Tuesday's Frosty Mug

by KLSnow on May 13, 2008 8:49 AM CDT Comment 30 comments

So, sometime around the sixth inning of last night's game, I got an email from a Cubs fan, offering a thank you for taking 3 of 4 from the Cardinals. Just to make sure he didn't get too far ahead of himself, I sent him this.

Win Expectancy Graph
BR Box Score
BDD Recaps

Obviously, it's smiles all around after Dave Bush put up a nice performance last night and Ryan Braun's bat sent a couple more baseballs screaming into the masses. But, in the JS Online game story, there's still a hint of Ned being Ned:

Bush was hit hard during parts of his start Wednesday against the Florida Marlins, allowing six runs on five hits in six innings. But Yost didn't see it that way.

"He was mowing them down," he said as his voice rose. "I'm not going to do this; I'm not going to jump on one bad inning."

Then Yost was asked, what if that one inning continues to get his team beat?

"If it keeps getting me beat, then I will do something about it," he said.

When dissecting Villanueva, who has failed to pitch into the sixth inning in four of his eight starts this season, Yost did point to Villanueva typically having one bad inning per outing that has hurt.

"The bad numbers come from a couple of bad innings, but as a whole he hasn't pitched that bad," Yost said.

But what good is it if a guy pitches well until he explodes for one inning, leaving the end results the same as if he scattered his runs and hits allowed?

"Because we think we know why that happened," Yost said, although he wouldn't give the reason.

Kudos to Anthony Witrado for publishing that exchange and coming through with more than just the "it's early" refrain.

Adam Charles at Bugs and Cranks thinks last night's game was just part of an elaborate plot by Tony LaRussa. We're still waiting for the twist.

The Grand National Championships has a quick rant on bullpen management and closers. I will give credit to Ned for pitching Gagne in a non-save situation last night and giving him an opportunity to straighten himself out.

Last night's game didn't involve a save situation, but it did involve two teams going closer by committee. Baseball Musings asks what happens if it works.

Not only did Dave Bush pick up his first win of the season last night, he also qualified to start in row 7 of the Hank Aaron 755, Big League Stew's race for players with NASCAR names.

The Padres have designated Rule 5 pick Callix Crabbe for assignment (also noted here in the Fanshots), meaning the Brewers could have him back. Al doesn't seem to think they'll be interested, but it's middle infield depth, how could they not be?

On injuries:

Rafael Furcal will miss the upcoming series with the Brewers after being placed on the DL with a lower back injury.
Marlins P Scott Olsen isn't hurt, but he was having a hard time regaining velocity after his 8 2/3 inning, 121 pitch outing against the Brewers last week.

Here's pretty much all you need to know about Dayn Perry: He thinks Carlos Zambrano should win the Cy Young even though Brandon Webb is 8-0, has thrown more innings, struck out more batters and has a lower WHIP. I know compiling award ballots can be hard, but writing Webb in for Cy Young is a no-brainer at this point.

Apparently he hits other teams, too: Lance Berkman had stretches last week where he went 16-for-20 and 19-for-25. That second feat had only been accomplished once in the last 50 years.

David Sloane is the agent for Carlos Delgado. He's making Delgado a lot of money, but the Mets 1B is his only client. Why, you ask? Because he's insane.

Oh, and here's video of an unassisted triple play.

Drink up.

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Kudos to Witrado

Witrado is infinitely better than Haudricourt. He is willing to risk losing favor with the Brewers brass to ask the hard question. Haudricourt is basically just a talking mannequin for Melvin, Yost, etc.

by keephopealive on May 13, 2008 9:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Witrado

So far he’s struck me as some hack they pulled in off the street who’s spent most of his time (at least on the JS blog) trumpeting the fact he has more access than his readers. Maybe he’s improving.

Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.

by TheJay on May 13, 2008 9:48 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

i agree with you

though i see his questions here still as a hacky kid pulled off the street. his insinuation is that the “big inning” is some flaw that pitchers have, that we can expect the “big inning.” so i don’t see him improving, he still doesn’t seem to understand baseball.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on May 13, 2008 10:15 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually

I see the “big inning” as being a problem too.

Some pitchers seem to work into tough situations, then find a way to work out of them. The game that comes to mind is the opener in Japan, when Dice-K had a ton of runners on early in the game, but worked past it and went on to have a great performance.

That game stands out in my memory because it was only a few days after a Chris Capuano spring training implosion, where he’d allowed three extra base hits in an inning after an error allowed a run to score. After the game, Ned praised his effort and blamed the defense for the implosion.

I don’t know these guys personally so I can’t really analyze their mentality, but it seems like a mental toughness issue. Some guys get into tough situations and work their way out, some guys walk the tightrope and fall off at the first sign of trouble. The second group gives up big innings.

by KLSnow on May 13, 2008 10:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

big inning

I see the "big inning" as being a problem too.

yeah, everyone can see a “big inning” after it happens.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on May 13, 2008 11:10 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

When you hear Ned having a mini-tantrum often with nasty sarcasm

its often a response to Haudricourt. If anything he has a reputation for asking real questions.

by ol Pete on May 13, 2008 2:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good news from Miller Park South

Cubs interested in Edmonds
From CNN/SI “truth and Rumors”

Posted: Monday May 12, 2008 06:51AM ET
Could the Cubs be interested in signing center fielder Jim Edmonds, just released by the Padres after hitting .178 and struggling in the field? They are exploring the possibility, according to some in the know. Manager Lou Piniella long has desired another left-handed bat to go with Kosuke Fukudome. Felix Pie has been unreliable. Signing Edmonds could allow the Cubs to send Pie to Triple-A Iowa for steady work.

Just imagine Edmonds bringing his unique style of arrogance into the Cubbies dugout and starting a little verbal warfare with the Cubbie players or maybe even a brawl with Zambrano. If this pans out I think the Cubs will be playing with fire which is fine with me.

The Wallbangers won because they played the game like kids! Let's do that again!!!

by 80badger on May 13, 2008 9:28 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

KL, I linked to Crabbe being DFA'd in the FanShots yesterday

FYI

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on May 13, 2008 10:45 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I noticed it after the post.

I’ll fix it.

by KLSnow on May 13, 2008 10:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not that it matters

...but i found the triple play coverage (in yesterday’s game blog):P I’m not nearly as cool as the rest of you guys though. Keep up the good work!

by PagsBrewCrew on May 13, 2008 12:47 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You should post stuff like that as a FanPost in addition to linking to it in-thread

Not many people are likely to open a game thread after the game, and that kind of video I’m sure everyone would like to see.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on May 13, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

*FanShot, not FanPost

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on May 13, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry...

..first day on the job:P how do I do that? Just click the “new fanshot” on the right?

by PagsBrewCrew on May 13, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

No problem

That is indeed how you do it.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on May 13, 2008 10:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

On David Sloane's "madness"

After reading the article, it seems to me that Sloane is more a jerk than “insane.” Indeed, calling him insane gives a bad name to people with cognitive disabilities.

by Oakland Brewer Fan on May 13, 2008 11:16 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

So does calling them insane

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on May 13, 2008 11:23 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

So true

by Oakland Brewer Fan on May 13, 2008 11:34 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

You see,

here’s the thing about Dayn Perry: he’s kind of a douchebag.

by Stoa on May 13, 2008 11:27 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Save Last Night

Mota got a save last night because he came in with the tying runner on deck (or something like that).

by Big In 2015 on May 13, 2008 12:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Dayn Perry redux

Dayn also makes the following claim:

The only objective stand is to give the MVP to, you know, the best player. Importing any other standard to the process is silly and illogical.

I thought nearly everyone agreed it is not the “best” player but rather the “most valuable” player who deserves to win the Most Valuable Player award. Dayn knows better, though, and everyone else is just being silly and illogical.

Ichiro, on facing Daisuke Matsuzaka for the first time: "I hope he arouses the fire that's dormant in the innermost recesses of my soul."

by DaleCoop14 on May 13, 2008 12:58 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I take that as a shot

at the idiocy that makes the MVP award “the best player on a team that makes the playoffs”.

by Getting Yosted on May 13, 2008 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

What's the difference between "best" and "most valuable"?

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on May 13, 2008 1:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

best is context-neutral

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on May 13, 2008 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This isn't my first time around the MVP-argument block, jacob

I wanted to know what he thought about it.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on May 13, 2008 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

it's not my first time either.

i wanted you to know what i thought about it.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on May 13, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe most valuable

means based on that season’s salary - you know, who provides the most value.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on May 13, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Triple-play link

I had a hard time getting that triple-play link to work. If you’re having trouble, try this one.

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"

by roguejim on May 13, 2008 1:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Scott Olsen

Reminds me of Harang last year. Pitch a long game and then not do well for a couple starts.

by ol Pete on May 13, 2008 2:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Mailbag

Here’s an entry from today’s JS Mailbag:

Q: Scott of Chicago – Gents: A comment and a question. I really appreciate the willingness of each of you to let us know what your true opinions are, e.g., Yost’s weaknesses as a manager. All too frequently, reporters in your position are too worried about pi__ing-off the brass. Question is: do you get flack when you overtly criticize Yost?
A: Tom Haudricourt – You always have to write what you think is correct, whether people like it or not. That’s what our job is all about, really. That, and providing information, insight and analysis.

I’ll leave it to the rest of you to comment.

"My fellow nerds and I will retire to the nerdery with our calculators."

by craigholl on May 13, 2008 8:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Heh

That video was infectious…

"Brett Favre looks like a man in a parking lot playing with boys." - John Madden
"Pujols just unloaded." - Bob Uecker

by kirbir on May 14, 2008 12:03 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

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