MLB & Division Watching (2010)

[imref]

stat of the year - Mike Pelfrey leads the Mets in saves with 1.

[DPMOmaha]

They just said today (or yesterday) was the first time since April 27, 2003 there's been a no hitter and a 20 inning game on the same day. 

What I find more amazing though is that those two things have happened on the same day before.

[The Chief]

What I find more amazing though is that those two things have happened on the same day before.

No kidding!

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I posted this facebook status:

"Ha.  Braves got no hit.  Beautiful."

My Braves fan friend didn't take that so well.

LOL

I didn't even realize they got no-hit until seeing it on Quick Pitch like a half-hour ago.  WTG Ubaldo/Rockies! Stick it to the Braves. I hate those bastages.  

Braves fans are surprisingly (or unsurprisingly if you consider the bandwagon effect of TBS all those years) annoying.  Basically like a more hick version of Cubs fans - bunch of drunk fratboy dipcraps yelling out obscenities and babbling on about nonsense whenever I'm around them at Nats games.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

BTW, here's one last tidbit for you guys out there who are taking a sadistic pleasure in the Orioles' awful start.  I'll probably lose interest in their saga at this point - I just wanted to make sure they hit 1-11 so that they'd surpass the Nats' awful 1-10 start in '09.


I'm lifting this from camdenchat.com, the Woes' equivalent of Federal Baseball:

A courageous, 99-pitch, 1-earned-run outing by Jeremy Guthrie was wasted by a last-of-the-ninth Jim Johnson meltdown.

A two RBI hit by Garrett Atkins in the sixth inning and a double by Cesar Izturis that led to the Team's third run in the 8th almost proved to be enough to move the tanking Orioles back into the win column.

Those of us dumb enough to follow the game came oh so close to listening to Joe Angel making that very call. Because the game was not televised. But nope. As most of us figured it would, the wheels ultimately came off again.

As some wag said in the Game Thread*: It is supremely XXXXing ironic that our starting five has been goodish all year and the Team is even worse than ever.

Atkins', 2-RBI hit, if it can believed, marked the first time an Oriole has come up with runners in scoring position with 2 outs ALL YEAR and actually delivered. (Yes, Brian Roberts had another such hit earlier in the year but it didn't plate a run.)

But then Johnson came on to "close."

Adam Rosales singled. Eric Patterson came in to pinch run and moved to third -- and Rajai Davis reached first -- on a wild pitch strikeout. Davis then moved to second when Johnson uncorked another wild pitch. Daric Barton was intentionally walked to load the bases. And then Ryan Sweeney hit a game winning two-run single.

"The Orioles have lost nine straight," Joe Angel said. "And I'm ready for a straight jacket."

ULTIMATE.ROFLCOPTER.

 

I don't know what's better: the fact that some of the worst AAAA players on the A's plated runs and created that comeback, or Joe Angel's complete despair.

I have no problem laughing at Joe Angel, who is a grade A jackass, much like half of the broadcasters who work for that team.  That's yet another reason it's hard to feel sorry for them.  Gary Thorne, Fred Manfra, and even Mike Flanagan are fine, but even the Orioles' broadcasters are little crapheels worthy of this misery.

Jim Hunter is an awful homer, Joe Angel is so self-serving that he whined about the press box being too high at Nationals Park in 2008 (hello, it's that high so that fans can sit closer to the field!!), and Tom Davis...ugh.  Tom Davis once said that Stan Kasten was "racist" for targeting Latin American prospects.  I'm not Kasten fan, but good grief.  These guys deserve to be covering a 1-11 team.

Anyway, I'll stop harping on the O's.  I'm beginning to sound like soxfan/NatsAddict ala the Cubs.

I just like posting this for our out-of-towners like DPMOmaha and Houston-Nat.  Gives them a good idea of how much some of us really hate the O's.  Hopefully they'll appreciate it more when we kick their asses in May/June.

[soxfan59]

Anyway, I'll stop harping on the O's.  I'm beginning to sound like soxfan/NatsAddict ala the Cubs.

You say this like its a bad thing.

[PANatsFan]

Tom Davis once said that Stan Kasten was "racist" for targeting Latin American prospects.  I'm not Kasten fan, but good grief. 

Are you serious? Link? Sounds like something out of a John Waters movie.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

My "hatred" for the Os has dimmed down a bit. Ripken Jr. continues to be my favorite all-time player and the Os did hold down the baseball fort for me until baseball returned to DC so I owe them that respect.

Being a Nats fan and having gone through tough season beginnings like they are going through, yeah, I think I feel sorry for them more than hating them.

Most of my hate has been transferred to the Mutts and Filthies.

[HalfSmokes]

I think I'll always hate the O's because they tried to keep baseball out of DC

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I think I'll always hate the O's because they tried to keep baseball out of DC

I blame Angelos for that, not the team as a whole.

They epically failed in that mission as we all know.

[HalfSmokes]

They epically failed in that mission as we all know.

In the long run, the MASN deal hamstrings us and finances them

[blue911]

I think I'll always hate the O's because they tried to keep baseball out of DC

I was an O's fan up until Angelos pulled that crap.

[PANatsFan]

In the long run, the MASN deal hamstrings us and finances them

In the short run its the opposite, and also the team finances are fine.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

In the long run, the MASN deal hamstrings us and finances them

I'm hoping as the Nats improve and get more established, the organization will grow some balls and combat that deal.

[houston-nat]

I just like posting this for our out-of-towners like DPMOmaha and Houston-Nat.  Gives them a good idea of how much some of us really hate the O's.  Hopefully they'll appreciate it more when we kick their asses in May/June.

I kinda feel sorry for them. That whole thing about "our starting pitching is so good right now, but the rest of the team sucks. WTF?" sounds exactly like the 2009 Nationals, especially the start of the year when Shairon Martis was 5-0.

[soxfan59]

I kinda feel sorry for them. That whole thing about "our starting pitching is so good right now, but the rest of the team sucks. WTF?" sounds exactly like the 2009 Nationals

Or the 2010 White Sox.  Ugh.

[KnorrForYourMoney]

I was an O's fan up until Angelos pulled that crap.

Same here.  I don't even really begrudge them for trying to keep baseball out of DC as the Redskins tried to do that in Baltimore with football, but the MASN deal is really grudge-worthy.

I kinda feel sorry for them. That whole thing about "our starting pitching is so good right now, but the rest of the team sucks. WTF?" sounds exactly like the 2009 Nationals, especially the start of the year when Shairon Martis was 5-0.

Yeah, I thought you would.  You wouldn't feel that way if you lived in this area.  Guaranteed.

But yeah, I was thinking the same thing, except I think the difference is the two offenses.  The Nationals actually had some signs of a good offense last year, but it was inconsistent.  This Orioles team just has woeful offense.  Adam Jones and Nick Markakis are decent, but they really need an impact bat.

They have better SP than the Nats last year, though.  At least until we got Jaws into the rotation.

[Obed_Marsh]

Damn. Gavin Floyd sucked badly today even for the White Sox. 1 IP, 7 ER.

[soxfan59]

Damn. Gavin Floyd sucked badly today even for the White Sox. 1 IP, 7 ER.

 

[PANatsFan]

Damn. Gavin Floyd sucked badly today even for the White Sox. 1 IP, 7 ER.

He PWNED Marquis.

[Lintyfresh85]

Mets lost.

Nats finish the week two games up on the Muts!

Progress folks!

[houston-nat]

The best baseball writer in America on the most hilarious game of the year.
Joe Posnanski on Mets-Cardinals.
http://joeposnanski.com/JoeBlog/2010/04/18/baseball-tweets-a-series/

Tweet: If Tony La Russa is one of baseball’s great overmanaging artists, this is his Mona Lisa.

I must admit: I do get a kick out of overmanaging. Sure, mostly it’s like a kick to the sternum … but there’s something utterly human about overmanaging that I can appreciate. A baseball manager has so little he can CONTROL on a baseball diamond. He can’t design a play — hit and runs and wheel plays don’t satisfy. He can’t make halftime adjustments. He can’t substitute players in-and-out or change up his lines. You don’t think about this much — or I don’t — but perhaps the biggest thing is that a baseball manager can’t even put his best player in position to make the big play. In basketball, you get LeBron to take the last second shot. In football, you have Tom Brady throw to Wes Welker on fourth down. In baseball, sure, you can put in your closer. But you can’t just send Albert Pujols up there with the winning run on third base. And even if you DO happen to be at Pujols place in the lineup, they will walk him.

It’s just a whole different type of game, and I think overmanaging really is a natural reaction to the frustrations of the job. Tony La Russa has been managing baseball games for more than 30 years — he has managed almost 5,000 games in his career. And even now, he HAS to use the most pinch-hitters, and he HAS to change around his lineup, and he HAS to use a lot of relievers, and he HAS to move runners, and he HAS to sacrifice. It’s his nature. He has to attack the game before it attacks him. Why? I think it’s because he knows the limitations of the job. And he can’t help but rage against them.

With that in mind, the box score and play-by-play from his 20-inning managerial performance against the Mets on Saturday should replace La Russa’s plaque at the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was an overmanaging thing of beauty.

7th inning. Game scoreless. Leadoff single — La Russa has Brendan Ryan sacrifice bunt. One of three sacrifice bunts for La Russa’s team — none by pitchers. The next two batters strike out.

8th inning. La Russa employs his own patented triple switch — bringing in a reliever to replace the third baseman, moving the shortstop to third and bringing in a new shortstop to replace the pitcher.

11th inning. A mere double switch — buy in this one La Russa pulls Matt Holliday from the game. This will come back to haunt more than once.

12th inning. La Russa brings in reliever Jason Motte with one out and nobody on base — nobody seems entirely sure why. The reliever is batting fourth because, of course, Matt Holliday is out of the game.

13th inning. Still scoreless. Jason Motte comes up with the bases loaded and two outs … because Matt Holliday is out of the game. Motte strikes out.

Bottom of 13th inning. Brings in reliever Dennys Reyes with two outs and a man on first.

14th inning: Takes Reyes out and brings in reliever Blake Hawksworth into the game with two outs and nobody on.

Bottom of 14th inning: Still scoreless. Blake Hawksworth comes up with the bases and two outs … because Matt Holliday is out of the game. Hawksworth strikes out.

16th inning: Runners on first and second, one out, Hawksworth comes up again … this time La Russa cannot stand it and pinch hits with Bryan Anderson, a 23-year-old rookie whose position on Baseball Reference is “pinch hitter” because he has not played a game in the field yet. He promptly hits into a double play. La Russa has no choice now but to go with his closer Ryan Franklin and hope for the best.

17th inning: Yadier Molina hits a deep fly ball. This is only worth noting because, as many moves as La Russa will make in his titanic effort to win … he will keep Molina behind the plate for all 20 innings. Best I can tell, the catchers since 1920 to play a whole game that lasted at least 20 innings include:

– Carlton Fisk, 1984, 25 innings against Milwaukee.
– Tom Haller, 1964, 23 innings against New York Mets.
– Yogi Berra, 1962, 22 innings against Detroit.
– Gabby Hartnett and Shanty Hogan, 1927, 22 innings between Chicago Cubs and Boston Braves*
– Josh Bard, 2008, 22 innings against Colorado
– Eddie Phillips, 1929, 21 innings against Chicago White Sox.
– Tom Haller, 1967, 21 innings against Cincinnati
– Dick Billings, 1971, 20 innings against Cleveland.
– Paul Casanova, 1967, 20 innings against Minnesota
– Paul Casanova, 1967, 20 innings against Chicago**
– Gabby Hartnett and Jimmy Williams, 1930, 20 innings between Cardinals and Cubs.
– Yadier Molina, 2010, 20 innings against New York Mets.

*It should be noted that in this game, all eight position players for both teams played the 22 innings .. and losing pitcher Bob Smith pitched 22 innings.

**Casanova also had a 19-inning game behind the plate that year — give Casanova some love!

There are probably others, but these are the ones I could find.

18th inning: Franklin has pitched one scoreless inning … and apparently can’t go anymore. So La Russa does a quintuple switch. This has to be a record, even for him.

– He moves Felipe Lopez from third base to pitcher. La Russa is out of pitchers.

– He moves Joe Mather from center field to third base … he had played three innings of third base in 2008.

– He puts pitcher Kyle Lohse … in left field. Lohse had pitched Thursday and is not available to throw, but apparently this is his workout day so he can throw the ball to the infield if necessary.

– He moves Allen Craig from left field to right field.

– He moves Ryan Ludwick from right field to center field.

Lopez is pretty effective … or the Mets are pretty dismal. Or both. Lopez allows only one walk while retiring the side. Little does anyone know that Lopez is on a pitch count.

19th inning: Because Lopez is on a pitch-count, he moves to third base … and Joe Mather comes in to pitch. It is clear that at this point, La Russa is just flailing against the wind. Mather walks the leadoff man. There’s a sacrifice hit. La Russa orders an intentional walk of David Wright, which seemed pretty bold considering the guy on the mound is not a pitcher. La Russa simply cannot help himself. Mather then hits Jason Bay. He then allows a sac fly to Jeff Francoeur. La Russa then orders ANOTHER intentional walk. It’s an overmanaging thing of beauty. And this time it works — Mather gets out the next batter to end the inning.

Bottom of the 19th: And, in this over-managing masterpiece, here’s Mona Lisa’s smile … Ryan Ludwick leads off with a walk against Francisco Rodriguez (yes, the Mets still had their closer available). This brings up Albert Pujols. There’s no way that La Russa can overmanage this situation … so he overmanages this situation. He calls for the hit and run. Yes, the hit and run, with Albert Pujols at the plate. Now, remember, Albert Pujols is the best hitter in baseball. La Russa has the pitcher’s spot coming up next. It’s the bottom of the 19th inning, and he has no pitchers available, and he has a utility man pitching. The hit and run. To the very end, the man can’t help himself.

Of course Pujols misses the pitch. Of course Ludwick is thrown out stealing — though it is close, and Ludwick makes a lousy slide. Of course Pujols promptly banged a double and comes around to score what would be the tying run rather than the winning run. Of course.

20th inning: Mather gives up another run. And the Cardinals get runners on first and second … but lose when Ludwick grounds out to end the game.

When it ended, there were many ready to rip Tony La Russa … and that’s fair. But to me that game was vintage La Russa. He has never apologized for the overwhelming way he manages baseball games. He never will. He tries to win, all-out, all the time. Hit and run. Pull the pitcher. Send in a pinch hitter. When you manage baseball games that way, like a heavyweight boxer throwing haymakers, you win some and you lose some, and you make a lot of people angry. But one this is sure: You never go to sleep wishing you had tried harder.

[cmdterps44]

11:05 game today. That's pretty awesome. Wish it were later so I could watch watch the gameday in class.

[blue911]

11:05 game today. That's pretty awesome. Wish it were later so I could watch watch the gameday in class.

It's Patriot's Day. Better known for the running of the best marathon in the world.

[HalfSmokes]

It's Patriot's Day. Better known for the running of the best marathon in the world.

and the greatest random holiday for certain boston workers- right up there with evacuation day