Baseball Thread 6 - Steve Garvey's got a lot of mouths to feed

In all seriousness, Moddy, BABIP is an interesting stat after the season...to figure out who had good and bad luck and to see if someone's success is sustainable, or to see if someone's struggles are a blip or a sign of things to come.

Doesn't work for Giambi, who is toast, but it's an effective tool for a 32-year-old guy.

 

The Pirates are spending big ... well, everywhere but the major league level. Per MLB.com:

The Pirates' well-planned Draft objective was laid out early: Select high-school players with the intention of luring them away from college commitment with hefty signing bonuses. With that as the strategy, consider Friday a successful day for the organization.

The Pirates announced late Friday afternoon that they had come to terms on agreements with two such targets of this strategy, left-handers Zackry Dodson (fourth round) and Colton Cain (eighth round). Dodson had already committed to Baylor University, while Cain was set to pitch for the University of Texas this next year.

According to a source close to negotiations, Cain signed for a $1.15 million bonus. Dodson's bonus figure was not initially known, but it is expected to be right around that of Cain's.

A $1.15 million bonus matches Major League Baseball's recommended slot figure for the 26th overall pick of the Draft. Dodson was picked 115th overall and Cain, 235th. Typically, players selected after the fifth round are not given more than a maximum $150,000 signing bonus.

http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090807&content_id=6301070&vkey=news_pit&fext=.jsp&c_id=pit

 

Wins are a more bullshit stat than anything any stat geek could possibly dream up. Every single argument the dinosaurs make about VORP? Equally applies to Wins.

On base percentage is a much better -- and simpler -- statistic than batting average.

RBI is the single most overvalued stat in the game.

But HR and ERA are pretty good.

 

Some guy: "Hey guys, I've just invented this new stat, here it is:

The number of times a pitcher starts a game, goes at least five innings and leaves with his team leading, or with his team tied and they take the lead before he is replaced, and the game ends without that team ever relinquishing the lead; plus the number of times a pitcher comes into the game without his team leading and is the most recent pitcher when they take the lead and go on to win without losing the lead; plus the number of times the starting pitcher doesn't go five innings, the team wins, and the official scorer determines he is the most effective pitcher! What a great stat!"

Baseball fans everywhere: "That's an idiotic stat. It's stupid and you should feel stupid!"

Some guy: "But here's the deal, I've named it Wins. That way, you'll get it confused with actual wins, which are the point of the game."

Baseball fans everywhere: "Oh man, wins are awesome!"

 

Well, teams like the Pirates SHOULD invest in the draft instead of trying to keep up with the teams they insist they cannot compete against.

That said, when it's mlb.com lauding their strategy, I'll retain my skepticism and wait for an independent news outlet--if there's any left--to praise the Pirates.

 

Armando Galarraga is a fucking idiot. Your team stakes you to a 6-1 lead after the first.

So you go and walk the No. 8 and No. 9 hitters (Carlos Gomez and Nick Fucking Punto) in the Twins lineup and you give up three runs.

 

Along those lines, if Anthony Swarzak would like to go to a frat party with Kelly Taylor and get locked in a basement bathroom while flames engulf the building, well, I would support that. [/fantasyfanboilooser]

 

He can't hurt you anymore BYH. He's out of the game now. 33 total pitches and officially, just one inning.

And Gardenhire got ejected in the first for the 43rd time of his career.

 

David Ortiz looks terrible.

 

Yeah - he;s failed badly. I felt a bit sad for this once proud and mighty man

 

Derek Jeter continuing his usual clutch hitting by hacking at the first pitch he sees with the bases loaded and two outs and grounding out to third.

 

2009, runner on 3rd and 2 outs: .313/.476/.500 (8 RBI in 21 plate appearances).
Career, runner on 3rd and 2 outs: .324/.415/.424 (215 RBI in 472 plate appearances).

That guy sucks. 8)