TWIB #4: now to the end of the month

[The Man in Blak 0]

It's not really "complete bullshit", though - the Tampa Bay outfield is stacked with Huff/Gomes/Crawford/Baldelli/Gathright, and they obviously haven't been able to find any takers on Huff, so there is a legitimate reason that Young is blocked, minor league player of the year or not.

 

Furthermore, it's not like Young has been incarcerated in AAA for a long period of time - this year was set to be his first full season in AAA. And while his line of .285/.303/.447 in 200+ AAA at-bats last year is impressive for a 20 year, it's still not a line that would indicate that Young is ready to hit the Majors.

 

Contrast his situation with BJ Upton, who has seemingly been ready to take SS or 3B for years now, but has toiled away in the minor leagues while watching the club acquire stiffs like Alex Gonzalez and Nick Green to suck up at-bats in the infield.

 

What I was trying to get at with Young is that the D-Rays as an organization keep players blocked in the minors for monetary reasons, as you explained with Upton. Eventually, Tampa will end up losing at least 2 of those outfielders because they won't pay market value, or those guys will get more money elsewhere when their jail term is finally up.

 

I'm not sure if that's true as a whole for the organization. Rocco Baldelli, Carl Crawford, and Dewon Brazelton are three examples of players that the organization probably called up too soon , making them more expensive at a younger age (and, in Brazelton's case, stunting their development entirely). If anything, their actions with Delmon Young (and Upton as well) demonstrate that they've learned a little bit from their mistakes with those three players.

 

Young probably won't be brought up to the bigs until they absolutely have to and when you've already proven you're the best in the minors what more are you supposed to do?

 

For one, there was already rumblings that Delmon Young was probably going to get called up this year, after he got some more at-bats from the AAA level. Once again, a lot of that depends on the players at the big league level; Young, talented as he is, is not going to supplant Baldelli, Crawford, Gomes, or Huff on an everyday basis.

 

Secondly, getting the Minor League Player of the Year doesn't necessarily mean that you're the best hitter at the highest level in the minors, nor does it mean that you're an automatic success for the major leagues. (Andruw Jones actually won two Minor League Player of the Year awards from Baseball America, for example, before getting called up.) Young put together a spectacular season for his age in AA last year, which is what earned him the award, but he still has a bit to go before he has mastered AAA. If July comes around and Young has a line of .325/.375/.525, then he might have more room to talk, especially if the Devil Rays have dealt off some of their excess talent.

[The Man in Blak 0]

Schilling came into this year with 192 wins and no Cy Young awards. Realistically I think he needs at least 230 career wins. Otherwise there's not much statistically separating him from a dozen other pitchers who had a few great years and missed the Hall.

 

Even if he ends up with 3,000+ K's? Only 13 other guys have done that, 14 if Pedro gets 139 this year.

I don't think 3,000 Ks is as impressive as it might have been 15 years ago. High strikeout totals are a product of our time, and I'm not sure if the voters will take that into account or not.

 

In fairness though, Schilling performs well on the various HOF Standards tests, and he's 8-2 in the postseason. I thin he'd miss if he retired today, but he should be able to pad his resume for two seasons.

 

BRef has him at 7-2 in the postseason, but that's beside the point - the record actually understates his dominance in the postseason. He won the 1993 NLCS MVP and turned in an absolutely absurd run (only six earned runs through the entire postseason, including three starts in the World Series) for the Diamondbacks '01 championship run. For better or worse, he'll be associated with a gutsy performance during the "bloody sock" game, which played a hand in Boston handing the Yankees the biggest playoff upset in baseball history. Many writers and reporters consider him to be the big game pitcher of this time period, and that will go a long way towards making up ground from his statistics.

 

The statistics aren't really that bad either. Schilling has no Cy Young Awards, but part of that comes from being in the same league (and team) as Randy Johnson - according to BRef, he has 1.85 Cy Young shares, which is the highest score for a non-winner and good for 15th all-time from all pitchers, including past winners. He's third all-time with a 4.29 strikeout/walk ratio, and he'll cross the 200 win mark later this year. He passes the Black Ink and Grey Ink metrics, which usually indicate a higher probability of HoF election and, as Al said, he's got some more time to build up his resume.

 

He's not an inner circle Hall of Famer, but I'll be legitimately surprised if he doesn't make it in.

[Guest Felonies!]

Maddux's ERA goes up to 1.35, but the Cubs win 6-2. Maddux is 5-0, the Cubs are 13-8, and most of those wins are from Maddux and Marshall starts.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

With Rusch going tomorrow, it was paramount they win today if they wanted a realistic shot at taking the series. Maddux only really struggled in the first inning and the one where he gave up the two runs. He made Prince Fielder look ridiculously bad in what I thought was the key at-bat in the first inning.

[Guest Felonies!]

Yeah, I hope Tits has a good outing tomorrow, and the Cubs can parlay today into some good momentum. Jacque Jones might be over the Mendoza line now, and unfortunately a good Jones performance seems to mean that he's gonna take more potshots at Cub fans again.

[Bored 0]

Another year, another trip to the DL for Rich Harden this time with a back strain. All the talent in the world but he has yet to get through a season without going on the DL.

[the max 0]

Trade him to the Cubs.

[Guest NYankees]

Jaret Wright Suuuucckkkkkksssssssssss. I cannot wait until the Yankees do not pick up his option for next year. What a waste!!!

[Bruiser Chong 0]

OMG HE GAVE UP TWO RUNS TO ONE OF THE BEST OFFENSIVE TEAMS IN BASEBALL!!!

 

Who do you want there in his place, guy? Tanyon Sturtze?

[Bruiser Chong 0]

In more serious news, former Dodger Steve Howe has died.

[Guest NYankees]

In more serious news, former Dodger Steve Howe has died.

 

 

This has it's own thread.

 

 

As far as Jaret Wright, he has done nothing in his baseball career to warrant a 3 year, 21 million dollar contract. Everyone hated the deal when he signed it and people were only happy that he spent enough time on the DL last year to make next year a team option for the third year. The guy is horrible and gives up runs to everybody. I rather see a rookie trying to win a spot in the rotation making 400 k a year than watching some washed up bum who is only starting to justify the contract that the Yankees had given him.

[naiwf 0]

Jeff Francoeur just bluffed a single and men on 1st and 2nd into runners on 2nd and 3rd. What happened to this guy?

 

But of course the Mets left both men on base thanks to a Chavez ground out, Pedro K and Reyes K. Fuck.

[MarvinisaLunatic 0]

With regards to Mussina, I hope to hell the Orioles don't get all nostalgic and want to bring him back..

 

And Cabrerra was rolling until the 6th when he gave up a HR to tie at 2, but now the Os have the bases loaded with no outs.

[Brett Favre 0]

It just means they aren't picking up his option (Mussina). Doesn't say anything about the Yanks just resigning him after they do. They'll probably do what they did with Bernie, not pick up the option, and sign him to a deal worth less money.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Phillies fans, please explain why Bret Meyers was not lifted for a pinch-hitter with the go-ahead run on third base with two outs? He was closing in on 100 pitches and he's now given up two more runs.

[devo 0]

Well, I'm not a Phillies fan, but I imagine most of the responses from them would be about Charlie Manuel and how he sucks.

[sfaJack 0]

Voting has begun for the All Star Game?? Does that always happen this early?

[devo 0]

The crowd at Turner Field shows some class by giving Franco a nice ovation as he comes to bat. It's a much better situation than, say, ridiculously bitter Astro fans booing Beltran at every given opportunity.

[DMann2003 0]

All I can say is getting Arroyo and Brandon Phillips onto this Reds team has been very beneficial so far.

[devo 0]

Second home run of the night for Wright! 5-2 Mets in the top of the 9th.

[Guest NYankees]

Nice to see the Umps screw the Yankees some more. It looks like the Yankees will lose to the Umps yet again this year. It's kind of tough playing 9-9 baseball when the 4 umpires make it 13-9 on the field.

[DMann2003 0]

Nearly lost it there but 5-4 win for the Reds

[sfaJack 0]

Was that actually a homer for Berkman in the 9th? Local TV had a crappy angle on it.

[treble 0]

Nice to see the Umps screw the Yankees some more. It looks like the Yankees will lose to the Umps yet again this year. It's kind of tough playing 9-9 baseball when the 4 umpires make it 13-9 on the field.

Yup.

[mike546 0]

Nice to see the Umps screw the Yankees some more. It looks like the Yankees will lose to the Umps yet again this year. It's kind of tough playing 9-9 baseball when the 4 umpires make it 13-9 on the field.

 

Do you really think the Yanks were going to score three runs of BJ Ryan? Cmon it wasn't THAT big of a deal.

[DMann2003 0]

Was that actually a homer for Berkman in the 9th? Local TV had a crappy angle on it.

 

Yes, a fan reached out and caught it but 3rd base ump said it would've hit the pole had the fan not caught it anyway, was a little tense after that but we held on.

 

But Freel was wacky tonight, getting caught between 1st and 2nd, taking away the very next out in the 9th from McCracken.

[Guest NYankees]

Nice to see the Umps screw the Yankees some more. It looks like the Yankees will lose to the Umps yet again this year. It's kind of tough playing 9-9 baseball when the 4 umpires make it 13-9 on the field.

 

Do you really think the Yanks were going to score three runs of BJ Ryan? Cmon it wasn't THAT big of a deal.

 

 

It's not even that. I am sick of balls being called strike 3 against Yankee hitters, I am sick and tired of what should be a strike out pitch being called a ball and the next pitch is a homerun ball against opponents. I am sick of being who are clearly safe being called out. Bernie was safe and the tying run was up at bat. All I want to see is the Yankees get a fair chance and not have to play 9 to 13 every fucking game.

[the max 0]

Nice to see the Umps screw the Yankees some more. It looks like the Yankees will lose to the Umps yet again this year. It's kind of tough playing 9-9 baseball when the 4 umpires make it 13-9 on the field.

 

Do you really think the Yanks were going to score three runs of BJ Ryan? Cmon it wasn't THAT big of a deal.

 

 

It's not even that. I am sick of balls being called strike 3 against Yankee hitters, I am sick and tired of what should be a strike out pitch being called a ball and the next pitch is a homerun ball against opponents. I am sick of being who are clearly safe being called out. Bernie was safe and the tying run was up at bat. All I want to see is the Yankees get a fair chance and not have to play 9 to 13 every fucking game.

 

[CanadianChris 0]

Mussina is 37? I thought he was in his early 30s.

Nooooooo. He was Baltimore's ace back in the early 90s.

 

I still remember the uproar he caused when he went to warm up on his own at the '93 All-Star Game in Baltimore, when Cito Gaston had no intention of putting him in the game. Cito was hated in Baltimore for the rest of his managing career.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

BRef has him at 7-2 in the postseason, but that's beside the point - the record actually understates his dominance in the postseason. He won the 1993 NLCS MVP and turned in an absolutely absurd run (only six earned runs through the entire postseason, including three starts in the World Series) for the Diamondbacks '01 championship run. For better or worse, he'll be associated with a gutsy performance during the "bloody sock" game, which played a hand in Boston handing the Yankees the biggest playoff upset in baseball history. Many writers and reporters consider him to be the big game pitcher of this time period, and that will go a long way towards making up ground from his statistics.

 

The statistics aren't really that bad either. Schilling has no Cy Young Awards, but part of that comes from being in the same league (and team) as Randy Johnson - according to BRef, he has 1.85 Cy Young shares, which is the highest score for a non-winner and good for 15th all-time from all pitchers, including past winners. He's third all-time with a 4.29 strikeout/walk ratio, and he'll cross the 200 win mark later this year. He passes the Black Ink and Grey Ink metrics, which usually indicate a higher probability of HoF election and, as Al said, he's got some more time to build up his resume.

 

He's not an inner circle Hall of Famer, but I'll be legitimately surprised if he doesn't make it in.

 

You're looking at the w/l records of his teams. The individual win/loss records are too the right of the ERA. Anyway, his metrics are very good. I just think that 195 wins are not going to cut it unless he was once-in-a-generation dominant. Now he's got a very good chance at 220 wins, and I think he makes it then.