Tuesday Rockpile: The Many Faces of Success
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 22, 2010 6:41 AM MDT
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"I'd rather be lucky than good." - Lefty Gomez
When I was quite a bit younger, I eschewed the concept of luck in sports. I wanted to believe, especially at large sample sizes, that all results accurately deflected the skill levels of the players in question. Naturally, realism has seeped in with age, and I recognize luck is large part of all sports, especially baseball.
The quote above is one most Americans have heard, though few know the origin. I like the quote, but I often wondered: couldn't I be lucky AND good? The irony of the quote here is that Gomez is one of three pitchers to win 13 of his first 14 starts in a season. Ubaldo Jimenez is one of the other two. Among all the fracas at Fangraphs last week, it seemed to me that no one was aware that someone can be lucky AND good. Either Jimenez is lucky upon historic proportions, or he is legitimately having one of the best seasons ever.
It is as if talent and luck are mutually exclusive. They are most certainly not. A player can be lucky and good, unlucky and terrible, lucky yet bad, unlucky yet good, lucky and mediocre etc. etc. etc. Ubaldo has been decidedly lucky and good this season. Most Rockies fans are probably aware of this. Yet I believe many of us have presumed luck and performance to be mutually exclusive in another case:
Over the past two weeks, especially in recent days, there seem to be two very vocal camps. One looks almost strictly at Fowler's production stats - a .463 wOBA in AAA (1.099 OPS) - and point out we could use that offense in the big leagues. Translation: he's good. Another camp is frightened away from Fowler's unsustainable .484 BABIP when he is hitting ground balls 53% of the time. Translation: he's lucky. The truth has been missed - he has been both.
I scrounged around the internet and found this xBABIP calculator by The Hardball Times. It essentially takes line drive percentage, popup percentage, groundball percentage and flyball percentage and predicts BABIP, thereby removing the potential luck Fowler has had bleeding grounders through the infield. His xBABIP is .331. That might be 150 points below his actual BABIP, so he has been VERY lucky. But it is also way above MLB league average. Lucky and good.
Devil's advocate: But his BABIP would go down with superior defenses in the big leagues! Assuming that is true, I have an opposite adjustment. xBABIP's formula includes a crude speed factor, increasing the xBABIP using stolen bases as an input for speed. We all know Fowler is a gazelle, yet he has only stolen one base in AAA. Adjusting his xBABIP based on his true speed pushes it closer to .340.
Here's another source for you: minorleaguesplits.com. You can adjust a player's numbers for his home park, adjust his numbers to neutral luck, and produce major league equivalents (MLEs). Adjusting for both his home park and luck produces an .831 OPS, 61 points higher than his 2009 number (a season in which he posted a .351 BABIP, by the way). Producing the MLE gives nearly a .900 OPS, higher than any Rockie this season.
So yes, Fowler has gotten lucky. A .484 BABIP is unsustainable. But that does not mean Fowler hasn't been legitimately raking. With almost identically awesome lefty/righty splits in AAA, slightly better walk and strikeout raters and slightly worse line drive rate to career levels, there is nothing left to prove for Fowler at AAA. You might notice my choice of "picture" in this post. Ubaldo knows he witnessed the perfect storm of ability and luck in that moment. The man on the other end of his gaze knows the feeling as well.
With Carlos Gonzalez returning today, the urgency of bringing Fowler back has lessened. But with Carlos Gonzalez moving to the 3-hole, the organization should really consider promoting Fowler to be a top-of-the-order bat. Make no mistake - he is ready.
Links after the jump.
Slugging in Springs - The Denver Post - It's as if Irv Moss knew I wanted to write about Fowler today.
"I got all my hits left-handed (Sunday). That in itself lets you know I'm pretty comfortable in the box right now." - Fowler
Rockies' Street back in bullpen - The Denver Post
No word on the corresponding roster move so far, though DFAing Juan Rincon makes the most sense.
"From the last pitch of 2009, all I've thought about is being back with these guys. This is why I worked so hard, because I wanted to pitch here. I signed for three years because I want to stay in Colorado, because I love Denver, and because I think we have a chance to win." -Huston Street (from Jim Armstrong)
Tracy admits lack of offense baffles him - The Denver Post - Jim Armstrong has some interesting stats to illustrate the Rockies' offensive futility in The Year of the Pitcher.
John Lannan Demoted to AA | FanGraphs Baseball
Corks were popped in homes of sabermetricians everywhere. FIP had long predicted that John Lannan would fall apart. His career ERA was just way too low for his FIP, and this season, his poor K/BB caught up with him. More of note on this to Rockies fans - our old pal Joel Peralta has been promoted in Lannan's place.
Rox bring continuity into rematch vs. Red Sox | ColoradoRockies.com: News
Well...if you ignore that three of the top four hitters in our lineup are gone. And three of the top four hitters are no longer much of a hitting threat at the major leagues (not the same set).
Jay Payton’s Situation | FanGraphs Baseball
Fangraphs weighs in on the future of Jay Payton.
Minnesota Twins' Target Field hits grand slam for fans | All Things Rockies
Patrick Saunders from the Denver Post loved Target Field, though it took him until yesterday to share his experience with everyone.
I'll mention that Woody Paige has a column today and recommends what the Rockies should do. However, I'm not going to link it. Seek it out if you want, but only if you really think we need to start carrying 7 outfielders, 7 infielders and 6 starting pitchers.
Twitter / Mike Newman: All I can say is "Damn straight:"
You know you have a good wife when she asks if I can go to dinner with her friends Thursday night and all I have to say is.... but Matzek...
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Great stuff.
The only problem with bringing Fowler back up now is that he doesn’t play a middle infield position. His regular at bats come at the expense of Smith and Spilly, so even if he did maintain his torrid pace from the Springs it wouldn’t be a huge boost overall.
it is unfortunate isnt it?
That’s the only reason to continue keeping Fowler down. We could certainly use him against left handed pitchers, and Herrera is the only leadoff guy on the roster. Smith and Spilborghs can be quite streaky. If Fowler continues hitting, he could find ABs
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 22, 2010 7:28 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Smith and Spilly are perfect bench players
and to get the occasional starts. Our OF should be Carlos LF, Dex CF, Hawpe RF.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
by SDcat09 on Jun 22, 2010 7:58 AM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
I agree
Smith and Spilly have been doing pretty good as of late – but we need a legitimate lead off hitter – Dex is the only option we have for that right now.
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Not that Tracy gives a crap about Spilly or Smith
I mean, the guy is willing to start Mora out there over them.
Wasn't Spilly
in CF when Mora started in LF? Not having CarGo or Dex was a little bit of a problem…
The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient.
by rockieprogress on Jun 22, 2010 10:24 AM MDT up reply actions
Point is he was more willing to give Mora his first ever start in LF over Smith against a RHP
then proceeded to not get Smith an AB in the next game after he single handedly brought the team back once he was finally entered into the lineup Saturday night.
by Jeff Francis Day on Jun 22, 2010 11:10 AM MDT up reply actions
hey, Mora last played LF in 2003!
120 games started at that position in fact
EXPERIENCE
Stand by your man.
Ha. Ok first start this season.
But really…what does Seth have to do? Now he can’t get on the field on a team of 3 healthy outfielders?
And before my I go off on my normal Seth rant, I’ll pose a more serious question. Has there ever been thoughts of moving him to first base or is he just not capable?
by Jeff Francis Day on Jun 22, 2010 11:15 AM MDT up reply actions
the problem is, he's a good defensive outfielder
if we are transitioning one OF to 1B, it has to be Hawpe (even though he has performed “better” this year, comparatively).
Jim Tracy unconditionally loves Melvin Mora and hates Seth Smith anytime before the 7th inning. We’re stuck.
Stand by your man.
I wish I could accept it.
But it eats at me every game. In a game where we’re missing the production numbers of Cargo and Tulo, how do you leave his productivity out?
And going forward….even with Cargo back, it’s the same type of thing.
As far as the transition to first goes, I’ve heard a lot of talk recently that the club doesn’t believe in Hawpe as the solution, and might not even pick up his 10M option. I guess that in itself frees up a spot for Seth, but you never know, considering the aforementioned unconditional hate.
by Jeff Francis Day on Jun 22, 2010 11:41 AM MDT up reply actions
Not to mention...
He’s worth having up just for his defense and speed, you just don’t want to see his bat get lost again with irregular ABs.
which is why I only want Dex called up if we are going to play him
no more PH, no more assigned bunting, let the man play
Stand by your man.
dear god
no more assigned bunting
no more of this!
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
I agree with this wholeheartedly
The thing is, if that’s his role, he’s actually better off in the Springs right now. If Hawpe pulls a 2nd half 2009 again, then it probably becomes time for an OF of Cargo/Dex/Smith, but there is very little point in wasting Dex’s development time here on the bench to PR or bunt.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
im certainly not meaning to downplay my worry of this as well
If pt is reason to keep him down, fine, but he has certainly been earning a callup in a vacuum. With a hole at the top of the lineup and the streaky nature of our OF, I’m sure he could get two starts a week at least.
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 22, 2010 10:15 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Whatever Dex's situation is...
He is infinitly better off that Maybin and Bonafacio are in Florida. They are being forced to learn at the major league level and their skills just don’t match their raw tools. Poor Bonafacio doesn’t even have a position to play.
Dex is benefiting by being back at an instructional level now in more ways than just left handed AB’s. He gets to sit next to a Jay Payton and see how he has to adjust when his skills decline or don’t show up for a game. He’s getting more one on one where wins are less important. I expect him back smarter in all phases of the game.
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
I'm not sure how much more Dex is going to learn at AAA.
He skipped AAA and fared pretty well here all last season.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Didn't your teachers ever scold you to never stop learning?
If players didn’t have a need to learn and be reminded: there’d be no role for coaches at the MLB level.
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
Everything I learned about hitting lefties I learned in kindergarden.
They'll play what I tell them to play...for I am the mayor of Albuquerque!
by frightened inmate #2 on Jun 22, 2010 11:09 AM MDT up reply actions
And what is your batting avg left handed or better yet your OPS?
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
This is my point exactly. What else will he learn by facing more NON MLB pitching.
and really Foagie? I’m not a youngster…so yes life long learning is the way to go. But for Dex his best lessons will be now at the MLB level.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I respectfully disagree...
Dex is getting the opportunity to fill in the gaps he missed. Yes he needs to prove he can hit MLB pitching left handed. Let him build the self confidence at AAA. He still has some matureing to do. I looking long term here because I belive he was rush too quickly
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
I respectfully disagree that Dex lacks confidence.
And for a 22 year old kid, he seems pretty mature to me. I’ve never seen him have meltdowns. He needs to learn here and now :)
So we’ll agree to disagree on this point :)
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I'm not refering to his emotional makeup but to his skills make up.
Dex has been pretty levelheaded which is part of why the Rockies drafted him. He appears to be a good student too. I’m not hateing at all. I don’t want his carrer stunted like Cantu’s has been or Maybin’s and Bonafacio’s are being.
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
He had better be a good student
he got into Harvard and was going to play basketball either there or Miami (FL).
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
I love the way Street thinks.
I love that he wants the ball back in his hand at the end of the game.
He oozes confidence. Something I don’t get from our other “closers” right now.
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Hopefully tonight in the 7th with a five run lead
That would be nice.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
No time real soon
Those type of fractures can be really tricky, he has to be able to run full out before even beginning baseball activities.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
Over/under on runs off Lester tonight: 1.5
I’m taking the under. Tonight’s gonna suck, though I still believe we’ll win the series.
"You spend a good piece of your life gripping a baseball and in the end it turns out that it was the other way around the whole time." - Jim Bouton
who knows?
we have beat every team Ace we’ve faced this past month. No matter how crappy we play the rest of the series, we always seem to bring just enough offense to win against the opponent’s best pitcher.
Factor in Coors Field, Lester having to hit…
who knows?
Stand by your man.
I'm starting Lester tonight
so I’m covered either way
me too
in my other league I actually have some success in
Sabr league doormat…ouch
The Big Purple Machine will make a believer outta you!
by El Paso Jeff on Jun 22, 2010 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions
he may or may not have suggested Eldred be called up as a lh ph
He has had enough issues with breaking pitches from his natural side. Can you imagine him hitting lefty off Hong-Chi Kuo?
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 22, 2010 9:50 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
woody's article is meh
but the comments are awesome.
In one other article comment area a suggestion was made for Fowler to try 1b…Freakin’ genius…why did I not think of that?!?!?
The Big Purple Machine will make a believer outta you!
by El Paso Jeff on Jun 22, 2010 9:54 AM MDT up reply actions
It's too bad he didn't wait one more day
he could have suggested we reacquire Garrett Atkins as well, since it appears the O’s are releasing him soon
Stand by your man.
Poor Garrett
It sounds like he is pretty much done….I mean how do you recover from losing bat speed?
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
steroids
"These are thin mints. I put them in the freezer. My favorites. So good."
--Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, on the girl scout cookies he keeps in his locker
so
no legal ways…
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
good one
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
This makes me sad :(
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I've watched that Ubaldo gif hundreds of times
but I just realized the woman in the stands puts her hand to her mouth in shock. Beautiful.
Stand by your man.
I think she
is throwing some cracker jacks in her mouth. She has something red in her right hand…
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
I had a dream last night
It involved Russ calling me on the phone telling me I was banned from here – one too many hot dog jokes.
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
That wasn't a dream.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First" - 1st Infantry Division Motto
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.
am I banned?
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Doesn't look like it.
Unless you learned how to overcome the ban system.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First" - 1st Infantry Division Motto
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.
/whew
I was nervous there for a sec. ;)
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Is that a hot dog in your hand
Or are you just happy to be at Coors?
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
Shock?
I think she was covering up a belch.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
But if he's ready
What do you actually do with the outfield rotation?
You can’t bench Cargo or Hawpe, Spilly’s swinging okay, and everyone’s calling for Smith to get more playing time.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
well, we all know what the team SHOULD do
Hawpe to First. But that ain’t happening.
Stand by your man.
Yes, I'm talking about what's realistic
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
And, according to Woody
Jay Payton will need some reps once he’s brought into the fold. And when does Cory Sullivan get to play? Can Kaz play left?
They'll play what I tell them to play...for I am the mayor of Albuquerque!
by frightened inmate #2 on Jun 22, 2010 9:50 AM MDT up reply actions
does the Pope wear a funny hat?
They'll play what I tell them to play...for I am the mayor of Albuquerque!
by frightened inmate #2 on Jun 22, 2010 9:52 AM MDT up reply actions
If the Pope,
can steal bases and play the infield, his he still a LF?
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
there's only requirement for being a left fielder
you have to be an infielder.
If you want to visit Major Major, you’ll have to come in during his office hours. But he’s only available to see you when he isn’t in his office.
Stand by your man.
Malkovich Malkovich
They'll play what I tell them to play...for I am the mayor of Albuquerque!
by frightened inmate #2 on Jun 22, 2010 10:11 AM MDT up reply actions
Lucky and Good
A lot of the problem with the advance metrics is that those who use them are trained to think negative regression in an individual number is going to correspond to a drop in performance. Also, the stats are geared to exhort pitchers who rely on their defense less than others. Certainly, at Fangraphs and elsewhere, some numbers (batted ball percentages, cumulative stats) are mentioned as likely to negatively regress toward league average or career norms, and the lazy assumption is made that there will be no corresponding positive change in another area (ie, rising LD%, drop in FB%). Similarly, pitches with high K and low BB rates are presumed to be the only truly (unlucky) good ones.
The number that most comes to mind when I think about the lazy assumption between luck and negative regression is Ubaldo’s LD% (2010: 13.8%, career: 17.6%). When I see it I think, “His ERA and runs allowed are going to spike when those numbers return to normal.” The last three Cy Young winners have each had LD% between 17-21%, so it would be extraordinary for Ubaldo to continue this pace.
However, even if the LD% goes back to normal, he has plenty of margin for error while maintaining pristine numbers. His high GB and low FB (combined with a low HR/FB%) allow a few of those hits to turn into line drives without Ubaldo turning into a pumpkin.
That margin for error is what makes Ubaldo lucky and good. His line drive percentage is in part luck for a variety of reasons, but just because some hitters could have driven a pitch instead of striking out or grounding out doesn’t mean a) it would be a hit, or b) they would have scored. If his LD% and BABIP regress, it probably means more hitters will get to second and third. It could mean his ERA will start to look more like his FIP, or it could mean that his strand rate and low HR/FB remain constant, and nobody scores. Also, his high GB% means he’s more likely to get a double play in a critical spot, and he’s shown a good ability to pick off runners.
Certain negative regression in individual categories doesn’t mean that Ubaldo is too lucky, or that he’ll blow up (in relative terms, look human) in the second half, it just means that he might not be as pretty as Cliff Lee while he performs just as well.
by deacs on Jun 22, 2010 9:40 AM MDT reply actions 9 recs
Unless you were trying to be witty,
brevity isn’t necessary.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First" - 1st Infantry Division Motto
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.
In other words...
Numbers can lie!
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
No
but they can be misconstrued to get any result you want.
What they can’t do is take into account that a pitcher has changed his approach to pitching, so now he’s getting more GB’s than he has historically…
The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient.
by rockieprogress on Jun 22, 2010 10:54 AM MDT up reply actions
Numbers can have a way of belieing objective reality....
Numbers can’t Quantify luck and only give you a rough scetch of skill. The nuance observed by the naked eye is the only way to complete the picture.
Many decried Nolan Ryan as a hall of famer due to his low winning percentage. Many saw him as at best a .500 pitcher. He was better than many of the teams he played for and his run support was poor for his career in historic proportions. I think only Walter Johnson was challenge for the length of a career the same way adjusted for eras and ballparks
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
This is more what I was going for.
Focusing on one criteria and ignoring the whole is a specialty of those who are enamored of fielding independent pitching stats. Specifically, as was mentioned by some PR commentors on Fangraphs, there’s a myopia surrounding K/9 and HR/FB. The expectation is that the former needs to be 8 or 9/9 to be a great pitcher, and that the latter will always regress to the league average (or career, whichever is the worse number).
Ubaldo is a good case in pointing out that if you expect one area of his performance to negatively regress, it’s just as reasonable (given the way he’s achieved his outcomes so far – few runs, few xBHs, many GBs, many GIDPs) to expect a different category to maintain or improve.
"as pretty as Cliff Lee"
Cliff Lee’s mum approves. And rec’d.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
He's pretty easy on the eyes
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Well said, and rec'd
From this and other things I’ve seen from you, you obviously get it. :)
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 11:44 AM MDT up reply actions
This is excellent
And don’t worry about the length; if anything I think you could have expanded on this and turned it into a FanPost. It’s a great topic and I think you nailed it.
Get well soon Tulo. The Rockies need you.
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Jun 22, 2010 4:17 PM MDT up reply actions
WAHOO!
Just got 2 free tickets to tonight’s game!
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
HOW???!!! and I'm so jealous!
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
The Executive Director
of this non-profit that I do a lot of work for called me up. SHe couldn’t use them – so she is giving them to me as a thank you!
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
sweet!
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Muzia's experience won't be quite as fun...
…he has to sit next to me.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jun 22, 2010 11:00 AM MDT up reply actions
Yes it will
I had a great time going to games with you last year, and I’ve been to a game with Muzia this year. I think you both should have a good time.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Faceitious is my middle name
Unfortunately, “Danger” was already taken.
It’s gonna be a blast, hell yeah.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jun 22, 2010 11:12 AM MDT up reply actions
At least your middle name wasn't "interesting"...
As in the old chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times”.
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
I would love
to meet up with any rowbots that are at the game
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Where you sitting?
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 11:47 AM MDT up reply actions
U331 Row 20
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
you know what that is....
They'll play what I tell them to play...for I am the mayor of Albuquerque!
by frightened inmate #2 on Jun 22, 2010 11:50 AM MDT up reply actions
Two sections
over and three rows below where we sat?
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
and what was three (well 2 for me) rows down?
They'll play what I tell them to play...for I am the mayor of Albuquerque!
by frightened inmate #2 on Jun 22, 2010 11:53 AM MDT up reply actions
wait, don't answer that.
They'll play what I tell them to play...for I am the mayor of Albuquerque!
by frightened inmate #2 on Jun 22, 2010 11:53 AM MDT up reply actions
Except when
you went to talk to the dancing girl
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
at which point
you were in row 20
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Followed by a trip to the cobbler?
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jun 22, 2010 12:07 PM MDT up reply actions
yes it was
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
of course :)
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Is that the Purple Row>
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
si
They'll play what I tell them to play...for I am the mayor of Albuquerque!
by frightened inmate #2 on Jun 22, 2010 11:56 AM MDT up reply actions
Nice. We're in U312, row 15
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 12:01 PM MDT up reply actions
Muzia and I in club level sec 247
All the way down left field line
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jun 22, 2010 12:07 PM MDT up reply actions
These are right behind
home plate – in the purple row. I just hope there are more Rockies fans than Sox fans…
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
That's excellent!!! Have fun and a hot dog for me!
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
See
all good things get returned to you.
The oxen are slow, but the earth is patient.
by rockieprogress on Jun 22, 2010 10:51 AM MDT up reply actions
AWESOME!!!
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jun 22, 2010 10:09 AM MDT up reply actions
SWEET!
I unfortunately had to pay for mine
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 11:45 AM MDT up reply actions
Interesing comments from Peter Gammons re ESPN
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/gammons-is-not-a-fan-of-espns-manny-hype-either.php
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
i like the other one by Calcaterra on the Dodgers
Either their pitcher has become Guy Pearce in Memento, or the Dodgers are cheating
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 22, 2010 11:02 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Rec'd for a Memento/Guy Pearce reference....dude, LOVE that flick
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
oh and for an apt comparison
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
that movie rocked my world
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 22, 2010 11:41 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions
Really looking forward to this series
And all the creative ways we can not use Seth Smith for the 3 games.
by Jeff Francis Day on Jun 22, 2010 11:03 AM MDT reply actions
Can we try Giambi in the OF
that would be an awesome way to get his veteran bat in the game. I got another idea, lets call up Nelson so he can watch some Major League Players, I bet he loves that.
"Whenever I see an old lady slip and fall on a wet sidewalk, my first instinct is to laugh. But then I think, what if I was an ant, and she fell on me. Then it wouldn't seem quite so funny."
Jack Handy quote
He's an infielder, so he'll be a natural!!
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 11:48 AM MDT up reply actions
Who says he's an infielder?
I’ve seen little sign of that this year…:P
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Unless being a career DH counts for being an infielder
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
Tracy plays him at 1B, so he must be an infielder.
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 12:02 PM MDT up reply actions
He wasn't the first; but he may be the last
"Why are they outlawin' the spit pitch? The curveball is a cheap 'n easy pitch; the spitter aint" Ty Cobb
"When I was pitching 90's in the seventies; I never thought I'd be pitching 70's in the nineties!" Frank Tanana
Come on dude
Kid only provided the most exciting play at Coors since Dexter jumped over Utley when he plowed the catcher….in his first ever trip around the bases.
by Jeff Francis Day on Jun 22, 2010 11:50 AM MDT up reply actions
Is anyone going to be in the game thread tonight?
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I will, if only for one post
For, you see…today is RED SOX STOMPING DAY. :)
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 11:48 AM MDT up reply actions
So, where's the song?
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I was leaning toward posting it in the game thread early on (from my mobile).
Didn’t work too well last time, though.
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 12:02 PM MDT up reply actions
My neighbor across the street is a Red Sohx fan.
He’s a native of that region (with the accent to match), so I cut him some slack.
This week we’ll exchange friendly waves, but avoid talking to each other.
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
No
I will be watching from the comfort of my living room while trying to place 10,000 baseball cards in their respective binders.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
nope
Going to see the ghosts again
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 22, 2010 12:04 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
We missed opening day
being baseball season, my son had a game last night. We will also miss tonight as he has another game. In fact baseball takes up M-Thurs for him and at least this upcoming weekend I will be working a booth at NicFest.
Hobart is usually at NicFest every year too (but that won’t be me)
Wyoming baseball --- GO GHOSTS!
nice to see you are investing in the future !!
In leadership,sometimes it comes strictly down to courage. We have to have courage within our organiztion today. It takes courage to be a Colorado Rockie.
....Keli McGregor 2007
Only if the game thread's up before 5pm....
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
by Mondogarage on Jun 22, 2010 12:10 PM MDT up reply actions
Red Sox return to scene of WS 2007
Kind of an interesting read from Arnie Stapleton at AP
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;ylt=Au2X5g6R5YiFoTsSgG.DOG0RvLYF?slug=ap-redsoxreturnylt=Au2X5g6R5YiFoTsSgG.DOG0RvLYF?slug=ap-redsoxreturn" target="new">
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I've always been a somewhat closeted believer in the thesis that baseball is more luck than skill.
However, the best way to translate “lucky and good” to me is that, to put it simply, the more talent you have, the better position you put yourself in to actually be lucky. “Luck, with agency.” How’s that for a seeming contradiction? :D
It's not a contradiction at all...in fact, it's about how I view the game.
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 12:33 PM MDT up reply actions
And that is pretty much life.
Thus proving that baseball is, in fact, LIFE!
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
by SDcat09 on Jun 22, 2010 12:35 PM MDT up reply actions 4 recs
rec'd
and true!
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Amen, sister!
Oh, by the way…green. :)
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 1:05 PM MDT up reply actions
It's not easy being green :)
and thank you!
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Well, I guess the question I was trying to highlight...
… is that if the player has agency in the matter, is it really luck anymore? I’d say yes, but it’s an admitted thin line there.
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 12:44 PM MDT up reply actions
I'd say yes, too. The agency can help tilt the odds one way or the other, but the luck is there and can't be discounted
Nor can it be quantified.
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 1:05 PM MDT up reply actions
there is a saying...
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” Funny how “lucky” people are often the hardest workers.
by podtosociety on Jun 22, 2010 5:31 PM MDT up reply actions
I really want one of these.
Stand by your man.
by Muzia on Jun 22, 2010 12:51 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
this is awesome
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
That exudes awesomeness from every opening
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 1:06 PM MDT up reply actions
Um...cool, but way too auspicious.
I like my Rockies disassociated with burnt toast, thank you.
Good point...
/orders Dodgers toaster.
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
I'll put this up in the game thread, too (if my phone works better this time), but here you go:
Faces filled with joy and cheer
What a magical time of year
Howdy Ho! It’s Red Sox Stomping Day
Festive aura in the air
NO DH—BUT THAT’S NOT FAY-UH
Don’t you know it’s Red Sox Stomping Day
All the mighty Rockies boys
Love that wonderful crunching noise
You’ll know what this day’s about
When you stomp the Red Sox guts right out
So, come along and have a laugh
Dance that Papelbon’s mouth in half
Grab your bats and bash his smirk away
Hip hip hooray, it’s Red Sox Stomping Day
(Sounds of Red Sox getting stomped on, with bone-crunching and rodent-screeching effects)
Players up and down the card
Crushing Red Sox out at the yard
Why we do it, who can say?
But screw Red Sox Nation anyway
So let the WICKED AWESOME fun begin
Bash their chowdah-head skulls right in
It’s the Red Sox, that makes it okay
Hey everyone, it’s Red Sox Stomping
We’ll have some fun on Red Sox Stomping
Put down your gun, it’s Red Sox Stomping Day
Avenge ‘07, it’s Red Sox Stomping Day
Red Sox Stomping Day
Hey!
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 1:10 PM MDT reply actions 2 recs
I can't wait for the whining from RSN
BUT WE CAN’T PLAY ALL OF OW-AH BEST PLAYUHS. IT’S NOT FAY-UH. YOU CANNOT POSSIBLY UNDERSTAND OW-AH TAR-CHUR;.
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 1:11 PM MDT up reply actions
Awesome.
All the mighty Rockies boys
Love that wonderful crunching noise
You’ll know what this day’s about
When you stomp the Red Sox guts right out
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Jun 22, 2010 1:25 PM MDT up reply actions
Weird
I had a dream that SDCat09 got her name (SDCat) in the denver post in the same sentence as Tulo.
Any interpretations?
This is R year!
That is really funny.
Wait, are you suggesting that Tulo spoke of me during an interview?
Well, other than him complaining about that weird chick from PR who likes Hawpe more than him:) (but not because of his baseball skills, cause Tulo is the man).
I truly have no idea…but hey I’ll take it as a good sign ?
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
No, the Dp
was probably citing you for your love of baseball like Tulo.
I don’t know.
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Jun 22, 2010 2:05 PM MDT up reply actions
Perhaps....we'll go with that...lol
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Some red sox hate...
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Jun 22, 2010 1:27 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
There ya go! more emphasis is always better when you talk about red sox hate !!
In leadership,sometimes it comes strictly down to courage. We have to have courage within our organiztion today. It takes courage to be a Colorado Rockie.
....Keli McGregor 2007
Borrowed fron the Yankees
someone should photoshop it to Rockies…
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Jun 22, 2010 1:36 PM MDT up reply actions
Thanks to cafepress/redsuxnation!
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Jun 22, 2010 1:42 PM MDT up reply actions
NOH MAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pronounced….No Mo. Heh.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
10 Reasons to hate Red Sox fans (from Suite 101.com) Sept 2007
This is an excerpt:
#1. After all those years of incessant whining and crying about how losing builds special character, they finally win and exhibit no grace or dignity or “character” whatsoever.
#2. Cowboy Up! This may have been the most ridiculous rallying cry in sports history. New England Cowboys. Just like George W. Bush.
#3. Red Sox Nation. Is this a joke? As if the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs, Giants, Mets and Braves don’t have millions of fans throughout the country. And most of those fans, unlike this sudden wave of instant Red Sox rooters, actually follow their teams and don’t just wear the cool-looking hats.
Just for the record, it costs $199.95 to join the Ultimate Fan Group of Red Sox Nation. This level of membership comes with the right to purchase two tickets in the Green Monster seats — for another $140 a pop. You also get a laminated membership card! Even their own team takes advantage of Red Sox fans.
#4. Now, They Hate Manny Ramirez, the MVP of their miracle 2004 World Series victory and a man who averaged 36 home runs and 115 RBI a season during his seven full years with the team. Sure, Manny got out of line this year, and sure, maybe he had to be traded, but do you Bosox fans need to hate him? Have you no respect for the man who pulled you from the edge of the abyss? Have you no understanding of Manny’s place in baseball history? He’s the best right-handed hitter since Joe DiMaggio, and to tell the truth, he may be a better hitter than the Yankee Clipper.
#5. They absolutely skewered Bill Buckner for his fielding gaffe in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.
Buckner was a wonderful ballplayer and a really decent guy. He collected 2,715 hits in his career. In 1986, he was one of the best hitters on the team. He smacked 18 home runs, collected 102 RBI and was the club’s top slugger in September.
Yet after he misplayed a Mookie Wilson ground ball in the final inning of that tragic Game 6 loss, Boston fans were so cruel to Buckner that he had to flee the city. Fans have recent’y tried to reinvent history and claim that they never blamed Buckner. Don’t believe it. They crucified the guy. He had to move to Idaho, for God’s Sake! Way to stick by your players, BoSox fans.
#6. Sweet Caroline. The Royal Rooters must be rolling over in their graves when the drunken bandwagon hoppers break into this Neil Diamond sap-fest.
#7. Ben Affleck. Star of Gigli. Former Mr. Jennifer Lopez. Secretary of State for Red Sox Nation.
#8. Fever Pitch. This is the worst movie ever made, and it’s about a Red Sox fan. That couldn’t just be a coincidence, could it?
#9. The Sports Guy. ESPN’s Bill Simmons is the prototypical Red Sox fan, or so he claims, and he stinks out loud. Every single article that he writes is exactly the same: Red Sox, Patriots, dumb joke about a sitcom, and then a stupid remark about one of his buddies, all of whom seem to have ridiculously annoying nicknames like Burp, Pooper, or the Diaper. Didn’t he say that he was gonna “Die in Peace?” Uh, when?
#10. Hypocrisy, Hypocrisy, Hypocrisy
Take a good, long look at the Red Sox 2004 World Series roster. Every pitcher, and every single starting position player with the lone exception of Trot Nixon, did not come up through the Red Sox system.
That’s right. Manny Ramirez, Pedro Martinez, Curt Schilling, David Ortiz, Johnny Damon, Keith Foulke, Bill Mueller, Kevin Millar, Dave Roberts, and Orlando Cabrera were all high-priced free agents or acquired through trades.
Now, examine their 2007 payroll. It’s $165 million. That is higher than all but one team in baseball.
This is not a small market club of scruffy underpaid underdogs. These are the New York Yankees, except they are located 300 miles to the northeast.
Despite the club’s obvious mercenary approach in recent years, Red Sox fans are always the first to accuse other teams of "buying their championship
Read more at Suite101: 10 Reasons to Hate Red Sox Fans: There Are Actually 101 Reasons, But Here Are the Ten Best http://baseball.suite101.com/article.cfm/10_reasons_to_hate_red_sox_fans#ixzz0rc7IXhc2
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
by SDcat09 on Jun 22, 2010 2:01 PM MDT reply actions 4 recs
Ack!!!
I meant to cancel but hit post instead…Sorry for the length everyone!
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
glad you didn't cancel----great post !
In leadership,sometimes it comes strictly down to courage. We have to have courage within our organiztion today. It takes courage to be a Colorado Rockie.
....Keli McGregor 2007
Why be sorry? This is great!
It’s 100% true that Red Sox Nation can’t accept that their team is basically the Yankees. Well, that is, if the real Yankees weren’t nearly as good at what they do.
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 2:33 PM MDT up reply actions
Fever Pitch.
My mom actually made us watch that movie during the off week before the World Series because “it’s a baseball movie” even thoough I insisted it was bad luck.
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Jun 22, 2010 2:10 PM MDT up reply actions
All this time, I blamed the long break...
turns out it was your mom’s fault we lost the Series! ;-)
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
I know!!!
Plus she made us watch it again before the 09 playoffs started!
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Jun 22, 2010 2:13 PM MDT up reply actions
If we make the playoffs...
you know what you need to do!
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
burn every copy of that movie she can find?
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
I actually relate to the part when his friend calls and says “it was the BEST GAME EVERRRRR!!!!!!”
You know, cause I left the Spilly Slam game.
This is R year!
by prettyinpurple on Jun 22, 2010 2:12 PM MDT up reply actions
And your mom wasn't charged with child abuse for that?
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
I loved reading the comments of the mouth-breathing SAWX "fans"
“Most loyal and faithful” my arse. Tell that to Bill Buckner.
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 2:58 PM MDT up reply actions
Thanks for that cat, nice read.
Now I hate the Red Sox even worse! :P LETS WHOOP THEIR ASS
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 3:17 PM MDT up reply actions
heh, I found a whole bunch of things about hating the Red Sox..
I could probably put together a FanPost, but other than writing I HATE THE RED SOX repeatedly it would be pretty boring….
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
that would be one of the best modern novels I have ever read
Stand by your man.
by Muzia on Jun 22, 2010 3:22 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
ditto
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Reason #11.
STEROIDS FUELED THEIR WORLD SERIES WINS
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 3:39 PM MDT up reply actions
Making it green
Get well soon Tulo. The Rockies need you.
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Jun 22, 2010 4:21 PM MDT up reply actions
So add Rob Neyer to the list of Ubaldo-haters
Per his chat today:
Phill (Denver)
Rob, do you really believe Ubaldo is on a lucky streak or is it fair to say he finally figured it out? It is not unreasonable to believe he can maintain this level for the rest of the season.
Rob Neyer
You mean the 1.15 ERA? Yeah, that’s pretty unreasonable. My prediction: Strasburg will have a lower ERA than Jimenez from this point forward.
Stand by your man.
also
Rob Neyer
He’s also got a .245 BABiP. I mean, he’s been about as lucky as a pitcher can be, which of course is how you wind up with a 1.15 ERA. Which isn’t to say he’s not one of the best pitchers in the league.
Stand by your man.
You know this is just pathetic really.
So when “The Pitcher Who Shall Not be Named”burg, has a similar BABiP, will they say how lucky he is.
And how many other pitchers have posted similar numbers.
Funny thing, would they say Bob Gibson was the luckiest pitcher EVER?!!!!
This really does piss me off to no end.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Let's see
Mr. Steven pitch against a MLB team and see if mr neyer keeps his opinion.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Neyer's been really firing off ridiculous answers lately
I thought this whole thing was pretty funny:
Readers have been asking the top ESPN.com baseball blogger whether they might be able to join and help round out his developing baseball blog collective. Neyer’s answer was forthright and honest: “The sad truth is that even if you’ve got the time to write about your favorite team every day, you probably don’t have the analytical skills or the writing chops we’re looking for.”
I read some of those SweetSpot network blogs, and some are pretty good (Ducksnorts, Crashburn Alley, others), but a lot are just humorless personal thoughts that are barely relevant to the corresponding team. I’d say that 75% of PR commenters (if given similar access) could outwrite most of the traditional ESPN staff (though I don’t subscribe and can’t read TMI blogs).
Plus, ESPN and analytical go together like oil and water.
I count myself among the other 25%
I think most of the staff would admit that they make it look easier than it really is.
i’d put up the PR staff up against any baseball writers anywhere.
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
Seconded. I have not found a greater range of knowledge, talent, ability, and enthusiasm anywhere else.
Even if I didn’t love the team, I would still be an avid reader of PR.
Stand by your man.
And
we get to check out your writing starting next week. This ought to be fun.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
NEVER!
Seriously though – you will be good – you are smart and believe it or not you already have a good “voice” from what I have read around here.
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
don't forget the photoshop magic...
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
Actually,
for legal reasons he may need to stay away from that stuff.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First" - 1st Infantry Division Motto
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.
Stand by your muzia
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
AH HA!!! so this explains your no comment comment last week..
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Congratulations BTW
now does this mean you can’t hang out on the late night closing the cyber-sports bar with SDTF, RIRF, and moi?
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I love that movie.
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
What's the name?
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
The Sandlot
Get it now.
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
agree
must have that movie
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
My Mom has this movie.
I have seen it before. But not for a very long time. Perhaps we’ll have to watch it before I leave.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Don't let the Dodger connection annoy you.
It’s a great movie, despite that.
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
It's only a connection
for about 30 seconds of the entire movie
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
That movie was my childhood
Well, except for the massive dog part….I heart that movie.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
one of the best baseball movies ever!
"Ninety feet between a hot dog and my mouth is too far" - Maria M (SDCAT09 is awesome for coming up with this fake quote for me!)
Co-president of the Ubaldo Lovers Club.
I didn't mean to imply that what PR does is easy
but rather that many of the SweetSpot blogs post irregularly (3 or 4 times a week, at most), without much depth of thought or statistical analysis to the articles. In other words, most people who comment here could easily outdo that because the quality of discourse here is, much like PR itself, usually pretty high.
PR, and a SBN blogs in general, post with a frequency and level of thought that most ESPN writers don’t match.
ESPN doesn't
really have a revenue stream/plan in place that makes it worthwhile. In fact, it’s not about building a blog network; it’s about growing ESPN’s traffic.
"No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great—Duty First" - 1st Infantry Division Motto
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Diplomatic and Military History Book Review - My other blog where I go all historical on you.
Given the way the individual SweetSpot blogs are run,
without any uniform post structure or minimum standards, that it was about ESPN’s page hits and not distributing revenue to the bloggers.
I’m surprised that they even went for the TMI part of their MLB coverage. It doesn’t seem like there’d be enough additional subscriptions or page hits to cover the cost.
Still, it’s nice exposure for those blogs. I wonder, if the blog is successful, whether there’s anything restricting the bloggers from leaving the network and setting up a real revenue stream or if ESPN will pay by page hits? I would think they’d leave it at the exposure being the benefit to the bloggers and not pay a dime.
"You probably don't have the analytical skills or the writing chops we're looking for."
So, since it’s ESPN, what he’s saying is that most of the people asking about this are overqualified.
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 2:56 PM MDT up reply actions
IOW, Sorry, not lame enough...
plus not enough Yankee and Red Sox mentions in an article about the NL Central.
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
Yep...pretty much this
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 3:16 PM MDT up reply actions
Neyer has clearly been at ESPN too long
He’s smart. I’ve often enjoyed his writing…but the longer he’s paid by the monolith, the more condescending and douchey he becomes, generally.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
Very very true
I used to truly respect and admire Gammons. Then I detested him, once the ESPN worm had bored its way into his head.
There’s just gotta be something about the culture or water in Bristol that drags everyone into teh suxorz. It could just be proximity to Steve Phillips and John Kruk.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
I think the cloistered atmosphere ruins it.
Whenever a sex/harassment story leaks out of ESPN, there’s always someone anonymously talking about how it’s no surprise given that ESPN employees spend so much time around each other.
Similarly, the closeness, familiarity, and ease of communicating to the entire company that comes with being in close quarters also makes it easy to have drill messages into employees from the top-down. And ever since ABC/Disney came along, the message has been: eschew research and trumpet controversy and conflict above all else.
by deacs on Jun 22, 2010 3:50 PM MDT up reply actions 3 recs
Doing almost no work related to my job, combined with a great sleep last night, have given me unprecedented clarity.
But much like Miguel Olivo, there’s no track record for this sudden success. Be skeptical.
Are you saying your performance is unsustainable over the course of a season?
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
However, Neyer doesn't have anywhere to go that will pay as well.
Gammons had the luxury of leaving because he could get a well-paying gig, and doesn’t need to continue to make a lot of money.
Unless Neyer wants to write for the KC Star or work for FoxSports, he’d have to take a much lesser-paying position. And, given his comments, it’s interesting that he dropped out of college, and basically his only experience before joining ESPN was doing stat collection for Bill James.
He is a good writer most of the time, but over the last few years he’s favored making bold statements instead of interesting ones.
OH DEAR GOD!!!
LOLOL! Seriously, this is comedy gold.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
But what if he ends up being right?
It’s a prediction, not a fact. And while I don’t think it would happen, I wouldn’t be SHOCKED.
it is just a prediction
but it seems silly to make such a prediction after two starts against the Pirates and Indians. Especially for a phenom such as Strasburg.
I want him to succeed, I think he will succeed. But to declare that he will be one of the very best pitchers in baseball at the age of 23 is such a leap in logic, it’s difficult to justify.
Stand by your man.
thought 2.0
especially when he has been the 3rd best rookie pitcher in the NL this season, at best. Garcia and Leake deserve all the credit in the world for their accomplishments so far with a much larger sample size, and yet they are overshadowed by the hype machine whizzing past our heads at 100 mph.
Stand by your man.
It's like he sometimes tries to be the Bizzaro Steve Phillips
Equally hyperbolic, but in the direction of logical extreme (“Strasburg did this in the minors, so crown him now…”) rather than absurd extreme (“I’d do anything for Roy Oswalt, and I will do that.”).
Just fanshotted
Friedrich and Rosario have been selected for the 2010 Futures Game.
Congrats to the both of them!
Stand by your man.
sweet
Thanks for the heads up
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
and lineup, via Renck
2B Herrera
1B Helton
CFCargo
LF Spilly
RF Hawpe
C Olivo
SS Barmes
3B Nelson
P Chacin
(I am really good at this job)
NELSON AT 3B
Stand by your man.
Nelson!!
Nice!
Paleface Destro, RISPy assassin.
The NL plays baseball. The AL plays arena football with sticks.
Recovering Mets fan since 2007.
by Paleface Destro on Jun 22, 2010 3:17 PM MDT up reply actions
why third?
Tracy does not make any sense. At least Mora is not in LF with the lefty on the mound.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
my guess is you can't really bench Herrera right now, he's the hot bat
and Tracy doesn’t want to throw Herrera AND Nelson in the middle infield at the same time just yet. RMN and I discussed this a bit on Saturday. There’s a logic here, though I can’t find how much experience Nelson has at 3B.
Stand by your man.
all I see is 430 starts at SS, 1 start at 2B, 0 starts at 3B
Fantastic. Great job, Jim.
Stand by your man.
Few people remember Jim Tracy's stop in Upstate New York:
by deacs on Jun 22, 2010 3:38 PM MDT up reply actions 2 recs
LOL!!!! perfect and rec'd
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Whoa, Nelson at 3rd...seriously? No Stewart against the flippin' Red Sox...
Nothing against Nelson, but HELLLLLOO!!!! its the RED SOX
ugh
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
And its Lester pitching.
I would assure you that Ian wouldn’t touch Lester.
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 3:24 PM MDT up reply actions
Mora's probably seen a lot of Lester.
I;ma go look up how he did.
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:25 PM MDT up reply actions
ewww.
Well best wishes to Nelson at 3B today.
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 3:26 PM MDT up reply actions
But but but...Mr. Professional At-Bat
I’m actually serious that I would rather see Mora or Stewy….I don’t understand really.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Mora can't hit him (in a large sample size too of 26 ABs), Stewart is in a bad place.
I understand playing someone else there, just not Nelson.
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:28 PM MDT up reply actions
I guess Tracy was super anxious to get Chris in the lineup.
Can’t really blame him there. Against the Red Sox and Jon Lester? Scaryy. Mora’s had a bad line against Lester so I can see that. I doubt Ian would hit Lester, with his lefty troubles. And Nelson has never played third. So we’ll see how this plays out
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 3:29 PM MDT up reply actions
Iunno, I hope I'm totally wrong....but YIKES
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I hope Chris dominates tonight, wouldn't that be sickk?
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 3:31 PM MDT up reply actions
I agree. It would be sweet to see him
knock the crap out of Varitek or Martinez.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
yes please
and I hope Papelbon finds the bullpen bench comfortable, I don’t want to see him even warm up during his stay
Stand by your man.
I say that
about all of the closers for each team we face.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
I wouldn't mind seeing him.
When we’ve been whooping their ass for 3 days and he has to pitch Thursday just to get some work in a 9-0 Rockies lead ;)
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 3:38 PM MDT up reply actions
Well, we'd probably have some ejected if we took out Pedroia.
However, if Nelson can crunch the catcher at home plate, hey it’s all good and fair.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
haha i know i was kidding xD
I just really want to whoop this team.
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 3:40 PM MDT up reply actions
Beat me.
Certainly explains why Mora isn’t there. I’d still rather have Herrera there in this situation than Nelson.
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:27 PM MDT up reply actions
That's what boggles my mind.
Herrera is a good defensive 3B, why not play him there. Just swap the two players!
I am too sad to post the Chessmaster pic.
Stand by your man.
Hopefully the game is fun at least.
This will be the first evening game I’ve gone to this season.
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:29 PM MDT up reply actions
Annnnd, I just asked you below about this...lol
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Nelson's grand total professioanl experience at 3B: 0 innings
I agree, this is a weird decision, especially both barmes and Herrera can play third, not to mention Mora on the bench
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:23 PM MDT up reply actions
Also, I wonder how Mora fared against Lester
considering he hit against him, like all the time, whilst an Oriole…
(well, okay, tried to hit)
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Harding tweets the following
Rox will start rookie infielder Chris Nelson at 3B rather than his usual SS. He says he has played third in the Minors.
Too bad there’s no data to back up his claim…
Stand by your man.
By playhed third, he must mean "took reps at third"
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:48 PM MDT up reply actions
yeah, well so have I
that doesn’t mean I am qualified to play it in my FIRST EVER START
Stand by your man.
I am though
or so I’d like to think
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Perhaps he heard wrong and thought they were asking if he'd "hit" third?
They'll play what I tell them to play...for I am the mayor of Albuquerque!
by frightened inmate #2 on Jun 22, 2010 4:14 PM MDT up reply actions
disagree - with these starters, this is exactly how i would have arranged it
Shortstop is the most vital defensive position. The best fielder is there. Second base is next most important. Herrera should be there. Nelson can play third. He has the arm strength and I watched him play there for multiple innings in Tucson. He will be fine. Its just too bad for him he has to face Jon Lester in his first start
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 22, 2010 5:36 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
YES YES YES YES YES!!!
This should be fun. So glad we get to see Nelson’s first ML start.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
If only it were at a position he could, you know, play. :P
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:43 PM MDT up reply actions
True enough
At the very least, if anyone can adapt, it’d probably Nelson
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:45 PM MDT up reply actions
You mean only LF can play 3B.....no...not that either....hmmm
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
And
Ian Stewart has played there too in the past
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Oh god, I do recall that ....
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I don't disagree, but there's one sorta point to consider...
….if you believe that moving a hot player around the field can affect their approach or hotness at the plate, then you don’t really want to move Herrera right now.
At least, I figure that’s the consideration.
I totally agree with not playing Mora or Stewart in this spot tonight, given their respective histories and the matchup. So if you are going to throw Nelson a start this series, tonight is actually probably the best night to do so.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
I would think Herrera, a utilityman who plays all around the field, is that thrown about by a positional change...
… then we have bigger problems with Herrera.
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:50 PM MDT up reply actions
I am trying to wrap my mind around
why there is suddenly so much infatuation w/ Herrera around here. He is not a big league caliber hitter, Nelson however, has the talent to be a big league starter. He is possibly a future starter for the Rox, so we might as well use this time, while Tulo is hurt, to see what we have w/ Nelson. We know what we have in Herrera, a utility infielder at best. I would rather see him getting that time at SS or 2B than 3B, but he needs to get some AB’s somewhere, sooner or later.
"Whenever I see an old lady slip and fall on a wet sidewalk, my first instinct is to laugh. But then I think, what if I was an ant, and she fell on me. Then it wouldn't seem quite so funny."
Jack Handy quote
I don't think there's an infatuation with Herrera so much as there's
acknowledgment that he’s been hot the last couple games, and thus is going to be in the lineup. I’m pretty sure most people know that Herrera’s future is most likely not as full-time starter.
professional ball catcher
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
IMO, that is the issue we are having as an offense
is that Tracy is constantly trying to play the hot hand and not picking a lineup and letting it play out. If you let guys get consistent AB’s, many times they figure things out along the way. Certain players have been allowed to do it, and others have a very short leash, and there is really no explainable reason. If Stew is your 3B, then let him play 3B, and see if he can figure out LH pitching as he was able to do in his 1st season. If he is not our 3B, then trade him or call up someone else who might get the job done.
"Whenever I see an old lady slip and fall on a wet sidewalk, my first instinct is to laugh. But then I think, what if I was an ant, and she fell on me. Then it wouldn't seem quite so funny."
Jack Handy quote
by smokinRox on Jun 22, 2010 4:38 PM MDT up reply actions 1 recs
THIS and rec'd
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I see the issue now as different than in the past.
Right now we’re still in the trial and error phase of figuring out the best lineup without Tulo. In this situation I have no problem riding the hot hand. It has only been 3 games (4 including today).
Aside from that, how do you determine when consistent ABs to try to get a guy to figure it out becomes a liability? I just don’t think it’s as easy a situation to manage as it seems.
Also, some players having a shorter leash than others
could have something to do with mechanics and/or approach at the plate. If a guy goes up there, his swing looks good, his approach is good, and things just aren’t happening, I can see giving that guy a longer leash than someone who just looks terrible in mechanics and in approach.
I’m not referring to any specific player here, but just in general. I think there can be good reasons for having a longer leash for one player compared to another.
I'm curious how a coach determines the approach
Mechanics can be corrected most likely.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Curious
How many people here watch the College World Series. (Btw, GO UCLA!!! that’s where I’m going next year :
You're supposed to be my blood enemy or something then. :D
by Greg Stanwood on Jun 22, 2010 3:28 PM MDT up reply actions
and I know the answer to that is yes.
You’re a Trojan, I clearly remember.
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 3:30 PM MDT up reply actions
I try to follow
and watch when I can
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
I will watch the finals if I remember! lol
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
O/T, Dancing
If you have to guess which song this man was dancing to, what would it be?
Meatloaf’s “I Would Do Anything For Love”?
I'm going for something from a broadway show.
Some Andrew Lloyd Webber…maybe “Phantom”
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
This hour is Crestfallen Hour
The game thread will not be up before I leave for Coors.
I very short Crestfallen Hour.
Because soon, I (and many of us) head to Coors.
There, that felt better.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
^Ha, this is kind of funny.
Padres T-shirts for their bullpen
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Well, I screwed that up...didn't post the right pic. Can someone hide this and I'll try again?
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
just post the other picture
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
I believe baseball is the perfect mix of luck and skill but
every time I hear this argument I can’t help but think of Gary Player’s quote
I find that the harder i work the luckier I get
Get well soon Tulo. The Rockies need you.
by RhodeIslandRoxfan on Jun 22, 2010 4:42 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
OT:
I thought I got away from data dealing with the synthesis of chemical compounds when I left the project dealing with explosives. Now I’m working on the longest synthesis article I’ve seen and I’m falling asleep.
/Rant over.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Umm...what? LOL
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I do data entry
for a job right now. I hoped I would never again work on a synthesis paper, but here I am.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Fowler
Fowler’s situation is a tricky one. On one hand, it seems like he doesn’t have much left to do in AAA. On the other, it’s better that he get regular playing time than sit on the bench.
To me, it comes down to this. Out of the following people, which three of the following would you like to see in the lineup and the outfield 5 or so out of every 7 games: Fowler, CarGo, Hawpe, Smith, Spilborghs. If your three do not include Fowler, he should be at AAA where he can continue playing until something changes at the big league level. For me, it has to be Smith, CarGo, Hawpe at this point in the season.
Platooning Fowler with any of the above doesn’t make much sense for Fowler’s development, and those three as the starting outfield give the team the best chance to win on most nights. Spilborghs has proven that he can serve the role of the spot starter / pinch hitter. Fowler isn’t at the point in his career where he should be doing that.
by RoarFrom112 on Jun 22, 2010 4:43 PM MDT reply actions 1 recs
This, and rec'd
It’s one of those “nice problems to have”, but we can’t have this problem forever.
In fact, if we think Fowler is ready (and I’m not quite sure he is, given the huge offensive inflation in the PCL and the Springs), it could actually be time to move Spilly or Smith, either of whom could conceivably net a strong infield bat, perhaps….
I’d hate to see either go, but it’s clear we can’t carry all five guys forever, because they’re each too good to be a 5th outfielder. Trade one of them (I’d actually keep Spilly for the RH bat, over Smith), bring up Cole Garner and Fowler. Garner can be the 5th OFer.
Again, I’m not really arguing for this, but I do think we’re going to reach the point where something like this will have to happen, before we reach the point that is the end of Hawpe’s contract.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
did you see that
I included Fowler’s number while being adjusted for home park, the minors and luck? I see the argument for keeping him down for PT, but there just is no argument that he isn’t ready. Cut his stats down to size every way possible and they still look incredibly solid
"I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious." - Albert Einstein
by Andrew T. Fisher on Jun 22, 2010 5:30 PM MDT via mobile up reply actions
I can accept that as fact, certainly
But he still becomes #5 up here, at least initially, and it’s more important for him long term, to play.
I still think it’s somewhat feasible that one of Spilly/Smith gets traded before July 31st, and if that happens, Fowler becomes entrenched in CF.
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
^Padres Bullpen T-shirts...pretty funny
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
Funny
though I look forward to the Rockies’ bats being alive and well and breaking through those bars the next time we see the Padres.
And with that, and with the purple-colored glasses firmly in-place, it’s time to go catch the train to Coors Field and watch some mighty fine pitching, any maybe some offense too.
GO ROCKIES!
Take me out to the ballgame, MFers
LOL. Hope to see some of you there!
(Oh, and I use MFers verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry sparingly, I’m excited!)
Watching the purple row from high atop the big brown monolith on California Ave
Enjoy the game
all that are attending. This should be a good one.
There are three things in my life which I really love: God, my family, and baseball. The only problem - once baseball season starts, I change the order around a bit. ~Al Gallagher, 1971
A baseball game is simply a nervous breakdown divided into nine innings. ~Earl Wilson
JFK
Agree and yes, I'm a little envious
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
I"m a lot envious.
Though the clock is ticking when I go to my first Rockies game in just TWO MONTHS WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
by CentralCaliRox on Jun 22, 2010 5:06 PM MDT up reply actions
I know I shouldn't be envious. I get to see Ubaldo
pitch early in the season. However, that was before he was ridiculously lucky.
Quitter's People United Member #4
Brad Hawpe - Will pickup the slack for Tulo's bat
Todd Helton - 2HOLE to the World Series
Troy Tulowitzki - GET WELL SOON TROY WE NEED YOU
Ubaldo Jimenez- Saving the collective's bacon!
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