2009 MLB Regular Season Thread

[miked]

Hopefully the rumors of a Holliday trade are true. I still can't believe that Dunn was on the market and their targets were Griffey and Anderson. Just awful.

[SackAttack]

Dodgers just finished a 20-win month of May for the first time since the Kennedy Administration.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by stevew

Did they get rid of those projects that would have been near whatever the fuck the Ravens stadium is called, and to the one side of Camden? Awesome park, except for the part that was like something out of The Wire.

If it's the same run down apartments we saw on 295 right next to the stadium on the way out of downtown Baltimore, then, yes, they're still there and looking oddly out of place...

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

If it's the same run down apartments we saw on 295 right next to the stadium on the way out of downtown Baltimore, then, yes, they're still there and looking oddly out of place...

SI

Baltimore just wants to make sure that you still realize you're in Baltimore.

[Jas_lov]

The Yankees set a major league record tonight- 18 straight games without committing an error. Joba Chamberlain was brilliant tonight and hopefully that shuts up the idiots who want to move him to the bullpen.

I said before the year the Yankees had the best team in baseball and it's looking like that is absolutely true. Their lineup has Matsui, Swisher, and Melky Cabrerra in the 7-8-9 spots which is just sick.

[stevew]

I was at the game yesterday and it was brutal seeing Godzilla running to first.
Wang looked sharp. Hopefully the hip issues are behind him. Hughes throws way too many pitches for my liking.

[k0ruptr]

chisox win 4th in a row 6-2 against the A's.

Thome hit # 550

[stevew]

And did the mets end up going to krod tonight. Cause Putz was pitching like, well, a putz.

[JS19]

I wouldn't go as far as to say I'm a Yankee hater, but I do have a strong dislike for them. However, I am willing to give them this - they always seem to get the most out of their guys. For example, every yr I say, "ok, this is the yr Matsui is gonna suck, or Jeter, or Posada, or Pettitte, or this aging guy or that aging guy". But these guys just keep trucking right along being productive players. To counter my own argument, the Yankees sign so many people I can't keep track of all their busts (see Pavano, and I'm sure quite a few others), so I suppose it all evens out in the end.

[JS19]

Originally Posted by stevew

And did the mets end up going to krod tonight. Cause Putz was pitching like, well, a putz.

never had the chance.

[Jas_lov]

Originally Posted by stevew

I was at the game yesterday and it was brutal seeing Godzilla running to first.
Wang looked sharp. Hopefully the hip issues are behind him. Hughes throws way too many pitches for my liking.

I really hope Matsui's knees hold up all year. This will probably be it for him as a Yankee as he's a FA and they want to play Posada more at DH next year.

Wang's sinker did look pretty good. I like Phil Hughes and he's shown some good stuff this year. His last start on Sunday wasn't bad, but he'll probably be the odd man out with Wang looking like he's got that sinker working again.

[stevew]

I guess they only want him going an inning? It was certainly high enough leverage for Manuel to bring him in.

[stevew]

I will never understand closer usage. Yesterday the Yanks don't bring Rivera into a tie game and let Coke blow it in the bottom of the 9th. And today K-Rod doesn't come into a shitstorm when he could actually "save" the fuckin game. I miss guys like Goose.

[DaddyTorgo]

interesting by Bill Simmons in the latest ESPN magazine:

Originally Posted by the article

When Manny Ramírez was suspended for trying to jump-start ovaries he didn't have, many Sox fans (including me) assumed we had our unhappy answer for Papi's demise. We braced for Ortiz to be linked to a bombshell headline that began with the words "Former Sox Clubhouse Attendant … " But one thing nagged at me: He wasn't belting bombs that were dying at the warning track like so many other former 'roiders. He just looked old. It reminded me of watching Jim Rice fall apart in the late '80s, when he lost bat speed overnight the way you and I lose a BlackBerry. That was painful too.

By mid-May, I was pondering another theory: Maybe Papi was older than he claimed. In Seth Mnookin's book Feeding the Monster, he recounts the story of how Boston nearly blew the chance to acquire Ortiz because they were concerned that he was much older than the media guide said. GM Theo Epstein asked Bill James to study Papi's numbers, and when James concluded the peaks and valleys were consistent with a man of Ortiz's stated age, they rolled the dice. The rest is history.

Well, what if James was wrong? How many Latin players have been exposed for lying about their ages in the past few years? Hell, one of Papi's best friends -- Tejada -- was found to have cut two years off his birth certificate when he was 17, er, 19 … you get the point. Watching Papi flounder now, I'd believe he's really 36 or 37 (not 33) before I'd believe PEDs are responsible. In a recent game in Minnesota, he couldn't catch up to an 89 mph fastball. Repeat: 89 mph!

That's what happens to beefy sluggers on their way out: Their knees go, they stiffen up, bat speed slows and, in the blink of an eye, they're done. Beefy sluggers are like porn stars, wrestlers, NBA centers and trophy wives: When it goes, it goes. You know right away.

So that's my theory. I think he's old(er). You may think something else. Whatever the case, it's clear that David Ortiz no longer excels at baseball.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

interesting by Bill Simmons in the latest ESPN magazine:

Big guys that don't take care of themselves tend to fall off the map in their early 30s anyway. If they're lucky they may hit their mid 30s, but the declines these type of players have tends to be really ugly. So he doesn't even have to be lying about his age for him to have such a steep decline.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Big guys that don't take care of themselves tend to fall off the map in their early 30s anyway. If they're lucky they may hit their mid 30s, but the declines these type of players have tends to be really ugly. So he doesn't even have to be lying about his age for him to have such a steep decline.

yeah.

i didn't link the whole article, but it's a really nice piece about how it's sad, and about how we fans here aren't even really be that upset. take me personally, i'm more sad then i am angry. it's gone from "ugh start hitting and being big papi" to "thanks for the september/october memories big fella "

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Big guys that don't take care of themselves tend to fall off the map in their early 30s anyway. If they're lucky they may hit their mid 30s, but the declines these type of players have tends to be really ugly. So he doesn't even have to be lying about his age for him to have such a steep decline.

Closest comparison I could think of when I see Ortiz is Mo Vaughn and that was ugly.

SI

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

Closest comparison I could think of when I see Ortiz is Mo Vaughn and that was ugly.

SI

yep

[Logan]

I think the Mets are still paying Big Mo.

[lordscarlet]

The first shoe has dropped. Randy St. Claire, the pitching coach in Washington, was given his walking papers last night.

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

The first shoe has dropped. Randy St. Claire, the pitching coach in Washington, was given his walking papers last night.

LS i have to give you credit. I don't know how you watch that team. I've watched them play the Phils and I feel bad for them and even more so their fans. You must really love baseball.

[BishopMVP]

Last fall during the playoffs I was talking to a friend that worked in James Andrews orthopedic surgery clinic, and the topic of HGH/Steroids came up. He pretty much emphatically denied Papi had been on steroids, but said he was at least 2 years older than listed.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by BishopMVP

Last fall during the playoffs I was talking to a friend that worked in James Andrews orthopedic surgery clinic, and the topic of HGH/Steroids came up. He pretty much emphatically denied Papi had been on steroids, but said he was at least 2 years older than listed.

which would put him in the 35-36 range -- given the tejada situation and others not at all surprising, and certainly helps explain the sudden dropoff.

[ISiddiqui]

Ortiz also has what have been called "old player skills", he's slow and has (had) a lot of power and a decent eye. Usually players with those skills fall off the map quicker than other players (mostly because players with other skills fall into the "old player skills" in their late 30s).

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Ortiz also has what have been called "old player skills", he's slow and has (had) a lot of power and a decent eye. Usually players with those skills fall off the map quicker than other players (mostly because players with other skills fall into the "old player skills" in their late 30s).

I'm not sure that Ortiz is actually the "old player" that James was referring to. Ortiz hit around .300 and a big part of that was a low batting average. Adam Dunn, now, that's some old player skills.

Ortiz has old player skills now, of course, because he's an old player.

[DaddyTorgo]

Thanks for the memories Papi

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

I'm not sure that Ortiz is actually the "old player" that James was referring to. Ortiz hit around .300 and a big part of that was a low batting average. Adam Dunn, now, that's some old player skills.

Ortiz has old player skills now, of course, because he's an old player.

Well James listed Willie Stargell as having "old player skills" and his career BA is only .001 less than Ortiz's. And Ralph Kiner (also listed as someone with "old player skills") had a career BA .004 less than Ortiz's Ortiz has only had 3 seasons of .300 or above BA in his career.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Originally Posted by ISiddiqui

Well James listed Willie Stargell as having "old player skills" and his career BA is only .001 less than Ortiz's. And Ralph Kiner (also listed as someone with "old player skills") had a career BA .004 less than Ortiz's Ortiz has only had 3 seasons of .300 or above BA in his career.

Good point. Looks to me like James didn't even use his own criteria in making that list.

edit: Either that, or is using an odd definition when he says "relatively low batting average." I mean, Stargell was .025 points above average from 63 to 70.

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Dr. Sak

LS i have to give you credit. I don't know how you watch that team. I've watched them play the Phils and I feel bad for them and even more so their fans. You must really love baseball.

To be honest I have been fading as the season has progressed. I don't check the score or the blogs every day at this point.

Also, the love of baseball is pretty odd. I didn't grow up being a huge MLB guy. Sure, I followed it, but it wasn't until I had a true home team (I am from the DC area) that I really got into it. Having a friend that grew up a huge Cleveland fan and picking up Washington as his NL team hasn't hurt. I love going to the games, I lov ehaving a team in DC. Maybe that will wear off soon, but I'm still in a bit of a glow at having a team for the first time in my life. I want to still be in the thick of it when (if?) they turn it around.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Good point. Looks to me like James didn't even use his own criteria in making that list.

edit: Either that, or is using an odd definition when he says "relatively low batting average." I mean, Stargell was .025 points above average from 63 to 70.

Well he did mention that he was sorting the players rating 1-100 in his top Outfielders. So comparing them to that group and not general player population.

[Lathum]

This may have been mentioned but I cringe to see how many people show up to see the Pirates tonight with the Pens playing.

[k0ruptr]

Randy Wells continues to pitch well for the cubbies, he's faced the minimum through 5 and hasn't allowed a hit.

[miked]

Yay, Garrett Anderson grounds out with the bases loaded in the 10th. Add to that, Kelly Johnson batting leadoff with an OBP of .315 and now people can understand why nobody wants to watch the Braves.

[stevew]

The Pirates touched up wandy Rodriguez and Santana this week. But can't do shit against guys like Gavin Floyd.

[stevew]

I feel your pain. Last year we had Freddy Sanchez batting number 2 with an OPS that barely cracked .600 for much of the year.

Originally Posted by miked

Yay, Garrett Anderson grounds out with the bases loaded in the 10th. Add to that, Kelly Johnson batting leadoff with an OBP of .315 and now people can understand why nobody wants to watch the Braves.

[larrymcg421]

Great walk off win tonight.

I expect Kelly to turn it around as he's a career .350 OBP hitter. I think we're pretty strong at the top 4 with Kelly, Escobar, Chipper, McCann. But then it's dead weight the rest of the way.

[miked]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Great walk off win tonight.

I expect Kelly to turn it around as he's a career .350 OBP hitter. I think we're pretty strong at the top 4 with Kelly, Escobar, Chipper, McCann. But then it's dead weight the rest of the way.

Kelly Johnson = Marcus Giles

[RedKingGold]

Bastardo makes his first start for the Phils and looks every bit as promising as management claims he is.

Also, Ibanez ftw.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by RedKingGold

Bastardo makes his first start for the Phils and looks every bit as promising as management claims he is.

Also, Ibanez ftw.

Poor bastar-- uh, guy- I don't think I'd want that last name

SI

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Great walk off win tonight.

I expect Kelly to turn it around as he's a career .350 OBP hitter. I think we're pretty strong at the top 4 with Kelly, Escobar, Chipper, McCann. But then it's dead weight the rest of the way.

Gut punch loss for the Cubs last night. Braves getting 3 runs on one hit (solo homer) in the 8th was brutal, then the 4th run to score was on a dropped 3rd strike. I do not have a vocabulary vast enough to express how bad that loss was.

Wells is completely snake-bitten. The pen has blown two four run leads (between 8th/9th) in his five starts.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Wells is completely snake-bitten. The pen has blown two four run leads (between 8th/9th) in his five starts.

Mets fans refer to that as being Heilman'd

[lordscarlet]

Originally Posted by Atocep

Mets fans refer to that as being Heilman'd

Nats fans refer to that as being a a Nats fan.

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by lordscarlet

Nats fans refer to that as being a a Nats fan.

LOL! Well played.

[Butter]

Reds have been going through a run of bad luck lately.

2B Brandon Phillips broke a bone in his thumb, but has mostly played through it, only missing a few games, so that wasn't too bad.

CF Willy Taveras was doing really well as a leadoff hitter, but has hit a bad patch (otherwise known as "regressing to the mean"), and strained his hamstring which came up last night as he was unable to run down a seemingly easy fly ball that gave St. Louis 2 runs in a 3 run win for the Cards.

3B Edwin Encarnacion, a known streaky hitter, started off April with a notorious cold streak... then hit the DL before he could bounce back with his usual hot streak. He still hasn't returned, though Jerry Hairston Jr. and Adam Rosales have been decent in his place.

SP Edinson Volquez hit the DL a couple of weeks ago with back spasms... came back on Monday, then promptly went back on the DL with nerve inflammation in his elbow. Reds believe it is due to overwork (save the Dusty jokes) due to his pitching winter ball and in the WBC against the team's wishes.

And finally, 1B Joey Votto, the oddest case of all. Votto was on pace to be an All-Star and a possible MVP candidate. Then, he got the flu. He was out for a few days. Then he tried to come back, and left a game in Houston with an apparent injury. Word back was "dizziness". Then he was diagnosed with an ear infection and gave him some days off to recuperate. So began the yo-yo, as he came in and out of games for about 2-3 weeks, playing some whole games, leaving others after a couple of innings with "dizziness and weakness". Finally, he went on the DL a few days ago with the team only saying that he is going through personal issues related to his health. Supposedly it is stress related. Rumor on the Reds boards is that he has undiagnosed Lyme disease, which is a bit more common in Votto's home of Ontario and comes with a bunch of symptoms that Votto still has.

Either way, the Reds haven't had a complete regular lineup in about a month, and are now going to be without their most dominant pitcher from last year for about a month as well once Volquez does come back.

Still, they have managed to stay above .500 by a couple of games, and within 4 games or so of the Central lead over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, they are probably in the midst of a run that will leave them hurting badly in 4th in the Central, as they are on Day 6 of a run of 10 games vs. the top 3 teams in the Central, and are currently 1-4 in the first 5 games of that stretch.

[Jas_lov]

Originally Posted by stevew

I was at the game yesterday and it was brutal seeing Godzilla running to first.
Wang looked sharp. Hopefully the hip issues are behind him. Hughes throws way too many pitches for my liking.

And the Yankees did make the decision today to move Wang to the rotation to start tomorrow and Hughes to the bullpen. Cashman says Hughes is a temporary bullpen fix and he is a starter long term. He might be sent back down to AAA when Bruney and Marte return from injury. I like Hughes and I think he'll be really good someday, but Wang is a front line starter and there was nobody else they could take out of the rotation.

[Qwikshot]

Braves release Glavine.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Hanson time? (Please?)

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Qwikshot

Braves release Glavine.

Really shitty thing to do considering it was only a monetary decision. He was pitching great at AAA, something like 11 consecutive scoreless innings. They shouldn't have had him down there if they were gonna release him no matter what he did.

I really fucking hate Frank Wren.

[lungs]

Originally Posted by Butter_of_69

And finally, 1B Joey Votto, the oddest case of all. Votto was on pace to be an All-Star and a possible MVP candidate. Then, he got the flu. He was out for a few days. Then he tried to come back, and left a game in Houston with an apparent injury. Word back was "dizziness". Then he was diagnosed with an ear infection and gave him some days off to recuperate. So began the yo-yo, as he came in and out of games for about 2-3 weeks, playing some whole games, leaving others after a couple of innings with "dizziness and weakness". Finally, he went on the DL a few days ago with the team only saying that he is going through personal issues related to his health. Supposedly it is stress related. Rumor on the Reds boards is that he has undiagnosed Lyme disease, which is a bit more common in Votto's home of Ontario and comes with a bunch of symptoms that Votto still has.

Ben Sheets had something similar for the Brewers a few years back, all the symptoms sound the same. He had something called vestibular neuritis (sp?).

If that's the case with Votto, don't expect much from him for a month or two. It's a bitch to get rid of that dizziness.

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

Really shitty thing to do considering it was only a monetary decision. He was pitching great at AAA, something like 11 consecutive scoreless innings. They shouldn't have had him down there if they were gonna release him no matter what he did.

I really fucking hate Frank Wren.

The only thing I can guess is they didn't expect him to actually do anything at AAA and then they could just let him retire. To send him to AAA, let him pitch well there, and then release him because they didn't want to pay the million it would cost to call him up is about as low as it gets.