Killeverything's (New)NeverEndingBaseballThread

[TawnyVonJagger]

And the Mighty Marlins continue to roll. Damn, these guys look good, although Maybin and Cody really need to snap outta their funks. Uggla's been an RBI machine!

[tin00can]

And the Mighty Marlins continue to roll. Damn, these guys look good, although Maybin and Cody really need to snap outta their funks. Uggla's been an RBI machine!

Don't they always start like that?

[TawnyVonJagger]

And the Mighty Marlins continue to roll. Damn, these guys look good, although Maybin and Cody really need to snap outta their funks. Uggla's been an RBI machine!

Don't they always start like that?

No. This is their best start since 97.

[Machado]

Yankees home opener today.

Read the MLB Network will be televising the game.
Bob Costas will be doing the play by play

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

And the Mighty Marlins continue to roll. Damn, these guys look good, although Maybin and Cody really need to snap outta their funks. Uggla's been an RBI machine!

Don't they always start like that?

No. This is their best start since 97.

If a tree falls in the woods....

[killeverything]

Don't they always start like that?

No. This is their best start since 97.

If a tree falls in the woods....

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Machado]

ESPN Buster Olney Blog:

David Ortiz pulled a line drive down the right-field line on Wednesday afternoon, the ball skipping close to the foul line before Travis Buck dug it out and fired it to second base. Ortiz, seeing that the play might be close, tried to gather speed before sliding into the bag, feet-first. Safe.

For Ortiz, this was his first extra-base hit of the season, in 34 at-bats. He's hitting .176, with a .206 slugging percentage in this small sample of games.

Over a larger sample of games -- from 2007 to 2008 -- his OPS dropped almost 200 points, as he coped with a wrist injury.

It's early, of course, and there are weeks and months left for Ortiz to find his Big Papi opposite-field power stroke that made him one of the most feared hitters in baseball. But here's the part that has to concern the Red Sox: He looks as bad as his numbers indicate. Opposing talent evaluators are stunned by the regression in his bat speed, by how different a hitter he seems to be compared to what he was in his prime.

[killeverything]

ESPN Buster Olney Blog:

David Ortiz pulled a line drive down the right-field line on Wednesday afternoon, the ball skipping close to the foul line before Travis Buck dug it out and fired it to second base. Ortiz, seeing that the play might be close, tried to gather speed before sliding into the bag, feet-first. Safe.

For Ortiz, this was his first extra-base hit of the season, in 34 at-bats. He's hitting .176, with a .206 slugging percentage in this small sample of games.

Over a larger sample of games -- from 2007 to 2008 -- his OPS dropped almost 200 points, as he coped with a wrist injury.

It's early, of course, and there are weeks and months left for Ortiz to find his Big Papi opposite-field power stroke that made him one of the most feared hitters in baseball. But here's the part that has to concern the Red Sox: He looks as bad as his numbers indicate. Opposing talent evaluators are stunned by the regression in his bat speed, by how different a hitter he seems to be compared to what he was in his prime.

Small sample size. He is struggling, he doesn't seem to have that "swagger." I think he'll be fine. If he said "his wrist is hurting." I'd be worried. I'm not yet.

You also have to consider the source. BusterfuckingOlney?

I remember the play he was talking about.

What I don't remember is Ortiz picking up speed, or Ortiz sliding into second. What I do remember is him beating the throw.......standing up. Only because O-Cab couldn't hold onto the ball.

Does Olney watch the same games we do?

[TawnyVonJagger]

No. This is their best start since 97.

If a tree falls in the woods....

You. Suck. So. Bad.

Oh, and I goofed. The Marlins were 8-1 in 04 as well. And this was the first time we've swept the Braves in Atlanta EVAR. On to the poor Nats again.

See ya next weekend, chump!

[killeverything]

WBC.

I wanna talk about the WBC, with Dice being out and the injuries to players that participated what gives? I did some research and came across this. Enjoy.

Keep in mind so far it's small sample sizes. It might be a little too early to tell the negative effects. Nate Silver did a study at Baseball Prospectus, here's an excerpt.

"But the starting pitchers have been brutalized. Nineteen of the 26 starters--nearly three-fourths of our sample--have underperformed their PECOTA. In most cases, they haven’t even come close to their projection. The weighted average ERA for the WBC starters is 5.49, a buck and a quarter higher than their PECOTAs. Keep in mind that these are supposed to be, quite literally, the best starting pitchers in the world, and that this performance has come over hundreds and hundreds of collective innings. "

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/artic ... cleid=5054

Remember I posted what Schilling said about pitching too much too early. He talked about starting the season early in Japan with Philly. How that was too much on his arm, etc. He's was worried about the stress levels, not so much the IP.

There was some more research done here.

If there was an overwhelming negative from the inaugural tournament in 2006, it was the effect it had on pitchers in the regular season. The anecdotal evidence and high-profile individual cases were well-chronicled in the summer of '06, but the full toll hasn't been as apparent.

To gauge it, USA TODAY analyzed regular-season statistics of every major league pitcher who participated in the spring tournament.

The results show nearly four out of every five pitchers recorded a higher ERA in 2006 than in the previous year (among the 59 who pitched at least 20 innings each year). And more than one in three spent time on the disabled list in '06.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball ... over_N.htm

But the picture for pitchers is far gloomier. Twenty-eight starters in the last Classic were expected to throw at least 100 innings, and together Pecota penciled them in for averages of 165 innings and a 4.26 earned run average. In fact, they produced 149 innings per starter and a 4.61 E.R.A. Between the lostinnings and the inferior effectiveness, the group’s value to their teams fell by a third.

[snips]... But the pattern is too extreme to be waved away as a statistical fluke. Over the 4,150 innings the group pitched in 2006, the odds were one in 1,650 that they would post an E.R.A. 0.35 higher than what had been projected.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/sport ... %22&st=cse

It's interesting, I've seen nothing that has proven this hasn't had a negative effect on the players. Small sample size or not.

"And while every trip to the disabled list obviously wasn't related to the tournament, 14 WBC pitchers landed on the DL with arm or muscle injuries in April and May."

Roy Oswalt has a 6.23 ERA, Peavy 4.67, Lopez 7.36, and I believe Matt Lindstron is pitching through the arm trouble he had in the WBC. It might be too early to do an analysis though, the noise is alarming. There is no way it's going anywhere either. It's a money machine for Selig and Co., so far the ratings are fucking insane world wide ( non - US countries ). Check this out.

- Round One attendance in 2009 surpassed the attendance from Round One of the 2006 World Baseball Classic by approximately 38%. More than 450,000 fans attended Round One games in 2009 compared with just over 326,000 fans for the inaugural World Baseball Classic.
-The Tokyo Dome recorded three sellouts in the first round, selling out each of the three Japan games on March 5th against China, March 7th against Korea and March 9th against Korea.
- Hiram Bithorn Stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico drew a sellout crowd of 19,483 on March 9th for the game between Puerto Rico and the Netherlands, and duplicated the feat with 19,501 fans in attendance for a rematch between the teams in the Pool D championship game on March 11th.
- Saturday’s game between the United States and Canada drew 43,000 fans to the Rogers Centre. Only three games between the Blue Jays and Yankees, and three games between the Jays and Red Sox had a higher attendance at the venue over the last year.
- Toronto’s Rogers Centre set a single-day merchandise sales record for a non-World Series baseball event on March 7th, during the opening day of Pool C which featured the United States taking on Canada and Italy vs. Venezuela.
- The game between the United States and Canada on ESPN on Saturday, March 7th drew a 1.4 rating with 1,850,000 viewers tuning in. It was the third-most watched sports telecast on cable last week.
- Sunday night’s game between the United States and Venezuela posted a 2.0 rating with 2,645,000 viewers tuning in, ranking as the most watched World Baseball Classic game ever, eclipsing the 2006 second round game between Mexico and the U.S. which was seen by 2,458,000 people. In addition, it was the most watched sporting event on basic cable for the week.
- Saturday night’s game between Japan and Korea delivered a 37.8 rating in Japan, topping the 28.2 for the tournament opener on Thursday to rank as the highest-rated sports telecast in that country since the 2006 World Baseball Classic Final between Japan and Cuba (43.4), including the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
- Domestic television ratings for the 2009 World Baseball Classic Round One games broadcast on ESPN averaged a 1.3 rating, up over 40% from 2006. The four games averaged 1,745,000 viewers, up almost 90% compared to 2006 Round One games.
- Five of the 2009 World Baseball Classic Round One games were the highest-rated non-soccer events ever broadcast on ESPN Deportes, including the March 10th contest between Cuba and Australia which posted a 3.3 rating, the station’s highest-rated Round One game.


http://www.bizofbaseball.com/index.php? ... Itemid=168

So it could be bad for the players, but nothing will happen to it. Goddamn I hate Selig.

[Machado]

NEW YORK -- Concerned about the availability of ailing sluggers Mark Teixeira and Hideki Matsui, the Yankees moved to promote first baseman Juan Miranda from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre prior to Friday's game.

One day after receiving a cortisone injection to alleviate inflammation in his left wrist, Teixeira was in New York's lineup batting third for the second Yankee Stadium game against the Cleveland Indians. He tested his left-handed swing in the batting cages adjacent to the home clubhouse.

"Huge difference," Teixeira said. "I woke up this morning and it felt good. It's just sore from where the needle went in, but other than that, it feels great. Compared to the last week, it feels 10 times better."

But Matsui is a concern for the Yankees, as Girardi allowed that he may have taken "a little step back" in his return from left knee surgery last September. Girardi said that Matsui has fluid in his left knee and would be considered a pinch-hitter on Friday, and his availability moving forward may be in question.

"We're hoping that we can get him back," Girardi said. "I've said all along he was probably my biggest concern over the course of the year. His knees are pretty beat up and you don't know how they're going to react from day to day."

Miranda got off to a strong start at Triple-A, earning International League Player of the Week honors for the period of April 9-12. He said he learned of his promotion on Thursday evening, leaving Scranton/Wilkes-Barre batting .361 (13-for-36) with three home runs and three RBIs in eight games.

"I never thought about it, but I knew that if I did my job one day I would be called up," Miranda said through an interpreter. "Even though they signed Teixeira, I was working hard, and if not here, maybe I'd go to another team if I kept working hard."

Girardi said that Miranda offers extra flexibility off the bench, and that the move had been decided upon after Thursday's game, when the Yankees were not sure about Teixeira's availability. In the corresponding transaction, the Yankees optioned right-hander David Robertson to Triple-A after he appeared in Thursday's 10-2 loss to the Indians, hurling the final two scoreless innings.

"It's tough because he did his job," Girardi said.

In other updates, outfielder Xavier Nady was sent for a CT scan on his injured right elbow on Friday, and Girardi said the Yankees expected to hear further results later in the day. Nady experienced sharp pain in his elbow while making a throw on Tuesday at Tropicana Field and is on the 15-day disabled list, hoping to avoid surgery that could be season-ending.

[WhiteHouseSubsAC]

Gotta love the fans chanting "We Want Swisher" at the conclusion of that 9 spot in the 7th.

[Machado]

Gotta love the fans chanting "We Want Swisher" at the conclusion of that 9 spot in the 7th.

Even I laughed at that.
Was a very funny moment that can only
happen in The Bronx.

[JakeYonkel]

Man, fuck Matsui. Since they re-signed him prior to '06, he's been hurt or ineffective every year. He gave them like 3 good years when he came over and I'd venture to say been a waste nearly as bad as Carl Pavano, when you're talking dollars and cents.

I watched the broadcast on MLB Network yesterday. The new stadium looks nice, I guess. I mean, it reminds me the old place so much when you look at it - but fucking shit like the Audi Club? C'mon. The place was dead all game. Was that because it was a blowout or because the real fans were priced out of the park?

The Yankees shit all over their fans with this building, and I'm not spending my money to go there this summer. I'll take in a game at Fenway and probably over at Citi Field but the Yankees can go fuck themselves. I'll watch 'em on TV but I'm not blowing my money at that place.

[killeverything]

The new Stadium gets to me. Granted I've only seen it on TV, but it just seems souless. That "mystique" or whatever is missing. Sheepmafia brought up some good points about why it needed to be built. My rationale is if they can keep renovating the Fens, and keep it going when it's about to turn 100. They could have done it to the Stadium. That place was history.

It's just one more way to wiggle money out of people, while keeping the real fans out. On the bright side for you Yankee haters, that short-ass RF deck is going to be hell on that pitching staff.

Also congrats to the MFY on their victory today, Cleveland's bullpen sucks more than yours.

[tin00can]

The Angels just lost Vlad today for at least two months with a torn pec. During the game, Dustin Moseley had to leave because of shoulder stiffness. For the record, if he goes on the DL that will mean the Angels will have the following on the DL:

Vlad
John Lackey
Ervin Santana
Kelvim Escobar
Dustin Moseley

That would mean the only starter from their original planned five not on the DL is Joe Saunders. Fuck me. The good news is most of the pitchers should be back by the end of May.

Edited to add: my bad, I forgot about Weave. So far, the starters for the Angels have been very good, even the replacements. However, we're so desperate now that Darren Oliver will be starting a game.

Maybe the Angels can trade for Swisher.

[JakeYonkel]

Man, there was an utterly tasteless joke in there and I won't make it.

Anyway, yeah, I read Lackey's back throwing again, which is good. However he said he "feels something" in his elbow, but plans to play through it. Which is not good.

They say there's a minor tear in Santana's UCL - that's Tommy John land, quite possibly.

I guess if 2/3 out of Lackey/Santana/Escobar can make it back and be effective the Angels have a real chance. Not a championship year, but at least to compete. I just don't see a whole lot with that offense and not the way their pitching staff has been decimated. Seattle and Texas suck though, so there's always that.

[tin00can]

Man, there was an utterly tasteless joke in there and I won't make it.

Anyway, yeah, I read Lackey's back throwing again, which is good. However he said he "feels something" in his elbow, but plans to play through it. Which is not good.

They say there's a minor tear in Santana's UCL - that's Tommy John land, quite possibly.

I guess if 2/3 out of Lackey/Santana/Escobar can make it back and be effective the Angels have a real chance. Not a championship year, but at least to compete. I just don't see a whole lot with that offense and not the way their pitching staff has been decimated. Seattle and Texas suck though, so there's always that.

I hadn't heard that about Santana. Here is what rotoworld says:
Ervin Santana (elbow) is finally throwing off a mound.
Santana tossed his first bullpen session on Wednesday and reported no pain or discomfort. "Ervin went after it hard and threw really well off a mound," said manager Mike Scioscia. "We're very pleased." Santana is hoping to return in early May.

Lackey is kinda scaring me. He wants to get back in the game because this is his walk year, but he may just end up dicking his arm up more. Escobar has had a few setbacks but I still think he'll be back by the end of May. As per rotoworld again:
Kelvim Escobar (shoulder) is expected to resume throwing Friday.
"I want to play catch a few times then throw bullpens and get into games," he said. "I don’t want to waste no more time." Escobar is shooting for an early May return.
Source: Orange County Register


If the Angels get Santana and Escobar back, AND they can pitch, that will be huge. In the meantime, it's gonna be a rough next month.

[TawnyVonJagger]

Shit. I got Vlad on my fantasy team.

[killeverything]

Man, there was an utterly tasteless joke in there and I won't make it

Oh.

I will.

Did he step out of the batter's box in mid-windup?

Hey at least he wasn't suspended for 6 games. The more that comes out about that incident the more pissed I get. I was wrong.

Hopefully the zombiesox get Anaheim in the Playoffs again.

[tin00can]

Man, there was an utterly tasteless joke in there and I won't make it

Oh.

I will.

Did he step out of the batter's box in mid-windup?

Hey at least he wasn't suspended for 6 games. The more that comes out about that incident the more pissed I get. I was wrong.

Hopefully the zombiesox get Anaheim in the Playoffs again.

I'm curious to hear a BoSox fan's take on it. When Abreu left the batter's box he went to the side, not toward the mound. Then douchebag Beckett left the mound and started going towards Abreu, and that is when the Angels came off the bench. Beckett deserves the suspension. He could have stayed on the mound and said it was an accident and possibly defused the situation, but he had to get tough and go towards Abreu. That was when the shit hit the fan.

[tin00can]

Shit. I got Vlad on my fantasy team.

Dump him. He's gonna be gone at least a month-and-a-half.

[killeverything]

Man, there was an utterly tasteless joke in there and I won't make it

Oh.

I will.

Did he step out of the batter's box in mid-windup?

Hey at least he wasn't suspended for 6 games. The more that comes out about that incident the more pissed I get. I was wrong.

Hopefully the zombiesox get Anaheim in the Playoffs again.

I'm curious to hear a BoSox fan's take on it. When Abreu left the batter's box he went to the side, not toward the mound. Then douchebag Beckett left the mound and started going towards Abreu, and that is when the Angels came off the bench. Beckett deserves the suspension. He could have stayed on the mound and said it was an accident and possibly defused the situation, but he had to get tough and go towards Abreu. That was when the shit hit the fan.

See, originally I agreed with you. I thought that Beckett's actions were too confrontational. He made a non-situation a situation, so to speak.

Then the more that's come out I'm taking a different opinion of it. When a pitcher goes into his wind-up, starts generating from his core, etc. Then has to abruptly stop, he risks injury. Remember Beckett had a strained oblique last season.

This is why I'm curious if Beckett and Abreu have a prior "beef" with eachother. Much less what the fuck the ump was thinking granting time in the middle of a wind-up. He shouldn't have approached the plate, but could of been screaming at Abreu, "what the fuck are you doing?"

I think that when it goes to review, arbitration or whatever they call it. More of it will come out, and the suspension will be lessened, or dropped all together. Originally it was warranted, now I'm not so sure it is.

[Ham Stroker's Ejacula]

The Indians are beating the Yankees 20-2 in the 5th inning right now.

Wang's first 3 starts: 5 2/3 IP, 23 H, 23 ER, 6 BB, 2 HR, 34.50 ERA

[Machado]

The Indians are beating the Yankees 20-2 in the 5th inning right now.

Wang's first 3 starts: 5 2/3 IP, 23 H, 23 ER, 6 BB, 2 HR, 34.50 ERA

Is it rust?
Is it a result of his foot injury last season?

A pitcher who won 19 games twice can not suddenly forget how to
throw his best pitch, yes? I hope not.

After today I am concerned about his health, his mechanics and his psychy. His next scheduled start is Friday vs the sox, in bean-town. If he actually gets the start.
With an off day Thursday, the Yankees could skips his turn. It's an option.
Burnett goes tomorrow vs pavano. Once again we need a strong outing from Burnett to help the bullpen out.

[tin00can]

Congrats to the Indians on a 14-run inning against the Yankees. That almost makes me forget about how bad the Angels suck right now.

[JakeYonkel]

I will take an 18 run spanking over the possibility of Carl Pavano beating the Yankees tomorrow.

If Pavano somehow manages to throw like 7 innings of 2-run ball you better send somebody to check the bridges down here in central Florida.

[Machado]

I will take an 18 run spanking over the possibility of Carl Pavano beating the Yankees tomorrow.

If Pavano somehow manages to throw like 7 innings of 2-run ball you better send somebody to check the bridges down here in central Florida.

If pavano finds a way to get the win, The Bronx just might burn.

You know the Yankees players want to hit him hard and often. Some might even want to send a few line drives up the middle.

[TawnyVonJagger]

lol

owned


Oh yeah, 10-1.

lol

owned again













(Lick me, haters. Let me enjoy this! )

[Facedown]

Beckett pitched last night, accepted a 5 game suspension today and will start on Saturday.