EVIL~! alkeiper

It's probably worth noting that Billy Wagner never pitched in his return to Citizens Bank Park. He could've pitched on Tuesday, but you don't want your ace (left handed) reliever pitching to one of the games premier lefties with a tie game and the bases loaded in the game. After all, you might need him for a save situation!

Rowand's catch saved the game. It would've allowed three runs, and the Mets would've won the game. Really, it was a fluky injury. If that metal piece of the fence is at any other height, Rowand isn't hurt nearly as bad. We'll have Victorino in the meantime, whose range is almost as good, and whose arm is one of the best in baseball. Hideki Matsui will miss three months. Between MLB and Japan, he had appeared in 1,700+ consecutive games.

Groat had 25 win shares in his own right. He should've at least made the top ten. Groat probably didn't quite deserve the award, but don't forget the percieved importance of the batting crown in those days.

Unbelieveable finish in Cincy.

OPS+ is a good indicator because it adjusts for park factors. The best tool is to look at run production, and look at home field stats. If the average game in such a park sees nine runs, and how much does a player contribute per game, and so on. That's too much to expect from the average fan, so I stick with OPS+. It's worth noting that this isn't limited to hitters' parks. Jay Gibbons, IMO, is perenially overrated. Every year fans are convinced that he'll produce a 30 HR season despite the minor problem that he's never done it before. Gibbons sports a gaudy .315 career OBP. You have to take into account typical production at each position. If a player produced like Kevin Mench and played at second base, he'd be tremendously valuable.

Mench is overrated. A 106 career ERA+ and .334 career OBP is not impressive. Particularly from a corner outfielder playing in such a good hitters' park. Same with Matt Holliday. He produced a 114 OPS+ last season. That's good. It's not great, and he's a corner outfielder. And Atkins put together a .773 OPS last year, in Coors Field! Look at what all those guys have in common. Big time hitters' parks.

Relievers throw many pitches more often than you'd think. If he runs Cordero out again tomorrow, then you have a problem.

I'm not sure. I know you'd like to see A-Rod back at short, but I am not sure even that is the best move. Many, many people have suggested Jeter would make a decent CF.

Why's that? Frankly, I applaud Robinson for using Cordero in a tied game rather than save him for a "save" situation. And now the Nats are in a position to win the game.

He didn't. That was a step and a dive.

For anyone that still thinks Jeter's a gold glover, I refer you to that Mirabelli hit. Half the shortstops in baseball would've fielded that cleanly.

By the way, Joe Torre should be flogged on general principle for using three relievers this inning.

Anyone catch Sturtze mouthing "what the fuck?" when Torre came to take him out?

Can't believe I forgot Soriano. He's possibly #1.

If this rain doesn't let up, Gavin Floyd could be three outs away from his first shutout. Here's a fun Mets/Phillies boxscore, http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/B06110PHI1985.htm

What was the question again. Something about the Mets' record for runs allowed?

One underrated player that hasn't been mentioned yet: Brandon Webb.

Update: Aaron Rowand broke his nose on the play.

Rowand's catch was amazing, especially that he HELD ONTO THE F'N BALL. Definately check this one out in the highlights.

With Steve Trachsel pitching and rain on the way, it's doubtful we get this game in.

The problem with intangibles is not that they do not exist. They do. But too often they are used by sportswriters to trumpet players they personally like but do not have the statistics to support. Tomas Perez was like that. Note how well his intangibles carried over to Tampa Bay. Ditto Kevin Millar in Baltimore. Youks is carrying a .415 OBP right now. He's better than either Mientkiewicz or J.T., and essentially anyone else in the organization. He's perfectly fine as their first baseman.

I hope you'll all forgive me for not sticking with this game until the end.

Nine game win streaks fall hard I guess. Nice to see Carlos Ruiz get some playing time. Chris Booker was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Royals. ESPN.com's poll asks if you would like to see Bonds sign with your favorite team as a DH. Hell no, because what the hell would we do with a DH?

The local Red Barons wore pink jerseys this past Sunday to support breast cancer research. They auctioned the jerseys after the game. The problem was that these things looked like $8 softball jerseys. Absolutely horrible. A friend told me that Ryan Fleming's number had practically worn off by the end of the game.

Three Game series, pitting the 1939 New York Yankees against the 1995 Cleveland Indians. '95 Indians (Charles Nagy) @ '39 Yankees (Monte Pearson) '39 Yankees (Atley Donald) @ '95 Indians (Ken Hill) '95 Indians (Dennis Martinez) @ '39 Yankees (Red Ruffing) (if necessary) Game 1 '95 Indians 12, '39 Yankees 4 The Indians steamrolled Yankee pitching in the first game of the series. Albert Belle hit two home runs and Omar Vizquel and Sandy Alomar added home runs of their own. Belle has now hit seven home runs in the tournament. Charles Nagy pitched seven innings to improve his record to 3-0, while Monte Pearson drops to 0-1. '95 Indians 10, '39 Yankees 4 The Indians again crushed the Yankees to wrap up a tournament victory. Ken Hill (2-0) pitched two innings for the victory while Atley Donald (2-1) lasted just two innings in the loss. Albert Belle hit his eighth home run. Tournament MVP: Joe Dimaggio, 1939 Yankees Dimaggio hit .386 in 44 at bats with a tournament leading 16 RBIs. Tournament Cy Young: Charles Nagy, '95 Indians 3-0. 1.29 ERA.