When Tony La Russa managed the Oakland Athletics in the late 1980s, he forbid team officials from revealing platoon splits -- a player's batting average against left-handers and against right-handers -- so an opposing manager could not read that information in the newspaper.
over 2 years ago
Adam J. Morris
18 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
Luckily
Those games were televised and/or broadcast on the radio.
That's why they call them business sox
What did you think of the Joe Mauer revelation?
Link, though I’m sure you saw it.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
Didn't really think about it
I’m surprised it generated as much controversy as it did.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 6, 2009 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions
I just thought it roughly paralleled with that LaRussa note. “Extracurricular effort” to win the game.
"[Font} doesn't turn 19 until the end of May and his heater can already hit 99 on the gun. That's baseball porn." - Jason Parks
by hightowersmith on Oct 6, 2009 2:54 PM CDT up reply actions
It was a revelation
But not a bad kind. I thought it was fascinating. I always knew it went on or was attempted but it was neat to see the play-by-play of it while it was occurring. I also liked how Laird was doing all he could to prevent it. Going through the signals over and over, quick signals, etc.
It breaks your heart. It is designed to break your heart. The game begins in the spring, when everything else begins again, and it blossoms in the summer, filling the afternoons and evenings, and then as soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall alone. You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive, and then just when the days are all twilight, when you need it most, it stops.
That happens all the time
pitchers cheat too, you know.
Also, the Tigers need to mix up their signals better if Mauer was able to relay the signs to Kubel.
tipping pitches is not cheating
gamemanship, but not cheating. However, I am not convinced he was tipping pitches.
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
I don't even understand how that would be cheating.
It seems like smart strategy, to me. The pitching battery should do something about it.
much as I don't like LaRussa
I really respect his ability to get every last advantage he can out of a game. Would that have translated into a trip to the playoffs… I don’t know. I think we would easily have 4-5 more wins than we do now, but I don’t think that would have been enough to catch the Angels in the end.
4-5 wins
That means 40-50 runs difference between Wash and LaRussa.
You think that’s realistic?
And do you think the difference would be more a result of additional runs scored, or fewer runs allowed?
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 6, 2009 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions
I think it would probably end up being fewer runs allowed.
More mix and matching bullpen matchups and defensive replacements.
I don't think there's a manager in baseball...
…that could save 40-50 runs per season compared to Washington.
by Adam J. Morris on Oct 6, 2009 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Apparently, Ron Washington never got the memo that splits are now readily available information in today's world
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
It's a joke
Albeit a poorly worded one. Probably should’ve said “Perhaps this explains why Ron Washington never uses splits” instead.
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 LSJ on Oct 6, 2009 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
