MLB In-Season Thread
by TwistNHook on Aug 29, 2009 3:21 AM PDT
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PrintAvinash wanted us to try out specific open threads for various sports. Basketball. Football. Curling.
"All that is right with the world" via imagecache2.allposters.com
I said "Why not baseball?" He said he hated baseball and demanded we NEVER speak of it again. He then, oddly enough, walked repeatedly into my fists and feet. So weird that he would do that!
And now we have a baseball thread to call our own! Just try to be nice to us long-suffering As fans. It's been a rough year. And now Giambi on the DL. I thought that kid could make something of himself, if he just hit the weights a little.
And, to think, we haven't been to the ALCS in 3 years! You Giants fans have it good.
The opinions expressed in a FanPost are, in every way, reflective of the opinions of every California Golden Blogs Marshawnthusiast. Moreover, they are reflective of every employee of SBNation, including Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski.
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Daric Barton needs to be up and playing first base every day.
Travis Buck needs to be up and playing right field every day.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 20, 2009 4:58 PM PDT reply actions
Over Sweeney? No.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 20, 2009 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Travis Buck has more potential that Ryan Sweeney. For example, Buck has a higher slugging percentage and a slightly better OPS when Buck is actually given time.
Anyway, once Holliday gets dealt, an outfield spot opens up. In the mean time, one guy can be the designated hitter. Jack Cust shouldn’t keep you from developing talent when the season is already done with.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 20, 2009 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Daric BartonTommy Everidge needs to be up and playing first base every day.
There ya, go. All fixed.
Also, I’m digging the Hairston, Davis, Sweeney outfield. I think the A’s finally got it right 100 games into the season.
by CalBandGreat on Aug 15, 2009 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
Hey, to be fair, it was July 20th when I wrote that.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 15, 2009 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Well I am a mod now and there is nothing you can do to stop it!
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 20, 2009 7:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Is this what I was like when I was 15? I apologize to anyone who had to deal with me.
by Avinash Kunnath on Jul 20, 2009 9:31 PM PDT up reply actions
Don’t say the Giants fans have it good. I know we DO, compared to A’s fans, but this is still an incredibly frustrating team. Witness the beatdown the Braves laid on our supposedly awesome pitching staff today.
Alright, fine, I admit it! "Hydration Technician" really DOES just mean "water boy!"
I’ll match your pitching staff beatdown, pitching staff beatdown for pitching staff beatdown. Can anyobdy say Morneauaauuueeeaa????
Supreme Leader Ayatollah TwistNHook!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
For some reason today’s beat-down didn’t bother me as much as usual since the bullpen has been so good lately. The solid performance from Sanchez gave me a little more optimism for the rest of the season, even if the offense will have perpetual suckitude problems.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
I disagree. Today’s beatdown broke my spirit. The Braves were able to score 3 on 3 hits. The Giants had a loaded bases situation with 0 or 1 out and only scored 2. Then it took a monumental fielding mistake for a baserunner to even clear second, who eventually scored on a sac fly.
Obviously the bullpen didn’t get the memo about trying to win this game at all costs, and serve up 8 runs over 2 innings. What a terrible outing.
by CaliforniaBone on Jul 21, 2009 2:23 PM PDT up reply actions
you guys need a bat. No, not Freddy Sanchez. Someone who can put the ball in the seats.
Either that or sell of useful pieces. Billy Nuke is allowing the Giants to be a “Hey we’re good…lol, no we’re not” kind of team.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
I was shaking!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 21, 2009 12:24 AM PDT up reply actions
I nearly choked on ice cream as soon as Holliday made contact. That’s right, ice cream. It is very hard to choke on ice cream. That shows how excited I was.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 21, 2009 12:27 AM PDT up reply actions
Ya, crazy ending. Did you think dude was safe, though?
Supreme Leader Ayatollah TwistNHook!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
By a solid foot. Not even a question about it. Wuertz was slow with the tag.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 21, 2009 9:59 AM PDT up reply actions
Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi says that the club will most likely enforce an internal deadline of July 28 to trade Roy Halladay.
“If you ask me today if we’re going to trade Roy Halladay, I’d say no,” Ricciardi said on Tuesday morning. “Something could happen between now and the trade deadline, but this isn’t something that’s suddenly going to happen with someone on the 30th.”
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 21, 2009 2:27 PM PDT reply actions
I posted this in the DBD…but Tyson Ross just got promoted to AA.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
I also have an epic Rickey article posted in the DBD.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
According to Dejan Kovacevic, the Red Sox have acquired Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche.
Boston was linked to LaRoche about a month ago, but we hadn’t heard much on that front since. The 29-year-old is batting .247/.329/.441 this season with 12 home runs and 40 RBI.
He can man first base for the Red Sox on days when Mike Lowell (hip) needs to be spelled by Kevin Youkilis at third.
The player(s) going to Boston haven’t been named yet.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 22, 2009 9:35 AM PDT reply actions
how is it that the only 2 guys we kept from the ’07 poster was Chavy & Crosby?
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
and Mark Ellis
but you might as well subtract Chavy…he’s practically retired (he just doesn’t know it yet)
I don't always blog. But when I do, I prefer AN. Stay thirsty my friends.
I am not a Seattle Mariners fan, but they have spoken loud and clear.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 23, 2009 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions
Rated-R, you do realize CGB has a fantasy baseball thing going right? And that this is a baseball thread right? So let’s not be too snarky.
by Avinash Kunnath on Jul 23, 2009 8:22 PM PDT up reply actions
I know. I was just playing with that one. We post that all the time on the A’s blog whenever somebody brings up their fantasy team.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 26, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
McCovey Chronicles derisively refer to each others fantasy players as POKEMONZ.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Look, it’s Prince Fielder and I think I see Adrian Gonzalez in there as well.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 26, 2009 9:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Mark Buerhle's Top Ten List (from the David Letterman Show)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2Vbu3-YBMk
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
OMG WALLACE + 2 “OTHERS” ARE COMING TO OAKLAND (SMOKIN’) FOR MATT HOLLIDAY!!!
In other news, the A’s are likely going to kick the Port of Oakland to the curb and build a beautiful bay-fill ballpark.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
According to Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers and Indians are in serious discussions about a trade that would send Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez to the Dodgers for a package including either Clayton Kershaw or Chad Billingsley.
James Loney would also be involved, which makes sense because Martinez would play first base most of the time in Los Angeles. We imagine that the Indians would prefer Kershaw, who will be a lot cheaper than Billingsley over the next few years. It’s certainly be a fascinating trade if it gets done.
If it was as simple as Loney and Kershaw for Martinez and Lee, it would’ve been already, though, I’m sure. This is pretty epic, though. The Dodgers’ lineup would have even more punch surrounding Manny Ramirez and it should make young rising stars Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier better.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 26, 2009 2:50 PM PDT reply actions
Apparently the Giants made some trade
And rollonubears is angry. ANGRY I SAY!
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Jul 29, 2009 5:59 PM PDT reply actions
I’m not a Giants fan, but this really frustrated me. How does Sabean remain employed? What positive things has he done recently?
I had to talk my friend off the ledge after the trade. I almost got him to convert to the A’s. Almost.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 29, 2009 6:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I’ll put it into basketball terms: Anthony Randolph for Ben Gordon (if Ben Gordon were 5 years older). Gordon, like Sanchez, is a nice player. Gordon scores. And does nothing else. Sanchez is a slap hitter. He does nothing else. Doesn’t hit for power. Isn’t patient. Isn’t particularly fast. Again, he is a nice player, and most teams would be glad to have him. But would you trade Anthony Randolph for Ben Gordon? Stop laughing. That is basically the equivalent. The Giants got a decent player, but they gave up someone who has the chance to be special.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 29, 2009 6:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Uh-oh, I think I may have just given Nellie an idea. “Its a guard who does nothing except for score? HOW THE HELL IS HE NOT ON THE WARRIORS!?!?!?!”
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 29, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Those trades are not equivalent. Alderson, while an excellent prospect, is in AA (and is losing some of his ‘prospect’ luster). Randolph has already proven his ability to contribute at a major league level.
Look up this acronym: TINSTAPP
Having said that, this isn’t a good deal for the Giants. But it’s not worth freaking out over.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Then again, Ben Gordon is relatively better than Freddy Sanchez, so it somewhat evens out. It is not a perfect analogy, I admit.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 29, 2009 9:04 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s too bad they didn’t give us Tim Alderson for Adam Kennedy.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 29, 2009 9:24 PM PDT up reply actions
That would be nice, especially considering Kennedy is having the better season.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 29, 2009 9:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I’ll tell you who I really, really, really, really, really, really want.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 30, 2009 12:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Panda!
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 30, 2009 9:22 AM PDT up reply actions
So does you and every single other baseball fan ever.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 30, 2009 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions
On a scale from one to TEN, how ALL CAPS is rollon right now?
Supreme Leader Ayatollah TwistNHook!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
SiX.
Did you know screaming is my natural tone? Bet you didn’t guess that.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 29, 2009 7:22 PM PDT up reply actions
How are your guys's fantasy baseball teams doing?
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Jul 30, 2009 8:28 AM PDT reply actions
Big Papi & Manny were found GUILTY of roid use in 2003.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
Carp, do you think this invalidates the 2004 World Series title?
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Jul 30, 2009 11:26 AM PDT up reply actions
you’re talking to an (‘89) A’s fan here…so…while it doesn’t officially invalidate it, it definitely gives them a “well…that wasn’t quite as magic(k)al as it appeared to be” and I ’ve found that hurts deep.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
I would say it doesn’t invalidate it because they were getting hits off of people on PEDs.
You can’t find a team in baseball that wasn’t tainted.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
“Hoi, Rutherford, slap on an extra coat of that shiny wax on your handlebar mustache, you’ll distract the pitcher! And I’ll shave ‘fuck you’ into my sideburns!”
CGB: Optimism is dead to us.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Jul 30, 2009 2:53 PM PDT up reply actions
My favorite Conan piece ever
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Jul 30, 2009 2:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Jake Peavy traded to Chicago White Sox
The San Diego Padres traded their ace to Chicago on Friday, barely beating the deadline to make deals without waivers.
The Padres got four young pitchers for the 2007 NL Cy Young Award winner — Clayton Richard, Aaron Poreda, Dexter Carter and Adam Russell.
In May, the Padres and White Sox agreed to a deal for Peavy, but he turned it down. This time, Peavy agreed to waive his no-trade clause and join the AL Central contenders.
“The ultimate decision was when the team you’re playing for actively keeps telling you they need to move you, and one team comes after you like Chicago did, you’re excited to play for a team where you know you’re wanted,” Peavy said during a news conference in San Diego.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
What do you guys think about the O-Cab trade? I actually wanted to keep him on the team, but that is still a possibility. While he did come under the Curse of the Green and Gold a little bit this year, he rubbed some of his magic iron man dust upon everyone else. Unlike the past 2 years, we can blame our losses on actually sucking, not injuries! I prefer outright sucking to sucking because everyone is hurt.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
Geez man. This, and I just found out we traded Hannahan. Good Lord.
I mean, we weren’t gonna get anything else for Cabrera, so i guess it’s ok to trade him, but he played good defense.
What’s going on with Zeigler? Is he still closing, or did whats-his-name-All-Star take over for him?
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Hey, so completely random place to make this comment, but I was just thinking and wanted to throw my opinion out there. I very much don’t like the DBD things. I never read them, because I don’t care about 95%+ of the stuff in there (or just don’t want to put in the effort to care). I feel like every once in a while, though, I probably miss stuff that would interest me because I’d have to wade through all the other stuff. I personally prefer having more fanshots/fanposts like mccoveychronicles or goldenstateofmind because it lets me read the title and give it a chance if the title looks like it might interest me.
Just to be kind of relevant, the A’s suck, the Giants pitching is looking scary good at the moment. If Sanchez continues to pitch like this…man that’d be awesome.
We’ve had this debate a lot. The last discussion resulted in us pretty much saying something like…“The DBD is not a status quo. If you want more fanshots/fanposts, write more fanposts/fanshots. That’s the whole point of the SBN platform. The DBD won’t go anywhere since it’s generally self-sustaining.”
I think the best thing you can personally do is write a fanpost on the topic and bring it up for discussion again. Either that or write a fanpost on something that interests you about Cal or college sports.
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Aug 6, 2009 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
If it’s been debated, that’s cool. It was probably debated in a DBD so I didn’t read it. :)
I’m all for what the community wants, just felt like throwing my opinion out there for anyone to read.
by Missing Barry on Aug 6, 2009 6:51 PM PDT up reply actions
The A’s are actually playing .500 ball over the last three weeks or so.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 6, 2009 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Rajai Davis is a revelation.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 6, 2009 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Strike four.
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Aug 6, 2009 7:39 PM PDT up reply actions
Ah excellent
You’re still on strike two then. We are monitoring you closely.
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Aug 6, 2009 9:23 PM PDT up reply actions
I was always a fan of him being the fifth — and last — outfielder. Now, I’m in favor of him playing every single day. If he keeps playing like this, he’s in line for a starting job in 2010.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 6, 2009 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions
It has always been said by me that, considering the awfulness of the A’s offense, he is relatively good.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
The last time I checked, his on-base percentage, slugging and batting average are either first or second on the team to only Adam Kennedy.
Who would’ve known that Rajai Davis and Adam Kennedy would be leading in those statistical categories after the first week in August?
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 7, 2009 1:22 AM PDT up reply actions
Aw, it’s okay. They’re happy, at least.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 7, 2009 1:39 AM PDT up reply actions
MB – if you checked in, say at 9 or 10 AM everyday and looked the first 20 or so original posts (e.g., threads that begin on all the way on the left) of the DBD and read the DBD intro, you’d get like 95% of all Cal-related info…You’d miss some later in the day stuff, but I suppose if you didn’t want to miss that you could start from the end of the DBD at around 6 pm and work backwords by scanning the 20 or so original posts you’d probably get nearly all info. This would probably get you 99% of all Cal stuff and would take maybe 2 minutes of scanning.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
I would say that anything truly important either gets its own fanpost or ends up getting mentioned on the front page.
I actually like it better here than on McCovey Chronicles because the fanposts come some fast on McC (and are often of a very low quality) that it’s very hard to keep up with. Of course, that might have more to do with how crazy busy McC is (especially lately) because pretty much every front page post and game thread goes at least 500 comments these days. I mean, there were like 2,000 friggin comments on Freddy Sanchez. Jesus H. Christ!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
I mean, there were like 2,000 friggin comments on Freddy Sanchez. Jesus H. Christ!
I didn’t know that Jesus had a middle name.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 6, 2009 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions
See, I like mccovey chronicles because the things I’m interested in are a pretty narrow range of topics – I can just ignore 90% of the stuff on there but it’s easy for me to find the stuff that does interest me. Most of the community doesn’t really participate much in the stuff that interests me (mostly stat/analytical stuff), too, so that helps.
by Missing Barry on Aug 6, 2009 7:56 PM PDT up reply actions
- The Diamondbacks have a choice in October of exercising Brandon Webb’s $8.5 million option for 2010 or paying a $2 million buyout.
- The Yankees announced on Thursday night that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Chad Gaudin from the Padres in exchange for a player to be named later.
- The Padres extended manager Bud Black’s contract through the 2010 season, according to a report.
- Brewers first baseman Prince Fielder and Dodgers reliever Guillermo Mota were each levied fines by Major League Baseball, but avoided suspensions for their actions during and after Tuesday’s game.
- Red Sox slugger David Ortiz may soon provide more details about his 2003 drug test.
- Pitcher J.A. Happ will remain a member of the Phillies’ starting rotation and won’t be moved anywhere to make room for Pedro Martinez.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 7, 2009 1:28 AM PDT reply actions
I heard on KNBR this morning....the A's have released Jason Giambi
I haven’t seen it reported though…
Some say his powerade gives you infrared vision...and that his sweat towels wipe away sin. All we know is he's called giantfan5.
Has he done much this year?
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Aug 7, 2009 10:48 AM PDT up reply actions
My guess is he has eaten a LOT of clubhouse food.
Some say his powerade gives you infrared vision...and that his sweat towels wipe away sin. All we know is he's called giantfan5.
by Spazzy Mcgee on Aug 7, 2009 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions
He had tough time readjusting to the Coliseum. Kept hitting right into the shift. Still hit 11 home runs, which is sadly still 2nd on the team.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Aug 7, 2009 11:18 AM PDT up reply actions
Giambi had the lowest batting average (.193) in baseball when he was placed on the disabled list and I believe his slugging percentage (.364) was only better than three players in the American League.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 7, 2009 4:35 PM PDT up reply actions
Sad. Wasn’t supposed to end this way. I want him immediately implanted as the A’s hitting coach.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Aug 7, 2009 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
Jason Giambi bobblehead day is going to be awkward!
by CalBandGreat on Aug 15, 2009 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions
Alex Rios (you know, the guy Sabean almost traded Lincecum for!) is on waivers and has been claimed apparently. The Giants have sort of denied claiming him. The A’s, on the basis of their terrible record, would be one of the first teams available to pick him up. Beane loves this guy. We’ll see.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
On a related note, wtf with the A’s, after the All-Star break? Let’s get rid of all our players with proven track records, and respond by playing the best baseball of the season? And now I’m torn between wanting them to win and wanting a high spot in the draft.
It was inevitable. If the A’s aren’t in the playoff hunt after the All-Star break, they start shipping people off for prospects. It’s what we do.
That said, in the Holliday trade we got a potentially decent 3rd baseman, Cabrera wouldn’t have stayed past this year anyway, and Hannahan wasn’t doing much anyway.
But I too am tired if this merry-go-round. You can’t expect fans to come out to games on a regular basis if they don’t even know who’s playing half the time. I try to keep up, but it’s almost impossible. One of these days, I hope Oakland will field a competitive team again. I just don’t know when that will be :-(
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
We need to trade Scott Hairston in a package for a third baseman.
We’d look like this for 2010:
DH — J. Cust
RF — T. Buck
CF — R. Davis
LF — A. Cunningham
3B — Acquired for Hairston
SS — Free agent signing
2B — A. Kennedy
1B — B. Wallace
C — K. Suzuki
We’d look like this for 2011:
DH — C. Carter
RF — T. Buck
CF — R. Davis
LF — A. Cunningham
3B — Acquired for Hairston
SS — Free agent signing
2B — A. Cardenas
1B — B. Wallace
C — K. Suzuki
Of course, if Cliff Pennington keeps playing like this, we may not need that free agent signing to start. Overall, he had a really solid first week with the bat. He played really well defensively as well.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 8, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Are we assuming that Ellis has retired? I like him at second base – he’ll be totally healthy by next year, and his defense is unmatched.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
We’re assuming that Ellis can’t hit; however, he’s hitting better now. He’s at .270 for the season after his 5-for-5 game tonight. That’s a far cry from his .220 not too long long ago. His defense is unmatched and is pretty damn superior to Kennedy’s.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 10:43 PM PDT up reply actions
No, see
Adam Kennedy sucks. He’s not good at baseball.
2 months this season does not erase the last five years of his life.
Also, that outfield is a disaster waiting to happen.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
Adam Kennedy is pretty good at baseball, actually.
That outfield is not bad. Rajai Davis and Travis Buck play good defense.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 11, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Career OPS+ of 89…eh he’s OK. Nothing to get excited about. The A’s and the Giants both have the same problem – no great hitters that make the big difference, but at least the A’s avoid the overwhelming suck holes of Molina, Renteria and Winn in the middle of lineups.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Well, Kennedy also plays the hot corner and provides some veteran leadership to a young team.
Our middle of the lineup hitters are Scott Hairston, Jack Cust and Kurt Suzuki. Suzuki is a pretty solid hitter, but if he’s hitting fifth, I don’t know about that.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 11, 2009 11:47 PM PDT up reply actions
"Veteran leadership" is useless
Frankly, I’d rather my team stay entirely away from mediocre veterans. Usually their “leadership” consists of an entitlement complex that makes them difficult to bench even when they’re playing horribly.
If a guy doesn’t project as at least league-average, I’m basically not interested.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
I don’t think he’s a mediocre veteran. Who else do you want to play instead of him?
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 12, 2009 9:33 PM PDT up reply actions
[Checks AAA depth chart]
OK, there really isn’t anything down there.
Time for the Daric Barton-at-3B experiment!
Actually, it doesn’t matter that much what they do this year. What’s important is that they not make the horrific error of entering NEXT year with Adam Kennedy as their third baseman. There are a lot of good players available at third (Crede, Glaus, Beltre, etc). Most of them shouldn’t be too expensive.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
Since the epic comeback against the Twins, which was three Monday’s ago, the A’s are 12-10. In those 22 games, we’ve played half against the Yankees (on the road), the Red Sox (on the road) and the Rangers. All three teams came into today either tied for a playoff spot or having the division lead. A 12-10 record is nothing to brag about, but the team is playing a different — and most importantly better — brand of baseball. They’re not quite hitting the home run, but they’re hitting doubles and stealing bases. It’s fun to watch right now. As for the pitching staff, the continued development of Brett Anderson and Gio Gonzalez is awesome to see. They’re really, really doing a great job. If we could just get Trevor Cahill or Vin Mazzaro to turn the corner before season’s end, then it’d really, really be something.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 10, 2009 10:47 PM PDT reply actions
Siglined! (if I may) Thanks TwistNHook
I said "Why not baseball?" He said he hated baseball and demanded we NEVER speak of it again. He then, oddly enough, walked repeatedly into my fists and feet. So weird that he would do that! - TwistNHook, CGB
So, any fellow Giants fans want to talk me off of the ledge? I think the Giants’ magic pixie dust has run out. A one game deficit in the wild card has never seemed so large!
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Could be worse. You could be an As fan.
Supreme Leader Ayatollah TwistNHook!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
We could be Royals fans.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 11, 2009 10:48 PM PDT up reply actions
nah, being a Giants fan is worse. The Giants give you a spark of hope in the coldness of doubt, then snatch it away as soon as you soul begins to thaw.
The A’s have the good sense not to give us hope in the first place.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
You’re right.
The A’s had a winning season from 2000-2006 including playoff appearances in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2006.
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by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 11, 2009 11:48 PM PDT up reply actions
They've also won a World Series or two
The Giants haven’t won one since Eisenhower was in office.
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by Avinash Kunnath on Aug 12, 2009 1:14 AM PDT up reply actions
The A’s have four since 1968 and the Giants haven’t won since moving to San Francisco in 1958.
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by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 12, 2009 1:16 AM PDT up reply actions
And how many of us are old enough to remember any of those? The only thing I remember about 1989 is the earthquake…
So what matters it the future, and if this decade is any indication, the A’s don’t have the willingness to put forward the financial resources it takes to win. So good luck with the future…
by Missing Barry on Aug 12, 2009 8:41 AM PDT up reply actions
If this decade is any indication, the Giants will have 1 deep run into the playoffs and suck for the vast majority of the time, while the As will suck for a much shorter period of time.
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That performance was in the past and probably is not an indicator of what a team will do in the future. A lot of baseball has caught up with Beane, can he still maintain his success when other GM’s also know his tricks? Hopefully the Giants hire a good GM this offseason. The one aspect (that I referred to) that DOES have a big impact on future success, though, is the financial situation of a team…and we all know who’s set up better in that area…
by Missing Barry on Aug 12, 2009 10:18 AM PDT up reply actions
The San Jose Athletics beg to differ.
And I begin to cry.
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Also, PS at 8:41 this morning you used this past decade as an indication. Then, at 10:18 AM you decided that using the past decade as an indication is b-a-d. What happened in the 1.5 hours between then to change your mind???
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“and if this decade is any indication, the A’s don’t have the willingness to put forward the financial resources it takes to win.”
“The one aspect (that I referred to) that DOES have a big impact on future success, though, is the financial situation of a team”
I think I was pretty consistent. :)
by Missing Barry on Aug 12, 2009 10:58 AM PDT up reply actions
I remember the Series, that’s for sure. As an A’s fan growing up in LA, I needed that championship to ease that pain of the previous season’s result(which must NEVER be spoken of). Watching the earthquake footage was so crazy… but at least the A’s didn’t let a little natural disaster get them down :-)
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Relax, relax. I’m not knocking the A’s, I’ve been a fan longer than you’ve been alive – that was a jab at the Giants tormenting their fans, which I simply love to watch. I’m just really down after the watching the A’s the last couple of years. The playoff appearances (save the series where we beat the Twins) were even more painful.
these last few years though …sigh… so depressing. No hope at all. I hope things turn around.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Sure, I’ll talk you off the ledge. Before this season, did you think we were going to make the playoffs? Most rational fans thought we’d be an 80-82 win team, taking a step forward, hoping a couple of our young guys pan out, and getting one year closer to contention. So far we’re on pace to be better than that, Sandoval has surpassed our wildest dreams, Lincecum is even better than last year, Cain is having a good season, Wilson is solid again, Affeldt is a good pitcher, Sanchez threw a no-hitter even if he still teases us with his talent, and even Zito is useful (league average pitcher), if overpaid. I think overall this season has to be called a success up to this point. Not making the playoffs, hopefully, will ensure the biggest positive that could possibly happen for the Giants – not renewing Sabean. So look at the bright side, things aren’t all bad.
by Missing Barry on Aug 12, 2009 8:39 AM PDT up reply actions
Supposedly Sabean's "progress" is likely to see him brought back
The head honchos haven’t learned a thing.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
The head honchos are different this time around, so I’m holding out hope that they see the Giants team on base percentage is last in baseball and realize we need a new direction…
by Missing Barry on Aug 13, 2009 6:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Lets be honest here. The Giants have 2 absurdly good pitchers, 1 pretty damn good hitter, and a decent bullpen. Outside of that, there isnt much else. Those 2 pitchers are so amazing, though, that it covers for a lot of the deficiencies. To make the playoffs, let alone make any noise in the playoffs, they are going to need more hitting. Period. Is Freddie Sanchez enough? I don’t believe so, especially with Rowand slumping some.
I agree 100% that the Giants are well passed where most thought they’d be. And I agree 100% that the As would be lucky to be where the Giants are now. But besides 3 players, I see a lot of replaceability.
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There have been a number of SABR type analysis done that indicate the Giants have been supremely lucky to be in contention, basically for the reasons you listed. I do think that Zito and post-no-hitter Sanchez are at the very least league average 3rd and 4th starters if they continue their current level of performance. The bullpen is also a little better than decent.
But I think you underrate the supreme suckage that is the lineup, particularly if Bochy insists on playing Randy Winn over Fred Lewis and/or Nate Schierholtz, and Molina and his OBP black hole in the cleanup spot.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
“To make the playoffs, let alone make any noise in the playoffs, they are going to need more hitting.”
It’s true, and Brian Sabean doesn’t have the slightest clue what a good hiter looks like, despite lucking into Barry Bonds. We likely won’t make the playoffs. This is a good step for the future, as long as we do not bring Sabean back, we should be set up for playoff contention for the next few years. However, if we do make the playoffs, we’re set up well for a WS run. The playoffs are a big crapshoot. Now that that’s out of the way, we can get into specifics.
As hard as people have tried, nobody has managed to connect hitting with playoff success to any degree. What they have found correlates with playoff success is strikeout pitchers, defense, and strangely enough…speed. Check, check, and I don’t really buy the speed thing that much anyways, I think it’s more an indicator of some other correlated variable than anything. So I’d give the Giants as good a chance as anyone else of winning the WS, if we make the playoffs.
“But besides 3 players, I see a lot of replaceability.”
This might be the most true statement ever put forth on the California Golden Blogs…
by Missing Barry on Aug 13, 2009 6:50 AM PDT up reply actions
Its true that if the Giants make the playoffs, especially in a short series throwing Lincecum/Cain twice, they could upset somebody. But then again, I saw for years with the As throwing the same plan of attack out there (amazing pitching, mediocre hitting) and get upset themselves. You need that amazing pitching to be near perfect, kinda like the DBacks in 2001.
I mean the Giants just took 3 out of 4 from the Phils, who I believe would be their opponent in the first round if the Giants make the playoffs. So, you never know.
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by TwistNHook on Aug 13, 2009 7:40 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I mean all I’m saying is the research suggests correlation between pitching and playoff success but not hitting and playoff success. It may be because most teams have a minimum amount of hitting to make the playoffs and the Giants are an outlier that’s hard to account for. Also note that it’s not just “good” pitching – it’s power pitching. You need to be able to strike guys out in the playoffs. It’s probably all a moot point, though, as I don’t see the Giants making it without a lot of luck…
Personally I think the A’s should be retracted, and let the Giants choose what they want from the A’s organization to create a super franchise we can all root for…
by Missing Barry on Aug 13, 2009 11:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Personally I think theA’sGiants should be retracted, and let theGiantsA’s choose what they want from theA’sGiants organization to create a super franchise we can all root for…
Okay, fine!
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 13, 2009 10:35 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
It only makes sense for it to be the Giants, though. We have the stadium, and the history (more wins than any other franchise in American sports). The stadium is really the big point…
by Missing Barry on Aug 14, 2009 6:44 AM PDT up reply actions
The A’s have the history.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 14, 2009 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
The Giants have the most wins of any franchise and the most Hall of Fame players. We also have arguably the two greatest position players in history (Mays, Bonds), and arguably the greatest pitcher of all time (Mathewson). Just throwing those facts out there…
by Missing Barry on Aug 14, 2009 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions
At the end of the day, it’s all about the World Series titles.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 14, 2009 2:33 PM PDT up reply actions
The New York Giants baseball team has plenty.
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by Avinash Kunnath on Aug 14, 2009 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions
The A’s have more.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 14, 2009 10:41 PM PDT up reply actions
World Series titles are one of many factors of a teams history. I’ve already given us a few that favor the Giants, any more in favor of the A’s?
by Missing Barry on Aug 15, 2009 8:11 AM PDT up reply actions
Heres one that favors the As. We’re fucking trendsetters. You think bonds ever does roids if Big Mac aint rocking it? The Joser was like the hipster of roids, doing em WAY before anybody else. You guys are just posers, late to the scene. SOLAME!
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Um, wouldn’t it have been better to use a player who did ’roids as your example instead of a clean player like Bonds? Maybe Benito Santiago, for instance?
by Missing Barry on Aug 15, 2009 9:41 AM PDT up reply actions
My original choice was to go with Bobby Estalella, but I wasn’t quite sure if he really did roids. Do we have any evidence???
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I’m pretty sure he came up during Balco investigations, so that is a good choice.
by Missing Barry on Aug 15, 2009 10:30 AM PDT up reply actions
LOL
a clean player like Bonds
hahahahahahahaha!!!
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
I’m actually surprised it took as long as it did for someone to react to that, and I’m surprised only one person did…
by Missing Barry on Aug 16, 2009 9:08 AM PDT up reply actions
That’s like the only thing that matters.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Aug 15, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
This is getting pretty silly. Trying to objectively judge the histories of two of the longest, most decorated sports franchises in the game is a pretty futile exercise – especially since fans of either team are going to cherry pick whatever happens to support their team.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
“since fans of either team are going to cherry pick whatever happens to support their team.”
Good thing Giants fans have a lot more to cherry pick from than A’s fans. :)
(On a serious note, I am curious what other things A’s fans can come up with, so get on it A’s fans!)
by Missing Barry on Aug 15, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions
The As have a lot of great history. I would never try to denigrate the Giants great history, because even if they have fewer World Series titles than the As (which they do!), they still have some amazing history, too.
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And I’m not trying to denigrate the A’s history. I wasn’t being sarcastic with my last comment, I was really trying to get some thoughtful responses about the A’s history from A’s fans.
by Missing Barry on Aug 15, 2009 5:52 PM PDT up reply actions
I think having a manager for 50 straight years is interesting history.
Honestly, the history of the As is eerily similar all throughout. Great success coming at a cost so great that it crushed the team. The As teams in the 20s were amazing, but Connie Mack couldn’t afford them and had to sell of the players. They were like a farm team for the Yankees in the 40s and 50s (ring a bell???).
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Here’s an excerpt from Baseball Anecdotes, an excellent book of baseball history and weird personalities:
After winning in 1914 his fourth pennant in five years, Connie Mack sold off his best players rather than meet the challenge from the Federal League, and proceeded to watch benignly as his Philadelphia Athletics plummeted to the basement. In 1914 they had won 99 games; in 1915 they managed to win only 43, and in 1916, they bottomed out at a modern record, 37. Between them, pitchers Tom Sheehan and John Nabors – they were roommates – went 2-37 in 1916. The A’s had two other pitchers, Elmer Myers and Joe Bush, who lost 23 and 22 games respectively. Their shortstop, Whitey Witt, made 70 errors. Their best catcher batted .232, then in July was lost for the season to appendicitis. Among his replacements were players who batted .195 and .091. At one point, the A’s lost 19 straight on the road.
Now
that’sa firesale
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
THT simulated a season among a bunch of the all-time worst teams
The ‘16 A’s finished second-to-last, beating out only the astounding 1899 Cleveland Spiders. Their pitching staff was most likely the worst ever assembled.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
Whoops, I misread the standings
They finished third, although the team they beat out was… the 1954 A’s.
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
Yeah, making the playoffs even when you don’t win the world series isn’t entertaining or anything. Neither are the great individuals you’ll remember watching for the rest of your life. I mean, it’s all subjective – you can certainly argue that’s the most important factor, but I don’t see how you could possibly think it’s the only thing. For some reason I feel like you would have a different opinion if the situation were flipped…
by Missing Barry on Aug 15, 2009 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions
But then again, I saw for years with the As throwing the same plan of attack out there (amazing pitching, mediocre hitting) and get upset themselves.
Rec’d for blind, searing, painful, gut-wrenching truth.
If the Giants think they can make a playoff run with two good pitchers and no hitting, they’re kidding themselves. Hell, the A’s had three good pitchers and still couldn’t make it work. If you want to win, learn from our mistakes.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
If you want to have a real discussion about what historically has determined playoff success in baseball, we can do that. The only problem (for you) is the conclusion we’ll come to is the Giants are as well set up as any other team if they make the playoffs…
by Missing Barry on Aug 14, 2009 6:46 AM PDT up reply actions
Ive admitted that I think the Giants, in a short series, can do some damage. I hate the giants as much as the next As fan, but I try to be realistic about this stuff. If you have to win 3 games and you can throw Lincecum in 2 of them, those are pretty good odds. It is a different story in the potential NLCS if you cant start Lincecum until prolly the 3rd game and Barry Zito is getting 2 starts.
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Zito’s not optimal, true, though he has been an average pitcher this season. With Lincecum + Cain (and their strikeout ability), and another guy with great strikeout stuff in Sanchez, our pitching staff is set up well for post season success, especially since it’s not clear our lack of hitting will pose much of a problem. The Giants are a good defensive team, another attribute that’s been shown to matter to playoff success…
by Missing Barry on Aug 14, 2009 9:12 AM PDT up reply actions
I wouldnt be so keen on Sanchez as a playoff starter. He seems inconsistent to me. As likely to pitch a perfect game as get blown up out there. And Ive seen Barry as a playoff starter. Pretty much everytime I remember him as a playoff starter, he pithed well. Except for the ALCS game against the Tigers. But that was a long time ago when he was pitching in the playoffs. 3-7 years ago.
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“But that was a long time ago when he was pitching in the playoffs.”
Yeah, back when he was actually good….stupid Sabean….
Yeah, Sanchez is definitely inconsistent and has control issues, I made sure not to include him in the good category of Lincecum + Cain, but strikeouts seem to matter a lot in postseason, like I’ve been emphasizing, so at least he has that going for him.
Actually looking at it, Zito’s k/9 is better than any other year since he won the Cy Young, so maybe things are looking up a bit…
by Missing Barry on Aug 14, 2009 10:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Barry has pitched well this year. He seems to finally have returned to “17 million a year league average player.” And maybe he will regain his old fire in a potential playoff game. What Im saying is I think the giants could upset somebody in the NLDS were they to get there.
But in a longer series, such as the NLCS, I dont see it happening. Esp. if theyve thrown everyting they have just to win the NLDS.
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I hate the giants as much as the next As fan
Even though it’s been explained to me multiple times in past DBD’s, I still don’t understand this mentality.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
You have to pick one team, you cannot root for them both. Interacting and arguing with the other teams fans (since they’re your friends and neighbors), and always having the other team to benchmark your success against, should naturally breed this feeling over time. Therefore, I hate the A’s as much as the next Giants fan. :)
by Missing Barry on Aug 15, 2009 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Ok, I’ll break it down for you.
Why
so
serious?
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Ummm, no.
Teams that are better set up than the Giants for a playoff run:
Dodgers
Angels
Red Sox
Yankees
Cardinals
Phillies
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Thanks for your opinion, but you haven’t given any basis for that whatsoever. I would appreciate some analysis to back that up…
by Missing Barry on Aug 15, 2009 8:14 AM PDT up reply actions
those teams have a good offense.
this @colorado series coming up could be The Season for the giants.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
That’s kind of what I was expecting to hear. The problem is, any studies attempting to determine the most important factors to playoff success have ultimately concluded that regular season offensive performances are largely inconsequential to playoff success. It’s somwhat counterintuitive, and I’m not exactly sure why, but it may have to do with the superior pitching and defense you find in the playoffs compared to in an average regular season game. It may also be that playoff team’s offenses are generally so close together there’s essentially no difference. Maybe you have arguments against this theory (based on studying historical data), but it makes a compelling case that at best, offense isn’t the most significant factor in playoff success, and at worst it’s almost a non-factor.
by Missing Barry on Aug 17, 2009 8:29 AM PDT up reply actions
I wasn’t arguing that it is the most important factor. I’m just saying those teams have a good offense and are pretty well rounded all the way around.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
And I’ll I’m saying is this:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/so-billy-what-does-work-in-the-playoffs/
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5541
The Giants pitching staff has the highest K/9 in baseball. They have the second highest K/BB after the Red Sox. They have the second best FIP after the Braves. We have one of the best closers in baseball (2.68 FIP, 2.74 tRA), and one of the best bullpens overall. We have the best defense in baseball (best team UZR). The point is, while the Giants may not be as well rounded (based on the miserable offense Sabean’s constructed), and while we may not be as good in the regular season as these teams, based on the most important factors in playoff success, we have a strong case we’re the best in baseball in each category. None of those teams can match up with the Giants in the factors those articles laid out.
The only factor we don’t have going for us is the weird connection between speed (in terms of stealing bases) and playoff success, though I’m not sure there’s not another factor at work behind the scenes in that case (or that it’s just a statistical anomaly altogether)…
by Missing Barry on Aug 17, 2009 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions
and then there was Fred Lewis and Luis Castillo…
not a big fan of the defensive metrics. The Giants do typically play good defense – not other-worldly, but very good nonetheless. It isn’t equivalent to the pitching staff that’s for sure.
Molina, Sanchez, Rowand and Winn are very good-great defensive players. Renteria is old and KFP and Garko are too tubby at the corners.
How do you think they’ll do @ Colorado?
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
It works though because our pitchers are fly ball pitchers, so letting our fast outfield run them down results in good defense.
I dunno, we aren’t playing well, Colorado is. Cain won’t be throwing. I’d say the most likely thing is they win 2 of 3, second most likely we win 2 of 3, third most likely we sweep, and I don’t think they’ll sweep since Timmy’s pitching one of the games. They’re big games, though, so I’ll predict a Giants sweep.
(And it’s Jose Castillo not Luis, though to be fair Luis Castillo did just hit his first HR of the year against the Giants, that’s just great luck there…)
by Missing Barry on Aug 17, 2009 6:48 PM PDT up reply actions
is the Colo series a 4-gamer?
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
Yes. Projected starters:
Game 1: Sanchez vs. Cook
Game 2: Martinez vs. De La Rosa
Game 3: Lincecum vs. Jiminez
Game 4: Zito vs. Marquis
As a Giants fan, I would take a split…but they probably need 3 of 4 to stay in the race. I’m pessimistic though.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
I think they should go to a 4-man rotation (L, C, Z, S) for the remainder of the season. When was the last time # 5 guy won a game for ’em?
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
My bad, didn’t realize it was a 4 game series. Likely split then. And by split I mean…SWEEP!
by Missing Barry on Aug 18, 2009 7:01 AM PDT up reply actions
if they sweep colo…you should go to the airport to greet ’em.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
Hmm, I decided to cancel that post and accidently pressed post, but it seems I cannot delete it now…
by Missing Barry on Aug 18, 2009 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions
I’m wondering if the apparent connection between good pitching and playoff success will be thrown out the window if the Giants made it because the Giants hitting is unprecedented in its badness (at least, in terms of playoff teams). I’m pretty sure I read somewhere that if they Giants made the playoffs they would have the worst team OBP of a playoff team certainly in the wildcard era and probably for a great deal longer. The Giants are so unusual they would probably be a statistical outlier on about any study done.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Well, the connection between pitching and playoff success wouldn’t be thrown out, but there certainly is a reasonable argument to be made that the Giants offense doesn’t fit the typical profile of a playoff team, and could be a much bigger factor than normal. Especially if you look at the methodology of the studies on playoff success, they don’t really do a great job of addressing this kind of issue. I was kind of waiting for someone to bring this point up. It’s cetainly an interesting discussion topic.
by Missing Barry on Aug 18, 2009 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions
You have to understand
Those studies are measuring performance relative to expectations, which in baseball usually means Pythagorean record. A lot like Pete Tiernan’s Performance Above Seed Expectations in March Madness bracketing. #1 seeds are expected to win a lot more games— proving that they do is prosaic.
Likewise, if you limp into the playoffs with more runs allowed than scored or something, you’re going to be a massive dog no matter HOW good your pitching staff is. You might perform above expectations, but expectations are that you’ll get crushed…
Linda's in the cold ground, won't see her anymore
Somewhere out on the highway tonight, the drunken engines roar
It's just one of those things, one of those things
-- Al Stewart, "Accident on 3rd St."
In memory of Nick Adenhart and all victims of drunk driving
Well, I think you’re exxagerating a bit on the expectations that you’ll get crushed. The discrepency in winning percentage between the best teams in baseball and the worst teams in baseball that make the playoffs (whether that method is actual record or pythagorean record or third degree wins or whatever else) is actually relatively small, and in a 5 or 7 game series doesn’t favor the better team very much more than 50%, ceteris paribus.
by Missing Barry on Aug 19, 2009 6:44 AM PDT up reply actions
ceteris paribus
Cool, I learned a new phrase today! Thanks :)
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Remember it if you ever take an econ class (I do econ work for a living)…
by Missing Barry on Aug 19, 2009 5:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Not only do they have more offensive power than the Giants, they also have strong pitching (St. Louis’ is quasi-strong at best, but their monster offensive power makes up for it). I’m not necessarily saying these teams have better pitching than the Giants, but their pitching can at least be competitive, it not match up completely. Especially Boston. That lineup, AND that pitching? Papelbon is Teflon, and damn that team looks good for the playoffs (even with Big Papi sucking hosewater). Anyway, the combination of strong pitching and strong offense make them better all-around teams, which gives them, in my opinion, a better shot in the playoffs than the Giants.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
You don’t seem to acknowledge the points I made on what matters in the playoffs, though, which may not be the same things as the regular season. Offense does not seem significant, and you aren’t even taking defense into account (the Giants are significantly better than those teams defensively)…
by Missing Barry on Aug 18, 2009 7:01 AM PDT up reply actions
Well, I suppose I don’t completely agree with said points. I can’t agree that offense is the statistically least important factor. Pitching is obviously important, I’d say the most important factor. But all the defense in the world isn’t gonna stop someone from smacking a ball into the cheap seats.
Take Albert Pujols, for example. Jim Palmer, one of the best pitchers of all time, said of Pujols: “The first thing that a pitcher has to understand is that Albert is better than you.” When you have great hitters who know how to hit baseline, gap shots, opposite field – guys who know how to hit the ball where the defenders simply aren’t – defense isn’t going to help you.
I’m not saying defense isn’t important. It is an extremely important part of baseball, especially in the playoffs. But pitchers are game-changers. Hitters are game-changers. Pitchers can intimidate and wear down a batting order with strikeout after strikeout. Hitters can shift the momentum of a game with a single swing. Defenders, while important, aren’t going to change the psychological balance of the game – and that, more than anything, is what playoff baseball is all about.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
The problem is those are all theories with no substance behind them. If you want to argue about the methodology of the evidence and sample size issues and any other reason why you shouldn’t believe them, I’m all ears, that stuff fascinates me, but I’m just not going to buy theories without evidence (unless I think it’s a well thought out theory and there’s no evidence to the contrary). First of all, a simple point – hitters are not able to hit the ball where defenders aren’t. The evidence is strongly against that. A guy like Pujols can consistently make much harder contact than other hitters (while walking more and striking out less), which is why he’s a better hitter, but if you look at the data over time there really just aren’t examples of players that succeed by just hitting the ball where defenders aren’t. Most theories people come up with for baseball, when evaluated properly, end up being untrue. I’m sorry if this sounds heartless or comes off poorly, I’m not trying to be arrogant or anything, I’ve just spent a lot of time reading up about these things (and I know a thing or two about statistics) and found conventional wisdom in baseball is extremely flawed. I’m all for new perspectives on things, and there’s still a lot I (and other fans that keep up with this stuff) don’t know, I just have to see some evidence before I give new ideas serious consideration…
by Missing Barry on Aug 18, 2009 8:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh no, it doesn’t come off as heartless or anything at all, so no worries, just having an interesting discussion! :-)
Hmmm. Well, let me edit what I’ve said based on what you’re responded. I do think I’ve overstated what hitters can do in terms of picking their spots. Hitters can, definitely, choose to take a ball to the opposite field. That I know for a fact. More than that, i’ll admit it’s not so much about picking spots, per se. But Pujols’ batting expertise is more than just hitting hard – he’s mastered the science of hitting. I can go into more detail (with numbers to back it up), but we can save that for another conversation, I think.
I don’t have any numbers to back up what I’ve said, but that’s because I’m talking about the psychological game – the head, I think, is where most sports are played, and that can’t be quantified. To completely discount opinions and theories simply because they are not numbers behind them, though, I think does the discussion a disservice, partially because numbers don’t tell the whole story of sports. Numbers don’t tell you how nervous a player is, which will impact how he’ll play, etc. etc.
Anyways, I think defense plays its part, but I’ve never seen a defensive play spark a comeback, and all the defense in the world won’t keep a ball out of the cheap seats – so I don’t think it can be said that it’s the most important factor.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
True, there is a pyschological aspect to sports, and in every situation something is going through an athletes head. My only question is what actual impact it has on the game. For instance, batters can feel pressure or try to focus more because they’re in clutch situation, but the truth is any changes in their psychological state end up having no effect on the game – that is, clutch hitting essentially doesn’t exist. Players perform the same in clutch situation as normal situations. There are smart people out there that try to study these types of things, and they generally find that the psychological aspect of things, while there, doesn’t have nearly the effect you would expect. Again, I’m not pretending we know everything or every subject has been studied (or even that the ones that have are always studied well enough to make definitive conclusions about, though my clutch hitting example is pretty much there), so I do recognize it may haev an impact. I just want to know what that impact is before I take it into account, because usually it’s too small to bother worrying about.
As for defense, traditionally a lot of what defense actually does was credited to the pitcher, and I think that’s one reason you might not realize its complete impact. There’s still a lot of work and research to be done on this front, but we’re beginning to more fully understand what impact defense has, and it’s fairly substantial, especially in the playoffs for whatever reason. You may not see defense spark a rally, but a lot of what a good defense will do you won’t even notice. When a fast outfielder gets to a ball easily that a slower one might have to dive for (and possibly miss), it doesn’t look all that impressive, but a double saved is just as important as hitting a double on offense. My point is just that it’s harder for us to see the impact defense has with our eyes than something like a 2 out double that starts a rally.
by Missing Barry on Aug 20, 2009 7:49 AM PDT up reply actions
Stassi says FU to FUCLA
A’s sign 4th-rounder Stassi, $1.5 million bonus
Greg Genske, who has been advising Yuba City High School catcher Max Stassi, tells me that the A’s have signed Stassi, their fourth-round pick.
Stassi will get a signing bonus of $1.5 million; Oakland was aware that Stassi was looking for a first-round type bonus. In fact, that’s the reason Stassi fell so far in the draft – there were concerns he would attend UCLA on a full scholarship if the bonus was not significant. The pricetag is the largest ever for a fourth-rounder.
No word yet on Grant Green or Ian Krul.
This kid could be good. I like this high risk drafting. Need to get Green signed. Kroll would be nice too.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
7th rounder Ian Krol and 1st rounder Grant Green sign
for 925k and 2.75 mil respectively. Good draft for the A’s. Stassi’s a first round talent and Krol is promising HSer.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
Strasburg, Nationals agree to $15M deal
NEW YORK – Stephen Strasburg set a standard even before setting foot on a professional baseball field.
The San Diego State pitcher and the Washington Nationals agreed to a record contract just before Monday’s midnight deadline, a four-year deal that will pay the hard-throwing right-hander slightly more than $15.1 million.
Strasburg was selected first by the last-place Nationals in June and set the mark for the most money guaranteed to a drafted player. That’s been held since 2001 by pitcher Mark Prior, who received a $10.5 million, five-year contract after he was selected with the second pick, behind Joe Mauer.
…
…
Strasburg gets a $7.5 million signing bonus payable over three years. His 2009 salary is the $400,000 minimum, which comes to $102,732 for the remaining 47 days of the season. He gets $2 million in 2010, $2.5 million in 2011 and $3 million in 2012.
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
‘Unlikely’ Strasburg will pitch for Nats in ’09
…the Nationals set about tamping down everyone’s expectations for the hard-throwing Strasburg, who has been labeled a once-in-a-generation talent. Acting Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said Tuesday it’s “very unlikely” Strasburg will be called up to the majors this season.
And 2010? Even that is not a certainty.
“We’re going to see where his development takes him, and we’re going to be very cautious with him and develop him like one of the elite prospects in the game,” Rizzo said. “There’s no expectations of him to be in the rotation in 2010. If he earns it, and he’s ready for it, then we’ll see where his talent takes him.”
CGB: Wasting Your Potential, Your Time, & Your Life Since 2006.
Giants you outdo even yourselves.
Some say his powerade gives you infrared vision...and that his sweat towels wipe away sin. All we know is he's called giantfan5.
What'd they do now?
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Aug 25, 2009 2:56 PM PDT up reply actions
Up 4-1 in the 14th inning to the Rockies, who they are chasing in the Wild Card. Lose on a walk off grand slam to something called a Spillsborg.
ALL HAIL SUPREME LEADER AVINASH!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
That’s…rough.
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
by Avinash Kunnath on Aug 25, 2009 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions
GOOOO GIANTS WHOOOOOOO
Some say his powerade gives you infrared vision...and that his sweat towels wipe away sin. All we know is he's called giantfan5.
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