Friday's Plastic Cup is still having heart palpitations

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 20, 2008 7:45 AM CDT in News

According to FanGraphs, the Brewers win probability never dipped below 90% during the ninth inning last night. I would say that FanGraphs is unaware of the existence of Derrick Turnbow.

Eric Gagne is on his way back. The schedule is for him to rejoin the team on June 27. Let's hope he's a little better his first time back than David Riske was last night.

Another interleague update: Not everybody was in action yesterday, but only three NL teams won. Oddly, despite the AL's dominating this round, the Rockies also swept their AL opponents.

Another note about the interleague series. Before the season, I used projected win totals to calculate strength of schedule, which led to my conclusion that the Cubs had it exactly one game easier than the Brewers do. I'm not sure how much to adjust that, but it seems like the advantage might not be as great as expected. Certainly the Rays are better than forecast, and the Cubs got them while the Brewers didn't. The White Sox are playing over their heads, but they are probably better than expected. The Blue Jays are probably worse. To really make a judgment, we'll need to have far more games in the books, but at the end of the season, it wouldn't surprise me if the Cubs and Brewers strength of schedules were much closer to even than projected.

Buzz Bissinger is back. He apologizes for going ballistic on the founder on Deadspin, and now he has moderated his ire, saying more acceptable things like:

“The younger generation likes the snarky tone,” says Bissinger. “They like the gossip, they like the juice. I don’t think they really appreciate good writing and reporting, and those, to me, are precious arts. . . . It’s all some interactive gangbang.”

Yes, yes it is. As a proud purveyor of snark, I would like to publicly announce that Jeff Sackmann's Milwaukee Brewers Blogparty is now An Interactive Milwaukee Brewers Gangbang. Seriously. Check out the name of the page. As somebody pointed out in yesterday's game thread, it's not clear what a non-interactive gangbang would be--maybe that's what happens when Buzz invites Tony LaRussa and his coaching staff over. I could try to be snarkier than that, but I don't know why I'd bother after Fire Joe Morgan has given their take.

By the way, I'm not sure if I still qualify as part of the "younger generation," but I do appreciate good reporting. I wish we had more of it.

Dayn Perry looks at which managers could be fired next. Ned is on the list, but not as an imminent fire: "so long as the Brewers remain in the race, he'll survive."

0 recs | Comment 33 comments

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I see

we have suspended the BCB’s family-friendly tone. :)

One of my favorite aspects of the who Buzz/Deadspin fiasco is how, in ranting about how blogs are so vulgar and juvenile, Buzz shows that he has one of the biggest pottymouths out there. How often do you get to say “I miss the precious arts of good writing and reporting” in the same sentence as “interactive gangbang.”

"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 Jun 20, 2008 7:51 AM CDT 1 recs

Yeah

F*ck family-friendly. My approach clearly wasn’t winning Buzz’s respect, so I figured it was time to change our approach. (From now on, I’m just going to hit the ball where it’s pitched and stop trying to do too much with it.)

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 20, 2008 12:39 PM CDT up 0 recs

Glad to see

...that I’ve had an influence on the direction of the site:P

by PagsBrewCrew on Jun 20, 2008 1:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

on the cubs sweep.

i enjoyed this from lou pinella after the “is marmol overworked discussion” that’s been going on.

But reliever Carlos Marmol (1-2) opened the door for Tampa Bay’s biggest inning of the season by walking the first two batters he faced, then hitting the next two with pitches to force in a run and depart with the bases loaded.
“He’s been extremely reliable. This sort of came out of nowhere,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “What are you going to do?”

Maybe he walked two guys cause he’s a little tired? I like the “what are you going to do” part the best… i’ve got a guess… is it nothing? you’re going to do nothing?

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jun 20, 2008 9:11 AM CDT 1 recs

pitches in May any indication?

I looked for a young, converted starter who threw a ton of pitches in may to compare to marmol and found carlos villanueva, 2007.
—-—-

Carlos Villanueva, 2007 splits by month.

villanueva (23) 2007- pitches in May: 341
 I Split         G  GS GF  W  L  S CG SHO   IP    ERA   H   R   ER HR  BB IBB  SO HBP
+-+------------+---+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+-----+------+---+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+
   April/March   10  0  1  1  0  0  0   0  13     4.15  12   6   6  1  10   1  13   1 
   May           12  0  3  3  0  0  0   0  22.1   2.42  15   6   6  2   8   0  17   1 
   June          11  1  1  1  0  0  0   0  18.2   2.41  15   6   5  1   5   0  19   0 
   July          12  0  2  1  2  0  0   0  17.1   6.75  15  13  13  5  10   0  18   0 
   August         8  0  1  0  1  1  0   0  11.1  10.32  18  14  13  3   5   1   9   1 
   Sept/Oct       6  5  0  2  2  0  0   0  31.2   1.99  26   7   7  4  15   1  23   0 

Carlos Marmol, 2008, and 2007 splits by month. 

marmol (25) 2008- pitches in May: 292
 I Split         G  GS GF  W  L  S CG SHO   IP    ERA   H   R   ER HR  BB IBB  SO HBP
+-+------------+---+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+-----+------+---+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+
   April/March   14  0  2  0  0  2  0   0  17.1   1.56   8   3   3  1   5   0  23   1 
   May           15  0  4  1  1  1  0   0  18.2   1.93   7   4   4  2   7   1  31   1 
   June           9  0  1  0  1  0  0   0   7     9.00   3   7   7  1   5   0   9   2

marmol (24) 2007- pitches in May: 102
 I Split         G  GS GF  W  L  S CG SHO   IP    ERA   H   R   ER HR  BB IBB  SO HBP
+-+------------+---+--+--+--+--+--+--+---+-----+------+---+---+---+--+---+---+---+---+
   May            6  0  2  0  0  0  0   0   6.1   0.00   2   0   0  0   4   1   8   1 
   June          13  0  1  2  0  1  0   0  15.2   1.72  12   3   3  1   4   0  22   0 
   July          14  0  2  0  1  0  0   0  16.2   2.16  11   4   4  1   8   0  23   0 
   August        13  0  0  2  0  0  0   0  16.1   1.10  10   2   2  0  11   2  24   1 
   Sept/Oct      13  0  1  1  0  0  0   0  14.1   1.26   6   2   2  1   8   0  19   2

Let me stress than you can not use one pitcher’s season to make predictions about another pitcher’s season. it just doesn’t make sense. However, there is something fun about making the comparison.

If you were to run a study looking at number of pitches in May by a relief pitcher, i’m certain it would show the pitcher was less effective for the rest of the year. The relief pitchers throwing a lot of pitches are not usually your best guys, but they are throwing a lot of pitches because they are pitching well. Therefore they are almost certain to regress.

I would not at all be surprised to find out that there is some kind of pitches per month limit that if you go over will limit your effectiveness from like 5 months to 3 months of the year, or something like that. The hypothesis is that each pitch in a month over say 200, cost two pitches near the end of the season.

Bring Back The Old Logo!

by jacob on Jun 20, 2008 9:51 AM CDT up 0 recs

Maybe you're overthinking

I bet it was all due to that crazy heckler dude that was there the last time the Brewers were in Tampa. Is that guy still around?

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

by TheJay on Jun 20, 2008 10:32 AM CDT up 0 recs

Grant Balfour?

"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 Jun 20, 2008 10:43 AM CDT up 0 recs

the guy who went

“rickie rickie rickie rickie rickie!” i remember that guy

"If there is a more reactionary blog with idiotic commentary out there I'd be surprised." -On Bleed Cubbie Blue

by Michael M on Jun 20, 2008 10:49 AM CDT up 0 recs

He's still there, I saw/heard him heckling Mark DeRosa

by brewfan2 on Jun 20, 2008 11:24 AM CDT up 0 recs

problem is

that marmol hadnt pitched in 3 days before last night- he was well rested

he is a weird case- he seems to be really rusty after getting time off but thats prolly just my imagination

what lou should have done was take him out after walking 2 guys to start the inning but Marmol has been so good for over a year now that Lou figured he would pitch his way out of it

Zambrano, Soriano, Marmol suddenly becoming human its been a rough week or so for the cubbies

by ACB on Jun 20, 2008 12:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yeah, Lou should pitch him every game

That’ll keep him sharp.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jun 20, 2008 1:43 PM CDT up 0 recs

exaclty

you cant pitch him like that, but i watch almost every cub game and for some reason he seems to be wild after a two or more days off. who knows- he might have just had a really rough night

by ACB on Jun 20, 2008 1:51 PM CDT up 0 recs

Watch as Lou slits the wrists of his division championship with Occam's razor

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jun 20, 2008 1:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

heh

if marmol never pitches again this 1YR or so run was the sickest thing i’ve seen from a R. It was like watching one of my playstation video game players come to life

by ACB on Jun 20, 2008 1:57 PM CDT up 0 recs

There are other pitchers who seem to have the same problem. On the Brewers, Derrick Turnbow (until he completely forgot how to throw strikes) had an effectiveness sweet spot, where if you either used him in consecutive games or waited too long between games, he was far less effective (or so it seemed).

Coffee is for closers

by drezdn on Jun 20, 2008 2:03 PM CDT up 0 recs

I also like it when a manager uses the “what are you going to do.” It isn’t like he was watching the game on TV at home.

by Bernie's Mustache Wax on Jun 20, 2008 1:17 PM CDT up 0 recs

"what are you going to do?"

uhhhh…manage the game?

by ACB on Jun 20, 2008 1:38 PM CDT up 0 recs

YGHNC

"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 Jun 20, 2008 4:06 PM CDT up 0 recs

Mitch Stetter has been called up and is replacing Dillard

Who’s going down when Gagne comes back?

by brewfan2 on Jun 20, 2008 11:26 AM CDT 0 recs

ummm...

can’t be Stetter or Riske – don’t they have to be on the big league club for at least 2 weeks before being sent down?

probably DiFilice, seeing as they still need a 5th pitcher (Bush) for a little bit, unless they were going to go with a 4-man until the all-star break.

by PagsBrewCrew on Jun 20, 2008 11:41 AM CDT up 0 recs

no restriction on stay in the majors

we could send stetter down tomorrow.

you might be thinking of a minimum stay in the minors. Having sent Dillard down, we can’t call him up again for a certain length of time (one week? two? not sure), unless there’s an injury, in which case we can pretty much do whatever we want.

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 20, 2008 11:58 AM CDT up 0 recs

The minimum stay in the minors is ten days

But, as you say, if there’s an injury, they can be recalled any time. Also, if they are down for less than ten days, they get Major League service time as if they’d been in the Majors the whole time.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jun 20, 2008 1:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

Send Gagne down

on an extended rehab session – with a one-way ticket.

by John Brew on Jun 20, 2008 11:48 AM CDT up 0 recs

The Blue Jays

They’ve fired their manager.

Coffee is for closers

by drezdn on Jun 20, 2008 1:29 PM CDT 0 recs

That should be the new standard

“Hey skip—you get outmanaged by Ned Yost, you’re out on your ear.”

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 20, 2008 1:46 PM CDT up 0 recs

Type "interactivegangbang.com" into your browser's URL line

It’s not bad, don’t worry.

by jihad on Jun 20, 2008 3:45 PM CDT 0 recs

Also

Brewcrewball is the first result on the second page when you search for “Interactive Gangbang” It’s an interesting list.

by jihad on Jun 20, 2008 4:07 PM CDT up 0 recs

So by my math you've been doing this for over twenty minutes now

You have a lot of stamina.

He's extremely quick and good.

by battlekow on Jun 20, 2008 4:12 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ha

That does look funny, like I dedicated a half an hour to entering various variants of the phrase “interactive gangbang” anywhere possible.

I took a break in between. :)

by jihad on Jun 20, 2008 4:16 PM CDT up 0 recs

since you are 16...

I would imagine you might continue the “search for ‘gangbang’” / “take break” cycle for a while.

no need to post each time, though :).

Also, cheese.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jun 20, 2008 4:19 PM CDT up 0 recs

Like Tom Waits

we’re big in Japan.

"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 Jun 20, 2008 4:13 PM CDT 0 recs

awesome.

go get em' seth!

by Jamie in LA on Jun 20, 2008 6:09 PM CDT up 0 recs

"what's he building in there?"

go get em' seth!

by Jamie in LA on Jun 20, 2008 6:10 PM CDT up 0 recs

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