2009 MLB Regular Season Thread

[Ksyrup]

Strange decision by Ryan Wagner to retire suddenly. As if the Nats bullpen (either current guys at the MLB level. or potential guys in the minors) needed any more bad news. I remember Wagner when he came up with the Reds, about a month after he was drafted. But he never was as good as he showed that first year, got hurt and missed all of last year, and was trying to come back this year when he apparently just decided to give up. Not something you see every day from a 26 year old former prospect in AAA who could have had a chance to shine with a bad team if he turned it around.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by stevew

Apparently it was barely a 3 run jack against him but it still counts. At least according to the radio guys he was laboring to those numbers. The pirates don't walk as a team so I really think its hard to read much into the start. Other than your pen sucks worse than ours. He could have won too.

I believe our pen is 1-13 with 10+ blown saves.

He also had 3 errors behind him, so it's really hard to gauge.

Oh, and Manny likes to wear down the bullpen by pulling the pitchers early every single game.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

As much shit as he gets, Selig should get credit for the WS game time changes, IMO. First time since 1971 that a WS game will start before 8pm. That's ridiculous. Only thing worse is basketball - I think I've seen some championship series games start at like 9:20 or so.

Agreed- I was very happy to see that

SI

[molson]

I completely understand why they want to start late, and maximize the number of national prime time hours (and not start the game before the end of the work day on the west coast), but I still don't understand why they can't start in the afternoon on the weekends. Even the Super Bowl is in the afternoon.

[Ksyrup]

The Super Bowl is in the evening, and on a Sunday night. Starting at 6:30 on a Sunday night is the equivalent to starting at 8:30 on a week night.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

The Super Bowl is in the evening, and on a Sunday night. Starting at 6:30 on a Sunday night is the equivalent to starting at 8:30 on a week night.

Ya, it's been creeping later all the time I guess.....So I wonder why weekend World Series games can't start at 6:30 ET?

[DeToxRox]

Dontrelle Willis struck out the side in the second inning. I repeat, Dontrelle Willis struck out the side in the second inning.

[DeToxRox]

D-Train has now retired 16 in a row.

[Balldog]

D-Train is looking good and he's got his swagger back.

I've never seen a pitcher go to his mouth after every pitch like he does.

[Balldog]

Looks like he tweaked something in his left elbow/forearm area.

Good outing, 6 1/3 1 H 2 BB.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

As much shit as he gets, Selig should get credit for the WS game time changes, IMO. First time since 1971 that a WS game will start before 8pm. That's ridiculous. Only thing worse is basketball - I think I've seen some championship series games start at like 9:20 or so.

I was going to say that as well, but I've said too much good stuff about Selig on these boards (he's far better than people think), and I was wary at the response I was going to get as a result...

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Balldog

D-Train is looking good and he's got his swagger back.

I've never seen a pitcher go to his mouth after every pitch like he does.

Psst. going to the mouth on every pitch, that ain't swagger.

That's either "fuckfuckfuckcold" or he's added a pitch that rhymes with "bit tall" to his arsenal.

[Balldog]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Psst. going to the mouth on every pitch, that ain't swagger.

That's either "fuckfuckfuckcold" or he's added a pitch that rhymes with "bit tall" to his arsenal.

haha, I didn't mean that was his swagger. He just seems more confident with that crazy attitude he has.

The going to his mouth between pitches was more of an annoyance I've noticed while watching him pitch. Seems like something he's just started recently because sometimes he forgets to get off the mound while doing it.

[JetsIn06]

Rays - A's game at 0-0 in the 10th.

[JetsIn06]

dola

Make that the 11th.

[ISiddiqui]

Wow... talk about ya pitchers' duel!

[SackAttack]

C'mon, Matt Holliday. Get me an RBI!

[Lathum]

And Murphy picks the Mets up right where they left off.

[stevew]

Nationals pen strikes again.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

C'mon, Matt Holliday. Get me an RBI!

3 run homer? I'll TAKE it!

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Lathum

And Murphy picks the Mets up right where they left off.

Both offensively and defensively, it would seem.

[Lathum]

Seriously Murphy?

For real?

[Lathum]

Nice job by Maine to settle down and only give 1 run up

[stevew]

Kerry Wood is getting killed. 2 homers and a triple.

[stevew]

The 75k people there to see the Royals just witnessed a walkoff win.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by stevew

Kerry Wood is getting killed. 2 homers and a triple.

Poor Cliff Lee. He pitched a pretty good game.

[Lathum]

Cliff Lee's had some rough luck this year

[ISiddiqui]

Ugh... well that'll (Kerry Wood's meltdown) fuck my fantasy squad.

[samifan24]

Originally Posted by stevew

Kerry Wood is getting killed. 2 homers and a triple.

Our bullpen is incredible this year. I've never seen a team with such a horrific bullpen and that's including all those years of Joe Blowsavski tossing batting practice to the opposition during "save situations."

[Lathum]

John Maine baby!

[RedKingGold]

This is the Phillies team I've been missing all year.

Solid start by Cole, nice job by the bullpen, and a home-run or two.

Still early, but that Ibanez signing is looking better and better.

[lungs]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

I was going to say that as well, but I've said too much good stuff about Selig on these boards (he's far better than people think), and I was wary at the response I was going to get as a result...

I'll stand with you on Selig.

I'm jaded because he brought baseball back to Milwaukee, but I think he's been a fine commissioner.

Whether you agree with the means he went about it or not, many if not most major league clubs will have built new stadiums during his reign. Speaking strictly in baseball terms, that is a good thing.

Steroids will be looked at as a scandal but nothing that will have devastating long-term effects on the game economically.

I reckon we are about to enter another golden era of baseball here.

[adubroff]

Originally Posted by RedKingGold

This is the Phillies team I've been missing all year.

Solid start by Cole, nice job by the bullpen, and a home-run or two.

Still early, but that Ibanez signing is looking better and better.

Cole and Myers are settling into about what you expect them to be after somewhat rocky starts. I think Happ for Park in the rotation should settle that a bit. He can't be any worse than what Chan Ho has been.

I have to do my public meaculpas on Ibanez here, I was very anti the signing but it's hard to argue with what he's done.

An interesting stat, the Phillies have made just 11 errors and allowed just 2 unearned runs this year. That's fairly incredible, big credit to Howard here who's vastly improved in the field this year....

[Chief Rum]

If--and it's a big if, considering the way the Angels' pen has played this year--Fuentes can hold off Seattle in the ninth here, one of the best stories of the young baseball season gets even better, as journeyman Matt Palmer would then go to 5-0, with wins over the Yankees and Red Sox already on his resumé.

Go Fuentes!

[JetsIn06]

I'm a few days late on this, but seriously...fuck Victor Martinez.

Here's what happened.

In the first game of the series, the Rays were DOWN 7-0. Upton got a lead-off walk. He stole 2nd, and then stole 3rd. On the steal of 3rd, Martinez didn't even get out of his crouch. He didn't even make a throw.

The Rays went on to score 6 runs that inning, but eventually lost 11-7 I believe.

So after the game, Martinez starts whining like a little fucking bitch, saying that Upton shouldn't have been running when the team was down 7-0.

Give me a break. I could at least understand him getting upset if the Rays were UP 7-0 and Upton was stealing bases (I definitely don't agree, but would at least understand him being upset).

So, Upton finds out about Martinez getting pissy and apologizes to him.

Three games later, Martinez has Kerry Wood throw at Upton twice. Benches cleared and everything.

But it just boggles my mind that this guy would get so upset about a team trying to win a game. And the thing is...speed is Upton's (and the Rays) game. They have stolen more bases than any other team. Last time I checked, they had 60-something and the next most was 40-something by the Angels.

Would Martinez ask A-Rod not to try and hit home runs?

[stevew]

The announcers made mention tonight that if they were going to throw at Upton, it should have been the next night. Not 3 days later.

I didn't realize they were down 7 runs, at that point he should be trying to get in scoring position.

[DeToxRox]

Victor Martinez can mash but he's so horrible and the Indians are a horrible team. I am shocked to learn outside of Cliff Lee any of their pitchers could actually aim for a batter and nearly hit them on purpose.

[JetsIn06]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Victor Martinez can mash but he's so horrible and the Indians are a horrible team. I am shocked to learn outside of Cliff Lee any of their pitchers could actually aim for a batter and nearly hit them on purpose.

It's hilarious that you say that, because Kerry Wood missed him twice. Then the fight broke out, so he didn't throw at him again and ended up walking him. It's a shame that a man was on second. Upton should have stole again.

[samifan24]

If Kerry Wood wanted to hit Upton, he would have hit him. You don't steal two bases when you're losing 9-0. You don't do it.

[samifan24]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Victor Martinez can mash but he's so horrible and the Indians are a horrible team. I am shocked to learn outside of Cliff Lee any of their pitchers could actually aim for a batter and nearly hit them on purpose.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

If any of you have MLB audio, you should listen to the Royals radio team in the bottom of the 8th inning when they saw Kerry Wood get up. Also, when Wood entered the game, the radio guys said you could see the excited looks in the Royals dugout. He said they were all talking to each other and getting each other pumped up as they watched Wood warm up. That's never a good sign when your closer draws that kind of reaction from the other team, especially when the excited team is three runs down.

Great win for the Royals. Amazing to see homers on consecutive pitches. Crowd was going nuts.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Sold out crowd?

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by samifan24

You don't steal two bases when you're losing 9-0. You don't do it.

Bullshit.

Upton stole down 9-0 and directly led to the first run in a six run sixth inning that pulled Tampa to within three.

One night later Tampa is down 7-0 in the 4th and Upton steals third and again comes in to score their first run in a game where he hits a walk off homer in the 9th. And stole third for the third time in two days in the 7th inning to represent the potential tying run but was left stranded.

Martinez wasn't mad about baseball etiquette, he was mad because a guy hitting .181 made his sorry ass team look foolish as they blew a 7-0 lead and nearly blew a 9-0 lead. He may not be happy about playing for the second worst team in baseball but he ought to try taking that out the people responsible instead of somebody playing the game hard. And Kerry Wood ought to have better sense too.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Sold out crowd?

Attendance: 25,024 (65.5% full)

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Sold out crowd?

No, but it was a very happy crowd. Need a win from Meche tonight. Thursday afternoon will obviously be the big seller this week. Greinke in an afternoon matinee. Hopefully Zack will be pitching to try to seal up a Cleveland sweep.

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Attendance: 25,024 (65.5% full)

That's actually a very good attendance figure for a Tuesday night in May. In past years, the Royals would be lucky to see 13K paid on nights like that. It definitely shows how much fan interest can be drummed up when a Royals team actually can be in contention a couple of months into the season.

[lordscarlet]

As of yesterday morning:

Longest Losing Streak When Scoring Five or More Runs (since 1954)
6 (tie) - Rangers, August 2005
6 (tie) - Reds, June 2004
5 (tie) - Seven times, most recently Nationals, May 2009

Most Losses When Scoring Six or More Runs (2009)
1. Nationals, 10
2. (tie) Angels, 5
2. (tie) Indians, 5

Best, Worst Winning Percentages When Scoring Six or More Runs (2000-09)
1. 2009 Pirates, 1.000 (14-0)
2. 2002 Braves, .957 (44-2)
3. 2007 Diamondbacks, .956 (43-2)
4. 2007 Red Sox, .955 (64-3)
5. 2005 Indians, .951 (58-3)
....
298. 2000 Cubs, .604 (32-21)
299. 2003 Tigers, .579 (22-16)
300. 2009 Nationals, .375 (6-10)

Meantime, here is where the Nationals' bullpen ranks in the majors this year in the following categories:

ERA: 30th (6.68). Mets are first, at 2.90.
Winning pct.: 30th, (.071, or 1-13). Marlins are first, at .692, or 9-4.
Save pct.: 30th, (31.6 pct, or 6-of-19). Reds are first, at 90.9 pct, or 10-of-11.
Walks allowed: 1st (77). Rockies are last, with 32.
K/BB Ratio: 30th (1.23). Rockies are first, at 2.75.
Opponents' OPS: 30th (.857). A's are first, at .630.

And finally, here are the worst bullpens in history, by ERA, according to Stats LLC:
1. 2009 Nationals, 6.68
2. 2009 Angels, 6.21
3. 2007 Devil Rays, 6.16
4. 1996 Tigers, 5.97
5. 1999 Mariners, 5.90

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/nat..._the.html#more

[Logan]

Originally Posted by samifan24

You don't steal two bases when you're losing 9-0. You don't do it.

Wow.

You can debate whether it's wise to do it (you need to conserve outs more than you need that one run), but from an "etiquette" perspective, hell no.

[molson]

Originally Posted by samifan24

If Kerry Wood wanted to hit Upton, he would have hit him. You don't steal two bases when you're losing 9-0. You don't do it.

Why not? I'm just trying to understand the other side of this. Is it that there's NO chance to win the game, so it's somehow insulting to try? Or is it that there's NO chance to win the game, so it's impolite to make the catcher exert some kind of effort/maybe look bad by making a throw?

Obviously, plenty of teams come back from 9-0. The game ain't over. Why must your comeback attempt be limited to specific strategies?

[samifan24]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Bullshit.

Upton stole down 9-0 and directly led to the first run in a six run sixth inning that pulled Tampa to within three.

One night later Tampa is down 7-0 in the 4th and Upton steals third and again comes in to score their first run in a game where he hits a walk off homer in the 9th. And stole third for the third time in two days in the 7th inning to represent the potential tying run but was left stranded.

Martinez wasn't mad about baseball etiquette, he was mad because a guy hitting .181 made his sorry ass team look foolish as they blew a 7-0 lead and nearly blew a 9-0 lead. He may not be happy about playing for the second worst team in baseball but he ought to try taking that out the people responsible instead of somebody playing the game hard. And Kerry Wood ought to have better sense too.

Originally Posted by Logan

Wow.

You can debate whether it's wise to do it (you need to conserve outs more than you need that one run), but from an "etiquette" perspective, hell no.

Originally Posted by molson

Why not? I'm just trying to understand the other side of this. Is it that there's NO chance to win the game, so it's somehow insulting to try? Or is it that there's NO chance to win the game, so it's impolite to make the catcher exert some kind of effort/maybe look bad by making a throw?

Obviously, plenty of teams come back from 9-0. The game ain't over. Why must your comeback attempt be limited to specific strategies?

My understanding is that it's generally considered poor sportsmanship to steal consecutive bases on consecutive pitches when your team's down 9-0. In a closer game I would understand it but down 9-0 it just looks like Upton is trying to a) show up the pitcher and catcher and b) pad his own stats. If it's a close, competitive game, you do it.

Before anyone jumps on me for saying this, let me ask you: do you remember when Manny Ramirez (or any number of big sluggers) caught heat for throwing up his arms and admiring a long home run when the game was already decided by a large margin? In case you don't, the other team became angry with Manny because of what he did and when he did it. It sparked a small controversy similar to the Tampa/Cleveland one this weekend.

I ask you now: how is Manny's standing there and admiring a home run in a similar game any different from Upton's stealing bases on consecutive bases on Thursday? Baseball is competitive and I have no idea where you draw that line but doesn't anyone find what Upton did, at that point in the game, regardless of what came later, to be a little bit out of place?

[lungs]

Originally Posted by samifan24

I ask you now: how is Manny's standing there and admiring a home run in a similar game any different from Upton's stealing bases on consecutive bases on Thursday?

Manny admiring a home run does nothing to put his team in a better position to win. The home run does put the team in better position but the admiration does not.

Upton stealing bases puts his team in a better position to win. And unless he was dancing and pointing at the catcher then he was doing what he is paid to do and that is to help his team win games.

If the team is up by a large margin, then there is a point where the foot comes off the accelerator a bit, but any manager that has his players ease up when his team is down should be fired.