Division-Watching (2009)

[JMUalumni]

The Blue Jays' Marco Scuturo stole 2nd base yesterday against the Phillies.

It's how he did it that was interesting.  With Blanton on the mound for the Phillies, Scuturo drew a walk.  As he trotted to first, he noticed Blanton, Utley, and Rollins all in various stages of non-attentiveness, and simply rounded first and continued over to 2nd base, an easy steal.

Great heads up play by Scturo.  He was watching them from the second he got ball 4.  Here is the highlight:

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5111035

[The Chief]

That's awesome.

I hate it when my post is the last one on a page

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Is that really legal? I'm amazed not more players try it.

[The Chief]

Is that really legal? I'm amazed not more players try it.

A runner can run any time he likes unless time has been called, as far as I know.

[NatsAddict]

Has nobody there considered putting Uggla at first?

No, because there is no worse bat in the lineup.  1B needs to put up BIG numbers, and Uggla doesn't do that.  Besides, he'd drop every throw. 

[NatsAddict]

I really question how they are handeling EB. He is a plus defender at second and horrendous at 3rd. Typically, you would expect a 3b to have a power bat and a 2b to be more of a defensive player. So they decide to start him and his nonexistant bat at 3rd where he is a defensive liability

Exactly.  Bonifacio is much better suited for 2B.  He is not a power bat, but is a far superior situational hitter than Danny Boy.  Getting Gload into the lineup brings some pop at 1B, and moves Cantu to 3B (Cantu's in a dry spell himself thanks to a mis-prescribed cholesterol medication that left him lethargic).  At least Bonifacio moves half the men on base when he's up.  Uggla is moving 1 out of 6.  Further, when Bonifacio moves runners, even though he has no pop, he moves them further than Uggla since Uggla refuses to hit with men on and doesn't move runners with hits, and rather only if a runner is on 1B and he walks, or there are 2 men on when he hits into a DP with none out.  He's simply gawdawful at moving guys along.

[DPMOmaha]

Great heads up play by Scturo.  He was watching them from the second he got ball 4.  Here is the highlight:

Completely changed the game.  Jays end up winning by 1 scoring the go ahead run in the top of the 9th.  If the Jays had been down a run instead of tied, the Phils probably play that inning much differently.  That was a huge play in that game. 

[NatsAddict]

Is that really legal? I'm amazed not more players try it.

I've seen it a few times, though not that I recall in MLB.  The first time was either in Little League or Babe Ruth League, where we did it fairly often. 
Similar plays I've witnessed:

In high schoool, one of our guys reached 1B on an infield single and the 1B walked the ball to the mound.  The runner took off for 2B, and the 1B threw the ball to an uncovered 2B, advancing the runner to 3B where he was waved home and scored.  In a homer scoring decision, he was credited with an infield home run (should have been either a 1B with a 3-base error on the 2B, or 2B with 2 base error on the 2B).

FAU has a fairly often had a runner advanced from 1b to 3b on a walk.  If he reaches safely, which is usually the case, in a planned play, the batter breaks toward second, stumble about half way, and if he draws a throw, and the lead runner score while the batter is in a rundown.  They pull that play off once or twice a year.

Another time, FAU had a runner on 3B when the catcher went out to the mound for a conference without calling time, permitting the easiest steal of home in baseball history.

[JMW IV]

Is that really legal? I'm amazed not more players try it.

happens in little league all the time.

[NatsAddict]

The extent of Uggla's ineptitude is just getting to be unfrigginbelievable.

With a walk yesterday, Uggla ended a streak of 23 consecutive runners not advanced by any means other than a GIDP.  After only leaving another two mean on last night, and stranding a third, Uggla has upped his season projection for men LOB/Stranded/Doubled-up back to 385.



                                    Adv                                  Total
Date    Opp  Inn  1B  2B  3B  PA   Opps  Adv   Adv%  BI  LOB  Strand  DP  RLOB
Jun 02  MIL    4   1   1      BB      5    2   .400                2         2
               6   1       1  FF-3    4        .000        2                 2
               8   1          K       3        .000        1                 1
Jun 03  MIL    5   1   1   1  K       6        .000        3                 3
Jun 04  MIL    4   1   1      F-8     5    1   .200        2                 2
               6   1          K       3        .000        1                 1
Jun 05  SFG    4   1          1B      3    1   .333                1         1
               6   1          BB      3    1   .333                1         1
Jun 06  SFG    1       1   1  BB      3        .000                2         2
               3       1      2B      2    2  1.000    1                     0
               5           1  K       1        .000        1                 1
Jun 07  SFG    4   1          F-7     3        .000        1                 1
               9   1          F-9     3        .000        1                 1
Jun 08  SFG    3       1      BB      2        .000                1         1
               5   1   1      F-9     5        .000        2                 2
Jun 09  STL    2   1          F-9     3        .000        1                 1
Jun 10  STL    3   1   1      FC      5        .000        2                 2
               5   1   1      FC      5        .000        2                 2
Jun 11  STL    4   1          1B      3    1   .333                1         1
               5   1   1      GIDP    5        .000        1           1     2
Jun 12  TOR    2   1          F-7     3        .000        1                 1
               6   1          F-9     3        .000        1                 1
               8       1      BB      2        .000                1         1
Jun 13  TOR    1   1       1  K       4        .000        2                 2
Jun 14  TOR    3   1   1      DP      5        .000        1           1     2
               4   1   1      F-7     5        .000        2                 2
               8   1          F-9     3        .000        1                 1
Jun 16  BOS    2   1   1      DP      5    1   .200        1           1     2
               9       1      P-3     2        .000        1                 1
Jun 17  BOS    8   1   1      K       5        .000        2                 2
Jun 18  BOS    3       1   1  1-3     3        .000        2                 2
Jun 19  NYY    2       1      P-8     2        .000        1                 1
               4   1          K       3        .000        1                 1
Jun 20  NYY    4       1      K       2        .000        1                 1 
               6       1      P-1     2        .000        1                 1
Jun 21  NYY    1   1          BB      3    1   .333               1          1
               3   1          G1-3    3        .000        1                 1
               7           1  K       1        .000        1                 1

Totals            27  20   7        128   10   .078    1  40     10   3     53

                                                RBA                   
                                                       
Total Plate Appearances                38                               
PA when Runners Advanced                8    .211
PA when Runners Advanced with H         3    .079
Number of Runners Advanced              9    .167
                         
How Bases Were Advanced  (Total Bases Advanced)
                          H  BB  PO  DP  Total                           
Bases Advanced From 1b    2   3              5                       
Bases Advanced From 2b    2   1   1   1      5                       
Bases Advanced From 3b                       0                       
                          4   4   1   1     10                   
                         
How Runners Were Advanced (Number of Runners Advanced)
                          H  BB  PO  DP  Total
Bases Advanced From 1b    2   3              5   
Bases Advanced From 2b    1   1   1   1      4   
Bases Advanced From 3b                       0   
                          3   4   1   1      9   
                                       
                          H  BB  PO  DP  Total       
Type of PA to Advance     3   3   1   1      8   
                         


Summing it all up again:

- 38 PA with runners on, a total of 54 runners on.
- In only 8 PA did any runner advance (.211)
- Only 3 PA with a H with runners on (.079)
- Only 9 runners advanced at all (.167)
- Only 1 runner advanced more than 1 base
- Of a potential 128 bases advanced, only 10 were advanced (.078)
- Of the 10 bases advance, 4 came on BB, with 2 of those on a single BB, one on a F-8, and one on a GIDP
- Only 4 of the bases advanced are results of H, with 2 bases on one H
- Of 9 runners advanced, only 3 were advanced as the result of a H
- Of the 8 PAs where runners advanced, only 3 were the result of H
- Of his 6 BB, only 2 came in a situation to move runners - walks are not as good as hits
- Only 1 runner batted in
- None of last 38 men on, and only 1 of last 54 men on has he driven in
- None of the 7 men on 3B scored
- Only 1 of the 27 RISP scored
- 24 PA with RISP, a total of 27 RISP
- Only 4 of 27 RISP advanced, one on a BB, one on a F-8, one on a GIDP, and 1 with a H.
- 6 times more K than RBI with RISP
- Worse yet, 3 times more likely to hit into a DP than drive in a run with RISP
- Of the last 18 PA with RISP, representing 26 baserunners, 14 RISP, the only runner that advanced was advanced on a GIDP
- In 24 PA with RISP, only 1 H (.042)
- Only one 2B the entire month of June


The following list all Marlins that have driven in a baserunner, and the number of baserunners driven in, during this time frame.  If there is a tie, it is sorted by fewest AB to most AB


 1. Ramirez      11
 2. Ross          8
 3. Bonifacio     5
 4. Carroll       4
 5. Paulino       4
 6. Cantu         4
 7. Coghlan       4
 8. Hermida       3
 9. Johnson       2
10. Sanches       1
11. De Aza        1
12. Baker         1
13. Uggla         1


While 13th overall, Uggla is only 11th among the position players as two pitchers have proven better at driving in baserunners.  Among pitchers, Josh Johnson has driven in 2, and Sanches 1 in his only career plate appearance.  Being 11th out of position player wouldn't be so bad, except there are only 8 positions other than pitcher, and finishing 11th out of 8 is, well, I don't know - I am at a complete loss for words to describe my frustration.  Uggly doesn't even begin to describe it. I have never before witnessed such ineptitude and futility.  It's getting to the point that, in a crucial situation, Fredi should consider having Sanches PH for Uggla.

I keep thinking this nightmare has to end, but its like the freakin' Energizer Bunny, who, by the way, would likely also prove more effective at the plate than Uggla.

Strong as an Ox, but based upon his approach at the plate, as dumb as one, too. 

[blue911]

Strong as an Ox, but based upon his approach at the plate, as dumb as one, too. 

Ox hater!

[NatsAddict]

Ox hater!

Don't tell PETA.

[tomterp]

Uggla's performance is approaching Kearnsien proportions.

[NatsAddict]

Fans chanting "Gaby Sanchez!" as Emilio Bonifacio bats in 7th

Joe Capozzi (Palm Beach Post) on Twitter

Bonifacio does respond well, though:

Bonifacio makes LL play. Infield hit. Steals second and scores when ball went into CF

Joe Frisaro (MLB.com) on Twitter

[NatsAddict]

Dan Meyer (JMU) was perfect in his first appearance as a closer, his new role with the Fish.

His first professional save.

[sportsfan882]

I thought Nunez was going to be the closer.

damnit Fredi. I need to go pick up Meyer then. I had put in a claim for Nunez.

what a joke Lindstrom has been this season. that freaker screwed me last night like he has been doing all season.

you know he is not injured. that is just made up because he sucks so much.

[NatsAddict]

Just in case you were thinking Acta couldn't be outwitted mis-managing a lineup, try to find what's wrong with the following play by play from last night's Marlins Vs Rays game?


Tampa Bay - Bottom of 8th                                                          SCORE
Renyel Pinto pitching for Florida                                                FLA   TAM
B Zobrist walked.                                                                 3     3
P Burrell flied out to center.                                                    3     3
J Bartlett grounded into fielder's choice to third, B Zobrist out at second.      3     3
G Gross walked, J Bartlett to second.                                             3     3
B Sanches relieved R Pinto.                                                       3     3
J Bartlett stole third.                                                           3     3
G Gross to second on wild pitch by B Sanches.                                     3     3
D Navarro intentionally walked.                                                   3     3
B Upton doubled to deep right center, J Bartlett, G Gross and D Navarro scored.   3     6
C Crawford singled to center, B Upton scored.                                     3     7
C Crawford caught stealing second, catcher to second.                             3     7

The first thing wrong, is of course, The Fred was managing the Fish.

Burrell was out F-8, and then Bartlett hit into a fielder's choice - there are two outs when Navarro comes up.  Why in the hell would you walk Navarro, who is hitting .218 overall and .169 with RISP to load the bases for Upton?  Who, in their right freakin' mind would do such a thing?  I'd rather fire three meatballs down the middle to Navarro rather than face B.J. Upton and the top of the order with bases loaded.

This, of course, is less than a week after Fredi's infamous screw-up with a double switch vs the Yankees when he burned two players and had to put in a third left fielder before the completion of the first batter in the top of the 8th and had Girardi so confused that Girardi protested the game basically on the grounds that The Fred is a freakin' moron.

[sportsfan882]

Any stat geeks out there, how do you care to explain David Wright's .462 BABIP this year?

[NatsAddict]

Any stat geeks out there, how do you care to explain David Wright's .462 BABIP this year?

He strikes out a lot more than he homers.

[HalfSmokes]

Any stat geeks out there, how do you care to explain David Wright's .462 BABIP this year?

damn lucky season, or he's due for a .200 BABIP pace for the rest of the year.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

career BABIP of .352.  He'll correct, but don't expect him to go much below last year's .328.  High line drive % for his career (23%).  Doesn't pop up much.  Big drop flies going for homers.  Balls he hit for home runs last year look like deep flies that are dropping in gaps?  I guess we'll take that trade off.

[PatsNats28]

oh yeah when i was reading the SoSH board about how we killed them, all they talked about was BABIP. is it the next obp?

[sportsfan882]

batting average for the balls that a batters hit into play.

Wright's is extremely high right now and is the reason he is batting .360. He will have a big fall back down to earth over the rest of the season.

[PatsNats28]

lol i know what it is. i'm saying why is it so important? it just tells u if someone Ks or not.

[UMDNats]

lol i know what it is. i'm saying why is it so important? it just tells u if someone Ks or not.

in regards to your original question, no, i don't think it's the next "obp" simply because it's one of many "new" statistics sabermatricians use to judge players. it just happens to be an easy one to understand and use