Friday, June 13, 2003
He's No Door Matt
As expected, Matt Williams chose retirement over taking his act on the road. He could have easily played another year or two in Colorado or Chicago. Hell, with the dearth of talent, he would have graded out in the top half of talent at third base in the majors. But Matt has custody of three teenage children in Arizona and he decided that the most important thing for him to do is to be a father rather than an ego-driven professional athlete.
Matt leaves behind a mixed legacy. At a point with the Giants he was a remarkable hitter, putting up impressive numbers. There will always be question of what might have been in 1994, when he had 43 home runs when the season came to abrupt end on August 10th, thanks to the strike. But in his early 30s injuries started to take their toll and Matt's performance fell off dramatically. One group of folks who won't mind Matt going are D'back fans who lustily booed him at every chance lately. It's a pretty hard way for a guy as classy as Matt to end up. But he is making $10 million this year and putting up numbers that are closer to Joe Crede than Mike Lowell, so the criticism was fairly well earned.
As expected, Matt Williams chose retirement over taking his act on the road. He could have easily played another year or two in Colorado or Chicago. Hell, with the dearth of talent, he would have graded out in the top half of talent at third base in the majors. But Matt has custody of three teenage children in Arizona and he decided that the most important thing for him to do is to be a father rather than an ego-driven professional athlete.
Matt leaves behind a mixed legacy. At a point with the Giants he was a remarkable hitter, putting up impressive numbers. There will always be question of what might have been in 1994, when he had 43 home runs when the season came to abrupt end on August 10th, thanks to the strike. But in his early 30s injuries started to take their toll and Matt's performance fell off dramatically. One group of folks who won't mind Matt going are D'back fans who lustily booed him at every chance lately. It's a pretty hard way for a guy as classy as Matt to end up. But he is making $10 million this year and putting up numbers that are closer to Joe Crede than Mike Lowell, so the criticism was fairly well earned.
Thursday, June 12, 2003
And there was much snickering from Bobby V on Baseball Tonight...
Steve Phillips got the wack.
Steve Phillips got the wack.
M-V-P, M-V-P, M-V-P
Manny always hits the crap out of the ball, but run away with the AL MVP? I'd go with Carlos Delgado. He's got 72 rbi, which we all know doesn't really mean that much. But 21 HRs, an OPS of 1.112 and 59 runs do mean something. Only better player in the bigs right now is Albert Pujols, he of the .391 average and OPS over even Barry Bonds at 1.175. Pujols in his third year is elevating his game in a way very few players ever have. Too bad he's a Cardinal.
Manny always hits the crap out of the ball, but run away with the AL MVP? I'd go with Carlos Delgado. He's got 72 rbi, which we all know doesn't really mean that much. But 21 HRs, an OPS of 1.112 and 59 runs do mean something. Only better player in the bigs right now is Albert Pujols, he of the .391 average and OPS over even Barry Bonds at 1.175. Pujols in his third year is elevating his game in a way very few players ever have. Too bad he's a Cardinal.
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
The Laziest Man In Baseball
D'Angelo Jimenez, according the Ryan Klesko. Wasn't Klesko known as a bit lazy when he was coming up with the Braves? Check out the Jerry Manuel quote in the story.
After Jimenez criticized his former Padres teammates this spring, San Diego's Ryan Klesko fired back by calling Jimenez "the laziest teammate I've ever played with-- that's 10 years. The kid has no desire."
D'Angelo Jimenez, according the Ryan Klesko. Wasn't Klesko known as a bit lazy when he was coming up with the Braves? Check out the Jerry Manuel quote in the story.
After Jimenez criticized his former Padres teammates this spring, San Diego's Ryan Klesko fired back by calling Jimenez "the laziest teammate I've ever played with-- that's 10 years. The kid has no desire."
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
I've been Questeced and I can't get up.
The offending parks, thanks to Nate Silver and Keith Woolner over at Baseball Prospectus: Bank One Ballpark, Fenway Park, Tropicana Field, Jacobs Field, Miller Park, Edison Field, Network Associates Coliseum, Minute Maid Park, Shea Stadium, and Yankee Stadium. In the article, they get down and dirty with the stats, including umpire strike percentage rates for Questec equipped parks and non-QT parks.
Their summation:
(Sandy) Alderson is correct that QuesTec has the potential to improve the game. But his talk of consistency needs to end here, at least until QuesTec is up and running at all 30 parks. It might be true, as the statistics he's cited suggest, that QuesTec doesn't make much difference on the average. The average winning percentage for the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres is around .500; that doesn't tell you very much about how those teams are playing. Our numbers reveal that QuesTec has made a difference for individual umpires, each of whom has adapted to the system differently, and unpredictably.
The offending parks, thanks to Nate Silver and Keith Woolner over at Baseball Prospectus: Bank One Ballpark, Fenway Park, Tropicana Field, Jacobs Field, Miller Park, Edison Field, Network Associates Coliseum, Minute Maid Park, Shea Stadium, and Yankee Stadium. In the article, they get down and dirty with the stats, including umpire strike percentage rates for Questec equipped parks and non-QT parks.
Their summation:
(Sandy) Alderson is correct that QuesTec has the potential to improve the game. But his talk of consistency needs to end here, at least until QuesTec is up and running at all 30 parks. It might be true, as the statistics he's cited suggest, that QuesTec doesn't make much difference on the average. The average winning percentage for the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres is around .500; that doesn't tell you very much about how those teams are playing. Our numbers reveal that QuesTec has made a difference for individual umpires, each of whom has adapted to the system differently, and unpredictably.
Is it too early
To file a missing persons report on the A's offense? A team with starting pitching as strong as they have should not be eight games back on June 10th.
To file a missing persons report on the A's offense? A team with starting pitching as strong as they have should not be eight games back on June 10th.
Monday, June 09, 2003
I've Never Seen...
...More intensity in Wrigley.
...A quieter stadium after Choi went down.
...Fans get as irate as they did in left when a couple Yankee morons were mocking a lifeless Choi. I really did think a couple guys were going to tear apart the scumbags.
...Kerry Wood look so focused.
...A more perfect early summer day.
...My old arcade seats in 137 boomerang back to me. It was totally worth the two plus seasons sitting out there for Dan to get me back with a bleacher seat for Saturday. Thanks buddy.
...Old Style taste so good.
...More joy when Karros connected.
...Remlinger own somebody more than Giambi. That was tense as it could get.
...Big Joe slam the door shut with more authority (ok, meekly, but it counted).
It was truly a classic, in every sense of the word. Only the Giants post-season games last year came close, and maybe only game four of the series topped it.
...More intensity in Wrigley.
...A quieter stadium after Choi went down.
...Fans get as irate as they did in left when a couple Yankee morons were mocking a lifeless Choi. I really did think a couple guys were going to tear apart the scumbags.
...Kerry Wood look so focused.
...A more perfect early summer day.
...My old arcade seats in 137 boomerang back to me. It was totally worth the two plus seasons sitting out there for Dan to get me back with a bleacher seat for Saturday. Thanks buddy.
...Old Style taste so good.
...More joy when Karros connected.
...Remlinger own somebody more than Giambi. That was tense as it could get.
...Big Joe slam the door shut with more authority (ok, meekly, but it counted).
It was truly a classic, in every sense of the word. Only the Giants post-season games last year came close, and maybe only game four of the series topped it.
