Tuesday's Frosty Mug

by Kyle Lobner on Sep 2, 2008 9:19 AM CDT Comment 25 comments

So I've got a ton of links this morning. There were over 1300 unread in my reader this morning, plus a dozen or so I found before I decided to observe the holiday yesterday. So why did I spend 15 minutes reading Joe Posnanski's thoughts on candy bars?

Monday's Win Expectancy Graph
Monday's BR Box Score

Sunday's Win Expectancy Graph
Sunday's BR Box Score

Saturday's Win Expectancy Graph
Saturday's BR Box Score

Friday's Win Expectancy Graph
Friday's Box Score

Ok, 3 1/2 days of links. Where does one start?

Everyone wants to talk about the game that was or wasn't a no-hitter on Sunday. This seems like a good time to bust out the bullet points:

Tom H. has the official scorer's explanation.
Chuckie Hacks says it wasn't a hit, but will settle for a 20-win month.
In-Between Hops thinks we all have bigger things to worry about.
The Brew Town Beat thinks MLB should reverse the call.
Two Fisted Slopper also thinks it was the wrong call.
Jim Powell says, and I quote: "We wuz robbed."
Baseball Musings asked another official scorer for their opinion, and said it should be a hit.
Bugs and Cranks wants to know what you think. Right now about 52% of voters are voting "error."
Murray Chass wants his prune juice NOW!
Peter Schmuck says MLB shouldn't change the call after the fact.

A couple of other notes on Sabathia: Beyond the Box Score is comparing Sabathia and...Ricky Nolasco? Also, MLB FanHouse thinks Sabathia is "flying under the radar" as a Cy Young candidate. How is that possible?

This is almost certainly bigger news: Ben Sheets left yesterday's game with tightness in his left groin. I haven't seen any updates on his condition yet, but obviously we'll be watching.

The rosters also expanded over the weekend. The JS has a quick profile of the ten players the Brewers have called up.

Looking ahead, The Brew Town Beat takes a look at today's Mets starter, Jon Niese, who will make his big league debut. TheJay has a FanPost on him too.

Could the Brewers play low-A ball in the Midwest League again next season? Via Al, I found this story that would suggest the Brewers and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers are waiting for the MLB-sanctioned window to open negotiations.

On Power Rankings:

WhatifSports has the Brewers 4th.
Phil Rogers has the Brewers 5th.
The Whisnant Rankings have the Brewers 8th.

Two Brewer voices are up for consideration for the Ford Frick Award, getting them a place alongside Bob Uecker in the Hall of Fame. I'm not sure Jim Powell is quite ready for enshrinement yet. And Bill Schroeder? Really?

On injuries:

Padres OF Scott Hairston has a torn ligament in his thumb.
Jeff Kent will have surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus and is out for the season.
Rangers P Vicente Padilla is on the DL with a strained hamstring.

And, instead of linking it 3 times, I'll just tell you that The Disabled List Informer has injury news on Carlos Zambrano (shoulder fatigue), Kevin Gregg (left knee inflammation) and Wandy Rodriguez (oblique).

MLB Trade Rumors has sorted likely free agent pitchers by strikeout rate, giving us the first list of likely free agent pitchers that doesn't have CC Sabathia at the top. At the same time The Junkball Blues asks if free agent pitchers are worth it.

Cliff Lee won his 20th game yesterday, making him 20-2 for the 66-win Cleveland Indians. Baseball Musings is calling it the best pitching performance in the AL since Pedro Martinez in 1999.

Brandon Webb couldn't pick up his 20th win again yesterday. But the organization has stepped up behind him and acquired some grit.

I was looking for something offbeat and unrelated to post here in the close, then I realized I used the candy bar thing in the open. Please do not protest.

Drink up.

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Schroeder up for Frick Award

You just have to be a major league broadcaster for ten straight years to be eligible for that award. Schroeder is up for the Frick Award, Pat Borders is technically eligible for the Hall of Fame. Meh.

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

by TheJay on Sep 2, 2008 11:39 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Bye bye, Richie Gardner. The team could have moved Gallardo to the 60-day DL (and still activated him whenever, since he’s been out longer than 60 days) and kept Gardner, but he was going to get DFA after the season anyway, so I guess they just decided to cut to the chase.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 2, 2008 12:33 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

was looking up no-hitters on baseball-reference.com

we need to re-name the Astros back to the “Colt .45s”

And get a few other militaristic names, ie Panzer Tanks.

by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 2, 2008 1:04 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

combined no-hitters

Babe Ruth (0 inn.)
Ernie Shore (9 inn.) June 23, 1917
(first game) AL Boston Red Sox Washington Senators 4 – 0 Ruth was ejected after walking the first batter

How’d The Babe get ejected after one batter? Argued balls and strikes? Or the ump didn’t like that he would walk a leadoff batter? Why doesn’t Ernie Shore get credit for a solo no hitter, as he pitched a complete game out-wise? Along the same lines Francisco Cordova pitched 9 innings in a 10 inning no-hit game (I can understand that a bit more than the Ruth thing)

Also, Rollie Fingers tag-teamed on a 4 pitcher no-hit effort back in 1975

by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 2, 2008 1:12 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, he got ejected for arguing balls & strikes

I was under the impression that MLB credited Shore with a perfect game.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 2, 2008 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

according to baseball-reference, nope

they gave Ruth a piece of the official action.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Major_League_Baseball_Sanctioned_No-Hitters

by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 2, 2008 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

by the way...

who was the last pitcher to serve as both a REGULAR (as in almost every day) position player and pitch in the rotation? I don’t think Brooks K. played outfield enough times to qualify. Did Ruth qualify? Anyone else over the ages?

by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 2, 2008 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ruth in 1918-19 was the last player to play at least 10 games at pitcher and qualify for the batting title.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 2, 2008 1:28 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Willie Smith

In 1964, Smith got 359 ABs for the Angels (and had a 125 OPS+) while pitching in 15 games, starting 1.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 2, 2008 1:30 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rene Monteagudo

Monteagudo hit .301/.389/.332 in 193 AB for the Phillies in 1945, while pitching 45.7 innings (no starts, though).

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 2, 2008 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Denied!

“Harvey Haddix May 26, 1959 NL Pittsburgh Pirates Milwaukee Braves 0 – 1 13 a Perfect Game until the leadoff hitter in 13th reached on an error; followed by sacrifice hit intentional walk and a "walk-off” double"

12 inning perfect game, and ends up with the L.

The Braves handed a couple of teams losses after 9 innings of being no-hit.

by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 2, 2008 1:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

That walkoff double was actually a home run

Joe Adcock passed Hank Aaron (who I believe just left the field when the lead runner scored) while running around the bases and was called out so he only got credited with a double.

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

by TheJay on Sep 2, 2008 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

HOG alert

No, not hogzilla, but Harley-Davidson signs deal with Brewers with special deals for the Harley Owners Group.

A bunch of things next year, but “starting with tonight’s game against the New York Mets, a game ball will be delivered via a Harley-Davidson motorcycle prior to the first pitch of each home game.”

by ol Pete on Sep 2, 2008 1:05 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They should give away Eric Gagne's kid

Scratch that, give away Gagne, have the kid pitch the 8th.

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 2, 2008 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

xkcd

I actually found this one amusing
http://xkcd.com/463/

by PagsBrewCrew on Sep 2, 2008 1:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Clearly someone is doing their job terribly wrong

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

by kirbir on Sep 2, 2008 2:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Think of the children

Over 100 pitches per game since June 10? Dear God, Fredi Gonzalez is burning out Ricky Nolasco! Is Logan Kensing just window dressing?

by Chris B on Sep 2, 2008 3:17 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

About the Brewers- T-rats situation

I wrote up a fanpost on the subject a while ago

Sat: George 2 (37, missed catch, fielding) Fri: George (35, throw) Tues: George (34, throw)

by Jordan M on Sep 2, 2008 3:34 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I think there was another mention even before that

Can’t recall whether Fanpost, Fanshot or where else, but I recall posting in that thread. Anyway, I still wouldn’t be surprised to see the Brewers stay with the WV Power…all the articles seem awfully long on “it would make perfect sense” innuendo and short on actual facts, even taking into account that the involved clubs can’t talk openly due to the limited negotiation period.

by Zeyes on Sep 2, 2008 4:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

There was a conversation earlier this summer

Regarding Huntsville and Connecticut, since someone suggested the Brewers might be interested in moving their AA affiliate there. I think Appleton came up in that conversation.

Hence my decision to call it "screwing around" as opposed to "in-depth study."

by Kyle Lobner on Sep 2, 2008 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Everyone’s Favorite Beat Writer with a Gallardo update

And here’s an interesting little development. As I write this blog, right-hander Yovani Gallardo is throwing a simulated game to a handful of Brewers hitters. Gallardo has been out since May 1 with a torn ACL in his right knee and the Brewers have maintained it is a long shot that he will pitch again this season.

But to be at the point of throwing a simulated game means he’s not that far away from being ready to pitch in games. The problem the Brewers have is that the minor league season is over and therefore he can’t go on a rehab assignment there.

Might we see Gallardo again this year? And, if the Brewers make the playoffs, would they include him on their playoff roster? Because he is on the DL he could be added to the playoff roster. All interesting questions that I’m sure won’t be answered at this time for fear of causing a letdown should Gallardo not make it.

Sat: George 2 (37, missed catch, fielding) Fri: George (35, throw) Tues: George (34, throw)

by Jordan M on Sep 2, 2008 4:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

battlekow or anyone familiar with this

Would it be unprecedented for Gallardo to get a couple innings in one of West Virginia’s playoff games? I don’t seem to remember that ever happening, but I think they’d want to get Gallardo in some live game action before he came back.

Sat: George 2 (37, missed catch, fielding) Fri: George (35, throw) Tues: George (34, throw)

by Jordan M on Sep 2, 2008 4:13 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

It would not be unprecendented at all

Several other teams have done this in the past with injured players. The brewers probably want him to rest a bit after the simulated game so maybe by Friday or the weekend if WV is still playing?

Visit my baseball blog ...or else!

by dixieflatline on Sep 2, 2008 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Are you going to any of the playoff games, dixie?

BCB's "very own marginally deserving all-star!"

by battlekow on Sep 2, 2008 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Could you imagine if the affiliate was the T-Rats instead of the Power?

To be able to watch Yovani in a minor league playoff game at Fox Cities Stadium would be awesomeness. They could sell thousands of tickets for a game like that. I bet they’d do better than when the have the Brett Favre softball game in the summer.

I’m not banking on the deal being done like Rambling Al is, but that would be sweet.

Sat: George 2 (37, missed catch, fielding) Fri: George (35, throw) Tues: George (34, throw)

by Jordan M on Sep 2, 2008 6:10 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs