Baseball thread No. VII

Yeah but he still looks like a fruit bat.

Just kidding

 

Rivera was already the Yankees' best relief pitcher before becoming their closer. Same could probably be said about BJ Ryan two years ago. Papelbon had very little track record either way before this season.

Majewski doesn't have the talent of any of those guys. He only became the Nationals main set-up man this year because Ayala got hurt in the WBC. I doubt he's really future closer material.

Two young, every-day players for two middle relievers. Unless you say it's because of the money, I still don't see how this is a good deal for the Reds. And dumping guys in the middle of a pennant race because they'll have a big arbitration number next year is a disgrace. Sounds like something the Pirates would do...if they ever manage to be in a pennant race again.

 

Denorfia is a better player than Kearns. He can hit for a better average, has just as much power and more speed.

If he's cheaper and can do just as much, doesn't it make sense to get him in the lineup?

 

If he'd actually shown he was better at the major league level, sure. But that hasn't happened yet.

 

wtf was harold reynolds just talking about on baseball tonight? he just said chipper jones (obviously) and TIM HUDSON are the reason that the braves have gotten hot lately. I thought, "hasn't hudson been getting his titties ripped every start for like a month?"
sure enough:
7/14 vs. SD 3 IP, 5 ER (ND)
7/6 vs. CIN 8 IP, 4 ER (ND)
7/1 vs. BAL 2.2 IP, 5 ER (L)
6/26 vs NYY 5 IP, 5 ER (L)
6/21 vs. TOR 7 IP, 5 ER (L)
6/16 vs BOS 7 IP, 4 ER (L)
6/10 vs. 8 IP, 2 ER (W)

so in the last month, his ERA has risen from 3.79 to 4.81 and he's lost four straight decisions. usually I like Harold Reynolds, but Jesus Christ, where in the world did that brilliant analysis come from?

 

This might stir up some shit, but so be it. Why Mariano Rivera is overrated. And pretty much any closer. Saves are easy to compile! But those tough saves ...

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/library/columns/gs_060321.htm

"A whopping 60% of [Trevor] Hoffman's career saves have come when he entered the game with no more peril than having the tying run in the on-deck circle. It's even higher for Rivera at 62%"

Rivera tough saves: 28
Rivera tough saves blown: 18
Rivera easy saves: 235
Rivera easy saves blown: 9

(This article has Rivera with 379 saves, so it's based on before the 2006 season)

 

Edited because I meant to reply to a different post.

As you were.

 

Awesome. I always knew he reminded me of something, but I could never place my finger on it. Thank you Lou Merloni.

 

Pardon me for this brief interruption ...

Cholly Manuel is a phucking tool. And Ryan Franklin is a useless piece of shit.

Back to your regularly scheduled thread

 

God, I'd love the Braves to make a real run at not only the wild card but the damn Mets as well.

Sox need a furious rally to edge the Royals and stay in first place by a half-game. The Yankees are not going away. But are the White Sox? For all this talk about how the AL Central will have the wild card team, will the AL East again have two playoff teams?

 

Let's not make too much out of one series in July. Yeah, the Yanks looked impressive, but anyone can take a series from anybody in baseball.

I'm not counting the Yanks out by any stretch, but I still have my doubts about a team that has several weeks to go before it gets Sheffield and Matsui back.

 

You should also have doubts about a team that has no fifth starter and looks like it lost Tim Wakefield for a while tonight as well.