This Week in Baseball 5/14 - 5/20

[Cheech Tremendous]

So, according to MLB, I'm supposed to hate the Braves because they played in Boston like 50 years ago?

[CanadianChris]

The one good thing about the Jays game not being anywhere on local TV (thanks to the Memorial Cup PREVIEW SHOW?!?) is that I get to listen to Harry Kalas. He's probably my favourite announcer anywhere besides Vin Scully.

 

Too bad it means I'm also stuck with Gary Matthews, Sr.

[vivalaultra]

Lance Berkman got hit in the head by a Robinson Tejeda fastball. He appears to be ok, but he totally went down. I think that they should institute a new rule where a batter that gets hit should be awarded bases dependent on the velocity of the pitch and the place where he gets hit. A 70 mph changeup to the ass should be first base, a 90 mph fastball to the ribs should be second base, a headshot should be third base, and anytime a batter gets hit in the nuts, he should be awarded homeplate.

[USC Wuz Robbed!]

Then we'd see guys intentionally try to take it to the nuts.

[Slayer]

"I'd give my left nut for a run!"

[Annabelle]

i have a feeling andrew miller is going to spend most of the year in detroit.

[vivalaultra]

I could totally see Craig Biggio turning his hips at the last minute to take one in the nuts. Barry Bonds would come out with a huge-ass plastic codpiece in addition to the huge-ass plastic elbowpad he wears.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Lance Berkman got hit in the head by a Robinson Tejeda fastball. He appears to be ok, but he totally went down. I think that they should institute a new rule where a batter that gets hit should be awarded bases dependent on the velocity of the pitch and the place where he gets hit. A 70 mph changeup to the ass should be first base, a 90 mph fastball to the ribs should be second base, a headshot should be third base, and anytime a batter gets hit in the nuts, he should be awarded homeplate.

It would make it more fun to watch Biggio lean into pitches, if nothing else.

 

Several days ago, someone asked about teammates hitting home runs. I got the SABR Baseball List and Record Book in the mail today, so I finally have a list. As stated, Aaron/Matthews lead with 75. The Jones' came into the season ninth at 55. Biggio/Bagwell are tied with Pujols/Edmonds at 16th, with 46 games. Ramirez/Ortiz are 20th with 42.

 

Here's a fun stat. Harry Hooper, Rickey Henderson and Brady Anderson are the only players to lead off both ends of a doubleheader with home runs.

 

Manny Ramirez has 20 grand slams. There's a home run chase no one's paying attention to. Lou Gehrig holds the record with 23.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Batters who qualified for a batting title and finished last in average, home runs and RBIs. The Triple Crown of Suck winners!

 

George McBride, 1914

Herbie Moran, 1915

Jack Smith, 1919

Ivy Griffin, 1920

Freddie Maguire, 1929 AND 1931

Woody Williams, 1945

Willy Miranda, 1956

Mark Belanger, 1970

Enzo Hernandez, 1971

Ozzie Smith, 1979

Ivan DeJesus, 1981

Ramon Santiago, 2003

[Boon]

This will be a great Friday night for you, won't it, Al?

[Guest Queen Leelee]

I like interleague play, and do not understand why everyone hates it because "they're not rivalries!".

 

So what. Very few of them are, actually. Rivalries are normally made in the playoffs.

 

I think it's better having a chance to see Alexander Rodriguez and Pronk Hafner in NL Stadiums, than Los Angeles of Anaheim vs. Oakland, Part XXVIII.

 

I agree with Alan that there should be more inter-league, non-divisional games, but that should be done already.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

This will be a great Friday night for you, won't it, Al?

Oh yeah.

[vivalaultra]

Heeyyyy...so what's the deal with Jason Giambi admitting to steroid use in the last few years? I read something about that somewhere today but didn't read the whole thing.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

No, it's not exciting, you're wrong, shut up, go neuter a redneck. I've never enjoyed a non-crosstown interleague game (and even most of those just make me mad). They're meaningless games. What's inherently exciting about the Rockies playing the Royals? Seriously.

Hey, randomguy, keep it down.

[Conspiracy_Victim]

Woody Williams, 1945

 

Christ I knew Woody was old but man! No wonder he signed with the Astros, Houston's the only town that he remembers how to get around in.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

Batters who qualified for a batting title and finished last in average, home runs and RBIs. The Triple Crown of Suck winners!

Wil Nieves will make this list someday.

 

Alan, you're the Yankees' minor league expert. Why is he in the majors, let alone actually being in the lineup occasionally.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe]

Thought you retired, princess. Clearly the grip is stronger than anyone.

[Guest Smues]

Braves got raped in the morning half of the double header, and now are in the process of raping Boston in the evening game. Good times.

[Mik]

It appears that the Jeremy Hermida who was supposed to be the 2006 NL ROY has finally showed up to the majors. He's healthy, for once, so I'm inclined to believe that he's going to keep this up.

 

It's about time and definitely what the Marlins need with their pitchers taking turns going on the DL.

[strummer]

Damn, I was just on the ESPN Stats page and the Cardinals are hitting .243/.308/.336 as a team!

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Batters who qualified for a batting title and finished last in average, home runs and RBIs. The Triple Crown of Suck winners!

Wil Nieves will make this list someday.

 

Alan, you're the Yankees' minor league expert. Why is he in the majors, let alone actually being in the lineup occasionally.

The key to the list is qualifying for a batting title, which is hard to do when you get 27 ABs in 41 games. You might note most of the players on the list were excellent defensive players.

 

Nieves had a .644 OPS in AAA last year, so he's not some great talent at the plate. Their other options aren't much better. Raul Chavez is hitting .211 in Scranton. In addition, replacing Nieves would require exposing a player from their team to free up a roster spot. With their pitching woes, they may not be willing to do that. The problem is that they'll wear down Jorge Posada and he'll fade again in September.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

Posada won't be playing forever. Thus, I assumed Nieves would start when that day comes.

 

At least Todd Pratt had decent batting abilities.

 

It just amazes me that the New York Yankees have someone like Nieves in their lineup. He's not even a great defensive player, either.

[Open the Muggy Gate]

It's a pretty bad time right now for the Yankees. We've seen make that comeback the past few years, but one year, it's not gonna work. This may be that year. They're pitching is horrible, and they are already wearing out the bullpen. And Roger isn't gonna make it any better since he'll only go 4-6 innings.

[Brett Favre]

He's solid behind the plate. The reason he's here is because the pitchers like pitching to him and he's a good guy.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

Well, I see now.

 

I think Alan needs to make another perfectly acceptable reply to stupid girly girl about the importance of likeability in a lineup.

[TheDevilAndGodAreRagingInsideMe]

Tyler Clippard makes his MLB debut tonight.

 

Nobody could have told you in March that by May 20th, both the #1 and #2 pitching prospects in the system would be called up.

[Guest Queen Leelee]

Randall Johnson with another great performance. 10 K's. Win. About time for him to return back to domination.

[EVIL~! alkeiper]

Various opinions.

 

-The Yankees are looking to void Jason Giambi's contract due to steroid usage. Funny how those desires seem so closely related to Giambi's slugging percentage.

 

-To hell with the haters. Turns out today's Rockies/Royals contest is a great game.

 

-Darrell Rasner's injured again. It would be a shame if it weren't so damned funny.

 

-Josh Hamilton fell ill and ended up in the hospital with a stomach ailment. If this guy isn't Roy Hobbs in the flesh, no one is. We just need a Cincy sportswriter to play Max Mercy.

[snuffbox]

Brewers finally got a good win again. Came back from being down 4-0 & 5-2 to beat the Twins (and avoid being swept at home) 6-5. Cordero got save #17 & Geoff Jenkins had 5 rbi (including a 3-run hr, his 200th).

[Guest Smues]

As if having to face Papelbon with 2 out in the 9th even with the tying run at the plate isn't hopeless enough, it's Andruw at the bat, who has struck out 4 times already today. And just generally been death at the plate lately.