Jim Tracy blew it tonight
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 12, 2009 9:04 PM CDT
91 comments
Jim Tracy made an utterly predictable, yet utterly inexcusable, non-move tonight.
Rockies up, 4-2, top of the 9th, 2 runners on, 2 outs, Ryan Howard coming to the plate.
Howard is coming up as the go-ahead run. But you retire Howard, and the game is over.
Here's Ryan Howard's splits this year:
RHP: .320/.395/.693
LHP: .207/.298/.356
Against righties, he's Albert Pujols. Against lefties, he's a Ranger catcher.
Want more than one season's worth of data? Fine...career splits:
RHP: .308/.409/.662
LHP: .226/.310/.444
Over the course of his career, against lefties, he improves from a Ranger catcher to the Ranger version of Andruw Jones.
Sending a lefty out there to face Howard in a situation like this is a no-brainer. It is the reason you have Joe Biemel in your bullpen...so that you don't let the guy who kills righties and can't hit lefties face a righthander with the game on the line.
And yet...Biemel isn't the closer. Huston Street is. So Jim Tracy let Street face Howard, with the season on the line, and that decision cost the Rockies the game, and the NLDS.
Unbelievable.
I don't want to hear anymore about how the sabermetric types are governed by stats and don't understand how the games are really played.
Jim Tracy allowed a stat -- the save -- to knock his team out of the playoffs. Because it was a save situation, and you don't pull your closer in a save situation to bring in a lefty specialist.
Phillies fans everywhere owe Tracy a huge thank you.
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But But
He’s gonna be Manager of the Year!!!
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
by sprite on Oct 12, 2009 9:06 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Now I completely agree with you 100%
but how many of the 30 managers out there make that move?
I think most would view it as an insult to their closer. I feel 100% safe in saying that Ron Washington’s gut would never have made that move.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on Oct 12, 2009 9:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
You think?
I think Wash brings in CJ in that situation. Unless he’s already pulled CJ, after pitching the 8th, of course.
LaRussa makes that move. Probably Torre. And I’d say that’s it.
"we’re a bunch of knee-jerking yahoos who like new and shiny things." -- FirebatM3 July 10, 2009
by Oddibee on Oct 12, 2009 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't care
The fact that Wash or 29 other managers would have not made that move doesn’t make it less poor of a decision.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 12, 2009 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Would you leave Mariano in?
Not that the answer to that question changes anything you typed above, I’m just curious
by BuckyB on Oct 12, 2009 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yes
and maybe Papelbon. That is where managing humans trumps the numbers. But Huston Street… no.
"we’re a bunch of knee-jerking yahoos who like new and shiny things." -- FirebatM3 July 10, 2009
by Oddibee on Oct 12, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Papelbon now?
The one who ditched his splitter and just throws straight ass fastballs? No thank you.
"You'll meet them again on their long journey to the middle." -Lester Bangs
by BAC on Oct 12, 2009 9:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Rivera has reverse splits
for 09 and his career. Sick!
Elvis Andrus - 2009 AL Rookie of the Year
Mitch Moreland -Tom Grieve Rangers Minor League Player of the Year
Martin Perez - Nolan Ryan Rangers Minor League Pitcher of the Year
by RangerMad on Oct 12, 2009 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Just simply the best RP ever
and I don’t think it’s close
by BuckyB on Oct 12, 2009 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Due to longevity, I would agree about Mo being the best.
However, not by a longshot. Dennis Eckersly(sp?) is right there.
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by Parman on Oct 13, 2009 7:03 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What about Hoffman?
He’s still going strong, and it’s not really his fault his team didn’t make it to the postseason all that often…
by MikeEl on Oct 13, 2009 7:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep...
I’ll bet just about every manager would stick with their “closer” there.
But like AJM said, it’s still the wrong move.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Oct 12, 2009 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is just further evidence as to why saves
Are a largely meaningless stat, much like wins and losses, and really shouldn’t be used as a significant measuring stick for anything.
In fact, you could probably say this is why the whole concept of having a designated “closer” is somewhat outmoded.
Hank is 7 runs below a zombie replacement at first base. Do you realize how terrible that is? Zombie’s can’t think, they’re slow, and they’re often ejected from the game for eating opposing baserunners’ brains. - Ben quantifies Hank Blalock
by lonestarJon on Oct 12, 2009 9:21 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
I dunno about that
Closer-by-committee’s haven’t faired too well from what I remember (although I don’t have any evidence)
I think closers are a good idea, bc certain pitchers have a better mentality for it, and bc sometimes you have a best pitcher in the bullpen that you only want to use when he is guaranteeing you a win.
But I think, such as in this situation, you need to not put your fingers in your ears when leaving the guy in is clearly a bad idea
by BuckyB on Oct 12, 2009 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course... closer by committee is only invoked when you don't have a "best reliever"
so this could be more a correlational thing, than a causation thing… bad bullpens blow saves
by BuckyB on Oct 12, 2009 9:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well
“Closer” in my opinion is too much of a narrow definition and pitching the 9th inning has been allowed to become a far too important concept for atheletes phsycologically.
I think your “closer” or “relief ace”, whatever you want to call him should be used at whatever is deemed the most important point in the late innings of a game. For example, if you really need to get out of a 7th inning jam or the heart of an opponents batting order is due in the 8th, I don’t see why “conventional” baseball thinking defies using your top reliever in those spots, and letting the guy who would normally be designated as the “setup man” pitch the 9th. Now there are of course times when you want your best reliever saved for the 9th… but I don’t see why you can’t be flexible with that same guy as well.
Hank is 7 runs below a zombie replacement at first base. Do you realize how terrible that is? Zombie’s can’t think, they’re slow, and they’re often ejected from the game for eating opposing baserunners’ brains. - Ben quantifies Hank Blalock
by lonestarJon on Oct 12, 2009 9:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree with everything you said
but I think there are times when the most important part of the game is when you’re down by 1, with the bases loaded in the 7th, for instance…
but you still want your best reliever saved for a game that you’re guaranteed to win instead of potentially wasting him in a game where your offense may not score another run.
Where I think the “save” is most harmful to the managerial decisions made, is where a manager wastes his best reliever in the 9th when the team is up by 3 runs for the sake of bolstering stats…. I think pretty much any reliever in your bullpen should be able to come in with a 3 run lead and close out the game
by BuckyB on Oct 12, 2009 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It's funny
that 30 MLB managers won’t make that move, but watch NCAA Regionals and Super Regionals and you will see that move made all the time. TCU was playing I believe New Mexico in the MWC Conference Tourney this year and New Mexico was in an elimination game. Down 2 with the bases loaded in the 5th, New Mexico brought in their closer. I think the difference there is you don’t have high priced guys labeled as “the closer” who see it as an ego thing.
"calmer than you are dude" Walter (Big Lebowski)
Hello Win Column!!!
by Arlington Stadium Legend on Oct 13, 2009 6:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed, but it isn't just ego
you make significantly more money as a reliever if you can notch 30 “Saves”
by BuckyB on Oct 13, 2009 10:14 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn't mind...
seeing Joe Beimel in the Rangers ’pen next year.
Of course the price has to be right.
"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance."-Socrates
by slc ranger on Oct 12, 2009 9:28 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Beimel, Grabow, Scott Eyre, even Maday Mahay....
Quite a few pretty decent LH relievers on the market this winter. Only thing is, Grabow’s a type A and Beimel and Eyre are B’s though.
Hank is 7 runs below a zombie replacement at first base. Do you realize how terrible that is? Zombie’s can’t think, they’re slow, and they’re often ejected from the game for eating opposing baserunners’ brains. - Ben quantifies Hank Blalock
by lonestarJon on Oct 12, 2009 9:34 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
type B's wouldn't cost us a pick though
so sign me up for Beimel or Eyre
by UNTJosh on Oct 12, 2009 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What happens if Beimel doesn't get Howard out?
What do you do then?
by MikeEl on Oct 12, 2009 9:43 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
What happens if Howard hits a series winning homerun?
What do you do then?
by BuckyB on Oct 12, 2009 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
why not just walk Howard and pitch to Werth with Street?
by MikeEl on Oct 12, 2009 10:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Werth got a basehit against him anyway
although it was a really good pitch, just a better hit
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings.
by NothinG on Oct 12, 2009 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well...
Huston Street’s 2009 and career numbers against lefties are better than Beimel’s. But hey, why ruin a good rant with facts right?
LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
by DaheelzCM on Oct 12, 2009 9:47 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Doesn't change what Howard does against lefties, does it?
by BuckyB on Oct 12, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course not
But it does add more context to the situation.
LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
by DaheelzCM on Oct 12, 2009 9:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
that's true
I don’t think it excuses the decision
by BuckyB on Oct 12, 2009 9:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Street's line vs lefties this year is .167/.227/.265/.492
Beimel’s line is .258/.297/.484/.781. That certainly should be enough to expand the conversation here on the subject.
by twinkilling on Oct 13, 2009 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Street had blown the game last night though, and was in trouble again
So I guess it comes down to whose numbers you want to gamble on more, one of the top hitters in the NL, or the currently on-the-ropes closer.
Hank is 7 runs below a zombie replacement at first base. Do you realize how terrible that is? Zombie’s can’t think, they’re slow, and they’re often ejected from the game for eating opposing baserunners’ brains. - Ben quantifies Hank Blalock
by lonestarJon on Oct 12, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Don't care
Howard kills RHPs, is worthless against lefties.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 12, 2009 9:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ok
Do you care that Howard has a .300/.462/.900/1.362 line against Beimel?
LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
by DaheelzCM on Oct 12, 2009 9:55 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
In a whopping 13 PA's!
Hank is 7 runs below a zombie replacement at first base. Do you realize how terrible that is? Zombie’s can’t think, they’re slow, and they’re often ejected from the game for eating opposing baserunners’ brains. - Ben quantifies Hank Blalock
by lonestarJon on Oct 12, 2009 9:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
so...
like the manager…you choose which stats to use and which stats to ignore….
gotcha…
Fuck Mike Estabrook
by Horns130 on Oct 13, 2009 12:20 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pitcher/batter matchups are usually such a negligible sample size it's not even funny
As is the case here.
Hank is 7 runs below a zombie replacement at first base. Do you realize how terrible that is? Zombie’s can’t think, they’re slow, and they’re often ejected from the game for eating opposing baserunners’ brains. - Ben quantifies Hank Blalock
by lonestarJon on Oct 13, 2009 12:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
13 at bats against a reliever is not a small sample size
Especially if that guy is a specialist. Without having the numbers in front of me I would guess it probably took Howard 3+ years to get those 13 ABs
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Oct 13, 2009 9:59 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs
So because it took 3+ years
that speaks to his ability to hit Beimel in 13 chances.
Hahahaha.
"Nothing we do here has a point" - Czar Morris
by Chase Irwin on Oct 13, 2009 12:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Echoing LSJ's thoughts above.
13 PAs against one batter is an irrelevant statistic. It’s not about choosing which to use and which to ignore, but knowing which provide information (or better information) and which do not.
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 7:52 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
you don't think that 13 one on one encounters (batter vs pitcher)
have any relevance in predicting outcomes for the 14th encounter?
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 13, 2009 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Considering that sabermetrics has shown significant fluctuations for these values
at sample sizes approaching partial seasons worth of data? No. A sample size larger than this led us to add Matt Kata to our opening day roster a few years ago. Should opposing managers have intentionally walked Matt Kata at that time because he did well over a small sample size in spring training?
I think that an entire career’s worth of data is far more predictive than thirteen samples. Why do you think that the smaller sample should be more important?
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Any relationship between this situation and Matt Kata is
about as far as anyone can reach in trying to establish an argument.
by twinkilling on Oct 13, 2009 11:40 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What makes you say that?
We’re talking about sample size misuse in both cases.
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Were Matt Kata's AB's all off the same pitcher?
Is there a difference between ST AB’s and in-season AB’s? That’s whay i think your Matt Kata comparison has near zero applicability here.
by twinkilling on Oct 13, 2009 11:46 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Are 13 at bats statistically significant?
Out of 3145 for Ryan Howard?
Out of 2272 for Joe Beimel?
It’s just as insane to add Matt Kata to your opening day roster based on a month of spring training (which, I think we both agree, was a bad idea) as it is to choose 13 at-bats over a sample size nearly 200 times larger.
Why would Ryan Howard, who is normally awful against lefties, be magically better against Joe Beimel? If he could pick up something from Beimel’s delivery that made him so much better, why wouldn’t he be able to apply it to all left-handed pitchers?
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 12:00 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
13 AB's out of 3145 aren't particularly significant
but 13 AB’s off the same pitcher are damn sure significant.
by twinkilling on Oct 13, 2009 12:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Do you care to address the other questions I posed?
Why are those 13 at-bats more significant? What makes you think that Ryan Howard has some skill he can apply only to Joe Beimel that he can’t apply to other left-handed pitchers?
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What Ryan Howard has done to Joe Beimel is fact
What Street did against lefthanders this year is fact. Anything else is speculation. And I have yet to understand how Matt Kata is in anyway relevent to this discussion.
by twinkilling on Oct 13, 2009 12:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
are you saying
that every LHP is equal in ability to get Ryan Howard out? Just because they are left handed?
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 13, 2009 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
isn't it possible
that for whatever reason Howard is able to see the ball early and get a good read on it because of some quirk in Beimel’s delivery?
As mentioned below, which is more relevant to this 1 on 1 matchup, Howard vs all LHP? or Howard vs THIS LHP?
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 13, 2009 1:09 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think the smaller sample should be more important because it is more specific
Statistical analysis is great for studies of populations, but I think a smaller sample is indeed very relevant when looking at a specific batter versus a specific pitcher.
In an attempt to create an analogous sports situation, consider a tennis player that has a career of hundreds of matches with a .750 winning pct, but against John Q. Volley he has lost 10 of 13 matches. When predicting the outcome of match number 14, which would you consider more strongly: his overall winning pct, or his past history against this particular opponent?
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 13, 2009 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'll respond to all your responses here...
for simplicity’s sake.
I don’t know if tennis is analogous because I’m unfamiliar with the level of statistical analysis in tennis overall. I believe that the level of scientific research done in baseball shows that players establish skill levels at various performance milestones, and that performance fluctuates around that skill level.
If .750-win-percent-guy loses consistently against Volley, I’d wonder if Volley’s best/primary shot is one that .750 can’t defend at all, regardless of player. I’d try to see if there’s a correlation between Volley’s positive skills and .750’s deficiencies before eschewing a larger set of data.
Regarding your question about LHP’s abilities to get Ryan Howard out:
I’m not saying they’re all equal in ability — I’m arguing the sample size issue here, not really the particular Biemel vs. Street case. I actually disagree with Adam:
In this case, Beimel is an average lefty (career FIP of 4.40), whereas Street is a stellar righty (career FIP of 2.91). So, say Street depresses Howard’s overall righty batting line to 67% of normal (about the ratio of 2.91 to the league-average FIP of 4.32), bringing it to about .214/.265/.464. That’s a lot closer to Howard’s line vs. a league-average lefty.
I don’t think Ryan Howard sees Beimel’s pitches better than other left-handed pitchers, because that would reflect in Beimel’s overall statistics. Surely Ryan Howard (and the Phillies as a team) would include this in their scouting report.
If Howard knew something, then why is Chase Utley’s career line vs. Beimel .167/.286/.250 in 14 PAs? Following the individual matchup idea, does this imply that Beimel knows some quirk in Utley’s hitting mechanics that he can exploit, but hasn’t ever shared this information with anyone? Or, does it simply mean that Beimel is an average lefty and that a sample size of 14 PAs doesn’t really mean a whole lot considering Chase Utley has a career .880 OPS vs. lefties?
I think I responded to all your questions here, but I might’ve missed something.
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 1:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Okay, so...
that FIP ratio is based on Huston Street’s overall FIP, rather than his FIP vs. lefties alone (I can’t figure out how to get that from either FanGraphs, or calculate it on my own using BR, since there’s no innings pitched record listed under their splits).
I imagine that Street’s overall FIP vs. lefties is higher than vs. righties, which would mean that Ryan Howard’s line against him is probably not quite that low (and more like .230/.295/.494 or so). So…Tracy probably should’ve brought in Beimel, but I dunno that it’s a clear cut choice.
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
OK, I understand your POV
I guess you would completely disregard any batter vs pitcher results and rather base your decisions on the larger data set of the batters RH/LH splits? That’s understandable, but I’d look at it differently.
I think every batter and every pitcher are a bit unique, and I don’t have any trouble believing that a certain pitcher could have a unique advantage (or disadvantage) over an individual hitter. That advantage would show up in individual stats, but not in career splits.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 13, 2009 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yep
Out of curiosity, what do you think those unique advantages/disadvantages might be?
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 3:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
not to be snide
but any of the hundreds of things that make pitches/pitchers different…velocity, delivery, movement, deception, sequencing, etc.
I think it is certainly plausible that something in the way Beimel delivers a pitch, or something about the way that Ryan Howard sees that pitch coming out of his hand, or is able to read the spin on the ball as it approaches the plate allows Ryan Howard to hit Beimel much better than he hits lefties in general. Maybe Howard can read a particular tick that gives away what pitch Beimel is throwing, or where he is wanting to locate.
"You can probably stick a fork in the Rangers' playoff chances for 2009." - AJM on 7/26 with the team 4.5 games out
by tricer on Oct 13, 2009 3:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
But, we capture data on many of those things now.
FanGraphs has pitch sequence data, and measures pitches with regards to individual run values, as well as run values of a sequence.
I don’t think there’s any measurement captured on a pitcher’s windup, and ultimately I think that’s the only thing (outside of height/weight) that could affect this — PitchFX tracks everything else.
Nevertheless, it’s probably worth doing a study to see if there’s are other pitchers whose pitches closely mimick Joe Beimel’s and against whom Ryan Howard has a significant degree of success.
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 3:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe its something that can't be captured by a computer
These are human beings afterall.
Why does Vlad Guerrero not hit .400 against every other team he plays like he does the Rangers?
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Oct 13, 2009 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That implies that human beings are beyond scientific understanding.
And while it’s true that science doesn’t currently understand everything about human beings, that doesn’t mean it isn’t possible.
We don’t capture all measurable data regarding baseball games right now. I think we have a few more steps to go before we should say, “Maybe human beings are too complex to be scientifically modeled.”
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Its also possible
That Biemel is just a guy Ryan Howard hits very very well regardless of what hand he throws with. Whether its Biemels repertoire, location, velocity, etc, whatever Howard has shown over a fairly substantial span (13 ABs against a reliever is a pretty good sample size) that he is a tough out for Biemel. So maybe 2 on in the 9th inning of a playoff game when you are up 2 runs isn’t the best time to put Biemel in to face the guy.
Sometimes I think computers have hurt how baseball is viewed by some. Some people only go off of numbers and don’t take into account variables computers cannot measure. Thats not to say they are bad or not useful but to rely strictly on them is wrong to me. And im not an old codger who grew up watching baseball in black and white either.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Oct 13, 2009 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"variables computers cannot measure"?
I have real problems with that. From a purely scientific standpoint, something doesn’t exist if you can’t measure it. If a computer can’t measure it, a human can’t measure it, because we tell computers what to measure.
Perhaps a computer does not currently measure the reason that Howard has done well against Biemel, but I think you’ve taken this sentiment too far.
I myself do not rely solely on statistics, but I think they shed a hell of a lot of light on the game of baseball as a whole. Sabermetricians don’t currently measure everything, but if choosing to rely solely on statistics is limiting, choosing to attribute various performances to immeasurable stuff isn’t any better.
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
"That implies that human beings are beyond scientific understanding"
If humans are so understandable, why do we have so many divorce attorneys?
by twinkilling on Oct 13, 2009 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What do divorce attorneys have to do with science's ability (past, present, or future) to understand human beings?
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 5:54 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Beats the shit out of me
You’re the one who implied that we have the scientific ability to understand human beings. Seems to me that if that was true, somebody would harness that ability to better match individuals in marriage so that half don’t end up in divorce court.
by twinkilling on Oct 13, 2009 9:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That isn't what I said.
But you did just prove that you didn’t read anything else I said in that comment.
by jwiscarson on Oct 13, 2009 9:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow!!
Way to choose which stats to use.
Are we sure Josey and AJM aren’t the same person??
Wash is an idiot!!
by bspate on Oct 13, 2009 10:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, that idea has been proposed before
That Josey is just a giant hoax created by AJM to annoy and entertain us.
"Feldman and Feliz and and pray for…infectious disease?"--TheJeezus on Sep 9, 2009 1:01 PM PDT
by WestTxAg06 on Oct 13, 2009 11:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
i'm was watching MNF
blah
2010? 2011? 2012? 2013? 2014? 2015?
by hurlerhurley on Oct 12, 2009 10:00 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
i'm ready for the ALCS
eom
2010? 2011? 2012? 2013? 2014? 2015?
by hurlerhurley on Oct 12, 2009 10:01 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
damn... i'm getting hungry
anybody got leftovers
2010? 2011? 2012? 2013? 2014? 2015?
by hurlerhurley on Oct 12, 2009 10:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
miami just scored
and takes the lead 24-20
what a catch by ginn.. his first td catch of the year. whoever the hell he is
2010? 2011? 2012? 2013? 2014? 2015?
by hurlerhurley on Oct 12, 2009 10:11 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah that was a great one
I don’t know how many other WRs could catch a ball in stride thrown right to them.
LoneStarBall....You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.
by DaheelzCM on Oct 12, 2009 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
damn those tits
on that cheerleader nearly flopped out. anybody see that. haha
2010? 2011? 2012? 2013? 2014? 2015?
by hurlerhurley on Oct 12, 2009 10:13 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
OT: NMLR- Paps for Smoak
Someone posted a link to some writer who thinks the BoSox will trade us Paps and get Smoak in return. And whats crazy is a majority of posters feel its a good trade for the Rangers. They refer to Pap as a TOR. A guy who only throws one pitch.
If such a thing were to happen it would set a new standard for stupid Ranger trades. I would quit watching baseball and possibly sports altogether.
by WhiplashWhiteside on Oct 12, 2009 10:22 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
And...
The off season has officially begun.
I think Luke French has a lot of potential. TORP potential.-Dstar
by sprite on Oct 12, 2009 10:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I read that thread.
Most of the commenters on that thread think it’s fucking insane, which it is.
The funniest thing is that this all came from an insane idea from a Kansas City writer not named Posnanski.
by LiamP on Oct 12, 2009 10:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
At first I agreed with Adam
Even through the first few comments I agreed with Adam. You got to go to your lefty in that situation. But then DaheelzCM brought out the big guns and now I firmly believe it was a lose/lose situation for Tracy there. If he brings in Biemel and Howard does something then people would point to his career line against Howard, Streets better season and career numbers against LHB, and question why he puled his closer with the game on the line. If he leaves Street in and Howard does something then people bring out the lefty/lefty argument like Adam did right here.
Neither was a great situation to be in. The best move would probably have been to walk Howard and take your chances on Werth (even though we know what he did although who knows what would have happened had Howard been walked). If Wash would have been in this decision this is where the “gut” would have made the decision and either way it gets criticized.
Bryan Smith (12:17:17 PM PT): Justin Smoak and Josh Hamilton. The AL West might just have found their Bash Brothers, v. 2.0.
by bigsteve on Oct 13, 2009 6:35 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
It's an ambiguous situation....
Do you go with the reliever that has the best numbers against lefties, or do you go with the pitcher against which the hitter has worse numbers.
I think Tracy did a justifiable thing. Biemel truly is one of the few lefties that Howard has had success against. As a rule, Howard can’t hit lefties. There always are exceptions to the rule, and Biemel is one of those. Others include Scott Olsen and Johan Santana. Big slugging percentages against these two guys.
The CO pitchers who have best handled Howard: Jason Hammel, Jorge de la Rosa, Franklin Morales.
If you want to make the argument that Tracy should’ve put in a lefty against Howard, I think you have to argue for Morales rather than Biemel. Against Morales, Howard has 3 AB with 2K. I would be supportive of either Street (who has never faced Howard but owns lefties) or Morales against Howard. Biemel is a bad idea.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
by rooster on Oct 13, 2009 9:28 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
easy
his son could be reading this. that’s someone’s pa you’re talkin’ about.
What is this, Horseville? Because I'm surrounded by naysayers.
by clark on Oct 13, 2009 3:10 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
hilarious
he blew it?
his team was in the playoffs. seems to me like he didn’t blow anything.
defeatist pussy lives here
by sam in so cal on Oct 14, 2009 2:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
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