2014 MLB Season: How Many Pitchers Will Die For Our Sins?

[Jedi_Master]

Adam Dunn chose us over the Dodgers, which is a compliment. He brings much needed power, and can't possibly strike out more than some of the cupcakes.

I suspect part of Dunn's decision hinged on his not having to play either first base or the outfield, as he's brutal defensively. I watched him play RF during the Sox recent trip to AT&T Park--an endeavor that saw him fail to run down a fly-ball hit into the RCF gap by Buster Posey and crash into a teammate who had already waved him off, resulting in a two-run error during a disastrous seven-run inning.

Dunn's home run in his first at-bat reminded me of when Frank Thomas joined the A's in 2006. I doubt Dunn makes the kind of impact that the Big Hurt did, but he might help the A's hang on to their WC spot.

--Sran

You are probably right. The A's have been a streaky team for a long time. They change out so many bits and pieces every year that there is never time for a real 'core' to form, a core that can steady the team when they start to lose, or keep them level when they start to win. So they need boosts and "momentum", particularly this season when a good third of the team knows they are either playing for a ring or a to get a better FA contract, and won't be in an A's uniform next season.

Dunn comes in, hits a homer in the cavernous Coliseum, and the A's have a solid game. That kind of stuff builds faith and restores order. Now if they sweep the Mariners, they ought to rattle off a few series. They have 7 games against the bottom dwelling Rangers, 4 against the almost bottom dwelling White Sox, 3 against the bottom dwelling Phillies, and three against Houston.

The only real challenges (on paper) are the remaining 5 games against Seattle, and the three against LAA at home.

The Angels have a super easy schedule in September, with the only real challenges coming from Seattle and Oakland.

So it looks like Seattle will be the kingmaker in September, and interestingly enough, if the Mariners are only two games out from the second WC spot. If they are able to bloody Oakland and LAA, three of the five playoff teams might come from the AL West.

 

[Green Shirt]

I saw Justin Verlander's penis.

Accidently, or on purpose?

 

[1001001]

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!



Angels follow a great series against Oakland by shitting the bed in Houston. 2 runs in 2 games?? Come on!

Luckily Seattle's looking out for us.

Let's get it together, Angels!

 

[Jedi_Master]

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!



Angels follow a great series against Oakland by shitting the bed in Houston. 2 runs in 2 games?? Come on!

Luckily Seattle's looking out for us.

Let's get it together, Angels!

Yep. Oakland can't take advantage of the losses.
Come on, we can't let the Mariners work their way into this party.

 

[Tom Hendricks]

The Pirates/Cardinals game yesterday was awesome. The Cards won 1-0 with a walk off hit in the 9th. Some really great pitching, a warning of each benches and some stellar defense. If you can watch it, I highly recommend it.

 

[AliciaD496]

I'm kinda surprised the Mariners have put themselves within striking distance of the post season too. I remember how excited I was in 2001 only for them to flame out in the ALCS, they haven't been the same since A-Rod left after that year.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Ron Washington has resigned as Rangers manager because of an "off-the-field personal matter". Linky

 

[Jedi_Master]

Ron Washington has resigned as Rangers manager because of an "off-the-field personal matter". Linky

Cocaine?

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

I'm kinda surprised the Mariners have put themselves within striking distance of the post season too. I remember how excited I was in 2001 only for them to flame out in the ALCS, they haven't been the same since A-Rod left after that year.

Unless I'm mistaken, Rodriguez was already gone by the time the 2001 season started. The primary catalyst behind their amazing regular season success was Ichiro, who was in his inaugural Mariners campaign.

--Sran

 

[Timby]

Cocaine?

The only thing Jon Daniels said in his press conference was that it was explicitly not cocaine.

I'm kinda surprised the Mariners have put themselves within striking distance of the post season too. I remember how excited I was in 2001 only for them to flame out in the ALCS, they haven't been the same since A-Rod left after that year.

Unless I'm mistaken, Rodriguez was already gone by the time the 2001 season started. The primary catalyst behind their amazing regular season success was Ichiro, who was in his inaugural Mariners campaign.

--Sran

Ichiro wasn't even the best hitter on the 2001 Mariners. That team was buoyed by career seasons from Olerud, Boone and Martinez, plus Mike Cameron suddenly remembered how to hit for power. They had three guys off their bench who had an OPS+ north of 100, too, which is ridiculous. The entire pitching staff was also rock-solid. Not to diminish Ichiro's presence, because it's easily the best "rookie" season in history, but, man, that was a team for the ages.

 

[Captain Clark Terrell]

Ichiro wasn't even the best hitter on the 2001 Mariners. That team was buoyed by career seasons from Olerud, Boone and Martinez, plus Mike Cameron suddenly remembered how to hit for power. They had three guys off their bench who had an OPS+ north of 100, too, which is ridiculous. The entire pitching staff was also rock-solid. Not to diminish Ichiro's presence, because it's easily the best "rookie" season in history, but, man, that was a team for the ages.

Boone, yes. Olerud and Martinez, not so much. Martinez's best season came the year before (2000), and Olerud had his best campaign in 1993.

--Sran

 

[Timby]

Boone, yes. Olerud and Martinez, not so much. Martinez's best season came the year before (2000), and Olerud had his best campaign in 1993.

Edgar's best season was actually 1995, but 2001 was still either his second- or third-best. I'll give you 1993 as being Olerud's best, but no one expected him to break out a 136 OPS+ while playing half his games in fucking Safeco.

 

[Jedi_Master]

I hate baseball

Watching your team's season collapse game after game is so painful. So painful.

 

[1001001]

I hate baseball

Watching your team's season collapse game after game is so painful. So painful.

Baseball is indeed a cruel mistress.

Oakland is still in the thick of things. 7 games down is not impossible (though improbable), and they're still the top wildcard as of today.

We must have had a cancelled game somewhere earlier in the season that I don't remember, as we have a one game "series" in Cleveland today.

Nothing like a 4 game sweep on the road to boost your spirits heading into the home stretch.

 

[Jedi_Master]

I hate baseball

Watching your team's season collapse game after game is so painful. So painful.

Baseball is indeed a cruel mistress.

Oakland is still in the thick of things. 7 games down is not impossible (though improbable), and they're still the top wildcard as of today.

We must have had a cancelled game somewhere earlier in the season that I don't remember, as we have a one game "series" in Cleveland today.

Nothing like a 4 game sweep on the road to boost your spirits heading into the home stretch.

The A's do have a good chance, they certainly do. But they have to win, and be able to hit with RISP.

Oh and not walk 23523523 batters in a row.

 

[Green Shirt]

Good job Chris Davis for getting your ass suspended 25 games for uppers.

And for what? A .196 B.A.?

Just another bump in the road for the Os.

 

[Scout101]

Ugh, and a couple guys (Stanton and Headley) both took a ball to the face last night, not pretty.

Wonder how much that will cost Stanton when he's working on his new contract? He'll still make a killing, but does this take any out? As a Boston fan, can't help but think of Tony C. whenever that sort of thing comes up...
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseba...go_tonight_everything_changed_for_tony_c.html

 

[Timby]

Good job Chris Davis for getting your ass suspended 25 games for uppers.

And for what? A .196 B.A.?

Just another bump in the road for the Os.

He was popped for Adderall and had a therapeutic use exception last season (Davis suffers from ADHD). Normally, the TUE automatically renews every year -- Alex Rodriguez had one for testosterone replacement therapy for like five seasons before Bud Selig decided he wanted to murder him and the TUE was yanked out from underneath him -- so I'm surprised that didn't happen in Davis' case.

That being said, this is probably a net positive for the O's. Davis should have been platooned and getting far fewer at-bats at least a month and a half ago, so this will force Showalter's hand. Steve Pearce will probably slide right in for the remainder of the season and the postseason, and given that he's rocking an OPS+ north of 140 right now, having Pearce playing full-time is certainly a good thing.

 

[Green Shirt]

That being said, this is probably a net positive for the O's. Davis should have been platooned and getting far fewer at-bats at least a month and a half ago, so this will force Showalter's hand. Steve Pearce will probably slide right in for the remainder of the season and the postseason, and given that he's rocking an OPS+ north of 140 right now, having Pearce playing full-time is certainly a good thing.

Thanks for the calm voice of reason. I feel better now.

 

[Timby]

So I was bored after lunch today while waiting for a meeting, and I started doing some stats comparisons. (I work in marketing, numbers and spreadsheets are my life, shut up.) So let's look at some numbers here:

Robin Yount                                       Derek Jeter
--------------------------------------      --------------------------------------------
* 3000+ hits                                * 3000+ hits
* 115 Career OPS+                           * 115 Career OPS+
* Played entire 20-year career in the       * Played entire 20-year career in the 
  smallest MLB Market                         largest MLB market
* Repeatedly snubbed from ASG despite       * Voted as ASG starter despite
  having ASG-worthy numbers                   one of the worst SS in the league      
* Started st SS, moved to CF due to an      * Continued to play SS well to the point
  injury affecting his defense                that he's actively hurting his team
* 2x Regular Season MVP                     * 2000 WS MVP

And yet, Yount retired without any fanfare whatsoever, while Jeter's retirement tour is being played up as something that needs to be remembered, as though it's a time in history like the Kennedy assassinations or the Moon landing.

Just a fun little comparison that came to mind after I got sick of the latest "O CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN" circlejerk on Facebook I saw.