This Week in Baseball 9/8 - 9/14

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

The Angels won their division. That's good enough. I am more impressed with starters like C.C. Sabathia who have low ERAs and complete games.

 

I hope K-Rod stays an Angel but I doubt it.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Does anyone care about K-Rod breaking the saves record? The media seems to be giving it a lot of attention, but I certainly don't care and it doesn't seem that fans really do either. Is this something we should be celebrating, or have we come to the point where the Save itself no longer means anything? I have a hard time getting excited for Rodriguez when he is, at best, the fifth best reliever in the AL this season.

 

Also, what does this mean for Rodriguez this offseason? Any ideas on how much money he will get? Which team will overpay for the "proven" closer?

I think it's a remarkable achievement in general. I hope teams recognize though that it is largely the product of an unusual number of opportunities.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Does anyone care about K-Rod breaking the saves record? The media seems to be giving it a lot of attention, but I certainly don't care and it doesn't seem that fans really do either. Is this something we should be celebrating, or have we come to the point where the Save itself no longer means anything? I have a hard time getting excited for Rodriguez when he is, at best, the fifth best reliever in the AL this season.

 

Also, what does this mean for Rodriguez this offseason? Any ideas on how much money he will get? Which team will overpay for the "proven" closer?

I think it's a remarkable achievement in general. I hope teams recognize though that it is largely the product of an unusual number of opportunities.

 

Do you find K-Rod's performance particularly remarkable, or are you more surprised by the fact that a good team can find themselves in so many close games? I think my biggest issue with the saves record is that it tells a lot about the team and little about the player. Any number of relievers could have the saves record if they were put into K-Rod's position this year.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

Any number of relievers could have the saves record if they were put into the same position.

 

Judging by the Mets, no. Not "any number of relievers"...

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Do you find K-Rod's performance particularly remarkable, or are you more surprised by the fact that a good team can find themselves in so many close games? I think my biggest issue with the saves record is that it tells a lot about the team and little about the player. Any number of relievers could have the saves record if they were put into the same position.

 

The pure number of situations. Exactly for that reason. Most teams as good as the Angels have fewer opportunities, since they have greater leads.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Man, fuck the Astros. As if they weren't annoying enough as it were, they're now getting all difficult about possibly playing the weekend series with the Cubs at a neutral site. God forbid they not get to play 81 games in that glorified amusement park.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Derrek Lee's such a sad excuse for a third hitter this year. If he's not grounding into a double-play, he's striking out with RISP. Lou needs to capitalize on DeRosa's career year and give him a shot in the third slot for a while.

 

And Soriano, to the surprise of no one, is so baseball retarded.

[Guest דניא&#15]

1

One of the arguments that the Lee apologists make is that a high number of double plays is simply indicative of a lineup with a great on-base percentage; conversely, bad teams turn many double plays because they're putting many men on, e.g., the 2003 Tigers. Another argument is the list of players who have historical list-topping numbers in the double play category, luminaries no less than Hank Aaron and Cal Ripken, so clearly double plays aren't all that bad if they're hitting into so many, right? Well, yeah, but what these people fail to mention is that it's hardly as if Lee is doing a hell of a lot other than weak grounders, which have so often led to double plays, so that's a bit of a misdirection to bring up that list. Furthermore, it's claimed that this simply a regression to his mean after 2005, that he's closer to Cliff Floyd than Albert Pujols. Unfortunately, when he's being compensated closer to Pujols than Floyd, expectations are going to be a little higher. He still fields a fine first base relative to other first basemen in the league, and until the '69 Redux began this September, he could get away with diminished production amidst such a potent lineup. He just looks so feeble, though. His offense is indefensible, you could say.

 

I'm happy that the Cubs might get to miss out on playing at that chintzy shithole in Houston. Move the games to Milwaukee, St. Louis, or even Comiskey, if the Sox are on the road. (FUN FACT: Josh Beckett is the only pitcher to get a base hit in the history of New Comiskey Park, notched in the neutral site game of 2004 when the Marlins pseudo-hosted the Expos because they, too, were evicted by a hurricane. Soon, the Miami Hurricanes will also evict the Marlins.) Maybe if we're lucky, the hurricane will blow away all the Chik-fil-A "fowl poles" and orange-filled choo-choo trains and the fake Fenway Citgo sign and all that fucking bullshit. I guess it's the kind of restrained taste and discretion you can only find in the guh-rate state of Texas. It sounds like the Cubs will just fly back home till Sunday, though. And here I was looking forward to Miguel Tejada applauding himself for getting a single, or Geoff Blum not performing like the burlap sack of dogshit that he usually is. NOW I WILL HAVE TO WAIT.

[snuffbox 0]

Does any team want to play in October less than Milwaukee?

[Bored 0]

You know I really do want to root for the Brewers just then I remember it'll just make Bud Selig happy if they get to the postseason and we just can't have that.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

You know I really do want to root for the Brewers just then I remember it'll just make Bud Selig happy if they get to the postseason and we just can't have that.

Milwaukee's a tough team to get a handle on. You can root for them to get that first title, but then you remember the Milwaukee Braves already brought a championship to the city. Win one for Bob Uecker? Nice thought, but he got his ring with the '64 Cardinals.

[snuffbox 0]

50 year old championships. What more do I want?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

50 year old championships. What more do I want?

Of course it's different for the local fans. I'm looking at an outsider's perspective.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

It's a shame the Jays don't play in the AL Central. They'd be right in the race. As it is, they're probably going to need to settle on third place in the AL East.

 

I can't believe Houston, either. I'd talk about how impressive this run has been if I didn't hate them so much.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

The Angels were blowing out the Mariners till Justin Speier started pitching. I think Mike Sociasia put him out there on purpose so K-Rod could get another save.

[naiwf 0]

Chasing Thigpen is finally over since K-Rod tied the record and barring an injury or 16 games without a single save opportunity he'll break the record by at least a couple.

[Prophet of Mike Zagurski 0]

Anybody want an expensive souvenir from Shea Stadium?

http://www.loge13.com/pricelist.php

[Guest Smues]

I hate the Mets so obviously I'm not buying anything, but if this were Turner Field or some such I'd be willing to plunk down a decent chunk of change for some of that. A seat and a sign of some sort would be cool to have.

[treble 0]

I was mad that Sportsnet decided to show the Nats/Marlins game during the Jays rain delay in Boston until I realized that it was the only game not delayed/postponed.

 

Edit: Well, besides Cleveland/KC, I guess.

[KingPK 0]

Looking at the radar at Weather.com.......I don't think they're getting this game in tonight. There's a doubleheader tomorrow already scheduled, so that probably means we'll see another one on Sunday unless they treat it as one of those "They'll play if it matters in the playoff race" games at the end of the season.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

As rumored months ago, the D'backs are indeed sending Micah Owings to the Reds to complete the Adam Dunn deal.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

As rumored months ago, the D'backs are indeed sending Micah Owings to the Reds to complete the Adam Dunn deal.

 

Do you think Owings is good enough to stick around as a 4th/5th starter, or should a team like the Reds really consider making him a 1B or OFer? I always thought that his offensive performance seemed a little fluky, but there are scouts that say he has real talent. Hey, maybe Ankiel isn't the only guy out there that can make the switch.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

As rumored months ago, the D'backs are indeed sending Micah Owings to the Reds to complete the Adam Dunn deal.

 

Do you think Owings is good enough to stick around as a 4th/5th starter, or should a team like the Reds really consider making him a 1B or OFer? I always thought that his offensive performance seemed a little fluky, but there are scouts that say he has real talent. Hey, maybe Ankiel isn't the only guy out there that can make the switch.

I think Owings can be a fifth starter. His hitting stats are nice, but I don't think you take that risk unless his career is at stake. Assuming his hitting is for real (no regression), his numbers are a tick above average for a pure hitter. He wouldn't be a star.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Scranton/Durham game four going on now, Scranton leads the series 2-1. All three games so far have been walk-off wins. I can't vouch for the minors, but only three major league postseason series have seen three walkoffs the whole way (1991 and 2001 World Series).

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

And after three walkoff endings, Scranton leads this one 19-1 in the sixth inning. Juan Miranda showboated after hitting a home run with his team leading by 15. Can't wait to see his next at bat.

[CanadianChris 0]

Looking at the radar at Weather.com.......I don't think they're getting this game in tonight. There's a doubleheader tomorrow already scheduled, so that probably means we'll see another one on Sunday unless they treat it as one of those "They'll play if it matters in the playoff race" games at the end of the season.

Looks like that's the case. The game is now official, despite the steady rain, and Wakefield looks like he's having an "on" night.

[Guest Smues]

So obviously Ike cancelled the game in Houston, but what caused them to cancel games in Philly, Baltimore, New York, New York, and Chicago?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

So obviously Ike cancelled the game in Houston, but what caused them to cancel games in Philly, Baltimore, New York, New York, and Chicago?

In this case, a stalled front bringing relatively light but steady rain all day.

[jimmy no nose 0]

Evan Longoria is starting at 3rd and batting 5th today for the Rays. This will be his first game in over a month.

 

Also:

David Price had never been to New York until he arrived Saturday morning to join the Rays, but according to the prized left-hander, he knows the city.

"I've played 'Grand Theft Auto' quite a bit," Price said. "So I'm familiar with the whole city."

 

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

ESPN reports Minute Maid Park survived Hurricane Ike. Honestly, did anyone really believe the stadium was in imminent danger?