Series Preview: Texas Rangers @ Anaheim Angels - Victory Lap
by ghostofErikThompson on Sep 26, 2011 3:00 PM CDT
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PrintThis one is going to be short and sweet because it doesn't really matter.
Watch your Texas Rangers in this series. It's the last time you'll be able to do that in 2011 in a regular season series. Enjoy Tom Grieve and the Fox Sports Southwest broadcast. Catch some Leonys Martin at-bats. See some Mark Hamburger innings. See if Ian Kinsler gets one more stolen base. See if Nelson Cruz shows signs that his timing is back.
Remember that the Angels shuffled and maneuvered their top three pitchers around at the risk of their arms just to have them for this now meaningless series. Remember a time when we were told everything would come down to these three games. Laugh. Pop another cork.
See you in the playoffs, American League.
See you next year, Anaheim.
Monday, September 26 9:05: LHP C.J. Wilson vs. RHP Dan Haren
Tuesday September 27 9:05: RHP Colby Lewis vs. RHP Ervin Santana
Wednesday, September 28 7:05: LHP Matt Harrison vs. RHP Jered Weaver
Here's a breakdown of the pitching match-ups this weekend:
C.J. Wilson: 16-7, 8.38 K/9, 2.93 BB/9, .288 BABIP, 73.2% LOB, 3.21 FIP, 3.36 xFIP, 5.7 WAR - Last three starts: 3 runs allowed in 20.1 innings
Dan Haren: 16-9, 7.19 K/9, 1.25 BB/9, .269 BABIP, 71.6% LOB, 2.98 FIP, 3.31 xFIP, 6.2 WAR - Last three starts: 7 runs allowed in 22.0 innings
Advantage: C.J. Wilson chillin' out over Dan Haren deciding on where to go golfing/hunting/do whatever it is a creepy looking dude like Haren does for leisure this upcoming weekend
Colby Lewis: 13-10, 7.60 K/9, 2.55 BB/9, .268 BABIP, 73.5% LOB, 4.62 FIP, 4.10 xFIP, 1.9 WAR - Last three starts: 12 runs allowed in 19.1 innings
Ervin Santana: 11-12, 7.01 K/9, 2.83 BB/9, .272 BABIP, 76.6% LOB, 3.99 FIP, 3.92 xFIP, 3.3 WAR - Last three starts: 12 runs allowed in 19.0 innings
Advantage: Colby Lewis maxin' over Ervin Santana figuring out which winter ball team to play for
Matt Harrison: 12-9, 6.04 K/9, 2.80 BB/9, .295 BABIP, 71.7% LOB, 3.90 FIP, 3.92 xFIP, 3.3 WAR - Last three starts: 6 runs allowed in 17.2 innings
Jered Weaver: 18-8, 7.56 K/9, 2.14 BB/9, .250 BABIP, 82.6% LOB, 3.20 FIP, 3.78 xFIP, 5.7 WAR - Last three starts: 5 runs allowed in 21.1 innings
Advantage: Matt Harrison relaxin' all cool over Jered Weaver spending the next six months realizing he signed up for another five years of finishing behind the Rangers
LA Anaheim Angels (86-73, 2nd Place AL West)
Rangers 2011 Record vs. Anaheim: 9-7 (4-3 at Angel Stadium)
Anaheim's Recent Results: 1-2 Series loss to the Oakland A's
Anaheim's Home Record: 45-33
Angel Stadium Park Factors (LHB/RHB): HR: 90/93 - wOBA: 99/98
SB Nation Angles Blog: Halos Heaven (Don't bother.)
140.4
Match-up: (as of 9/26)
Rangers
Angels
Advantage
Batting
(RAR) 128.1
(3rd)-3.9
(14th)Rangers
Base Running (RAR)
21.6
(1st) 0.7
(12th)Rangers
Starters
(RAR)106.3
Angels
Bullpen
(RAR)10.8
(24th)24.7
(16th)Angels
Defense
UZR20.6
(7th)35.4
(5th)Angels
Overall RAR + UZR
287.4
197.3
Rangers
Questions to Answer:
- Your guess: Number of days the Rangers weren't in first this season?
- Who is your pick to lead the Rangers in don't give a shit in this series? (I'll say all of them.)
- Over/Under: 3.5 times the camera shows Mike Scioscia giving his someone farted face after a distasteful play transpires for his Angels?
- Yay or Nay: The Rangers officially eliminate the Angels on their field tonight?
- Yay or Nay: The Rangers clinch ALDS home field?
175 comments
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Comments
I will say
1. Less than 10
2. Ian Kinsler – local media told me it’s that way all the time
3. Over for sure. He gets over 3 1/2 tonight…
4. No – they’re eliminated before first pitch as Boston wins tonight
5. Yes – Magic Number 3 for first round HFA
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 3:06 PM CDT reply actions
Ian doesn't ever give a shit?
I find that hard to believe
Feliz :)
have you not seen him just flip bats after popping up!
he’s clearly the bane of the team
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Get a haircut.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
by Ryin A on Sep 26, 2011 4:25 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
HIPPIE!
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions
yes!
"God dammit TAG I swear to God if you keep this "It was a close play" shit up all night I will send you cookies made from my own shit" -River Fenix 8/26/2011
"this is a big reason I decided not to convert to Islam now if it was 72 skanks? Different story, my friend" Bob Loblaw 9/2/2011
by I am Neftali Feliz on Sep 26, 2011 3:11 PM CDT up reply actions
Loved This Write-up!
It says it ALL!
I miss 1989. I miss 1996. Please make me miss another season in 2008.
take 2 out of 3 and force detroit to sweep to take away home field...
"God dammit TAG I swear to God if you keep this "It was a close play" shit up all night I will send you cookies made from my own shit" -River Fenix 8/26/2011
"this is a big reason I decided not to convert to Islam now if it was 72 skanks? Different story, my friend" Bob Loblaw 9/2/2011
by I am Neftali Feliz on Sep 26, 2011 3:11 PM CDT reply actions
my take
1. 12
2. Elvis…
3. way over
4. Yep
5. HFA magic # down to 1 after tonight, clinch it tomorrow
5.
Just don’t think the Rangers care about this, and the Tigers do. With LAA not officially eliminated (for now) and the Tigers playing a long-eliminated Indians squad at home, I see the Tigers getting back tied with the Rangers, and therefore getting home-field.
Hope I’m wrong for a completely practical reason….weekend games mean I can go to the games.
well playing the Yankees likely means night games on Monday
Does that rule you out too?
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 3:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Yeah I'll be in Austin in a can't miss night class.
If they get to Game 4, I may be able to swing driving up for that evening.
Good Questions, terrible answers!
1. Two
2. Elvis/Endy
3. Over
4. Nay! Actually Boston will eliminate them before California has a chance to be eliminated on their own field.
5. Nay…The Rangers take two of three but Detroit wins out.
i think the only part of this series i'm paying attention to is looking up the next day to see if they won.
it’s time for a few days break until i get all wound up over the playoffs again…and it’s needed.
I'm going to /sp/ with this.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
by philkid3 on Sep 26, 2011 3:40 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
rec
love /sp/ during the playoffs
Grieve: The Yanks have struggled so far. - Lewin: Yeah, cry me a bag of money.
ElectricOkra.com
btw,
I’m officially in the “pitchers have their own award” category for reasons JV shouldn’t win the MVP. Nothing against his merit for being valuable, just my opinion on the meaning of the award.
and no, I do not think MY should be in the conversation either. JB for MVP…
Jacoby Ellsbury is running away with the lead in WAR
Is there really anybody who believes Jacoby Ellsbury is a full win better than Matt Kemp or Jose Bautista(almost)?
Jose has a big edge on bWAR
so an argument is valid for either player from that standpoint. I do have a bit of romanticism for conventional stats for recognizing accomplishments (not predict future performance though) and what Jose’s done within a much lesser line-up (protection-wise) continues to amaze me
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 3:45 PM CDT up reply actions
I have no certainty that he's been a full win better than Bautista this year.
But I don’t have difficulty believing he has been, either.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
let's say the baseball fairy visits you tonight and will offer the Rangers a reasonable, long term deal for the player of your choosing
Your choices are Matt Kemp, Jose Bautista, or Jacoby Ellsbury. What are you going to do for us?
Kemp.
I think.
That’s barely related to what player has produced the most value for the last six months.
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age and position are bigger factors to me than the hairline difference of value from this season
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions
Tons of other things, too.
Now how repeatable their performance is. No form of commonly cited WAR attempts to judge how much of Ellsbury’s HR/FB ratio, or BABIP, or line drive rate, or UZR was actual skill, and how much of it was luck/single season fluctuation.
Same goes for every player.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
Ellsbury's wOBAr is not much lower than his actual performance, though.
Geez.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
Kemp and Ellsbury play the same position, and I wouldn't consider a full win a "hairline difference"
Dave Cameron considers a win a pretty small difference.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
A full win can be noise.
Especially when you get 15 runs in UZR.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
fine, argue over my semantic adjective
they’re all still both at the top of the league for the year, regardless of one stat
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions
Hitters have their own award, too.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
are you refering to the silver slugger?
the creepy cousin of the gold-glove?
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Hank Aaron
And my primary wish that the Hank Aaron would be given a less-than-hilarious voting method would be to eliminate the tired-head-inducing “pitchers have their own award” stuff.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
ah.. see
I didn’t even go straight to that award without being reminded of it. Then don’t you run in to a problem (not really a problem) of one guy winning MVP and the other?
for example… in 2008, Sam Bradford won the Heisman, while Graham Harrell won the Johnny Unitas award for best ‘senior’ QB.
I’d rather they keep it simple without making many qualifiers for who’s eligible for an award. Have one best hitter award, one best pitcher, and do away with the MVP title
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions
No Davey O'Brien award anymore?
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
No, there is. It goes to best QB overall, regardless of class year.
"self policing" implies that the group will implement punishments based on violations of the group’s defined ethic. What are we gonna do? Make fun of someone until they quit the internet forever? - Bob Loblaw 7/21/2011
by Mike the Grate on Sep 26, 2011 4:32 PM CDT up reply actions
How about have one award to be given to the most valuable (or best) player period.
And then other awards for the best players of other categories.
Besides, best hitter and most valuable player are different things. Ellsbury might be the MVP, but he isn’t the best hitter. being the best/most valuable player includes things like run prevention, too.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
why stop there?
let’s just start having awards for every statistical category we can measure..
but only if you play the right position, of course
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:35 PM CDT up reply actions
Really that's what already happens.
We just ignore most of them.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
If you want award just give money to MLB and sponsor it.
We need to pool money together and sponsor some award so Ian wins something.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Then, wouldn't the MVP be relegated to
who was more valuable to their team: the Hank Aaron or Cy Young award winner?
Which would be lame.
Hank Aaron is pure offense.
It’s who the best hitter was… not the best position player.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
So you'd obviously give Bautista the HA award
Then have some mystery 3rd player like ellsbury compete with Bautista and Verlander? I’d rather the current system, personally.
I'd rather people stop arguing pitchers can't be the most valuable player in baseball.
Or change the award to most valuable position player.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
I'd rather people have a consensus on what "Valuable" means.
But it’s better this way… gives us more shit to argue about.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Seriously, how much fun would it be if we couldn't laugh at EK's
ridiculous arguments for MY
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:39 PM CDT up reply actions
So Joe Saunders is going to the playoffs as a D'Back....
Read this somewhere:
Joe also is batting 25 points higher than Jeff Mathis and gets on base only 20 points less than Vernon Wells!
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 3:33 PM CDT reply actions 2 recs
haha thats awesome
NO This is why i dont come here so much anymore. it has become a destination for certain types which i am not. Love the rangers, not this -- Mark from OC on Arrested Development
Justin Verlander? I piss on Justin Verlander --AJM
Stop celebrating early!
Wait. . .
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
Our BP RAR has us up to 24th!
Question for a stats guy: Presumably, having a strong rotation that mean there is less available RAR for the bullpen due to less fewer innings pitched. Is it statistically significant?
by NorCalRangersFan on Sep 26, 2011 3:54 PM CDT reply actions
Let the good times roll!
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
by txranger7 on Sep 26, 2011 3:55 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
This would be good if it had the caption "U mad, Anaheim?"
by TooLegitToQuit on Sep 26, 2011 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions
x
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
by txranger7 on Sep 26, 2011 4:09 PM CDT up reply actions 26 recs
rec this shit up
NO This is why i dont come here so much anymore. it has become a destination for certain types which i am not. Love the rangers, not this -- Mark from OC on Arrested Development
Justin Verlander? I piss on Justin Verlander --AJM
I can't see it... but I'm rec'ing based on your advice.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
haha its a pic of elvis pointing and smiling in the dugout w/ Beltre, Cruz, Young as well
NO This is why i dont come here so much anymore. it has become a destination for certain types which i am not. Love the rangers, not this -- Mark from OC on Arrested Development
Justin Verlander? I piss on Justin Verlander --AJM
I can see it but Me can't rec it...
Hook it up?
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
by Ryin A on Sep 26, 2011 4:14 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
It's too bad Naps isn't in the picture...would make it even better.
That said, this is an insta-classic.
"self policing" implies that the group will implement punishments based on violations of the group’s defined ethic. What are we gonna do? Make fun of someone until they quit the internet forever? - Bob Loblaw 7/21/2011
by Mike the Grate on Sep 26, 2011 5:13 PM CDT up reply actions
The many faces of Mike Scioscia....I think we see the 2nd one most often this series....
"There are two times in my life the hairs on my arms stood up: The first time I saw the Sistine Chapel and the first time I saw Sandy Koufax throw a fastball."
by GhostofSteveFoucault on Sep 26, 2011 3:58 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs
We definately won't be seeing the one on the bottom right...
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:02 PM CDT up reply actions
Bottom Left...
I seriously wonder how I am fully functioning member of society sometimes.
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:04 PM CDT up reply actions
Bottom right isn't really a happy face
It’s more “my fart smells so bad my eyes are watering.”
Hobson, did you see that?
Yes.
She stole that tie! It's the perfect crime. Girls don't wear ties; although some do. It's not a perfect crime, but it's a good crime.
Yes. If she murdered the tie it would be the perfect crime.
I didn't know there was going to be any such thing...
I’m probably going to be at a couple of the games, after that, all bets are off.
by ghostofErikThompson on Sep 26, 2011 6:58 PM CDT up reply actions
A scenario I wouldn't mind...
Detroit gets swept by the Indians…
Boston gets swept by the Orioles…
Tampa loses two of three to the Yankees…
We lose the first two games to the Angels… a miracle has happened and if they can just beat us in game 162, they’ll tie the Red Sox & Rays for the Wild Card for a three way tie.
We throw out the lineup we did vs Felix against Weaver…
And the Rangers win in the 9th on a blown save by Walden. Dagger in the heart… Angels season over.
I would not mind this scenario.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
preferably with Napoli hitting the go ahead home run
and O’Day getting the win
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions
Oliver gets the save
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions
End of the game the Rangers don't even celebrate...
They don’t jump up and down. They don’t even high five.
They walk off the field to get on a plane and play in the ALDS… because they game they just won didn’t fucking matter.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
by Brad on Sep 26, 2011 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 3 recs
This is my favorite part.
"self policing" implies that the group will implement punishments based on violations of the group’s defined ethic. What are we gonna do? Make fun of someone until they quit the internet forever? - Bob Loblaw 7/21/2011
by Mike the Grate on Sep 26, 2011 4:34 PM CDT up reply actions
Why doesn't Ron care about getting home field?
I find it pretty important considering
1-We will most likely be playing a collapsing Red Sox team
2-Our home record is amazing
Feliz :)
He does care.
He just doesn’t care more than he does having guys ready to go and rested.
He also can’t tell the media, “Man this is so important” because then it’s a let down if your team doesn’t get it.
His job is to keep the players mentally and physically in the right place… part of that is downplaying HFA.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Is one or two off days really going to make more of a difference than HFA and playing a worse team?
I don’t buy it.
Feliz :)
Of course you don't.
You’re steel home.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
by Brad on Sep 26, 2011 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions 5 recs
Well you're stupid if you think an off day is more important than HFA
52-29 at home.
41-37 on the road.
Feliz :)
Do you remember the 2010 playoffs?
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:20 PM CDT up reply actions
OH YOU ARE RIGHT
because the SSS of last year’s playoffs means the Rangers are better on the road. you are so smart.
Feliz :)
Sometimes I feel like someone (not me, necessarily) should break a bottle over your head. Know what I mean?
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
michaeljacksoneatingpopcorn.gif
"self policing" implies that the group will implement punishments based on violations of the group’s defined ethic. What are we gonna do? Make fun of someone until they quit the internet forever? - Bob Loblaw 7/21/2011
by Mike the Grate on Sep 26, 2011 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions
You get me though, right?
The inchoate desire to break a bottle over your head. You get that, right?
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
Of all the things to tell someone over the internet,
“shut up” might be the most useless.
"How you play the game is for college ball. When you're playing for money, winning is the only thing that matters." -- Leo Durocher.
by CrustytheCowboy on Sep 26, 2011 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions
But you're argument is equally flawed...
Just because we don’t have HFA doesn’t mean we are destined to lose.
Also what happens when we get HFA and the Yankees beat down Detroit? Are you going to go looking for things to cover your butthole with because we’ll only have 3 games in Arlington vs. the Mighty Yankees?
Fuck that. Play the games where ever and the better team will win.
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:52 PM CDT up reply actions
we only had 3 home games against the yankees last year!!
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh thank God
I can uncover my butthole now.
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:56 PM CDT up reply actions
I hear TDT is lurking.. so you may want to rethink
he’s got lovings to go around
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions
Where the hell did I say we are destined to lose?
I’m saying do your best to increase your chances of winning. Are we more likely to win a series with HFA than without? yes. So do your best to get HFA.
If the Yankees beat Detroit then okay we don’t have HFA, its not the end of the world but it would be better if we had it.
You and matchstick are acting like trying to get HFA means you don’t think can win without it. It means you want the best chance to win.
Feliz :)
i think i heard him say something about how it didn't end up mattering last year
what with no home team winning an ALDS game last year. which is a ridiculous argument
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:16 PM CDT up reply actions
I think baseball is sport least impacted by HFA
And to what match said – down play it so there aren’t any mental issues if they don’t get it.
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:21 PM CDT up reply actions
plus the rotation is got to get set.....you wouldn't want CJ pitching 3rd or anything
NO This is why i dont come here so much anymore. it has become a destination for certain types which i am not. Love the rangers, not this -- Mark from OC on Arrested Development
Justin Verlander? I piss on Justin Verlander --AJM
The advantage we have is the Detroit game is 3 hours before ours
Meaning Ron could change his lineup based on what is going on out there. If Boston wins tonight and I fully expect them to tonight, the Angels will come out flat.
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions
I completely disagree with this
other sports HFA is mostly based off of the home-crowd. They have chance determine who gets the ball first, which way they are heading on a field/court exactly like the one they always play on.
Baseball home teams always get to bat last, determine DH/pitchers hitting, and can be tailored to fit their ballpark. Hell, teams will even change the length of their infield grass if they think their team can get more infield hits due to their speed.
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions
There has been significant research...
Indicating that in baseball HF doesn’t mean much.
It’s better to have it rather than not… but nothing to get panties in a twist over.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
i'd like to see that research, if you have it available.
not to disagree, just out of curiosity (I’m also skeptical of research saying running through first-base is faster, but I haven’t had time to make my arguments)
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:33 PM CDT up reply actions
If I weren't at work I'd find it.
If no one else does this afternoon I’ll link some of it when I get home tonight.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
It is about 52%, which is always HFA
We’re not about sending messages. We’re about winning ballgames.-Wash, 04/03/11
No, HFA is not mostly based off of the home-crowd.
HFA is an existent thing, and people have tried to come up with why for a long time. Home crowd seemed like a logical answer, so people went from logical answer to assuming it was factually correct.
Then fortunately along came SI showing that HFA is likely because of official bias. And not enough people read it, but oh well. That also helped explain why every now and then some sports radio guy would dive in to how huge homefield was in the NBA compared to other sports, and then proceed to wonder how that was possible.
Anyway, in baseball it’s like a 6% boost over neutral field.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
Also, the final at-bat doesn't affect odds of winning before the game starts.
Both teams have the same number of outs.
Other stuff, like tailoring to the field, can have an effect, but the effect is still “only” a difference of about 8% (between home and away), and mostly due to umpires.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
even 8% can be a big factor though, especially in a short-series
where the statistical factors could already be randomly working against you
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Yes, 8% is not small.
That said, this is one game, not the whole series. It makes a much smaller difference than 8% on a whole series because you get 40-43% of your innings at home (depending on if it’s five or seven games). So while it’s meaningful, it’s arguably not huge, and it makes sense for Wash to set his guys up.
But it’s big enough he should want home field as long as the cost isn’t a healthy and ready starting player.
The NFL and NBA are both bigger for HFA, though.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
for playoff games, I'm cool with that for the NFL/NBA argument
but over the course of a full season, wouldn’t 8% translate farther for 162 games and 2 open playoff slots rather than 12% over 16 games and 3 open slots?
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Teams get an even number of home and away games.
SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth - Christopher Fittz is better than porn!
ha
that’s a good point I happened to overlook
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions
Nobody said it was guaranteed.
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.
The other side of that coin...
Are we guaranteed to lose if we don’t have HFA?
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
No, do you not have logic?
I am saying that you should increase your chances of winning a playoff series.
Feliz :)
At what cost?
Should we pitch CJ 120 pitches tonight?
Treat this series like it’s the playoffs and a must win scenario?
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
So you acknowledge that you can give some rest...
And that you need to prepare for the upcoming series.
Ron isn’t trying to lose these games… but he’s also not going to go full bore like it’s the playoffs.
Don’t worry so much about it. Have a snack.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Correct. It would be dumb.
It would also be dumb to wear down our position players before the playoffs too.
If HFA was the most important thing on Earth, we would pitch CJ a full game.
It’s not. Getting rested for the playoff is.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
then you get less credit for winning
we’d look so much tougher winning them all on the road.. a la 2008 NFL giants
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:46 PM CDT up reply actions
exactly
nobody cares… just win, and do whatever it takes to do that
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Commercial's pretty funny, you gotta admit
by DFWTrojanTuba on Sep 26, 2011 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions
x
12ish?
The Veterans (D.O. and Face, in particular, will not give even the slightest bit of a shit)
Over, wayyyyy over
Yay
Yay
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
I like smug, cocky Fittz.
"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz
"Baseball's all that's real" - JB
by Ryin A on Sep 26, 2011 4:15 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
This.
"I have thought a lot about why people get so hostile online, and I have come to believe it is primarily because we live in a society with a hypertrophied sense of justice and an atrophied sense of humility and charity, to put the matter in terms of the classic virtues." --Alan Jacobs
I like Fittz' co-----
Woah, forget it…that wasn’t very well thought out…
We’re not about sending messages. We’re about winning ballgames.-Wash, 04/03/11
TELL ME MOAR!
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
x
LoneStarDugout Jason Cole
Ronald Guzman and Jordan Akins are knocking the hell out of the ball going back-to-back in BP. Fun to watch.
ProfessorParks Jason Parks
#Rangers prospect Ronald Guzman with one of the more remarkable BP displays in recent back field memory. Great hands and easy power. #want
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.
I need some napkins or something...
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
Parks is going crazy about him on twitter
Saying he may be the best 16 year old hitter he has ever seen and top 5 prospect in the system.
Corby just said its very conceivable
for LAA to get back in this.
all the Angels have to do is sweep a Texas team thats farting around, while Baltimore sweeps Bostson. And then we’d get Detroit and that would suck!
He forgot about the part where Tampa has to at least lose 2 out of 3….
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:27 PM CDT reply actions
Corby is a fucking idiot.
If I wanted a baseball opinion this dumb I’d just ask steel home.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
by Brad on Sep 26, 2011 4:28 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Oh I know
I was posting for comedic purposes only. And seriously Steel Home isn’t that bad. If its not OU, Community Quickhits, or E-News Corby is as worthless as a second asshole. I listen to The Ticket for comedy.
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 4:30 PM CDT up reply actions
Heh.
I’m just giving steel home a hard time. He says ridiculous things… but steel home knows 100x more about baseball than Corby.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
I love Corby.
He’s the best yuk monkey there is. I like him way more than Gordo.
But I don’t want to hear his stupid fucking baseball opinion.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
What?!
I’m just going to vehemently disagree because I met you and like you and I’d feel bad berating you for such an opinion.
"...out of the shadows of unprecedented success, the sun shines down upon this team waiting to thrill anew." - ghostofErikThompson
Are you a Gordo lover?
I used to be. My first exposure to the Ticket was Gordo in the devil suit back in ’97.
Gordo used to really bring the funny. Now he’s just so half assed.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
I think half of Gordon's ass is more talented than that Hugh Jass, aka Corby.
Corby has to carry a lot more of the show now, and shocking and abrasive is funny, and he does make me laugh, but I just think he has a much smaller bag than Gordo.
"...out of the shadows of unprecedented success, the sun shines down upon this team waiting to thrill anew." - ghostofErikThompson
AJ Burnett to start Game 3 of the ALDS
incarceratedbob incarcerated bob
BREAKING MLB NEWSSource: Yankees will name AJ “BUM” Burnett as the game 3 starter for the upcoming divisional playoff series #IBN
yeah… i’ll quote him
of course he is.. who the fuck else are they going to start
"God dammit TAG I swear to God if you keep this "It was a close play" shit up all night I will send you cookies made from my own shit" -River Fenix 8/26/2011
"this is a big reason I decided not to convert to Islam now if it was 72 skanks? Different story, my friend" Bob Loblaw 9/2/2011
by I am Neftali Feliz on Sep 26, 2011 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions
idk.. honestly, I haven't paid too much attention to the Yankees rotation problems this year
actually, i haven’t thought about the Yankees at all outside of the 3 series we’ve had with them this year
by kevinkinsler on Sep 26, 2011 5:18 PM CDT up reply actions
Got my playoff strip today...
I am so psyched. I’ve never gone to as many Rangers games as I’ve been able to go to this year and I’m ready to cap it of with another great playoff run.
"self policing" implies that the group will implement punishments based on violations of the group’s defined ethic. What are we gonna do? Make fun of someone until they quit the internet forever? - Bob Loblaw 7/21/2011
When do you think Ron announces the rotation?
When we have our seed?
Feliz :)
Yes
Heard a quote he already knows what it will be, but they’re waiting to announce it. Have a feeling it hinges on whether or not we have HFA as to what game Colby pitches.
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 5:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Lineup
Monday lineup: Kinsler, dh; Andrus, ss; Hamilton, cf; Young, 2b; Beltre, 3b; Napoli, 1b; Cruz, rf; Murphy, lf; Torrealba, c; Wilson, p.
Feliz :)
That lineup makes me salivate.
"self policing" implies that the group will implement punishments based on violations of the group’s defined ethic. What are we gonna do? Make fun of someone until they quit the internet forever? - Bob Loblaw 7/21/2011
by Mike the Grate on Sep 26, 2011 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Are you happy now?
If I had a gun to my head and had to pick one pitcher to pitch a game to save my life.... I'd pick 1999 Rick Helling.
Dear Rangers, Make me forget about 2010.......
by matthewbschultz83 on Sep 26, 2011 5:16 PM CDT up reply actions
DO NOT GET HURT.... ANY OF YOU
"God dammit TAG I swear to God if you keep this "It was a close play" shit up all night I will send you cookies made from my own shit" -River Fenix 8/26/2011
"this is a big reason I decided not to convert to Islam now if it was 72 skanks? Different story, my friend" Bob Loblaw 9/2/2011
by I am Neftali Feliz on Sep 26, 2011 5:22 PM CDT up reply actions
Oh shit... Ron's a fucking idiot who is going to try and lose games!!!
Or… it’s exactly what I said and that he DOES care about HFA… but isn’t going to say that he cares.
"I became an optimist when I discovered that I wasn't going to win any more games by being anything else." by Earl Weaver
I just got an email from Bruce Bochy thanking me for being a part of the SF Giants record-breaking attendance year.
I wonder where my email from Ron is
Cleveland at Detroit pitching matchup tonight
Ubaldo Jiminez vs. Doug Fister
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
The Indians don't have a hit or a baserunner against Fister yet.
It's baseball. You don't always get what you want, and you don't always want what you get. --Ed Coffin
x
LoneStarDugout Jason Cole
Can definitely see plus defensive projection in young SS Luis Marte. Smooth actions, good range, strong arm.
Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.
"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.
On the BP Podcast
Professor threw out a Hanley comp.
"The Rangers system just happens to be stupid with depth." - Jason Parks, 7/14/11
2011-07-25 17:44:05 - benjihana: Ahh my backdoor!!!
So if Colby throws another stinker?
Do we still roll him out there in the playoffs? Dude got pummeled by Seattle recently. That’s hard to do.
Baseball's hard, guys. I mean, it really is. You can love it but, believe me, it don't always love you back. It's kind of like dating a German chick, you know?
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