The Cardinals came to bat in the top of the ninth tied with the Nationals 4-4. Washington had a Lear inning, where just when you think things couldn’t get worse, they did.
After a walk and a double put the Cardinals ahead with one out, the Cardinals loaded the bases. Zimmerman tried to bare-hand [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:17 pm | Games, Uncategorized | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 30, 2009
Garza Perfect
Matt Graza just struck out Jason Bay looking to end the fifth inning. He’s retired all 15 batters faced so far, seven on strikeouts. He’s up to 68 pitches, 48 for strikes.
Josh Beckett has seven strikeouts through four innings, but he’s also allowed eight hits, three walks and a solo home run. [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:49 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2009
Leg Drain
Jose Valverde needs to have hematomas in his leg drained.
According to MedicineNet.com, a hematoma is “an abnormal localized collection of blood in which the blood is usually clotted or partially clotted and is usually situated within an organ or a soft tissue space, such as within a muscle. A hematoma is caused by a break [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:41 pm | Injuries | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 30, 2009
More on Tipping
Selena Roberts expands on how Alex Rodriguez allegedly tipped opponents what pitch was coming.
This is based on the impressions of his teammates. It would seem she doesn’t have any of the recipients talking.
Posted by David Pinto at 8:29 pm | Cheating | Permalink | 2 Comments
April 30, 2009
I’m Not Dead
The Dodgers called up Jeff Weaver today:
Weaver, 32, who pitched for the Dodgers in 2004 and 2005, was 1-0 with a 3.55 earned-run average in 12 2/3 innings over five games with Albuquerque this season. He is expected to be used as a middle reliever.
I can see Weaver being an effective middle reliever. He [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:01 pm | Pitchers | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 30, 2009
Bucking the Slump
John Buck came into the Thursday afternoon game against the Blue Jays 0 for 15 in his last five games. He broke out of that slump in a big way this afternoon, going three for three with a double and two triples. He only had three triples in his career coming into today, [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:01 pm | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2009
End of the Month Holliday
Matt Holliday waited until the very last minute to record his first April home run, hitting the dinger in the top of then ninth at Texas. The solo shot provided an insurance for Oakland as they went on to a 4-2 win over the Rangers. Holliday was only one for five on the [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 5:43 pm | Uncategorized | Permalink | 2 Comments
April 30, 2009
Batting Against Texas in Blowouts
Texas Rangers Batting Average Allowed
Alex Rodriguez played for Texas from 2001-2003.
Seasons
Leading by 5+ runs
Trailing by 5+ runs
1998-2000
.281
.305
2001-2003
.285
.287
2004-2006
.276
.266
Overall, Texas allowed batting averages of .288, .284, and .277 in the three periods. I don’t really see a pattern here.
Posted by David Pinto at 4:57 pm | Cheating | Permalink | 3 Comments
April 30, 2009
Appropriate Award
I just received an E-Mail telling announcing that Reggie Jackson will receive the Joe DiMaggio Award from Xaverian High School. I think it’s highly appropriate, but not for the same reason as the school.
Posted by David Pinto at 4:35 pm | Baseball Jerks | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2009
Selig Doesn’t Weigh In
Bud Selig refuses to comment on A-Rod pitch tipping:
Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday he will withhold comment about any possible disciplinary action against Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez until he has read A-Rod: The Many Lives of Alex Rodriguez, a soon-to-be published book that details how Rodriguez tipped opposing hitters about what pitches were [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 4:29 pm | Uncategorized | Permalink | 2 Comments
April 30, 2009
A-Rod Homers
There’s video at ESPN.com of Alex Rodriguez hitting a home run in an inter-squad game today. Would any experts like to comment on his swing? Does he look like he’s rotating his hips properly?
Posted by David Pinto at 4:14 pm | Injuries | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2009
Sacrifice Fly Rule
Vernon Wells makes a catch with a Royals runner on third and less than two outs, but bobbles the ball. The announcers wonder if the runner left early, but the rule says the runner can leave as soon as the ball touches a fielder. Otherwise, the fielder could bobble the ball all the [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 3:55 pm | Uncategorized | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2009
Strange Dog Coincidence
Alyssa Milano had a German shepard named Pinto (picture here). My daughter named our dog Phoebe after Alyssa’s character on Charmed.
Ms. Milano is also trying to save a dog from being put down.
Posted by David Pinto at 1:12 pm | Uncategorized | Permalink | 3 Comments
April 30, 2009
Let them Take their Lumps
Peter Abraham notes the dangers of the new Yankee Stadium really being a home run haven:
Joe Girardi is right when he says it doesn’t matter as both teams play in the same conditions. But over the course of time, if Yankees pitchers give up home runs by the score and there are more 9-8 games [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 12:57 pm | Uncategorized | Permalink | 7 Comments
April 30, 2009
Better Lucky than Good
Jack “Lucky” Lohrke passed away yesterday. A former infielder, he’s best known as a man to follow if he was bumped off transportation:
In 1945, Lohrke was leaving the service when he prepared to board a military transport for the trip home to California. Shortly before takeoff, he was bumped from the flight by a [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 12:28 pm | Deaths | Permalink | 2 Comments
April 30, 2009
Another Thing I Like About Blogging
It’s highly unlikely that I’ll fire myself in the middle of a post.
Posted by David Pinto at 10:22 am | News Media | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2009
The Slap Chop of Front Offices
I’m not sure Theo Epstein wants to be compared to Vince Shlomi. The linked video is hilarious, however.
Update: On the other hand, how are those old, injured pitchers working out?
John Smoltz, recovering from shoulder surgery last June, will not throw batting practice Thursday, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona said.
“I just think it’s [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:00 am | Management | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 30, 2009
Games of the Day
The schedule makers put just eight games on the slate today, and none of them result in good pitching matchups. The closest is Boston at Tampa Bay, where Josh Beckett meets Matt Garza, both struggling early. Beckett’s numbers look better than his 6.00 ERA, but opponents are hitting .349 with runners on, and [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:06 am | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2009
Scooping the A-Rod Book
The New York Daily News gets a copy of Selena Roberts’s book on Alex Rodriguez:
Alex Rodriguez may have bulked up with steroids as early as high school – and was suspected of juicing while playing for the Yankees, a bombshell new book reports.
Although the slugger insists he dabbled in steroids only while with the Texas [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:42 am | Books, Cheating | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 30, 2009
Kaz for Concern
Scott Kazmir pitched poorly Wednesday night. He lasted just four innings, allowing eight runs, six of them earned. That boosted his ERA to 5.40. Even in his previous outing, when he held Oakland scoreless for six innings, he walked more than he struck out. In his last three outings, Kazmir walked [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:29 am | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 30, 2009
The Freak and the Greink(e)
Zack Greinke and Tim Lincecum faced major challenges last night as they opposed the teams ranked third in their league in runs per game. Zack showed he was human, allowing two runs over seven innings, ending his unearned run streak. He stuck out eight and walked two, and still has not allowed a [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:21 am | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2009
Daily Dose of Data
The Day by Day Database is up to date. In case you missed it, the database now offers batter vs. pitcher functionality.
Posted by David Pinto at 8:04 am | Day by Day | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2009
More Anderson Hernandez
Anderson Hernandez provided an nice chunk of the Nationals offense in their 4-1 win over the Phillies Wednesday night. He doubled twice for two of his three hits, raising his OBA to .396. After posting a .407 OBA in a short stint in the majors last year, isn’t it time to give Anderson [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 11:24 pm | Players | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2009
False Alarm
New Stadium Insider posts video of the false alarm at Comerica Park that caused Detroit fans to leave their seats in the middle of the Yankees/Tigers game. Someone pulled the fire alarm.
Update: While on the subject of videos, here’s Ian Kennedy coming out of the game with his bad finger.
Posted by David Pinto at 11:02 pm | Baseball Jerks, Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2009
Stults Bats Eighth
Joe Torre shows he’s willing to go beyond conventional wisdom and bats the pitcher eighth tonight.
Juan Pierre, who was making his third start of the season, was listed as the No. 9 hitter for tonight’s series finale in San Francisco.
Stults was in the eighth spot.
“I’ve been threatening it, right?” Manager Joe Torre said. “It’s just [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:53 pm | Strategy | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2009
The Everyman
Jonathan Van Every homers in the top of the tenth inning as the Red Sox come back from a 5-0 deficit to lead for the first time 6-5. It’s Van Every’s first major league home run. He’s two for four with a walk tonight.
It’s certainly been a week of dramatic home [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:39 pm | Games, Players | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2009
Volquez in Control
Edinson Volquez found his control tonight. He had walked 20 batters in his first 20 1/3 innings, leading to a 6.20 ERA. Against the Astros tonight, however, he worked the strike zone well, walking just one in eight innings and allowing just one hit and no runs. The light hitting Adam Rosales [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:28 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2009
Big Enough Lead for the Bullpen
Joba Chamberlain pitches seven innings of three-hit ball and the Yankees offense gives him plenty of support against Detroit. He leaves the game with an 8-1 lead, and in the ninth Albaladejo comes in to mop up. He gets knocked around, and after allowing two runs with two on base, Mariano Rivera comes [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:18 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2009
Greinke Gets Earned
After a rain delay pushes back the start of the Blue Jays/Royals game, Marco Scutaro doubles and Vernon Wells drives him home with a single for the first earned run against Zach Greinke this season. That’s all they get as the Royals come to bat in the bottom of the first. Greinke’s ERA [...]
Posted by David Pinto at 8:56 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 29, 2009
A-Rod to Play
Alex Rodriguez will start rehabilitation games on Thursday. That’s a day sooner than indicated earlier this week. His doctor says Alex will be ready for major league action in 10 days, which would put him back in the Yankees clubhouse on about May 8, when New York opens a series in Baltimore.
Posted by David Pinto at 8:02 pm | Injuries | Permalink | No Comments
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