This Week in Baseball

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

Ponson is now 3-10 even though he didn't really pitch that bad. 2 errors and 2 bad pitches did him in.

 

In Minor League news:

 

ABERDEEN, Md. (AP) -- Luis Ramirez set a minor league record by striking out 12 straight batters, and didn't get a win to show for it.

 

Ramirez, a right-hander in the Baltimore Orioles' organization, had 15 strikeouts in five innings for the Class A Aberdeen IronBirds on Wednesday night. Working on a pitch count, he was removed after the fifth inning of Aberdeen's 6-3 loss to the Jamestown Jammers.

 

The major league record for consecutive strikeouts is 10, set by Tom Seaver of the New York Mets on April 22, 1970.

 

Ramirez began by inducing a groundout to short. He then struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

 

Ramirez struck out four in the second -- the result of a dropped third strike and an error by the Aberdeen first baseman. He struck out the side in order in the third and fourth innings.

 

A leadoff double in the fifth ended the streak, but Ramirez recovered to strike out the next three batters. He was then lifted after 76 pitches -- 58 for strikes -- because the IronBirds were limiting him to 78 pitches.

 

Aberdeen led 3-0 when Ramirez was removed. His replacement, Bryce Chamberlin, gave up four runs without recording an out in the sixth.

 

Ramirez was a non-drafted free agent from Curacao. Before this season, he pitched two years of Gulf Coast rookie ball in the Orioles' system. His career record is 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA.

 

Send that guy here (Delmarva).

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Ponson is now 3-10 even though he didn't really pitch that bad. 2 errors and 2 bad pitches did him in.

 

In Minor League news:

 

ABERDEEN, Md. (AP) -- Luis Ramirez set a minor league record by striking out 12 straight batters, and didn't get a win to show for it.

 

Ramirez, a right-hander in the Baltimore Orioles' organization, had 15 strikeouts in five innings for the Class A Aberdeen IronBirds on Wednesday night. Working on a pitch count, he was removed after the fifth inning of Aberdeen's 6-3 loss to the Jamestown Jammers.

 

The major league record for consecutive strikeouts is 10, set by Tom Seaver of the New York Mets on April 22, 1970.

 

Ramirez began by inducing a groundout to short. He then struck out the next two batters to end the inning.

 

Ramirez struck out four in the second -- the result of a dropped third strike and an error by the Aberdeen first baseman. He struck out the side in order in the third and fourth innings.

 

A leadoff double in the fifth ended the streak, but Ramirez recovered to strike out the next three batters. He was then lifted after 76 pitches -- 58 for strikes -- because the IronBirds were limiting him to 78 pitches.

 

Aberdeen led 3-0 when Ramirez was removed. His replacement, Bryce Chamberlin, gave up four runs without recording an out in the sixth.

 

Ramirez was a non-drafted free agent from Curacao. Before this season, he pitched two years of Gulf Coast rookie ball in the Orioles' system. His career record is 8-5 with a 2.85 ERA.

 

Send that guy here (Delmarva).

22 strikeouts in 10 innings.

 

Fucking impressive.

[Gert T 0]

After watching the Dodgers-Giants highlights, it is nice to see that Michael Tucker has the same eyes as Manny Ramirez.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

meanwhile.. the new Baseball America has a good article on George Lindsey.

 

And here's his numbers on "expected runs"

 

0 on, 0 outs: .46

0 on, 1 out: .24

0 on, 2 outs: .10

 

runner on first, 0 outs: .81

runner on first, 1 out: .50

runner on first, 2 outs: .22

 

runner on second, 0 outs: 1.19

runner on second, 1 out: .67

runner on second, 2 outs: .30

 

runner on third, 0 outs: 1.39

runner on third, 1 out: .98

runner on third, 2 outs: .36

 

runners on first and second, 0 outs: 1.47

runners on first and second, 1 out: .94

runners on first and second, 2 outs: .40

 

runners on first and third, 0 outs: 1.94

runners on first and third, 1 out: 1.12

runners on first and third, 2 outs: .53

 

runners on second and third, 0 outs: 1.96

runners on second and third, 1 out: 1.56

runners on second and third, 2 outs: .69

 

bases loaded, 0 outs: 2.22

bases loaded, 1 out: 1.64

bases loaded, 2 outs: 82

 

the article mentioned the following from his studies:

 

- Sac Bunts reduce the chance of scoring

 

- Teams should go for the double play with the bases loaded and no outs. Unless the game is tied or they have a one run lead, then they should put the infield in to get the lead runner

 

- Intentional Walks lead to more runs

 

then again, most of us, other than most managers, already know this.

The Hidden Game of Baseball, published in 1983, had this stuff in it. You would think managers would get the message, but so far, only Earl Weaver ever understood the concept. And he managed before that book even came out.

[Guest Anglesault]

Ponson is now 3-10 even though he didn't really pitch that bad.

Yeah, that was kind of embarassing.

[King Kamala 0]

Sidney Ponson is not a #1 starter. I repeat not a #1 starter. And after this kind of start, I'm wondering if he's even worthy of being called a quality #2 starter. Then again the Orioles have absolutely no one could enough or experienced enough to be called a #1 starter.

[Guest Anglesault]

Sidney Ponson is not a #1 starter. I repeat not a #1 starter.

I've said that all year. Back in the hot stove thread, when everyone was yelling that the O's were gonna give the Yanks and Sox a run, I was the one sole light, quietly trying to remind everyone that Sidney Ponson was the Orioles' Ace.

Edited June 25, 2004 by Anglesault

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Then again the Orioles have absolutely no one could enough or experienced enough to be called a #1 starter.

 

Right now, the Orioles have no one good enough to be called a starter, period. Granted, a lot of it is bad luck. No one could have thought Riley, Ainsworth, Bedard, etc. would be this bad. But they are awful right now.

 

I was the one sole light, quietly trying to remind everyone that Sidney Ponson was the Orioles' Ace.

 

Not quite. Let's look back at my season preview.....

 

While these players will improve the team, I can not see the Orioles rising out of fourth place. Their pitching remains suspect after Sidney Ponson

[Guest Anglesault]

Then again the Orioles have absolutely no one could enough or experienced enough to be called a #1 starter.

 

Right now, the Orioles have no one good enough to be called a starter, period. Granted, a lot of it is bad luck. No one could have thought Riley, Ainsworth, Bedard, etc. would be this bad.

::raises hand::

 

While these players will improve the team, I can not see the Orioles rising out of fourth place. Their pitching remains suspect after Sidney Ponson

 

You seem to be giving Piggy Ponson the benefit of the doubt there.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Phillies have Paul Abbott on the mound tonight, against Pedro Martinez and the Red Sox. I have this strange feeling that my team is fucked.

[Guest Anglesault]

The Phillies have Paul Abbott on the mound tonight, against Pedro Martinez and the Red Sox. I have this strange feeling that my team is fucked.

I cried when I saw that. I really did.

 

And as of right now, Pedro's next start is against Brad Halsey. Hopefully he hurts himself during his pregame celebratory dance tonight.

[the pinjockey 0]

I saw that matchup in the paper this morning and realized it might be a good time to see a movie tonight.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

You seem to be giving Piggy Ponson the benefit of the doubt there.

 

I still give him the benefit of the doubt. His peripherals are much better than his ERA indicates.

[Guest Anglesault]

Yankee fans on the Yankee board I go to are screaming to trade the world for Zito. I don't want him.

[Fuzzy Dunlop 0]

Wow, Taste Of Chicago, Cubs/Sox, AND the gay pride parade! Truly there has never been a better time to be a Chicagoan. And in preparation of this momentous weekend, here's my impression of a Sox fan---

 

"1908 blah blah blah curse blah goat bah bartman hahahahah typical cub fan blah blah blah"

 

Wow, this seemed a lot funnier when I was planning it in my head. Just trying to say that most of the Sox fans I know are the absolute stupidest people in the world, and they all care more about the Cubs losing than the Sox winning. Their ballpark is horrendous, and I wouldn't go to a game there if I won tickets from a radio station and they were playing my most hated team the Yankees. I think they actually sold out HALF their park for that series.

[Guest Anglesault]

Wow, Taste Of Chicago, Cubs/Sox, AND the gay pride parade! Truly there has never been a better time to be a Chicagoan.

Except possibly the 1880s. Chicago looks like it was alot of fun back then.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

Meanwhile.. Cardinals fans are dicks

 

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/co...+in+Kansas+City

 

It's a Royal pain to watch baseball in Kansas City

 

 

BY JEFF GORDON

Post-Dispatch Online Sports Columnist

06/25/2004

 

The Cardinals are doing the Kansas City Royals a huge favor. They are coming across the state for an interleague series and they will bring tens of thousands of fans with them.

 

So at least the Royals will make some money this weekend.

 

Our friends on the West Coast of Missouri are suffering through another hopeless summer of losing baseball. Once again, the Royals management is in the process of selling off its high-priced talent and starting over.

 

These may be great days for baseball overall, but Our National Pastime still faces a bleak future in small markets like Kansas City.

 

If you are a long-suffering Royals fan, would you buck up to watch your last-place team knowing that it is being dismantled? Who wants to spend money to attend a flea market?

 

General manager Allard Baird has no choice this summer. He must drop the plunger on a team that cannot hit, pitch or field particularly well.

 

So it must swap veterans for kids over and over and over again, hoping to amass enough talent to make an occasional run as the Florida Marlins have. It's a brutal way to do your business, but it's all Baird has under the circumstances.

 

"I'm talking. I'm listening. I'm exploring," Baird told ESPN.com. "I'm seeing prospects on my travels and I'm listening to clubs. It's a matter of maximizing the moment, so to speak, in terms of what you get."

 

He already swapped veteran reliever Jason Grimsley to the Orioles to land a young power pitcher, Denny Bautista. Then he made his much-anticipated blockbuster move, swapping talented outfielder Carlos Beltran to Houston in a three-way deal with the Oakland A's.

 

The Royals got three prospects in return, including well-regarded third baseman Mark Teahen. "It was important that we do this now," Baird told the Kansas City Star. "If we had waited for the (July 31) trade deadline, we would not have been able to get the same sort of return."

 

How big was this trade? Imagine the Cardinals trading Albert Pujols during the walk year of his contract. That's the comparison.

 

The Royals simply lack the resources to maintain an all-star team nucleus, as the Cardinals have on this side of the state. When their players reach the height of their earning power, they have to move on.

 

Baird held on to Beltran over the winter, hoping the Royals could build on their '03 success and contend in '04. It hasn't happened, so now the club was forced to get what it could for this pending free agent.

 

Unfortunately, agent Scott Boras represents Beltran – so potential trade partners knew they would be hard-pressed to sign him before he hits the free-agent market. Boras freely compares Beltran to Alex Rodriguez, so you can see where that is headed. His asking price is $18 million per season.

 

That's why the Royals didn't get a whole lot for him. Baird did his best, then shifted his attention to his other assets.

 

Catcher Benito Santiago and slugger Juan Gonzalez would have a little trade value, too, if they weren't sidelined by serious injuries.

 

Baird will walk away from Juan Gone's $7 million-per-year deal this winter, but he wouldn't mind getting something for him before then -- if Gonzalez's balky back ever allows him to play again.

 

Matt Stairs would be a perfect addition for any contender seeking a powerful lefthanded bat for a part-time role. He, too, will be playing with a price tag on his cap.

 

It's too bad the Royals didn't stay healthy this season. It's too bad their young pitching didn't evolve as hoped. It's too bad third baseman Joe Randa and slugger Mike Sweeney have quit producing.

 

It's too bad Kansas City must endure another lost summer of baseball. Back in the '70s, the Royals were one of baseball's model franchises. Back in the late '70s, Cardinal Nation could only wish its club could match up to the Royals.

 

And now, well . . . it's too bad what has happened to our old friends from the 1985 World Series. The least the Cardinals can do is buy some extra hot dogs in Kansas City this weekend and keep the Royals in business.

 

It's great that the series will only be in Kansas City this year, considering that the Cardinals don't play in a real baseball stadium, but in a donut.

[Guest Anglesault]

What exactly did he say that wasn't true?

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

What exactly did he say that wasn't true?

Sure, I'll go though that.

 

"The Cardinals are doing the Kansas City Royals a huge favor. They are coming across the state for an interleague series and they will bring tens of thousands of fans with them."

 

Typical mentality of the "Cardinal Nation"

 

"So at least the Royals will make some money this weekend."

 

As opposed to losing money with an average attendence of over 21,000 while being on pace for a total of 1.7 fans

 

"Once again, the Royals management is in the process of selling off its high-priced talent and starting over."

 

Jason Grimsley is just high-priced

 

Beltran is the only talent that is high-priced that will be traded.

 

"If you are a long-suffering Royals fan, would you buck up to watch your last-place team knowing that it is being dismantled? Who wants to spend money to attend a flea market?"

 

A fire sale where we trade Beltran and.. um.. um... Grimsley.

 

"General manager Allard Baird has no choice this summer. He must drop the plunger on a team that cannot hit, pitch or field particularly well."

 

drop the plunger?

 

"So it must swap veterans for kids over and over and over again, hoping to amass enough talent to make an occasional run as the Florida Marlins have. It's a brutal way to do your business, but it's all Baird has under the circumstances."

 

Yeah.. that devastating fire sale where we gave up Grimsley.

 

"How big was this trade? Imagine the Cardinals trading Albert Pujols during the walk year of his contract. That's the comparison.'

 

Beltran isn't as good as Pujols.

 

It'd be like swapping someone who is probably overrated, like Rolen.

 

"The Royals simply lack the resources to maintain an all-star team nucleus, as the Cardinals have on this side of the state. When their players reach the height of their earning power, they have to move on."

 

that statement might be true, if he didn't bring up the Cardinals in that.

 

"That's why the Royals didn't get a whole lot for him."

 

Yeah, only two players who are already on the roster and a good third baseman.

 

"It's too bad the Royals didn't stay healthy this season. It's too bad their young pitching didn't evolve as hoped. It's too bad third baseman Joe Randa and slugger Mike Sweeney have quit producing."

 

Oh, sincerity.

 

"The least the Cardinals can do is buy some extra hot dogs in Kansas City this weekend and keep the Royals in business."

 

Yeah, since we're in danger of going under due to a luck of hot dog sales. Dicks.

[Bored 0]

Aaron Boone is about to sign a two-year deal with the Indians.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1829373

[Guest Anglesault]

What exactly did he say that wasn't true?

Sure, I'll go though that.

 

"The Cardinals are doing the Kansas City Royals a huge favor. They are coming across the state for an interleague series and they will bring tens of thousands of fans with them."

 

Typical mentality of the "Cardinal Nation"

He could have been a little less snarky about it, but they probably will bring in tens of thousands of fans. Same with Yanks and Sox or Mets.

 

As opposed to losing money with an average attendence of over 21,000 while being on pace for a total of 1.7 fans

 

Which team is that? Because that's not very good at all.

 

Jason Grimsley is just high-priced

 

Beltran is the only talent that is high-priced that will be traded.

 

I didn't follow Grimsley in KC, but he was always decent-ish and certainly can't be any worse than anyone else on that team.

 

A fire sale where we trade Beltran and.. um.. um... Grimsley.

 

Eh, anytime you trade away the star of your team to keep from paying him it's gonna be called a firesale.

 

drop the plunger?

 

I've never heard that expression.

 

Beltran isn't as good as Pujols.

 

He's still the best (or one of) on the team and can only get better.

[Guest Anglesault]

Aaron Boone is about to sign a two-year deal with the Indians.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1829373

Good for him.

 

I was getting worried that they'd drag his ass over to play second here.

[Rob E Dangerously 0]

I didn't follow Grimsley in KC, but he was always decent-ish and certainly can't be any worse than anyone else on that team.

 

Grimsley led the league in appearances due to Pena's fascination with using him. Grimsley is horrible with inherited runners on.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Re: The Royals.

 

The Royals have David DeJesus, not far away from taking over at center field. Any smart organization will take the cheaper player, and spend their money elsewhere. DeJesus is currently hitting .315 for AAA Omaha, and will cost less than a million dollars TOTAL over the next three seasons.

 

Second, I don't think the Royals are as bad as their record indicates. They've been unusually unlucky with pitcher injuries. Angel Berroa missed a month with migranes. But now they have DeJesus, Zach Greinke, Mike Wood, and Mark Teahen as up and coming stars. Add the money they'll save on Beltran and Joe Randa, and they could add a free agent this offseason. The Royals are certainly not a moribund organization.

 

Unfortunately, agent Scott Boras represents Beltran – so potential trade partners knew they would be hard-pressed to sign him before he hits the free-agent market. Boras freely compares Beltran to Alex Rodriguez, so you can see where that is headed. His asking price is $18 million per season.

 

Here's a secret. If you don't offer that money, the asking price goes down. No way in hell does Carlos Beltran earn $18 Million.

[Guest Anglesault]

Re: The Royals.

 

The Royals have David DeJesus, not far away from taking over at center field. Any smart organization will take the cheaper player, and spend their money elsewhere. DeJesus is currently hitting .315 for AAA Omaha, and will cost less than a million dollars TOTAL over the next three seasons.

How long until DeJesus is as good as Beltran? Is he like right on the cusp?

 

Second, I don't think the Royals are as bad as their record indicates.

 

Yes, perhaps it's an optical illusion.

 

Every team has to deal with injuries. Good teams can get over it. Bad teams tend not to.

 

I still can't believe this disaster is the same organization I group up hating.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

How long until DeJesus is as good as Beltran? Is he like right on the cusp?

 

A few years, if ever. I'm not going to claim DeJesus is as good. The idea is that Beltran isn't so much better that he's worth 8 figures more a year.

 

Yes, perhaps it's an optical illusion.

 

Every team has to deal with injuries. Good teams can get over it. Bad teams tend not to.

 

I still can't believe this disaster is the same organization I group up hating.

 

You have to look closely at the talent. The Cubs lost 90+ games two years ago. But they weren't that far from contention. I honestly don't know if the Royals are on that level, but there are differences in 90 loss teams. By point is that the Royals aren't going to blow up and start over. They don't need to.

[Guest Anglesault]

How long until DeJesus is as good as Beltran? Is he like right on the cusp?

 

A few years, if ever. I'm not going to claim DeJesus is as good. The idea is that Beltran isn't so much better that he's worth 8 figures more a year.

So...They intentionally downgraded.

 

There's an organization I could get behind as a fan. I'm sure they at least offered some kind of consolation to the Royal fan, though, right?

 

"Sure, we just dumped our star outfielder in favor of someone not nearly as good, more or less telling you, the fan, that we don't even plan on trying to dig ourselves out of this whole this year, but..."

 

There is a "but...", right?

 

"Look at all the money I saved!" doesn't count.

[Guest Anglesault]

Moving on to another Yankee rival, the fucking Subway Series starts tonight. The more I think about it, the more it irritates me. It's such a lose-lose situation for the Yankees. If the Yankees win, it's "So what, it's the Mets" directed at the Yankees and "At least you tried" directed at the Mets.

 

If the Mets win, it's "How the hell could you lose to the METS?" for my yankees, while the Amazins get celebrated like a toddler who just took his first shit on the bowl.

[Guest FrigidSoul]

So...They intentionally downgraded.

at one position yes, but they picked up a couple damn good prospects

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

So...They intentionally downgraded.

 

There's an organization I could get behind as a fan. I'm sure they at least offered some kind of consolation to the Royal fan, though, right?

 

"Sure, we just dumped our star outfielder in favor of someone not nearly as good, more or less telling you, the fan, that we don't even plan on trying to dig ourselves out of this whole this year, but..."

 

There is a "but...", right?

 

"Look at all the money I saved!" doesn't count.

 

You can't just evaluate the Royals by comparing Beltran versus DeJesus. They acquired their future catcher and third baseman, and a starting pitcher. Its up to them how they spend their money in the offseason, but this is a good trade right now.