Baseball thread No. 7: Somebody slip the pinstripers a Mickey

Thanks for sto- ah fuck, that doesn't work, does it?

 

To close the book on T Plush...

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/dcsportsbog/2009/08/yet_more_nicknames_from_t_plus.html#more

Can't wait to meet that guy Saturday afternoon.

 

Smoltz is a Cardinal

http://www.kansascity.com/485/story/1392897.html

 

He's a pretty decent dude ... at least from what I remember of covering him in the minors.

 

Contreras outpitches Grienke; didn't see that one coming.

 

He must labor under the delusion that he'd make anyone's playoff roster.

 

Baseball Prospectus' PECOTA projection system had them to challenge hard for a playoff spot, iirc.

 

One thing the Rays and Brewers proved last year is that "small-market" teams must strike while the iron is hot, because neither is getting in the playoffs this year. So if you're one of those clubs who builds through the farm system over the course of 5-10 years, you'd better win the World Series when you get the chance, because you're not likely to get another shot.

 

That's true for everyone. With 30 teams, you aren't going to get a lot of chances to win it all.

 

It's more true of the small markets, though. The windows of opportunity come less often and don't stay open as long.

 

All the Angels in tonight's lineup are batting .300 -- the first time that's happened this late in the season since the 1934 Tigers.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/angels_blog/2009/08/more-on-angels-300-game.html