I’m going to write my usual previews for each of the playoff series. I’ll say flat out that I don’t follow the AL at all, so any of you Rays fans who aren’t still in a daze should feel free to chime in with comments/inevitable corrections to anything I say here.
Before we get to the Rays, let’s stop and applaud Texas for their great season. Unlike the Rays heart-attack finish, Texas has either led or shared the AL West division lead since May 16. However, despite the fact that their eventual margin of victory over the Angels was ten wins they kept it close for nearly the entire season. During that streak of 121 games, their division lead was three games or less for 94 of them, so the Angels made them sweat. They finished one game ahead of the Tigers for the honor of not playing the Yankees in the first round.
There’s not much more I can say about the Rays season that wasn’t said on Wednesday night. That was probably the most exciting night of baseball I’ve witnessed since September 14, 2008.
Team Overviews
Team stats, with AL rank in parentheses
| Rays | Rangers | |
| wOBA | .320 (7th) | .348 (2nd) |
| UBR | 4.8 (3rd) | 23.0 (1st) |
| UZR | 53.7 (1st) | 25.9 (4th) |
| DRS | 77 (1st) | 45 (3rd) |
| SP FIP | 3.99 (8th) | 3.80 (3rd) |
| RP FIP | 4.14 (10th) | 4.38 (13th) |
The rangers have been undersold by just about everyone. They’re a great team. Most surprising was that baserunning number – the team just doesn’t make many mistakes on the bases. Andrus, Kinsler, and Young all have very good numbers, and slugging CF Nelson Cruz is the only non-catcher with a significantly negative number.
Offensively, the most amazing line was put up by 2B Ian Kinsler, who posted a .370 wOBA despite a .243 BABIP, good enough for 6.2 oWAR. Angels castoff Mike Napoli might have been the difference between Texas making the playoffs and the Angels watching from home – he posted a .444 wOBA in 432 PAs. No batter had a truly putrid year – about the only negative thing you can say about the Texas offense is that their first baseman, Mitch Moreland, is barely better than replacement level. Hilariously, Michael Young was getting a lot of MVP love from the twitters despite the fact that he ranked 6th on the team in WAR among offensive players alone (too lazy to compute, but about the same by oWAR). Maybe I’m forgetting the extra 5 gWAR (gritWAR).
Pitching is always what held Texas back, but Colby Lewis aside they all had good years (and Lewis’s was merely average). Most importantly, all five of their starters stayed healthy. There were only five games this season that weren’t started by C.J. Wilson, GW’s boy Derek Holland, Matt Harrison, Alexi Ogando, or Colby Lewis. Their bullpen was a little shakier, but in the playoffs the top relievers matter more, and they have a good unit fronted by Neftali Feliz, Zombie Darren Oliver, and former Padre Mike Adams.
I’ve barely looked at Tampa’s numbers this year, so bear with me Rays fans. What I find most amusing at first glance is that while Longoria had a “down year”, I’m guessing due to an injury, he still managed to post a 6 WAR season (merely 5 oWAR) with a .239 BABIP. And he was paid only 2 million! It’s going to be a long time before a team gets more value out of a contract than Tampa with Longoria, unless he looks back, fires his agent, and his new agent tells him to hold out for more money (sorry for that image, Rays fans). The only players to put up significantly poor offensive numbers were Reid Breignac (-1.1 oWAR in 264 PAs) and Dan Johnson, though I think Rays fans might forgive him.
On the pitching side the Rays stayed mostly healthy, with the exception of Jeff Niemann who missed a month or so in May/June with a back injury. His back was bothering him a bit in late September as well, so it’s something to keep an eye on. The other four members of the rotation threw 29 or more starts, but the most intriguing pitcher is top prospect Matt Moore, who was called up during the playoff push and struck out 11 Yankees in his first MLB start. The Rays must trust him, seeing as they gave him the first start in the playoffs over the more experienced Niemann and Davis. Aside from Moore’s inexperience and Niemann’s back, the Rays other cause for concern could be likely Rookie of the Year Jeremy Hellickson. He’s going to be a solid pitcher for many years with the Rays, but his 2.95 ERA is more a product of a .223 BABIP as his peripheral numbers give him a 4.72 xFIP on the year. He’s not seeing a huge innings jump from last year (31 innings), but if the Rays move further into the postseason he may look tired. I don’t think the team would complain if they made it far enough to worry about his innings load however.
Pitching matchups
ERA, FIP, and xFIP listed
Friday: Matt Moore, LHP (2.89, 2.17, 1.85) vs C. J. Wilson, LHP (2.94, 3.24, 3.41), 4:07 PM CT
After watching the Cubs all season this series will feel strange given the number of left-handed starters on each team.
Moore has thrown mostly fastballs in his brief stint in the majors, which average out at around 96. He also throws the occasional curveball and changeup. There’s not much we can say from his major league numbers, but his minor league numbers certainly suggest that fastball is a pretty good one. The highest FIP that Moore has produced since he was promoted to A-ball in 2009 was 2.83, and he’s easily struck out well more than a batter per inning at every level he’s pitched at. He’s only pitched 20 or so more innings than he did last year so fatigue shouldn’t be that big of a problem either.
Wilson had the best season of his career, perfect timing from his standpoint as he’ll be a free agent this offseason. It’s hard to believe that any pitcher playing half his home games in Texas (especially this summer) could put up a 2.98 ERA, though to be fair he did pitch better on the road. A big part of his success this year was finding the plate – he walked slightly less than three batters per nine, much better than his earlier numbers which were comfortably around the four batters per nine range. He also upped his strikeouts and continues to get ground balls. Some team, possibly the Cubs, is going to pay him a lot of money this offseason.
Saturday: James Shields, RHP (2.82, 3.42, 3.25) vs Derek Holland, LHP (3.95, 3.94, 3.76) 6:07 PM CT
Shields was the poster child for regression to the mean (and then some) this season. I can’t count how many times I heard people talking about how Shields’s 5.18 ERA last year was largely driven by his .341 BABIP and some bad HR variance. The batted-ball script flipped almost symmetrically this year, as he posted a .258 BABIP this year on the way to his 2.82 ERA, while his peripherals stayed almost exactly the same. He also pitched nearly 250 innings this year, which might lead to some problems this postseason. He’s not showing any signs of it though, going seven innings or more in every start since the beginning of August, and holding the Yankees to two runs over eight and two thirds innings on Monday.
I’m looking for something interesting to say about Holland but can’t seem to find anything at all (laughing). He’s a solid, consisten pitcher who puts up good-to great numbers without standing out in any particular area. According to fangraphs his fastball is his best pitch, which averages around 94 mph.
The starters for the rest of the games are all TBA, so I’m just going to spitball these depending on who is the best pitcher available
Monday: Colby Lewis, RHP (4.40, 4.54, 4.10) vs David Price, LHP (3.49, 3.32, 3.32), 4:07 PM CT
I think these two are the most likely starters for this game. Lewis hasn’t had the greatest year, but Ogando has more than doubled his workload from last year (and was showing signs of wearing down), and while Harrison has had a nice 2011 he was hammered in his three previous years when called up to the majors so they might want to ease him in a bit. Lewis, of course, is a pitcher who sucked early in his career, bouncing around between the Rangers, Tigers, and A’s before saving face in Japan and resurrecting his career. He came back last year and posted a 4.6 WAR season with Texas, but things were a little rockier this year, mostly due to the gopherball. Lewis is an extreme fly ball pitcher, so the Rangers are likely to avoid pitching him in Arlington this postseason.
Hellickson would be available for this game, but there’s little question that the Rays would start him over their nominal ace given the chance. Price was nails as the Rays began their playoff push (or more accurately, the Red Sox began their collapes), posting back to back double digit strikeout games vs Toronto and Baltimore after going 8 innings in three straight starts against fellow playoff contenders NYY, BOS, and DET. Since then Price hasn’t quite been able to replicate that success (well, regression), and was hit hard by the Yankees in game 162 before Longoria and Dan Johnson slugged them to the win.
Tuesday: Matt Harrison, LHP (3.39, 3.52, 3.85) vs Jeremy Hellickson, RHP (2.95, 4.44, 4.72), TBA
Harrison’s success is a bit of a head scratcher. He posted FIPs above 5 in each of his stints in the majors going back to 2008. They weren’t just cups of coffee either – he posted at least 60 innings in all three seasons. It’s not that surprising given that he’s a ground-ball pitcher, but this year he did a better job of finding the plate and had a bit of luck with home runs, which led to a successful season. As I alluded to above, Harrison only threw 85 innings last year (since the Rangers bullpen-tested him) so they need to keep an eye on him. Unlike Ogando, however, he finished the season strong posting a 2.73 FIP in September.
I don’t have much to say about Hellickson that I didn’t mention above. He’s had a lot of luck with BABIP and HRs this year, but on the other hand his strikeout and walk rates are much worse than his minor league record would suggest. I can’t wait until the Rays somehow manage to sign him and Moore to 8 year, $14million dollar contracts.
Thursday: James Shields, RHP vs C. J. Wilson, LHP, TBA
If this series goes five, I’d be shocked if anyone other than these two get the starts. That’s a great potential matchup
Prediction
This should be a great series, probably the best of all the divisional matchups. I think Texas takes it in four games, though if the Rays had clinched earlier and were able to line up their rotation it would be too close to call (though I’d still give Texas the slight edge).
Comments
Dumbest complaint I’ve read about Francona yet
When the late inning relievers failed and he was left to use less reliable relievers, it showed how bad he was. Makes perfect sense.
When Prince Fielder and Ryan Braun don’t hit, it shows how poor a manager the Brewers have. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
You got nothing wrong, b. Niemann is not on the ALDS roster apparently though. Hellickson had like an 82% LOB%, which is another reason he got good results.
Shields would likely get the Gm 5 start.
These teams were one and two in DER I believe, but the distance between the Rays (#1) and Rangers (#2) is about the same as the distance b/w Rangers and the #17 team. The Rangers have a great offense, but a lot of that is batting-average driven. We’ll see if the high K pitchers (Shields, Price, Moore) combined with the excellent defenders behind them will temper the Rangers’ offense.
MishQuote Reply
Once I looked at how their pitching lined up I figured they’d leave him off. They don’t really need him if Moore is starting the first game.
BerseliusQuote Reply
I’ll take Rangers in 3, Yankees in 4, Phillies in 3, Brewers in 3.
Yankees in 6 over Rangers, Phillies in 4 over Brewers.
Phillies in 7 over Yankees.
mb21Quote Reply
Rangers in 5
Yankees in 4
Rangers in 6
Phillies in 3
Brewers in 4
Brewers in 7
Brewers over Rangers in 6
MishQuote Reply
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/30/theo-epstein-would-embrace-the-challenge-of-taking-over-the-cubs/
MishQuote Reply
Rangers in 4
Yankees in 5
Yankees in 5
Phillies in 3
Brewers in 4
Brewers in 7
Yankees over Brewers in 6
BerseliusQuote Reply
You two are wrong. (dying laughing)
I’d be thrilled to be a Cubs fan if they got Theo and Francona. As far as I’m concerned, that’s the best possible scenario for this team.
mb21Quote Reply
The way the season is going, I’d have to pick the Rays and Cards. They’ll probably dig themselves into deep holes in each series, but somehow manage to emerge victorious.
ACTQuote Reply
Cubs over Red Sox in 7.
GBTSQuote Reply
Rangers in 4
Yankees in 4
Phillies in 4
Brewers in 3
Yankees in 4
Brewers in 7
Yankees over Brewers in 6
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
I’m going with the Brewers to win over the Rangers.
binkyQuote Reply
Teams that consistently score more runs than they allow will do well in this post season.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Teams that consistently score more runs than they allow will do well in this post season.[/quote]
So will teams with more than 90 wins
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]So will teams with more than 90 wins[/quote]Cardinals —-> Done
GBTSQuote Reply
No one’s betting on the Cards to take the Phills? The Phills are going into the postseason riding a poor September, if that means anything.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Teams that consistently score more runs than they allow will do well in this post season.[/quote]I read that same research article. Very interesting.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=josh]No one’s betting on the Cards to take the Phills? The Phills are going into the postseason riding a poor September, if that means anything.[/quote]Others have shown that how a team plays in September doesn’t matter how they play in the postseason. That’s not to say it won’t or can’t, but overall it doesn’t.
mb21Quote Reply
It’s also been shown that the teams who win 11 games in the current playoff system tend to win the World Series.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I read that same research article. Very interesting.[/quote]Yeah, they also said that if Matt Moore can replicate his AA numbers in the playoffs, the Rays will do well in those games.
GBTSQuote Reply
http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=15216
I love the outlier pickouts. Soriano apparently has poor plate discipline, and Marmol is a complete freak of nature.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I read that same research article. Very interesting.[/quote]
Are you an expert in this area of research? No? Then shut the fuck up. You shouldn’t even be glancing at research articles, peasant.
MGLQuote Reply
No immediate announcement regarding Francona
mb21Quote Reply
Yankees in 4
Rangers in 5
Brewers in 5
Phillies in 3
Yankees in 5
Phillies in 6
Yankees in 7
MuckerQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Yeah, they also said that if Matt Moore can replicate his AA numbers in the playoffs, the Rays will do well in those games.[/quote]It’s most likely. There is some research that show that a defense plays a part in runs allowed. It’s in the early stages and hasn’t yet been tested.
mb21Quote Reply
The team that executes that most bunts and hit-and-runs will win.
ACTQuote Reply
http://www.salon.com/news/race/index.html?story=/news/david_sirota/2011/09/30/baseball_umpires_racism
BerseliusQuote Reply
MB, why does everyone of your posts have a -1? (dying laughing)
MuckerQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]http://www.salon.com/news/race/index.html?story=/news/david_sirota/2011/09/30/baseball_umpires_racism[/quote]Didn’t Phil Birnbaum show that this isn’t true?
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=Mucker]MB, why does everyone of your posts have a -1? (dying laughing)[/quote]I didn’t even notice. (dying laughing) I must not be well liked.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I read that same research article. Very interesting.[/quote]No line = not true.
cdwQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]Didn’t Phil Birnbaum show that this isn’t true?[/quote]
Probably, it sounds like that study came out a while ago.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]Teams that consistently score more runs than they allow will do well in this post season.[/quote]
Actual talk radio sports show caller:
Caller: “This wasn’t Cutler’s fault! The only reason the Packers beat the Bears is ’cause the Packers scored more points!”
Host: “You’re right!”
Me: turns radio off
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I didn’t even notice. (dying laughing) I must not be well liked.[/quote]Aww that’s not true.
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]Aww that’s not true.[/quote]False (dying laughing)
MishQuote Reply
http://sabermetricresearch.blogspot.com/2007/08/hamermesh-study-on-umpires-and-race.html
mb21Quote Reply
Hey felluz!
Sorry I haven’t been around much lately — what with the Rays absolutely absorbing my life over the last 30 days.
A couple of notes:
Jeff Niemann is off the roster and has some serious mechanical issue it appears.
http://www.draysbay.com/2011/9/30/2459602/jeff-niemann-wade-davis-alds-rays-conundrum
Moore has been, at least in some eyes, one of the top — if not THE top — pitching prospect in baseball this year. He has drawn many favorable comparisons to — both statistically and from scouts — Tim Lincecum, Randy Johnson, Stephen Strasburg, and other such ridiculous types.
BradleyWoodrumQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Probably, it sounds like that study came out a while ago.[/quote]I think it was a Freakonomics study or at least the one Birnbaum discussed. There’s also a powerpoint file he has that shows some contradictions.
Also an interesting thread here: http://www.insidethebook.com/ee/index.php/site/comments/a_fascinating_study_worthy_of_some_discussion_i_think/
mb21Quote Reply
http://sabermetricresearch.blogspot.com/2007/08/alternative-significance-test-for.html
mb21Quote Reply
Is Phil Birnbaum an expert on racism? No? He should stick to watching NASCAR or whatever it is you people do.
MGLQuote Reply
Ha!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=MGL]you people do.[/quote]What do you mean “you people”?
MuckerQuote Reply
Was Moore a clandestine injury replacement? I thought September callups weren’t eligible for postseason barring extreme circumstances.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Was Moore a clandestine injury replacement? I thought September callups weren’t eligible for postseason barring extreme circumstances.[/quote]
You just have to be on the 40-man before September. Thus guys you trade for after Sep aren’t elgible.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Was Moore a clandestine injury replacement? I thought September callups weren’t eligible for postseason barring extreme circumstances.[/quote]He may also be a replacement for Alex Cobb who’s on the 60-day DL. I’m not sure for certain, though.
BradleyWoodrumQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]You just have to be on the 40-man before September. Thus guys you trade for after Sep aren’t elgible.[/quote]Oh, ok. I thought you had to be on the active roster prior to that.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Oh, ok. I thought you had to be on the active roster prior to that.[/quote]No, just the 40-man.
Go ahead, negative faget point this, faget!
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]No, just the 40-man.
Go ahead, negative faget point this faget![/quote]
Fixed.
Also, I’m going to go ahead and flag this one myself.
WaLiQuote Reply
So you don’t work on a contingency basis?
No, money down!
GBTSQuote Reply
Holy crap mb, who’d you piss off this time? (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
BEWB CUPCAKES
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Olney reporting that ATL may look to move Heyward. I’m sure the Cubs have nothing to offer (aside from Castro and Jackson), but WANT.[/quote]
They would probably take vitters, right? After all, he was drafted 10 spots higher.
GWQuote Reply
I would take Heyward in a heartbeat. Especially if they send Frank Wren and John Scheurholz along with him.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Where the hell is Sports Panties? I need a sports opinion.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Where the hell is Sports Panties? I need a sports opinion.[/quote](dying laughing) I had forgotten about Sports Panties (dying laughing)
cdwQuote Reply
On a Boston bus.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
http://espn.go.com/dallas/mlb/story/_/id/7039463/son-texas-rangers-fan-shannon-stone-throw-alds-pitch
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]
Seen on a Boston bus RIGHT BEFORE IT DROVE OFF A CLIFF.[/quote]Fixed.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
Serves those Massholes right. (dying laughing)
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=shawndgoldman]Fixed.[/quote]I can’t argue with you today.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Matt Moore makes me wet.
MishQuote Reply
Francona ———-> officially officially no longer Red Sox manager
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
Tony Reagins out in Anaheim. On the Wells trade alone, do not want.
MishQuote Reply
JOHNNY DAMON
MishQuote Reply
Tampa —> lead
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Tony Reagins out in Anaheim. On the Wells trade alone, do not want.[/quote]If you judge every GM on their worst deal, you won’t want anyone.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]If you judge every GM on their worst deal, you won’t want anyone.[/quote]I think that one is an exception.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS]I think that one is an exception.[/quote]Correct.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]If you judge every GM on their worst deal, you won’t want anyone.[/quote]True. But I can find some defensible arguments for most teams worst contracts (Soriano, Werth, Crawford, Dunn, etc). Trading for Wells has to be the worst, except maybe the Ryan HOward extension.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]True. But I can find some defensible arguments for most teams worst contracts (Soriano, Werth, Crawford, Dunn, etc). Trading for Wells has to be the worst, except maybe the Ryan HOward extension.[/quote]Agreed. I’m not a Reagins fan, but Theo and Cashman have had some real headscratchers of their own.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]Agreed. I’m not a Reagins fan, but Theo and Cashman have had some real headscratchers of their own.[/quote]*inserts Carl Crawford screed*
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]*inserts Carl Crawford screed*[/quote]Heyooooooooooo…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
The Rays seem to be having fun.
The Rangers look tired.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
GBTSQuote Reply
Shoppach!
MishQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
That catch was amazing.
GBTSQuote Reply
So…looks like CJ Wilson just lost a couple million on his next contract.
/small sample’d
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]So…looks like CJ Wilson just lost a couple million on his next contract.
/Ari Kaplan’d[/quote].
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=GBTS](dying laughing)
That catch was amazing.[/quote]I just saw the replay. That fan should get some kind of medal.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Aside from the awesomeness of Moore, a disappointing start to the postseason. Hopefully the Sabathia/Verlander duel will be something resembling a contest.
ACTQuote Reply
That was some terrible baserunning by the defending AL MVP there.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Aside from the awesomeness of Moore, a disappointing start to the postseason. Hopefully the Sabathia/Verlander duel will be something resembling a contest.[/quote]False. Go Rays.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]False. Go Rays.[/quote]Unless the Cubs still have a shot at Friedman, in which case, go Rangers (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
6 runs ain’t shit in Arlington, and Wilson is getting better.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]6 runs ain’t shit in Arlington, and Wilson is getting better.[/quote]Shut you right up.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Shut you right up.
ACTQuote Reply
Everyone shut up.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Matt Moore is incredible.
MishQuote Reply
http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=19794015
I assume those are the TBS announcers and not TBR’s, but they didn’t even give the fan props for his catch.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Did they just have Josh fucking Hamilton bunt with no outs when down eight fucking runs? (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing)
I can’t watch but I assume he was trying to bunt for a base hit, but if it was a called bunt then epic fail (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
(dying laughing), did Josh Hamilton really just sac bunt down 8-0? Someone should go check on MO and see if his brain exploded.
BerseliusQuote Reply
I think I might be dead. I’m pretty sure I’m dead and I have gone to hell, because that did not just fucking happen.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
I, too, was completely stunned by the sac bunt.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]
I can’t watch but I assume he was trying to bunt for a base hit, but if it was a called bunt then epic fail (dying laughing)[/quote]He bunted it right back at the pitcher, so I’d say it looked like a classic sac bunt.
ACTQuote Reply
According to Twitter, Hamilton set the record for sacrificing in the postseason with largest deficit.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]I think I might be dead. I’m pretty sure I’m dead and I have gone to hell, because that did not just fucking happen.[/quote]THAT WAS AWESOME (dying laughing)
MishQuote Reply
Mish ——> gonna get wasted tonight, for all the right reasons.
MishQuote Reply
Ron Washington must have forgotten what the score was. I can’t believe that was a called play by a real MLB manager. I also can’t believe Hamilton did it.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
MB I didn’t know you were a cinematographer.
http://www.buzzfeed.com/fjelstud/wtf-newspaper-article
cdwQuote Reply
OK, looks like the scorer determined he was trying to bunt for a hit (trying to beat the shift), so the sac got taken away. It was just a bad bunt, I guess.
ACTQuote Reply
Hamilton has only bunted once before (in the regular season). It was a sacrifice.
ACTQuote Reply
Matt Moore is pretty good at baseball.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
This has been a lot of fun, guys. Much better than last year’s game 1.
MishQuote Reply
McNutt struggled in his Instructs start today. That, for people who don’t know, is mostly of players who are making their professional debut (recent draft picks, etc).
mb22Quote Reply
RAYS
MishQuote Reply
Here’s the Hamilton bunt: http://twitpic.com/6t2m0p
Still think it looks like a sac.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Here’s the Hamilton bunt: http://twitpic.com/6t2m0p
Still think it looks like a sac.[/quote]This. Is. So. Fucking. Dumb.
Mercurial OutfielderQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Here’s the Hamilton bunt: http://twitpic.com/6t2m0p
Still think it looks like a sac.[/quote]He didn’t show bunt until the last moment so I guess that’s why they suggested he was trying to bunt for a hit.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
CC Sabathia’s free agent value just took a hit with that home run. Maybe he shouldn’t opt out.
/small sample’d
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Delmon Young? wtf. Seemed like the first 3 Tigers batters swung at every single pitch
Recalcitrant Blogger NateQuote Reply
My kingdom for a roof!
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]This. Is. So. Fucking. Dumb.[/quote]Well, you gotta get the potential down-by-seven run into scoring position somehow.
ACTQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
http://sports.failblog.org/2011/09/30/funny-sports-pictures-craig-kimbrel-one-night-stand/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
This rain probably just handed the Yankees the series, since it knocks out Verlander
BerseliusQuote Reply
I don’t think see why. Sabathia is approximately Verlander’s equal and both rotations have a steep dropoff after their ace.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Aside from the awesomeness of Moore, a disappointing start to the postseason. Hopefully the Sabathia/Verlander duel will be something resembling a contest.[/quote]So much for that. Epic fail by MLB…. I assume they’re the ones that get to decide if a playoff game starts, right? If it’s the home team, that rule should change yesterday.
shawndgoldmanQuote Reply
I yearn for the day when all stadiums have retractable roofs.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Mercurial Outfielder]This. Is. So. Fucking. Dumb.[/quote]Maybe, maybe not.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
[quote name=Suburban kid]Maybe, maybe not.[/quote]
Correct.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Yanks-Tigers preview up http://obstructedview.net/articles/major-league-baseball/series-preview-detroit-tigers-vs-new-york-yankees.html
BerseliusQuote Reply