Frayed Knot

And no one seems to love those traditional production numbers and ignore the outs they create like Mike Scioscia Not that I see a ton of Angels games, but Scioscia has certainly been running that ship long enough for me to know that I've never liked the way his teams play and, despite his rep, wouldn't want him running my team. Pujols had maybe the best opening decade of any player for whom I've witnessed their entire career. 366 HRs and a .427 OBA all before turning 30 (plus the good running and good glove), he'd finish 4th, 2nd, 2nd, 3rd, 1st, 2nd, 9th, 1st, 1st, and 2nd in MVP voting over those ten seasons, much of that during the era of Bonds. But that was then and this is now.

No, has not been on the air since getting busted. But after his first public statements with the standard stuff about the charges being completely false and how he's going to return better than ever, yadda, yadda -- as if he'd be the one to decide that and not the station -- he submitted his resignation the following day.

If you're going to sign Reyes for next year it's going to be with the intention of using him as an all-purpose IF/backup SS. If he can also be an occasional sub in the OF that would be a (very minor) bonus but I can't possibly see that as his primary job nor do I have any faith that the final 20-some games are going to answer the question about whether he can or can't.

Historically bad claims this BP article - or is so at least when compared to all those reaching the once vaunted 100-RBI plateau (he's not there yet but currently has 94). With a .247 BA, a .290 OBA, and a league-leading 24 GiDP, 'The Machine' is basically an out-making machine this season, only one with the good fortune of both staying healthy [131 GP / 565 PA -- thank you DH rule!] and of having a manager who writes his name in the middle of the lineup every day, much of it behind Mike Trout. Throw in his negative base running and fielding values (played 1B a handful of games) and he's a negative WAR player at this point in his career. That .290 OBA represents 172 points off his peak season (2008) and for his six seasons with the Angels his OBA is a full 100 points below where it was with StL (420 to 320). Don't think the Cards are regretting their decision to let him go, eh? But don't worry, he won't turn 38 until January and has a mere $124 million left on his deal -- which doesn't include the $3 mil for notching 3,000 hits (he will) or another $7 mil for 765 HRs (he won't) or various small change additions for MVP votes -- running through 2021 Holy Shit what an albatross!!

I long ago gave up giving a shit about what Straw thinks or says.

We load bases in top 7 w/2 outs and strike out They get two on w/2 out and hit 3R HRs I mean, yeah we're getting our asses kicked here, but alter just a handful of ABs and ...

Carton "resigns" from WFAN, just one day after saying he was determined to fight on. As if this mess was going to end any other way.

If you tag a sliding Javier Baez on his hair extensions does that count? I assume it does. I'd like to see him get burned on that play some time.

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I don't think I've ever seen that happen before... The runner thrown out on the bases before the lead runner touches the plate. I've seen it a bunch of times, including once where David Wright was playing the part of the home-bound runner who jogged in only to have his potential run not count because of an out elsewhere on the base paths. Don't know that I've ever seen TWO baserunners acting like dopes simultaneously like the Cubs pulled tonight.

Robles w/bases loaded in 2017: 14 PA, 3-for-9 + 5 BBs, 1 HR, 3 K, 13 Runs

I don't see this as an either/or between Reyes & Aoki as they're hardly interchangeable parts. The thought about Reyes to the OF was to see if he could play CF as a counterpart to Lagares. But if Nimmo is going to be that guy then that leaves corner OF and Reyes there doesn't do much for me. Even if we assume that his second half stats are closer to reality than the first (my assumption would be to split the difference and call it more like 100) that's certainly acceptable (at the right price) for an all-purpose infielder who can still run a bit and play SS if needed, not so much for a fill-in corner OF. Chad Ochoseis wrote: If he can demonstrate some competence in the outfield, even better. And what better time than now to test those skills? Spring Training

I'm not sure there's much to be gained by a Reyes in the OF experiment going forward. His hitting (85 OPS+) is barely acceptable as a reserve infielder at this point - and next year he's not necessarily available as a minimum wage player anymore.

BLACKJACK!! In yesterday's (20th) win it took them until their first batter to get a lead - leadoff HR Francisco Lindor. Today they actually got down 1-0 so it took them all the way until Jay Bruce's 3R HR in the bottom of the 1st (5th batter)

And when the NBA's Warriors leave for San Fran across the bay in time for the 2019-20 season (their new crib in already under construction) the A's will be the only pro team left in Oakland. I think it's been downhill over there since the NHL's California Golden Seals (and their white ice skates*) left town. * Yes, they were owned by Charlie Finley [fimg=200]http://content.sportslogos.net/logos/1/38/full/9638_california_golden_seals-alternate-1971.png[/fimg]

That deal is a LONG way from coming to reality. Basically what the team has done is settle on a preferred site from among three they had been considering. Now they have the tough job of making it a reality, starting with cutting a deal with the folks who actually own the land itself. And then there'll the city to deal with and tons of permits and infrastructure that needs to be approved, etc. The site, should this come off, is some 5-6 miles closer to downtown Oakland as compared to the current joint, next to Laney College if anyone knows that area.

Frayed Knot wrote: A Met pitcher just retired a leadoff hitter!!!! Alert the media ... and Mr. Ripley. First six innings tonight: Double - Single - Walk - Walk - Walk - Double I guess one inning in a row was as much success as we could handle as Flexen throws another leadoff walk onto the bonfire.

7th shutout (and second straight) among the 20 wins. They might go 21-5 with ME in the lineup.

A Met pitcher just retired a leadoff hitter!!!! Alert the media ... and Mr. Ripley. First six innings tonight: Double - Single - Walk - Walk - Walk - Double

Oh good, I was hoping the Mets would allow the leadoff hitter to reach base before the night was over. Different pitcher, Same shit.

And actually that's just starters (which is what I assume the question was about) but does not include guys who may have hit in that position for part of a game via substitutions, double-switches, and the like. oe: although looking at that chart, we've had 10 different hitters in EVERY position except for leadoff (6) and 3rd (8) so there's nothing really special about the 4th slot

TheOldMole wrote: Phil Esposito wore 77. 7 as a Bruin, 77 as a Ranger

TheOldMole wrote: Wondering how many different Mets have batted cleanup this year. Ten

So check this out: Not that they compete in the same league or division, but as of the close of business on August 25th (two weeks ago last Friday) the Dodgers held a theoretical 20.0 game lead over the Indians. Going into tonight's slate it's just 2.0 games

Plus there's the strategy involving pitchers where if you want to get two or three good pitchers all you have to do is sign/trade for eight or ten of them. iow, it's certainly unlikely that these guys will all work out and render each other redundant, particularly not at the same time. BA: The Brewers drafted Hanhold in the sixth round out of Florida in 2015 and developed him as a starter initially, but after middling results he moved to the bullpen this season at high Class A Carolina. Big and strong at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds, Hanhold sits 94 mph with his fastball in relief and can touch 96 with sink. His main secondary offering is an 87-88 mph slider he can land for strikes. He has a strong groundball tendency due to the natural sink on his offerings, and he performed well in late-and-close situations. Hanhold’s experience starting helps him hold up over multi-inning relief stints—he pitched at least two innings in 17 of his 27 relief appearances—but he also has the stuff to blow it out in a one-inning stint as well.

Edgy MD wrote: Win it for Brucie! Cousin?