Rather than have separate threads for the Braves, Yankees and everybody else in the world, I thought we could combine our baseball thoughts into one generic thread (obviously, if there are unique issues that arise, those could go separately).
Personally, it was a pretty nightmarish start for the season as my two favorite teams -- the Yankees (1) and the Braves (2) both opened 0-3.
I'm not too worried about the Yanks (and, indeed, they appear to be back on the right track thanks to the Orioles).
I was, however, growing more concerned about the Braves after their 0-4 start. Interesting that they finally won last night after getting Chipper Jones back in the lineup for the first time. He helped matters with a homer and a single in a 6-4 victory in Houston. I think that emphasizes what a key player he still is for the offensively challenged Braves. That's kind of scary given his age and fragile health.
Still, it's early and like every spring, I'm optimistic about the chances for another Atlanta-New York World Series!
Report from the Oakland-KC game this afternoon. The day and the game were pretty much...echhh! It went 12+, ending with a come-from behind A's victory when KC reliever, 300 lb. Jonathan Broxton, plunked two batters in a row leading to a HBP walkoff 5-4 win. Indeed, the Royals hit three batters, including Josh Reddick who had to come out after being appearing to have been beaned. A post-game story says he was hit in the shoulder and the ball ricocheted into the back of his head. He was on the ground for a long time.
The sky was gray, threatening and cool--even uncomfortable--but never rained and last night's shortened game did not repeat.
The main thing that can be said of this game is that both teams displayed a lot of players who are average at best. I do like A's rookie outfielder Collin Cowgill. He covers the ground and has an excellent arm. So far, though, he's got a .000 BA, consequently, ...
The star of the game, to the extent there was such a person, was Alex Gordon who had two RBIs for KC. The other choice would be Yoenis Cespedis of the A's who scored twice, once off a steal of third, befuddling catcher Brayan Pena who fired the the ball to right field. Cespedis also played well in center. Even though Jonny Gomes hit a 2 run homer for the A's, I wouldn't call him a star of the game. His third RBI was getting hit for the walkoff HBP. IMO, as a DH he simply fails too often; his strikeouts are usually on pitches he chooses to take, so he's called out when he should be hacking. I wouldn't put DH Billy Butler in the game star category either, despite his two RBIs. One came from a double in the 12th to allow the Royals to take the lead. IMO, it was tainted, as it was off one of the A's AAA-level pitchers--Jordan Norberto.
All in all, a non-event, even thought the A's won.
My Nationals are off to a hot start - 2 wins in 2 road series so far for a total record of 4-2 (albeit against the Cubs and the Mets). Pitching, save for Gio Gonzalez, is living up to its promise early. We'll see if it sticks, and we'll see if Gio can get a quality start tomorrow in the home opener vs. the Reds.
Now if only we could get Michael Morse and Drew Storen back...
JBDuke
Andre Dawkins: “People ask me if I can still shoot, and I ask them if they can still breathe. That’s kind of the same thing.”
The Cardinals are off to a great start. 5-2 against division rivals Brewers and Reds, and of course the singular win spoiling Miami's new ballpark. It has been a combination of offense and pitching. The only everyday Cardinal hitting under 300 is Matt Holiday, and they have smashed 12 homeruns as a team. Our 3-5 (Westbrook, Lohse, Lynn) starters are 4-0 with an ERA around 1. Fantastic.
Obviously this pace is unsustainable, but so far so good. I hope we do well against the Cubs this weekend. Pujols has been the primary Cub-killer the past several years, hopefully someone else will step up. Also, Wainwright will take some time to work back in shape after not pitching for almost 2 years due to Tommy John. We reallllly need him as the season progresses to be our ace.
Yes AKBear, the cards are pretty surprising. Must be team pride after losing Bert, who, btw, AL pitchers are probably not too thrilled about facing all season long.
Anyway, the Tigers and their well publicized Murderer's Row line-up are going to have to simmer down and get ready for the long haul. Too many media pre-season annointments may spoil the brew.
Verlander simply blew yesterday's superb outing, as he admitted post-game. I watched him totally lose his focus and control, actually staring off into space before his wind-up at one point. Maybe he was re-thinking that goofy MLB2K game commercial where he's dressed up like Randy Johnson.
Nice to see Miggy Cabrera with that smile on his face as he approaches the plate, knowing he's going to be thrown to instead of pitched out to 1st. He looks positively gleeful.
Can't wait to get up to the D and see some games!
I live on the lovely coast of NC.. but many of us that in years past, served in the US Navy or Marines, spent time in San Diego.
PADRE FAN SINCE 1971
We're off to another poor start,, Not sure why, as a decent Triple A team, we have to play Major League teams every year
Some times, we can do it with mirrors.. most seasons we can't. But we're not the Cubs
Being on the east coast, it's nice to follow the Braves and Nationals.. ( I'm not "fond" of the American League ) I like pitchers to bat and run the bases like all the other players on a TEAM.
I read once where the DH had a batting average of somewhere near .290.. where as the National League pitchers batted close to .190
One more hit out of 10 at bats.. geeeeze,, how impressive.
Padres are 2-4 to start the season.. I'm not expecting it go get better.. but till May, I can hope.
The actual numbers, from the 2008 season(quickest lookup I had provided data for that season) for pitchers... they batted .137. So more than a little less than .190. But then, if one is used to watching a quasi-minor league team, I suppose those numbers don't seem quite so bad .
I would reply back, but I'm too busy in the locker room drinking beer and eating chicken wings to bother...
And... really... it was just a return to the more usual form the Red Sox in history, finding ways to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory(on the plus side, they are off to a better start this year, they actually won 1 of their first 6 games!)
Speaking of designated hitters, I was just checking up on Jesus Montero the quasi-catcher my Yankees gave up to get Michael Pinero. Montera is the regular DH for the Seattle Mariners.
Montero is off to a slow start, which in itself is not significant (it's too early to read much into it). But what caught my eye was that after tonight's game, he has a higher batting average than his on base percentage.
If you know baseball stats, you know that's ALMOST impossible. But not quite. Montero is batting .280 with seven hits in 25 official at bats. However, he has no walks and no HBPs which would increase his OBP. But he does have two sacrifice flies -- which don't count against batting average, but do count against OBP. Thus his OBP is 7 fr 27 or .261!
I realize this is based on a small sample size. Still, even after just 27 plate appearances to have a higher BA than OBP is amazing. It will be interesting to see how long he keeps it up -- almost nobody ever winds up with more SFs than BBs. I doubt there is another regular in baseball at this moment with a higher BA than OBP. There are probably a few crubs with a handful of PAs that have managed the feat.
Anyway, just thought it curious.
Actually it is Michael Pineda and his trade to the Yankees upset a lot of Mariners fans so Montero will be under pressure to produce at the plate. The M's have their home opener against the A's tonight with King Felix on the mound against Colon. At 4-4, Seattle is off to a nice start thanks to going 3-1 against the A's in Japan and Oakland to start the season. In order to stay competitive they must pound the A's at every opportunity so taking two out of three this weekend is important.
Bob Green
I wonder if the number I saw were since 1990 for example, or for a single year.
Pitchers that year, batted .137 .. what was the DH batting ave. that year,, if it's easy to look up,, just curious.
Amazing , others that have to watch their minor league team playing the professionals
According to baseball prospectus, pitchers (in both leagues) batted .139/.177/.175/.352 in 2008 (negligibly better if you look just at NL pitchers), and DH's hit .255/.338/.433/.771, so aside from the big gap in batting average, the overall gap in hitting production was pretty massive.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/le...=MLB&year=2008
I highly doubt pitchers ever collectively hit .190 in a season, at least in the past 30 or 40 years.
Demented and sad, but social, right?
The Nationals lost today, keeping them from sweeping the Reds in Washington's home-opening series. Still, a 3-1 series win gives Nats the upper hand in all three series played so far and a total record of 7-3 - good for first place in the NL East, half a game ahead of the Mets. Starting pitching is still the strong suit, and the total staff ERA is now 1.82. Storen looks to be out until the All-Star break, and neither Rodriquez nor Lidge have earned a lot of my confidence that they can step into the job. Morse is out for who knows how long with a torn muscle. Luckily, LaRoche and Werth have started off well, mitigating some of the impact of losing Morse.
Next up - 4 games at home vs. the Astros. Strasburg vs. Weiland tomorrow night at 7:05.
JBDuke
Andre Dawkins: “People ask me if I can still shoot, and I ask them if they can still breathe. That’s kind of the same thing.”