The "Ask Al" Thread

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I read that as "outfielder" at first and wondered when and how they were able to put Nomar into the outfield without his body coming apart like one of the Incredible Crash Dummies.

 

Anyway, Al, some Top threes:

 

- Top 3 guilty pleasures (players)

- Top 3 overrated

- Top 3 underrated

- Top 3 worst-run teams

- Top 3 worst managers

- Top 3 players who should retire

- Top 3 best moments as a fan

- Top 3 worst moments as a fan

 

That ought to keep you busy.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I read that as "outfielder" at first and wondered when and how they were able to put Nomar into the outfield without his body coming apart like one of the Incredible Crash Dummies.

 

Anyway, Al, some Top threes:

 

- Top 3 guilty pleasures (players)

- Top 3 overrated

- Top 3 underrated

- Top 3 worst-run teams

- Top 3 worst managers

- Top 3 players who should retire

- Top 3 best moments as a fan

- Top 3 worst moments as a fan

 

That ought to keep you busy.

Guilty Pleasures. Chris Michalek, Colter Bean, Dan Giese. All pitchers without blazing fastballs that get results at the AAA level. Michalak throws slower than Jamie Moyer. I think he could have a career as a reliever in the Stu Miller mold if someone got creative. Bean I've mentioned many times. Giese has impeccable control but has never gotten a shot at the Majors.

 

Overrated/underrated I don't know because I don't pay that much attention to the sports media. I think relievers with 98 mph heat are overrated, particularly when they lack control or a secondary pitch. Conventional wisdom used to say that you carried relievers who threw strikes. Underrated guys are players who do a bit of everything well rather than one thing.

 

The three worst run teams are the Orioles, Pirates and Nationals. Teams with neither current success, recent past success, or much farm talent to indicate future success.

 

Managers I'm going to take a pass. There is no current MLB manager I feel deserves to be fired.

 

Jose Mesa, Randy Johnson, Omar Vizquel. Big Unit needs to pack it in because he really has nothing to gain at this point. His legacy is set. The other two are bad players in their 40s.

 

Three best moments. Number one is game seven of the 2001 World Series. Number two is game seven of the 2004 ALCS. Both were high profile Yankee losses. Number three is the Phillies' win in the 1980 NLCS, though I did not see it live.

 

Three worst. Number one is game seven of the 1996 NLCS. I was a big Ozzie Smith fan, and his last game was a 15-0 blowout. The only reason to continue watching was knowing he would never play again. Number two was the 1994 baseball strike. If that happened today I wouldn't sweat it and would opt for minor league ball instead. Number three was Derek Jeter's "home run" in the 1996 ALCS.

[CanadianChris 0]

I'm surprised Joe Carter doesn't make your top 3 worst moments.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I'm surprised Joe Carter doesn't make your top 3 worst moments.

I was 11, my parents weren't big fans. Baseball wasn't a big deal in my household growing up.

[CanadianChris 0]

Gotcha.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Managers I'm going to take a pass. There is no current MLB manager I feel deserves to be fired.

 

How many years does a manager deserve?

 

What managers do you think will be fired?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Managers I'm going to take a pass. There is no current MLB manager I feel deserves to be fired.

 

How many years does a manager deserve?

 

What managers do you think will be fired?

Depends on the manager. I think too often the manager's performance is directly related to the talent he is given. How is a guy manager of the year one year and a bum the next?

 

I'd say maybe Ned Yost. I can't think of anyone else offhand.

[Vern Gagne 0]

Carlos Pena reaching full potential or one year wonder?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Carlos Pena reaching full potential or one year wonder?

A bit of both. Pena is hitting nearly 25 points higher than his career average. Looking over his rate stats, there's no reason he couldn't have hit 25-35 home runs the last few years but could not earn a full time job. The power is there, but he can easily fall back to hitting .250.

[Spaceman Spiff 0]

Did the Phillies blow their load sweeping the Mets?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Did the Phillies blow their load sweeping the Mets?

Would they have been better off going 2-2 against the Mets and then 3-1 afterwards instead of 1-3? I can see an argument that it wore out the bullpen, but the key runs in the last three losses were given up by guys not terribly overworked (i.e., not JC Romero or Brett Myers).

 

As an aside, I fail to see what bringing up Kane Davis accomplishes. It doesn't make a difference to keep cycling crummy relievers. Davis has a 5.54 ERA in 98 career games. They need to bring up Julio Mateo, domestic abuse allegations and all. If not, why the hell did you even trade for the guy in the first place?

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

Okay Al, or maybe you'll need help from Elias on this one.

 

Clay Buckholz is apparantly being sent to the bullpen for the rest of the year. Even if he doesn't allow a hit in any of his relief apperances the rest of the way, but then throws a no-no in his very first start next season (or if the Sox give him another go later in the month after the division is wrapped up) does that count as tieing Johnny Vander Meer's record of consecutive no-nos?

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Why does everyone misspell Clay Buchholz?

[vivalaultra 0]

It's not exactly a common name. I'm surprised there's even two major leaguers with the last name. On the local morning show on my way to work this morning, they were playing a game called "Major Leaguer or Prescription Drug". The first one the DJ threw out was 'Youkilis'. Somebody called in and said 'prescription drug'.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Okay Al, or maybe you'll need help from Elias on this one.

 

Clay Buckholz is apparantly being sent to the bullpen for the rest of the year. Even if he doesn't allow a hit in any of his relief apperances the rest of the way, but then throws a no-no in his very first start next season (or if the Sox give him another go later in the month after the division is wrapped up) does that count as tieing Johnny Vander Meer's record of consecutive no-nos?

I'd consider it tying the record if he threw no-hitters in consecutive starts. Mixing in some innings in relief would give him a run of the hitless innings record.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Historically, knuckleball pitchers have much longer careers than normal pitchers. It is not that unusual to see one pitch into his late 40s (Hough, Niekro, Wilhelm, etc.). Tim Wakefield is just finishing up his age 40 season. Given his team friendly contract, good relationship with Boston and continued durability, it is not inconceivable that he might pitch another 5-8 years. If he were to manage to average 15 wins a year over this timeframe, which would be quite a feat given his history, he could conceivably end up with 300 wins. Is this even remotely possible or am I just talking myself into it? Could a 41 year old with 167 career wins be the next milestone guy? Would he/could he be a hall of famer?

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

You're kidding yourself if you think he's going to be pitching in 8 years, let alone winning 15 games then.

[Guest]

He could be pitching that late, but it wouldn't help his HOF chances by any means.

 

He's just "the guy that throws the knuckleball." There's nothing else special about him.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Historically, knuckleball pitchers have much longer careers than normal pitchers. It is not that unusual to see one pitch into his late 40s (Hough, Niekro, Wilhelm, etc.). Tim Wakefield is just finishing up his age 40 season. Given his team friendly contract, good relationship with Boston and continued durability, it is not inconceivable that he might pitch another 5-8 years. If he were to manage to average 15 wins a year over this timeframe, which would be quite a feat given his history, he could conceivably end up with 300 wins. Is this even remotely possible or am I just talking myself into it? Could a 41 year old with 167 career wins be the next milestone guy? Would he/could he be a hall of famer?

15 wins a season for eight years wouldn't get him to 300. Wakefield has no shot at the Hall of Fame. As for wins, 220 is a realistic goal. That would make him Charlie Hough.

[Smartly Pretty 0]

Do you remember a couple years ago, when a twins player (I think it was Torii Hunter, can't really remember, which is the point) was taking his time outside the batters box, and the umpire called play ball anyway, and then the pitcher threw a ball a foot out of the zone, and he was called out on strikes? Do you happen to remember the name of the umpire in this story I've done a poor job telling?

[Guest Soriano's Torn Quad]

I'll hazard a guess and say the only guy who's enough of a douchebag to do that is Bruce Froemming.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

What's your take on JD Drew's miserable season? Start of an age-related decline? Fluke underperformance that will correct itself next year? Hidden injury to protect his contract? Personal matters (his son's health)?

 

What do you think his next four seasons will look like?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Do you remember a couple years ago, when a twins player (I think it was Torii Hunter, can't really remember, which is the point) was taking his time outside the batters box, and the umpire called play ball anyway, and then the pitcher threw a ball a foot out of the zone, and he was called out on strikes? Do you happen to remember the name of the umpire in this story I've done a poor job telling?

I can't find the instance. I can tell you the rule specifically was 6.02©. If the batter did not take his place in the box at a proper juncture, the umpire could call play ball and the pitch is a called strike no matter what. The rule was amended this year or last, now a strike is called and no pitch thrown. The umpire used proper judgment making the call.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

What's your take on JD Drew's miserable season? Start of an age-related decline? Fluke underperformance that will correct itself next year? Hidden injury to protect his contract? Personal matters (his son's health)?

 

What do you think his next four seasons will look like?

Probably a nagging injury, since every indicator is ok besides his power. I expect him to rebound next season. Anything beyond that is out of my grasp.

[Guest NYankees]

Al, it has already been asked before. What do you think of Jorge Posada chances of making into the Hall of Fame? At the ripe old age of 35, he just hit .338 with 20 hr's, 90 runs and 90 rbi's.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Al, it has already been asked before. What do you think of Jorge Posada chances of making into the Hall of Fame? At the ripe old age of 35, he just hit .338 with 20 hr's, 90 runs and 90 rbi's.

I think his chances are slim. Let me address the current season first. It is absolutely a fluke. If you isolated his statistics, you would note no difference in walks, home runs, strikeouts, etc. The only difference is that he added about 40 hits on his regular total. Usually hitters do not add 50 points to their batting average in their mid 30s and sustain it. That is not meant to be criticism of Posada, who I believe is a very good player, just an observation.

 

As for his Hall chances, only once did Posada receive MVP support (2003, he finished third). No top 10 or even top 20 finishes otherwise. It is very difficult for a player to receive Hall consideration when he wasn't viewed as an elite player during his career. Posada's greatest traits have been his high OBPs and consistency. Looking up some sabermetrics, he's 8th all time in Offensive Winning Percentage and 12th in Runs Created Above Position. Whether he should get in or not, he might have a case. Realistically I don't think he has a shot.

[Guest Gym Class Fallout]

But where does he rank in True Yankee? That might get it done.

[Guest NYankees]

Al, it has already been asked before. What do you think of Jorge Posada chances of making into the Hall of Fame? At the ripe old age of 35, he just hit .338 with 20 hr's, 90 runs and 90 rbi's.

I think his chances are slim. Let me address the current season first. It is absolutely a fluke. If you isolated his statistics, you would note no difference in walks, home runs, strikeouts, etc. The only difference is that he added about 40 hits on his regular total. Usually hitters do not add 50 points to their batting average in their mid 30s and sustain it. That is not meant to be criticism of Posada, who I believe is a very good player, just an observation.

 

As for his Hall chances, only once did Posada receive MVP support (2003, he finished third). No top 10 or even top 20 finishes otherwise. It is very difficult for a player to receive Hall consideration when he wasn't viewed as an elite player during his career. Posada's greatest traits have been his high OBPs and consistency. Looking up some sabermetrics, he's 8th all time in Offensive Winning Percentage and 12th in Runs Created Above Position. Whether he should get in or not, he might have a case. Realistically I don't think he has a shot.

 

 

I don't know if I would call it a fluke season when he was hot all year long and has been one of the best hitting catchers in baseball over the past decade. Posada never hit below .280 in any single month this season and credited Yankee's hitting coach Kevin Long for his season.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Posada's career high was .287, he eclipsed that by a full 40 points at the age of 35. I'm not saying he's not a good hitter. He is. I'm saying the fact that his batting average is so high is a fluke. He will likely hit closer to his career average next year.

[Steve J. Rogers 0]

Do the 2007 Phillies, at 2 whole days, hold the distinction of the fewest days a division winner had in first place, even if shared?