Tim Lincecum: Mildly Great
by Grant Brisbee on Aug 10, 2010 12:44 PM PDT
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So, just to be clear, this is who some of us are freaking out about:
| Year | W | L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | ERA+ | WHIP | H/9 | HR/9 | BB/9 | SO/9 | SO/BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 11 | 5 | 3.15 | 23 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 151.2 | 136 | 55 | 53 | 12 | 58 | 5 | 159 | 4 | 136 | 1.279 | 8.1 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 9.4 | 2.74 |
Yeah, that’s someone we need to be worried about. That’s someone we need to dissect and scrutinize. It’s still a hot topic on talk radio and at the ballpark. What’s wrong with Tim Lincecum? Why is he only one of the best pitchers in baseball now? Two part answer:
- We’re a little spoiled.
- Shut up, you spoiled brat.
But I’ll admit, I’m guilty too. When I watch a Lincecum start, and he gives up a four-pitch walk, I get nervous. Uh oh, I think. Meltdown approaching. But his walk rate is the same as it was in his first Cy Young season, when he also lead the league in wild pitches. I don’t remember feeling too nervous in 2008 or 2009. Then he’ll toss an 89-mph fastball, and I’ll think, gulp, here’s the beginning of the end.
He isn’t exactly the same pitcher as last year, though. He’s striking out fewer batters (one fewer per nine innings compared to last year) and his velocity is down by .9 MPH. Maybe that .9 is some sort of tipping point, which means we’re stuck with a pitcher who can only strike out an average of a batter per inning. It’s sad to say, but…
Wait, what in the hell am I writing about? This is what we’re worried about. A pitcher who has won two straight Cy Youngs, who is 13th in the NL in ERA, and who is getting swing throughs at the same rate he was last year.
And yet I still do worry. It’s crazy. I mean, this is the kind of thing you worry about:
| Year | Age | Tm | W | L | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | HBP | ERA+ | WHIP | H/9 | HR/9 | BB/9 | SO/9 | SO/BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 25 | DET | 11 | 17 | 4.84 | 33 | 33 | 1 | 0 | 201.0 | 195 | 119 | 108 | 18 | 87 | 163 | 14 | 93 | 1.403 | 8.7 | 0.8 | 3.9 | 7.3 | 1.87 |
Yet Justin Verlander finished 3rd in the Cy Young voting the following year. Sometimes young pitchers have down years. Like this guy:
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | W | L | W-L% | ERA | G | GS | CG | SHO | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | IBB | SO | ERA+ | WHIP | H/9 | HR/9 | BB/9 | SO/9 | SO/BB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 25 | STL | NL | 10 | 19 | .345 | 3.73 | 34 | 33 | 13 | 2 | 253.2 | 239 | 123 | 105 | 25 | 109 | 16 | 193 | 111 | 1.372 | 8.5 | 0.9 | 3.9 | 6.8 | 1.77 |
See? Steve Carlton turned out okay. So I’m not worried about Tim Lincecum, partially because he’s actually having a very fine season, and partially because I’m content to cherry-pick the historical hiccups that make me feel better while ignoring the long, long, long list of pitchers who started out like Hall-of-Famers but ended up rapidly declining or getting hurt. That list just isn’t relevant to me and I refuse to look at it. You can’t make me.
Maybe Lincecum’s just jealous of Buster Posey. Maybe they have kind of a Woody/Buzz Lightyear thing going on. All I know is that it’s kind of tiring to have two pitchers (Lincecum and Madison Bumgarner) whose velocity is a constant obsession among Giants nerds. I’ve seen young Giants pitchers struggle after promising debuts. I knew Giants pitchers who struggled after promising debuts. Giants pitchers who struggled after promising debuts were friends of mine. Tim Lincecum, you’re not a Giants pitcher struggling after a promising debut. Get over it, you spoiled brats.
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So… he only did that for one game, right? What was up with that?
I may have missed convos on it. I was away for a while.
by The Double Deuce on Aug 10, 2010 12:57 PM PDT up reply actions
He's done it for 2 games now
I think it looks cool personally, but you gotta figure it’s mostly a mental thing.
My Son, the best outfielder in the National League.
My rule for the 2010 Giants: Everyone with an OPS over .800 gets a pass.
I am a Bochy hater and a Sabean apologist.
Has he made any comments on it or anything? Seems like a bigger deal would be made of it.
by The Double Deuce on Aug 10, 2010 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought he said it was to help slow him down during his wind-up, control his timing better.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
The dude plays with his mechanics a bunch
There are games when he pitches entirely out of the stretch.
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
This
Evan should speak for himself!
(Now if you will excuse me…)
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm spoiled
"Dodger fans aren’t happy when foul balls get into their section, because it interferes with their playing with the beachball"- Mike Krukow
On thing I have notice in his stats is that his HR rate is almost double what it was t he past two years.
Overplayed memes:
EASTCOAST BIAS
2002 WS CANCELED
Blue Jays want all our player that we don't utilize correctly
by say hey nation on Aug 10, 2010 12:48 PM PDT reply actions
And I imagine its a fluke thing.
Overplayed memes:
EASTCOAST BIAS
2002 WS CANCELED
Blue Jays want all our player that we don't utilize correctly
by say hey nation on Aug 10, 2010 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
His BAA and OPS Against were trending down until this season. They are both currently the highest they have been in his 3+ seasons. And his BABIP is the same as his 2008 season. It could be that he is just levelling off now. The last two seasons were pretty historic for someone just breaking into the league.
Summary: He is pretty great, but not as unbelievably great as 2008.
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:02 PM PDT up reply actions
OR he’s historically great and just having a “down” year.
I’ll be in this line.
by The Double Deuce on Aug 10, 2010 1:03 PM PDT up reply actions
The problem is, the diminished velocity and K rate are real. This isn’t just sample error.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:06 PM PDT up reply actions
The K-rate drop isn’t huge.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
10.4 to 9.4
Overplayed memes:
EASTCOAST BIAS
2002 WS CANCELED
Blue Jays want all our player that we don't utilize correctly
by say hey nation on Aug 10, 2010 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
That is not a big drop.
If he dropped to, like. 7.5, I could understand all the consternation.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
The one-year drop in itself isn’t a big deal. The idea that it may be the start of a trend is, imo. I just don’t think all of the facts are in yet; and they probably won’t be until the mid-point of next season.
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Greg Maddux had his K rate drop by 1 or more per 9 innings from one year to the next at least 4 times in his career, with no particular distribution to the changes.
Pedro Martinez 5 times.
It happens.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:11 PM PDT up reply actions
It does happen. It also happens that it goes down and doesn’t come back. We also know velocity helps that, and he’s not throwing as hard as he was.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions
Yeah, but I was just making the point that maybe there are better things to freak out about than stuff that is totally normal.
Frankly, the velocity is probably a little worrisome. But the k/9 thing is totally normal. You can connect the two if you want, but without waiting a few years and seeing how it all turns out, it’s probably more a case of seeking correlation than anything else.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:52 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, the correlation DOES exist – not just in this one instance, but in baseball in general, so yes, I do believe there is a connection.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Maybe I’m just parsing at this point, but unless it’s a necessary connection, isn’t it just speculation for the time being?
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Whatever. Don’t answer that. I’m just parsing at this point.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Parsnip
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Yuck.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Posey
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
Fossil
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
Frusciante
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Man
Why to people knock the parsnip? It’s basically a carrot. And tastes awesome braised. And had a starring role in Super Mario Brothers 2.
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
A nice white bean and parsnip puree is a great bed to serve braised short ribs on.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Mmm
Word. Pureed turnip goes great with meat.
We need to start proselytizing the awesomeness of the turnip. Maybe start some hating on the pedestrian potato.
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
It’s also completely standard. Young power pitchers tend to lose a few K’s as they get a handle on their control. The problem is that Timmy hasn’t gotten a handle on his control yet. But he will, in time.
OT: but Cliff Lee has walked 9 people this year. 9! And struck out 126. WTF is up with that?
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
he's a wizard
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
And Tim is only an enchanter. Damn.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
LINCECUM FOR LEE GIT R DUN SABEZ
Read my Cal blog: http://since59.blogspot.com/ Go Bears!
Ryan Verdugo, my adopted son, strikes out 12 per 9 innings. Kid's a beast.
Yeah, that’s pretty unbelievable. Wow.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
In 2004, Cliff Lee struck out 8.1 per 9. A year later he only struck out 6.4 per 9. OMG.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
To be fair
didn’t Lee have a drop off where was pretty bad and then went to Cy Young form
Read my Cal blog: http://since59.blogspot.com/ Go Bears!
Ryan Verdugo, my adopted son, strikes out 12 per 9 innings. Kid's a beast.
Does he still have the same number of CG's and BB's?
Proud father of Mike Krukow (who is more than 3 times my age)
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Still cheering for Kevin Frandsen
John Bowker: One of the 3 best OF's on the Giants roster
Not quite, but he does have the same number of CGs and unintentional BBs. I forgot to note above that 2 of his 9 BBs are IBB.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
Man that is insane
He’s gotta be the AL Cy Young, right? I mean Price has been really good but…
Proud father of Mike Krukow (who is more than 3 times my age)
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Still cheering for Kevin Frandsen
John Bowker: One of the 3 best OF's on the Giants roster
Definitely Lee for me.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions
This.
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
And they think Oswalt makes up for that..
Overplayed memes:
EASTCOAST BIAS
2002 WS CANCELED
Blue Jays want all our player that we don't utilize correctly
by say hey nation on Aug 10, 2010 6:23 PM PDT up reply actions
How?
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
I think Timmy has. His control has improved significantly from college to the minors to the pros and throughout his pro career. He used to be a walking machine. Now he has solid control. That said, what happens when your “power pitcher” is no longer a “power pitcher” – that is, his K’s drop and his velocity is high 80’s instead of mid 90’s….?
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions
A loss of 1 K/9 isn’t huge, but it is meaningful from a performance standpoint. K/9 also stabilizes rather quickly, so it’s not just a sample size fluke, especially knowing his loss in velocity.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:36 PM PDT up reply actions
And, again, it is far too early to say definitively whether this means anything at all.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
And I’ve avoided making a definite claim other than “it worries me”.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:39 PM PDT up reply actions
For the record he was better last year than the year before
I would like to talk to you about my pokemonz
This
Overplayed memes:
EASTCOAST BIAS
2002 WS CANCELED
Blue Jays want all our player that we don't utilize correctly
by say hey nation on Aug 10, 2010 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
What about the ROIDS?
Not suggesting TIm is on them, but maybe everyone being on them skewed our perception of performance curves and more specifically sustainable velocity.
For the most part it seems that younger and younger players are playing better and velocity is declining quickly in pitchers. Maybe this is because without or with less performance enhancement, youth is the new trump card.
All merely hypothesis that will surely be destroyed by someones science in 3, 2, 1,…
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
All merely hypothesis that will surely be destroyed by someones science in 3, 2, 1,…
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions
Nothing about age there.
If age has gone down with FB going up that dose not discount my hypothesis.
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
Yeah,
as I was thinking about it, highly unlikely that average age would dip so dramatically as to account for that gain in velo.
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
even if age/velocity were correlated.
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
…that closely
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
They are closely correlated, if that makes you feel better!
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Inversely even.
My Bucardo is better than yours.
A hot August weekday, before a small crowd, when the only thing at stake is the tissue-thin difference between a thing done well and a thing done ill. Insofar as the clutch hitter is not a sportswriter's myth, it is a vulgarity, like a writer who writes only for money.
I think his idea may be that the way to get hard-throwing pitchers now isn’t to roid them up, but to bring them up younger. So the velocity curve could be going up because there are more young pitchers even though older ones have declined – perhaps even declined out of the sport.
I think it’s fairly unlikely, but the idea that bringing up young pitchers to bring up combat earlier decline points in the now-roidless older pitchers might be true in some smaller sense.
Of course, the idea that pitchers aren’t performance-enhancing anymore is pretty tenuous to begin with.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Yes, I realize that the "clean" era is just a PR talking point for MLB and it's
stakeholders.
That said I think it is a safe assumption that use is down, maybe even down significantly.
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
Well, my main point was that I think it’s an interesting idea, but is probably only true on a small scale if at all. It certainly makes sense that with PED-use down, you would have to look somewhere else for whatever you were trying to get out of PEDs, and that place may be youth.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Blech, that was poorly written.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions
I understand what you’re going for. Less roids = less old pitchers = more young pitchers and young pitchers have higher velocities. I can follow that logic. Could explain some of that trend.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions
well as a derivitive of that,
Could this nearly 1MPH decline in AVG FB in his 4th season be something that is or was a normal pre-roid occurance? I mean is this normal but historically masked over the past decade? I guess is my question.
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
He's "pitching to contact"
Remember last year, when everyone had their underwear in a bunch because his pitch counts were so high? He kept going for the K rather than just trying to get the out. Now he’s doing that, and a whole bunch of chicken littles are panicking.
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means" - Inigo Montoya
The thing is, pitching to contact doesn’t really reduce your pitch counts. And furthermore, I know the team and the KNBR folks talk about pitching to contact, but I really don’t think Lincecum’s actively reducing his strikeout totals.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
To be frank, I just don’t think you can support that notion with facts. This strongly suggests to me that his velocity loss is real, in addition to other things (like him asking Rags where the fastball velocity went)….
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
Pitching to contact is good if you are getting outs
Not if you are giving up more homers/hits and lasting a half inning less
His pitches per game is virtually identical and his innings per game is lower… he’s throwing more pitches per inning. How does this jibe with the ‘pitching for contact’ theory?
FWIW, I consider ‘pitching to contact’ a positive attitude for a pitcher to have and ‘I need to strike everybody out’ a bad attitude to pitch with.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I am in this line
And the worst part, those fukin’ douchenozzles over at the MCC get to lord this over us.
I'm not
Yeah, it’s good to last as long as possible. On the other hand, it’s even better to minimize the number of base-runners. The best way to do that: strike-outs.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
In no way do I think strike outs are bad. In fact, I am of the opinion that pitching for strike outs isn’t necessarily the best way of producing strikeouts.
Instead, I said if a pitcher is pitching with the attitude that he needs to strike everyone out (which I think is generally due to being afraid of hitters making contact) he will tend to throw too many pitches, and particularly too many pitches outside of the strike zone. And walks are not an effective way to minimize baserunners.
In short: throw strikes (Giant’s pitcher).
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 4:02 PM PDT up reply actions
What I know is this: even during the steroid era, pitchers really just lose velocity. They don’t gain it – from the second they get into the majors, it’s a downward trend, on average. Lincecum’s is just too downward, too early, and I don’t know if it will stop (or his velocity will return at all), and that has me worried.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 3:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Is Barry Zito an exception to that? Or is the whole canyon thing overblown?
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions
I’m just talking a population’s overall trend. Guys definitely gain and lose velocity from year to year.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions
OK, makes sense that the trendline is down… inversely proportional to the hairline, amirite?
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 3:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Zito’s velocity has clearly trended down over his career, though. There was some weird stuff going for a few years, starting around 2006, but in general, it’s going down.
From 2002 to 2005, his average fastball velocity had always been somewhere between 87.3 and 86.9. Since then it’s been 85.8 or lower in all but one year – 2009, when it was 86.5.
I was promised lasagna.
A lot of factors aren’t controlled, no doubt, I just think it suggests roids are nothing more than a minor factor.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
Despite the fear of being accused
of trumpet-tooting, here:
http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/08/06/what-if-we-are-wrong-again-about-steroids/
and the original research here:
http://steroids-and-baseball.com/
There’s info in there about steroids and pitchers, but it’s mostly about batters. The author of the research does not know I’m posting this. But I’ll tell him in a bit.
by mrs. owlcroft on Aug 10, 2010 3:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow that evidence is pretty damning
For example, a 2000 examination at the University of Rhode Island, on which a team of six professors spent five months, found that ball cores from 1995 and 2000 balls bounced an average of 33 percent higher than their 1989, 1970, and 1963 counterparts. And in 1998, a CT scan of baseballs from many eras, supervised by Penn State professors, showed serious differences over time in materials and internal construction; in fact, Mark McGwire’s record-setting 70th home-run ball (like others from that season) clearly showed a synthetic rubber ring or spring around the core of the ball. Those results are much more meaningful than the fatuous puff piece MLB sponsored in 2000 as a PR exercise.
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
I wonder if the "spring" was only found in the hologram balls
as a means to insure baseball didn’t miss out on a new record and some awesome press, ticket sales, ad rev etc.
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
Also let him know there is a fanshot dedicated to it.
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU
I tweet (more often than I blarg).
Pos is the best in the business. Pretty decent to have a full story from Pos based on owlcroft’s work….
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm worried....
cuz apparently he and Ruth broke up. I thought their love was forever love.
by yankeessuck8991 on Aug 10, 2010 12:50 PM PDT reply actions
Rec’d for being the truth.
Who was it during the rain delay in Atlanta who said Lincecum is Adam Wainwright or Chris Carpenter or something? He made me mad. He’s still a really great pitcher. Let’s not demote him from two-time Cy Young winner to pretty good so easily. He’s Tim Mother-Fucking Lincecum, and he’s going to dominate the Cubs today.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 12:51 PM PDT reply actions
Some of the critical things that have been written about Lincecum this year have come off as really obnoxious and mostly baseless. I guess that’s just how sports commentary goes, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it.
What really bugs me is how some are willing to attribute any downturn in performance (be it slight, drastic, or totally imagined) to a character flaw. And since most people don’t know much of anything about the characters in question, they’re perfectly content to speculate on what personal failings are responsible for whatever problems may or may not exist.
by Seasick fish on Aug 10, 2010 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s the weed!
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
That is one of my big pet peeves as well.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions
One better per inning indeed.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 12:58 PM PDT reply actions
Wait this isn’t the feature story on the Tim Lincecum girl?!?!
You want to see a walk? Then go watch the mailman.
Her restraining order against Grant includes him not being able to write about her.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Howie isn’t the Tim Lincecum girl? I must have missed something.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I was just getting confirmation.
Belted!
by AndYourBirdCanSing on Aug 10, 2010 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
I think the worry comes because he is the ace of the staff
And we know that out pitching is the strong point of this team. So it is natural to get worried that when the leader of our strongest part gets as little average on games we tend to get worried. I think also being so close last year to the play offs and not making it and being close this year also makes us worry a little more then normal. Tim is still great and we are cheering for a good team. Let’s enjoy this ride.
There is nothing wrong with me cheering for players that are former players for my teams. Unless they become a Viking.
by Giant_in_la_area on Aug 10, 2010 1:02 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
The thing is that if he was pitching like an average pitcher, I would get this, but he really isn’t.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
I didn’t want to put bad and didn’t know what else to put. Wanted to put human but thought that would come off cheesie. I know he is great and I still think he has a lot left to show us.
There is nothing wrong with me cheering for players that are former players for my teams. Unless they become a Viking.
by Giant_in_la_area on Aug 10, 2010 1:08 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
he's not bad or average
he’s above that, just not transcendently great
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
"You can shake a dozen glove men out of a tree, but the bat separates the men from the boys." - Washington Senators First baseman Dale Long
Proud papa to: Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, aka the IT guy.
I agree.
even Tim admitted earlier in the year he is not pitching the same. I think he is fine. Poor choice of words I guess.
There is nothing wrong with me cheering for players that are former players for my teams. Unless they become a Viking.
by Giant_in_la_area on Aug 10, 2010 2:52 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I think this years main difference
Is his consistency.
"There he goes. One of god's own prototypes. Some kind of high powered mutant never even considered for mass production. Too weird to live, and too rare to die."
He’s really only had a couple of bad starts. I think this year’s main difference is our perception.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions
And, I mean, yeah, also the measurables that have gone down. But mostly our perception.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
And the loss of velocity and decreased strikeout rate, but yeah, nothing to see here….
/sweeps those ideas under the rug
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:07 PM PDT up reply actions
But is there any reason to think those declines will continue? 1 K less per inning is certainly noticeable, but he’s still above a strike out per inning, so I’m just not worried about his overall performance.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t know, is there any reason to think he’ll reverse the trend or just settle in where he is?
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:40 PM PDT up reply actions
I have no idea. I know you’re not saying the sky is falling, but I think Lincecum could settle in where he is now. I would be alarmed enough to avoid long-term deals with him, but that’s just generally a good rule for pitchers anyway.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions
This is why the whole topic of conversation irritates me. No, we don’t know and we honestly can’t.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Things that I don’t know tend to worry me, especially when the trend is in the direction I don’t want it to be heading….
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Nah, it's his hits per nine, which I attribute to the drop in speed
8.1 this year, up from 6.7 last year, and a little over 7 each of the 2 years before.
Anecdotally, he just looks more hittable.
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
disclaimer: I still think he's awesome
"The BB's are out. The BB's are being arseholes to me." - Brian Wilson.
Hitters last year made contact on 48.5% of his pitches outside the zone they swung out. This year? 53.5%. The good news, they’re swinging at pitches out of the zone more than ever.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:42 PM PDT up reply actions
quite spoiled am I
But then it takes little to get me worried. Go Tim. Eviscerate the Infant Bears.
Andres is Rex!
Congrats to my soul mate and birth brother Zach Wheeler on being drafted into greatness. Should I just buy my Wheeler jersey now, or wait till my next birthday?
Man. You won.
There is nothing wrong with me cheering for players that are former players for my teams. Unless they become a Viking.
by Giant_in_la_area on Aug 10, 2010 1:14 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Pat is Rex
There is nothing wrong with me cheering for players that are former players for my teams. Unless they become a Viking.
by Giant_in_la_area on Aug 10, 2010 1:13 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
Juan is Rex.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t know what we’re doing.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Me neither.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
Johnny Disaster is Rex?
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:16 PM PDT up reply actions
CB30 is Hamm?
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Nomar is Mr Hamm.
You can't solve your problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems - Albert Einstein to Brian Sabean
CB30 is married to Nomar?
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
We are experiencing the future
Younger, faster memes that are willing to work longer for less money.
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions
I thought that was illegal immigration.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 1:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Imemegration
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions
PUT UP THE MEME FENCE!
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions
He got thrown out!
Back on the market.
by positiveuphemism on Aug 10, 2010 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions
BUT I DONT WANT TO USE MY HEAD
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
Bochy is Mr. Potato Head. Sabean is Mrs. Potato Head.
American Heroes: Joe Pavelski, Buster Posey, David Backes
Proud member of the "Doug Wilson for Governor" Club
Fools and Sages
Hey! I loved Potato Heads. Don’t ruin my childhood with your analogies.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Did you use real potatos?
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Kids with their plastic potato heads…
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
I used a tortilla, myself.
American Heroes: Joe Pavelski, Buster Posey, David Backes
Proud member of the "Doug Wilson for Governor" Club
Fools and Sages
Mr. Tortilla Head?
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Hell no. I was a spoiled child.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:20 PM PDT up reply actions
The original had sharp pieces that you jabbed into an actual potato! SHARP PIECES! ON KIDS TOYS!!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Really, you just stuck stuff on potatoes? That’s cool. I’ll get those for my future kids some day.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions
Every time somebody mentions Mr. Potato Head, my grandma tells us about how they had to play with real potatoes.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:21 PM PDT up reply actions
Tell your grandma I said “hi”.
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:22 PM PDT up reply actions
Done and done.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I like your grandma. She is welcome over for dinner anytime. We’ll have potatoes multiple ways.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
We’ll have potatoes multiple ways.
I just bet you will, you scamp!
In any case, Howie is game.
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Don’t worry, you’re invited too. It’s gonna get kinky real fast.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Thos
Read my Cal blog: http://since59.blogspot.com/ Go Bears!
Ryan Verdugo, my adopted son, strikes out 12 per 9 innings. Kid's a beast.
Those were awesome
is what I meant to type
Read my Cal blog: http://since59.blogspot.com/ Go Bears!
Ryan Verdugo, my adopted son, strikes out 12 per 9 innings. Kid's a beast.
YOU HAVE SAVED OUR LIVES. WE ARE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL.
American Heroes: Joe Pavelski, Buster Posey, David Backes
Proud member of the "Doug Wilson for Governor" Club
Fools and Sages
im still on the blister problem bandwagon. some nights
it looks like he is having trouble gripping the ball.
by Nnamdi Asomugha on Aug 10, 2010 1:07 PM PDT reply actions
HE’S ONLY 6TH IN THE NL IN WAR WE’RE FUCKED
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
All that bunting just looks gaudy.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 1:12 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
Who’s Tim Lincecum’s girlfriend
Does it really matter? Furthermore, given his recent struggles, he doesn’t need the distraction.
I thought it was that chick with the sign.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Hey "Buffy" you need to know that the sarcastic,"I’m the only genius in the house" style is wearing thin! How you can say you are a fan of the Giants and constantly tear them down is beyond me. Your latest on the Bowker trade just reeks of your frustration that your genius is not followed. Just maybe the Giants felt he was not going to get a chance with them so they allowed him a new situation. Maybe Bowker has reached his level of competence in the minors. Don’t know! But to sarcastically act like they just traded the next Barry Bonds is over the top while writing off the reliever Lopez in condescending fashion speaks more to who you are than the players. As a sports blog writer you make yourself "second class" by how you express your opinions-the Giants deserve better!
LOL GRANT LOVE LETTERS
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:23 PM PDT up reply actions
time for a Buffy alt
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Do you have a musket?
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
You do know this needs to be a regular feature, right?
"Buster Posey" anagram = OYSTER PUBES
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Aug 10, 2010 1:24 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
+1
I’d love to see posts featuring highlights from these e-mails.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions
MCC Mailbag!
Somewhere in the minor leagues, Joe Paterson is pitching.
by imovermyhead on Aug 10, 2010 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs
REC'D
This would be so awesome!
Joe Mauer is from Minnesota. My adopted son, RHP Steve Edlefsen, is from Minnesota. Joe Mauer is very good at baseball. Call up Steve Edlefsen, Giants! Science™ is begging you.
LOL
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Aug 10, 2010 1:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Signed,
Brian Sabean
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 1:30 PM PDT up reply actions
SECOND CLASS AT BEST
but probably more like 3rd, 3rd and a half class
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
/too lazy to photoshop Grant’s head over Tom Hanks in Bosom Buddies drag but it would be totally awesome if somebody did
I DON'T BELIEVE YOU
I tweet (more often than I blarg).
I think the author has reached his level of competence.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
Is that from Walter Payton?
My mind ain't nuthin' but a total blank, I think I'll just stay here and draaank - Merle Haggard
by NuschlerFace on Aug 10, 2010 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Buffy?
Grant writes a blog and in his off time kills vampires? Daaaaamn.
Back on the market.
by positiveuphemism on Aug 10, 2010 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Funny,
I thought he was comparing Grant to Mike LaCoss.
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?
I can't imagine why anyone would make that connection...
Joe Mauer is from Minnesota. My adopted son, RHP Steve Edlefsen, is from Minnesota. Joe Mauer is very good at baseball. Call up Steve Edlefsen, Giants! Science™ is begging you.
Gingers.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 3:22 PM PDT up reply actions
He forgot to leave a link to h is blog.
Jeaaaggaahh
by Soulbrother16 on Aug 10, 2010 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Sabean doesn't seem to respect the restraining order…
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
his stats are almost exactly the same as his rookie year except like ERA, wins, runs allowed, earned runs allowed and he’s WAYYYY better in those categories… and his rookie year wasn’t a bad year either
Average FB velocity as a rookie: 94.2 mph. Average fastball velocity this year: 91.3 mph.
Just saying….
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:44 PM PDT up reply actions
Bad sign.
"Everybody loves Basketball-Reference.com. Except the Kobe fans".- DubsFan408
by GovernorStephCurry on Aug 10, 2010 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions
And yet he has a better FIP and xFIP this year compared to his rookie year.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Yes, he's a better pitcher
but his stuff is starting to decline, and he isn’t cutting down on his walks to make up for this.
"Everybody loves Basketball-Reference.com. Except the Kobe fans".- DubsFan408
by GovernorStephCurry on Aug 10, 2010 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions
I think Timmy has [gotten a handle on his control]. His control has improved significantly from college to the minors to the pros and throughout his pro career. He used to be a walking machine. Now he has solid control.
!!
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions
But he isn't great with his control still.
I just don’t see how 3.44 BB/9 is good enough for a guy experiencing some serious lack of velocity on his pitches now.
"Everybody loves Basketball-Reference.com. Except the Kobe fans".- DubsFan408
by GovernorStephCurry on Aug 10, 2010 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s not, but it’s impossible to know whether the uptick from last year is significant or just noise.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
But if we are going to believe Tim's velocity and K rates are going slightly every season
eventually he’ll have to get his BB/9 around 2 to remain at a similar level of performance.
"Everybody loves Basketball-Reference.com. Except the Kobe fans".- DubsFan408
by GovernorStephCurry on Aug 10, 2010 1:54 PM PDT up reply actions
I wasn’t aware that we had made a collective decision to believe that.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
It’s the hypothetical. I can’t say it will happen but the data leads me to believe this.
"Everybody loves Basketball-Reference.com. Except the Kobe fans".- DubsFan408
by GovernorStephCurry on Aug 10, 2010 1:56 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t think the data really says that.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
Well that’s just plain going overboard. Dude’s posting a 3.42 xFIP and 3.26 FIP. Mid-3 BB/9 is still solid – not too far from the average, and mid 9’s K/9 is still among the tops in the game – 7th among MLB starters this year. He has the 8th best xFIP in baseball and 16th best FIP. He’s an excellent pitcher if he just maintains those rates.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions
By the way, I never realized this, but holy crap Mark Buerhle is a weird pitcher. Dude couldn’t strike out my grandmother, yet somehow he still succeeds…..
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I just don’t see how 3.44 BB/9 is good enough for a guy experiencing some serious lack of velocity on his pitches now.
And yet he’s doing it and it appears to be more than enough. Because he’s still an awesome pitcher. Weird.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:58 PM PDT up reply actions
OT: Dodgers interested in Jose Guillen
hooray for more clubhouse cancers on the Dodgers!
by 49erEmpire on Aug 10, 2010 1:25 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I saw that. I hope they pick up his whole contract and defer the money until next year. Man, they’re getting desperate. Also, get him before Sabean does.
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:26 PM PDT up reply actions
DO IT!
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 1:53 PM PDT up reply actions
When the hitting is bad, you always blame the pitching. If only they had allowed fewer runs.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions
The Matt Cain Corollary
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
"Giants pitchers who struggled after promising debuts"
That’s a thread topic unto itself.
Shawn Estes, anyone?
"Buster Posey" anagram = OYSTER PUBES
by Stuttering John Tamargo on Aug 10, 2010 1:27 PM PDT reply actions
.
"Life is like a grapefruit. Well, it's sort of orangy-yellow and dimpled on the outside, wet and squidgy in the middle. It's got pips inside, too. Oh, and some people have a half a one for breakfast."
by operation carrot on Aug 10, 2010 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions
.
(even though I’m not entirely sure what “.” means)
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
These guys are poster children for TINSTAAPP
These are my principles. If you don't like them, I have others. -Groucho Marx
Jason Grilli
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
/banned
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
"You can shake a dozen glove men out of a tree, but the bat separates the men from the boys." - Washington Senators First baseman Dale Long
Proud papa to: Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, aka the IT guy.
My mind ain't nuthin' but a total blank, I think I'll just stay here and draaank - Merle Haggard
by NuschlerFace on Aug 10, 2010 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions
Where is the Sharksrog feature?
To set us straight, and rekindle the mythology of the Enchanter.
co-dad w/AfDC of
Ishikawa, the Topps Rookie All Star Team's First baseman. Does he get a chance in 2010?
"Because I don’t know what it means anymore, in the PCL. It’s almost like years ago."
"That’s not to say Buster isn’t fully committed or all-in. He is. He’s smart and he’s got the advance reports. Anybody who said he’s not ready to catch in the big leagues is crazy because he’s a pretty good catcher, especially throwing." - Sabean 7/11/10
i miss that guy
Yeah he would go crazy fanboy once in a while (ok, daily), but he was smart and charming in his own bizarre way.
Billy Hayes: His job is better than yours.
I'm starting to think the years of bad baseball has made us worrisome.
It feels like were looking for something to complain about. it just feels like saying " since Tim wasn’t molded by the gods out of perfection and complete awesomeness" then we need to complain about one of the best pitchers in the game. I guess I just don’t get it.
P.S. I think Tim is complete awesomeness.
There is nothing wrong with me cheering for players that are former players for my teams. Unless they become a Viking.
by Giant_in_la_area on Aug 10, 2010 1:31 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
I knew Giants pitchers who struggled after promising debuts. Giants pitchers who struggled after promising debuts were friends of mine. Tim Lincecum, you’re not a Giants pitcher struggling after a promising debut.
It’s interesting to speculate how much Bentsen would have beaten Quayle by had they been the presidential candidates.
Fun fact: "Mota" is Bengali for "fat".
I like Jerry Brown...
…but nonetheless I have always loved Bentsen’s line: “If Jerry Brown is the answer, it must be a damned peculiar question.” That guy was responsible for two of the best political put-downs of the post-Churchill era.
"I don’t think I’ve ever heard a louder chorus of boos than when the Dodgers made the third out of the ninth. It was awesome.." - Aubrey Huff
If Jerry Brown wins, will he go back to driving the K-car?
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
"You can shake a dozen glove men out of a tree, but the bat separates the men from the boys." - Washington Senators First baseman Dale Long
Proud papa to: Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, aka the IT guy.
Maybe Linda Ronstadt will take him back.
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 2:10 PM PDT up reply actions
Lincecum's Comps
Lincecum’s similarity scores are filled with deadball and 40-50’s era pitches who pitched 200-300 excellent innings per season for two or three seasons before 25 or 26, and then fell apart and disappeared before they were 30. Scary, but I chose to hope we know a little more about pitcher risk these days.
Who is Lincecum realistically to be compared to? He’s better than pretty much everyone on his similar pitchers through age 25 list so far, except for Whitey Ford.
I'm as tall as Mel - why can't I hit 500 home runs?
His top PECOTA comp is some guy named Roger Clemens — who, as it turns out, had a nearly identical off-season at age 26, but did eventually manage to win a few more Cy Youngs.
Other pitchers on the list: Appier, Pedro, Erik Hanson, Sheets, Glavine, Pettitte, Saberhagen, Smoltz, Len Barker.
Roids!
I feel prickishly demanding!
I couldn't be prouder of my recent adoptee - Tim Lincecum's dealer. He provides the secret fuel behind both Cy Youngs. Also, he taught Timmy the change-up.
by giantsfansince1981 on Aug 10, 2010 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
nearly identical off-season at age 26
I now see what you meant but for a second I was trying to remember Clemens getting in trouble for pot.
The Giants don’t fare well against pitchers.
Yeah, I’m thinking the Pecota comps are a bit more accurate. That list is an interesting mix, though. It’s not a bad career if you turn out to be Saberhagen or Appier or Sheets – but obviously we’re hoping for Smoltz or Pedro or that Clemens guy. Whoever he was.
I'm as tall as Mel - why can't I hit 500 home runs?
Not as much in terms of age, but in terms of service time…..
Dwight Gooden. Of course, there’s no reason to believe Timmy does coke, and I don’t think pot is anything to worry about!
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:45 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s what I thought of as well. Then I remembered Fernando Valenzuela, even though Fernando showed the chinks in his armour pretty quickly compared to Timmy.
Either way, it’s just part of the scary stories you tell to young pitchers around the campfire.
“And then…he inexplicably lost all his talent!” /screams
I'm as tall as Mel - why can't I hit 500 home runs?
Fernando was 110 at his debut
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
"You can shake a dozen glove men out of a tree, but the bat separates the men from the boys." - Washington Senators First baseman Dale Long
Proud papa to: Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, aka the IT guy.
110 Ah Ah Ah.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:07 PM PDT up reply actions
years old
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
"You can shake a dozen glove men out of a tree, but the bat separates the men from the boys." - Washington Senators First baseman Dale Long
Proud papa to: Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, aka the IT guy.
I'm a little worried
Three dominant starts in a row would eradicate those worries.
Mark DeRosa is playing exactly the same amount of professional baseball as his adopted father, these days.
by oldjacket on Aug 10, 2010 1:41 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
My worries about Timmy is not in the numbers
He just doesn’t look as confident and the batters seem to be making more contact and taking him into deeper counts.
Last two years…Timmy was almost automatic with a 2 strike count…this year not so much…
I would be curious to see what Timmy’s 1) Avg inning per game, 2) avg pitches per game, and 3) what the batters are hitting against him when he is ahead of the count (0-2, 1-2) this year as compared to last two years.
innings per game
2009: 7.03
2010: 6.57
pitches per game
2009: 107.5
2010: 107
numbers against w/ pitcher ahead in the count
2009: .146/.156/.175
2010: .190/.193/.277
admittedly, that increased SLG/ISO while ahead in the account is worrisome.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
And TBH, hitters are swinging at his pitches out of the zone more than ever, which makes these numbers even more troubling.
"Everybody loves Basketball-Reference.com. Except the Kobe fans".- DubsFan408
by GovernorStephCurry on Aug 10, 2010 1:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Eh, I don’t really look at things like SLG/ISO. Just don’t have the sample size to bother with them.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I posted this before and still don't really know what it means
Pitch Type Value:
It just seems like his change up is not as devastating as it was last year…two years ago…his FB was his dominate pitch…now neither the fastball nor the changeup is that dominate
It doesn’t really mean a whole lot. The changeup numbers last year were ridiculous and were bound to regress somewhat – 2.00 on a pitch is still extremely good. His fastball value, according to this, is actually up from last year.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
But I think that FB result in more contact...
Most hitter sit on FB until they have to look at something else…last year he was unhittable because he would throw that changeup at any time…
The other thing is that it seems that he is basically a two pitch pitcher now
Slider and CB value is way down…
Please don’t use pitch values the way you are. :(
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions
They tell a story of the past. It’s really hard to make them tell us anything meaningful for analysis/projecting the future.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:36 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry..not trying to contradictory (just trying to understand)
But why? If Timmy “past” for this year shows that his fastball is still good, his change up is not as dominating as it was last year, and that his other 2 pitches are also not as effective…why can’t we draw the conclusion that
He is basically a two pitch pitcher…a good fastball and a still good changeup (that is not as good as last year)
I know that he is still very good…but it’s in comparison to his previous years
they really aren’t all that meaningful because they’re so affected by the various situations the pitch is thrown in (selection bias anyone?!), the interaction of the pitch with other pitches, and sample error.
If you’d like me to go into more detail about any of those points, I’d be more than happy to.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I would...but I don't know if it would bore people to death
I understand the idea of variables and different situations but it would seem that such variations should not make that much of a difference…every season has variables.
Looking at other pitchers (Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, Roy Holliday, J. Santana)…I see two things
1) The pitches were effective in the past…remained effective and thus still being used (Lee fastball with a little curve/changeup…Halliday …cutter/curveball with a good FB/CU)
2) There is change in pitches where the drop in value of one pitch is compensate by the increase value of another. Ex: Sabathia went from a fastball/slider pitcher to a fastball/slider/changeup pitcher.
every season has variables
Yes, and they can change without an actual change in the pitch itself. For instance, Lincecum’s changeup velocity has actually increased this year. His FB velocity is down. There’s an optimal velocity difference between the two, and it very well could be that his changeup is just as good of a pitch, but because his fastball velocity is down, it’s no longer as effective.
Another example is a pitcher can use his pitch arsenal differently. If he starts throwing his changeup in different counts then he used to, it’s going to change the value without actually changing how effective of a pitch it is.
And finally, again, we have sample error. Oh sample error. The greatest of all foes. If a pitch gets hit for a HR a couple extra times (which can definitely be flukey)….yep, you get a change in value…..
I really just don’t look at pitch value. I don’t find it worthwhile.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions
So what do you look at?
I understand your point about a CU being dependent upon a FB…but the drop in value still have some indication as to how “nasty” a pitcher is in total. If Timmy’s changeup speed went up and FB went down…it would indicate that Timmy is not as a good as a pitcher as he was last year (all other variables being steady)
As to using his arsenal differently…I find it difficult to believe that Timmy would change anything up from the last two years…why mess with it if it’s been working especially since it’s not working as well now.
I also understand about skewing of stats and since we only have 2/3 of a season’s stats to deal with…it’s not really that fair to make any definitive conclusions. However, if the stats remain the same for 2/3/4 years…then we have something.
Hmmm….if I was interested in the effectiveness of a pitch, I’d look at things like how often he can throw it for a strike, how often the batter swings at it out of the zone, and the whiff rate both in zone and out of zone.
Just to be clear, my problem is with the value assigned to each individual pitch. I don’t think it tells you that much about how good that individual pitch is by itself, though it does tell you how effectively that pitch has been used, if that distinction makes sense to you. If you look at the sum of the pitches, it is an accurate gauge of the pitcher overall (I don’t remember how pitch values are calculated off the top of my head – if they’re more like a WPA stat or more like a WAR stat).
As to using his arsenal differently…I find it difficult to believe that Timmy would change anything up from the last two years
I actually have the opposite view, I think it’s very likely to change. Becoming more confident in a pitch might mean you throw it more often in a hitters count then before. Adding a pitch (or using it more frequently) changes your arsenal. Just your success in general changes how you’ll use a pitch – if your control is worse from one year to the next, you’ll probably wind up in a higher proportion of hitters counts, which changes the way your arsenal is used. I don’t have (or know of where to find) as much info to look at it as I’d like, but I have a few things to point out.
In his first Cy Young season, Lincecum threw his FB 66.1% of the time according to Fangraphs. Now it’s at 55.9% and 55.6% the past two seasons. That’s a change that will affect the pitch value of his entire arsenal. Over that period his slider went from 1.7% to 5.2% to 6.8% – another change that will affect how his whole arsenal is used. Curve 13.7% to 17.4% to 14.6%. Changeup 18.5% to 21.6% to 23.0%. First strike % 57.5% to 56.7% to 54.2%. He’s been in 7% 3-0 counts this year compared to 5% the past two years (BB-Ref rounds those to the whole number, though, so the change could be smaller or larger than it appears). Pitches per PA 3.97 to 3.80 to 3.86.
Honestly, I have no idea how much of a difference all those things make. Could be large, could be small. What I do know is every one of those is expected to change his pitch values in some way. Different catches calling a different game could be another thing.
Maybe I’ve been a little harsh, as it does tell you how effective a pitch has been when it was thrown, I guess i just don’t find that information all that interesting personally because I don’t know the context I want to go along with it (how the pitch was used, how the other pitches set it up, etc)….
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 6:55 PM PDT up reply actions
That’s true, but just based on my own observation (which should be taken with a grain of salt), his changeup really is worse than last year. He leaves it up more often and (probably related) doesn’t get as much movement on it. So even though you might say there are small sample size issues and a regression was inevitable, the lower pitch value numbers fit with my perception of his stuff.
I don’t like it.
I think it's because his fastball isn't complementing the changeup as well.
"Everybody loves Basketball-Reference.com. Except the Kobe fans".- DubsFan408
by GovernorStephCurry on Aug 10, 2010 1:49 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t really like run values for pitches. They tell a nice story of the past, but they really aren’t all that meaningful because they’re so affected by the various situations the pitch is thrown in (selection bias anyone?!), the interaction of the pitch with other pitches, and sample error.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 1:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Well Barry Zito’s fastball has a higher pitch value than his curve, so his 85 mph gas is getting it done
his 85 mph gas is getting it done
The conclusion you should reach is: “the observed results have been better on pitches he’s thrown his fastball than on pitches he’s thrown his curveball”, NOT “his fastball is getting it done”…..
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:38 PM PDT up reply actions
More stat review...
Looking at the links that Grant provided…it also shows that
Timmy is getting less first pitch strikes, is in the strike zone less, and more balls hit out of the strikezone (which could either mean that Timmy’s outside of the zone pitches are fatter or that the batters are swinging at bad pitches)
I really think Timmy’s issue is not velocity but control.
OT: thoughts on yesterday's game
I was in attendance and i saw someone wearing a Heimy 00 jersey. Is that you Heimy? I always wanted a jersey with my name on it but thought it was a faux pas. bravo sir
What kind of name is the cubs anyway? I dont know the relationship between them and the NFL bears but seriosuly its not very threatening. Its like if we were the SF people of average height.
Play at the plates are a million times more exciting in person. And theyre pretty damn exciting on the tv.
The seagulls get pissed during long games. They hunger and get impatient pretty quickly
"Life is like a grapefruit. Well, it's sort of orangy-yellow and dimpled on the outside, wet and squidgy in the middle. It's got pips inside, too. Oh, and some people have a half a one for breakfast."
by operation carrot on Aug 10, 2010 1:42 PM PDT reply actions
Do we expect this velocity drop to continue throughout his career? If so, shouldn’t we see even more of a drop in his ability to miss bats? Is it possible at this point to expect a bump in his velocity? These are the questions i’m asking, and IMO, the answer is yes, yes, no, which is not a good sign.
Also, if he is to start seeing declines like this, the only way he can really make up for it, is by walking people at a Cliff Lee type of rate.
"Everybody loves Basketball-Reference.com. Except the Kobe fans".- DubsFan408
by GovernorStephCurry on Aug 10, 2010 1:45 PM PDT reply actions
My only worry with Timmy
Is he seems to be leaving his change up high over the plate more this year. He needs to keep it low and he will be fine.
Proud Adoptive Parent of Jesus Guzman, RHP. 2010 Line: 0 H, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA. CALL HIM UP!
Bochy: What’s this fancy stat here?
IT Guy: That’s how often they get on base. I do not know why you keep asking me, I am here to fix your server.
He needs to keep it low and he will be fine.
The thing is, he is fine.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:01 PM PDT up reply actions
Fine as in
people will shut the hell up about him.
Proud Adoptive Parent of Jesus Guzman, RHP. 2010 Line: 0 H, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA. CALL HIM UP!
Bochy: What’s this fancy stat here?
IT Guy: That’s how often they get on base. I do not know why you keep asking me, I am here to fix your server.
He’s a pitcher. Pitchers fall apart suddenly. Worrying about it would be like a Bay Area resident worrying about earthquakes 24/7. It just isn’t worth it.
Jonathan Sanchez: Often maddening to watch, but capable of perfection on a moment's notice---just like his adoptive father.
Pitchers fall apart suddenly.
The thing is, he hasn’t fallen apart.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Just wondering
Is there anything to the conditioning complaints that the sportswriters have been trumpeting?
I know it seems like bullshit writer fluff, but it’s not hard to imagining Timmy playing Call of Duty for 3 months once the season’s over.
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
I have never seen anything concrete about it. I assume it’s mostly bullshit.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
I would think that getting the flu in each of the last two seasons was more damaging to his midseason conditioning than whatever reps he failed to pump this season, or whatever lingo you pumperlifters use.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions
We call it ‘squeezing out another deuce’.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions
My own thought is I’m curious how much effort he puts into his flexibility. Given his motion, it’s so important to him….
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions
I dunno. I worry about his conditioning over the course of the season, just because he seems to have such an “effortful” delivery. Also, even though he’s relatively small (by the standards of professional pitchers), his motion looks high-impact, which could take a toll on his various lower-body joints.
Lincecum
Joints
I see what you did there!
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 3:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Caption Contest?
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
They’re just making a baby beluga in the deep blue sea.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Albino from the waist down.
Hitler was a Dodgers fan.
by The Nick on Aug 11, 2010 2:31 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions
I think part of the reason everyone is freaking out
Is he isn’t one of the top five pitchers this year, and he was in April. Then he went boom for a while. After two years of being the best, we have come to expect as much. But so far this year he is not a real Cy Young candidate. As such, the sky is falling.
The question is, what happens next year? Do we get Timmy of April (better than ever) or Timmy of the last two years, or Timmy of the last couple months: very good pitcher, but not a Cy Young winner.
Back on the market.
by positiveuphemism on Aug 10, 2010 2:01 PM PDT reply actions
your constant negativity is worrisome
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
"You can shake a dozen glove men out of a tree, but the bat separates the men from the boys." - Washington Senators First baseman Dale Long
Proud papa to: Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, aka the IT guy.
fuck in wrecked
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, who's mind is currently elsewhere
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
/mentions fantasy baseball team
From Gaslamp Ball regarding Sanchez Prediction
Another stat for this chump to swallow: Giants pitching vs. the Padres is poor at best. Between The Freak, Zito, Cain, and you, the combined ERA is 2.93 lifetime, and you in paticular, are 2-4 lifetime with an ERA of 2.70.
Save it, loser.
“Since we only live once (that we know of) we should focus on enjoying our lives, not stressing to follow every single thing and trend that society impose upon us.” – Thom Yorke of Radiohead
by Jonathan Holmes on Aug 10, 2010 11:43 AM PDT reply actions
My mind ain't nuthin' but a total blank, I think I'll just stay here and draaank - Merle Haggard
Am I missing something or is he an idiot?
How is 2.93 and 2.7 bad?
My Son, the best outfielder in the National League.
My rule for the 2010 Giants: Everyone with an OPS over .800 gets a pass.
I am a Bochy hater and a Sabean apologist.
Then why mention ERA when it works against your point? It makes him sound stupid
Wayne Rooney, 1/27/10: Cometh The Hour, Cometh The Man
Green and Gold Till the Club is Sold- Republik of Mancunia
"If City play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance." -King Eric Cantona
by Useful_Idiot on Aug 10, 2010 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Why it's almost like he is!
Proud Adoptive Parent of Jesus Guzman, RHP. 2010 Line: 0 H, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA. CALL HIM UP!
Bochy: What’s this fancy stat here?
IT Guy: That’s how often they get on base. I do not know why you keep asking me, I am here to fix your server.
San Diego fan
Least read per capita in the US (unless things have changed)
Back on the market.
by positiveuphemism on Aug 10, 2010 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO WIN
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Aug 10, 2010 2:18 PM PDT up reply actions
Jesus christ I'm so glad I have this place
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, who's mind is currently elsewhere
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
/mentions fantasy baseball team
and not that shithole
Extremely proud adoptive parent of Paul E. Stanley, who's mind is currently elsewhere
Thanks to roger
I've never been happier to have Crabs
/mentions fantasy baseball team
neutered...
Giantspitchinghitting vs. the Padres is poor at best.
You can't solve your problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems - Albert Einstein to Brian Sabean
At best
My mind ain't nuthin' but a total blank, I think I'll just stay here and draaank - Merle Haggard
by NuschlerFace on Aug 10, 2010 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Stay classy, San Diego!
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Aug 10, 2010 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Wow
That’s bad ERA to them?
Proud Adoptive Parent of Jesus Guzman, RHP. 2010 Line: 0 H, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA. CALL HIM UP!
Bochy: What’s this fancy stat here?
IT Guy: That’s how often they get on base. I do not know why you keep asking me, I am here to fix your server.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9Px7mKhi6M
doan worry, poplo loe he team, he wan get berry good for body to play the beisbol
Proud Aussie father of Roberto Kelly
My only concern
is that he was ridiculously good the first month or so, and most of his walks happened after that. I still feel pretty good with him on the mound though.
He walked 20 in 4 games…that definitely skewed the numbers a bit.
Back on the market.
by positiveuphemism on Aug 10, 2010 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions
Slightly OT: Did anyone see this Wheeler question/answer yesterday?
Yesterday’s prospects chat on Fangraphs.
Q: How good is Zach Wheeler and when will he be ready?
A: Wheeler is one of those guys that after I saw him in person, I will rank him higher than his numbers suggest for eternity. I just CANNOT believe that you can throw a baseball that effortlessly and not have success in the Major Leagues. Big fan, with the acknowledgment that he has a long ways to go.
"I wanted to pick a Rockie. But I dislike the Rockies. They're not bona fide." — Jon Miller on the postgame wrap, 7/1/10
by Giant Fan in Singapore on Aug 10, 2010 2:23 PM PDT reply actions
You could check prospecttube.com.
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Aug 10, 2010 2:29 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm usually hesitant to visit sites with "tube.com" in them
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
It’s like youtube, but specifically to see videos of prospects.
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Aug 10, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I've never seen this site before. It's pretty awesome.
Joe Mauer is from Minnesota. My adopted son, RHP Steve Edlefsen, is from Minnesota. Joe Mauer is very good at baseball. Call up Steve Edlefsen, Giants! Science™ is begging you.
Also
“Thoughts on Brandon Belt? He’s killing it so far this year. "
Bryan Smith:
Happy for the kid, think it was a good job scouting by the Giants. He’s not going to be a huge power guy, and I do wonder if he’s a better fit in an outfield corner, but I love me some 71/75 BB/K rate.
BELTED
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
Lastly...
…there was a note about Bumgarner. He’s not high on him (though with the caveat that there’s still time).
"I wanted to pick a Rockie. But I dislike the Rockies. They're not bona fide." — Jon Miller on the postgame wrap, 7/1/10
by Giant Fan in Singapore on Aug 10, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions
I personally don’t think Bumgarner will be an ace, but I think he’ll be a solid #3 for us.
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
It’s amazing how I wish we draft more pitching now.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
I think Bumgarner is really interesting. I’m very eager to see how he does in the next couple years. I mean, how often do you see a guy go from AA/AAA to MLB and actually improve his K and BB rates?
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:45 PM PDT up reply actions
He has by far the best BB/9 of the starters, too.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:48 PM PDT up reply actions
(to the point where his k/bb is actually better than Lincecum’s right now)
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
Is that because Lincecum is one of the starters?
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t understand the question.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 3:06 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s because I misread your posts.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 3:15 PM PDT up reply actions
I mistype them, too, so it’s understandable.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Also, that makes sense if you read your comment in the present tense.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions
This is entirely based on my lying eyes...
But Madison needs better offspeed stuff. He breaking pitches are pretty loopy right now. No sharp break at all.
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 2:49 PM PDT up reply actions
They drop off a warped table.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 2:50 PM PDT up reply actions
I agree, and that’s been a knock on him basically since we drafted him….but somehow it’s working….
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions
IAWTC
His slider has looked nasty at times, but only when he locates down and in to righties, or down and away to lefties. It really has to be perfect location to be effective.
But his fastball is still really good, especially with the cut on it.
It seems to me he has great deception on his pitches, just based on his results and weird delivery. I mean, he MUST, right?
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 2:52 PM PDT up reply actions
No doubt
that’s what was said about him. If he threw his stuff without the deception he’d probably be getting hammered. Hitters have been late quite a bit on his fastball, and he’s typically just above 90 (haven’t checked average velocity but I assume that’s where he is).
He'll probably never have sharp breaking pitches...
You need a SNAP in the wrist, and even on his fastball, it’s more of a Bob Knepper-esque body torque that provides the speed.
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means" - Inigo Montoya
extreme SSS
but his curve and slider have been his most effective pitches so far!
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
(by pitch value, of course, not saying that's particularly meaningful)
Matt Cain: He'll save children, but not the Dodger children.
"Out, out, Fred Lewis!" - JCTillam Gamerspeare
Victimized by the no-range infield
Seriously, with Sandoval blowing bubbles midpitch, Renteria staggering around, and Uribe’s bad knees, those guys can’t make the play on anything not directly at them.
"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means" - Inigo Montoya
I would LOVE a solid #3
"I wanted to pick a Rockie. But I dislike the Rockies. They're not bona fide." — Jon Miller on the postgame wrap, 7/1/10
by Giant Fan in Singapore on Aug 10, 2010 3:08 PM PDT up reply actions
A Giant #2!
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
/jabba wedding cake
Dearest, Susan - The Patron Saint of Patience
by Lars The Wanderer on Aug 10, 2010 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions
OT: Stupid Gap Medical Coverage
I’m moving back to Ireland. For the price I payed for a month, I got A+ coverage for the entire year.
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
As a Health Insurance Agent
I agree with you
My mind ain't nuthin' but a total blank, I think I'll just stay here and draaank - Merle Haggard
by NuschlerFace on Aug 10, 2010 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Man
Should have consulted to board before I dove off into the deep end an hour ago.
I have a degree in Health Policy, but I’m still consistently amazed by the byzantine and pricey nature of our insurance coverage in the States.
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
It's a perfect storm of disasters
Doctors who expect to get paid big bucks just because
Attorneys and patients who go crazy over the prospect of litigation
Medical/Drug companies pushing the latest drugs/machines
A general public who are not willing to make simple healthy lifestyle changes
A general social perception that we need to save people’s lives even if it means that they get to live a few minutes more
Collusion among insurance companies and hospitals to keep costs high
Doctors who expect to get paid big bucks just because
?
Also known to haunt as theghostoftravisdenker and theaccidentalghostofsergioromo.
Adopted parent of good old Wendell, he tries so hard. You'll get a hit someday son!
by theghostofjasonellison on Aug 10, 2010 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions
Compare what doctors in the US makes v. what doctors in Germany, England, and Japan make
There is an expectation in this country that because you are doctor, you should make tons of money…
Part of that is that medical school is insanely expensive in this country, while in Germany, e.g., it’s basically free.
Medical school is about $250,000...
US doctors make more than what GDP expects ($50,000 more for specialists, $30,000 more for GPs).
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/15/how-much-do-doctors-in-other-countries-make/
Law school is not cheap and I don’t make nearly the salary that most MDs make.
FUCK LAWYERS AND DOCTORS
WHAT ABOUT US POOR SUFFERING ENGINEERS
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
At least you get to ride in the engine and wear those cute hats and overalls.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions
The market must be worshiped at all costs! Just because people need GPs more than plastic surgeons, we can’t go subsidizing the education of GPs. That would destroy our freedom!
when the government confiscates your wealth, you do lose freedom.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Aug 10, 2010 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions
THIS to the millionth power
"You can always recover from the player you didn't sign. You may never recover from the player you signed at the wrong price." --Billy Beane
"I am not an idiot."--Brian Sabean
by Sabean's_Folly on Aug 10, 2010 5:06 PM PDT up reply actions
the government doesn’t create wealth. the money it spends is taken from the people who earned it in the form of taxes. Even if you think subsidizing certain careers is worth it, that’s where the money comes from.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Aug 10, 2010 5:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Sorry...disagree
Government provides the stability, infrastructure, enforcement mechanisms, and legal protection for businesses to prosper. Not to mention a relatively cheap educated work force and laws to make sure a even playing field
Try doing business in Somalia or Iraq
Damn you for making the exact same argument as me, but faster and more clearly.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions
didn’t say there should be no taxes or government, but that doesn’t mean we need to subsidize everyone’s career choices, especially when we’re broke.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Aug 10, 2010 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't think the choice is to subsidize everyone's career
You do it for GPs because it encourages more MDs to be GPs..more GPs means more preventative career at less expenses. It also means less ER visits which clears up hospitals for real emergency.
In the end..it means much lower health care costs…
Thread about to be hidden in three...two...
by Grant Brisbee on Aug 10, 2010 5:31 PM PDT up reply actions
sure. no prob,
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Aug 10, 2010 5:32 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s a great way to dislike other posters you thought were cool before.
by Grant Brisbee on Aug 10, 2010 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions
yes. anyway, I’d rather bitch about the Giants talk about baseball.
Neal before Zod!
Official Sponsor of the 1997 San Francisco Giants
by nostocksjustbonds on Aug 10, 2010 5:44 PM PDT up reply actions
I keep forgetting about the “No Champagne Room” part. Sorry Grant
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond, Brian Anderson.
Jeremy Affeldt induces strained obliques
by Giant among Angels on Aug 10, 2010 5:58 PM PDT up reply actions
He doesn’t really enforce that one very well, anyway.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 6:03 PM PDT up reply actions
So if they had dropped the sex in the champagne room remark
They would have been fine.
Proud Adoptive Parent of Jesus Guzman, RHP. 2010 Line: 0 H, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA. CALL HIM UP!
Bochy: What’s this fancy stat here?
IT Guy: That’s how often they get on base. I do not know why you keep asking me, I am here to fix your server.
DONT BE SHEEPLE AND ACCEPT THIS! SPARK UP AND CHANGE THE WORLD!
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 5:36 PM PDT up reply actions
No need to divulge the details of your private life, I was just kidding.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 5:39 PM PDT up reply actions
the money it spends is taken from the people who earned it in the form of taxes
Ah, interesting viewpoint. How do we determine what one “earned”, though?
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions
The funny thing is that medical costs have skyrocketed the last ten years as doctor salaries have gone down in absolute value.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
FWIW
The increase in cost is due mainly to two things. It’s mostly the huge and unregulated cost of medical devices but there is also a large component of over-testing/prescribing.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
This is also why the VA is by far the most efficient medical system in the US. They have rigid protocols for prescribing drugs and ordering diagnostic tests. They also limit the use of medical devices rather stringently.
In the end, America will be remembered for three things: the Bill of Rights, jazz, and baseball.
Socailism!
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions
If you want to see someone get seriously pissed, tell a Teabagger that his hatred of socialist medicine is anti-military and hurts the troops.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 5:01 PM PDT up reply actions
I think this was an actual sign at one of those rallies:
“Keep your government hands off my Medicare!”
Boo
by LosGigantesTodoElTiempo on Aug 10, 2010 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions
I never ever ever ever ever ever ever in my life thought that I would ever ever ever ever ever ever see the word Teabagger used in this kind of context.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
Ever?
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions
EVER
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Impossible. Government can’t run anything right! Just don’t take away my medicare you socialist Nazi’s!
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I would say both those are a factor of consumers of medicine in the States being sensitive to the cost of medical care. In comparison to what I saw in Ireland, I’m just shocked about what the average American consumer expects from their medical service.
Also, lets not forget that physicians are highly monetarily incentivized to overprescribe and over-test.
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
malpractice suits means that you cover, cover, cover your butt.
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
"You can shake a dozen glove men out of a tree, but the bat separates the men from the boys." - Washington Senators First baseman Dale Long
Proud papa to: Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, aka the IT guy.
Standing on the attorney side of that equation
It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy…the standard of care is what other doctors in the area do/acceptable practices. If docs begin to proscribe more tests/drugs…then the standard of care is “elevated”.
Need to a have a national (or at least state) standard of care…that’s what they do in Japan/Taiwan/Germany…
Good point
But standards of care are only relevant if there is some sort of monetary incentive to maintain said standards. Unfortunately, that is completely at odds with the Fee for Service nature of medical service in this country. I can’t see any doc going on board with something like capitation of global budgets that would limit income.
Oy. It’s fucking mystifying how the rest of the world has figured this out, and we are stuck paying twice as much for life expectations on par with Costa Rica.
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
the rest of the world has absolutely not figured this out.
by scottishgiants on Aug 10, 2010 5:10 PM PDT up reply actions
They are at least ahead of the curve than us
Spend less money and have equal/better health standards
I’m not really worried about him just yet.
He may not be the all-but-guaranteed-win when you look at the upcoming schedule anymore, but part of it to me is that he’s adjusting, the league is adjusting, and the Giants lineup and bullpen have let him down for a few of his starts. Not all of them, by any means; he has gotten lit up a time or two, but who hasn’t?
You can bet that most teams would pay a very pretty penny to have a pitcher in their rotation with Tim’s credentials. The fact that he’s “downgraded” from unhittable to nearly-unhittable is not that big a deal to me. He’s still someone that batters don’t look forward to facing; when that changes, then I’ll start to worry.
I came, I saw, I told bad jokes and left.
That was uncalled for, Senator.
I mean, Grant.
I have a feeling...
Everyone is worrying for nothing. Well, worrying in the first place is foolish since it only causes more stress and won’t change the outcome. Last year he was about as good as Zack Greinke (what was it .01 difference in FIP?). Greinke is no where near as amazing as he was last year, while, Timmeh has gone from top 1% to top 5%. I think this year will be good for our players in their development. Pablo will have to learn how to take a pitch, maintain himself better, etc. I’m almost certain that Timmeh will learn to adapt too, especially if his velocity keeps declining and he becomes more hittable and gives up more walks. Perhaps he just needs to have more confidence and focus (I notice that he hasn’t been as fearless as he has been in the past). Their both special players and I have faith that everything will work out.
Last year, this thing tortured me, because at this time in the season the Giants and Rockies were neck and neck but PECOTA said the Rockies were almost a lock for the playoffs while the Giants had like a 10% chance. It better be right this time too.
Also, it’s crazy how the odds say there are five teams with a greater than 50% chance of making the playoffs. How’s that work?
I don’t see the problem, as long as the total odds at up to 400% (4 teams at 100%)…..
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions
Oh, I know mathematically it can happen. It just doesn’t, normally. The AL is typical of the usual situation. Normally at least one team is a lock by this point of the season. You hardly ever see a genuine “six teams fighting for four spots” pennant race like this.
Ohhh ok I just didn’t understand what you were getting at.
by Missing Barry on Aug 10, 2010 6:59 PM PDT up reply actions
so
1) he’s not pitching as well he historically has. He has gone from better than other teams aces, to not as good as the better team’s aces.
2) he will likely be pitching the same in October as he is now.
3) this means he will likely not be pitching as well as the ace of the teams we face in the playoffs, when at the same time our offense is not now as good, and will likely not be as good, as the teams we will face in the playoffs.
4) “fine” has no meaning
5) the implications for the playoffs are that he will either not be our “game 1, 4 and 7 starter,” or if he is, we will be lucky to prevail in those three games, because if its Timmeh vs their ace, neither our pitcher nor our offense is likely to be statistically as good as the opposition’s. Obviously, Timmeh fares better against certain teams than vs others.
6) the people who are freaking out are the people who refuse to see this. imho, of course.
7) there are alternatives to putting up Timmeh against their ace, depending on the particular team we face in the playoffs and their records vs Zito or Cain.
And the worst part, those fukin’ douchenozzles over at the MCC get to lord this over us.
Haters gonna hate
Worriers gonna worry
Me? I’m a worrier.
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?
lulz
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions
Hatters gonna hat.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions
Boners gonna bone
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
I want to piss on yooouuuuu
Jeaaaggaahh
by Soulbrother16 on Aug 10, 2010 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions
OT
Ah yes, a Hairston would comment on the sweep prediction…
"But y’know, I guess that’s his opinion"
"We play baseball in San Diego, we focus on our business, we don’t worry about anybody else. We know they’re a good team, we respect them, and we feel we’re a pretty good team as well."
"It does kinda shock you, because normally an everyday player would make a comment because he’s got control of what he does every day."
"It’s a little surprising. He may have been frustrated, y’know, of how they played in Atlanta. But y’know, hey, he could also say he’s very confident in his team. He has every right to be, but we’re very confident in our team. We feel that we’re a very good ballclub and we feel we’re poised to make a run."
"He said what he said, and I guess we’ll just leave it at that."
They could be Giants...but not really.
This year we'll take home the ashes!
The ashes being those of the bat that Barry Bonds used to hit 756, thus killing good ’ol All-American baseball, correct?
Status: Feels so broke up. Wants to go home. || Still boycotting Johnsonville and Giants souvenirs or ballpark foods for repossessing my K Wall in right field.
We went 1-8 against them in the first half
Anything to disrupt the comfort zone may help. I mean, get inside their heads a little bit, maybe it’ll chance the dynamics.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
I’d prefer he just keep his mouth shut.
Utter frustration and futility.
Adopted 'nephew' to the ever avuncular and always awesome Jon Miller
by Johnny Disaster on Aug 10, 2010 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions
me too, but it's too late now
let’s see if this works.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
1-large number
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
Which Hairston?
I read this quote, hoping to be outraged and incensed by the words coming from a Hairston. Instead, he had a reasonable, rational response. I actually agreed with everything he said.
THIS MAKES ME EVEN MORE OUTRAGED AND INCENSED.
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?
I don’t have a problem with anything he said. I think he handled it well.
Adopted Giant: Ryan Rohlinger (on loan from Shanghaijim).
Buster Posey: He knows the rules!
♥BARRY ZITO♥
I agree. He said nothing wrong. To be honest, I think Sanchez should’ve have said what he did in the first place
Wayne Rooney, 1/27/10: Cometh The Hour, Cometh The Man
Green and Gold Till the Club is Sold- Republik of Mancunia
"If City play a game against United for 89 minutes, maybe they’ll have a chance." -King Eric Cantona
by Useful_Idiot on Aug 10, 2010 5:25 PM PDT up reply actions
I read the first line as if he’s Jeffrey Lebowski
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond, Brian Anderson.
Jeremy Affeldt induces strained obliques
by Giant among Angels on Aug 10, 2010 6:02 PM PDT up reply actions
Well Hairston
I don’t like your jerk off name, I don’t like your jerk off face, I don’t like your jerk off behavior, and I don’t like you jerk off.
Proud of both my adopted son, Baggs, and my ward, Ryan LOLlis.
I mean he is the only player to start his career winning 2 straight cy youngs. WWAAAAAAAH hes not going to win a 3rd!
Not directed at you
But I don’t see it this way…
I understand that all pitchers have lesser seasons and Timmy could be great next year. However, the issue is that 1) the Giants is built on pitching with Timmy as their ace and 2) Timmy is coming up for contract talks again.
It’s one thing if the Giants committed to Timmy long-term (good or bad) but the question is whether Timmy is worth no. 1 ace dominate pitcher money or pretty good no. 1/2 money
Giants sign sixth-rounder Kickham
http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/?p=2700
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Aug 10, 2010 3:46 PM PDT reply actions
Fanshot in the dark
Dammit.
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Aug 10, 2010 3:47 PM PDT up reply actions
LOL
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Aug 10, 2010 3:50 PM PDT up reply actions
And You're to Blame
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
reply fail, nevermind. meant for somewhere else.
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
And You're David Blaine
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
"You can shake a dozen glove men out of a tree, but the bat separates the men from the boys." - Washington Senators First baseman Dale Long
Proud papa to: Bill Schlough, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, aka the IT guy.
Oh, you're Lisa Stevens
Proud Adoptive Parent of Jesus Guzman, RHP. 2010 Line: 0 H, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA. CALL HIM UP!
Bochy: What’s this fancy stat here?
IT Guy: That’s how often they get on base. I do not know why you keep asking me, I am here to fix your server.
The small child you requested has been back ordered.
Proud Adoptive Parent of Jesus Guzman, RHP. 2010 Line: 0 H, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA. CALL HIM UP!
Bochy: What’s this fancy stat here?
IT Guy: That’s how often they get on base. I do not know why you keep asking me, I am here to fix your server.
Watch dolphin bubbles instead: http://www.wimp.com/dolphinbubbles (it is really cool)
You can't solve your problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems - Albert Einstein to Brian Sabean
This.
Q: Did you ever make an offer for Vladimir Guerrero?
Sabean: In a word: No. If we had signed Guerrero or [Gary] Sheffield, we would have been without [Long list of replacement level vets]—obviously not being able to field a competitive team, especially from an experience standpoint, given our level of spending.
And some Lincecowas or Uriburros.
He is the World's Most Annoying Rooster.
by gallo del cielo on Aug 10, 2010 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions
Torres CF
Renteria SS
Huff RF
Posey C
Burrell LF
Sandoval 3B
Uribe 2B
Ishikawa 1B
Lincecum P.
"IT'S POSEY, YOU IDIOT." - Jon Miller
Clayton Tanner, the Flying Squirrel!
by walkoff baltimore chop on Aug 10, 2010 3:53 PM PDT reply actions
Well, assuming that Torres, Huff, Posey, and Burrell aren’t moving up or down in the lineup, it’s either Renteria, Sanchez, Sandoval, Rowand, Uribe, or Ishikawa. There’s some amount of picking your poison going on there.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 4:57 PM PDT up reply actions
what’s wrong with a torres-posey-huff-burrell top of the order?
by scottishgiants on Aug 10, 2010 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Bochy.
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 5:13 PM PDT up reply actions
I am ok with this.
Proud Adoptive Parent of Jesus Guzman, RHP. 2010 Line: 0 H, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA. CALL HIM UP!
Bochy: What’s this fancy stat here?
IT Guy: That’s how often they get on base. I do not know why you keep asking me, I am here to fix your server.
oh hey it's panda again
- ____ -
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
Could be
Or maybe he’s playing the SSS game. Panda is 3/6 against Dempster, U is 1/8.
They could be Giants...but not really.
HE GOT ALMOST HALF A GAME OFF LAST NIGHT
"I just struck out looking three times, but in any other ballpark those would have been home runs." - Aubrey Huff
by howtheyscored on Aug 10, 2010 4:58 PM PDT up reply actions
I can live with this, and I like Burrell at the 5 spot the way he has played lately.
Jeaaaggaahh
by Soulbrother16 on Aug 10, 2010 3:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Thanks for the lineup, chop.
I’m late to this thread. I had serious work to do on the house exterior. But I’d like to comment on Grant’s original proposition.
We fret about Timmy because we sense a fragility there.
He might be the rock of ages, but many outward signs guide us to believing he is a shooting star. Next to his long or lardass fellows on the mound, he appears to be a wisp. He opts for dangling strands, not severe facial hair. His complexion and gaze are baleful. Not for nothing do they call him The Freak. His intensity is obvious, but you can see the same in high school ball.
In short, we fear that the thing making him great might go away one day without warning. And we look for that warning so carefully that many of us see it all the time. Anything short of mastery of the other team is the first step into the realm of Gene Beardon.
That’s what I think.
He is the World's Most Annoying Rooster.
by gallo del cielo on Aug 10, 2010 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions
Have a feeling Dempster is going to own this.
Giant Dirtbags: John Bowker, Steve Hammond, Brian Anderson.
Jeremy Affeldt induces strained obliques
by Giant among Angels on Aug 10, 2010 6:04 PM PDT up reply actions
Cubs Lineup
Colvin CF
Castro SS
Hoffpauir 1B
Ramirez 3B
Fukudome RF
Soriano LF
DeWitt 2B
Hill C
Dempster RHP
Proud Adoptive Parent of Jesus Guzman, RHP. 2010 Line: 0 H, 2 BB, 0.00 ERA. CALL HIM UP!
Bochy: What’s this fancy stat here?
IT Guy: That’s how often they get on base. I do not know why you keep asking me, I am here to fix your server.
David Hasselhoff requests that you not do that again
Why couldn't McCovey have hit the ball just three feet higher?
I don't know but don't hassle it
Obviously any links in the above post are probably NSFW
The baseball gods do not always punish the wicked but they will not just allow people to spit in their faces -- Joe Posnanski
I wish I would stop cheating. fuck. this is jctgamer's fault -- jponry
James Micah Hoffpauir
2008: (33 games): .342 Avg, .400 (OBP), .534 (SLG)…2 homers 8 RBI
2009: (105 games) .239 Avg, .300 (OBP)., .427 (SLG)…10 homers 35 RBIs…20 BBs and 46 SO
Seems like a Mark Reynolds type…
There are actually 2 in pro baseball
Micah and Jarrett
Proud father of Mike Krukow (who is more than 3 times my age)
Grab Some Pine, Meat
Still cheering for Kevin Frandsen
John Bowker: One of the 3 best OF's on the Giants roster
and not closely related
"Being a McCoven is like being a member of the Green party. It’s powerlessness is part of the appeal." - oldjacket
"Quiet you, I'm starting a meme." - Me
"You can shake a dozen glove men out of a tree, but the bat separates the men from the boys." - Washington Senators First baseman Dale Long
Proud papa to: Bill S