Thursday, October 30, 2008
Griffey Done?
The White Sox declined Griffey's $16m 2009 option for a $4m buyout today. In a park known to favor some offense and home runs, the Kid batted .260/.347/.405 with 3 homers and 18 rbi in 131 at bats playing mostly center for the White Sox. And also batted .245/.355/.432 with 15 homers and 53 rbi in 359 at bats after playing mostly right field on the Reds. Griffey's days of playing center field regularly, or more important any position regularly, seem over. I 'm sure there are some rumors with AL teams looking to sign Griffey, but I can't think of any place that's worth it. Any good team should have a power lefty bat, and a rebuilding team (Seattle?) shouldn't spend the overpriced money he'd ask for. Although maybe he could be Cliff Floydish on some team that thinks his veteren presence will be good for the clubhouse while he platoons/DHs, then does little in the playoffs where his presence and inflated veteren salary was supposed to help.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Told You So
So I am 1-1 on predictions, it's a good thing the Phillies won (and that only I would start a blog on the last day of baseball) because I now have months to brag about this, and this is your warning - I often like to brag as a joke to the point where it is either no longer funny or just not me joking anymore.
Clearly not putting Price in to start, as I so eloquently said should have happened, lost the Rays the game and obviously the series. Why would Joe Maddon use Balfour, Howell, and Chad Bradford with the game on the line and every reliever fresh? I hate saying I told you so (juss keeding, I already used it in the title), but saving your bullpen in the playoffs especially facing elimination when the game already starts in the 6th is just ridiculous. Jenkins hit a double off a righty Balfour to start the 6th that led to the run in the 6th, and Burrell hit a double off a lefty Howell that led to the eventual winning run. Each one of these big hits that gave the Phillies their runs started the inning, each one had the matchup in the Phillies favor, and each one had the Rays best arms in the pen (most notably Price).
Maddon could have thrown Price out there to start, see what he had and most likely he would have been good and given them some innings. At least Maddon could have used Price when he used Howell in the 6th and 7th innings. You worry about putting up scoreless innings first when facing elimination, that's the number one priority, worrying about saving your bullpen (if that's what Maddon was doing cause it seemed like it) is pretty laughable, in a bad way. Manual had a 3-1 series lead and didn't try to save his pen, using Madson right out of the gate. Facing elimination Joe Maddon went with Howell and Bradford. Good grief, at least I'm not a Mets fan.
Next up, the hot stove league!
Clearly not putting Price in to start, as I so eloquently said should have happened, lost the Rays the game and obviously the series. Why would Joe Maddon use Balfour, Howell, and Chad Bradford with the game on the line and every reliever fresh? I hate saying I told you so (juss keeding, I already used it in the title), but saving your bullpen in the playoffs especially facing elimination when the game already starts in the 6th is just ridiculous. Jenkins hit a double off a righty Balfour to start the 6th that led to the run in the 6th, and Burrell hit a double off a lefty Howell that led to the eventual winning run. Each one of these big hits that gave the Phillies their runs started the inning, each one had the matchup in the Phillies favor, and each one had the Rays best arms in the pen (most notably Price).
Maddon could have thrown Price out there to start, see what he had and most likely he would have been good and given them some innings. At least Maddon could have used Price when he used Howell in the 6th and 7th innings. You worry about putting up scoreless innings first when facing elimination, that's the number one priority, worrying about saving your bullpen (if that's what Maddon was doing cause it seemed like it) is pretty laughable, in a bad way. Manual had a 3-1 series lead and didn't try to save his pen, using Madson right out of the gate. Facing elimination Joe Maddon went with Howell and Bradford. Good grief, at least I'm not a Mets fan.
Next up, the hot stove league!
Rogers Hornsby >/= Babe Ruth?
Yes I did just make that headline to gather some attention, I have two posts I need all the attention I can get. And it's frightening (a bit of an overshot, whatevs) that the little attention this blog gets is similar to the attention that Rogers Hornsby seems to get. I know historical players don’t come up in conversation every day, but is it just me or is Hornsby far and away the ‘best player you never heard of, that you actually have heard of, but you just don’t know quite how good he is’? In that category Mr. Hornsby stands alone.
Don’t ask me where or why I came across his statistics (it was wasting my time playing baseball simulation games on the computer) but I saw them and I was pretty impressed. In an era completely dominated by Ruth in the American League, Hornsby was no less than his equal in the National League. From 1920-1925, he lead the NL in Slugging %, On Base %, and Batting Average, and proceeded to do that again in all 3 categories in 1928 and merely just slugging and on base in 1929. From 1921 until 1925 Hornsby batted .402! Chipper Jones batted .364 to win the batting title this year to compare (Yea I know Rogers played in an era with inflated averages bla bla, for now just try to be amazed what you may not have known about him). It is also important (I hope) to note that Hornsby was right-handed in a time where specialists for pitching was not common practice, most of the great all time hitters you see are left-handed. I don't have the ability to really back that up unless there is a good link, but believe me it's true.
With those numbers and I don’t need to go any deeper into them because that’s enough and anyone else who cares probably already knows them, I’m a little shocked Rogers (what’s with the S?, pretty darn ballsy naming your son Rogers, extra s stands for special!) doesn’t get more respect. Maybe it is just me though, because I’m sure anyone knowledgeable with baseball’s past would place him as one of if not the greatest right-handed hitter (save for maybe Mays, Honus Wagner, Foxx or unless they want to get into Negro League stuff with Gibson, or swear A-rod/Pujols/Manny is better because they saw them play—they aren’t but its fun to argue I guess), and the Sporting News Rated him as the 8th best player ever. So I guess he does get due respect in those circles. But his situation seems like the perfect storm of being too old for your family to have watched, and too overshadowed by the Babe to compete, for him to come up in your daily baseball chats, if you have those, I hope you do.
Obviously it’s ridiculous to even compare anyone to Babe Ruth, especially if you consider the fact he was a better than better than average pitcher. Nonetheless, I guess I felt some need to talk about him, at least place him on top of the ‘best player you never heard of, that you actually have heard of, but you just don’t know quite how good he is’ list.
Don’t ask me where or why I came across his statistics (it was wasting my time playing baseball simulation games on the computer) but I saw them and I was pretty impressed. In an era completely dominated by Ruth in the American League, Hornsby was no less than his equal in the National League. From 1920-1925, he lead the NL in Slugging %, On Base %, and Batting Average, and proceeded to do that again in all 3 categories in 1928 and merely just slugging and on base in 1929. From 1921 until 1925 Hornsby batted .402! Chipper Jones batted .364 to win the batting title this year to compare (Yea I know Rogers played in an era with inflated averages bla bla, for now just try to be amazed what you may not have known about him). It is also important (I hope) to note that Hornsby was right-handed in a time where specialists for pitching was not common practice, most of the great all time hitters you see are left-handed. I don't have the ability to really back that up unless there is a good link, but believe me it's true.
With those numbers and I don’t need to go any deeper into them because that’s enough and anyone else who cares probably already knows them, I’m a little shocked Rogers (what’s with the S?, pretty darn ballsy naming your son Rogers, extra s stands for special!) doesn’t get more respect. Maybe it is just me though, because I’m sure anyone knowledgeable with baseball’s past would place him as one of if not the greatest right-handed hitter (save for maybe Mays, Honus Wagner, Foxx or unless they want to get into Negro League stuff with Gibson, or swear A-rod/Pujols/Manny is better because they saw them play—they aren’t but its fun to argue I guess), and the Sporting News Rated him as the 8th best player ever. So I guess he does get due respect in those circles. But his situation seems like the perfect storm of being too old for your family to have watched, and too overshadowed by the Babe to compete, for him to come up in your daily baseball chats, if you have those, I hope you do.
Obviously it’s ridiculous to even compare anyone to Babe Ruth, especially if you consider the fact he was a better than better than average pitcher. Nonetheless, I guess I felt some need to talk about him, at least place him on top of the ‘best player you never heard of, that you actually have heard of, but you just don’t know quite how good he is’ list.
The Game Tonight
You all may know but just to recap, tonight's game (World Series game 5, Phillies up 3 games to 1 against the Rays, but if you didn't know at least that you probably shouldn't be here, we're new over here but you'll learn soon that we get pretty pretty cliquey, often our games are locked...) starts suspended at the start of the bottom of the sixth, the Phillies up to bat with the pitcher's slot up, and Grant Balfour(righty) on the mound for the Devil Rays. Cole Hamels pitched a solid 6 5 2 2 1 3 line, which is in line with his pretty damn good postseason of 4-0 1.8 era in 35 innings. That's assuming he's not going to pitch in the 7th after throwing 75 pitches on Monday. Although if he is half as good as some people say he is, that could change.
Realistically, with the pitchers slot up Hamels' work is done (and it'll take a game 7 for him to become the first starting pitcher to win 5 in a postseason) and Charlie Manual will pinch hit with a lefty off the bench to face the righty Balfour. Balfour can throw some gas and has generally been pretty sweet this year, but since Balfour has already thrown in this game it is ok for Maddon to take him out. Maddon has to take him out and put in David Price (L), the matchups are oozing for it. The Phillies will most likely bat a lefty like Matt Stairs, then they have the top of the lineup up with Rollins(S), Werth(R), Utley(L), Howard(L). If Manual didn't refuse to break up Utley and Howard that could change how the Rays should pitch. But with 3 of the next 5 batters lefty and one a switch, the Rays should place a lefty on the mound. Also, now is clearly not the time to worry about conserving the pen (even though it rarely ever is in the playoffs with 4 months of rest looming ahead), and Price needs to keep pitching as long as he's effective (2-3 innings I'd guess), because when the Phillies get a lead they go Madson/Lidge and that's game over. Rays have to put up some 0's, use their best reliever (obviously Price), pitch to the matchup (obviously lefty, ding ding Price!) and not worry about saving anyone. Using Trevor Miller or J.P. Howell as matchup lefties would kinda be like using Balfour to save the pen against the Sox in game 5... let's try not to do that again Joe "the father of a real Joe the Plumber" Maddon, use the best, it's crunch time.
I can't tell the future but I'd say the Phillies win tonight, they have 12 outs compared to 9 outs for the Rays and the back of their pen is far better than the Rays. Although, like I said the Rays should bring in Price, he could be on and go 3 scoreless making the Phillies use one of Lidge or Madson, then it's near anyones game in extras.
Realistically, with the pitchers slot up Hamels' work is done (and it'll take a game 7 for him to become the first starting pitcher to win 5 in a postseason) and Charlie Manual will pinch hit with a lefty off the bench to face the righty Balfour. Balfour can throw some gas and has generally been pretty sweet this year, but since Balfour has already thrown in this game it is ok for Maddon to take him out. Maddon has to take him out and put in David Price (L), the matchups are oozing for it. The Phillies will most likely bat a lefty like Matt Stairs, then they have the top of the lineup up with Rollins(S), Werth(R), Utley(L), Howard(L). If Manual didn't refuse to break up Utley and Howard that could change how the Rays should pitch. But with 3 of the next 5 batters lefty and one a switch, the Rays should place a lefty on the mound. Also, now is clearly not the time to worry about conserving the pen (even though it rarely ever is in the playoffs with 4 months of rest looming ahead), and Price needs to keep pitching as long as he's effective (2-3 innings I'd guess), because when the Phillies get a lead they go Madson/Lidge and that's game over. Rays have to put up some 0's, use their best reliever (obviously Price), pitch to the matchup (obviously lefty, ding ding Price!) and not worry about saving anyone. Using Trevor Miller or J.P. Howell as matchup lefties would kinda be like using Balfour to save the pen against the Sox in game 5... let's try not to do that again Joe "the father of a real Joe the Plumber" Maddon, use the best, it's crunch time.
I can't tell the future but I'd say the Phillies win tonight, they have 12 outs compared to 9 outs for the Rays and the back of their pen is far better than the Rays. Although, like I said the Rays should bring in Price, he could be on and go 3 scoreless making the Phillies use one of Lidge or Madson, then it's near anyones game in extras.
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