This Week in Baseball 9/15 - 9/21

[Dobbs 3K 0]

The Brewers won a game! I thought they had forgotten how.

[CanadianChris 0]

Guys I don't want on Boston's playoff roster:

 

2) Tim Wakefield

 

He has a 3.92 ERA. You're going to let one bad outing keep him off the playoff roster? Talk about a kneejerk reaction. By that logic, the Rays should keep Kazmir off their roster for shitting the bed the other night.

Especially since Wake's previous start was an eight-inning shutout against Toronto.

[Mik 0]

Fucking Marlins. I had tuned out from the baseball season completely and then they go and win 7 in a row. They still aren't going to make the playoffs but they finish w/ 6 games against the Mets and Phils... I mean, they could run the table, right?

 

Either way, next year is the year, man.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I've heard Howard's name come up a few times recently, but really, is there any chance that Pujols doesn't win the MVP award in a landslide?

Yeah, mostly via the usual sportswriting stupidity.

 

I've watched Howard all year. NO WAY is this guy the MVP. He was absolutely awful at the plate most of the year, and doesn't contribute anywhere else.

 

So, I threw out Howard's name because I've been hearing it a lot, but since I don't always follow the National League that closeyly I decided to check some numbers last night. Holy jeez, I had no idea how awful he's been. Well, awful might be a harsh word, but a .337 OBP?! Nobody should ever win an MVP with an OBP that low. Pujols' batting average is twenty points higher than that.

 

Checking VORP, Howard's been like the 4th most valuable player on his own team. Not to mention he plays really bad defense. There's no way that in 2008 Ryan Howard wins an MVP because of some gaudy RBI totals, right? Right?

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Checking VORP, Howard's been like the 4th most valuable player on his own team. Not to mention he plays really bad defense. There's no way that in 2008 Ryan Howard wins an MVP because of some gaudy RBI totals, right? Right?

 

Keep an eye on recent performance. He's hitting .351/.438/.845 over his last 25 games, with 12 home runs, 10 doubles and 33 RBIs. He's hit five go-ahead home runs this month. That's why he is gaining momentum.

[treble 0]

I just wonder how many votes Manny will get.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I just wonder how many votes Manny will get.

 

It'll be a joke if he gets any. Sure his numbers are great and the trade coincided with LA's turnaround, but he's only been there for a month and a half. He doesn't even have a half season worth of performance and this little run isn't even on the level of the stretches that guys like Berkman and Uggla had earlier this year. Plus he was run out of another organization because he was a clubhouse cancer. Shouldn't that count against you in this sort of argument?

[naiwf 0]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_leagu...?urn=mlb,108796

 

More verbal diarrhea from everyone's favorite pompous and sanctimonious douchebag Curt Schilling.

[CanadianChris 0]

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_leagu...?urn=mlb,108796

 

More verbal diarrhea from everyone's favorite pompous and sanctimonious douchebag Curt Schilling.

Slanted much? Here's the ESPN story:

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3595012

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

I don't know what Curt's trying to prove with these comments other than the fact that he's a blowhard who likes to hear himself speak. You mean to tell me that Manny was a clubhouse cancer and dogged it until he got traded? No shit. We knew all this stuff in July. The team has moved on, the fans have moved on and Manny has moved on. Why even discuss it? Take the high road, Curt.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I rather Curt Schilling than the corporate-speak most athletes have perfected.

[snuffbox 0]

Good thing they got rid of Yost so struggling pitchers wouldn't be left on the mound too long.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Good thing they got rid of Yost so struggling pitchers wouldn't be left on the mound too long.

I'm missing something. The Brewers lost the lead because they let their closer throw 18 pitches?

[snuffbox 0]

Gave up a 4-run lead with those 18 pitches. Not a big concern for a Phillies fan, or whatever, but it is kinda pathetic.

 

Oh well. Torres was consistent at a few points during the year. What more could I want?

[devo 0]

Has there been any research done regarding the amount of pitchers a team uses in one game and its effect on the team's chances of winning said game? It occurred to me that the Mets won last night even though they used eight pitchers - something I would imagine doesn't happen very often.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Has there been any research done regarding the amount of pitchers a team uses in one game and its effect on the team's chances of winning said game? It occurred to me that the Mets won last night even though they used eight pitchers - something I would imagine doesn't happen very often.

It'd be circular research. Teams replace pitchers when they are struggling, thus you'd find the runs increasing with more pichers.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

I stopped paying attention to the game after the Cubs went down against Gagne in only four pitches. I didn't even bother to check for a final score and was unaware of all the dramatics until I got online a few minutes ago. That Soto shot was a BOMB.

 

Cubs deserved to lose that one, though. Rich Harden proved you can throw almost 40 pitches in one inning and only give up a run and no hits. Nine free passes in all, the Cubs were hacking away, and there were some defensive plays from the Cubs that belonged on the cutting room floor. I'll take it, though.

[Guest Brady's Torn ACL]

Yeah, it was cool.

 

The Rangers can achieve 1000 runs allowed by giving up 86 runs in the final nine games of the year. I think they can come close. They'll be over 950, easily, approaching 975, but 1000 might be out of reach.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

The Phillies swept all nine games from the Braves at Turner Field this season. Amazing.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Dan Wheeler blew the save against the Twins. The upside though is that Evan Longoria will have a crack at home run #4.

[treble 0]

Shaun Marcum's MRI results were sent to Dr. Andrews, so this has apparently convinced the Jays to try and keep Burnett if (well, when) he opts out.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

My god, the Twins just might capitalize on a White Sox loss. I can't remember the last time that happened.

[Guest Brady's Torn ACL]

Sox head to Kansas City to face the streaking Royals, but I have a feeling that Danks and/or Floyd stop that. Maybe even Buerhle, though he kinda sucks sometimes, but I'm worried about Danks and Floyd in the playoffs. There are three Sox/Twins games left on the schedule, all at the Metrodome. All eyes on that one. I anticipate a real fold job from the Twinkies. Eeeeeeeyes.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

I stopped paying attention to the game after the Cubs went down against Gagne in only four pitches. I didn't even bother to check for a final score and was unaware of all the dramatics until I got online a few minutes ago. That Soto shot was a BOMB.

 

Cubs deserved to lose that one, though. Rich Harden proved you can throw almost 40 pitches in one inning and only give up a run and no hits. Nine free passes in all, the Cubs were hacking away, and there were some defensive plays from the Cubs that belonged on the cutting room floor. I'll take it, though.

Obviously you frequent BTF. Have you caught my new username? I'm damn proud of it myself.

[USC Wuz Robbed! 0]

I don't. One of the reasons I've not been as vocal this season is I fully expect the Twins to grab the division out of the White Sox's grasp.

[Cheech Tremendous 0]

Shaun Marcum's MRI results were sent to Dr. Andrews, so this has apparently convinced the Jays to try and keep Burnett if (well, when) he opts out.

 

I wonder how much Burnett will get this offseason. I'm thinking it will take five years and something between $75 and $90 million. That's a lot of money for a guy who can't seem be healthy and effective in the same season.

 

Also, do you think Burnett gets more than Ben Sheets? Both guys are awesome when they're on, but there are huge question marks surrounding both.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

There are some big shakeups in the minor league affiliations. Here's a brief rundown.

 

-The Indians' AAA club has moved to Columbus, while the Mets are set to pick up Buffalo. The Dodgers are heading back to Albuquerque, while the Florida Marlins head to New Orleans. The Blue Jays and Nationals are left to pick out from Syracuse and Las Vegas.

 

-The Dodgers moved their AA club to Chattanooga.

 

-The Red Sox are moving their High A club to Salem in the Carolina League. I think this one is important as it takes their prospects away from the EXTREME hitting environment in Lancaster, CA.

[EVIL~! alkeiper 0]

Speaking of the Cal League, when I picked the Mariners' top prospect I failed to notice that Carlos Triunfel played in High Desert all season. Phillipe Aumont gets the nod.

[treble 0]

Yeah, Marcum's going to need Tommy John surgery. Great. The Jays have gone from having the best rotation in the league to maybe having Halladay and a bunch of question marks next year.

 

I think they're going to go hard after Burnett now and try and give him a few extra years on to the end of his contract before he can opt out.

[Bruiser Chong 0]

Don't think I've got it, Al. Unless you're I Lost My Thrill on Glenallen Hill, which is my new favorite handle over at BBTF.