Brett Lawrie received a four game suspension from Major League Baseball.
The penalty was imposed Wednesday and included an undisclosed fine.
Lawrie is appealing and can playing until there is a decision. He was in the starting lineup Wednesday night against the Yankees.The third baseman was ejected by plate umpire Bill Miller after arguing a called third strike in the ninth inning of Tuesday night’s 4-3 loss to Tampa Bay.
I’m not surprised. The penalty will probably be reduced on appeal.
Posted by David Pinto at 5:42 pm | Discipline | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2012
Circle Me Bert
Bert Blyleven is unhappy Mickey Hatcher was fired. Of course, Bert probably thinks Mickey was a great hitter because he hit Blyleven so well.
Posted by David Pinto at 4:38 pm | All-Time Greats, Management | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2012
The Kirk Shirt
Fans designed an excellent Kirk Nieuwenhuis shirt.
Posted by David Pinto at 3:57 pm | Mechandising, Players | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2012
Hickey Passes
This is a bad week for former pitchers in their 50s. First Frank Wills, now Kevin Hickey:
A Chicago native, Hickey didn’t play high school baseball. But after competing in 16-inch softball and semipro baseball, he was invited to a Comiskey Park tryout and offered a minor league contract. He pitched three minor league seasons before making his major league debut.
He had been the White Sox’s pregame instructor since 2004.
Hickey’s best year came in 1982 when he posted a 3.00 ERA in 60 appearances. He was a high walk, low strikeout pitcher, but managed to give up nineteen fewer hits than innings pitched in his career.
My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Posted by David Pinto at 1:51 pm | Deaths | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2012
Games of the Day
The Pirates travel down the rail line to Washington as Erik Bedard faces the Nationals and Gio Gonzalez. Don’t expect to see many home runs in this game as Erik allowed just one in 35 innings, while Gio gave up none in 41 2/3 innings. Gio is the only pitcher in the majors with more than 25 innings that has not allowed a home run.
Hiroki Kuroda and Kyle Drabek square off in Toronto as the Yankees visit the Blue Jays. Both pitchers sport similar ERAs, and both are well below their FIP. With two good offenses on the field, this could easily turn into a slugfest, as both pitchers allowed six home runs so far.
One of the pitchers traded for Gio Gonzalez is making his mark as well, as Tommy Milone leads the Athletics against Yu Darvish and the Rangers. Milone makes team earn their runs as he allowed only 12 walks in 43 2/3 innings this season. Darvish allowed twice that many, and they are creeping up again as he walked seven batters in his last two starts.
Enjoy!
Posted by David Pinto at 1:38 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2012
Worley Disabled
The Phillies place Vance Worley on the disabled list with elbow inflammation:
The Phillies had already decided Vance Worley wouldn’t make his start Wednesday against the Cubs, but now he’ll miss at least one more start as the team placed him on the 15-day disabled list with right elbow inflammation.
Let’s hope this is one of the times a team catches a bad elbow before the injury requires major surgery.
Posted by David Pinto at 1:12 pm | Injuries, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2012
Lawrie’s Attitude
John Sickels resurrects a column he wrote on Brett Lawrie after seeing him play in the minors:
Obviously there is only so much you can tell from just watching a player, but I kept my eye on him most of the game, even he wasn’t the center of attention or involved in a play. Lawrie fidgets a lot. He seems to radiate intensity and energy. This can be somewhat off-putting, like when he fidgets during the national anthem when everyone else is still, but the upside is that his body looked alive far more than everyone else on the field, with the possible exception of Lorenzo Cain. Comparing Lawrie with Moustakas for example, Lawrie just oozes energetic power compared to Moustakas’ solid, staid affect.
Lawrie’s intensity manifested itself negatively when he got into an argument with the umpire about a check-swing strike three call. It looked like he almost got ejected (which would have really irritated me, it was just the third inning), but he pulled himself back in time and stayed in the game. There are all kinds of stories/rumors about Lawrie’s personality and antics, but he plays with fire on the field.
That fire likely gets him suspended for his antics Tuesday night.
Posted by David Pinto at 11:35 am | Discipline, Players, Umpires | Permalink | 1 Comment
May 16, 2012
Angry with Robots
Getting Blanked believes that replacing umpires with robots will just result in smashed robots.
Posted by David Pinto at 11:23 am | Umpires | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2012
Looking for Diversity
MLB will hold a diversity summit in Chicago on July 24th:
The event, which will take place on July 24 at the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, will host executives from MLB’s Central Office, all 30 Major League clubs, MLB Network, MLB Advanced Media and Minor League clubs.
The trade fair will provide job seekers and entrepreneurs alike with the chance to network directly with club and sponsorship decision-makers for employment and business opportunities, and will also include activities such as workshops and roundtable discussions.
This sounds like nothing more than a fancy job fair to me. Are people who are not diverse not allowed to attend?
Posted by David Pinto at 10:34 am | Commissioner | Permalink | 4 Comments
May 16, 2012
Right and Wright
Last night, after a Mets pitcher plunked Ryan Braun, Terry Collins took David Wright out of the game so he would not be hit. Wright took exception to this:
Wright erupted. Emphatically yelling at Collins, demanding to stay in the game before storming down the tunnel and in to the clubhouse. Wright later returned and next to Collins on the top step, spoke passionately about the situation, as Collins stared intensely at the field.
Vinny Cartiglia reviews notes how both player and manager acted correctly in this situation:
David could have easily been drilled with a fastball on the wrist, elbow, or the head and needed a DL stint to which we would all have been furious that he was left in the game. Wright is very important to this club and there is no reason he should have been put in harms way during an 8-0 game. And so, I am glad Terry did what he did.
On the flip side of that coin, I get why Wright was upset. He’s the leader of this club and official or not, he is the captain.
Of course, the real right thing to do was not plunk Braun in the first place. The HBP came after a home run in a lopsided game, so it seemed retaliatory. Hitting someone when because you’re down 8-0, especially someone who hadn’t contributed much to the offense that night, seems Bush League.
Posted by David Pinto at 9:12 am | Management, Players | Permalink | 6 Comments
May 16, 2012
Dipoto’s Team
Mark Saxon sees the power on the Angels shifting from Mike Scioscia to Jerry Dipoto.
Under former GMs Bill Stoneman or Tony Reagins, Tuesday’s move seems unlikely, certainly in May. But Dipoto has brought in his own people and has his own vision for this team, one which doesn’t always align with the way Scioscia and Hatcher viewed things. He vowed back in November to increase the Angels’ emphasis on on-base percentage. Scioscia and Hatcher continued to preach patience only as a means to an end — getting a good pitch to hit — not as an end in itself — a walk.
Dipoto admitted that disconnect was part of Tuesday’s move, that the team needed to be better at scoring runs by means other than the “safely hit ball.”
The Angels philosophy under Scioscia is put the ball in play. Since the start of the 2001 season, the Angels batters struck out 10676 times, fewest in the majors by 351. If you look at this from a pitcher’s perspective, more balls in play lead to more hits. The team also drew the third fewest walks in the majors (the Royals drew the fewest). The Angels put the ball in play, and because they had some good hitters, it worked.
Note that since the start of 2011, the Angels are still low in drawing walks, but the are ranking higher in strikeouts, 8th fewest. That may be personnel as much as philosophy.
Posted by David Pinto at 8:58 am | Management | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2012
West Coast Roundup
The Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 5-1 behind the pitching of Wade Miley. He gave up hits, eight in 6 2/3 innings, but only a solo home run caused any scoring. Miley was able to get away with the hits by walking just one batter. The DBacks hitters knocked out 12 singles, Jason Kubel‘s double the only extra-base hit.
The Rockies beat the Giants 5-4 on Marco Scutaro‘s ninth inning solo home run. Tim Lincecum pitched what is becoming a typical outing for him. He struck out seven in seven innings, but gave up four runs. Opponents are hitting .354 against Tim with runners in scoring position. The Giants also squandered many opportunities as they went two for 17 with runners in scoring position.
Posted by David Pinto at 7:59 am | Games | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2012
Wednesday Update
The Day by Day Database is up to date.
Posted by David Pinto at 7:43 am | Day by Day | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Lawrie Facing the MLB Law
Brett Lawrie is looking at a suspension:
Lawrie was ejected for arguing after he struck out looking in the Blue Jays’ ninth. Lawrie took several steps toWard Miller, wound up with his right arm and threw down his helmet.
The helmet bounced up and struck Miller around the right hip – a suspension from Major League Baseball is all but certain. Toronto manager John Farrell came out to restrain his 22-year-old third baseman, who’s in his first full season in the majors. After Lawrie returned to the dugout, Farrell was ejected for arguing the call.
When you’re around an umpire, keep your equipment to yourself.
Posted by David Pinto at 11:22 pm | Players, Umpires | Permalink | 4 Comments
May 15, 2012
Hatcher Gets the Hatchet
The Angels fired hitting coach Mickey Hatcher. Someone had to take the fall for the offensive debacle, and Mickey was the best candidate. I thought he should have gone when Bobby Abreu was able to get the team to be more selective at the plate, and Hatcher had not done the same despite years as the hitting coach. Hatcher was a hacker as a hitter, and the Angels were hackers under his tutelage. Maybe Albert’s three-hit game tonight was in celebration of Hatcher leaving.
Posted by David Pinto at 11:16 pm | Management | Permalink | 3 Comments
May 15, 2012
Short Sweep
The Royals stun the Rangers, taking both games of the two game series, winning 7-4 Tuesday night. The Royals collected four doubles, bringing their season total to 80. While the Red Sox are far ahead of them, the Royals are on a pace to hit 370 doubles this year, which would fall just short of the 376 doubles record held by Texas. Kansas City is now just one game out of third place in the AL Central.
Josh Hamilton went 1 for 2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly to raise his batting average to .402. He now has about a 1 in 36,000 chance of hitting .400 for the season.
Posted by David Pinto at 10:58 pm | Games | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Marlins Stars Return
Josh Johnson pitched like an ace for the second start in a row, holding the Pirates to two runs in seven innings. He waked one and struck out six, showing his great control. His ERA remains high at 5.36, but the game dropped it about 1/2 run.
Hanley Ramirez collected three hits, including two doubles as he remains hot. He’s now 17 for 63 in May, .270, after hitting .207 in April. The return of Johnson and Ramirez to star status were key to the Marlins competing this season. It looks like it’s finally happening.
The Marlins beat the Pirates 6-2.
Posted by David Pinto at 10:37 pm | Games, Pitchers, Players | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Bourne Scorer
Michael Bourn collected three hits and scored two runs Tuesday night as the Braves beat the Reds 6-2. Michael has now scored 27 runs in 37 games. That puts him on a pace to score 118 runs this season. That’s exactly what a team wants from a lead-off hitter. Bourn’s OBP stands at an excellent .399, and he might have scored even more if he wasn’t throw out five times trying to steal. He’s never scored 100 runs in a season, but with a better team behind him this may be the year.
Posted by David Pinto at 10:28 pm | Games, Players | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Price Going Up
David Price pitches seven strong innings to help the Rays beat the Blue Jays 4-3. Price has now thrown seven quality starts in eight chances this season. He received a nice bump in salary over the winter, his first year in arbitration. If he keeps pitching like this with solid control and a low ERA, he’ll look for an even bigger raise this off-season. Since the Rays are still cashed strapped, at some point they have to decide if they can afford to keep David, or let him go and harvest another pitcher from the farm. Might the team afford a three-year, $30 million deal to try to keep David around? It would delay his free agency by a season, but it shouldn’t break the bank, either.
Posted by David Pinto at 10:22 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Zeroes for Zack
Zack Greinke wins Mr. Three True Outcomes for the night, shutting out the Mets for seven innings. He did not walk a batter nor allow a home run (obviously) while striking out seven. Greinke lowers his ERA to 2.88, and with one home run and ten walks allowed in 50 innings, this season is looking very much like his Cy Young campaign of 2009.
He received plenty of support Tuesday night as the Brewers hit three home runs, Travis Ishikawa going deep twice. They win 8-0.
Posted by David Pinto at 10:08 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Undefeated Chen
Chen Wei-Yin pitches seven strong innings against the Yankees, allowing four hits and two runs as the Orioles earn a split in the series, winning 5-2. Chen keeps his ERA low, 2.45 and his lowers his batting average allowed to .231. They remain tied with the Rays, who also won tonight.
Adam Jones and Curtis Granderson kept up their home run barrages, each going deep tonight. For Granderson, it was his 13th. Jones hit number 11.
Posted by David Pinto at 10:00 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Mendoza in the Rear View Mirror
Albert Pujols recorded his second three-hit game of the season, driving in two runs as the Angels defeated the Athletics 4-0. Albert raised his batting average to .212. He now has six hits in his last sixteen at bats, bringing his average up 20 points. Note that everything is not up to par yet, as Pujols has no extra base hits in that stretch and drew just one walk.
Mike Trout his his third home run as he also collected three hits, scoring three times. His .316/.369/.561 slash line lives up to his hype.
Posted by David Pinto at 9:43 pm | Games, Players | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Restricted List
Eric Sondheimer provides more details on the use of the restricted list in the wake of Torii Hunter leaving the Angels.
Posted by David Pinto at 9:30 pm | Management, Players | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Beckett Gets a Hole in One
Josh Beckett pitched like an ace Tuesday afternoon, shutting out the Mariners for seven innings. He walked two and struck out nine as he held Seattle to four hits. He did everything right, keeping the ball in the park and in the strike zone. Now the Red Sox need to see him keep this up for a few starts.
Boston takes the game 5-0, and has won five in a row.
Posted by David Pinto at 7:51 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Looking for Some Hot Stuff
It appears Stephen Strasburg got ointment in the wrong place:
“I can’t really tell you what the problem was, but some Hot Stuff got misplaced,” Johnson said. “It was on his shoulder and evidently – I don’t know how it got to where it got, but it was uncomfortable, to say the least.”
The sense in the Nationals’ clubhouse was no one would have pulled a prank on Strasburg on the day he pitched – nobody would be that dumb. Baseball clubhouses are full of jocularity and pranks, but they don’t take precedence over winning.
Maybe Donna Summer was in town.
Posted by David Pinto at 6:52 pm | Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Getting On
David Ortiz just bunted against the shift for a base hit. It was a thing of beauty. The Red Sox lead the Mariners 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Update: The Mariners botch a double play, leaving Ortiz on second, and he comes around to score to give Boston a 4-0 lead.
Posted by David Pinto at 5:56 pm | Games, Players | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Mr. Bases Loaded
Alexei Ramirez just doubled with the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the ninth to drive in two runs and cut Detroit’s lead over Chicago to 10-8. Ramirez is now 22 for 56 in his career with the bases loaded with five doubles, five home runs and 56 RBI. If he hit that way all the time, he’d be an MVP.
Dayan Viciedo hits a ball to the wall in rightfield, but it’s caught and the Tigers win.
Posted by David Pinto at 5:54 pm | Games, Players | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Bad Year to be the Yankees Closer
David Robertson joins Mariano Rivera on the Yankees disabled list:
DavE. Robertson has been placed on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. He hasnt walked into the clubhouse yet, and theres no word on how long hes expected to be out.
Cody Eppley replaced him on the roster.
Eppley had great strikeout and walk numbers in the minors, but those have yet to translate to the majors.
Posted by David Pinto at 5:24 pm | Injuries, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 15, 2012
Molina Celebrates Holliday
Yadier Molina singles in Matt Holliday with two out in the bottom of the ninth, and the Cardinals beat the Cubs 7-6. Molina’s only hit of the afternoon keeps his batting average above .300 at .301. Holliday reached base four time and scored three runs, pushing his OBP up to .346. Matt has scored 25 and driven in 24 runs on the year.
Posted by David Pinto at 4:45 pm | Games, Players | Permalink | 2 Comments
May 15, 2012
The Wheels Come Off
Jake Peavy was cruising down the road, shutting out the Tigers for five innings, when suddenly everything went wrong. In the sixth inning, he gave up a single and homer to the first two batters, Miguel Cabrera going deep for the eighth time. After a Prince Fielder double and an out, Peavy hit a batter and gave up a three-run home to Ryan Raburn. Jakes still had a 6-5 lead. He walked Jhonny Peralta and hit Delmon Young, setting up a three-run shot by Austin Jackson. The Tigers score eight in the sixth and take an 8-6 lead on the White Sox. Jake had only hit one batter all season.
Posted by David Pinto at 4:40 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
Bad Behavior has blocked 2834 access attempts in the last 7 days.