Alfonso Soriano is an interesting chap. He had a big day at the plate and in the field. He's going to have a great counting stat year, probably ending the year with 30+ homers, 100+ RBI, and one+ error and 11+ assists. His rate stats aren't awful, but they aren't tremendous. He's gone to a lighter bat. Maybe his knees are better. He's a good player with a contract no one seems to want to touch. I don't need a wire leak to know Soriano has cleared waivers. Basically, here's Soriano in a nutshell:
He's a good player now.
Everyone expects him to become a bad player really soon.
He has two years left on his contract.
He loves playing the game of baseball.
He has some annoying habits.
He's not a dick.
His middle name is Guilleard.
At the end of his career, he'll be remembered as a Chicago Cub, and there probably has been no cubbier Cub than Alfonso Soriano. Right now, in his okay, somewhat likeable, somewhat annoying, not nearly what we've hoped for or what we've paid for, but somewhat pleasing in his rebound from dismal failure way . . . he's at the pinnacle of cubness.
Do the Cubs Have a Game Today?
Nope.
Highlight of the Day
See above.
Thing I Didn't See Coming
The Orioles and the Nationals lead their respective Eastern Divisions. That's crazy to me. But I like it.
Actually Worthwhile Content of the Day
Oooh, ninja new post. Anyway…
As of today (via B-Ref), Joe Mather’s -2.2 WAR is basically the cushion the Cubs have over the Rockies for the #2 pick. He is useful after all.
Found this blog post. Sounds like Nats fans feel like everyone else: Why couldn’t they have handled him so that he could pitch into Oct?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/nationals-journal/wp/2012/09/12/are-nationals-fans-actually-upset-about-stephen-strasburgs-shutdown-an-informal-review/
The Cubs iced that #1 pick for Houston with that series victory, but I’ll keep updating that Race to the Top until they mathematically clinch it. The Mets and KC were eliminated last night. Boston and Toronto could both fall today.
Also the Cubs can not lose 100 games while also having a winning record at home. Winning 5 of 6 on the road really fucked them from even achieving a statistical oddity. They really are terrible in every way.
No medical evidence supports Strasburg shutdown: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/13/strasburgs-doctor-there-are-no-studies-supporting-the-nats-decision-to-shut-him-down/
Was there an incentive clause in Strasburg’s contract that would kick in some ridiculous amount should he pass a certain innings threshold? That still wouldn’t make sense to shut him down but who knows with baseball types…
@ Rice Cube:
If that were the case, I’d think we’d have heard about an MLBPA grievance by now. I think this is just a decision Rizzo has made about how he wants to handle the health of his pitchers.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
It’s a noble gesture but a silly decision.
@ Rice Cube:
It certainly looks more suspect now that we know the doctors weren’t involved at all.
(dying laughing)
I doubt there is a clause the Nats are avoiding because Boras is on board with the decision. He wouldn’t be if it was costing him and his client tangible money.
@ Rice Cube:
No, he was drafted and not signed as a free agent so there won’t be any incentives like that in his contract. The Nationals are just silly. I could maybe get behind trying to limit his innings, but if you do that then you sure as shit do it in a way so he could pitch in October. Really though, there’s just no reason to shut him down. The same is true for Samardzija, but at least the Cubs can say they’re not contending.
@ Rice Cube:
Still doesn’t make sense why they wouldn’t just limit his innings, the way [ANY OTHER TEAM] did with [ANY OTHER PITCHER].
@ Aisle424:
Boras will get less money because of this. Strasburg will be worth slightly less when he’s arb eligible and future draft picks will get less because they’re going to assume he’s going to get in their face about shutting them down after the pitcher makes 3 appearances.
@ mb21:
I can’t believe they’re not letting him pitch in the post-season. “Thanks for getting us there kid. Now fuck off.”
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
I know 424 disagrees, but even if the doctors were involved it doesn’t mean anything to me. It’s like taking the word of JC Bradbury on sabermetrics because he’s an economics professor when there are many other sabermetricians who can do a far better job analyzing the game than he can. This is an example where you need subject matter experts and not a doctor. I highly doubt a medical doctor has done the research about this subject because they just don’t have the time. Rany put it best the other day: if you want to eliminate pitcher injuries then you eliminate baseball.
What the Nationals are doing is really simple when you think about it. This front office doesn’t want to end with a reputation similar to Dusty Baker had before and with the Cubs. So to avoid that, he’s going the extra mile to ensure it doesn’t happen, but the one thing he hasn’t ensured is this: Strasburg staying healthy or even healthier.
The funny thing is that I’m not sure you can even guarantee you won’t get that label. Fans will find that stretch of 2 or 3 games where Strasburg throws between 110-119 pitches and that will be the reason why he was injured. He’ll throw 7 innings on Opening Day and that will be the reason why he is injured. He’ll make 34 starts and throw 225 innings and that will be the reason. He’ll make two starts on 7 days rest and then come back on 4 days rest and that will be the reason. No matter what, when Strasburg is injured, a reason for it will be found and the blame will be placed on management. Well done, Rizzo.
What’s also funny is that reputation that Baker has earned has cost him nothing. The Reds have the 2nd best record in baseball and will win over 90 games and reach the postseason for the 2nd time in 5 years. They were really bad when he took over and now they’re one of the best teams in baseball. He has a .516 winning percentage there despite how awful they were when he took over. He won 90+ games the final 3 years in SF and will have won 90 or more 2 out of the last 3. That reputation he got in SF and Chicago cost him nothing but continued winning.
@ mb21:
I wouldn’t think a doctor would have done the studies himself, but if the studies had been done, it would be his job to know them inside and out so he could make a recommendation. Recover is at least part of what you pay doctors to be an expert on. That said, the doctor’s statement was that there hadn’t been any studies, which just means that he doesn’t really know one way or another, not that he’s saying it absolutely should or shouldn’t happen.
It’s frustrating from a general baseball fan point of view to see the Nationals in the playoffs without Strasburg. Especially as Cubs fans who have seen too much shit go down with pitchers and teams in general to ever assume they’ll be back in the postseason any time soon.
@ AndCounting:
Exactly, shit can go south real fast.
I know I at least had no doubts the Cubs would go to the postseason in 2009. Losing A-Ram really hurt.
@ AndCounting:
THIS. Even with a healthy Strasburg for the next 15 years the Nationals may not get back to the postseason. When you get there, you take your chance. You don’t make it more difficult on yourself.
@ mb21:
In all honesty, I think most fans’ real beef with Dusty was leaving Prior in too long because he was ineffective, not because he got hurt the next year. If the Cubs had gone to the World Series in 2003 and Prior and Wood had their arms fall off in November, Dusty would be revered as a god.
I mean, in the years that followed, people have revised their beef with Dusty to make it sound like they’re pissed he overused Prior and Wood. But if that method had held up with five outs to go, no one would care very much at all about the wear and tear on those two golden arms.
I agree, AC.
mb21 wrote:
@ Suburban kid:
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
Was reading through Nats blogs to see what the consensus on Strasburg was (surprisingly calm) and found a preview of the Cubs/Nats series. It listed who was Hot and who was Not. Under Not they had B-Jax, and they highlighted his K’s.
If that’s the criteria, he’s going to make a lot of Not lists.
Holy shit, Len Kasper has been drinking out of Brenly’s mug. On the radio just now:
“Folks keep asking ‘Why did the Phillies trade Pence,’ or ‘Why would the Brewers trade Greinke,’ and I’m always quick to point out to them that, hey guys, they weren’t winning with those guys and they are winning now…I don’t know whether it’s from a change in atmosphere or whatever but it’s happening.”
STFU. Just…STFU.
James Cameron has officially debunked the theory that Jack could have fit on the raft with Rose. The issue, he says, was buoyancy.
You can all die happy.
@ Mercurial Outfielder:
Probably their LAR went up, along with Grit% and HSTL/9.
josh wrote:
This was a thing?
@ Aisle424:
Indeed. The internet was frothing at the mouth.
Mercurial Outfielder wrote:
Well, the not winning with them is valid. There was no point in keeping them if they could get value while the team was sinking. After that he goes off the rails. There is no way the Brewers are actually a better team without Greinke. They might be playing better now, but I’d bet that has more to do with Rickie Weeks returning from the dead than the departure of Greinke.
@ josh:
I’m glad I stayed away from whatever corner of the internet where that was a point of contention.
This Rays-O’s game is taking a while. Maddon has had to sac the DH. Bottom 11, Chris Archer up.
Joe Maddon just gave up the DH.
@ Aisle424:
Exactly. I couldn’t believe when he said it. Someone needs to get him away from Brenly.
new shit: http://www.obstructedview.net/commentary-and-analysis/a-question-about-pitch-counts-and-innings-limits.html
mb21 wrote:
Same thing with Brooks Raley, amirite?!
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