2012 MLB Regular Season Running Thread

Speaking of McCutchen cooling off, his average stands at .341 and there still doesn't seem to be anybody else close enough to keep Melky Cabrera (.346) from the batting title.

Braun's Brewers are a very long shot, but they are six games out of the Wild Card. Not quite the same as Dawson's team the year he won the MVP.

 

I knew it!

 

fuck you and buck both. he loves him some brewer. i'm sure you do, too. ; P

 

nobody fucking cares.

 

Now THIS post, I think we can all agree with.

 

that's ironic. [/ct}

 

Next round's on me ... or whatever noob comes along first.

 

Babe was very good at playing hitters well, and camping under high flies, and had great power & accuracy in his throws. He was known for his judgment in throwing to the right base. He also was a real hustler in going after hits. He was never lazy or inattentive. Early his speed wasn't that much of a problem, but after his stomach ache in '25, his abs weakened, and his girth started to expand, so his speed was a hindrance in his OF work.

His attitude towards his defensive work was positive & strong. His only real weakness was in his lack of being able to catch up to many liners, especially to right-center, which fell away steeply at Yankee Stadium, compared to most of the others in the league.

Code:

[B]Center Fielders:[/B]

Name-------------PO's/g---------Assists/g------------DPs/g---------Errors/g
Max Carey---------2.628----------.140----------------.035-----------.097
Happy Felsch------2.592----------.156----------------.055-----------.071
Tris Speaker------2.515----------.166----------------.051-----------.082
Eddie Roush-------2.455----------.120----------------.022-----------.074
Ty Cobb-----------2.168-(5 of 6)-.133-(5 of 6)-------.036 (3of6)----.092 (4of6)
Clyde Milan-------2.151----------.154----------------.030-----------.113

[B]Corner Outfielders:[/B]

Babe Ruth---------1.983----------.091----------------.021-----------.069
Duffy Lewis-------1.855----------.146----------------.027-----------.085
Joe Jackson-------1.832----------.141----------------.027-----------.077
Harry Hooper------1.742----------.150----------------.035-----------.066

In the work of an OF, there are several aspects. I'd like to take a look at some, with respect to Babe.

He knew by experience, and instinct, how/where to play the various hitters. So he set up position on them very well. And he got a good jump on the ball due to his wonderful reflexes.

But he lacked the acceleration gear, given all good sprinters, that after the reaction to the gun, they smoothly shift into higher speed. That requires fast twitch muscles. Babe only had the initial explosive start.

So, he did need his CF, to shade towards his (Babe's) area. Whenever a ball split his area with his CF, it was a dash to the ball, to see who'd get there first.

Babe had a splendid attitude towards his work. He never loafed, spaced-out, or let his mind wander. He was focused, attentive, never failed to hustle all out. And once he got the ball, he always knew what to do with it. Always understood where it had to go, since he was paying strict attention to the game's situation, moment by moment. He had true BB acumen/wisdom.

Overall, I'd rate Babe's defense, early on as very serviceable. He was passable. I would say that by 1928, his expanding girth had slowed his speed afoot down to being barely serviceable/mediocre.

He was not a bad fielder until around 1931, or thereabouts. By then, he simply couldn't cover his area properly, despite his good hustle.

Concerning his weight, In 1925, things did get out of hand. In January, he weighed 256. However he had lost twenty-one pounds at the time of his collapse and weight 235.

After his bellyache he reformed quite well. From '26 - '31 (ages 32-37), he AVERAGED 50 HR, 155 RBI, 147 R, and a .354 B.A.

-----------1926------------------1928

weight-----230-------------------225.5
neck-------16.5------------------16
chest------41--------------------40
chest exp--45--------------------47
waist------42--------------------39
hips-------42---------------------40
thigh------23.5-------------------23
calf-------15.5-------------------14.5
biceps-----14.5-------------------13.25
forearm----12---------------------10.5

--------------------------------------------------

1923

215 playing weight.

1924

Was up to nearly 240 pounds at the end of January. Went to Hot Springs and ended up getting down to 218 for the season.

1925

Was 256 pounds, and had lost twenty-one pounds just before his collapse.

1926

Entered McGovern training at 254, started season at 212.

1927

Started season at 218, had 37.5 inch waistline. Took McGovern with him for the 22 day shoot for The Babe Comes Home. He was on a strict regimen; in bed at 9. He had to be on the set by 6am and was running five miles a day.

1928

Entered McGovern training at 237, started season at 225.

1929

Entered McGovern training at 234, started season at 222. Began walking five miles a day along with training.

1930

Claire's influence began. He wasn't allowed to drink hard liquor in the house during the season. If people came over, he could get a keg, but no hard liquor. Babe used to routinely eat at around 11pm, mostly steak and beer. Not any more. A club sandwich and milk became the new late night meal no matter where they were. He would often have steak or some mutton chops for breakfast, and then lunch was a sandwich and milk before he headed to the ballpark, where he was on his own. Needless to say, he snuck a hot dog and soda here and there. Claire made sure he never lifted anything heavy, not even luggage. He never used a can opener or changed razor blades when needed. His curfew was 10pm and he never seemed to mind. He had settled down greatly. A night in with a few beers listening to his favorite radio program "The Lone Ranger" suited him fine.

He entered McGovern training at 233 and lost eight pounds in two weeks. He was started the season at 225. At this point however, despite his taking care of himself much better, he slowly gained weight throughout the seasons.

1931

Entered McGovern training on New Years Eve of 1930 at 235 pounds. His waist was 42.5 inches. All that is known is that the results were very good and stayed that way much in part to a lot of golf. I'm guessing between 220 and 225.

1932

Smelser -

Before going to Florida Ruth had started to work with McGovern in his best condition since the early 1920s. His chest, expanded, was forty-eight inches, the largest ever, and his waist for thirty-eight, the smallest in years. McGovern put him to calisthenics three days a week and golf the other three days, which suggests an interest in the legs of an old ballplayer.

1933

"Ruth in mid-January was working mornings in McGovern's gymnasium and playing golf every afternoon....He was in good condition, a pound or two above his playing weight." - Smelser

1934

He entered McGovern training at 235 and started season at 226 and gained weight throughout.

 

Including quotes, is that the longest post in SJ history?

 

Including quotes? No.