TWiB 8/21 - 8/27

[iggymcfly]

Back on the Beltran/Pujols argument quick, I'd think the OPS numbers would pretty much be enough to settle it. Pujols is currently at 1.118, .102 ahaead of Beltran, and .086 ahead of second-place Lance Berkman. The difference between 1st and 2nd in this stat is as much as the difference between 2nd and 9th.

 

The point is that if you just look at hitting, Pujols isn't just slightly better, he's dominant. So what if he plays first? It's not like he's DHing or a liability in the field or something. The only reason that there's even any argument on the NL MVP is that Pujols has been considered the best hitter in baseball for a while now and people are getting bored with him.

 

If the Cardinals didn't make the playoffs, I guess I could see an argument, but I still think they will. The Reds have been overachieving all year (more runs given up than scored), and the Phillies have been gutted of a lot of significant talent. They've been playing on emotion since Abreu left, but that won't last until the end of the season. I can see one of those two teams passing St. Louis, but not both. Yeah, the Padres and Dodgers could both finish strong along w/ the Reds, there are a lot of ways the Cards could miss the playoffs, but I just don't see it happening.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Cleveland pulled out the win after giving up 10 runs in the first inning.

[Guest]

This Dodgers/Padres highlight on SC is a comedy of errors. MLB umps are collectively the drizzling shits.

Lugo's ejection was fucking dog shit.

[Bruiser Chong]

Boy, what a mistake picking up Cole Hamels specifically for this start was.

[the pinjockey]

I am a little concerned about this start (beyond the obvious 9 runs in 2IP). Can't watch it, but everywhere I am following the game says that Hamels just had nothing today. Three previous seasons, he combined to pitch 152 IP (including just 51 the past 2 seasons total), while this game put him at 141 IP on the year. I can't help but fear he may be getting to a tired arm point in the season. Hopefully just turns out to be a bad start, but the description of his stuff has me worried.

[Precious Roy]

I'm talking about Grady Sizemore. Just look at these stats compared to a guy that's similar in style (a run producer instead of a power guy) and one of the MVP front runners, Derek Jeter (Sizemore's number/Jeter's number):

 

Hits: 148/161

Runs: 99/87 (A bit surprising given the Yankee offense)

Doubles: 41/28

Triples: 9/3

Walks: 59/57

HR: 18/10

RBI: 56/76

SB: 18/26

OBP: .377/.413

SLG: .519/.470

OPS: .896/.883

 

There actually isn't that much difference between the two offenses. The Yankees get on base at a higher clip, Cleveland slugs more, but across the board the #'s are almost identical.

[vivalaultra]

Hey, presuming the Cubs don't blow a 9 run lead in 2 innings (which they might), Carlos Zambrano will lead the NL in wins with 14. I loathe and despise the Cubs, but I love me some Zambrano, and I think he's at the top of the list for Cy Young candidates (unless Roy Oswalt makes about 12 more starts and wins all of them, which won't happen.)

[The Man in Blak]

Boy, what a mistake picking up Cole Hamels specifically for this start was.

 

Hey, only five of the nine runs were earned.

 

That's nothing compared to my double-barreled Mets ERA bomb of doom of picking up El Duque (11 ERs in 4 IP) and John Maine (7 ER in 5 IP) for spot starts over the last few weeks.

[vivalaultra]

Yeah, I got duped into the John Maine thing, too. After he shutout the 'Stros and I had to put Liriano on the DL, I decided he'd be a good pickup. My fantasy team has gone to shit since the ASB.

[treble]

I had Zach Miner AND Paul Byrd both start for me on the same team last night. Their 40+ ERAs sure looked nice when I checked the results this morning.

[vivalaultra]

Willy Taveras is having a very, very quiet 27 game hit streak. He's also stealing bases and talking more walks. Looks like he might yet turn into a very good lead-off man.

[Guest NYankees]

What are the odds of the Cardinals missing the playoffs?

[Bruiser Chong]

As bad as they look right now, it'd be hard for them to miss the postseason. If even if they lose out on the division, I'd imagine they'd snag the WC.

[DMann2003]

Okay, with 6 weeks left, what are the Reds chances, honestly of snagging NL Central or Wild Card?

 

I seriosuly think they have a shot, their one major skid was heading into the All Star break, they haven't hit a true major slump, and even when they get thrashed, they end up bouncing back the next night.

[jwest27]

With our pitching, of course the Reds have a chance. With the exception of Carpenter, the pitching on this team is pretty much terrible. I'm pretty sure that every starter besides Carpenter has an ERA over 5, some over 6. I think maybe Reyes had an ERA just under 5, but he was sent down.

[Hawk 34]

Question, if a division race ends in a tie, the winner of the head to head wins the division right?

[Guest Princess Leena]

I'm fairly sure there's a 1 game playoff for the division title.

 

Unless the 2nd place team qualifies for the WC, then it goes to H2H for the division title.

[vivalaultra]

Back in 2001 the Astros and the Cards tied for the NL Central lead. Since the Astros had the better record in head to head games, they got the division. The Cards, with a 93-69 record got the WC. However, the Cardinals were dicks about it and proclaimed themselves "Co-NL Central Champs", which raised the ire of Astros' fans, which kinda kicked off this friendly rivalry between the two teams.

 

Yeah, and the Astros totally lost to the Pirates. I guess my girlfriend will be happy that I'll soon be available to do things with her again.

[Conspiracy_Victim]

Bah, it's Texans and soon to be Rockets seasons. There's plenty of reasons to not do anything with anyone else.

[vivalaultra]

I'm with ya on the Rockets, but I'm not buyin' that the Texans are gonna do anything. I'm a Saints' fan anyway. My girlfriend's lucky that the 'Stros are blowing it. She's been buggin' me to go to that Hot Air Balloon thing this weekend like...all week. She knows not to make silly requests when my teams are in contention.

[Vern Gagne]

I just found the predictions from the so called experts on ESPN

 

espn.com

 

 

No one picked Detroit or Cincinnati.

 

No one had Verlander or Papelbon winning the ROY. No one had Brandon Webb, who is probably the front-runner for NL Cy Young.

[vivalaultra]

Hell, who woulda picked Detroit or Cincy at the beginning of the year? And who woulda thought Brandon Webb would be the Cy Young frontrunner in the NL? Nothing against Brandon Webb, who is a great pitcher, but I think that's more a testament to the weakness of the league than the greatness of the Webb. Awww, Mark Simon picked the Astros to win the Central...you and me both, buddy...you and me both.

[Bruiser Chong]

ESPN BREAKING NEWS:

 

Padres acquired Russell Branyan from Tampa Bay.

[vivalaultra]

Wow. Impressive. Look out Dodgers. Here come Russel Branyan and the Padres.

[alfdogg]

Reds down one in the 6th with the bases loaded, and one out...two strikeouts on eight pitches.

 

EDIT: It was the 8-9 batters, though, so meh. Still three innings.

[Bruiser Chong]

Well, let's not look past the fact it was David Ross and Eric Milton.

[alfdogg]

Yeah, I was getting to that.

[Vern Gagne]

Chris Guccione is such a prick. Showing up the Reds bench after they argue a strike call. IT's not the first time he's attempted to be the center of attention.

[alfdogg]

Encarnacion ties it up with a double.

[KingPK]

Aaaaand NOW the blister problems start for Beckett. The man needs new hands.