So, I'm reading "The Bin Ladens: An Arabian Family in the American Century" by Steven Coll (sorry this website just got red-flagged by the NSA) and I came across a culture that I was unfamiliar with: the Sabaens (although I think in the book it is spelled Sabean - like our boy Brian).  Anyway, they lived quite a while ago, you know, before Bill James, and I just thought it was apoapos.  I don't think they valued OBP either, which is probably why they haven't won a World Series since moving west to Ethiopia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabean

The Dodgers website crashed my browser (Firefox).

A little background:

I live and work in the Santa Barbara area.  Today I have to deliver a document to Long Beach.  I will leave at 1pm.  The Giants game starts at 1pm.

So I figured I might be able to listen to most of the game, and possibly enjoy the only good thing the Dodgers have to offer - Vin Scully (I will give him a pass on his Bonds tirades, a lifetime of excellence shouldn't be overshadowed by a bout of self-righteousness in one's twilight years).  So, with much trepidation, I went to the Dodgers website to find radio stations that I could tune in to.

And then my browser crashed.  Naturally, I blame the Dodgers.

On this Opening Day, of this sure to be historic year, what do you blame the Dodgers for?

Many of you probably saw this, but I was gone over the weekend.  Would the Giants brass have the... uh, brass, to start Lewis in LF?

http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_8668713

highlight: " But Giants officials are thinking more seriously about ditching the idea of a straight platoon of Dave Roberts and Rajai Davis in left field. They'd like to wedge Lewis more regularly into an outfield that already includes Aaron Rowand in center and Randy Winn in right."

http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_8688866

highlight: "Lewis' moon shot is the latest act in a strong spring that has the Giants reconsidering their outfield alignment. They had planned to platoon Dave Roberts and Rajai Davis in left field.  'It's hard to play better ball than he has this spring,' Manager Bruce Bochy said. 'He's stepped up and he's been a pleasure to watch, too. The way he's played, we'll have to find a way to get him in the lineup.' "

Make your pappy proud Freddy!

Apologies if somebody already posted this:

http://www.mercurynews.com/giantsheadlines/ci_7658658?nclick_check=1

Small excerpt:
" OK, it's still a gut-wrenching decision. No surprise, my earlier blog post supporting Lincecum-for-Rios has been roasted on at least one very good Giants fan Web site. That's fair, and some of the rips are excellent points."

Does anybody know much about this guy?  I know that the Giants likely need an infielder more than an outfielder, but I think it is about time that the Giants make a run at a Japanese player, and this guy looks good.  Looking at the tiny youtube videos, he appears to bail-out a little while swinging (especially vs. lefties), but maybe it's just my ineptitude as a hitter coming back to taunt me.  He'll be a free agent this winter, no posting fee needed.  There is a nice rundown, stats, and videos here:

http://www.armchairgm.com/index.php?title=Kosuke_Fukudome

This has been pointed out before, so I'm not claiming to be Marco Polo here, but I wanted to lay it out and have a discussion.

Peripheral stats for 4/5 of the Giants rotation will follow.

The Giants starting pitching is supposedly keeping there heads above water (if .500 is above water), yet the numbers below numbers do not look good now, or in the future if there is a trend.  Particularly concerning are the stats of Lowry and Cain, who are homegrown products and the youngest in this small analysis.  The peripherals on Zito and Morris were cited as reasons NOT to sign them, but alas, they have gotten worse as Giants.  What has been worrisome for me has been all the BBs, which have hurt the team thus far, and seemingly will do more damage as the season goes by (the low ERAs seems to be an aberration).  These numbers, in conjunction with the starting 5 ERA suggests to me that the defense is playing well and there has been a lot of luck.

So, my question is: is this an institutional problem?  Do the Giants not preach "throwing strikes" as an organization?  Does Rags not preach "throwing strikes"?  It would seem to go in line with the rest of the organizational mentality that BBs are not such a big deal (at least for their hitters).  Maybe there is too much emphasis on "avoiding" big hits?  Or is this just 4 guys who aren't that good/struggling?

What do you guys think?  Here are the stats:

SEASON     TEAM     K/BB     BB/9     K/9

Matt Morris               
1997    StLC    2.16    2.86    6.18
1998    StLC    1.88    3.33    6.26
2000    StLC    2    2.89    5.77
2001    StLC    3.43    2.25    7.7
2002    StLC    2.67    2.74    7.32
2003    StLC    3.08    2.04    6.27
2004    StLC    2.34    2.5    5.84
2005    StLC    3.16    1.73    5.47
2006    SFG    1.86    2.73    5.07
2007    SFG    1.39    3.03    4.21

Matt Cain               
2005    SFG    1.58    3.69    5.83
2006    SFG    2.06    4.11    8.45
2007    SFG    1.48    4.64    6.89

Noah Lowry               
2003    SFG    2.5    2.84    7.11
2004    SFG    2.57    2.74    7.04
2005    SFG    2.26    3.34    7.56
2006    SFG    1.5    3.16    4.74
2007    SFG    1.18    4.18    4.92

Barry Zito               
2000    OAK    1.73    4.37    7.58
2001    OAK    2.56    3.36    8.61
2002    OAK    2.33    3.06    7.14
2003    OAK    1.66    3.42    5.67
2004    OAK    2.01    3.42    6.89
2005    OAK    1.92    3.51    6.74
2006    OAK    1.53    4.03    6.15
2007    SFG    1.07    4.4    4.7

And this isn't really fair for a variety of reasons, both in support and opposed to the above question, but here are Rags career numbers, as they are at least interesting to think about:

Dave Righetti               
Career        1.88    3.79    7.13

There has been some written about how much money Bonds (read: Boris) is demanding.  This article says that the two sides are "not in the same ballparks."

http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061205&content_id=1751744&vkey=hotstove 2006&fext=.jsp

Ok, so there is a lot of jockeying for position via the press, so it isn't panic time yet.

Then there's this gem from cnnsi:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/mlb/12/05/manny.trade/index.html

SI claims that the Nats want Cain in the Manny menage a trois.  I laughed when I saw that one;  Cain is untouchable.  Right?  Hello... Brian... [crickets chirp] Hello... Brian...?  Brian!!!!

I think Todd Linden can play first base.  He's athletic and eager.  If people think Bonds can play first, Linden could clearly do no worse.  I see this as an option if Sabean makes the mistake of signing some joker to play center field.  I hear John Fogerty is available...

I'm looking at Pedro's stats for BA, OBP, and SLG against, and they just don't reconcile with his ERA.  I'm sure some of you will come back and say, "that is why ERA is not a good measure of how a pitcher is pitching..."  Well, ok, I believed you before and I still believe you.  Now explain it.  How can Pedro be #1 in BA against, #2 in OBP against, #3 in SLG against, but be #17 in ERA?  And the difference between #17 in ERA and #2 in ERA is not insignificant - almost 3/4 of a run (.74).  By the way, he is #3 in K/9 and #1 in WHIP.

I will posit the only explanation I can think of:  When Pedro is pitching well, he is pretty much unhitable.  When he isn't pitching well, he's somewhat human.  That is to say, a very large percentage of the batters he lets on base come in small bunches and a lot of those score.  What do you think?

The espn.com link:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/stats/pitching?split=0&league=mlb&season=2006&seasonType=2 &sort=opponentOnBasePct&type=pitch4&ageMin=17&ageMax=51&state=0&college=0&am p;country=0&hand=a&pos=all