Some Tuesday Phillies Links for You, August 2, 2011: Mayberry's BFD and the 9th Inning Wonders of the World
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 2, 2011 9:30 AM EDT
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PrintPut another one in the Phillies' unlikely wins column | The Phillies Zone | 08/01/2011
Victorino: From slow-footed goat to getting lei'd by his parents. Meanwhile, move over Jonathan Broxton. Huston Street is a dybbuk.
Phillies to the Ninth Degree | BoopStats | 08/01/2011
They have nearly doubled their opponents' runs in their regularly scheduled final frames (41-22), despite having 17 fewer opportunities
Oswalt is hoping his rehab is over | Philadelphia Inquirer | 08/02/2011
Wrap the other pitchers in bubble wrap. It's "Kyle Kendrick's last start."
Crashburn Alley " Blog Archive " Checking Historical Trends with Vance Worley
Nite Owl: Highly unlikely to get any better.
Baseball
Philadelphia side resurrects 19th century "base ball" | Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/31/2011
WHAT IS THIS DEMONRY? (you knew that was coming)
Foamer Night
Might be the best place to follow the Astros as they reinvent themselves with the Phillies' prospects. A blog by Ted Walker of the indispensable Pitchers&Poets.
Deadline Recap: Position Player Upgrades | FanGraphs Baseball
Just because he got picked off after his only single last night, Michael Bourn will help the Braves.
An Ode To Matt Stairs - Baseball Nation
Needs just one more uniform on his ass to set a record.
NL East
Braves Fall to Nats 5-3 in Bourn's Debut - Talking Chop
Check the comments on Alex Gonzalez - and yes, I checked: Yunel Escobar is hitting .305 for Toronto, so the Braves are capable of making boneheaded midseason deals.
Marlins 7, Mets 3: Home Is Where the Barf Is - Amazin' Avenue
More late-inning dingers, this one from Mike Stanton. I was unaware that Mike Pelfrey has not beaten the Marlins in five years.
Dom Brown Leagues
after the jump...
For Brown, a minor setback | Philadelphia Daily News | 08/02/2011
I hope he lays waste to the International League. So far so good, anyways.
Bacon and Biscuits: Breaking News: Bocock To Indianapolis
PIRUTS R IN UR SYSTEM, EETIN UR AAAA PLAYURS. This means Freddy Galvis is up at Lehigh Valley. Tagg Bozied on the DL, though.
Lehigh Valley IronPigs split doubleheader with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre | lehighvalleylive.com
Bah, Domonic Brown's 21-game AAA hittin' streak came to an end at 21 in the nightcap.
Palm Beach 7, Clearwater 3
Brody Colvin: Kind of meh. But you go, Jiwan James!
Shorebirds blank Lakewood BlueClaws | The Asbury Park Press | APP.com
Austin Wright, just up from Williamsport, gets the ball tonight.
Renegades take series finale 6-1 - Sports - Daily Review
No sleep 'til Brooklyn for the CrossCutters.
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Jurrjens regression!
ERA is up to 2.63 while his xFIP is still sitting close to 4 with a BABIP that is still fairly low at .263. I think it is fair to say that we haven’t seen the last of the regression of Jair Jurrjens. I hope.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
this led me to look up the ERA leaderboard—Johnny Cueto is under 2? I had no idea he was having such a good season. /East Coast bias’d
His xFIP is about the same as Jurrjens (3.81 for Cueto, 3.89 for Jurrjens), and his BABIP is even more ridiculous at .219. Reminds me a bit of Tim Hudson’s season last year.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions
I wonder if all Braves fans believe that Cueto’s ERA is perfectly legit as a reflection of how well he’s really pitched.
Probably not, but then again, they don’t have any grounds for believing it is not legit, considering that all through the first half of the season, they trotted out the ERA for Jurrjens at any opportunity, peripherals be damned.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions
Sorry. Just woke up and don’t have any caffeine to fuel the meter just yet.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I hope he saves some regression for the playoffs.
"Descartes commanded the future from his study more than Napoleon did from his throne."
by Euler.is.a.Pimp on Aug 2, 2011 10:04 AM EDT up reply actions
But that would miss the best case scenario!
Arizona clips San Fran for the division (only one game out heading into play today). Braves hold off San Fran for the Wild Card. October just looks better without the Giants (who have dropped four straight since leaving Philadelphia).
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 10:51 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
There is a scenario in which both the Giants and the Braves miss. Besides, I’m no more desirous to play the Braves in the LCS, than I am the Giants.
I don’t really want either of them, either. However Turner Field is a little less of a Phillies housenof horrors than AT&T Park.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 11:30 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Exactly. I think the Wild Card could come through the Central.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions
We aren’t getting a push over in the playoffs anyway. So, I’d rather the Braves miss the playoffs than the Giants. Solely because I hate the Braves.
I hate both the Braves and the Giants and want them both to miss the playoffs. Not because I am afraid of facing them in the playoffs or that the Wild Card from the Central would be an easier opponent, I just don’t want those particular two teams to experience any semblance of joy, that’s all.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Not me, I’m full on scared of meeting the Los Giantes in the post season. Call superstition, small sample size or whatever – they just seem to excell in low run scoring enivronments – prolly cause they play in them alot so that might distort my perception – oh fuck it, I don’t care, they scare the piss outta me.
Baseball Nation's take on his Smugness
GM Trade Deadline Conversations Power Rankings by Grant Brisbee
Rubén Amaro, Jr.: Gentlemen. Thank you for meeting me here.
Scott Proefrock: Uh, it’s our morning meeting. We have these every day.
Rubén Amaro, Jr.: You might be wondering why I’ve called you here.
Chuck LaMar: Not really.
Rubén Amaro, Jr.: The trade deadline is fast approaching. I’ve been kicking around a lot of ideas, but I’ve worked out a deal to send Vance Worley, Domonic Brown, Jonathan Singleton, and Jarred Cosart to the Rockies for Ubaldo Jimenez.
Benny Looper: Good god, why?
Rubén Amaro, Jr.: Because **** the rest of the National League. That’s why.
Scott Proefrock: Oh, man. He’s having one of those waking dreams again.
Rubén Amaro, Jr.: All I have to do is pick up this phone and tell the Rockies that it’s official, and … it’s official. Ha. Ha ha ha. HAHAHAHA.
Benny Looper: Grab his arms!
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
by DirtyWaters on Aug 2, 2011 10:02 AM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Rubén Amaro, Jr.: Because **** the rest of the National League. That’s why.
can definitely picture Amaro saying this.
by perfectdepth on Aug 2, 2011 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
The Giants/Mets and Astros/Braves are great too.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 2, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions
“We’re Keeping Berkman!”
Classic. And I don’t know, didn’t think of Sabean as a cross between a teenage girl and an angsty philosopher. But now I know better…
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions
I thought the Brian Cashman as Michael Corleone (in GF2 talking to Senator Geary) was pretty hilarious also.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions
Your Welcome
My comment sparked some lively debate yesterday.
I like the Pence trade and look forward to a WS run. And I’ll worry about the 2014 team in 2014. If the fightins’ are a .500 team then, I’ll root just as hard for wins then as I do now.
Regards,
Amandah
since this is the more active thread, I’ll re-post this bit here: don’t look now, but the Phillies team position-player fWAR has been steadily climbing… now tenth at 17.0
Note to self
Hmm, perhaps create a gritty Wins Above Replacement stat and call it gWAR.
gross WAR (as opposed to net WAR)
Bob.
by The Dark on Aug 2, 2011 12:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
worley monthly splits
April: 6.0 IP, 4.70 xFIP, 4.86 SIERA
May: 18.0 IP, 4.24 xFIP, 4.01 SIERA
June: 18.0 IP, 4.04 xFIP, 4.30 SIERA
July: 35.1 IP, 3.37 xFIP, 3.44 SIERA
ZiPS®: 4.17 FIP
I am guessing the biggest difference for July was the lowering of his walk totals. 3.22 K/BB rate in July, as opposed to 1.50 in June, 2.33 in May.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
Holy hell, that ninth inning stat is mind-boggling. Also, where do I sign up for the Only Bat Right-Handed, Shane movement?
"What's gonna happen is that you jerk off the ball. You almost want to let this guy here jam you, and if it comes, it comes." Gary 'Sarge' Matthews
by Senor Octubre on Aug 2, 2011 10:49 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
but if he did that then the Phillies wouldn’t need a right handed bat……
but yeah I agree he would be better off dropping the switch hitter act.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
by Veni Vidi Vici on Aug 2, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Easy to say without ever seeing hin try to hit a right handed non-knuckleballer right handed.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 12:34 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Galvis and Rivero promoted to lehigh. Bocock dfa’d and picked up by the pirates.
Discuss.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
I’m becoming increasingly concerned that Ruben may intend not to bring Jimmy Rollins back at all next year. As in, not that he’s going to drive a hard bargain with Jimmy, but that he won’t even make him an offer, like he did with Pat Burrell.
I really want you to be wrong, but Amaro’s words from last October ring very loud.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 10:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
That the Phillies could not afford to be a team of $20 million per year players. When he said it, he had been questioned by reporters about both Werth and Rollins.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 12:41 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Because you can always, always take Ruben Amaro at his word.
Let the hand-wringing commence!
http://www.thegoodphight.com
I generally consider him to be telling the truth about as often as Washington does. We shall see.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:37 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I was more thinking the current residents of Capitol Hill.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 5:32 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
This would be pretty dumb, consider that there isn’t exactly a good alternative out there.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 10:57 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know too much about him, but I shall endeavor to read up. I was thinking that Rube might try to break the bank and sign Reyes or something like that.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Save the reading. He essentially all glove, little bat. Apparently on Defense he is the second coming. Apparently, the only thing offensive about his game is the lack of offense.
He seems to have gotten a lot better at hitting this year, which was the first year of his career in which he was close to age-appropriate at his level. I wouldn’t give up hope on his bat. I just don’t think that’s a good reason to cut ties with Rollins.
I think his ceiling with the bat is a very meh .270/.325/.350 type of line. Part of me wonders if they would sign a JJ Hardy, Ronny Cedeno, Jack Wilson type in the offseason to keep the spot warm for a year while Galvis plays in AAA (or, god forbid, the Wilson Valdez era begins in earnest for a year or two).
I doubt they will go with Valdez (heck, at this point the only thing keeping him from being DFA’ed is the organization’s lack of faith in the infield’s ability to stay healthy). They went with Martinez during Polanco’s DL stint for a reason.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:06 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Thanks for the tip. I guess in this day and age we can’t afford to have another Larry Bowa at SS.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
I was thinking more Bobby Wine. /shudder
by perfectdepth on Aug 2, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
True, a negative 4.6 WAR and an OPS+ of 55. Good God. Shuddering indeed.
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 11:16 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes. But I doubt that excitement over Galvis is pushing them to be too unreceptive toward a Rollins extension. I do think, however, that causation could be going in the other direction – that the FO may have decided for some reason that it’s a good idea to get rid of Rollins and that that’s causing them to view Galvis through rose colored glasses.
This is really just a hunch on my part though, so take it all with lots of grains of salt. Hopefully I’m wrong.
I wondered that before reading your comment as well. It’s hard to see any other reason to promote him (though I do look forward to seeing Galvis in person this Friday).
Could it have been about moving up the player most ready to play in AAA after Bocock did not pass through waivers following being DFAed (was this the roster move to create a spot on the 40 for Pence?)
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It would, but that hasn’t always stopped Ruben in the past.
Ruben isn’t what I would call philosophically consistent, but he does have an intermittent tendency to get obsessed with “flexibility.” Jimmy is a 10-and-5 player, and I could see this playing an unduly large role in Ruben’s thinking, leading him to decide to cut ties “while he has the chance.” There are other potential motivators too, none of which I would consider to be reasonable.
The offseason bidding war for Reyes should also be intense.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 2, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I have no idea what the ‘neighborhood’ will be for Reyes’ services for the next 4-5 years. 15-20 mil?
A proud member of the Church of BaseBa'al
by WanderingMoses on Aug 2, 2011 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions
Well, it ought to be on the high side. There’s kind of a cliff from the top tier to the rest of the SS pack, and Reyes is still under 30.
by Wet Luzinski on Aug 2, 2011 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Where do you think he winds up? Considering that the Mets declined to trade him, do you see them as the front runners to keep him?
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:07 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Nah. That’s all carry over anger from the deadline. He’ll make him an offer. It’ll be insulting as hell though.
Bringing gal is up makes sense though. And he’ll prob get a September call up.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
I’m more worried that rube is gonna want to go after Reyes, and miss the negotiating window with Jimmy, piss him off, jimmy signs somewhere else, and then we miss out on Reyes. That would really suck.
25.8/106 CURRENTLY HOT!!!
There will be one of many Orlandos on the market at the time to sign.
"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."
@boknows71
I really think Jimmy will get another contract. He’s a Phillie for life.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t even know how much he believes that any more- there was an interview with him in the Daily News and Inquirer a couple of weeks ago where he even admitted that this may be his last year as a Phillie, and he sounded very OK about it.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:10 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Oh, really? Just goes to show how much I read the news. That makes me sad, and I absolutely love Freddy Galvis.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 1:15 PM EDT up reply actions
It would have been great for his bargaining position if he had said “I only want to play in Philadelphia, ever!”
http://www.thegoodphight.com
Lol- I know that everything that is said has to be viewed in light of his being in a contract year. But i would not hold out hope for a hometown discount, either.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:33 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Me too. I’m gonna be pretty pissed if Ruben pulls gives Jimmy the Burrell treatment and then we end up overpaying for some shitass vet anyways or we have to live with some combination of Michael Martinez and a not ready Galvis.
The Good Phight, NotGraphs, fun!
Galvis AND Rivero?
Holy moley, Reading isn’t going to win another game until the Clearwater kids start getting promoted. There’s no one left in Reading except for Rizz.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, with Bozied on the DL, the Pigs could use him for the stretch run and playoffs.
Sigh. When is Tuffy going to get called up?
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions
To be fair, Rizz is REALLY bad with the glove. Except for the most recent time I’ve seen him, wherein he was actually pretty decent. But even he looked surprised when he made those plays.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, I don’t doubt that at all. But Overbeck is also supposed to be pretty bad with the glove and he got promoted. Even though Rizzotti had actually already made it to AAA last year. I think somebody in the Phillies’ chain of command doesn’t like him.
You’re probably right. But how many no-glove, all-bat types does Lehigh Valley need?
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions
LL, in you recent/great fanpost about your games in Reading you stated you were from the area. Where? I grew up just outside of Reading myself.
"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."
@boknows71
Mohnton. Went to Governor Mifflin.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Ahhh,the beautiful village of Mohnton. I grew up in Wyomissing Hills.
"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."
@boknows71
Wyo brat. At least you didn’t go to Wilson. :-)
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly. Well if you ever go to Maniacci’s on Wednesday nights give the bartender with the dyed blonde hair a hard time about the Mets.
"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."
@boknows71
I’ve honestly only been to Maniacci’s once, because I used to work for a competitor, the Mohnton Navy Yard Galley. Too bad the Galley isn’t around anymore. They had the best pizza. And grinders, of course, because I made them.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Chapman’s Deli on Lancaster Ave is The Sandwich Nazi.
"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."
@boknows71
Haha. My mom likes that place. I’ve never been.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
Speaking of that LL, since you seem to be the R-Phils expert, what time do you think I should get there to be one of the first 3000? There’s no way I’m missing out on this Chooching Owl.
Ha. I’m an expert. Ha.
The gates usually open at 5, so I’d get there as soon as possible. Chances are, there will be a huge line. At least there was on Howard gnome and Hamels gnome nights. I’d think Chooch owl night would be even more popular. Usually, there’s around 5,000 people there, so they will definitely run out.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
Wonder why they are opening early? Heh. There goes all my expert credibility :-)
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:49 PM EDT up reply actions
And I really gotta get my hands on those gnomes at some point. Next time they give one out, I’ll have to get a family member to go to Reading. I’m a weirdo and actually collect garden gnomes, so they’d be a good addition to my collection.
I’ll trade you one Howard gnome and one Hamels gnome for a Chooch owl! For serious!
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions
Do you have Twitter? DM me your address and I’ll DM you mine and I’ll have your gnomes in the mail by tomorrow.
@leepinlizardz
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Reading’s ballpark, pre-late 1980s renovation, is still my favorite place to watch baseball ever.
Almost all bleacher seats aside from the fancy “box seats” behind home plate.
Awesome, cheap concessions. I still think my dad took us so much for the $1.50 22 oz. Yuengling drafts (it was 1987 dollars, but still).
http://www.thegoodphight.com
100% agree. I was very luck to grow up in the area in the 80’s. Cheap tickets, cheap concessions, future Phils, and the ability to let kids my age roam free in the park without fear of foul play.
Also, the league I played in growing up would have a clinic after team pictures were done. As a catcher my whole career I got to meet and run drills with none other than Dutch.
Futhermore, I worked at a station who broadcast the R-Phils games so we got seats for every game in and around the scouts.
Nothing but great memories for me. Need to take the kids when I make it back next.
"Call me dumb, call me stupid, whatever. I block shots."
@boknows71
trickle down...
…transactions lead to Maikel Franco getting promoted to Lakewood.
Does this mean the Phillies like Franco more than Harold Martinez?
WOW.
Brewers now only a half-game back of the Giants. The Phillies could end up facing the Giants in the DS.
Ugh.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 10:53 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Wow, handn’t noticed — so they have 6.5 of what are typically called “luck” wins. Only the Brewers are close.
In 2nd and 3rd order wins, the Giants look somewhat better, but the best of their 3 adjusted W% is .522. The worst of the Phillies’ 3 is .618.
Also interesting how bad the Pirates look (.428 2nd order, .420 3rd order).
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
Honest question- what are second and third order wins?
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 11:26 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Or they could miss them all together if the DBacks win the division. Which would be wonderful.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
they could do a lot this weekend (like when they sent San Diego on a tailspin last year by going into town and sweeping them); at the least it’d be nice to get a couple of wins at AT&T to stem some of the “they can’t win there” nonsense…
Definitely. I don’t even really care how it affects the Giants in the standings- they need to win at AT&T Park.
In Giants news- Jonathon Sanchez will be activated from the DL in time to start on Friday. Barry Zito has been placed on the DL with what is being described as a re-occurrence of the right foot sprain that set him to the DL earlier this year. He was sent back to the DL after meeting with Bochy and Giants executives- anybody else smell a rat?
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 11:19 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
MLB should investigate that one
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
It just looks really fishy (but then again, so did Baez being DL’ed last August).
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:15 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I don’t know if the Giants are necessarily the weakest playoff opponent among the current first- and second-place teams in the NL. Presumably, they gain more by relying on their 1-3 starters than any of the other teams do besides the Phillies, plus they just acquired Beltran. But FWIW, they do have the worst run differential of any of those teams. I think the Braves are clearly a better team than the Giants are.
Considering their recent acquisitions (Beltran and Hudson), do you think that they have done the most to strengthen their weak spots?
Also if the Phillies were to nab the top sppt again this year and faced the Giants in the first round, should they choose the longer series (allowing them to use only three starters), or the shorter one so that the Giants would have to go to someone not named Lincecum, Cain, or Sanchez?
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 11:13 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
I think as along as Oswalt is back there’s no way that the Phillies will take the long series.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
by Veni Vidi Vici on Aug 2, 2011 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions
Hudson? I think you have the wrong Orlando
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
Thelma Hopkins!
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Orlando Bloom?
#swoons
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s pretty but can’t act his way out of a paper bag. That movie with him and Dunst should have been a silent movie with subtitles.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Again, she’s cute, I see that—and she was fine in that movie, which wasn’t exactly “Million Dollar Baby.” I just don’t like her as a featured star. She’s a supporting actress.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Maybe I am- just know they picked up a shortstop named Orlando.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:16 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It would be nice to see the Giants pushed to the last weekend, perhaps forcing them to use Lincecum to seal the division. Then, he couldn’t pitch games 1 and 5 of LDS.
yeah, of course last year the Giants didn’t clinch the division until the last day of the season, so who knows.
Welcome to the City of Brotherly Love, now GTFO
by Veni Vidi Vici on Aug 2, 2011 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions
First Take just had an interesting debate—shocking, I know—about Randy Moss and his career. Rob Parker argued that he was always perceived as having a “lack of heart,” etc, and said this perception is largely racially motivated. Bayless played the contrarian and denied it, of course. It sounded eerily similar to our debate from a few days ago.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Parker is an idiot. Moss is lazy because he’s lazy. In practice, in game’s he’s lazy. He’s also a head case. T.O is also a head case and there are few, if any guys I have ever seen that practice and play as hard as he does. And they both happen to be of the same race.
Ed Snider is a crotchety old fuck.
That is all.
Moss was still a really good player and a lot of the things said about him are overly critical. While some of them may be true, I can discount race as a small part of it.
What kind of plane is it? Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big ol' Tylenol.
Yeah, it doesn’t have to be an either/or kind of thing. Usually (though not always – see Dom Brown), when an African-American guy gets criticized for being lazy or a malcontent, there’s more than 0% truth to it. But it gets exaggerated, or there’s a differential between how that guy gets treated vs. how an identical white guy would be treated. Race is rarely ever all of the story, but it’s also rarely ever none of the story. It gets mixed in there with a lot of other stuff.
IMO, it’s entirely about position. It seems like 90+% of high-level wideouts are egotistical nutcases.
Bob.
by The Dark on Aug 2, 2011 12:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
cool article. This explains alot
And since the position prizes speed, coaches often harvest wideouts from the track-and-field sports, which for the most part glorify individual achievement.
When I was a kid I played wide receiver after the coach gave my RB position away to his effiin’ step son. In little league football being a wideout means you run down the field alot and get familiar with the sound of your own panting reverberating inside your helmet. It sucked. So I can, ya know, empathize with “Just Give Me the Damn Ball”
I don’t know- I definitely agree that Moss had a lazy streak a mile wide. He could be great, as he was in 2007 for the Pats when he was happy and motivated. But when he wasn’t, he would loaf and take plays off, wasting his talent. That being said, it is completely possible to me that he is judged more harshly because of his race.
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Moss was a great player, in Minnesota, people thought he was going to be one of the greatest receivers of all time, (and you can still make that case today of course) but he did have his flaws. As was mentioned earlier, if a play was designed away from his side of the field, he hardly ever ran decoy routes correctly, or loafed on a block when really all he had to do was get in the corner/safety’s way. When he was actually INTO the game and playing 100%, he was capable of dominating, as evidenced by he and Brady’s magical season, but the seeming disinterest in the game kind of tarnished his career.
To my point though, I don’t think this is really a race issue. I’m not denying that race doesn’t play a factor in certain situations, but white players get grilled just as much. I think some people don’t realize that the ratio of blacks to whites in the NFL is way different than the ratio of people in America. I saw an article a while back that reported that the NFL is 65% black/polynesian/samoan descent, compared to 35% caucasian. Just my opinion but I think certain situations SEEM like racism towards blacks sometimes because there are more black players.
Take the Jay Cutler debacle last year, remember how much he was ripped on and called a pansy for not finishing the game with a torn MCL? Players and analysts alike were ripping him apart. Or take the Eagles for example, do you think race could’ve become an issue if say, Kevin Kolb replaced Michael Vick, instead of vica versa?
To sum it up, race is still prevalent in our society, though I think on both sides, it’s a bit misguided, and while we are a more progressive society than say 50 years ago, we still have a long way to go.
In other news of approaching opponents...
Dodgers rookie Rubby de la Rosa has torn his ulnar collateral ligament and is probably going to have Tommy John surgery (the Dodgers are said to be examining the options).
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 1:23 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Man, my husband’s fantasy pitching staff has included: Josh Johnson, Adam Wainwright, Clay Buchholtz, and Rubby de la Rosa. He also has Roy Oswalt, but thankfully he’s faring better than the other guys on that list.
Why you have to be mad? He's a good guy! Let's go eat!
by LeepinLizardz on Aug 2, 2011 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions
Symmetry
Apropos of nothing, a couple of bits of trivia:
1) Howard has been linked with and compared to Albert Pujols for his entire career (same position and age, similar power numbers, silly trade rumors). Did anybody else notice that Pujols got his 2,000th hit on Friday, the day before Howard got his 1,000th hit?
2) Howard has exactly half the homeruns of Michael Jack Schmidt, 274 vs. 548. Even at 35 per year (on pace for 31 this year), he would have 463 after the last of his contract in 2016.
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
…after the last year of his contract in 2016. And assuming his $23m option isn’t picked up for 2017 (vs. the $10m buyout).
So is there a chance Howard might pass Schmidt’s career total? Sure, if he stays productive into his late 30s. If he averages 35/year in 2011-2016, he would need 22/year in 2017-2020 (ages 37-40). It’s improbable but not out of the question.
Could he stay with the Phillies long enough to break the team record? Even with inflation, paying a 37-year-old first baseman (in effect) $13m in 2017 seems fairly steep. Schmidt’s record is probably safe for another 20 years or so at a minimum.
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
Statistical and Theoretical (possibly esoteric) question rolled into one:
If Howard breaks Schmidt’s HR record DURING his current contract, does that make the contract worthwhile?
Agreed, but (without doing the WAR math), to average 52.2 per year in 2012-2016, would probably mean that he’s doing other things well (being patient, avoiding long slumps, etc.), and that may be enough for his value to approach the contract.
Celebrating over 50 years of slightly more Phils wins than losses: 1961-2011
I really hope he becomes a star…if only to justify my stance on the trade
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
You stance would still be justified even if he doesn’t. It would still be justified if Pence hits a WS winning home run. I think the important thing to remember is that the anti-trade side built it’s argument on the principle of mortgaging the future for the present. The issue is that this type of behavior can undermine a teams ability to be perennial contenders.
bad choice of words…not justify my stance on the trade, but justify my position that prospects do amount to something
"Have you seen this Perez guy pitch? I'm a pacifist, but I've never seen anything so violent look so beautiful."
For entertainment only... Random quotes from Cataldi in Metro...
“The real hero of the Hunter Pence trade is an old and familiar face— a GM who did his best work the moment he left town. Of course I am talking about Ed Wade, a man so clueless that he keeps sending us his best player- and then throwing in a bundle of extra cash.”
Cataldi then goes on to detail the three trades between the Phillies and Astros, summing them up as, “That’s three all-stars for a light-hitting outfielder who was just traded to Atlanta, a mediocre pitcher and a lot of unanswered prayers.”
He finishes the column, “Thank you Ed Wade. You are truly a man of your word. You always said you’d build a winner in Philadelphia.”
He also in his “Idle Thoughts” accused Manuel of being “just plain stupid” for rewarding Bochy for “his All-Star Game abuses by not pitching Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.”
"Valdez can pitch, Lee can hit... and pigs can fly."
by dannijd on Aug 2, 2011 7:20 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
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