The Rangers rotation
by Adam J. Morris on May 24, 2009 7:00 PM CDT
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Craziness.
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Oh so sweet
I have a tear in my eye
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
Damn it the entire AL West won today.
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
the baseball tonight highlight of b-mac today
was basically all curves. i guess its better to risk injury and be good than to have people questioning your rotation spot.
the preceding post was a great success.
If he's better when he throws the curve
then ride that horse. We’ve got rotation insurance in Holland and hopefully soon Feliz.
Aikman and Bradshaw?
Please. They are in the same league as Trent Dilfer and Jim McMahon as QBs who were taken to the SB by great Defenses and great Running Games.
-DJCahill
by SarasotaRanger on May 24, 2009 7:36 PM CDT up reply actions
"i guess its better to risk injury and be good than to have people questioning your rotation spot."
First of all… Mr. Sheppard based that comment on a BBTN highlight reel. Secondly, he seems to be subscribing to the thought that curveballs lead to injury.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions
Well lets see
A) I watched the entire game. Seeing most his K’s being on curves in a highlight merely reminded me of how effective the pitch was.
B) Earlier in the game I asked why he had stopped throwing the curve to begin the year and 5 people told me it was supposedly because of the stress the pitch caused on him physically. Which would lead me to believe the rangers had decided he should try to avoid throwing it to avoid injury. Is that logic crazy?
the preceding post was a great success.
It was all skipped.
I’m supposed to guess that you had that deep of a thought process? Get real.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:20 PM CDT up reply actions
Why such
Hostility towards a guy who’s really never involved in any pissing matches?
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions
It might have something to do with him calling me (and/or my comment) stupid.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:23 PM CDT up reply actions
A sarcastic insulting reply gets an insulting post back?
Amazing! So ask me what I mean next time.
the preceding post was a great success.
your comment was stupid
Shep was right.
"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16
How so?
It wasn’t sarcastic. I was literally dumbfounded.
Insulting? Yeah, probably, but the comment to which I was responding lacked substance but was chock full of assumptions and seemingly faulty logic.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:26 PM CDT up reply actions
early this season McCarthy said that he was scrapping the curveball
because it hurt his arm to throw it.
Now, he’s throwing it again and it looked like a very good pitch today. A true difference making pitch.
So Shep’s comment about McCarthy going back to the curve because his rotation spot appeared to be in jeopardy makes perfect sense, it was certainly nothing to get dumbfounded about.
"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16
well you asked
I answered.
"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16
?
You didn’t tell me how it was stupid.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions
damn dude
You were dumbfounded by something really simple.
"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16
All I had to work on was this...
basically all curves. i guess its better to risk injury and be good than to have people questioning your rotation spot.
Exactly where in there does it say all of that crap you interjected? That’s all I want to know. I explained myself already:
Mr. Sheppard based that comment on a BBTN highlight reel. Secondly, he seems to be subscribing to the thought that curveballs lead to injury.
If that’s not good enough for you, then you’re out of luck.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Hmm
Dumbest fight: this or ab03 v. Josey in the “ben makes a cartoon” thread?
I think they’re both bits, by the way.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 10:40 PM CDT up reply actions
Mmm
Good point. I’d forgotten about that one. I’m certainly not above including myself in the discussion.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 10:42 PM CDT up reply actions
you think i'm a bit?
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
you could say that about everybody here
that doesn’t explain what my bit is
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
Well
What fun is it to go up to the Globetrotters and tell them they’re going to win?
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions
that's why you're not telling me what my bit is?
or you think pointing out that i could be nicer is less obvious than telling the globetrotters they are going to win
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I find it
Unnecessary to continue this any longer.
You have no bit. I retract my statement and will resume my usual squatting position, waiting for a swift booting when a comment goes astray.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 10:55 PM CDT up reply actions
i hope you lawyer better than you post
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
Thank you.
The world can always use dumbshit and douchebag lawyers.
That’s why I believe you and I will always have jobs.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 10:59 PM CDT up reply actions
Sounds like a good line for a courtroom drama.
I hope you lawyer better than you _!
Oh so many options for the end.
the preceding post was a great success.
i stole it from ally mcbeal
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
there are so many to choose from!
i can’t believe this one gathered so many responses though. pretty sweet.
the preceding post was a great success.
Being confused about the comment without context is understandable
insulting without even asking for an explanation? stupid.
the preceding post was a great success.
I simply commented that I was dumbfounded.
Yes, it directly implied that your comment dumbfounded me. Might you have taken it a little more smoothly had I buttered you up in advance? Sure, but would it have been any more or less insulting? I don’t think so because I’d still be saying the same thing.
If the body of the comment had read, “I’m dumbfounded. Please explain.” Does that automatically make it not insulting?
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:48 PM CDT up reply actions
you got nasty way after that
when for some reason you thought he called you stupid (he didn’t).
And this was just a weird thing to say in response to his post.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
In court rooms...
they have discovery. Information was not shared.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:07 PM CDT up reply actions
you assumed the worst
(essentially that he was stupid)
and then were kind of flippant when he explained himself. I mean, you’re kind of wrong on this. He was stating widely held beliefs. You were condescending to him because you were holding beliefs that are turning out to be not very widely held (yet you insist you are right). I don’t see how you are in the right here.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I was no condescending.
I chose NOT to assume anything. I used only the information immediately available. Then I told the truth.
I am not arguing that I am right or wrong. I am arguing that my comment was not stupid, not sarcastic, and not intentionally insulting.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions
fine, you chose not to assume that he knew what he was talking about
i fail to see how that is better.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
New Internet Rule: assume people know what they're talking about!
Recapping once again… All he said was….
the baseball tonight highlight of b-mac today was basically all curves. i guess its better to risk injury and be good than to have people questioning your rotation spot.
Setting aside the fact that a lot of those curves were actually McCarthy’s slider/slurve, all I have is this information:
-He thinks McCarthy is throwing a lot of curves.
-He thinks McCarthy is risking injury by throwing a lot of curves.
-He thinks McCarthy is throwing curves because he wants to keeps his rotation spot.
-He based this comment on a Baseball Tonight highlight segment, not actual data.
You’re trying to cast bias on me. I made no assumptions, but I am the bad guy because I didn’t assume a person on the internet who watched an ESPN (!!!) highlight clip knew what he was talking about?
There was no appeal to prior knowledge. There was no appeal to authority (unless you count ESPN video clips).
There did, however, appear to be an appeal to common sense – which I find to be incorrect – that curveballs cause injuries.
Get over it.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:22 PM CDT up reply actions
that recap
if read by 95% of the people on this board would make you seem like a dick. that is the reality.
you can either fix yourself or live with it.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
The first 3 statements are reasonable
And since I’m literally on here every single day you might be able to gather that I watch pretty much all the games and do not base what I say on highlights, rather I happen to reference one or not.
the preceding post was a great success.
Maybe too many people are assuming that I know everyone here.
The fact is that I don’t. I recognize your screen name, but I don’t associate it with anything negative or positive.
My 4th statement was mostly a jab at ESPN. They suck.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:35 PM CDT up reply actions
What I mean to say is...
I don’t have the recognition skills to look at every screen name here and be able to readily say, “this person knows what he’s talking about” or “this person doesn’t know what he’s talking about.”
As a rule, I don’t assume anything.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:36 PM CDT up reply actions
x
As a rule, I don’t assume anything.
That’s demonstrably false. If it were true, you’d have asked a question for clarification rather than assuming he didn’t know what he was talking about.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 11:39 PM CDT up reply actions
The only thing I assumed was that I didn't know how to respond.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Don't be dense.
It’s the reason why you didn’t know how to respond that everybody’s talking about.
The reason is that you assumed he didn’t know what he was talking about.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions
So...
Your argument is: I didn’t know how to respond because I assumed that DSheppard didn’t know what he was talking about. Is that correct?
Wow. I’m out.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:45 PM CDT up reply actions
My favorite part of this post
Is that you’re lambasting your own logic, and thus the impetus for this whole retarded sub-thread.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 11:47 PM CDT up reply actions
My favorite part...
is that so many people seem to know exactly what was going on in my head so well that even when I outline my thought process, I’m told that something else was going on in there.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:49 PM CDT up reply actions
you do
you assume the person doesnt’ know what they’re talking about. that is an assumption. Don’t you get that? Everybody has a baseline assumption as to another’s intelligence if they come to a judgment about that person.
You assumed that he had only watched BBTN highlights, not the game.
that is the assumption.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
That is incorrect.
I didn’t assume either way. I drew a conclusion based on the information presented. I’m not going to recap it again or respond to another of your circular arguments.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:40 PM CDT up reply actions
I *concluded* based on his statements.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions
you didn't
this is logic 101
when presented with
“watching the BBTN highlights”
and coming to the conclusion
“he thinks McCarthy threw a lot of curves exclusively watching the BBTN highlights”
you had an assumption that he didn’t watch the game. That’s just fact man.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
He referenced only the BBTN highlights.
If he had said, “In watching the game today, McCarthy threw a lot of curves,” the conclusion would have been based on that instead of a BBTN highlight.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions
i don't care if he only referenced the BBTN highlights
it wasn’t meant to be an exclusive statement. You read it as such for no reason. a better assumption would have been that someone who posts on this board watched the game.
for instance, i assumed you watched the game until you stated otherwise.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I read it as such because to do otherwise would be to inject bias.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions
your assault on logic is what is bugging me
“the BBTN highlights shows all curves”
that does not say “I only watched the BBTN highlights.” No way it does.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
Or
He could have gathered more information before making a conclusion at all.
But I suppose that’s crazy talk.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 11:51 PM CDT up reply actions
You seriously can't admit that there was something wrong with your first post?
Its not some high crime to do so, but it was intentionally dismissive and insulting. Implying its stupid is some huge reaction?
I don’t care, I don’t have some grudge against you now.. but god stop trying to spin everything already. Your defiance is the only thing causing this long argument.
the preceding post was a great success.
This is also the third straight start he's been throwing it.
Was his spot in jeopardy when he started throwing it again?
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:37 PM CDT up reply actions
yes
His ERA at that point was 6.10.
"He's old school in that he give up his groin like that. It hurt me when he do that" -- Worsh on Chris Davis' stretch at first base to end the game vs. the Angels on 5/16
Wait hold on.
Like a rich housewife does with her kids.
Okay, now the drums can come in.
I'm just goofin' new boot goofin'
well it's not true
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
3 starts ago he was throwing both.
I didn’t pay much attention to his start two outings ago, and I was unable to watch today’s game.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:45 PM CDT up reply actions
you should check out that bbtn segment.
By the way we noticed that mlb.com now included condensed games on their site for free. Last pitch of every at bat in the game, about 10 minutes long.
Good way to get a feel for a start. in a few minutes.
the preceding post was a great success.
I'll check it out.
I’d read that comment elsewhere (different blog or thread), and I’ve been meaning to hop over in that direction… without hopping actually being involved, of course.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:50 PM CDT up reply actions
here
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=4716207
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
i think he threw it today
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
That video had a bunch of slurves.
I counted about 6 or 7 slurves, and 4 or 5 curves as last pitches.
As a general rule (since it’s not easy to see with the naked eye), his curveball is a 74-76 MPH offering and his slider is a 78-80 MPH pitch. Those 77s are a bitch.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:08 PM CDT up reply actions
I recall McCarthy saying he felt less stress when he threw the slider he picked up this spring.
That curve is mesmerizing. If he can throw 5-7 of those a game and keep them in the strike zone, I think that’s enough.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
thats kind of sad.
do you need me to set up someone to work with you?
the preceding post was a great success.
More help for you...
You can’t fix stupid. Setting someone up to work with me on my being stupid would be a waste of your time.
Ergo… This doesn’t even make sense.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Also...
“Dumbfounded” means “I find myself unable to speak.” Another definition is “at a loss for words.”
It has nothing to do with the word “stupid.”
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:17 PM CDT up reply actions
how
on earth does me saying your comment was stupid imply I thought dumbfounded meant stupid?
the preceding post was a great success.
I assumed you didn't know what it meant.
I’ve never met a person who was stupid for being dumbfounded. It doesn’t make sense.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:22 PM CDT up reply actions
It really does.
You could easily be dumbfounded because you lack the mental ability to properly process something.
Stop being a dick.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 10:25 PM CDT up reply actions
This doesn't really concern you.
I frankly don’t care what you have to say about it.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Come on guys
Play nice. Both you and Dshep bring good things to the table here on LSB.
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
I agree with this.
It’s kind of weird and uncomfortable to see a pissing match seemingly born of nothing from two of the most mature and intelligent members here. I agree with both on some points but without enjoying the actual posts.
No kidding.
I just clicked back in here and… HUH?
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
QUIT ARGUING WITH EVERYBODY.
You’ve lengthened this fucking thread from a reasonable read to a computer-freezing mess of retardedness.
Aikman and Bradshaw?
Please. They are in the same league as Trent Dilfer and Jim McMahon as QBs who were taken to the SB by great Defenses and great Running Games.
-DJCahill
by SarasotaRanger on May 25, 2009 8:26 AM CDT up reply actions
BTW
Jeff Wilson also reiterated that the curve was scrapped for health reasons:
McCarthy is throwing a curveball again after dumping it for health concerns during spring training. He mixed it effectively with a slider to keep the Astros off-balance.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
If I could get this much dialogue from my legal department at work,
especially in written format, I might actually have a shot at my bonus.
by robert_d_wilfong on May 25, 2009 2:31 AM CDT up reply actions
But just like everything else
this post is going to get buried, while all of the lawyers jerk each other off.
by robert_d_wilfong on May 25, 2009 2:34 AM CDT up reply actions
If I'm correct
The slider is the worst pitch for a pitcher to throw in terms of stress. The curve is pretty bad, but I’m almost certain that your elbow fully matures in your early twenties. I could be wrong though.
Kind of...
The elbow is usually fully matured sometime around then. People mature at different rates, though, so some people (Dr. Mike Marshall) prefer x-rays as proof that the growth plates have closed.
If thrown with supination, the slider is the worst pitch. It’s thrown hard like a fastball, so the peak stress levels are fairly high, and when supination takes place at release, the ulna slams into the humerus. This collision leads to bone lengthening and an eventual inability to straighten the arm.
Curveballs can be bad, but only when thrown with a supinated release. Even then, the stress levels are lower because a pitcher usually isn’t throwing it with the same intensity as a fastball.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:34 PM CDT up reply actions
"Even then, the stress levels are lower because a pitcher usually isn’t throwing it with the same intensity as a fastball."
See, that’s what it’s always seemed like to me. But then the almighty conventional wisdom told me I was wrong, so I guessed since I don’t really know what I’m talking about I must be wrong.
Well...
It’s not like the stress levels are dramatically reduced, they are just slightly lower.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:09 PM CDT up reply actions
And...
pitchers, young pitchers especially, have a tendency to throw them the wrong way.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions
so not to jump into the fray
but it really sounds like the rangers scrapped the curve for health concerns. In which case, you are advancing a theory that the team does not subscribe to. In which case, you shouldn’t be so dumbfounded by a statement of the club’s theory.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
McCarthy pocketed his curveball.
He did not scrap it. He was clear about this during spring training.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions
so wilson is wrong?
you should take it up with him
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I have no argument with him.
He mispoke. I’m not going to pretend that he got it wrong on purpose and is being a dick for doing so.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions
ok
well point wasn’t the scrapping vs. pocketing as much as the part where the rangers think the curveball is bad for his health.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I don't believe that was ever reported.
If it was and I missed it, then it’s my bad.
As I recall, McCarthy pocketed the pitch because he felt like it was less stressful on his shoulder – which I think is weird in and of itself.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:25 PM CDT up reply actions
Clarification:
i believe it was McCarthy’s choice, not the Rangers’ choice. Of course, it could be that the Rangers/Maddux wanted McCarthy to believe that it was his choice. I wasn’t there, so I’m basing my belief on my memory of an interview McCarthy gave about the change.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions
wait
i though bmac went to the “slider” b/c of issues throwing the curve for a strike. that he felt lest strain was a secondary benefit. at least that’s what i remember from the spring training reports. what’s this about this club-mandated switch, or philosophy re curveballs?
Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!
It seems slightly blown out of proportion to me.
Three guys dropped their curveballs this off-season: Brandon McCarthy, Thomas Diamond, and Beau Jones. If anyone else did, I don’t remember it.
In the case of McCarthy and Diamond, the idea was to get a breaking pitch that could be thrown for a strike. For Jones, his curveball had just devolved to the point that it was no longer reliable with regard to its break or location.
Some people took this to be an organization-wide emphasis on the slider, but I don’t know of anyone else who dropped theirs.
So far, only McCarthy has brought his back out of the shed.
In similar news, it looks like Andrew Laughter has actually switched from a slider to a curveball. Until today, his slider had been an 80-83 MPH pitch. Today it was 74-78 MPH with more downward action than normal. Maybe he’s just slowed his slider down a bit, but I think it’s a curveball. I will find out soon.
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 1:24 AM CDT up reply actions
Correct me if I'm wrong, but
I seem to remember talk a year or so ago around here about how, suddenly, so many pitchers in the system were working on the curve again after years of little to no emphasis on it.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Skewed perspective from the media?
Rick Adair loved curveballs, but I don’t think anyone was adding curveballs to their repertoires. I think it’s been more of a scouting bias than anything else – Main, Ramirez, Hunter, Wieland, Tim Murphy, Corey Young, Kiker, etc.
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 1:39 AM CDT up reply actions
On a side note.
It makes me happy that Derek has a +changeup and uses his slider pretty sparingly. Fastball-Changeup can be a deadly combination if used properly.
Not from what I've heard
his slider is still developing and his changeup is pretty effective. I may be wrong though. Find me a scouting report.
He's throwing his slider 13% of the time.
His change 7.5% of the time.
It’s on fangraphs.
Right, but it's kinda a small sample size.
Whatever though, as long as he doesn’t begin to rely too much on his slider.
It's a very small sample size, but I'd assume he uses his slider as his primary second pitch in the future.
It appears to be a pretty nice pitch so far too.
Joey over at BBTiA...
pointed out that Holland’s change up has the same spin magnitude (rate of spin) and spin direction (angle of rotation) as his fastball. This makes his change up virtually impossible for someone to identify based on spin. The batter would have to guess right or see some kind of tip from Holland in order to know it’s coming.
His change up alone isn’t better than Poveda’s, but when paired with that fastball, it definitely rivals it.
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 11:31 PM CDT up reply actions
how on earth
does he determine rate of spin? based on trajectory and velocity?
Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!
I think we need to keep this up for another hour
Right now a casual viewer would only deem it as a little crazy. We can achieve more.
the preceding post was a great success.
I mean literally ignore me
Using ab03’s script. It would make life easier for you.
by brettgardner on May 24, 2009 11:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, I'm new here.
So I’m not going to base any judgments off you guys by one stupid convo.
I already know a couple of the people here though.
Ok, i think he left.
Final tally: About 135 posts off of my comment.
Good, but not a record!
the preceding post was a great success.
it was just so unexpected
I didn’t figure him to get into a pissing contest.
(of course, everybody else – repeat players).
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
It's pretty easy to do after spending 7 days in a row in close proximity to Scott Garner.
Today, I had the privilege of listening to him describe 91 MPH change ups. Laughter threw a 92 MPH fastball today for a swinging strikeout, and Garner quickly yelled, “He really pulled the string on that one!” At least once, he called Kirkman by the name “Kirkland.”
Garner was also pronouncing Carillo like someone who’s never lived in Texas – ka-rill-oh. Can anyone confirm if his name is actually pronounced that way? Naturally, I figured it was ka-ree-yoh, but I didn’t check. It still drove me nuts.
On top of that, Tim Crabtree was there because it was a TV game. He added to the Garner madness, often describing Kirkman’s fastball as a slider. It was also weird to listen to him describe things that he should be familiar with as though he didn’t really know what was going on – like when he was talking about player-equipment deals/contracts.
Bad day to tweak me even slightly. Normally, I would have just said, “whatever” and have been done with it. Some days, though, I love to argue.
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 1:10 AM CDT up reply actions
Adding to the Carillo thing...
He was clearly pronouncing his first name as “SAY-sar,” which just made “ka-RILL-oh” sound even weirder.
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 1:11 AM CDT up reply actions
Suck It, Haterz!
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
The bus is filling up fast
Better get on, sit down, cheer loud and hang on. We are going on a magical carpet ride into the deep October night boys and girls.
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
Very impressive..
3 of those 5 seem to be on the upswing, Millwood has been incredibly steady and Padilla has had some stints of pure brilliance.
Not to be a dead horse
but when are the rangers gonna spend some money and get some pitchin in here.
Haha Mike Maddux greatest free angent sign in a long time.
don't be so hard on yourself
most dead horses can’t spell.
Greatest Inventions Ever? 1. TiVO, 2. Boobs, 3. Baseball
by willamos2 on May 24, 2009 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions 9 recs
brilliant
"Elvis Andrus has just preformed a MIRACLE!"
-Eric Nadel, 5/4/09
by Jason Brynsvold on May 24, 2009 9:06 PM CDT up reply actions
What oh what are we going to do with Dutch?
Nice problem to have…
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
assuming everyone continues to pitch
when padilla comes back, holland is back in the bullpen. you gotta move one of the starters and we know dutch will be successful there. Maybe we can trade padilla for something to make room
by texasrangerfan on May 24, 2009 10:21 PM CDT up reply actions
Give him a better nickname
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on May 24, 2009 11:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Dutch is a fine nickname
better than Wonderboy.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I've said this before, but it bears repeating
If he had a penchant for fucking girls in wooden shoes, or had a one-length, bob of a hairdon’t, or best of all, he had sex with a butchy lesbian, Dutch would be an outstanding moniker that I would embrace wholeheartedly. But we’re calling him Dutch because…his last name is Holland? That’s it?
Height of creative laziness. We can do better.
Lettuce, on the other hand, that is an awesome nickname.
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on May 24, 2009 11:14 PM CDT up reply actions
Well, then come up with a better one.
I just like watching him pitch.
I’m certain Dutch has stuck though, quite a few fans were yelling it last Friday against the Angels.
Thanks for the advice
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on May 24, 2009 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah, I'm with this.
Dutch is fine because it’s easy. Is it lazy and lame? Sure. But I like saying it more than Holland and it doesn’t annoy me, so whatever.
If someone wants to make a better nickname that would be cool.
lettuce is better than dutch?
it probably isn’t. it’s longer and not very catchy at all. Lettuce doesn’t roll off the toungue as easily as dutch (very little does).
But you are missing the point with dutch. Dutch is just an awesome nickname and if someone has the slightest connection to dutch, you should use it. it’s up there with sugar for boxers.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I'm not missing the point
Dutch IS catchy. No question. I get that.
But nicknames should have a clever, maybe even puzzling backstory behind them. 2 scenarios:
“So why does everyone call you Dutch?”
“Oh. Uh, well my last name’s Holland. Get it?”
" Sigh. Yeah."
“So why does everyone call you Dutch?”
“Three years ago, me and my boys were in a bar in Ensenada, and this stripper says ….and she had these weird see-through pasties that she used as darts to….and then she pulled out this live…and the next thing you know the mustard jar was empty and the maid left ME a tip!”
“Ha! Dutchboy, I love it!.”
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on May 24, 2009 11:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Nicknames with a backstory are nice
But only so many “Dumpmaster D’s” are going to come along. So when it comes to a rook who doesn’t really have much of a backstory yet, or any impressive nicknames from the minors, I the obvious is probably the best we’re going to have for awhile.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
*think
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
No argument
So you agree that Dumpmaster D >> Dutch or Salty?
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on May 24, 2009 11:51 PM CDT up reply actions
i'd agree with that
and I’d go further and say dutch is better than salty.
I hate Salty as a nickname.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
"Salty" would make a much better nickname if he played for the Pirates.
I like it myself. I mean it’s obvious, but what else are you going to call him?
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
I like J-Rod
but I can see why others wouldn’t. I also like a few related to his wife but I feel weird knowing his dad reads these threads
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
A-Rod has ruined any "Rod" related nicknames for me, personally.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Totally.
Dumpmaster D might be the best nickname I’ve ever heard of.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
catchy above backstory
generally, among my friends, the best nicknames have mundane backstories. and the backstory related ones are kind of forced.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
To be clear, it doesn't have to be an elaborate backstory
One of my old friend’s nickname is Nugget. Tall skinny guy with a little bean of a head. Another friend we called Socks. He liked to fuck strippers, but was careful on the Trojan tip.
I just find that nicknames that have nothing to do with a person (like Ersty) offer up very little.
I realize I’m in the minority on this one. Been voted down a couple times before when I raised this point.
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on May 24, 2009 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions
you're not in the minority
but I feel like dutch is derivative enough that no further thought need be applied in that direction
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I'm a big believer
in nicknames that come from the team. If his teammates call him Wonderboy than we can call him whatever we want, but that is what he is. It’s not as good as Lettuce or Dumpmaster, but that’s what they named him.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
Its one of the top 3 nicknames on the rangers!
We need some better nicknames. Things that end with “y” don’t count.
“Face” of course is the best.
the preceding post was a great success.
It's Two Frank
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
I actually like Mr. Echo (which I believe is the club nickname)
but for some reason, it is not employed here
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I think TV reference
nicknames rarely perform well. Nicknames should be transcendent.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
I never undersood why the X is there.
I’m not even sure if that’s mathematically correct, but just say F Squared.
it is f times 2
which is mathematically correct
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
i don't think people use the carrot and the X
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
Kinsler has no proper nickname
that is a damn shame.
Dutch isn’t exactly creative but it is all you want in a nickname
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
I wasn't aware
there were established Nickname conventions.
What do you guys think about Bill Simmons nicknaming Strasburg “Anchorman”
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
my conventions :)
short, easy to remember, has some connection to the person. And, of course, catchy.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
Does "Lettuce"
count?
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
is that kinsler?
hadn’t heard it
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
Apparently
it’s what the other players call him.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Yeah
though it’s not really unique. Kinsler’s look is pretty universal among ball players these days
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
The look might not be unique, but the nickname is
I'm Matt mutha-effing Bush, bitches, and mutha-eff East County.
"I'm as passionate and knowlegeable as any fan out there." Josey Wales
by Brian Thomas on May 24, 2009 11:15 PM CDT up reply actions
like who?
i feel weird discussing this, but his look does seem pretty rare to me.
the preceding post was a great success.
The long haired, high sock guy?
There’s plenty. Eric Byrnes, Nick Swisher, Half the Oakland As, it’s a pretty common look.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Off the top of my head
Eric Byrnes, Colby Rasmus, Trevor Cahill
Its a clubhouse nickname
Like they call MY slick.
I’ve heard it in interviews. Referencing his hair by the way.
the preceding post was a great success.
I call him Kinslerrhea
It has a backstory too..
2 season ago, Kinsler had to sit for a game with a stomach ailment. On the pregame show, Wash just came right out and said it
“He’s got some bad diarrhea.”
It was awesome.
by cmkelly29 on May 25, 2009 12:44 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
We could call him pepto-bismol
Or just “pepto”.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Am I the last human who prefers a players' actual name?
Sometimes I wonder.
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses lamp-posts... for support rather than illumination." - Andrew Lang (1844-1912) also -
"Telephone, n. An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance."
~Ambrose Bierce
by Ed Coffin on May 25, 2009 1:37 AM CDT up reply actions
I prefer their real names.
Although, nicknames that make easy sense are okay.
Chris Davis = CD
Thomas Diamond = TD
Brandon McCarthy = BMac
“Dutch”, “C-Wun”, and all that can take a walk. No offense.
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 1:40 AM CDT up reply actions
I'm not big
on nicknames. I often even type out Saltalamacchia.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I feel that Salty is perfectly acceptable.
But that’s just my “liberal” middle-of-the-road attitude.
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 1:43 AM CDT up reply actions
when yelling at the screen
i always use their first names. though i have always called Michael “Mikey”. Oh, and of course Pudge has always been “Pudge”.
Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!
With this offense
as long as they maintain 4-something ERAs, this team is going to rule some asses on the way to a nice season. I love the early break they’re giving the bullpen. We’re past the quarter pole and it seems like the bullpen has hardly broken a sweat. Keep it up, guys.
Aikman and Bradshaw?
Please. They are in the same league as Trent Dilfer and Jim McMahon as QBs who were taken to the SB by great Defenses and great Running Games.
-DJCahill
This is using the SBN stats widget
The stats widget doesn’t have FIP.
by Adam J. Morris on May 24, 2009 7:41 PM CDT up reply actions
x
Millwood: 4.71
Padilla: 4.66
McCarthy: 5.97 (that’s before today’s game I believe)
Harrison: 4.92
Feldman: 4.54
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Yeah
that ruins the buzz a bit.
WOO DEFENSE
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Exactly.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Well, but taking those 5 starters in aggregate
given how many innings they’ve pitched (I think they’re near 75% of the team total) is pretty much looking at them as a team. First year we could say that in a while.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
I saw somebody on the greatest rangers blog on earth
suggest moving padilla to the pen.
i wonder if he could consistently hit 95 for an inning at a time.
the preceding post was a great success.
So, with league average pitching
Will the Rangers contend?
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
Well, the problem is now their offense and getting on base.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Best Record in the AL
Your Texas Rangers
If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will choose to save the infant's life without even considering if there are men on base. ~Dave Barry
by NothinG on May 24, 2009 7:48 PM CDT reply actions 3 recs
Joe Mauer is so good.
"if my kid said 'uhh' that much, i would say, Hey! ... stop saying 'uhh' that much..." - dennis miller
He might be having the best single month of any catcher ever.
I’m too lazy to look up the single month outputs for Bench, Piazza, etc. Someone get Elias on the phone!
by NoNameOnCard on May 24, 2009 10:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Payoff - look at the unstressed relievers in their past 10 appearances
CJ Wilson: 9 IP, ERA 0.0, WHIP 1.22
O’Day: 10.1 IP, ERA 1.74, WHIP 0.77
Holland: 13 IP, ERA 4.84, WHIP 1.46
Guardado 5.2 IP, ERA 1.59, WHIP 1.41
Francisco 10.1 IP, ERA 0.0, WHIP 1.06
Is he ready for The Show?
She say she are the manager.
by rockin_rangers on May 24, 2009 9:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Was just reading textsfromlastnight.com
and now can’t read posts without thinking it was a textfromlastnight.
You don't know what the ball do...
Once it gets up to the plate. Crazy, man, crazy.
Huh?
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
It's a Josh Howard reference
From the playoffs last year I think.
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
The Rangers
have a realistic shot at going 21-8 in the month of May. They sit at 16-6 right now with 3 against the Yanks and 4 with Oakland. Winning 5 of 7 is very possible.
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
I'd settle for 19-10.
Still keeps them 9 games over! :D
.600 baby, .600…that is a 97 win pace….woah.
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
Thats a few games in October baby!
The hunt for a Red October is on.
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
I don't know if it's the Absinthe, or the Coke.
But gawdallmighty, I am so excited about this team right now!
lolz
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
I could see 6 of 7 being realistic
and less than 5 of 7 being a disappointment
by texasraider on May 24, 2009 10:07 PM CDT up reply actions
4 of 7 would be just fine with me.
if i could guarantee it right now i’d probably do so.
the preceding post was a great success.
Not to be greedy but
I don’t want anything less than 5 of 7 I think it is very doable.
2009 Texas Rangers: Why The Hell Not Us?--ghtd36 on May 13, 2009
I just have this huge fear of a 2 week long total collapse.
So I’m willing to settle for anything that keeps us around 1st place heh.
But winning 5 of 7 (or even 6) against the yankees and another AL west team would be another statement stretch that would get some more national attention.. its certainly possible. lets hope.
the preceding post was a great success.
Feldman
As a starter his ERA is 2.50.
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.
Hey, we agreed on something, and we were both right!
:-)
"Back on the scene, with a gangsta lean" RW
"you gonna lose your horse. seriously." FX2
Yes we can! November 04, 2008
A quote from the past on McCarthy...
From Gammons’ Notes on March 12, 2005
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
oops
Rookies to watch in 2005:
Brandon McCarthy, RHP, White Sox: “He’s the best young pitcher I’ve seen this spring,” says one AL scout. “He can really pitch. He has a great changeup, outstanding breaking ball and his fastball is enough. The next Jack McDowell.” Was 17-5 on three levels.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
Shit
hopefully Brandon has the Gammons curse out of his system
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Also, in the same article, one entry in his top 10 young players to market list...
Mark Teixeira, Mike Young and Hank Blalock: It’s about team, talent and playing the game the right way.
Wonderboy, what is the secret of your power? Wonderboy, won't you take me far away from the mucky-muck now. -- Tenacious D
By the way did anyone ever see anything about Sheets's meeting we heard about?
If anything negative came out of that I may have to give up on him for this year.
the preceding post was a great success.
I checked google news
I didn’t see anything. I saw one of the local newspapers saying that when he came in the clubhouse he didn’t sound like a guy who was ready to help in the rotation anytime soon…whatever that means.
I'm just goofin' new boot goofin'
How was I to guess he'd change his arm slot and somehow gain the ability to get lefties out!
He had such a terrible career line vs lefties before this year… I’m still not sure if its for real but obviouly I’ve been wrong about him so far, hope it holds up.
the preceding post was a great success.
Well, it is why he's not going to keep pitching like this forever
His BABIP and LD rates so far look pretty unsustainable. Once those come back up, he’s probably not going to miss enough bats to sustain this kind of performance.
But is he much improved over last year? Heck yeah.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Again
I think with the movement he features, the pretty good or slightly above average velocity, and decent command, he will start missing some bats. This guy’s still developing as a starting pitcher, and as a pitcher who throws overhand. I didn’t see much of yesterday’s start. Some of it. He looked very good to me and that’s not something I say about a lot of pitchers if you haven’t noticed. I’m genuinely excited about him.
At the very least I think there’s enough potental improvement there where I wouldn’t want to trade him, especially considering that he’s already good enough to hold down a fourth or fifth spot even if his numbers regress.
by Black Francis on May 24, 2009 11:53 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
He’s got a chance to turn into our own little Andy Sonnastine if his control continues to improve. That’s certainly worth keeping around for awhile, at least.
But if the right deal came along, he shouldn’t be considered untouchable or anything.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
He's not Andy Sonnanstine
nor does he pitch a whole lot like him… He’s much more of a poor man’s Halliday (i never can spell his name right) if you ask me. When he’s bringing his cutter and two seamer at 93-94 he’s got almost a similar duo of pitches… His breaking ball probably isnt as good and his control isnt as good. However, He is figuring out how to use these pitches as a SP, and really hasnt had this kind of stuff in his career as a pitcher switching roles and arm slots. Dont under sell Feldman’s ability. I think i and most of us who follow our system do that quickly to a guy like Feldman who slips through the minors as a marginal prospect and makes it to the majors only to find himself with better stuff than they’ve ever had now after changing back and forth between arm slots.
"The House That Ruth Built, 85 years old, goes out as The House That Hamilton Knocked Down"
Ummm... no.
Sorry, but Feldman’s ability is not a “poor man’s Roy Halladay”. These are the kind of claims that make my head hurt re: Scotty.
Halladay’s K/BB is about double Scott Feldman’s. And about triple the last two years. Second… Halladay is one of the most durable starters in baseball. Scott Feldman has a history of running into brick walls in the 6th inning and beyond. Just because they both throw a cutter doesn’t make them comparable. In fact, comparing the two of them to each other is simply insane. You shouldn’t do it. Like, ever. People will laugh.
A lot of people underrate Sonnastine on the other hand. He doesn’t K a lot of people, but he’s put up a couple pretty nice seasons the last two years if you look past his ERA. He’s done it with some absolutely stellar walk rates however, and though Feldman has improved his this year he’s still a good ways away from being as good as Sonnastine. In fact Sonnastine might be a bit unrealistic as comp too, now that think about it – Feldman’s not going to cut his BB rates all the way down to what Sonnastine’s are, and Sonnastine’s K rates are much better.
So scratch the Sonnastine thing. Feldman’s not close to that, not yet.
He is what he is: a nice back-end guy who’s pitching really well right now (largely due to the fact that his BABIP and LD rates are extremely low, as I’ve already mentioned like 3 times today). He’s got a chance to be more, sure. But let’s not get carried away with what “more” is in regards to him.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Sonnanstine
also has a career GB rate of about 40, if Scott is Sonnanstine than I worry about his future prospects as a starter. In fact, I’d call that a straight up horrible comparison. Sonnanstine is really a guy that does more with a straight FB/CHG combo, while Scott, at his best, is probably a sinker/cut guy who gets quick outs and a lot of ground balls.
I think you missed the point of the comparison, it was one of arsenals, not necessarily straight up results, especially one as peripheral as BB:K. As far as arsenals go, they are similar in that they feature the same 4 basic pitches. If you read the reasoning behind the comparison, it doesn’t seem that ridiculous. Really, it’s dumb to profile pitchers by a ratio anyways, real men rock % when they make those comparisons. You get a better idea of the pitcher profile that way.
Calm down baseball jesus.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Good point
I just get tired of all the “Scott Feldman is the most underrated Ranger ever” crap.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Not gonna try and comare the two here but just to disprove a couple of your points
For one, was Halladay pitching complete game after complete game when he first stated as a pro? Because you do realize that Feldman has been a starter for not even 14 months now right. Expecting him to be able to go 9 innings every 5 days is a bit much at this point.
And Halladays K rate is very similar to Feldmans. Back in 06 and 07 when Halladay was pitching 220+ innings with mid 3s ERA he was only striking out about 5.5/9.
Feldman is no Halladay let me make that clear. But they are alot closer than you may think especially considering Scotters lack of time as a starting pitcher
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.
LD%
I’m of the belief that LD% is not controlled by the pitcher, but the batters, so I think the regression will come if the league fully catches up to his arsenal. However, you never know with a guy with that kind of movement to his pitches.
I should also note that Feldman’s most unsustainable attribute is his ridiculous 29.9% IFFB. 1 out of every 3 flyballs so far has been a popup. We’ll see that drop, as his career % is around 9%. I will say, however, it should be noted that certain pitchers do have a history of inducing an unnaturally high IFFB%, like Barry Zito, so it’s not out of the question that he continues to be a good #4 guy.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
So...
The reason Johan Santana has a lower LD rate than Kevin Millwood is because he faces inferior hitters?
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 1:42 AM CDT up reply actions
Or because he allows less balls put into play
and has superior command. LD% is the specific data point we’re talking about, I think a pitcher has a great amount of control of whether he gets ground balls or flyballs
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Huh?
I’m of the belief that LD% is not controlled by the pitcher, but the batters
I think a pitcher has a great amount of control of whether he gets ground balls or flyballs
So you believe a pitcher controls ground balls and flyballs, but not line drives? Do you have an explanation for this?
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 2:05 AM CDT up reply actions
Yeah
I think GB/FB is more general result as far as location. Guys who work with a fastball down will get more GB, guys who works off of high FB will get Flyballs. The linedrive is more what a hitter does with a specific pitch.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Still not getting it...
The linedrive is more what a hitter does with a specific pitch.
You mean like hitting a ground ball or hitting a fly ball?
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 2:13 AM CDT up reply actions
I think
that there are specific locations and specific types of pitches that are more likely to generate groundballs than flyballs. Pitches with downward break or pitchers who work down in the zone tend to get more groundballs on average than those who work up with straight fastballs. Therefore, I think the generation of flyballs vs. groundballs is more reflective of a pitcher’s arsenal, and therefore an indication of his skill set.
Linedrives can be hit on any and all pitches. Now, does that mean that a certain pitcher can’t have a lower career LD% than his counterpart? No, of course not. Certain pitchers have better command, and it’s easier to hit a linedrive on pitches in certain locations. In general, though, linedrives are more the product of the swing a hitter puts on a ball than they are a reflection of a pitcher’s arsenal. That’s why we see such general variation in LD% for pitchers over their careers.
Does that make a bit more sense? (It’s late)
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Do you an example of this:
That’s why we see such general variation in LD% for pitchers over their careers.
I’m interested in seeing the data that backs this up.
by NoNameOnCard on May 25, 2009 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions
Well now the nba might be getting concerned
pull it together lebron!
the preceding post was a great success.
They're already concerned
did you see that awful call to foul Dwight Howard out and give LeBron 3 free throws?
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
I was about to say...
Joey Crawford did his damnedest tonight.
Or that ridiculous block on Pietrus
when LeBron shoved off and ran him over on the same play?
If the Cavs were up 2-1, we’d be talking about how King James was nearing D-Wade 06 territory.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
sad when the NBA feels the need to do that
maybe all the stars had the help but Lebron is pretty good. I don’t’ think he needs it.
"I just want to comment on how it’s become like a common thing in the [MLB] for guys to fall in love with [the Rangers’s] sloppy seconds." (thanks cstorm)
But his team does
cause they suck right now. Exactly 1 of them can hit a jumper.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
This thread is wierd.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
So is the rangers having the best record in the AL.
embrace it!
the preceding post was a great success.
So is anyone going tomorrow?
The rangers fans better drown out any yankees fans.
the preceding post was a great success.
As much as i love going to the game
I don’t think I could handle being up there for 3 games in ~30 hours unless I had really great seats.
the preceding post was a great success.
I need to get away from home/work
I’ve been really stressed lately. Only 18 and freaking out about life. This weekend will be pretty much heaven for me.
I'll be there too!
for the Double Header. Wooooo!
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
I wish I could go
But I still can’t get my trans-state teleport working…
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
To the RBiA? Nope.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
You should carry
a giant TAKE sign.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
We should do it for the Double Header
I’m totally in.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Just do it for Cahill's start.
It would be most applicable then.
Hey I'd like to meet up with you guys
can you email me your cell # or something in case I make it up there?
I’m going to try to get up early and make it out to the game off scalped tickets.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 25, 2009 1:50 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd rather have Kinsler second or fourth
And Elvis would need to start walking more to hit leadoff, but yeah… fun fantasy.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Andrus
is not a leadoff hitter. I doubt he ever has an OBP in the .370 range for any length of time.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
For his career?
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
I suppose it's possible
But August is waaaaaaaay too soon for that kind of talk. When Andrus has been around a couple of years, maybe. People are just getting way ahead of themselves here with Andrus. He’s going to slump at some point this year.
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
So Hank was allowed for almost 10 weeks
of suckage? I guess that’s what happens when you get payed for way more than you’re worth.
No
That’s what happens when your manager is easily placated by home runs and a few timely hits sprinkled across a bunch of 1-5 games.
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
Now for your Pre-Yankees series Teixeira hate
“I always had that admiration, that respect of the pinstripes, even being an Orioles fan,” Teixeira said. “A lot of Orioles fans hate the Yankees because they’re the ‘Evil Empire,’ but I never had that disdain for the Yankees. It probably helped that I was a Mattingly fan.”
Beyond Teixeira’s admiration for Mattingly, he grew up to appreciate the way the Steinbrenner family committed enough money to make the Yankees perennial contenders.
“If the Yankees were a last-place team going nowhere, I wouldn’t be here,” Teixeira said. “So obviously, a talented team helps, and the ability to compete every single year is one of the reasons I signed with the Yankees.”
Suck a dick, Tex.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Ahahaha
Beyond Teixeira’s admiration for Mattingly, he grew up to appreciate the way the Steinbrenner family committed enough money to make the Yankees perennial contenders.
“I love this team… they where the only team willing to PAY ME!!!”
"Hi, I’m a fucking horsefaced moron." - John Lackey to Ian Kinsler, 5/16/09
"That start was like somebody on a deathbed suddenly jumping up and doing the Lindy Hop, then speeding away on a pogo stick while playing the fiddle." - Telegraph on Matt Harrison
It's probably possible to sound more dickish
but right now I’m not sure how. DIAF Tex. There’s something to be said for this team being a playoff contender without you as opposed to the years you sucked the life out of the clubhouse.
I don't know what it is
but he just sounds so goddamn smug in this article.
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
I want to drive up to tomorrow's game from SA
meaning i’d have to leave at the ace crack of dawn 8:00 AM to be able to walk up and scalp tickets off somebody by 12:30 PM.
I know the game is “sold out”, yadda yadda yadda, but I really want to see this matchup. I’m willing to pay extra for some bullshit seats.
Can anybody help or offer advice by any chance? PLEASE.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 25, 2009 1:40 AM CDT reply actions
advice?
show up at the stadium with cash. is scalping legal in arlington?
Man, I love winning! You know? It's like better than losing!
Really
is there a stadium that doesn’t turn a blind eye to scalping?
I’ve went to at least 20 stadiums and have been able to scalp tickets for all of them
"Hustle doesn't cost a dime and it looks good." - Pete Rose as Channeled by Marcus Lemon
Right
It would just be an 11-hour investment of a day trip coming from SA.
SO I would hope to meet up at Sherlock’s in advance, slam a couple brews, and then meet up with whoever at the game that wants to rock LSB mantra.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 25, 2009 1:51 AM CDT up reply actions
Unless
you’re Ed Vosberg.
http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1006866/index.htm
G G G E-flat_______ F F F D__________....
If you want to pay a stupid amount of money
There’s always StubHub:
http://www.stubhub.com/rangers-vs-yankees-5-25-2009-719189/?flash=0&flash8=1
I don’t know how they’d get you the tickets before the game tomorrow, unless they can leave them at will call or something. That’s even if you want to pay $50 a seat for Grandstand Reserved (normally $11 for premier games like this one)
Future Rangers - Minor League Information
by fightingengineer on May 25, 2009 1:53 AM CDT up reply actions
Pass.
Especially since it will be harder to move down sections for a game like this …
Hmm, maybe i’ll just lowball some scalpers and see what happens. That would just be real risky, though.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 25, 2009 1:55 AM CDT up reply actions
You had better know what a season ticket holder's tickets look like
by oc on May 25, 2009 2:24 AM CDT up reply actions
;)
Section: 30
Row/Box: 20
Seat: 10
Web Day of Game Adult: $83.00
See you at Sherlock’s bright and early, my friend!!
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 25, 2009 2:34 AM CDT up reply actions
Are you going to this game or not.
We’re gonna have to blaze down at some point.
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 25, 2009 2:37 AM CDT up reply actions
I wanna go, but the lower boxes are completely sold out
And I don’t want to deal with scalpers
by oc on May 25, 2009 2:40 AM CDT up reply actions
I'd rather save my resources for Wednesday and get some seats behind the Yankees dugout
National airtime everytime a right-handed batter is in the box.
Thinking of a way to plug LSB
by oc on May 25, 2009 2:41 AM CDT up reply actions
I think the clear answer...
is to wear a replica Lima’s wife dress.
by ghostofErikThompson on May 25, 2009 2:46 AM CDT up reply actions
You're right...
just print out this image poster sized:
http://cdn1.sbnation.com/fan_shot_images/2647/2448183964_2e58489078_b.jpg
And you should be fine.
by ghostofErikThompson on May 25, 2009 2:50 AM CDT up reply actions
Nobody knows this, but I snuck my way into the sixth or seventh row behind home plate for the last ESPN broadcast against Danks and the Sox.
On Danks’ first delivery, I threw up a bright tangerine sign with ‘LSB ♥ YOU’ written on it.
I wrote it with this dank Sharpie 44 Magnum marker. Motherfucker stunk to hell, everywhere I went, the stinch of Sharpie was on me
Anyway, my mother told me it didn’t make it on air, as ESPN cut their frame off four rows up.
But if you’ll remember… Kins took Danks deep two pitches later
by oc on May 25, 2009 2:53 AM CDT up reply actions
That's cute...
Kins hit that one for you. For US.
by ghostofErikThompson on May 25, 2009 2:59 AM CDT up reply actions
You dont want to buy a lower infield like the one
I just bought above?
¡Prefiero morir de pie que vivir siempre arrodillado!
I came here to split hairs. And you?
by inactive lsb user on May 25, 2009 2:46 AM CDT up reply actions
I Never Thought I'd See It
All 5 starters with an ERA below 5.0. I remember like it was yesterday, in 2003, when Tom Grieve said the Rangers would be okay if the starting rotation could get by with a 5.5 ERA as long as the team continued to hit. LMAO.
by GhostofGaryHogeboom on May 25, 2009 9:16 AM CDT reply actions
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