Some Mardi Gras Beads For You, March 8, 2011: Rivero, Our Hero
by FuquaManuel on Mar 8, 2011 5:48 PM EST
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PrintHappy Mardi Gras, my gentile friends! I hope you enjoy your "last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season" (Wikipedia).
Today, the Phillies beat the Orioles, 4-3, on a walk-off, 2 RBI single by someone named Carlos Rivero. Cole Hamels struggled with his command early, but settled down to pitch 4 innings of 1-hit ball. Ryan Howard hit an opposite-field shot off of Brian Matusz in the 4th inning. Brad Lidge allowed a run on a hit and and a hit batsman in his inning; all of the other relievers (including Baez) pitched scoreless frames.
Still no word on Utley's knee, but Dom had the hook of his hamate bone successfully amputated.
Phillies:
Utley: 'I've got nothing new'
When the Phillies get secretive about injuries, FuquaManuel gets nervous.
Brown Has Successful Surgery
Source: he was a big boy and didn't cry at all.
Hitting woes persist
Can't we wait until the games actually matter to call them "woes"?
Francisco scratched
by a rabid squirrel. Received shot in clubhouse.
Top 10 Prospects: The Philadelphia Phillies
What do you say, PhillyFriar?
The Best Short Stops of the Past 5 Years: Look to the NL East
Jimmy Rollins: 32.1 fielding runs; Derek Jeter: -23.7 fielding runs
Elsewhere in baseball:
Carlos Beltran misses second game in a row for New York Mets
"Knee tendinitis."
Hey beer man! The top 10 brews available at big league ballparks
"Flying Fish's Extra-Pale Ale is the kind of beer that you can go back and get more of during a long, high-scoring game at that bandbox of a ballpark." #statementsfrom2005
Majors And Minors Renew Wedding Vows
In Vegas. With Elvis presiding.
Other ballplayers players to testify against Barry Bonds
Breaking Ballmerta? They better go into witness protection.
Dave Righetti: Lord Of The HR/FB Rate
Further research into the mystery of Matt Cain.
A helmet for pitchers?
Reminds me of this helmet thingy.
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Today on my drive home at 5pm, Mike Missanelli gave a shout out of sorts to the Maple Street Press publication you guys put together—said it was excellent. He went on to discuss the Top 10 reasons why the Phillies have been successful and had people chime in on the choices and order.
Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not "every man for himself", and the London Underground is not a political movement.
No way! That’s pretty rad.
Wonder if there’s a way to get a recording of it.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
Cool!! BTW- It turned out wonderful- I love it!!! Great job!
by dannijd on Mar 8, 2011 6:32 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Mike Missanelli gave a shout out of sorts to the Maple Street Press publication
A shape with lion body and the head of a man,
A gaze blank and pitiless as the sun,
Is moving its slow thighs, while all about it
Wind shadows of the indignant desert birds.
by Wet Luzinski on Mar 8, 2011 7:44 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Cain HR/FB rate
I am of the mindset that certain pitchers have a fastball that has rising action causing more fly balls. With the poster boy for HR/FB outliers, Matt Cain, I know the ball park comes into play, not to mention San Diego and LA, but I am trying to determine if, when , and how sharp a fastball rises along with the plain of the pitch add to this phenomenon. It isn’t so much what a pitched ball actually does (physics) as opposed to what it appears to do (when the batter sees) that I am trying to focus on. Does anyone know of any graphs or charts that target ball trajectory movement from both home plate and from the side? I have been able to ask a few Phillies about this topic and they say that say some pitchers are much harder to square up than others due to this. Everyone has heard the terms “exploding fastball” and “late action” but I have never seen it quantified before.
"Statistics are used much like a drunk uses a lamppost: for support, not illumination." - Vin Scully
I just a bit concerned about the lack of in fielders on the top 10 prospects but, that being said I’m excited about the young pitching coming up through the ranks (I thought Biddle’s FB was up around 95). Also what about Worely? Did I miss something or is he not that good?
by Phourth_Horseman on Mar 8, 2011 6:30 PM EST via mobile reply actions
He’s a high floor, low ceiling prospect. It really just depends on what floats your boat. Since the Fangraphs guy had James, Altherr, and Santana in his Top 10, you can presume that he’s a guy who’s really into ceilings.
Consistency
If he gives me 6 ip with 2 er every game I’m in love with him as a 2-4 guy. Kyle last year got a ton of flack however, he would have a great game any pitcher would be proud of than a game any pitcher couldn’t forget…and for a #5 I’m cool with that. I’m just wondering where Worely fits and where his projections can take him?
by Phourth_Horseman on Mar 8, 2011 6:55 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
When the Phillies get secretive about injuries, FuquaManuel gets nervous.
Wet Luzinski is profoundly ambivalent about referring to ourselves in the third person, but it seems appropriate on a night of excess. Wet Luzinski has been known to drink.
Not just the third person, but the royal “we”… Well played!
by dannijd on Mar 8, 2011 7:44 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
That it is… A poet, an author, and royalty… What a hat trick!
by dannijd on Mar 8, 2011 7:49 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Greinke hurt himself playing basketball? Cracked ribs. Yikes.
Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not "every man for himself", and the London Underground is not a political movement.
Also saw Zumaya is hurt again—the elbow. Is that guy ever healthy?
Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not "every man for himself", and the London Underground is not a political movement.
Fangraphs Prospects
2 Random Observations
1. The author has Biddle as a right hander, I wonder if he ranks him higher if he knows he’s a lefty(I’m not a huge prospect head but arent left handed pitching prospects valued more?) I know its nitpicking a top 10 list as well but just a thought.
2. J. James is 6’4" 180? Holy crap thats skinny, hopefully my man adds some muscle and can develop some power in his stroke.
My vote for best ballpark brew (not big league, obviously) is Alaskan Pale Ale, served proudly, for $2, at Growden Memorial Park in Fairbanks, AK. Excellent stuff.
You’re absolutely welcome to show up for the 25-odd home games.
Things of interest (besides $2 ballpark beer):
- $1 hot dogs, $1 popcorn and $1 peanuts
- The landing spot of Dave Kingman’s ~530’ homerun
- Sharing the ballpark with betwen 15 people for regular games
- Sharing the ballpark with ~6,000 people during the Midnight Sun Game (yeah, that’s right—it’s played at night without artificial lighting!. Booya)
Any takers?
I’m sure you already know about Matt Way, the Phillies minor leaguer who’s originally from Sitka, Alaska. I found it pretty amusing just now when I tried to look up whether that was anywhere near you and found that it was, in fact, so far away that Google Maps was unable to even compute driving directions. As the crow flies, it looks like it’s somewhere around 700 miles.
OK, so I see that that town is also located on an island with no roads to, from, or on it. That probably has something to do with the Google Maps problem as well.
Ah, Sitka, Alaska. Home of the fictional Jewish settlement in Chabon’s “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union”.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
I looked that up because I wasn’t sure whether you were joking or not
"Francisco!...that's fun to say!" - Buddy
Yeah. That’s part of the inspiration I think. The Sitka in the book had something like 1.5 million Jews living in it though. It also uses this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slattery_Report as the jumping off point for the alternate history.
Interesting book, and a fun read. Chabon is damn good writer. I’m not quite sure I know (or like) the point he is trying to make though. Still, I recommend it.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
Well, there was room for 400,000 people in the Warsaw ghetto, after all…or, at least, they managed to fit that many people in there.
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
I am ashamed to say it is also the home of Ryan Reynolds character in “The Proposal”.
Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not "every man for himself", and the London Underground is not a political movement.
What, rich and own the whole town?
Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not "every man for himself", and the London Underground is not a political movement.
Something like that.
Movies seem to think that since Alaska is so far away (“Alaska? What? Who even knows if it’s a real place—just make it look like Minnesota but with glaciers and bigger mountains and dark, and no-one will know the difference”) that they can get away with anything.
Except the Simpson’s Movie. That was pretty spot on. ;)
Well, they made it look beautiful at the very least. And Ryan is funny so it kept my attention. I like chick flicks. I’m a chick. Sue me. It’s the one really girly thing about me other than my fondness for haute couture. Besides that, I’m all about drinking, sports, swearing and sometimes all three simultaneously.
Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not "every man for himself", and the London Underground is not a political movement.
Meh, that one was only OK for me, but mainly because most of the women’s characters were pretty uni-dimensional. My son is so stoked for “The Green Latern,” I can’t put it into words.
Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not "every man for himself", and the London Underground is not a political movement.
Do you swear during drinking sports?
It is certainly beautiful. Its the primary reason, despite all the frequently lousy weather, lack of UPS Ground, $4/gallon gas, idiot politicians and other assorted nonsense; why I won’t ever willingly live anywhere else.
I can drive 20 minutes from my house and be solidly in the wilderness, maybe 10 miles or more from another human being. A moose walked through my yard last week. If you superposed Alaska over the Lower 48, and put Ketchikan (site of the 1st Bridge to Nowhere) in Florida, the Aleutians would extend almost to California, and Prudhoe Bay would be in Upper Michigan. I love it here.
You might have explained this before, but how the hell did you become a Phils fan?
Pessimism of the intellect, optimism of the will.
Good question.
Happy to explain, though.
My grandfather owned a farm near Quakertown, and my Dad and his brothers grew up there. When I was growing up, my Dad and I spent about one month a year in the summer there helping him out—I learned to drive on his Farmall H, learned to shoot with his shotgun, learned to milk cows, learned to drink, smoke and cuss be a good Irish catholic boy.
We were able to see a few games at the Vet each year, but even when we didn’t go to the ballpark, I always (and still do) considered eastern Pennsylvania something like a “second home.”
Let me put it this way: as much as I love Alaska, if I had to live anywhere else in the world, it would be eastern PA.
If I participated in them, sure. I’m less jockess and more “athletic supporter,” if you will. ;-)
Sounds gorgeous. I must visit someday, but not on a cruise. I don’t care for boats. Or being in the water. So boats on the water notsogood.
Aristotle was not Belgian, the principle of Buddhism is not "every man for himself", and the London Underground is not a political movement.
I visited Sitka 3 years ago. It is, flat out, one of the prettiest places I’ve ever visited. I had an excellent milkshake and an Alaskan Amber while in town and some fresh caught fish for lunch. I would move there if it weren’t smack dab in the middle of nowhere and colder than a witch’s tit in winter.
I was involved in a hoops tourney in Juneau and there was only like 6 hours of daylight per day each day. Everyone kept on telling me how beautiful Alaska is and yet I don’t have night vision.
"Francisco!...that's fun to say!" - Buddy
Of course, the summer more than makes up for the lack of daylight in the winter. And Juneau is something like 650 miles south of Fairbanks, where it really gets cold and dark in the winter, but also sunny, hot, and beautiful in the summer. It’s a place like no other.
I encourage you (and anyone else here) to come visit during the summer.
You forgot to mention that all of that comes with a gizillion dollars in air fare!
by dannijd on Mar 8, 2011 11:28 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree
that the relative silence surrounding Utley is concerning. Just look at the current difference between how the organization is handling Brown’s injury vs. Utley’s. Me no likey.
"We definitley can't lose anymore games."
-Charlie Manuel
Me either...
Although there is a key difference between Brown’s situation and Utley’s- Brown had surgery today and has a prognosis for when he will return, giving them something definitive to say today. With Utley, there may well be nothing to say- he is not getting better, they don’t know why, and they have no clue when he will be back. So they say nothing, and the silence gets more deafening with every day (the shadow from that shoe is getting awful big…)
The more interesting question is this- who are they going to keep to provide infield depth- I think Valdez will get to stay, but wanted some thoughts on what other bench infielder might get a chance to break camp with the team
by dannijd on Mar 8, 2011 11:52 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
After careful consideration of all of the advantages and disadvantages, Paul Hagen has come to the conclusion that it would be unwise to move Utley from second baseman to left field. Thanks Paul.
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20110308_Paul_Hagen_.html
I ate at Delilah’s in the Reading Terminal Market today (took the day off to go to the flower show with my wife). Had fried chicken, their ridiculously rich mac and cheese, and cornbread. Also picked up some fancy goat cheese which we pigged out on tonight.
I didn’t realize it was Mardi Gras until this evening though.
And despite not knowing, you had the eating down pat!
by dannijd on Mar 8, 2011 11:53 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
I knew there was something I forgot!
by dannijd on Mar 9, 2011 12:45 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
My wife works from home and, through the IP phone she has, she’s connected to her office in SE Pennsylvania here in Chicago. At some point during the day, her boss gets on the intercom and says “attention everyone: the fastnachts are now in the kitchen.” It’s a terrible thing to be 800 miles from the Dutchies come just before Lent.
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