The MLB Thread

There could be a few practical benefits to having a non-pitcher in the ninth slot, but there are a few drawbacks I can think of as well, which would make it a wash. For an example of the latter, consider possible effects on the morale of the guy you bat ninth behind the pitcher. How many people are that thick-skinned, and what are the possible effects on performance?

That's assuming that the automatic thought process is that being ninth is a demotion of sorts. Which in practice, it is, because most managers don't give a hoot about the seventh, eighth, or ninth slots. They just arrange the first five or six with a hitter strategy and then stick whoever is left in the rest.

Which is part of the problem, since a lot of it comes down to whether or not they can play the at-bats in the right order. Leading off with your cleanup hitter isn't always the most productive thing to happen. Better strategy is the solution, but too many managers play Follow the Leader for that to be likely.

At least Gonzalez is continuing to have his pitchers hit eighth. And it seems to keep working. (Beachy, the starter, went 2 for 2 in yesterday's game, hitting a double and scoring a run. The Braves won again.)

And so far, so good in the seventh inning today. The Blue Jays are no joke this year; if we win this series, color me a happy man.

Rockies planning to start trying a four man rotation.

...probably not a good idea. You need a couple of long relievers to make that work, and I don't think they have that.

Let's go RED SOX! Almost July and we're shocking everyone. Everyone picked them to be last in the division this year, and we're actually in third as of this post! Aw yeah! Go Sox!

So the Marlins trading Hanley Ramirez, Good or bad?

Well, it means the Marlins have given up on any playoff ambitions for the next few years, but they were already doomed. It does free up revenue for them. So, good for them.

As for the Dodgers, it comes down to how Ramirez plays. At his current level, he's only a slight upgrade. If he starts playing like he did a few years ago...the Giants better look out.

Another question, how's everyone feelings towards sabermetrics and other advanced stats. Do you guys employ them frequently?

Curious, are you?

I really dislike the advanced statistics that get tossed around, especially WAR and its variants. Part of the problem is that a lot of them don't take into account the schedule each team plays, since some teams with get a schedule stacked against them while others have a breeze. It's easier to rack up better stat lines if you are playing against poorer pitching, offense, or defense more frequently.

Personally, I think the best measure of both player and team performance is to look at clutch playing. This means measuring how they do when runners are in scoring position, when the game is on the line, etc. Anyone can get a low ERA or high batting average, but can they get the outs or drive in the runs when and where they are most needed?

Epic necro just in time for the final stretch before the playoffs!

Man, who'd have seen those Orioles coming? AL East down to the wire.

I watched the last three innings of their game last night. That was a long game. My team (the Mariners) is long since out of it, so it would be nice to see the Orioles win it all.

At this point, I'm having trouble deciding whom I'd rather my Braves played later this week. The Cardinals are scary enough, but the Dodgers have been inordinately hot. Fear the stats or fear the streak? The went-to-school part of my brain leans towards the former.

At the time I write this post, it looks like the Dodgers are about to be eliminated. The Cardinals are in again.

Also, this is awesome. Big points to the Marlins for doing that for the guy.

If anyone wasn't paying attention: One month ago(35 days, really), the Pittsburgh Pirates were 15 games over .500, and 2 games out of first place in the NL Central. Two days ago, they guaranteed themselves of a losing non-winning record(for the 20th straight season).

I'm not surprised at all...

edited 2nd Oct '12 10:35:43 PM by Swish

Holy hell.

Cabrera might get the triple crown.

Just gotta keep up those home runs.

anyone else see what colbert said about the Mets?

Aaaaaand the Rangers are the second wild card team. Good night, Texas.

(Seriously, with how badly the Rangers have been playing recently, they're going to be chewed up and spit out by either the Orioles or the Yankees, depending on which one faces them.) No World Series title for you, boys.

Edit: Also, if I'm reading the info for the Angels-Mariners game correctly, it's now semi-official. We have a Triple Crown winner. Huge kudos to Miguel Cabrera!

edited 3rd Oct '12 4:38:30 PM by TotemicHero

The playoffs have begun!

And the Braves aren't wasting any time. They're up 2-0 in the 3rd.

Did anyone else see that stupid infield fly call?

edit: it was not even in the infield.

edit 2: http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=25338293&topic_id=37973554&c_id=mlb link to the bullshit call

edited 6th Oct '12 3:24:43 PM by DynamiteNinja

I guess the NFL replacement officials decided to try their hands at baseball. The worst part of that call though, was how late it came. Infield flies should always be called immediately so that baserunners know they don't have to worry about advancing if it's dropped. In that case, the baserunners were already halfway to the next base before the ump called it.

Surprise, surprise, A-Fraud fanned when the game came down to him. Shocker.

We need more discussion about the postseason.

Being busy with other things kind of does that to me.

Any, first time with the division series format that all the series have gone to Game 5. It would be really fun if we had the maximum number of playoff games possible.

Surprise, surprise. CC Sabathia has to step up and save the Yankees season. Well, at least it's good to see a high-priced free agent earn his money.

Go Tigers. They actually have a shot at this....