Jehrico

Just some interesting team stats and notes I picked up... The Rockies have allowed the fewest HRs so far in all of baseball. Just to throw a little fuel on the sabermetrics fire, the Cubs are 4th in baseball in opponents batting average, but with our atrocious walk rate, we're tied for 13th in OBP allowed. We're 4th in baseball in team ERA. Is a walk really as valuable as a hit? Not yet as far as this season is concerned... (*just making a funny observation...I know it's early in the season, small sample, blah blah blah....) Atlanta has the 2nd worst ERA in baseball (could this really be the year their streak is broken? I'm still not betting against them...). They also have the worst WHIP, which is barely under 2.00. Despite the 2nd worst ERA in baseball, they've been the second best team in baseball at keeping the ball in the park, giving up only 3 hrs so far. The Whitesox and Braves (two teams that made the playoffs last year primarily with good pitching) are the only teams to blow 2 saves already. We're giving up almost 6 walks per game (2nd worst rate in MLB), Detroit is at 1.4 (best in MLB). How good would our pitching be if they were middle of the road? Despite having the 2nd worst control in baseball so far, we have yet to give up a wild pitch, one of only two teams in baseball with no wild pitches. Billy Beane's money ball team is right behind us in the standings as far as walks given up. They're also leading baseball in the other form of a free pass, the HBP. Conversely, the Cubs are one of four teams not to plunk someone from the other team (just wait till Wood and Prior get back!) Only one other team in baseball has not yet given up a HBP or a WP...the Cardinals. More moneyball: The Reds lead the league in OBP at .429 (wow!). They're taking 6.4 BBs per game. We're taking 3.5 (almost middle of the pack). DLee and Murton account for half of our walks by themselves. DLee and Murt are on pace to comine for aroudn 280 walks. The whole team combined for 419 walks last year. The Yankee's have only given up two doubles so far (wow!) The Mets are 2nd with 4 doubles. If you combined their totals, only the Brewers have given up fewer doubles than them. They Royals are tied for hitting the 4th most doubles and 2nd most triples in baseball. They've also hit the 4th fewest HRs so far, with three. The defending WS champs have hit the 2nd fewest HRs so far, with 2. They have the worst SLG in the AL, 3rd worst in baseball. If it weren't for the DH, they'd probably be last in all of baseball. Maybe we could trade them Pierre and give them a boost? The Dodgers reloaded offense only has two hits for more than a double: one triple, and one HR. The Cardinals have the 22nd worst slugging in baseball, and are just behind Minnesota. The only starter on our team without a hit has the 2nd most intentional walks on the team (Jones). Anyone else have any interesting stats or observations for this young season?

Then the organization would be forced to bring up someone from within, and Sing would be our RFer.

Fixing my own question: I meant Connolly when I asked why "he" was cut loose above...

I'd add Mulder to that list...if he's healthy and his hips aren't giving him problems, he could be an ace in some rotations. He didn't have a particularly great first year in the NL though. I like Yadier Molina. He may not be great this year, but I think he's going to be another Tony Pena type of catcher once he hits his prime. He's going to be a good one. And Pujols, he's so good, he's the equivalent of two good players at least. Other than that, I'd agree, they don't have as many solid players as they have in years past. They're alot closer to average now than they were.

That's alright, just give him the turkey leg! (funny this suggestiong just came up, I fried 3 turkeys just yesterday). Maybe the grease from the legs will prevent him from getting a good grip on the ball.

Felix was the flamethrowing lefty that had a knockout spring in '03, and was competing with Guz for the Rookie of spring camp award of whatever they call it. I think he actually got a taste of the majors with us at one point though. Has anyone actually heard why he was cut loose? Was it injury problems he wasn't expected to recover from?

Ah, I thought we were still talking about the preseason rankings. That changes things. The original ranking that was blasted to start this thread was before opening day.

And if Detroit got hot for 5 games in the middle of July, nobody would be making such a huge deal about it. of course not, but they have justified their ranking. If he's not an idiot because Detroit has played well, then he's an idiot for picking us and Cincy towards the bottom of the chart, as our two teams are a collective 7-2, with our two losses coming when we played each other. Either way, he's still an idiot. I still stand by my assertion that Dayn Perry is the dumbest sports writer for a nationally syndicated sports venue in the country.

He is only among the worst hitters in all of major league baseball since 1900. THAT IS BAD. Today he got a bloop single on a ball that was a six inches of the ground and a lucky hop that golden boy Pujols should have stabbed. Neifi sucks, he should never start. Ever. Where did you come up with that stat? Since 1900? This hatred of Perez is just plain silly. * Fewest RCAA since 1900 1 Ski Melillo -355 2 Tommy Thevenow -351 3 Bill Bergen -312 4 Tim Foli -309 5 Larry Bowa -307 6 Alfredo Griffin -306 T7 Don Kessinger -305 T7 Ozzie Guillen -305 9 Neifi Perez -302 10 Ed Brinkman -300 source: Sabermetic Baseball Encyclopedia Definition of RCAA: 1. RCAA (n) a measure of a batter's ability to contribute runs per outs made as compared to the runs contributed by a theoretical average player. Just for kicks, here's the top 10 since 1900:' EDIT: NL-ONLY. For the top 10 list for both leagues, see my post below. RCAA 1 Barry Bonds 1502 2 Stan Musial 1204 3 Rogers Hornsby 1081 4 Hank Aaron 1039 5 Willie Mays 1008 6 Mel Ott 989 7 Honus Wagner 938 8 Jeff Bagwell 680 9 Joe Morgan 657 10 Eddie Mathews 652 P.S. Not that i expect you to believe this stat at all. In fact, you'll probably just ignore it and then wait for one of us young whippersnappers to make another statement you find outlandish, which you will reply to with a post like this one: "(Insert partial quoted comment here)! Ha! That's outlandish!" In fact, just cut and paste the above line from now on to save yourself time. Are you sure that top 10 is right for the NL? That's just a wierd distribution curve, namely the drop from Wagner to Bagwell.

Colletti was still with SF when that trade went down.

Maybe Edmonds, you know, likes hanging around in the shower with the guys...and the cold water makes his...uh...nevermind...

What's the story behind it? I'm not sure of the details, however, Ned Colleti worked for the Cubs for 12 years then worked for the Giants. I believe he had a run in of sorts with Baker while there. Now that he is with the Dodgers, he seemingly doesn't want to work with, or deal with the Cubs. I'm sure someone else can fill you in better. That makes sense. Kinda makes you wonder if Colletti offered ridculous money to Furcal just to stick it to us. Colleti was another guy in the org back when the leadership was absolutely clueless. I think he was part of our team when Maddux walked and signed with Atlanta, wasn't he (not that I'd pin that on him over Himes though...). But he was still part of the regime of idiots if I recall correctly (which I might not...). He was a big reason Dusty left SF (one good move on his part, I suppose). I honestly wouldn't doubt the above explanation for him offering the ridiculous cash that he gave to Furcal. He's a moron. I'm glad he's running the team in a town as sweet as LA.

So should we boo Pierre everytime he swings at strike one or strike two? :)

That was an awesome way to end the work week! Thks for MLBTV, as it's only 2:40 here.

Murton came out, he took LF. Didn't matter though, no chance we were coming back up to bat.

Murton made the last out, so Pagan took over left in a double switch.

Who cares about unloading the contract...swallowing that montrocity would be worth it if they'd just release him. I'd rather have Sing out there for the league minimum.

At least he dropped his K rate to .300 per plate appearance...

I'm loving having this pen...game's been over since the 6th inning...

Howry looking purdy darned good up there...KKK for the inning...

Did Kaspar just apologize for being distracted by his chin?

While I would love to see it....does anyone think we'll actually see this staff for even one full time through the rotation this year? much less several turns through? Just curious if I'm the only one who doubts we'll see all 5 of those guys at the same time for any extended period of time. I'll take further, I don't believe we'll ever see Prior and Wood in the rotation for one full time let alone the for an extended period. I'll keep hoping and dreaming though... I predict we'll have both Wood and Prior together for at least the last two weeks in May, and all of June (barring another linedrive off of the pitching arm type of freak injury).

I think as a hitter, you should go up to the plate looking for your pitch. Swinging at an eye-high fastball or a curveball 12 inches off of the plate on the first pitch because you determined before you stepped into the box is one thing. If the pitcher has been hanging breaking balls in the meaty part of the zone, and the hitter is looking for one to jack, and he gets it on the first pitch, there's nothing wrong with that either. When you're in the late innings, and the other team's reliever hangs a meaty breaking ball over the plate, you don't pass on a gift like that for some silly notion of running the relievers pitch counts up. Now, if you have a starter who is really in his groove, I think the best strategy is to go up there, take some pitches, and make him work to try to get the out. Don't give him anything, and make him hit the plate. If it's the 8th or 9th inning against their late relief corps, you swing at a good pitch when you get one.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/czechrepublicTCR/headfirstlikepeterose.jpg never bet against the reds Did choose some days to not bet on the Reds. Not betting on your team does not create a conflict of interests. Betting with people who take bets on your team does, period. Even if he was betting on the Bears, he shouldn't have been gambling. He doesn't have to bet on the Reds one way or the other. Picture this...He loses betting that the Pack would beat the Bears, and he owes...big...he's just put himself in a situation where he's compromised himself, as the bookie could coax him into throwing a game as a means of repayment. Maybe he puts in the wrong reliever with horrible lifetime splits against the other teams best hitter in a tight game, who knows. He never bet on or against his team, but the integrity is gone. When you're a sports manager, you just shouldn't be associating with sports bookies, period. From what you just wrote, it would seem you have no problem with Rose betting in Vegas. Is that the case? If you mean going to a casino and dropping a bill on a three card stud table, then no. I would have a problem with him betting with sports bookies, legal or not.

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y90/czechrepublicTCR/headfirstlikepeterose.jpg never bet against the reds Did choose some days to not bet on the Reds. Not betting on your team does not create a conflict of interests. Betting with people who take bets on your team does, period. Even if he was betting on the Bears, he shouldn't have been gambling. He doesn't have to bet on the Reds one way or the other. Picture this...He loses betting that the Pack would beat the Bears, and he owes...big...he's just put himself in a situation where he's compromised himself, as the bookie could coax him into throwing a game as a means of repayment. Maybe he puts in the wrong reliever with horrible lifetime splits against the other teams best hitter in a tight game, who knows. He never bet on or against his team, but the integrity is gone. When you're a sports manager, you just shouldn't be associating with sports bookies, period.