that he’s struggled with his whole professional career.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I just ran a simple regression based on 2005-2011 data with contact% and IFFB%
And there’s basically no correlation between the two
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Something's not quite right, whatever it is.
his LD% is down a bit from the last two and GBs are up a bit, FBs are down. It’s almost like he’s Albert at the beginning of the season.
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions
LD%
Overall, it is down. But, it started out very low and has risen. Yet, with the rise in LD rate, his BABIP did not. Now, his LD% has fallen off a bit, again. It’s rather bizarre. Here are his BABIP, LD%, and IFFB% by month.
March/April: .364 / 15.2% / 13.2%
May: .319 / 20.3% / 7.4%
June: .227 / 21.4% / 21.2%
July: .133 / 16.7% / 6.7%
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Why do players pop the ball up?
Because they can’t square the ball up on the barrel of the bat, i.e. they don’t make good contact with the ball due to swing mechanics, pitch recognition, etc.
You’re trying to make this into a “whether them making contact at all translates into them making poor contact”. That wasn’t what I said. In fact, contact% and IFFB% shouldn’t really be correlative if you think about it: if a player has a shitty time making contact, he probably isn’t popping the ball up, he’s probably striking out a ton.
Now, if a player is popping the ball up (as well as hitting weak ground balls, which is the cousin of the pop-up), you should see a dip in his BABIP and a decrease in his LD%. Both of these things are happening to Rasmus during his slump. Some of it is bad luck, for sure. But that doesn’t mean that he’s not having trouble getting good wood on the balls he puts in play either.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
mmmmmm.
Good wood.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Didn't someone mention the other day that they've started calculating SO rate with PA's instead of AB's?
Hit me up on Google+
by jd is legend on Jul 19, 2011 2:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, they did
But they retroactively changed it for all years, too
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
one slight issue I think with his BABIP
(and obviously there’s no way it should be anywhere near that low) – he seems to hit a LOT of balls right down the left-field line and is a serious pull-hitter. I wonder if teams are playing him better now in terms of putting on a big shift (and particularly having the first baseman right on the line for all those shots he pulls right over the bag), and whether that’s having at least a small effect on his ball in play numbers. Completely anecdotal, of course.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 19, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Game of adjustments
There is enough of a book on Clobby to play his hitting tendencies with the defense. Now it is up to him to make the necessary adjustments to “hit it where they aint”. I think BABIP just provides a picture of which side is winning the adjustment game at the moment. Hopefully the dude is strong enough mentally to make the adjustments necessary to tilt it back in his favor.
"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance." - Aesop
moar dingerz
that’s the only way to truly hit it where they ain’t
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
But he better not pull those dingerz
by CarpIsMyManCrush on Jul 19, 2011 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions
Al can go jump off a cliff.
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions
The most ridiculous lecture Hrabosky gives is when he goes on about
how Rasmus hitting a HR is bad.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Or hitting a 2B is bad because Albert will get walked behind him
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
well, they are rally-killers afterall.
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions
if he hits 30 HRs
who gives a shit about BABIP?
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions
I didn't get THIS
“he seems to hit a LOT of balls right down the left-field line and is a serious pull-hitter.”
Did you mean ‘right’ field line? I recall Colby hitting more balls the opposite way earlier in the year, but lately has had a lot of smashes to the first baseman. If he played against Prince Fielder more often his BA would go up.
Also I think he has looked better lately; we’ll see if being pinch-hit for on Sunday causes him to mope.
yeah, sorry I meant RF line
just a typo. The smashes to the first baseman were exactly what I was referring to.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:47 AM EDT up reply actions
Colby's xBABIP is .307 based on DRaysBay's xBABIP calculator, found
If we add the difference between his xBABIP and BABIP (.307-.285=.022) to his current slash lines, he’s at:
.263/.348/.426
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Jon Jay's xBABIP is actually really high at .341
But if we subtract the difference (.015 points) then he’s at .295/.345/.426
HOW WEIRD
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
i'm working on a new stat called xAARON
That when used properly, it will regress everyone’s stats down to Aaron Mile’s career line.
Grit != flat out sucking.
I like the Marlins as a potential trade partner
As Felonious mentions above, what would a package of Javier Vazquez and Randy Choate cost?
Vazquez cannot be offered arbitration and has a no-trade clause that he would need to waive, and Choate is signed through next season for $1.5M in 2012, not nothing, but a negligible amount if he continues to be stellar as a LOOGY.
Would Florida be interested in Matt Adams? Would a package of Adams and another B prospect be something they would take for those two guys?
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
One would
think that it won’t cost too much for a LOOGY. Personally I think Tyler Greene or Kozma could be intriguing from a HanRam replacement perspective. At the very least they are MLB ready utility guys. So a Adams and Greene would work for me.
"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance." - Aesop
it seems like everyone always wants to acquire Javier Vazquez
And they like him for a few months, and then they can’t wait to get rid of him.
How deep is he going into games this year? innings / games started gives less than 6 innings.
He's been really, really good lately, I believe
His velocity seems to have returned.
TRADE FOR RICH HARDEN
vazquez is pretty bad
not really any better than westbrook or mcclellan
by prophetjohn on Jul 19, 2011 12:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup: 22:1 K/BB ratio his last 5 starts
That’s fucking awful. His updated ZiPS would make him the #3 starter in our rotation behind Carp and Garcia at the end of the year.
He had a bad April/May. Since June 1, however, and especially in the last 3 weeks, he’s been very, very good. So we could stick with a guy who started really well and has been poor since (K-Mac) or we could trade for a guy who started poorly and has been really good lately. I’m firmly in the latter camp.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
ah
i didn’t realize we were throwing out 74% of the available data to evaluate him
i’d say he’s an interesting buy low candidate, but tossing them matt adams isn’t a very good deal
regarding his ZiPS projection, i imagine it’s significantly influenced by the past years when he was very good and less by his last 5 starts where he’s gotten good results
his velocity appears to be back up recently
which is a good sign. but we’re still talking about 30 innings or so. i shouldn’t need to say it
How many innings before that?
Oh, right, 70 or so. So I shouldn’t need to point this out either.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Well, and all of last year
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Last year was a bit of an anomaly though
After the season, you were wondering whether he had just lost it. Based on the last 5-6 starts, I think it’s clear that he still has it.
His BB% last year was 3% higher than any other season of his career. He started out 2011 with terrible command issues. Since June 1st, though, he’s found his command, is striking out around a hitter per inning, and walking fewer than 2 per 9. That’s right on par with the entire rest of his career. Can I explain 2010 and the beginning of 2011? No.
But I think dismissing out of hand a guy who’s been lights out for an entire month and would cost a couple of B prospects to acquire is silly.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
he could be back
and he could also flame out at any time and be what he’s been the last year and a half. not worth our best power prospect who is making some top-100 lists
....who has no future in the organization unless we don't sign Albert Pujols
I’m dubious that Adams is this good. I still think that he’s a trade high candidate right now. If someone would give us a starting pitcher who can help us this year and make Adams the centerpiece of the trade, I’d do that tomorrow.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
by fourstick on Jul 19, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
are we going to sign pujols?
that’s probably about 50/50. if he walks, it’s be cool to have someone better than hamilton relatively close
I’m dubious that Adams is this good. I still think that he’s a trade high candidate right now.
i agree. he’s walked literally 3 times all season. but if we’re going to sell high, we can do better than the (possibly resurrected) corpse of javy vazquez
Really?
I doubt Adams gets you Vazquez. I suspect that the Marlins could get more from someone else. Not a lot more, granted, but more.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 19, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
hopefully that team isn't the cardinals, then
maybe i’m a tight ass with my prospects, but i don’t do that deal
So you were cool with Jim Lindeman?
OK then.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 19, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Matt Adams upside. . .
is his career. Except Lindeman was more svelte.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 19, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Lindeman wasn't mashing in the minors like Adams is though.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=lindem001jam
I might need to know what the run scoring environment was, but a 700 OPS should not equal a 1.000 OPS in AA regardless.
Adams is a sell high candidate...
if there ever was one! If we can flip him for anything that can help the big league team this year and/or next we’d have to look at it.
Jimmy Ballgame for 2011 RFer!!!
i'm not the one saying one data set is better than the other
i’m taking him as a 4.30 FIP pitcher, which i don’t think is worth matt adams and given his recent performance is not a slam dunk to be an upgrade over anything we have
the counter to this argument is that
2010 – current is a small sample size compared to his overall career (maybe not the most convincing angle though, since he is almost 35 years old). But from 2006 – 2009 he was worth 4.8, 5.1, 4.9 and 6.5 WAR, respectively.
I admittedly haven’t followed him close enough to know if he has a significant injury history that should hamper our projections more than we already are for his age, however. And now after I have typed all this, I see this is only tangential to your point about Matt Adams. I’m hitting post anyway.
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
It also coincides with a sharp velocity drop
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
And therefore, strikeout rate drop
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
And therefore, performance drop
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
My favorite kind of drop
Stupid UCL's.
by Bring Back Tommy Herr! on Jul 19, 2011 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
ZiPS likes him pretty well to finish the year but with a
3.78 FIP for his rest of the season projection.
Alternately, his pre-season Marcel should still be more predictive of future performance than his current season’s (ignoring velocity drop) and had him at a 4.19 FIP.
Joe Strauss is the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow.
Also, I would kiss Rui on the web cam.
Marcel only uses 3 year weighted historical data..
..clearly the last season and a half is an outlier compared to his overall career and is weighted the most heavily. I don’t know that much about him – is there a good case to be made for de-emphasizing his 2010 performance (NY effect? Remember he had a shitty 2004 with the Yankees too. Lingering injury he has since overcome?)?
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
That's likely why ZiPS likes him better (longer statistical memory)
but even his Marcel projection makes him look like a decent pickup option. And I’m reluctant to call poor performing years “clear outliers”. They could be masking some decline and not be quite so much of outliers as we think.
Joe Strauss is the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow.
Also, I would kiss Rui on the web cam.
He had some velocity problems last year
which were documented numerous places. He had a little of that back at the beginning of this season. The more I look though, his velocity since the beginning of June looks to be about what it was in 2009, when he had his really excellent year in Atlanta.
I don’t know if this explains his command issues (nibbling too much? Not confident in his fastball?), but those have been night and day since his velocity returned too.
I think he makes an interesting option, depending on the price. I can’t believe it would be very high, as Florida isn’t getting into the playoffs and they get no compensation for him in the offseason due to the agreement to not offer arbitration.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
his velocity dropped quite a bit during the year and a half he sucked
though it appears to be coming back along with his good results’
not quite the vazquez of old, but quite a bit higher than last season and the beginning of this
Yeah
That was kinda what I was trying to point out — the last 6 weeks he’s been a pretty good pitcher.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
What am I implying, exactly?
I’d like to know your opinion on this.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
well, i think it is more predictive to look at his performance and see that his
results have improved at the same time that his velocity has risen.
ERA fluctuates randomly. velocity doesn’t. at least not in the way shown above.
"chipper jones grounds out, third baseman albert pujols to first baseman mark hamilton." 5.1.11 "carlos pena grounds into double play, second baseman allen craig to shortstop tyler greene to first baseman albert pujols." 5.12.11
wow, in 07-08
he hit 95+ in 28 starts. He hasn’t done it since then. Looks like his last start saw his fastest pitch since the middle of ’09.
Fangraphs is awesome.
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
isn't ZiPS in season projection system
considerably more crude than ZiPS (and all the other) preseason systems?
i think i read something like that written bby szymborski
there you go tripping the damn sign
IT’S OK DAN, FALSE ALARM
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
His ZiPS (U) xFIP
is nearly .25 points below where his current xFIP is.
If you look at his peripherals since June 1st , he’s been a solid #3 starter since then.
I didn’t realize that we weighted a bunch of games that happened 10 weeks ago over the performance of the last 10 weeks. By that rationale, Chris Carpenter really fucking sucks.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I dunno if pointing out Vazquez's xFIP is actually relevant
Since he ALWAYS underperforms it
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Why would you look at his peripherals since June 1st?
What is special about June 1st besides it proving your point?
Joe Strauss is the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow.
Also, I would kiss Rui on the web cam.
It's about the time he started to turn it around
Then he’s been dominant in his last 5 starts. I suppose we should just throw that out and only take the data where he sucks into account. FFS.
He’s a scrap heap guy that should be cheap to acquire because he can’t be offered arbitration and has a full no-trade clause, so his market is limited only to teams he wants to be traded to.
I thought that was the point of the thread.
Then I get a bunch of flack from supposed statheads for stating that he’s probably our #3 starter if we acquire him, when even the projection systems and peripherals point to him being a good pitcher the last couple of months and going forward.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Wait, even if he's a #3
Doesn’t that reduce the starts needed from Westbrook and McClellan?
Wouldn’t that still be a good thing?
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
That's kinda my point
He’s better than McClellan is in the rotation, and McClellan would help the pen considerably, as has been discussed ad nauseum.
I think people really overrate Matt Adams as a prospect and prospects in general. We could acquire a guy who’s been a very capable starter for over a decade for $3M and a couple of B prospects.
What’s not to like?
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Well for starters, Matt Adams
is raking in a way Brett Wallace never did, and Wallace netted us Lego, so there’s that.
Also, it’s July 19th. How many starts would Vasquez get? 10? 11? So, is Matt Adams’s career worth 11 starts from Javy Vasquez? I don’t believe so.
On the upside, IF we were to make the playoffs, then Vasquez would really upgrade our postseason rotation, bumping Lohse to 4th and Westbrook out of the rotation all together.
I just don’t think it’s a good trade.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Have you seen Matt Adams mentioned anywhere
in the mid-season prospect list updates? Right now, a rose colored value of him is a B prospect. His value might be as high as it’s ever going to be, and I honestly don’t want to tie his career to the future of the organization either.
Brett Wallace was a top 40 prospect when we dealt him. Former first round pick who put up good numbers offensively in college, in the AFL, and in his first full year in the minors. Adams has had a good season and a half. And the half has come in a league and ballpark that is really inflates left handed power hitters.
If he moves up to Memphis and continues this, he’ll garner a little more respect I think. I don’t see it though — the scouting reports I’ve read are that he’s a fastball hitter who struggles with good breaking pitches, is a dead pull hitter, and is not a good defender even at 1B.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I'll defer to you on that one Fourstick.
I really don’t know his scouting report. I have heard that he struggles defensively, and I’ve noticed his low walk rate that indicates he’s a bit of a free swinger.
However, he IS raking better than Wallace did at the same level at a young age, and the reports are that he has TONS of power.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Sure
If he didn’t, he wouldn’t be any sort of prospect at all. Hefty guys who can only play first base nearly have to rake and hit homers with reckless abandon — it’s the only way they’ll stay employed.
He’s does not have the ceiling of Brett Wallace, therefore, he’s not going to be given the benefit of the doubt that Brett Wallace had. A 6.9% walk rate in 1000 minor league PA’s is not indicative of future success for players with his skill set.
Adams has put up great numbers, no argument with that. But there are plenty of minor league players who have great seasons at A and AA and then struggle when they start facing better pitchers. Pitchers who have good breaking stuff that they can throw for strikes for instance. Pitchers who can get you out without ever throwing a fastball for a strike.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
FWIW I saw a chat with BA's Jim Callis the other day when he said Adams was definitely going to be in their top 100 if it was done right now
Also I think KLaw likes him, and Goldstein had him in a top 100. I’m not a big Adams fan but it’s not out of the question that he’s approaching Brett Wallace-type value (he’s probably not there, but he’s getting there).
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:51 AM EDT up reply actions
Eh, you're all wrong a little bit
Matt Adams is a fungible ‘prospect’ and not worth much. Pretty much every organization has a guy or two like Matt Adams who is fat, limited to 1B/DH, and can hit the ball a long way in the high minors.
But, Javy Vazquez is probably about as likely to regress to somewhere in the middle of his last five starts and his first ten. He’s not this good, and (barring injury) he wasn’t that bad.
Make the trade, someone. Just don’t expect Woody Williams part deux (although it’s fine to wishcast.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 19, 2011 4:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Matt Adams wOBAr in SPR = .405
Brett Wallace wOBAr in SPR = .402
by Willie McGee's Twin on Jul 19, 2011 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions
NOOOOOOOOOO
The very symbol, the outward and visible expression of the drive, and push, and rush and struggle of the raging, tearing, booming nineteenth century! -- Mark Twain
no one is saying this:
I suppose we should just throw that out and only take the data where he sucks into account. FFS.
please quote where anyone said this. you are constructing a strawman
If you're discounting his last 6 weeks
that’s what you’re doing, while accusing me, who quoted his updated projections and pointed out how different his peripherals are, as being the guy with the rose colored glasses.
Your only argument for NOT wanting to acquire him is: He sucked in 2010 and April/May of 2011.
Fine. You’re entitled to that. But I’m entitled to then mention, in passing, that he was a 3-4 WAR pitcher for most of his career up until 2010 and that his velocity and command seem to have come back.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
His starts since June 1st are more indicative of his current ability
Than his starts from April and May.
We’re not trading for a guy with a 4 year contract. Just a 2 month rental that will probably be really cheap.
If you can’t get that, then why bother me asking questions.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
Berkman is the answer to your sig, BTW
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
this is true
His starts since June 1st are more indicative of his current ability
Than his starts from April and May.
but the difference in indicativeness (what?) is not very significant. negligible even from a purely statistical standpoint
I'm not trying to predict his 2012 season
I’m simply saying that for his next 10 starts he’s a pretty good bet, and at most, we might need 12-15 starts from him the rest of the year.
Any time you’re trading for a guy like this you’re taking a risk. I think he’s the best risk/reward candidate out there for the price we can comfortable afford.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
regardless of how far into the future you're trying to project
all his starts this season are going to be rated roughly equally, so i don’t know what your 2012 comment has to do with my post at all
Except Rich Harden, right?
TRADE FOR RICH HARDEN
Most recent start: 7 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K
2011 stats: 5.00 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 3.30 xFIP
but the difference in indicativeness (what?) is not very significant. negligible even from a purely statistical standpoint
If we’re only looking purely at his performance stats, I tend to agree. However, the evidence of improved velocity seems to be indicative of something physical or perhaps mechanical going right in that time, which I’d argue is quite a bit more predictive than performance stats alone. I think I’ve gone from being broadly negative to this idea to being broadly positive. I’d like to see what we could get Jamey Carroll for as well.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:59 AM EDT up reply actions
that's not what i said at all
what i said is that we should weight all of his data appropriately. not take his last 5 starts and ignore the previous 14 and all of last season
Which isn't what I'm doing at all
As far as I know, ZiPS (U) factors all that in. And still thinks he’s a 3.85 xFIP guy the rest of the way. So I guess you should go argue with them.
I AM SAYING that since his velocity and command are back, he might be a good candidate to be even better than his projections the rest of the season. He was a 5 WAR starter at one time, so the pedigree is there.
It’s a gamble — you can’t know everything.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
so you think the gamble is worth it
i’m not willing to make that leap based on his last 5 starts, which are encouraging
Allow me to render the preceding ~100 posts moot
Florida won’t have any interest in Matt Adams because they currently have Gaby Sanchez, who is the 4th best 1B in the NL so far this year, and who has another 3 or 4 years of team control left.
That said, you’d imagine Vazquez would waive the no-trade to move to a contender, and I tend to agree he’s almost certainly an upgrade over KMac (and probably Westbrook as well) going forward. I also agree that people tend to over-value our own prospects. I’d probably consider dealing Adams for that package, especially if they’re definitely thinking about re-signing Pujols next year. Maybe a package of something like Swagerty + Kelly gets it done.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions
Relevant to the mainpost.
Another reason why it’s hard to not root for the Pirates.
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
That is fantastic.
"In the end, ... I have to learn my own swing. Then maybe I'll be whatever everyone wants me to be." -Colby
by The Continental on Jul 19, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions
AT first I thought this said "It's hard to root for the Pirates."
And then I looked at it and I was really confused about why you hated Arnold Palmer and adorable old people.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
He steals the tea AND the lemonade.
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
That's great
From that pic and the one for his 80th birthday, I wonder if he has season tickets there behind the screen.
by ArkansasTravs on Jul 19, 2011 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
scrap heaper: the mets' chris capuano
k/bb ratio is near 3:1 since his return last year from arm surgery, ERA and FIP are both in the 4.00 range. should be helped by StL ballpark. is a free agent after this yr but won’t be a type A, ergo probably won’t cost an important prospect.
With fond memories of 2006...
… I would really like to see Aaron Heilman involved with the Cardinals this year too. Is there any way we could get another team to sign him? One the Cards face a lot, like a division opponent?
Lou Brock loves Lamp.
It seems to me that Capuano is a bit above scrap heap quality; low hanging fruit?
BTW, how are you enjoying your regular stint with the Closers? We don’t have many radio sports programs unlike in STL. And the Closers show is so much better then the competition, and Jett and Spencer seem to care a lot about baseball.
born Dodger blue, now dyed Cardinals red
I've been on the Capuano bandwagon
for awhile now. I think he would be a great pickup for the cards, he’s dirt cheap and could be used as a starter, shifting kmac to the bullpen, or because of his splits, could be a great lefty in the pen who could actually get 3 outs rather than 1.
wow, that's a blast from the past
I thought he was long gone.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions
they were probably thinking
so where’s the Steelers?
by peppermartin on Jul 19, 2011 12:27 PM EDT up reply actions
here's a little less than a thousand, but it reminds me of a more or less true anecdote:
Palmer (or maybe just his wife) once walked off the stage on the Tonight Show.
During a banter with the couple, Johnny Carson asked the wife if she had any superstitions about Arnie’s play and she piped “well, sometimes I kiss his balls.”
After an agonizing slow snicker, Carson couldn’t resist, and replied, “well I bet that makes his putter stand up.”
I may have a few of the words wrong (memory) but that was basically it.
there will never be another Carson
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 2:54 PM EDT up reply actions
One of the few things I wish I could've seen if I weren't too young
that and airline travel before deregulation come to mind.
Good article on the Bucs by Jazayerli
on Grantland.
The Pirates’ success this season is a house of cards built on quicksand in the center of a mirage. They are 15-6 against the dregs of the National League, the Cubs and Astros, and 35-38 against everyone else. According to Baseball Prospectus, they have a 4 percent chance of making the playoffs.
And yet I still think they should go for it.
I had no idea Jeff Karstens has a 2.34 ERA this year.
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
Well hell that's how we talk about making hay
Beat the crap out of the really bad teams.
Ugh
I refuse to visit that site.
Joe Strauss is the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow.
Also, I would kiss Rui on the web cam.
Wait, change that last line to kiss cam
I must’ve been drunk when I sent that to you or something
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
I was wondering what web cam you were talking about . . .
but I thought better of asking.
Joe Strauss is the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow.
Also, I would kiss Rui on the web cam.
Rany is great. And from what I have read of Bill Barnwell, he is good too
It’s pretty easy to stay away from the Simmons Quick Word Salad™ if that’s not to your liking.
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
I think I think less of Klosterman now.
Though I do enjoy the Wright Thompson pieces.
"I kinda like the Wong" -Aranathor
Wright Thompson is the man.
best part of that site, IMO.
"not everything is about you, Rains" -Fritz
I know I'm probably the in the minority here but I like Simmons.
I disagree with a lot of things he says but I enjoy his sense of humor.
I enjoy Simmons as well.
And I really enjoy Grantland.
The Book of Basketball was great even if he contradicts himself, put Robert Horry in the Top 100 players of all time and is a huge Celtics homer.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
30 for 30
Is the only thing, besides live events, that I’ve made a point to watch on ESPN in many years. I like Simmons too, even though I am not much of an NBA fan.
by Merry CRasmus on Jul 19, 2011 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
i enjoy Simmons when it comes to discussion of basketball and gambling
beyond that, my opinion of him is pretty low (although i did enjoy some of his hockey podcasts this year).
"not everything is about you, Rains" -Fritz
I try to read everything the Masked Man writes.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
I enjoy Masked Man
probably because I am an adult pro wrestling (i know, i know…), and nobody really writes about it seriously. Wright Thompson is really good too (disclaimer: he was one of my brother’s good friend in college, so I would like him if he actually just published turds on a page)
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
Why hate good writing and good sports journalism?
Especially since it’s free?
That site has some really good writers and really interesting topics. I find myself there more and more.
If anyone should hate Bill Simmons, it’s me: I hate the Red Sox, Patriots, and I’m a Lakers fan. But I find his podcast and columns entertaining.
The only people who don’t like Simmons are the people who take him seriously — he writes from a fan perspective, and does it better than anyone else I’ve read in quite a while.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I Iike his podcasts
but haven’t enjoyed his columns in a long time.
"I kinda like the Wong" -Aranathor
this
once in a while he pops out a good column though. and i still will defer to his NBA judgements over just about anyone.
"not everything is about you, Rains" -Fritz
Probably because I don't think it's good writing or good journalism.
Joe Strauss is the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow.
Also, I would kiss Rui on the web cam.
I figured that would be the response.
I’m not getting in a pissing match with you about this, suffice to say: The site is popular and the writing is good and entertaining. It’s better than most of the writing I get in the weekly sports magazines or daily newspapers.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
So, you know that other people are allowed to have different opinions from you, right?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Yes this was a pissing match.
You are awful to converse with.
Joe Strauss is the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow.
Also, I would kiss Rui on the web cam.
And
you are the master of “drive-by shooting”: presenting your unvarnished opinion without providing any reasons why you think that way.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
What do you want?
I’ve read Simmons countless times. I think he’s trite and boring. I don’t need a journalist to write like their a fan. I’m a fan. I know what I feel about situations. I don’t need it written too me. If Grantland is his pet project, then I assume that I’m not going to be much interested in it.
I didn’t know you wanted a fucking book on my personal opinion. I’m going to go back to ignoring all of your trollish responses from now on. Have a great day.
Joe Strauss is the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow.
Also, I would kiss Rui on the web cam.
Sorry
I don’t treat you like a deity around here like other people.
Realize that you’re a mod, realize that your opinion influences what other people might or might not read. Realize that if someone made this comment about your writing you would be incensed at them for not providing a reason for it.
I shouldn’t have to explain this — but you continue to do it. Stop acting like a 5 year old when someone disagrees with you or asks you to explain yourself.
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
he's not a deity...
but he is a robot, and could probably crush me.
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
Yes, but
he can’t eat a Hardee’s hand-breaded Chicken Sandwich.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
I had one today.
Not too bad at all. Actually tastes like a piece of good ole fried chicken.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
a friend of mine from college works there, the talented jerk
I wish it weren’t ESPN, but I appreciate that there’s a site out there that puts talented authors and long-form work above maximizing pageviews. Someday I’d enjoy working for one.
we thought you already make millons of dollars from the comments
also you might have a smoking jacket.
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
Why would you ever leave this?
We know about the pay-per-comment deal you have with Mr. Moulistas.
Sign Carlos Silva!!!
if I got paid for comments
I think all the posts would be about politics and religion. so it’s probably for the best.
Jesus agrees, FWIW.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Of course they should go for it
They’re in position to win the division going forward; the playoff probability is calculated based on past results where they outperformed their talent level. If they added the right pieces they’d increase their future winning probabilities.
Hit me up on Google+
by jd is legend on Jul 19, 2011 2:49 PM EDT up reply actions
agreed
also, they’re a year or two (or perhaps even more) from being a legit contender again in the near future. No particular reason not to trade away anything other than maybe Taillon/Allie or guys they think are going to be cheap everyday guys like Tony Sanchez to try and compete. Perhaps they could take on a bit more salary now they’re selling out the stadium more often and try to grab some salary dumps from the Dodgers or Marlins.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Question based on comparing Brock and Edmonds
Is there some way to see what replacement level is from year to year? I’m assuming that replacement level during the Edmonds era was probably better than replacement level during the Brock era.
Probably not
WAR is adjusted for league scoring levels (probably among other things). Case in point: Brock’s 5.4 WAR year (his highest) was not even in the top 10 at the time. Granted, I suspect that the dWAR component for years before we have batted ball data is pretty unreliable, but that shouldn’t help Brock that much.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 19, 2011 4:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Replacement level is 2 wins below average each and every year
and fielding is always calculated wrt average for each position. So realistically you’d just need to find out what the league average wOBA was in each era. Of course, that doesn’t take a bunch of things into account like the standard of talent (more players from Latin America and Asia etc.) or the number of teams (expansion can weaker the overall talent pool) but it should give you a fair idea regarding offense, at least.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:10 AM EDT up reply actions
Or New York's SS to our SS
I mean, why hasn’t Ryan Theriot got 3000 hits? Lollygagger.
All i want to do, is get close to you and wake up in the early morning dew
by Aranathor on Jul 19, 2011 1:05 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
CAREFUL YOU HAVE ENRAGED THERIOT
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Jul 19, 2011 1:33 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
[rehash jokes about pelvic thrusts]
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I may rather have Theriot
Okay, no I wouldn’t
Hit me up on Google+
by jd is legend on Jul 19, 2011 2:53 PM EDT up reply actions
or compare Hawksworth & Aaron Miles
to Theriot & Batista.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions
If I just say "Lance Berkman", would that start a multi-comment thread on VEB?
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
by Yadi2Second on Jul 19, 2011 1:41 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Now you understand why that hat is so important to him.
Still not a werewolf.
by clank on Jul 19, 2011 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
don't you just want to run your hand through it
/saying what everyone’s thinking
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
I enjoy watching Lance Berkman play baseball for the St Louis Cardinals.
I’d also like to sit down for tea and a conversation with him.
Has romantic inclinations toward Tony Cruz.
Your preference for tea and conversation is what separates a fink from William Lance Berkman
Sign Carlos Silva!!!
But presumably,
you have both earned millions of dollars in your chosen professions.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 19, 2011 4:52 PM EDT up reply actions
I know you said you can hold your own at softball, but I think that's going a little far.
Still not a werewolf.
well, it's hard to say. He's got his skills and I've got mine.
Has romantic inclinations toward Tony Cruz.
Test of consistency
I was thinking about this, both in regards to Colby Rasmus’ alleged inconsistency and because of <a href=“http:// ”http://bit.ly/pVmWc2" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/pVmWc2" target="new">this Fangraphs article, but is there anything out there similar to a pitcher’s Game Score for hitters? If so, you can take the standard deviation of all of those scores to test for variance/inconsistency
Hmmm…
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
wat
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
yesterday I switched on FSM and found that it was Soccer Night in America. Seattle was playing.
would've.
"But listen, and understand: more Molinas are out there..." - THT
you could just use WPA for that
That’s how i’ve tested for game to game variance in the past.
by vivaelpujols on Jul 21, 2011 6:00 PM EDT up reply actions
our future shortstop is making his return
by RasmustheRipper on Jul 19, 2011 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Clearly Theriot, returning from his ejection.
We’re signing him to a 5-year extension soon.
Still not a werewolf.
Can't let a talent like his get away
because of a couple malcontent fans (bloggers)
by RasmustheRipper on Jul 19, 2011 2:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Chass is still a "blogger"?
I thought his descent had taken him to “internet columnist” by now.
by RasmustheRipper on Jul 19, 2011 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions
so I get no Rasmus, Theriot, AND an Ike Davis bobblehead??
Can’t wait!!
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
Rasmus getting the night off to travel to Tampa and search for housing...
1. Ryan Theriot, SS
2. Jon Jay, CF
3. Albert Pujols, 1B
4. Matt Holliday, LF
5. Lance Berkman, RF
6. David Freese, 3B
7. Yadier Molina, C
8. Kyle Lohse, P
9. Skip Schumaker, 2B
Sign Carlos Silva!!!
why no colby?
curiouser and curiouser.
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
neither is schumaker but he seems to make in the lineup every day
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
Schumaker's been hitting pretty well, I thought
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Why would anybody say this
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
by mysterui on Jul 19, 2011 3:32 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
As a joke?
It’s great that he’s hitting. But, you know, it means that TLR won’t play anyone else at 2nd.
Punto (arm)
Craig (knee)
Descalso?
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
theriot?
i suppose with punto out, things are different
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
Also
Greene (AAA)
Kozma (OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO)
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
well if punto goes on the DL
which i guess he’s not going to….wtf….then presumably greene would come back.
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
the thing I really look (hope) for
is that Craig gets a chance when he comes back.
maybe over the last few weeks, sure
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
Also, .200 BABIP
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Schumaker
Schumaker’s low point this season was on June 4, when he had a line of .207/.258/.299/.557. Today, his slash line is .265/.309/.354/.663. That overall line is still awful. But, from that low point of June 4 for today, Schumaker has hit .308/.345/.394/.739. Arbitrary? Yes. Hollow? Absolutely. But, this is probably the manager’s thought process.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
don't get me wrong
i am not complaining about schu being in the lineup. i’m saying when he couldn’t hit, la russa kept playing him until he started hitting again. why not throw colby in the 2 spot for a few games and see how he does? i am also not complaining about jon jay playing because i like jon jay and even though my brain tells me rasmus is the better playing going forward, my eyes tell me differently.
i just thought it was curious because that’s 2 of the last 3 games jay has started in CF and i just wonder if la russa is looking at how jay does with more playing time, in case they really are thinking about trading rasmus after all.
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
Didn't Colby
say that he was uncomfortable in the 2-hole?
Nevertheless, he did leave Colby there for a very long time as he continued to suck. He’s only been demoted in the order very recently. Schumaker has been hitting pretty well since he came back from injury.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
i'm not sure.
i think, though, that colby has always performed best in that spot.
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
hmmm i was wrong
where he has the most PAs, batting second and fifth:
2d (594 PAs) .272/.330/.412
5th: (400 PAs) .280/ .356/.513
lets put berkman in the 2-hole. i bet no one’s thought of that yet!
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
I'm too lazy to look for it, but
I bandied about that idea right after we signed him. His OBP would be fantastic and we would hit Berk, Puols, Holliday 2,3,4.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
I think most of VEB wanted Berkman in the 2-hole
Of course, we didn’t really expect him to drop mad bombs like this.
TRADE FOR RICH HARDEN
Most recent start: 7 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K
2011 stats: 5.00 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 3.30 xFIP
I can only speak for myself
but I do not want Berkman in the 2-hole
(not that there’s anything wrong with that)
I wonder if he's mentioned that to TLR
I thought that when Renteria was a younger hitter here, TLR hit him in the 6-hole because Edgar was more comfortable there…
Didn’t Colby
say that he was uncomfortable in the 2-hole?
Probably needs more fibre.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:16 AM EDT up reply actions
So, looking at schedule
With the Brewers being able to feast on Cubs/Astros leading up to deadline, if Cards fall 5 or 6 back…who gets made availible?
I’d ask Carp if he’d be willing to move, first.
by Hardcore Legend on Jul 19, 2011 3:07 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I actually really want Carp to be back next year somehow
I would love a good support system as the young guys start making debuts (Carp, Wainwright, Jaime)
by RasmustheRipper on Jul 19, 2011 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Lohse would be tough.
Overpaid, injury history, and NTC.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
No doubt...
but we can’t extend Pujols and have 4 veteran pitchers in the rotation not to mention Jamie is not longer a “league-minimum” guy. To me we can only keep 2 of Lohse, Carp and Westbrook.
Jimmy Ballgame for 2011 RFer!!!
Amen.
And for me, a 2 year, 15mm deal for Carp would be a good price for all parties involved. Make that deal happen and do our damnedest to get rid of either Westbrook or Lohse. Maybe Westy would accept some sort of deal but who would eat his salary for no more than he’s given, performance-wise?
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Well, yeah
Carp can do better on the open market.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 19, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
no reason he couldn't be
Assuming team he is traded to doesn’t pick up his option, they probably won’t offer arbitration either, and we could then just re-sign him.
"Now that they've come out with that great stat, 'innings pitched per inning'-- is there anything they don't have a stat for these days?" -Al Hraboski, 3 Jun 11
meh, even if we fall 6 or 7 games back by the end of the month
I doubt we become sellers. Still play the Brewers like 12 more times. And we have 7 games in a row of our against the Astros/Cubs heading into the deadline, with 6 more to finish the season.
But to answer your question – Berk could be a good rental for a team, assuming we have some sort of insight as to what sort of contract he is looking for
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
I'd definitely look to seel if we're 5 or 6 games back
this rotation is not going to get this team all the way, and 5 or 6 games back of a superior Milwaukee team, you have to imagine, is about a 5% chance of making the post-season, maybe less. We’ve got Wainwright back next year, hopefully, and Miller to come. Even if we’re paying Albert a ton more next year, I think the team is probably better, and the loss of Carp & Berkman’s contracts allows us to pay Albert and perhaps have a little left over to add a useful shortstop (I would non-tender Theriot and Schumaker). I’d trade Carpenter and Berkman and add whatever I could in terms of position player prospects and hopefully someone who can throw left-handed and well out of the bullpen. Ideally, we’d be able to acquire a middle infield prospect in AAA of similar stature to our own Matt Carpenter who’s currently blocked at major league level.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions
i can't imagine that we will fall that far behind.
You teach me baseball and I'll teach you relativity. No, we must not. You will learn about relativity faster than I learn baseball. --Albert Einstein
Berkman is the #1 target, imo.
Lots of contending teams could use his bat and he can play either corner OF spot and 1B. I would guess that a team like the Giants or Rangers would be willing to pick him up if he were made available.
I could see moving Carpenter as well, but I don’t know that you get much back for him. If we are planning to buy him out though, it would be nice to save that money, and if the team he’s going to picks up his contract in 2012 as part of the deal (NYY probably would) then I would guess that he would accept the trade. Why cost yourself a guaranteed $14M and a chance to win a World Series?
Can Colby round out our new MV3?
I'd probably do that right now.
Probably costs us at least one win the rest of the year, but we’re a much better team going forward.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Nobody
5 or 6 games out is not far enough out as inconsistent as this division has been. . . barring a horrible slate of season ending injuries, anyway
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 19, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions
Promote Kolten Wong!
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
LawLz?
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
by all4tookie on Jul 19, 2011 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Stupid Keith Law and his bias against the Cardinals
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
umm. . .
“It’s a dual situation, but what Mother Nature is throwing at us is really unexpected,”
Yeah, because it’s never this hot in mid July in St. Louis!
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
today's fact about Missouri:
I read this in the paper yesterday.
What’s the biggest tourist attraction in Missouri?
Man I miss that place
I haven’t been there in probably 15 years.
live 30 minutes from it
I’ll catch a roll for you next time I go
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
I read this and thought, whoa 15 years is a long time
Then I realized it’s been about the same for me.
I’m older than I used to be.
Still not a werewolf.
Meh. Overrated.
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
no, not really
you just get that crappy knock off over in Ozark. The one at Sikeston is head and shoulders above it. Not as many tourists and the service is much better in my experience.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
I didn't even know there were others
I’ve only been to Sikeston. We use to hit that place every year on the way to Current River from Southern IL.
there is one in Ozark and one down in Foley, Alabama
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
I mean, it's just Cracker Barrel. And they throw rolls at you.
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
And the food is way better
and served family-style. And the service is better. And it’s not as noisy (though it is pretty loud in there).
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
Just not my type of cuisine, I suppose
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
they serve rice
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
by scoot on Jul 19, 2011 3:58 PM EDT up reply actions 11 recs
RT @scoot they serve rice
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
by all4tookie on Jul 19, 2011 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
[this blank post is brought to you by myspace]
Hit me up on Google+
by jd is legend on Jul 19, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 7 recs
Winner.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
0100011101101111011011110110010000100000011011110110111001100101
I had nothing to do with that.
The negative waves. Always with the negative waves...
casual racism ftw.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions
The food is considerably better
and more varied than Cracker Barrel.
ever been?
the food is actually excellent. and the roll throwing is a gimmick but those rolls are actually addictive as fuck.
I mean, the food's alright. It's not bad, by any means, but that type of cuisine just holds no appeal to me whatsoever
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Hey yeah these jokes are funny
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
I am my own audience
and I laughed
by STLRegalia on Jul 19, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I laughed at mine too
o/
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
by scoot on Jul 19, 2011 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
this
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
It's waaaaaay better than Cracker Barrel.
Because I dislike Cracker Barrel but looooove Lambert’s.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
Well depending on where you lived it could have been very far.
But you should definitely go to one some time.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
nonononono
Sikeston. If you’re going to make a trip to go, go to the original.
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 7:33 PM EDT up reply actions
And at SIkeston they actually do throw the rolls across the room.
Not just toss them on your table as they pass you.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
by ClemsonGirl on Jul 19, 2011 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions
You are wrong
Fried. Okra. That is all.
by SouthsideCardsFan on Jul 19, 2011 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions
oh, fuckin A right.
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 5:00 PM EDT up reply actions
OMG FRIED OKRA.
Best. Food. Ever.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
"If I do it wrong just break another toe. Three's my lucky number anyway." -Evan Lysacek: 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist ♥
my fav birthday dinner is
Fried chicken
green bean
corn on the cob
mashed potatoes
FRIED OKRA
hot rolls
and sweet tea
it just ain’t the same without the okra
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Never been to Lambert's
Is it real fried okra or the breaded deep fried crap?
"Go crazy, folks, go crazy! It's a home run, and the Cardinals have won the game, by the score of 3 to 2, on a home run by the Wizard! Go crazy!" - Jack Buck (my earliest baseball memories)
https://plus.google.com/u/0/111459762327473828979/posts
by WizardofOz1982 on Jul 20, 2011 8:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Wow
I didn’t think I’d elicit that type of response!
"It is easy to be brave from a safe distance." - Aesop
...Branson?
Of all sad words of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: 'It might have been!' -- Whittier
Twitter | Gas House Graphs
Well damn
That’s it! The Bass Pro Shop in Springfield.
A free hug
from the guy in the pic with no shirt.
what the hell is a Bass Pro Shop?
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions
You deprived man.
Bass Pro Shop is all that is good and holy about this country. Actually it’s like redneck heaven. It’s a huge outdoors store with everything fishing lures to camping gear to Ranger bass boats.
"Go crazy, folks, go crazy! It's a home run, and the Cardinals have won the game, by the score of 3 to 2, on a home run by the Wizard! Go crazy!" - Jack Buck (my earliest baseball memories)
https://plus.google.com/u/0/111459762327473828979/posts
by WizardofOz1982 on Jul 20, 2011 8:48 AM EDT up reply actions
Kyle Lohse:
ERA: 3.32
FIP: 3.62
xFIP: 3.88
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
I haven't seen vep around lately
so I’ll do him a favor and note this is only six points higher than Barry Bonds’s 2004 OPS.
As of right now the Cardinals do not plan on putting infielderNick Punto on the disabled list. An official with the team called him “fine,” but suggested that the specific update be better coming from the player or a uniformed personnel.
Read more: http://www.stltoday.com/sports/baseball/professional/article_ab08972a-b237-11e0-b50c-0019bb30f31a.html#ixzz1SaGCk0Ts
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 4:11 PM EDT reply actions
So…are we all agreed that Punto coming off the bench is better than Greene or Kozma off the bench with the occasional appearance in the field?
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions
the injury supposedly doesn't affect his hitting from the right side.
The left side is apparently a different story.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions
not to mention he cant throw
so, he can come in and pinch hit right handed, but cant play the field. If only there were someone else who could do that. . .
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
MIght as well
call up Matt Adams.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
You should have seen him when he was 12
by RasmustheRipper on Jul 19, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
was that shape round?
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Most shapes have defined edges
[This is where the picture I just spent 30 minutes looking for is supposed to be]
by RasmustheRipper on Jul 19, 2011 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions
I'd like to see Matt Adams hitting right-handed.
Would be interesting to see him taking up switch-hitting as soon as he got to the majors.
Feel free to insert Princess Bride references to your own tastes.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:28 AM EDT up reply actions
Greene is probably a better hitter than Punto
so I’d say I’d rather Punto was on the DL and rehabbing properly. I want him as full-time shortstop when he’s healthy just because I want Theriot to go away to some dark place and never return.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions
Their overoptimistic* injury reporting this season
has made me so paranoid that my expectations of the outcome just get worse as they say it isn’t serious. At this point, I’m expecting him to be dead of brain-eating fungus within the week.
*Except for Pujols. Doesn’t matter with reference to this case, since Punto, unlike Pujols, lacks superpowers.
that will always be terrifying to me
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 7:36 PM EDT up reply actions
Championship round of church league softball tonight
we messed around and got in the losers bracket, so we have to win all three games tonight to take home the championship. We start at 6:15 and could be playing straight through til 10:00.
"Baseball is like Church, many attend, few understand" - Wes Westrum
sheesh...
hotter in Minnesota than Arizona?
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 4:31 PM EDT up reply actions
113 in Minneapolis
and 83 in Miami/San Diego. That just doesn’t seem fair
by RasmustheRipper on Jul 19, 2011 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions
70 and sunny in downtown SF today
TRADE FOR RICH HARDEN
Most recent start: 7 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K
2011 stats: 5.00 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 3.30 xFIP
How is heat index actually calculated? Anybody know?
The very symbol, the outward and visible expression of the drive, and push, and rush and struggle of the raging, tearing, booming nineteenth century! -- Mark Twain
I believe they take the temperature
And then regress it to league average.
TRADE FOR RICH HARDEN
Most recent start: 7 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K
2011 stats: 5.00 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 3.30 xFIP
by mojowo11 on Jul 19, 2011 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I never trusted the numbers
They just seem inflated. It’s like Springfield hitting stats.
The very symbol, the outward and visible expression of the drive, and push, and rush and struggle of the raging, tearing, booming nineteenth century! -- Mark Twain
Weather in the states is weird
I always find it strange that it’s more extreme in most of the country than it is in the UK. Summers into the 100s in NYC, yet it snows and is colder than the most of the UK in winter. Even more so in Philly, and then when you get to Missouri and the midwest it seems it can go from -10C (which it hardly ever hits here) pretty solidly in winter to blazing hot in the summer.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:30 AM EDT up reply actions
That's because you have a temperate climate
African swallows are non-migratory, that’s my point.
But seriously, ever been the the Great Northwest? My wife’s family hails from Washington (state) and Oregon. In the winter there’s cold but seldom cold enough to snow. In the summer there’s a nice dry period where it might be in the 80s for a while and doesn’t rain every day. Between that there’s cool weather and lots of light rain. Few storms.
Also, if you have seasonal affective disorder, run like hell.
The very symbol, the outward and visible expression of the drive, and push, and rush and struggle of the raging, tearing, booming nineteenth century! -- Mark Twain
NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo
@stlcardinals: Cards INF Ryan Theriot has received a two-game suspension for his actions in the sixth inning of July 17 game vs. the Reds
"I kinda like the Wong" -Aranathor
he was just trying to live up to his creepy flavor-saver
Mike Shannon: "That strikeout was brought to you by...by...well, I don't know what it was brought to you by!"
John Rooney: "It wasn't brought to you by anything Mike."
Yeah, if I were Dirty Dan
no way would I let the decision to make me start at shortstop stand. I’d appeal that in a heartbeat.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
no, no, if theriot appeals his suspension, theriot will able to play until the mlb has looked over his appeal
in which case theriot would start tonight and descalso wouldn’t
by hr on Jul 19, 2011 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
sarcasm fail
on my part.
Baseball's only fun if you're playing it, watching it, or thinking about it.
I can never tell when someone is being sarcastic or serious
sorry
by hr on Jul 19, 2011 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions
understandable
he didn’t use italics
Johnny Gomes could not be reached for comment
"There is not a better feeling in the whole world than knowing that you are the best team in both leagues."- Bob Forsch on winning the 1982 World Series.
by MaytheForschbewithyou on Jul 19, 2011 5:04 PM EDT up reply actions
That was a sarcastic no. I'd rather he be suspended the rest of his career.
"I kinda like the Wong" -Aranathor
NOOOOOOooooooooooooooooo
Joe Strauss is the greatest journalist since Edward R. Murrow.
Also, I would kiss Rui on the kiss cam.
This is an embarrassment.
Ryan Theriot receives the effective equivalent (2 games vs. 2 starts) of the suspesion given to Cueto for kicking Jason LaRue in the head, giving LaRue a concussion, and ending his career. The league office is a joke.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
they were both jokes
both should have been suspended for much longer. I’d have given Theriot a month and Cueto the rest of the season off.
"Now that they've come out with that great stat, 'innings pitched per inning'-- is there anything they don't have a stat for these days?" -Al Hraboski, 3 Jun 11
Theriot should ideally be suspended until the end of his contract.
Also, I wasn’t there in the game thread – but did anyone else think he hadn’t apparently touched the bag? It certainly wasn’t anywhere near as conclusive as Descalso’s the night before. If anyone had the right to go apeshit at the ump it was Dirty Dan, who had both feet on the bag pretty much when the runner was still sliding and a good second away from touching it.
Still bitching to contact.
by Felonius_Monk on Jul 20, 2011 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions
I wasn't in the game thread, but the red's broadcast
in all of it’s 4:3 low-def, painful glory, clearly showed he was about a foot off the bag when he caught the ball. He didn’t NEED to be off the bag- the throw wasn’t that bad- but he was. And he made it look even worse, so it was called safe.
So it counted against Skip’s defensive metrics, since Skip got the “error”. But it wasn’t.
"Now that they've come out with that great stat, 'innings pitched per inning'-- is there anything they don't have a stat for these days?" -Al Hraboski, 3 Jun 11
Going to tonight's game
Wearing a red shirt. Hope I don’t get beaten into a 2-month-long coma.
Will try to post Fanshot-pics and reactions to Chico Bail Bonds Field, Flushing, NY, assuming I survive.
YOG
PS — I live in LA and yeah, this is a dark joke but no, nobody has forgotten what happened Opening Day, except the two cholos who beat him. That’s the real reason people avoid Chavez Ravine.
YOG
I don't know if you have been to Citi Field before,
but if you have time, Shack Shack in CF is awesome. If the line is too long (which it will be for most of the game), Blue Smoke BBQ is right next door and is delicious as well.
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
Going with a vegetarian
Only by the tyranny of his wife and two daughters, though.
Still, I assume no wandering from our StubHub nosebleed seats. The model I have is Yankee Stadium, which I hear is like an Israeli airport w/r/t keeping the poor people (sub-$100,000/year-income) from the high rollers.
I will absolutely hit Shake Shack during the week down in Battery Park!
Thanks
Na, you should be fine with nosebleed tix. In fact, all around the lower level there are tables
where anyone can stand and have a beer or eat or whatever. You can even sit in some areas (right center, by the bridge, for instance). Most of the time I am there, I find the cheapest tix I can on Stubhub and wander around eating/drinking and stopping at different vantage points. It’s a nice park.
Here is a link to my google+ profile.
Thanks, that's good to know
and refreshing from a fan’s point of view.
Last time I was “there” was September 1987. parents flew to Boston where I was in first week of college (soph year) and we drove to NYC with a school friend of mine from Long Island. Shitty rain the whole time. We got drunk as shit togehter huddling in the concrete tunnels and almost watched Willie McGee end his career wiping out in the outfield ocean.
Pendleton was the big hero, IIRC.
Off to the 7 train – follow those “queers with AIDS!”
YOG
the corn coated in mexican deliciousness is really good from the taqueria
"not everything is about you, Rains" -Fritz
That, and the parking
and the fact that the stadium is pretty crappy.
"Now that they've come out with that great stat, 'innings pitched per inning'-- is there anything they don't have a stat for these days?" -Al Hraboski, 3 Jun 11
did i ever mention
that in my pre-VEB days when i was looking for a place to talk about the cards online, i briefly tried to hang out in the mothership comments section. it was the worst thing ever. worse than P-D forums
it was mainly just cards fans calling cubs fans gay
and vice versa. you could probably just replace cubs with reds now
I do like that they now force you to click the "discussion" tab
to read the comments. As a lazy man this has saved me from lots of stupidity.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 5:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Why is Rasmus sitting?
Any updates on how TLR is handling Rasmus? Looks like he’s out tonight.
umm...
follow the Cards much?
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions
he's not really in a slump...BABIP...blah blah blah unluckiness
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Does this Colby thing approach the Reyes kerfuffle of a few years ago?
I feel like Reyes was worse.
Sign Carlos Silva!!!
i think its closer to the Chris Duncan debate actually
Reyes was definitely worse.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I don't know...i just think he simply sucks..
everyone else wants to point out babip, thus my sarcastic response
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions
How the hell did Chad Gaudin break into the majors at age 20?
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 5:31 PM EDT reply actions
hacksaw
"not everything is about you, Rains" -Fritz
by tehzachatak on Jul 19, 2011 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Keppinger to the Giants for...
basically no one. Too bad the Cards couldn’t pick him up and put Punto on the DL where he apparently belongs.
by The Ghost of Todd Burns on Jul 19, 2011 6:26 PM EDT reply actions
According to Brian Walton,
Punto made throws from SS and 3B to 1B today.
Punto making throws from SS and 3B during infield. Told me b4: “I think I am going to be OK.” TLR says he has 2 throw 2 be active.
"I'm gonna throw the nastiest curveball I have ever thrown...if he hits it, I'll tip my cap, but if not we're going to the Series."
--Adam Wainwright on the final pitch of the 2006 NLCS
Sounds like he's got a career ending injury to me.
"Go crazy, folks, go crazy! It's a home run, and the Cardinals have won the game, by the score of 3 to 2, on a home run by the Wizard! Go crazy!" - Jack Buck (my earliest baseball memories)
https://plus.google.com/u/0/111459762327473828979/posts
by WizardofOz1982 on Jul 20, 2011 8:53 AM EDT up reply actions
Pirates starters advanced stats
Maholm: 3.06 ERA, 3.74 FIP, 4.01 xFIP, 4.38 tERA
Morton: 3.62, ERA, 3.49, FIP, 3.78 xFIP, 4.32 tERA
Correia: 4.04 ERA, 4.13 FIP, 4.11 xFIP, 4.14 tERA
Karstens: 2.34 ERA, 4.49 FIP, 3.82 xFIP, 4.77 tERA
McDonald: 4.42 ERA, 4.72 FIP, 4.50 xFIP, 4.94 tERA
TRADE FOR RICH HARDEN
Most recent start: 7 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K
2011 stats: 5.00 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 3.30 xFIP
Relevant FanGraphs linkage
TRADE FOR RICH HARDEN
Most recent start: 7 IP, 3 R, 4 H, 2 BB, 9 K
2011 stats: 5.00 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 3.30 xFIP
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Big League Stew - MLB - Yahoo! Sports
- College player makes impossible over the fence catch to save tournament game (Video)
- Security!: Camden Yards guard collides with Royals’ Mike Moustakas
- The Juice: Nelson Cruz matches career high eight RBIs, Pujols stays hot in Seattle
- Benches clear at Fenway as Red Sox-Rays rivalry heats up
- Keeping good company: Albert Pujols becomes fourth-youngest player to hit 450 home runs
