This post on how troops are making golf more interesting reminds me of an old Mad Magazine piece by Al Jaffe called The Mad Game of Basebrawl. Jaffe had defensive and offensive teams on the field at the same time. The offensive team would try to interfere with the fielders trying to put [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 5:47 pm | Other | Permalink | 2 Comments
May 31, 2004
New Lowe
Derek Lowe was knocked around again today. The Orioles scored seven runs in 5+ innings (the first five Orioles reached in the 5th against Lowe). As far as I can tell, the main thing Derek is doing differently is walking more batters. Take a look at this chart:
Derek Lowe
BB/9
ERA
2002
2.0
2.58
2003
3.2
4.47
2004
4.4
6.84
When Lowe doesn’t have [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 3:33 pm | Pitchers | Permalink | 2 Comments
May 31, 2004
A Man in Uniform
Somehow, Nick Johnson doesn’t look like Babe Ruth in an Expos uniform.
Posted by David Pinto at 2:55 pm | Players | Permalink | 2 Comments
May 31, 2004
Bite Out of Crime
Fred McGriff has hit his first HR of the season, giving him 492 for his career. He’s trying to get to 500 before he retires. I wonder if the 500 HR mark will really make a difference to HOF voters? Why would McGriff be anymore or less of a HOF candidate with [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 2:41 pm | Sluggers | Permalink | 6 Comments
May 31, 2004
History Repeating
Those of you who don’t read the Boston Red Sox fan web sites on a daily basis may not be aware of what seems to be a repeat of the 1982 battle for third base in Boston. Carney Lansford won the AL batting title playing third for the Red Sox in 1981. The [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 1:39 pm | Players | Permalink | 5 Comments
May 31, 2004
Back to Normal
The Expos are batting Livan Hernandez in the traditional 9th spot today.
Posted by David Pinto at 1:12 pm | Strategy | Permalink | No Comments
May 31, 2004
Ohka Eighth
In looking at how poorly Joe Valentine started the game yesterday, I failed to notice that Frank Robinson batted Tomo Ohka, the pitcher, 8th. It’s an unusual strategy, but one that was tried by Tony La Russa a few years ago. If you didn’t know, there is some mathematical basis for this lineup.
Bruce [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:46 am | Strategy | Permalink | No Comments
May 31, 2004
Memorial Day
On this Memorial Day I want to remember all my readers and their compatriots who are serving or have served in our armed forces for their dedication, service and sacrifice. Thank you for your commitment to a dangerous and harrowing task. I salute you.
Posted by David Pinto at 9:09 am | Other | Permalink | 6 Comments
May 30, 2004
Psychological Pitchers
Back in February, I noted an article about the Orioles using psychological tests to help determine who would make good pitchers, and what in what roles those pitchers would be most comfortable. Almost two months into the season, I thought it would be interesting to go back and revisit that story. Unfortunately, the [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 2:52 pm | Management | Permalink | 3 Comments
May 30, 2004
Funny Valentine
Joe Valentine made his first appearance this season for the Reds, starting against the Expos. He didn’t get the Reds “pitch to contact” memo however, as he walked five batters in 1 inning and two batters. What’s really strange of course, is that he’s walked five against the Expos! Montreal last [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 2:16 pm | Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 30, 2004
Game of the Day
The Angels and the White Sox play the rubber game of their series in Chicago this afternoon. Both teams have put a little breathing room between themselves and the competition. The White Sox lead the Twins by two games, and the Angels are ahead of both Texas and Oakland by 3 1/2.
John Lackey [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:18 am | Games | Permalink | No Comments
May 29, 2004
Lite Cleanup
My good friend Jim Storer called me to point out that the Marlins were starting Lenny Harris as the clean up hitter tonight. Lenny Harris, who has a .349 career slugging percentage. That’s not even a great on-base average! Why? As far as I can tell, Cabrera is out of the [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:16 pm | Strategy | Permalink | No Comments
May 29, 2004
Low Offense
Coming into today, the Twins are 9th in OBA and 9th in runs scored. Looking at the lineup, Lew Ford is great with an OBA over .400, but Jacque Jones is the only other player over .330. Some help should be on the way, as Joe Mauer has started his rehab assignment. [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 2:50 pm | Team Evaluation | Permalink | No Comments
May 29, 2004
Half a Staff
The Indians have three pitchers on the AL top ten list of ERA leaders. Sabathia, Lee and Westbrook all have ERAs under 3.45. Yet, the Indians have one of the highest staff ERAs in the AL. At 5.11, their team ERA is 13th, only the Orioles at 5.41 are worse (a [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 2:23 pm | Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
May 29, 2004
Game of the Day
It says a lot about the Seattle Mariners offense that Freddy Garcia is leading the AL in ERA, but has a 2-3 record. He’ll face the man in The Prisoner’s spot on the ERA list, Tim Wakefield. Garcia has pitched three games this year in which he allowed no more than one run, [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:39 am | Games | Permalink | No Comments
May 29, 2004
Baby Boom
Rob Mackowiak had a big day yesterday; birth of a son in the morning, a walk off grand slam in game 1, and a game tying HR in the bottom of the ninth of game two. This has other Pirates thinking.
In the locker stall next door, Wilson sat amazed: “Good friend has a kid. [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:18 am | Sluggers | Permalink | No Comments
May 28, 2004
Risky Play
I’m watching the bottom of the ninth in the Cubs-Pirates game, and a very interesting play leading off the inning. Tike Redman hits a fly ball to deep center, but not terribly deep center. Redman thought it was going to be an out, and didn’t get a good jump out of the batter’s [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:20 pm | Games | Permalink | 2 Comments
May 28, 2004
Game of the Day
Tonight’s another good chance for the Mets to show they belong in the NL East race. After splitting a series from the Phillies, the Mets travel south to face the Fish in Florida. A nice matchup of lefties as the rejuvenated Tom Glavine faces the youngster Dontrelle Willis. Last time out, Dontrelle [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 4:09 pm | Games | Permalink | 1 Comment
May 28, 2004
Getting His Wings?
It looks like Mondesi has signed with the Angels, but I don’t understand this:
The former All-Star and Gold Glover said he got a $1.75 million contract for the rest of the season. He said he will make his debut in center field for the banged-up AL West leaders Sunday at Chicago.
“I’m very pleased with the [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 3:59 pm | Free Agents | Permalink | 4 Comments
May 28, 2004
Rules to Win By
Tim Lynch sends this story from the NY Daily News about an 11-year-old who has been banned from pitching by an opponent because he’s too good.
“He [Anthony] blows away the competition, so he is what we consider an illegal player,” said Gambino.
Gambino noted Anthony has thrown a perfect game and two no-hitters against St. Athanasius [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:28 am | Other | Permalink | 12 Comments
May 27, 2004
Good, Bad or Luck?
What does it mean to be a .500 team? Normally, we think of a .500 team as one that wins as many games as it loses, and that’s certainly a good definition. But a .500 team could also be a team that had an intrinsic .500 winning percentage. That is, a team [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:40 pm | Standings | Permalink | 3 Comments
May 27, 2004
Power Pena
Carlos Pena went 6 for 6 today in the Tigers trouncing of the Royals today, including two home runs. However, even with the six hits, Pena’s stats are still not impressive. At the end of the game, his BA is .236, his OBA is .315 and his slugging percentage is .459. Those [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:16 pm | Players | Permalink | 2 Comments
May 27, 2004
Movin’ Up?
I wonder how long the Marlins will continue to bat Choi behind Conine. Hee Seop had 2 doubles today to raise his slugging percentage to .565 and his OBA to .382. Conine is only slugging .404. With Lowell adn Cabrera doing such a good job of getting on base, it would be [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 3:22 pm | Sluggers | Permalink | No Comments
May 27, 2004
Bradley Blast
Not surprisingly, the player I highlight as the poster child for the Dodger’s poor offense hits a 420 ft. HR. Milton Bradley went deep against Ben Sheets, and the Dodgers are now only down 2-1. Sheets is pitching a great game, with 8 K and no walks through seven innings. He’s at [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 2:57 pm | Games | Permalink | 3 Comments
May 27, 2004
More Doug
Eric Neel remembers Doug Pappas.
Posted by David Pinto at 2:01 pm | Deaths | Permalink | No Comments
May 27, 2004
Games of the Day
Ben Sheets could be in for a good afternoon as the Brewers finish up their three-game series with the Dodgers. Los Angeles has only scored 32 runs in their last 12 games for a 2-10 record. Sheets has had a great month of May, striking out 35 in 30 innings while walking only [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:14 am | Games | Permalink | 1 Comment
May 27, 2004
Going Main Stream
Good new about the Boston Dirt Dogs over at Bambino’s Curse. They’ve been acquired by Boston.com. Maybe now they’ll have permalinks!
Posted by David Pinto at 10:00 am | Blogs | Permalink | 2 Comments
May 27, 2004
International Front
This is how baseball makes news in India.
Posted by David Pinto at 8:32 am | Other | Permalink | 2 Comments
May 27, 2004
Bay Watch
The San Francisco Giants have climbed back into the race in the NL West. Although 3 games under .500, the Giants are in third place, 3 1/2 games out of first place. One big reason is that they now have the pitching staff in control. In April, it seemed like they couldn’t [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:16 am | Team Evaluation | Permalink | No Comments
May 27, 2004
Youthful Ward
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