Saturday Links

by JD Arney on Sep 2, 2006 8:06 AM EDT in News

Shawn notes yesterday's callups, which I missed with my internet troubles. Would be nice to get a solid contribution from Majewski the rest of the way.
JinAz looks at the Oswalt signing, and notes that it might be bad news for the Reds when Aaron Harang reaches free agency. Also, am I the only person that doesn't think this is a great move by the Astros? Oswalt is a short righthander, and they don't usually last too long, plus I'm not a big fan of giving pitchers contracts longer than three or four years, no matter how good they are. You just never know when it comes to pitchers and injuries; they're so damn fragile.
You kind of have to feel for the Pirates. They clinched their 14th straight losing season last night. That's getting into Cincinnati Bengals/1990's territory, and I know how bad that hurts.
Red Reporter is apparently worth $50,244.06, according to some widget that someone made. I personally put it's value at priceless, but I have a hard time selling anything.
Interesting article on Felipe Alou and race.
Florida Marlins team president David Samson sounds like a real dumbass. Although "porn night" would probably be an interesting minor league promotion.
Anyone else think it's weird that the football steroid scandal hasn't gotten much coverage? Is it because people just naturally expect football players to be using?
Ryan Howard broke some records the other night.
Little League (the organization) is instituting pitch counts, which is probably a good idea. They need to do something about breaking pitches though, every year I'm shocked to see 12 year old kids snapping off curves in the Little League World Series like there's no tomorrow. That can't possibly be a good idea. When I was a kid pitchers just threw as hard as they could. I'm not sure what everyone would have thought of a kid who actually changed speeds.
And GO BUCKS!

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Comments

Speaking of Little League....

It's not the amount of pitches these kids are throwing, its all the damn breaking balls they are throwing. At their age, all they NEED to know how to throw is a 4-seamer, a 2-seamer, a changeup, and if they want to get really funky, a knuckleball.

I didn't learn how to throw a curve until high school. When I played Little League, I was the #2 starter. With the amount of off days in our schedule, I didn't get to pitch much as our coach wanted to throw the guy who could throw a curve ball, and a slider, and even a knucklecurve.

By the time we got to high school, one of us pretty much lost his stuff, and it sure wasn't me.

by bigjas on Sep 2, 2006 11:42 AM EDT reply actions

EdE

likes to hit with runners on base. Shades of one of the great RBI men, Tony Perez. More work on his defensive skills, and this guy's going to be a star!

by TR on Sep 2, 2006 12:58 PM EDT reply actions

I have no stats to back this up

But going from what I've seen this season, he loooks to be very, very good with two strikes against him. Even with an 0-2 count.
(...Slyde?)

I agree, he could be a star.

"Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?" - Hazel "Hank" Murphy

by Ash on Sep 2, 2006 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions

Not really

but then I'd have to compare him to everyone with 2-strike counts to really tell. Nobody hits that hell with two strikes on them, but some just do it better than others.

Here's a breakdown by count (from Yahoo):

Count AB   R   H 2B 3B HR RBI BB   K SB CS AVG   OBP SLG   OPS
Count 0-0 33 50 10   2   0   2 8   0   0   0   1 .303 .343 .545 .888
Count 0-1 37   0 14   4   1   2 9   0   0   0   0 .378 .395 .703 1.097
After (0-1)   160   0 42 10   1   6   29 13 39   0   0 .263 .343 .450 .793
Count 0-2 28   0   4   0   0   0 1   0 14   0   0 .143 .172 .143 .315
After (0-2) 65   0 13   2   0   2 6   4 24   0   0 .200 .278 .323 .601
Count 1-0 29   1 12   5   0   2 7   0   0   1   0 .414 .433 .793 1.226
After (1-0)   129   0 44 19   0   6   31 19 22   1   2 .341 .437 .628 1.065
Count 1-1 29   0   6   2   0   1 6   0   0   0   0 .207 .233 .379 .613
After (1-1)   115   0 28 11   0   4   28 13 27   0   1 .243 .338 .443 .782
Count 1-2 36   0   8   4   0   1 9   0 15   0   0 .222 .300 .417 .717
After (1-2) 78   0 19   7   0   3   20   7 28   0   1 .244 .341 .449 .789
Count 2-0    8   0   6   2   0   1 3   0   0   0   0 .750 .750 1.375 2.125
After (2-0) 43   0 19   7   0   2   10 15 10   0   1 .442 .593 .744 1.337
Count 2-1 24   0   9   3   0   1 5   0   0   0   0 .375 .400 .625 1.025
After (2-1) 65   0 18   6   0   2   11 12 16   0   1 .277 .397 .462 .859
Count 2-2 44   0   8   3   0   1   10   0 18   0   1 .182 .196 .318 .514
After (2-2) 71   0 16   6   0   2   15   8 27   0   2 .225 .309 .394 .703
Count 3-0    1   0   0   0   0   0 0   8   0   0   0 .000 .889 .000 .889
After (3-0) 15   0   7   3   0   1 3 13   3   0   0 .467 .714 .867 1.581
Count 3-1 11   0   5   1   0   1 2 10   0   0   0 .455 .714 .818 1.532
After (3-1) 25   0 11   3   0   2 5 16   5   0   0 .440 .659 .800 1.459
Count 3-2 42   0 14   5   0   2 8 14 14   0   1 .333 .500 .595 1.095
After (3-2) 42   0 14   5   0   2 8 14 14   0   1 .333 .500 .595 1.095

by Slyde on Sep 2, 2006 2:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I guess I did mean comparatively.

Still, the "after 0-2" stats aren't too shabby considering the situation.

Hey, Slyde, for all the shit I try and give you, you really are the man with the stats. Thanks!

"Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?" - Hazel "Hank" Murphy

by Ash on Sep 2, 2006 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions

wow you were wrohahahahhong

it looks like where he really succeeds is with 3 balls: 19/54=.352(!) with 6 doubles and 3 home runs. Moral of the story: Work the count. And Ash is usually wrong. jk

by boobs on Sep 2, 2006 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks buddy.

"Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?" - Hazel "Hank" Murphy

by Ash on Sep 2, 2006 3:06 PM EDT up reply actions

case in point:

Adam Dunn is not hitting so well with 3 balls (.185, because he's too busy working the pitcher for a walk) but when he gets ahead earlier in the count, he's rather deadly.

With counts 1-0, 2-1 and 2-0:
Dunn: 27/61= .443, 10 2B, 4 HR.

He also goes on to walk 50 times after a 2-0 count and has only put the ball in play 67 times, which leads to a .568 OBP (!) after that count.

So, yeah, work the count.

by boobs on Sep 2, 2006 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions

You do realize

that I'm not advocating hitting with two strikes? Merely looking at stats when hitters get there. Of course they should try and work the count!

"Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?" - Hazel "Hank" Murphy

by Ash on Sep 2, 2006 3:17 PM EDT up reply actions

no that comment wasnt aimed at you

it was aimed at, say, july griffey. what i really love about dunn is his patience at the plate, and this is why.
i never had bad things to say about you...

by boobs on Sep 2, 2006 3:21 PM EDT up reply actions

and look at me

i just used edwin's stats to show how great dunn is. beautiful... so i was wrohahahhahahong. ok. here goes again...

with counts 1-0, 2-0 and 2-1:
Dunn (NOT Edwin): 29-76, .382, 6 2B, 15 HR.

So yeah, still really good, and still a surprisingly high average. The thing I said about his walks was actually true, so lets stick with that.

Work the count and whatnot, im a moron.

by boobs on Sep 2, 2006 3:30 PM EDT up reply actions

That Dunn...

He's terrible. The Reds should trade him.

"Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?" - Hazel "Hank" Murphy

by Ash on Sep 2, 2006 3:34 PM EDT up reply actions

he's no Dave Kingman

I'd take Kingman any day of the week. I don't understand why Krivsky's not trying to get him.

by boobs on Sep 2, 2006 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions

We should have sent him

to Washington with Felipe and his buddy for another middle reliever. Y'know, more middle relief, fewer strikeouts, we're automatically better.

"Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?" - Hazel "Hank" Murphy

by Ash on Sep 2, 2006 3:40 PM EDT up reply actions

Looks like

@ 0-2 or after 0-2, Edwin has a higher avg. than Ross, Dunn, and Junior. Hattie and Aurilia are better with an 0-2 count. I looked up McClayton for kicks and giggles, and I don't think I have to tell you where Edwin ranks compared to Royce.

"Way to go Sparks, you broke the monitor and you're dead. Happy?" - Hazel "Hank" Murphy

by Ash on Sep 2, 2006 3:15 PM EDT up reply actions

GO BUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ted Ginn Jr. really is my hero.

I have a non-sexual man crush on Troy Smith.

This will be an interesting game with the defensive carousol we will be seeing. Tressel is gonna be using this as a pre-season game.

by FritzMW on Sep 2, 2006 1:34 PM EDT reply actions

Eh...Ohio State is a bunch of crooks!

GO Blue!!!

I saw a wino; he was eating grapes. I was like, "Dude -- you have to wait!"

by chandrathan on Sep 2, 2006 1:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree, but let's remember:

they are all amateurs!

I don't trust books; they're all fact, no heart.

by Gapper on Sep 2, 2006 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

The players are...

But Tressel...Well I won't call him a pro...so yeah, they are amateurs...

I saw a wino; he was eating grapes. I was like, "Dude -- you have to wait!"

by chandrathan on Sep 2, 2006 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Felipe Alou

It's amazing people that had to deal with this stuff are still active in the game. It's kind of a mid trip, it seems so long ago.
I've got a family friend who was born in Germany that saw Hilter with her own eyes on several occasions, that kind of stuff blows me away.

I don't trust boobs.

by sukr on Sep 2, 2006 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

"So the torch passes to...Homer Bailey"

Thus wrote Jeff Passan in his article for Yahoo Sports, "Storylines of September." Passan wasn't particularly clear - those who peruse Yahoo Sports regularly may be used to this - but his comment followed an entry on Clemens hanging it up. Passan notes that the 'torch' of the 'next Clemens' would have been carried by Josh Beckett, but not after this year, and so it goes to Homer.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-september090106&prov=yhoo&type=lgns&expire=1

I don't trust books; they're all fact, no heart.

by Gapper on Sep 2, 2006 2:02 PM EDT reply actions

Scoreboard watching

The Good:
Phils give up 2 runs in top of 9th to lose 4-3 to the Braves in game 1.

Arizona gives up 5 runs in the 8th and 9th to the Nats sending the game into extras. Nats win game one in 11 on a bases loaded walk.

The Bad:
Giants hit back-to-back homers in the 6th and beat the Cubs 4-2. Is it just me or have the Cubs given us zero help this past month?

by Slyde on Sep 2, 2006 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

eh,

they beat the larges yesterday. That Philly loss means we're alone in second against the wild-card leader, so all we have to to get the top spot back is win tonight. Too bad we can't run Dave Kingman out there...

by boobs on Sep 2, 2006 5:17 PM EDT up reply actions

The Cubs are worthless...

I saw a wino; he was eating grapes. I was like, "Dude -- you have to wait!"

by chandrathan on Sep 2, 2006 5:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Alou

I enjoyed the Alou article, it's hard to believe that players had to deal w/ all the crap. I always hear people talk about how bad the world is getting today but when you see what people went through, just b/c of their color, fifty years ago, it seems like we're making at least a little progress.

I didn't like how the story began comparing Bonds' treatment today w/ Alou's. Their is no comparison. People don't hate Bonds b/c of his color, they hate him b/c he's arrogant, he's a cheat, and an overall prick. Bonds has brought his problems on himself. I remember 10 or 12 years ago when Bonds was always running his mouth about how great he is and how Griffey wasn't as good as him and I've been turned off by him ever since and he certainly never helped his cause anytime after that. Maybe if Bonds could have at least acted a little modest or gracious occasionally people would be merciful about the roid use.

by JCH888 on Sep 2, 2006 6:43 PM EDT reply actions

Me lucky charms!

Jeff Albertson: "Worst Photoshop ever!"

I don't trust boobs.

by sukr on Sep 2, 2006 7:14 PM EDT reply actions

I dont wear

my great-great grandfather's little Irish midget hat. That's a misconception. I'm just like anybody else, except im tiny, im imaginary and i live in a dude's head, right next door to the 4 non-blondes.
Hey, if I worked a carnival, I'd be Farney the Carney. Pretty funny right?

by Farney on Sep 2, 2006 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions