Base On Error

Oh, and in case you didn’t hear, a Phillies second baseman...

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:18:56 -0400

Oh, and in case you didn’t hear, a Phillies second baseman got the win last night in 19 innings against the Cincinnati Reds.

I hear he’s pretty pissed that Buster Posey stole his thunder.

BUSTER POSEY GOT WRECKED Last night, San Francisco’s star...

Thu, 26 May 2011 15:05:19 -0400

BUSTER POSEY GOT WRECKED

Last night, San Francisco’s star catcher, Buster Posey was bowled-over by Scott Cousins of the Marlins for the winning run. And let me tell you, it was prett-y, prett-y, prett-y gnarly (I hope some of you watch Curb Your Enthusiasm). Video here.

He pretty much shattered his ankle and will be out for a while.

The problem with this is that the MLB might have to start talking about “making the game safer.” Even today on ESPN, the poll was whether or not the Majors should keep home plate collisions in the game, or change the rules, similar to the NFL.

The only way I’ll be okay with the MLB becoming more like the NFL is if baseball becomes a full contact sport. Runner trying to steal second? Give him an elbow to the jaw. Shortstop blocking the base path trying to catch an infield fly? Drop kick him on the way to third.

If you couldn’t tell, I’m for leaving the rules unchanged.

Note: The video that auto-plays after the Posey clip is the biggest demonstration of douchebaggery I have EVER seen.

I present the best shortstop in the American League, perhaps...

Tue, 24 May 2011 14:15:00 -0400

I present the best shortstop in the American League, perhaps even the majors.

Asdrubal Cabrera of the Cleveland Indians is hitting .312 with an OPS of .919. Although he has no where near as many homers as the league leader (Cabrera has 10 at the moment), his defense sets him apart from anyone at the position.

Will he be voted into the All-Star Game? Probably not. That honor will undeservedly go to an old and broken Derek Jeter, as per usual. He should however receive an invitation to the roster through the managers, one of which is Manny Acta.

If you didn’t know, the Red Sox and Yankees are playing in...

Sun, 15 May 2011 22:40:01 -0400

If you didn’t know, the Red Sox and Yankees are playing in a series this weekend that asks the question, “Who really gives a shit about the Boston-New York rivalry?”

Lets break it down by the numbers:

Combined team salaries: $364,451,503
Number of shits given by the majority of the country: 0

Have a wonderful night, America.

Cards Manager Tony La Russa has shingles. That is all.

Wed, 11 May 2011 10:23:30 -0400

Cards Manager Tony La Russa has shingles.

That is all.

Where We Stand.

Fri, 06 May 2011 20:54:00 -0400

Now that we are a month into the season, let’s see where we are in regards to Baseball Prospectus’ preseason predictions:

AL EAST

Predicted Winner: Boston Red Sox
Current Leader: New York Yankees

AL CENTRAL

Predicted Winner: Chicago White Sox
Current Leader: Cleveland Indians

AL WEST

Predicted Winner: Texas Rangers
Current Leader: Los Angeles Angels

NL EAST

Predicted Winner: Philadelphia Phillies
Current Leader: Philadelphia Phillies

NL CENTRAL

Predicted Winner: Cincinnati Reds
Current Leader: St. Louis Cardinals

NL WEST

Predicted Winner: San Francisco Giants
Current Leader: Colorado Rockies

ANALYSIS AFTER THE BREAK

Alright, I’ll give credit where credit is due, BP was pretty close in at least four cases. In the AL West, and the NL, if the predicted winner isn’t already in first, they’re in a close second.

Let’s talk AL East, though. The Red Sox are NOT playing anywhere near where they’re expected to. Although they’ve eeked out some wins here and there, they in no way, shape or form look like the World Series champions many expected before the 2011 campaign.

But, you know, let’s give them that one, too. You’re not always going to be right. Who would have known that they were going to stumble so badly coming out of the gates?

Which brings us to the AL Central. WHERE ARE YOUR SABERMETRICS NOW?! The AL Central is a veritable shit-show right now. If you took the preseason predictions, put the Tribe in the cellar instead of the Royals, and flipped it, you’d have the current standings.

The White Sox are playing, possibly, the worst ball in the big leagues. They’re even worse than the Red Sox, and analysts are already predicting that long-time manager Ozzie Guillen’s job may be in jeopardy. Pretty rough stuff for a team everyone thought would take the division.

And, hoo boy, the Minnesota Twins are in deep water right now. Star Joe Mauer, fresh from signing a long-term, big-money contract was DL’d after having bi-lateral leg weakness. He’s still out pending his rehab assignment. The team is currently 7 games under .500.

The real story is the Cleveland Indians, as you’ve probably heard. The team that struggles to fill its ballpark to twenty-five percent capacity is tearing up the American League with five series sweeps and a 21-9 record. They currently have the best record in the majors.

Is this team for real? Yeah. I’m from Cleveland, let’s just get that out of the way right now. I’ve heard every angle of this story already. But the fact is, this is a team built from prospects, and was expected to start contending next season. All that has happened is that they’ve figured it out a year early.

The Cleveland Indians can definitely win the AL Central this season, no doubt about that. But are they going to win the World Series this year and end Cleveland’s title drought? Sorry, but I think you’ll be waiting at least one more year.

Minnesota’s Francisco Liriano pitched a no-hitter tonight...

Tue, 03 May 2011 23:30:29 -0400

Minnesota’s Francisco Liriano pitched a no-hitter tonight to give the Twins a 1-0 win over the White Sox.

More incredible than that? It was Liriano’s first complete game. I propose that we call him Francisco Liriano-no from now on.

Just kidding.

mightyflynn: Tokyo tilt-shift: Baseball by Lee Chapman (h/t...

Tue, 03 May 2011 23:04:04 -0400

mightyflynn:

Tokyo tilt-shift: Baseball

by Lee Chapman

(h/t @npbtracker)

I want to go to there.

Well, Shin-Soo Choo started an interesting run for the All-Star...

Tue, 03 May 2011 18:02:18 -0400

Well, Shin-Soo Choo started an interesting run for the All-Star Game last night by being charged with a DUI.

According to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Choo asked the officers for directions to his house and was arrested after he began driving away. Choo blew a 0.20.

After realizing every single one of my player specific posts so...

Mon, 02 May 2011 20:03:28 -0400

After realizing every single one of my player specific posts so far have been about pitchers. Let’s change that.

The Dodger’s RF Andre Ethier (.378/.448/.998) is tearing it up right now, and currently owns a twenty-seven game hitting streak, the longest in two years. I’m convinced that he can heal the blind with his bat right now.

See, LA, you guys don’t really need an owner. Chin up.

Bitching About the ESPN Power Rankings Oh, hey, ESPN. I was...

Mon, 02 May 2011 14:22:02 -0400

Bitching About the ESPN Power Rankings

Oh, hey, ESPN.

I was hoping we wouldn’t have to do this again, but you’ve left me no respite.

I guess it was silly of me to assume that the team that won all of its games this week, while owning the best record in baseball, as well as the largest run differential (by far) would EVER trump the Phillies or Yanks.

So, its partially my fault. I shouldn’t expect you to change, hell, I know you won’t. But I really can’t go on like this. I’m leaving you, and I’m taking our son.

No, it’s too late. My bags are packed an the taxi is waiting. I’ll be staying at my mother’s, call if you’ve decided to change.

I’m sure you all heard the news and saw the reaction at...

Mon, 02 May 2011 13:17:07 -0400

I’m sure you all heard the news and saw the reaction at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia last night on ESPN. I just thought I might as well acknowledge it here.

It’s a good day.

Philadelphia starting pitcher Roy Oswalt unexpectedly left the...

Thu, 28 Apr 2011 14:28:09 -0400

Philadelphia starting pitcher Roy Oswalt unexpectedly left the Phillies on Wednesday to make sure his family was safe after severe storms and tornadoes struck near his home in Mississippi.

In other news, Roy Oswalt doesn’t know how phones work.

Vinny “My Cousin Vinny” Pestano had an great inning...

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:40:00 -0400

Vinny “My Cousin Vinny” Pestano had an great inning tonight for the Indians, inheriting loaded bases from Tony “Sippin’ On Some Sizzurp” Sipp with no outs in the 8th, with the Indians holding on to a four run lead against the Royals.

My Cousin Vinny retired three in a row with one K to hold the game at 7-3. Cleveland would go on to win 9-4, separating themselves from KC (and Detroit) by 2.5 games at the top of the AL Central

Oh, and Justin “Bat” Masterson got his fifth win, putting him at 5-0 on the year, behind the golden-haired god Jered Weaver at 6 W’s.

NICKNAMES!

Jered Weaver (6-0, 0.99 ERA) shutout the Oakland A’s last...

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 09:00:55 -0400

Jered Weaver (6-0, 0.99 ERA) shutout the Oakland A’s last night for his sixth straight win. Could he be the first player since Denny McLain to win 30+ in a season? Does the pope shit in the woods?

Yes. The answer is yes.

Bitching About the ESPN Power Rankings Listen, ESPN: I know that...

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 20:40:00 -0400

Bitching About the ESPN Power Rankings

Listen, ESPN:

I know that Power Rankings are just a fun, arbitrary system for you to expose your raging hard on for the New York Yankees. I know that, I really do. But I don’t see how a division leader can be ranked at 9 behind a team they just took two of three from. AND I KNOW YOU WATCHED IT, IT WAS ON YOUR CHANNEL LAST NIGHT!

Now I hope we don’t have to have this talk again.

Note: I’m not a St. Louis fan or Reds detractor, I just hate power rankings.

Methinks Sergio Romo is trying to one-up Brian Wilson.

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 13:28:00 -0400

Methinks Sergio Romo is trying to one-up Brian Wilson.

Frank McCourt Is A Bad Owner

Fri, 22 Apr 2011 21:53:00 -0400

Frank McCourt sucks.

Not the Frank McCourt who wrote Angela’s Ashes, he’s dead, the one who just had his baseball team taken away from him by Major League Baseball.

How do you let that happen? Granted, the guy has been going through a divorce, and he and his [estranged] wife controlled the team together, which made for a complicated situation. What it comes down to is that he couldn’t afford to keep the Dodgers running. He had taken out loans in his name to pay off his payroll while avoiding MLB sanctions on loans.

Where but in professional sports would this ever happen? If a business owner anywhere else couldn’t pay employee salaries, he’d be arrested, declare bankruptcy or sell the company. Why wouldn’t Frank McCourt sell the Dodgers? If his situation was as bad as it is made out to be, maintaining ownership of the team seems out of the question.

By the way, the balls on Bud Selig, right? To take a team from a Pulitzer Prize winning author, wait, wrong McCourt, again.

I have no clue how Dodgers fans feel about this, but if they’re angry about it, I wouldn’t recommend that the Commisioner hang out in Dodger Stadium parking lots anytime soon.

This is just an overall embarrassing situation for both the League and the Los Angeles Dodgers organization. At least Los Angeles still has the Angels.