batmagadanleadoff

HahnSolo wrote: A-Rod? No-Rod

Also, Frank Robinson's Reds career covered both the pre and post expansion era. The answers to my trivia question are limited to post-1961 players.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: (I just realized that Robinson and Rose can't both be correct.) Right back atcha.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Frank Robinson? Pete Rose? Carlton Fisk? All wrong answers. But Robinson was very close. He's the Orioles all-time OPS+ leader and very close to the Reds all-time OPS+ leader. BTW, even without knowing the numbers, Rose and Robinson have to be mutually exclusive guesses, right?

Baseball Reference lists the top 10 career leaders for each franchise in OPS+ (OPS adjusted for league, year and park effects), 1500 PA's min. I compiled a list of each franchise's all-time leader, again, not including stats from prior to 1962. However, lacking the formula for OPS+, I was unable to calculate the post-1961 OPS+ for any player whose career encompassed both the pre and post expansion era, and so my leaders list consists solely of players whose careers began no earlier than 1962. There were only two instances when the OPS+ franchise leader was a player whose career straddled both eras: Hank Aaron (Braves) and Harmon Killebrew (Senators/Twins). I'll post the list later on, but first some trivia. Among players whose careers began no earlier than 1962, five players are the career OPS+ leaders (1,500 PA, min.) for two different franchises. Five! Who are they?

Benjamin Grimm wrote: Wondering who "Half Pint" is... Anyway... Call me crazy, but I think that dress would look better on Ava Gardner. What wouldn't? I'd take Ava with the tattoos, too.

My rule of thumb (and back) is to double the timetable for an injured player's expected return. So if the Mets are saying 3 1/2 - 4 weeks for Wright's return, I figure 7-8 weeks. Sometimes I miss, sometimes badly, but I'm closer to actuality more often than not.

If I owned the Mets, this wouldn't even be a topic for discussion. I'da retired Marv's # a long time ago. [youtube:286iynnc]dY-ZtKpSkzE[/youtube:286iynnc]

What other deuce made the cover of a book in a Mets uniform?

The face of the franchise before the arrival of the franchise's Franchise. Bad, but good bad.

Vic Sage wrote: Vic Sage wrote: DUH. SHITIFIELD. hello.... i'd say he has adjusted. badly. He changed his approach when some shots died on the warning track, and he hasn't been heard from since. See "Wright, David". I'm confused. Didn't Wright hit 29 home runs in a down year, above his career average? All while maintaining he's not really a power hitter he's a gap hitter? yes, you are confused. Wright went from a borderline MVP at Shea to a guy who has increased his K rate by 35% and dropped his OPS by 100 points, just to maintain his HR rate at Shiti. The only reason he hasn't fallen totally off a cliff production-wise, is he's a great player in the prime of his career. That he was able to be as productive as he was last year, when he had totally fucked up his approach the year before because of his homefield disadvantage, just goes to show how great he is... or was... or could be again. somewhere else. Vic Sage/bml similarity score: through the roof!

I have no hatred towards Bay. But I reserve the right to change my view if it should come out that he was knowingly concealing a significant health issue. But boy oh boy does Bay suck.

Vic Sage wrote: Terry the ****bunter is just another in the recent string of smallballers filling out our lineup card and i'm so sick of it, i can't even READ about a game (much less watch one) without getting pissed off at something he does or doesn't do. I'm not saying he's worse than Willie or Jerry in this regard, but the cumulative effect has worn me down to the nub. And when he brings in FRod to finish games, even in NON-SAVE SITUATIONS, while scrupulously avoiding him in the high-leverage late-game situations when the game is really on the line, i want to rip my teeth out of my head. In terms of his disposition, i've got no problem with it so far. If he can manage this entire season without actually punching one of these **********s in the face, i'll say he will have shown incredible restraint. I would like him a whole lot better if he pulled a reverse Lenny Randle and actually tried to choke willie harris to death. I'm leaning with Vic. I don't get all the Terry love. Because he's better than Randolph? Talk about having your expectations lowered. Re: K-Rod: I wonder if the FO hasn't specifically spelled it out for Terry for fear that should the issue ever be arbitrated at a grievance hearing, the Mets had to consider the possibility that Collins might not be a Met by then, and that Collins might testify against the Mets.

metirish wrote: Old, off the juice, and unwilling to take instruction. I doubt any of those are the cause. I know you are optimistic but Bay in fact has gotten older Haven't we all? Who would've thunk it that Beltran would be one of the healthiest and most dependable Mets this year?

The all-time RBI leaders for each franchise, not including statistics prior to 1962. (To even the playing field for the Mets). 1. Carl Yastrzemski � Red Sox � 1,764 (1,844 total Sox RBI�s, Ted Williams #2 all-time Sox � 1,839 RBI�s) 2. Cal Ripken, Jr. � Orioles � 1,695 3. George Brett � Royals � 1,596 4. Mike Schmidt � Phillies � 1,595 5. Willie Stargell � Pirates � 1,540 6. Jeff Bagwell � Astros � 1,529 7. Chipper Jones � Braves � 1,522 (2d all-time; Hank Aaron, 2,202 RBI�s #1) 8. Frank Thomas � White Sox � 1,465 9. Barry Bonds � Giants � 1,440 (4th all-time; Mel Ott, 1,860 RBI�s #1) 10. Sammy Sosa � Cubs � 1,414 (3rd all-time; Cap Anson, 1,880 RBI�s #1) 11. Robin Yount � Brewers � 1,406 12. Johnny Bench � Reds � 1,376 13. Garret Anderson � Angels � 1,292 14t. Albert Pujols � Cardinals � 1,261 (2d all-time; Stan Musial, 1,951 RBI�s #1) 14t. Edgar Martinez � Mariners � 1,261 14t. Todd Helton � Rockies - 1,261 17. Bernie Williams � Yankees � 1,257 (6th all-time; Derek Jeter, 1,151 RBI�s, 9th place; Lou Gehrig, 1,995 RBI�s #1) 18. Harmon Killebrew � Twins � 1,203 (1,540 total Senators/Twins RBI�s) 19. Juan Gonzalez � Rangers � 1,180 20. Tony Gwynn � Padres � 1,138 21. Lou Whitaker � Tigers 1,084 (8th all-time; Ty Cobb, 1,805 RBI�s #1) 22. Carlos Delgado � Blue Jays � 1,058 23. Steve Garvey � Dodgers � 992 (5th all-time; Duke Snider, 1,271 RBI�s #1) 24. Mark McGwire � A�s � 941 (4th all-time; Al Simmons, 1,178 RBI�s #1) 25. Jim Thome � Indians � 927 (2d all time; Earl Averill 1,084 RBI�s #1) 26. Tim Wallach � Expos/Nationals - 793 27. Luis Gonzalez � Diamondbacks - 774 28. Darryl Strawberry � Mets � 733 (David Wright 2d, 682 RBI�s) 29. Carl Crawford � Devil Rays/Rays - 592 30. Mike Lowell � Marlins � 578

MFS62 wrote: Edgy has mentioned in another thread that the Mets acquired him for inclusion in the Benson trade, as the Pirates requested. Later Yeah, I figured. It looked like a 3-way trade from the timing. I mean, no organization gives up on a player in less than an hour, right?

Wait a second here!!! So nobody's gonna say anything about that the Mets had Jose Bautista? And then traded him along with Ty Wigginton and Matt Peterson to the Pirates? For Kris Benson and Jeff Keppinger? (On the same day that the Mets got Bautista from the Royals for Justin Huber)? Nothing?

Gary Carter and Andre Dawson were honored in the Nationals' ring of fame, which commemorates Expos, Washington DC greats (e.g., Walter Johnson, Harmon Killebrew, and Negro League Stars. In one of the most prominent acknowledgments of the history of D.C. baseball and perhaps the first in-stadium recognition of the franchise's history in Montreal, the Nationals have mounted the names of Washington and Montreal baseball greats to the 100-level facade of Nationals Park behind home plate. The display will make its debut at Tuesday's Nationals-Marlins game, before which the team will honor Expos legend Andre Dawson for his induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Eighteen names ring the facade, with room for about eight more. From the Expos, Gary Carter and Andre Dawson will have the first positions on the first base side at section 126. The Homestead Grays are then represented left to right by Cool Papa Bell, Ray Brown, Josh Gibson, Buck Leonard, Cumberland Posey, and Jud Wilson. The Washington Senators are then represented by Joe Cronin, Rick Ferrell, Goose Goslin, Clark Griffith, Bucky Harris, Walter Johnson, Harmon Killebrew, Heinie Manush, Sam Rice, and Early Wynn. The Nationals noted that it consulted with the National Baseball Hall of Fame in selecting the players to be honored in the park. "The first criteria was that the player had to be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame," the team said in a statement. "The second criteria was that the player had to be associated with the Montreal Expos, Homestead Grays, Washington Senators or Washington Nationals. Lastly, the player had to have had significant years with those teams http://www.nationalsdailynews.com/columnists/post.cfm?blog=ian&id=506&story=dc-baseball-greats-names-to-be-displayed-at-nats-park

Ceetar wrote: My question if I bothered with these things would've been "Do you think the Mets need to add a bat while they wait for Ike and David, and do you think the Yankees would be willing to trade Cano right now given that they can just sign him back after the season?" I mean, I know what the answer is, both the real answer and the Mets are doomed answer I'd probably get, but it's still fun to try. I'd like for you to host one of those Q & A's. Your answer to your own question would be: "The Mets have plenty right now. Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy and what not will hit 25 HR's before Wright and Davis return this weekend."

metsmarathon wrote: metsmarathon wrote: gee. you'd think it would be possible to look at those 61 homers that were his at shea in its first 32 games of 2008 and determine whether or not they would have cleared the fences of citi field (wind and weather and what not all being equal), and likewise for the citi homers versus shea, to determine/infer just how many home runs, approximately, the field is robbing us of. As the sample size grows (currently at 2 1/3 seasons) you should be able to determine Citi Field's HR effect by simply looking at the totals (323 road, 283 home) -- idiosyncracies about specific HR's clearing that stadium but not this one should smooth out. metsmarathon wrote: also, fuck, man. our offense is shit this year, home or away. especially without wright, davis, and pagan for extended stretches, and jason bay who probably couldn't hit a home run in a little league field. that should inherently depress the numbers a bit, shouldn't it? This shouldn't effect the data. If the Mets offense sucks, then it should suck (HR-wise) both on the road and at home. It's the same team, road and home. sorry, i was focusing more on the shea vs citi thing at the bottom. the stadium to date data suggests that cit field depresses home run rates by 13ish percent. that's a big number, i suppose, but really, it means that a hitter who would have hit, say, 36 homers in a fair environment would hit 34 homers playing half his games in an unfair environemnt such as ours. 36 homers, 18 at home. 18 - (18x13%) = 18 - 2.34 = 2ish. 2-3 homers we should expect citifield to be robbing power hitters of, based on the home/road comparison. fuck you jason bay, and fuck you too david wright, for letting this stadium get inside your fucking head so. damned. much. the reason i'd like to look at the would they clear the fence thing is to strip from the discussion the mental games the stadium seems to play with players, especially our own. i'm sure i could independently investigate it; i'm just surprised that with all of the hullabaloo, nobody has. I don't see it your way. First of all, I think that CF reduces HR's to a greater degree than what the 2009-2111 number would indicate. I think that so far, the numbers are skewed to mask the full negative impact of CF on HR's because of a favorable but atypical 2009 season ratio when slightly more HR's were hit at CF compared to Mets road games. But only time will tell. But even assuming that your 13% drop-off rate is where it's at, it's simplistic to then conclude that every player is affected equally at the rate of 13%. Every player is affected differently. Generally, the players who hit the ball for less average distance will be not be affected as much as those who hit the ball longer. Thus, Mike Pelfrey and Ruben Tejada and Josh Thole, among many others, might only be affected minimally, if at all, while Bay and Wright might be severely affected. And any player who has a strong tendency to hit fly balls precisely in between the CF walls and where Shea's walls would've stood would be among those affected dramatically. This last category would obviously include your HR hitters, who tend to hit the ball farther. Beyond the numbers, though, I would guess that it takes very little for CF to mess with a HR hitter's swing. Maybe, it might not take more than just one discouraging AB where a Bay or a Wright unleashes a perfectly savage swing, crushing a pitch to the opposite field only to see the ball die in the outfielder's glove, 410 feet away. Players care about their stats more than anything else. Winning is not at the top of their hierarchies. Making money is their top priority. Hardly anyone gets to be Yogi Berra, an all-time talent with enough WS rings that he needs more than one hand to wear them all. They're trained enough to say otherwise but I'd say that every single player, if given the choice between signing that contract that'll ensure that they can live a King till the day they die or being a marginal player, on the fringes and always struggling to remain on the roster of a perennial championship team will almost always choose the former. And they can't get that contract without the all-star stats. And it's the HR hitters who are most often in position to nail that big payday. And if they have it in their head that they need to keep up their established HR rate to get that next contract, they just might tinker with their swing to do so. Bay, of course, already signed what is sure to be his last big contract, so this financial angle doesn't apply to him as much as it might to Wright, who surely envisions at least one more monster contract.

Frayed Knot wrote: The Nats barely acknowledge the existence of the Expos. Acknowledged. My idea isn't a realistic one.

Here's an idea (that isn't likely to come to pass): If the Nationals are going to absord the Expos records (and I think that they did) then maybe the Nats ought to retire Carter's uni. The Nats could organize a very Expo-centric tribute to honor both Carter and the Expos heritage that the Nats undoubtedly inherited and have been ignoring, so far. This isn't exactly a perfect scenario, because Carter's career happened entirely during that interregnum where there was no Washington major league baseball; Carter never thrilled the Washington fans because he didn't play in front of them. One compromise might be for the Nats to retire Carter's number during a game against the Mets, thus providing a logical reason to invite both ex-Mets and ex-Expos, and other players that were an important part of Carter's career. I'm long-ago on record as not inclined to retire Carter's uni. If Carter's great Expo career didn't exist; if Carter was a rookie in 1985 and his career consisted of two impact seasons followed by a sharp fade, would this even be a discussion? Carter's greatness was already established before he ever put on the Mets uniform. The way I see it, Carter's Met career is most analagous to Donn Clendenon's - brief, but essential to a championship -- and that's not intended to be a knock on Carter, but perhaps a call for more recognition on behalf of Clendenon's Met accomplishments.

I assume that the thinner black line represents the warning track edge.

metsmarathon wrote: gee. you'd think it would be possible to look at those 61 homers that were his at shea in its first 32 games of 2008 and determine whether or not they would have cleared the fences of citi field (wind and weather and what not all being equal), and likewise for the citi homers versus shea, to determine/infer just how many home runs, approximately, the field is robbing us of. As the sample size grows (currently at 2 1/3 seasons) you should be able to determine Citi Field's HR effect by simply looking at the totals (323 road, 283 home) -- idiosyncracies about specific HR's clearing that stadium but not this one should smooth out. metsmarathon wrote: also, fuck, man. our offense is shit this year, home or away. especially without wright, davis, and pagan for extended stretches, and jason bay who probably couldn't hit a home run in a little league field. that should inherently depress the numbers a bit, shouldn't it? This shouldn't effect the data. If the Mets offense sucks, then it should suck (HR-wise) both on the road and at home. It's the same team, road and home.

2011 Total HR's hit at Citi Field (Mets and Mets' opponents) - 43 HR's/27 games Total HR's hit; all Mets road games (Mets and Mets' opponents) - 53 Hr's/27 games 2009-2011 Total HR's hit at Citi Field (Mets and Mets' opponents) - 283 HR's/189 games Total HR's hit; all Mets road games (Mets and Mets' opponents) - 323 HR's/189 games