MLB July 2015

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 12:35 pm

Juan Castro was an infielder, Taveras was 437. 439 is Reggie Willits. 440 is actually a guessable name.

L-Jam3 · Post by **L-Jam3** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 12:38 pm

Nick Punto?

I know he's an infielder. I just wanted to throw his name out there because he fucking sucks.

Post by **Sabo** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 12:59 pm

Michael Bourn?

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:20 pm

Ben Revere.
Joey Gathright.
Jackie Bradley, if he qualifies
Jordan Schaefer?
Was Lance Johnson retired by then or just too old for triples?

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:24 pm

Gath-RIGHT!

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:25 pm

Bronto would have had that if he wasn't too big for this place now

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:28 pm

He doesn't like these types of players because they rarely turn left.

Post by **Sabo** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:39 pm

Ryan wrote:Was Lance Johnson retired by then or just too old for triples?

I considered him, but I think he retired in 2001 and didn't play much his last two years.

ETA: Retired in May 2000 and only had 18 at-bats. We went to the same high school, and when I clicked on our high school link on BR I found a teammate from my sophomore year:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minor ... ye--001way" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:45 pm

So many Rays.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:51 pm

So he quit baseball to focus on the Flaming Lips?

Post by **Sabo** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:18 pm

mister d wrote:So he quit baseball to focus on the Flaming Lips?

He blew out his knee during running drills in practice and it ended his career. When he signed with the White Sox, he negotiated a deal where Chicago would pay for four years of college. From what I understand he went to the University of Cincinnati and got his degree. He was a smart kid and probably the most athletic teammate I ever had.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:20 pm

And his name is pretty similar to the Flaming Lips dude.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:21 pm

(This dude is the best I ever played against: http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... de02.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

Post by **Sabo** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:38 pm

mister d wrote:(This dude is the best I ever played against: http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... de02.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;)

Here's mine:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... ad01.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:39 pm

This should really be a separate thread, huh?

Post by **brian** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:40 pm

Here's mine:

http://www.baseball-reference.com/playe ... de01.shtml" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:53 pm

Yadier Molina! ('s backup) (for a little while) (in Double A)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/minor ... ylan001dan

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Wed Jul 22, 2015 3:11 pm

Ha. That dude succeeded my friend's brother as UNC's starting catcher.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 12:47 pm

Wonder how nervous Houston is about Kazmir's massive splits. Every hitter at home against him is basically Jon Niese. Every hitter on the road is Adam Jones.

Post by **brian** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:47 pm

Tigers bring Price back out for the 9th inning at 114 pitches. Why the hell not? It's his last game as a Tiger anyway?

Post by **brian** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 2:48 pm

mister d wrote:Wonder how nervous Houston is about Kazmir's massive splits. Every hitter at home against him is basically Jon Niese. Every hitter on the road is Adam Jones.

Has anyone every tried to quantify how much an advantage all of the foul territory in Oakland is for pitchers in general? You'd have to assume a) if it is an advantage that b) some pitchers might benefit more than others.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 3:02 pm

So just on a "foul outs per PA" basis, Oakland is playing +27 outs this season versus league average. Split that to 13.5 per team over 60 GP and its an extra out every 4ish games.

OAK: +27
TOR: +24
NYM: +22
BOS: +18 (weird)
CHW: +12
TBR: +11
CIN: +8
HOU: +7
TEX: +4
BAL: +4
WSN: +4
PHI: +2
MIN: +1
ARI: +1
LAA: -1
NYY: -2
ATL: -2
CLE: -4
CHC: -4
DET: -5
SDP: -5
STL: -8
LAD: -8
KCR: -9
SEA: -9
MIA: -14
MIL: -15
COL: -16
SFG: -20
PIT: -23

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 3:39 pm

brian wrote:Moron sends Price back out for the 9th inning at 114 pitches. Why the hell not? It's his last game as a Tiger anyway?

Alternate submission.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 7:13 pm

I don't think I've ever started a no-hitter watch just from seeing the starting lineups before, but I did it tonight with the Mets.

And Kershaw is doing better than that. 5 innings.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Thu Jul 23, 2015 7:52 pm

if you throw an 0-2 pitch within 3 feet of the strike zone to Granderson, you kind of deserve to give up a hit.

Gunpowder · Post by **Gunpowder** » Fri Jul 24, 2015 8:33 am

mister d wrote:So just on a "foul outs per PA" basis, Oakland is playing +27 outs this season versus league average. Split that to 13.5 per team over 60 GP and its an extra out every 4ish games.

BOS: +18 (weird)

PIT: -23

Very weird, since they each have very similar designs with respect to foul territory.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 1:05 pm

Ryan wrote:Bronto would have had that if he wasn't too big for this place now

I'm hurt

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 1:06 pm

And also potentially hurt more given what the Royals traded for Cueto.

Bensell · Post by **Bensell** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 2:18 pm

Brontoburglar wrote:And also potentially hurt more given what the Royals traded for Cueto.

I don't know much about Finnegan or Reed except what I just read, but Lamb seems like the real deal. But 3 strong lefties seems like a lot for a rent-a-player, even if Cueto is a top of the line starter.

Post by **brian** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:09 pm

If this sets the market for trading Price I like it.

Brontoburglar · Post by **Brontoburglar** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 4:36 pm

Bensell wrote:
Brontoburglar wrote:And also potentially hurt more given what the Royals traded for Cueto.
I don't know much about Finnegan or Reed except what I just read, but Lamb seems like the real deal. But 3 strong lefties seems like a lot for a rent-a-player, even if Cueto is a top of the line starter.

I think the Royals ultimately viewed Finnegan as a reliever. And if they did, then this is worth it. Lamb's velocity has come back (he was 87-88 a couple years ago) after Tommy John, but it was interesting that he didn't get a shot with the big league club at all this year with the Royals' starting pitching woes.

They didn't give up Mondesi or Manaea and no one from the big league club. I'm OK with it. I was not counting on them actually making a deal for a starter, but I think the green light got bright when Vargas got hurt.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:34 pm

Good example today of why the A's suck. Down 4-3 to the Giants, top of the 9th. One out, two runners on, one in scoring position with guys on 1st and 2nd. So, Jason Smolinski tries to steal third. Why? But worse, Brett Lawrie is asleep on first and doesn't go to second. I assume Smolinski ran on his own, but Lawrie has to also go, so that even if the lead runner gets thrown out, they still have a runner in scoring position. Smolinski was (easily) thrown out at third, and Lawrie was still at first. So two down and nobody in scoring position. Yes, they lost.

howard · Post by **howard** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:40 pm

Posey bookended that game with a caught stealing in the first as well as the ninth. He's hitting .328 after 4 for 4 today. And they are one back of the dodgers, after winning ten of the last eleven.

wlu_lax6 · Post by **wlu_lax6** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 8:13 pm

nice suit

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 8:46 pm

howard wrote:Posey bookended that game with a caught stealing in the first as well as the ninth. He's hitting .328 after 4 for 4 today. And they are one back of the dodgers, after winning ten of the last eleven.

Is there another contender for MVP besides Posey?
For me it would be Greinke and Harper. But the bias against pitchers, plus his low win total, probably excludes Greinke. The bias against players on non-contenders probably excludes Harper.

Joe K · Post by **Joe K** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 9:52 pm

DC47 wrote:
howard wrote:Posey bookended that game with a caught stealing in the first as well as the ninth. He's hitting .328 after 4 for 4 today. And they are one back of the dodgers, after winning ten of the last eleven.
Is there another contender for MVP besides Posey?
For me it would be Greinke and Harper. But the bias against pitchers, plus his low win total, probably excludes Greinke. The bias against players on non-contenders probably excludes Harper.

Harper and Goldschmidt are by far the two strongest candidates, both well ahead of Posey. Goldschmidt may suffer from the bias against players on losing teams, but the Nationals are in 1st. So as of today, I think Harper would win the award.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Sun Jul 26, 2015 9:53 pm

Why can't A-Rod be the mvp of both leagues? There's interleague play now.

DC47 · Post by **DC47** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 12:02 am

Joe K wrote:Harper and Goldschmidt are by far the two strongest candidates, both well ahead of Posey. Goldschmidt may suffer from the bias against players on losing teams, but the Nationals are in 1st. So as of today, I think Harper would win the award.

Ah, you are so right about Harper. He's having a great year. Momentarily I thought he was having it for Philadelphia. It was a mid-season trade arranged by having a beer on top of painkillers tonight. I wonder if that explains the housepaint on the front of the car where I noticed a rusting stone ding this morning?

Still, I wouldn't make the award quite yet. First, Harper is always just one inning from being suspended for cursing out an umpire while running into an outfield wall and blowing a ligament. Second, Posey should get major credit for playing well at catcher and hitting like this. I'm no judge of his pitch framing and pitch-calling -- if he's good at that, perhaps he's even better than I estimate. Third, I think he'll get Good Citizenship credit for a few who don't find Harper deferential enough. I imagine Harper has a massive WAR gap right now. But that stat may not fully include all aspects of a catcher's defense, and certainly misses some of the GC credit.

I probably tend to underestimate Goldschmidt every year. By now I realize he's pretty good. Even a fine fielder, albeit at first. But he'll be hurt too much by a bias against players on non-contenders.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:18 am

I have a weird bias against Cueto, but it's hard to argue with that price unless Finnegan is one of the rare "he's probably a reliever" guys who pulls a Sale/Scherzer and actually starts.

Gunpowder · Post by **Gunpowder** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:22 am

sancarlos wrote:Good example today of why the A's suck. Down 4-3 to the Giants, top of the 9th. One out, two runners on, one in scoring position with guys on 1st and 2nd. So, Jason Smolinski tries to steal third. Why?

To....score on a sac fly?

Lawrie I'll give you, but depending on the assumption of success stealing 3rd, that could be a smart play statistically.