Re: Five best and worst MLB broadcasting teams

[jersey cubs fan]

I don't know if he still does ESPN TV ever but Jon Sciambi is awesome.

 

I don't know if he does TV for ESPN either, but he's the Sunday Night Baseball PBP guy on ESPN Radio along with Dave Campbell.

 

He had a great line about Lou constantly getting Marshall warmed up. When Campbell (who is just so god awful and obsessed with the Yankees) was talking about the Cubs bullpen struggling and forcing Lou to go to another reliever, the PBP guy said, "but nothing says it has to be Marshall every time."

[dew1679666265]

I don't know if he still does ESPN TV ever but Jon Sciambi is awesome.

 

I don't know if he does TV for ESPN either, but he's the Sunday Night Baseball PBP guy on ESPN Radio along with Dave Campbell.

 

He had a great line about Lou constantly getting Marshall warmed up. When Campbell (who is just so god awful and obsessed with the Yankees) was talking about the Cubs bullpen struggling and forcing Lou to go to another reliever, the PBP guy said, "but nothing says it has to be Marshall every time."

 

I didn't listen to the whole broadcast, but that's a pretty good line.

[Andy]

Sciambi did at one point do college basketball games on the ESPN networks, I believe he still does.

[Formerly Snayke]

Bobby Valentine is the worst. Jesus, La Russa makes me want to pull my hair out, but the snide comments are unacceptable. Just as the La Russa ball washing gets old, the constant jabbing gets just as old. You aren't half the manager he is and you never will be.

[hawkeyecub]

Bobby Valentine is the worst. Jesus, La Russa makes me want to pull my hair out, but the snide comments are unacceptable. Just as the La Russa ball washing gets old, the constant jabbing gets just as old. You aren't half the manager he is and you never will be.

 

Really?

 

I posted in the game thread that tonight was my favorite national broadcast I've heard in a long time. Years, maybe ever. Schulman (whom I love during college hoops), Orel and Bobby V were [expletive] awesome. They avoided cliche's, they got technical, they weren't afraid to question players/managers. It helped make that game outstanding until Lopez' HR.

[Formerly Snayke]

Valentine acted like a baby over the pitcher batting eighth thing all night long. Whining about that is the very definition of being a cliche.

[Sammy Sofa]

Nobody can ever take enough shots at that.

[javy knows my name]

Nobody can ever take enough shots at that.

This is correct. It's almost like leading off with Aaron Miles

[Formerly Snayke]

Nobody can ever take enough shots at that.

This is correct. It's almost like leading off with Aaron Miles

 

It's actually nothing like that since the pitcher batting eighth is as inconsequential as Manny Ramirez batting fourth and David Ortiz batting third.

[javy knows my name]

Nobody can ever take enough shots at that.

This is correct. It's almost like leading off with Aaron Miles

 

It's actually nothing like that since the pitcher batting eighth is as inconsequential as Manny Ramirez batting fourth and David Ortiz batting third.

You're giving a pitcher more PAs than certain position players over the course of the year. That's just annoying, not to mention stupid

[Rob]

Nobody can ever take enough shots at that.

This is correct. It's almost like leading off with Aaron Miles

 

It's actually nothing like that since the pitcher batting eighth is as inconsequential as Manny Ramirez batting fourth and David Ortiz batting third.

You're giving a pitcher more PAs than certain position players over the course of the year. That's just annoying, not to mention stupid

 

It makes surprisingly little difference as is. If they moved Pujols up to 2nd in the order, the pitcher 8th thing would be a significant benefit. As is, it's about a wash.

[Formerly Snayke]

Nobody can ever take enough shots at that.

This is correct. It's almost like leading off with Aaron Miles

 

It's actually nothing like that since the pitcher batting eighth is as inconsequential as Manny Ramirez batting fourth and David Ortiz batting third.

You're giving a pitcher more PAs than certain position players over the course of the year. That's just annoying, not to mention stupid

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/is-larussa-right-to-bat-his-pitcher-in-the-eight-slot/

[dew1679666265]

It makes surprisingly little difference as is. If they moved Pujols up to 2nd in the order, the pitcher 8th thing would be a significant benefit. As is, it's about a wash.

 

Why would it be a significant benefit if Pujols moved to 2nd? In that scenario, it seems like you're lineup is the same as if you batted Pujols 3rd and kept everything else normal, except the pitcher gets a few more PAs and there is the potential for fewer guys on base before Pujols in the first inning.

[Formerly Snayke]

Why would it be a significant benefit if Pujols moved to 2nd?

 

It increases the team's run expectancy.

[dew1679666265]

Why would it be a significant benefit if Pujols moved to 2nd?

 

It increases the team's run expectancy.

 

Why?

[Guest]

Why would it be a significant benefit if Pujols moved to 2nd?

 

It increases the team's run expectancy.

 

Why?

If nothing else, 30 extra PA's for Pujols over the course of a season.

[TruffleShuffle]

Why would it be a significant benefit if Pujols moved to 2nd?

 

It increases the team's run expectancy.

 

Why?

If nothing else, 30 extra PA's for Pujols over the course of a season.

 

30 times a year the #2 hitter makes the last out of a ballgame? that seems like too much.

[Guest]

Why would it be a significant benefit if Pujols moved to 2nd?

 

It increases the team's run expectancy.

 

Why?

If nothing else, 30 extra PA's for Pujols over the course of a season.

 

30 times a year the #2 hitter makes the last out of a ballgame? that seems like too much.

Sorry, put that in from memory without thinking about it.

 

Figure an average of 1/9th of games where the #2 hitter makes the last out. 162/9 = 18 extra PA's a year. It's probably more on the order of 15 as the bottom of the order is more likely to make outs (in general).

 

Not a huge difference in run expectancy, but it's one factor.

[Formerly Snayke]

Why would it be a significant benefit if Pujols moved to 2nd?

 

It increases the team's run expectancy.

 

Why?

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/is-larussa-right-to-bat-his-pitcher-in-the-eight-slot/

[dew1679666265]

Why would it be a significant benefit if Pujols moved to 2nd?

 

It increases the team's run expectancy.

 

Why?

 

http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/is-larussa-right-to-bat-his-pitcher-in-the-eight-slot/

 

That doesn't explain why moving the pitcher to eight and then moving Pujols to second improves run expectancy. It doesn't even address moving Pujols and it says batting the pitcher 7th (for the Cardinals in 2007) is optimal. It really doesn't explain my question, unless I missed something.

[dew1679666265]

Why would it be a significant benefit if Pujols moved to 2nd?

 

It increases the team's run expectancy.

 

Why?

If nothing else, 30 extra PA's for Pujols over the course of a season.

 

I understand that in the most general of senses, but Rob said moving the pitcher to 8 and Pujols to 2 at the same time will be a significant benefit. I don't understand the thinking in making both those moves.

[Formerly Snayke]

That doesn't explain why moving the pitcher to eight and then moving Pujols to second improves run expectancy. It doesn't even address moving Pujols and it says batting the pitcher 7th (for the Cardinals in 2007) is optimal. It really doesn't explain my question, unless I missed something.

 

Sorry, it was early (or late, I can't remember right now) and I thought the discussion was still about pitchers batting eighth.

 

You should consult Tom Tango. I am certain that he has done plenty of work on why not just Pujols -- but every team's best hitter -- should bat second.

[woodchip2153]

optimizing your lineup

[dew1679666265]

optimizing your lineup

 

Alright, thanks. We're getting closer, but that still doesn't address the combo of Pujols 2/pitcher 8. In fact, Tango says only in extreme situations (Adam Everett, Tony Pena Jr) should you hit your pitcher 8th.

 

I may have misread his post, but it appeared to me that Rob was putting importance on the combo of moving the pitcher to the 8 spot and Pujols (or the best hitter in the lineup, I would assume) to the 2 spot. I don't see the connection.

[woodchip2153]

optimizing your lineup

 

Alright, thanks. We're getting closer, but that still doesn't address the combo of Pujols 2/pitcher 8. In fact, Tango says only in extreme situations (Adam Everett, Tony Pena Jr) should you hit your pitcher 8th.

 

I may have misread his post, but it appeared to me that Rob was putting importance on the combo of moving the pitcher to the 8 spot and Pujols (or the best hitter in the lineup, I would assume) to the 2 spot. I don't see the connection.

 

you misread, that was saying you should only bat your worst position player 8th in the American League if it's an extreme situation.

 

Batting your best hitter 2nd is optimal and the effect is maximized when you have your pitcher 8th because it increases the RBI opportunities for the top of the lineup.