Tuesday's Frosty Mug
by KLSnow on May 5, 2009 8:51 AM CDT
39 comments
Some things to read while waiting for something to load.
The Brewers won again in dramatic fashion last night, in a game that saw the return of Ryan Braun but an injury to Bill Hall. In a move that surprised more or less everyone, Hall started in left last night in place of Braun, and lasted all of one inning before leaving with cramping in his hamstring. In-Between Hops came out against the move before the game. Hall, meanwhile, is expected to be reevaluated today. Two things immediately jump out at me:
- First, kudos to Hall for being willing to take one for the team and play wherever asked. Despite not having played a game in the outfield all spring and never having played left field, he was willing to give it a shot.
- Second, though, Macha admitted after the game that he didn't know Hall had never played left field in the majors. This is flat-out coaching fail. Sure, Macha wasn't around before this season and some members of the coaching staff are new as well, but I can't believe there wasn't a single front office person, assistant coach or player willing to mention to Macha that he was wandering into uncharted territory. Maybe Macha should spend a little less time complaining about Trevor Hoffman's music and a little more time getting to know his players.
Is J.J. Hardy ready for a hot streak? Apparently Mike Rivera noticed a change in Hardy's batting stance from last season. Hardy adjusted it back and went 1-for-3 with a walk last night.
Yet another reason why Mike Cameron is your early choice for NL MVP: According to FanGraphs, Cameron is the most valuable defensive outfielder in baseball so far this season.
Dugout Central, though, still hasn't picked up on the trend. They have Cameron eighth in their voting for April's NL MVP, behind Ryan Braun. Yovani Gallardo finished fifth in their voting for NL Cy Young.
The Hardball Times has developed four teams of players who do and don't swing at high and low pitches. J.J. Hardy made the team of players who don't swing at low pitches, and Jason Kendall made the list for not swinging at high ones. It feels really strange to talk about Brewers who don't swing at everything.
Speaking of Kendall, Matthew Pouliot of Circling the Bases rated him #97 on his list of potential 2010 free agents. Kendall and Rickie Weeks are also in the top ten in Plunk Everyone's list of players most likely to get hit by a pitch.
In the minors:
- While Pedro Lambertus begins serving his 50-game suspension for PED use (plus ten more games tacked on by the Brewer organization), Timber Rattlers beat writer Brett Christopherson asked how a mistake like this could happen, and couldn't find anyone with an answer.
- Chuckie Hacks found an article from the Nashville Tennesseean discussing Mat Gamel's defense. It sounds like the top of his defensive upside might be league average.
The Brewers return home on Friday, and were scheduled to face Carlos Zambrano, but that won't happen anymore. Zambrano has been placed on the DL with a hamstring strain. (Also noted in FanShot) The Cub Reporter takes a look at the three pitchers who could fill in for Zambrano on Friday.
Also, if you're planning on coming out to the ballpark on Friday, Miller Park Drunk would like you to leave your banana, gorilla and bunny costumes at home.
Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star moved the Brewers up from 26th to 15th in his power rankings, but still has them behind the Reds (11th) and Pirates (14th).
Around the league:
Astros: Placed Doug Brocail on the DL with a hamstring strain.
Cardinals: Rick Ankiel is day-to-day after crashing into the outfield wall last night. X-Rays and a CT scan came back negative.
Mets: Ken Takahashi has been moved into the rotation, replacing Oliver Perez. Takahashi is 40 years old and pitched for 14 years in Japan.
Nationals: Signed Mike MacDougal to a minor league deal.
Royals: Tony Pena Jr. has a broken hand that will require surgery. He'll be out 4-8 weeks.
White Sox: Signed Daryle Ward to a minor league deal.
Oh, and Adult Swim is piling on the Pirates.
Drink up.
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It feels really strange to talk about Brewers who don't swing at everything.
I got to admit, I laughed out loud at that part. Nice work.
Suppan, who has seen his ERA rise from 4.12 in his final year in St. Louis to 4.62 in 2007 and 4.96 last year, isn't an option in fantasy leagues - Rotoworld
by Adam P on May 5, 2009 9:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
League average defense, 1.000+ OPS potential, cheap for 3 years and a lefty bat to boot. I guess I’ll take it. Because of the last three, if he played defense slightly better than Ted Williams’ frozen head I’d take it.
And I am officially dubbing this the Year of Rickie. He shall smote our enemies with furious line drives and flawless turns at second.
by Getting Yosted on May 5, 2009 9:22 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
League average defense is the high end
That means he’ll be below average.
by tcyoung on May 5, 2009 9:27 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
TW’s frozen head is probably below average at third, part of a career outfielder, lacking in limbs and being dead are probably all negatives, so I would be fine with below average.
If Gamel can get to average at defense, he’s a perennial all-star. If he gets traded to the Yankees, he might be able to use the Jeter exemption and be considered above average at defense and a lock for the HoF.
by Getting Yosted on May 5, 2009 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
What does Below Average at 3rd base translate to in terms of 1st base?
by tcyoung on May 5, 2009 10:09 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I can deal with that
We’re going to have to deal with below average defense at third for a year until we trade Prince. At some point, though, we’re gonna have to teach him 3rd. I’m guessing he’ll have an offseason to do that.
by tcyoung on May 5, 2009 10:22 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
eh, true either way :)
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on May 5, 2009 12:14 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Miguel Cabrera is almost as bad a first baseman as he was a third baseman
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
by battlekow on May 5, 2009 10:38 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think you're missing an important point.
Being purely a first baseman/DH would significantly lower Gamel’s value. The average and replacement levels at first base are much higher than they are at third or even in a corner outfield spot.
So yes, the Brewers could move him to first base, but the loss in value would be bigger than you think.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by KLSnow on May 5, 2009 11:41 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
It would significantly lower his capacity for value. Whether to move him to first or leave him at 3rd will probably depend on who our replacement options are.
by tcyoung on May 5, 2009 11:55 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he's a league-average 3B defensively, sure
But if he’s Braunian at third, moving to an easier position will actually raise his value.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
by battlekow on May 5, 2009 11:56 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
There's a cutoff point
If he can learn to be a good first basemen, +5 or so, he’d probably increase his value. If he can’t play to well there, either, it’s a dropoff. We have no idea how he would be at first.
Scored three times and detonated an indisputable in four visits to the batting box.
by Jordan M on May 5, 2009 1:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Awesome...
Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star moved the Brewers up from 26th to 15th in his power rankings, but still has them behind the Reds (11th) and Pirates (14th).
As dumb as I think Power Rankings like this are (especially this early in the season), it’s doubly ridiculous that the Brewers are one spot behind the Pirates. What’s the thought process here, “Well at #14 I either want the Brewers or the Pirates. Head-to-head, the Brewers have won every game this season, but I’ll pick the Pirates instead.”?
It’s pretty clear to me this guy doesn’t actually follow the league enough to put out rankings.
http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com
by No Huddle Offense on May 5, 2009 9:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
We're forgetting
We don’t have CC anymore.
by tcyoung on May 5, 2009 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I'm not sure anyone does, in all honesty.
Regardless how hard you work to follow everything, being able to gather and process enough information correctly assess and rank all 30 teams is simply not something I think most people can do.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by KLSnow on May 5, 2009 12:58 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
if you start ex nihilo, sure
but…how about starting with pre-season PECOTA projected standings and adjust for performance to date. Then, if you think Greinke is going to be this good all season, you bump up the Royals a few spots. Or you knock down the Cubs a couple because of Z’s injury. Do that, and the teams you don’t follow will be more or less in the right place and your ignorance won’t be so glaringly on display.
Also, cheese.
by Jeff Sackmann on May 5, 2009 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I think there has to be a general system going in
As long as you follow that system, you should be fine. The problem is, most people just go in and blindly do it. Everybody’s going to do it differently. Personally, I would do it based on how the team is performing. Beginning with a certain projection, I would mix that with the team’s current record, as well as their record over the last 10-20 games. I would weight the record over the last 10-20 games more than the other factors. Injuries would then be factored in if they happened in the last 10-20 games.
by tcyoung on May 5, 2009 1:40 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's why Phil Rogers ranks 32
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on May 5, 2009 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Speaking of strange costumes
Does anybody know where one might find video of the rally rabbit? I loved that guy.
http://nohuddleoffense.blogspot.com
by No Huddle Offense on May 5, 2009 10:36 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Also around the league....
ex-Brewer prospect Matt LaPorta hit his first major league home run last night.
by ThomBerth on May 5, 2009 11:09 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Video is in a fanshot to the right.
by SgtClueLs on May 5, 2009 11:57 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
I picked him up on my fantasy team
Today I started him over Dukes. Bad decision.
by tcyoung on May 5, 2009 2:42 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wow @ Astros/Nats
What a train wreck.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
by battlekow on May 5, 2009 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mike Cameron would not be my MVP.
Albert Pujols would be my MVP.
:) + Suppan = :'(
by NoahJ on May 5, 2009 11:21 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
To be fair to Macha
The music was REALLY loud on sunday. I had no idea it could get that loud. I loved it. opposing players can’t help but hear it and it really creates a cool atmosphere.
It is what it is.
by coolig on May 5, 2009 11:29 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
This day in History take #2
No fanpost today…
On May 5, 1953 in the second game of a double headerat Milwaukee’s County Stadium, Braves’ pitcherMax Surkont strikes out the hitter for the third out of the second inning, and will continue to fan batters until there is one out in the fifth inning en route to a 10-3 victory over the Reds. The eight consecutive strikeouts establishes a new major league surpassing the mark of seven straight strikeouts shared by Dazzy Vance (Robins aka Dodgers, 1924) and Van Mungo (Dodgers, 1936).
It was Max Surkont’s only year with the Braves he went 11-5 with an ERA 4.18- and his record has since been surpassed by Tom Seaver. His numbers would indicate he wasn’t a strike out hitter, only averaging for his career 4.3 Ks per 9 innings.
I love learning about the history of baseball, and will continue to drop these factoids that are Brewer/Milwaukee baseball related.
The designated hitter rule is like letting someone else take Wilt Chamberlain's free throws.
by Kyguy922 on May 5, 2009 11:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs
His numbers would indicate he wasn’t a strike out hitter, only averaging for his career 4.3 Ks per 9 innings.
I think you meant strikeout pitcher. He struck out 90 times in 357 career AB’s at the plate, about once every 4 trips up.
After the season, Surkont was involved in a pretty wild trade, as one of six guys (plus $100,000) sent to Pittsburgh for one guy, Danny O’Connell, who would go on to have three below average seasons for the Braves. Pittsburgh got two starting pitchers, an outfielder and a reliever for their 1954 team out of the deal.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by KLSnow on May 5, 2009 12:18 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Pittsburgh got two starting pitchers, an outfielder and a reliever for their 1954 team out of the deal.
Maybe that’s why they lost 101 games. :)
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on May 5, 2009 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
The $100,000 is actually the kicker for me.
When you take baseball inflation into account, that’s about enough money to pay 10-11 players the league average salary. So this is about the equivalent of trading six players and $20 million for a utility infielder.
"The reports are that he is getting better. The definition of better is nebulous."
by KLSnow on May 6, 2009 9:04 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, but average salaries isn't totally accurate
No free agency to drive up salaries skews the numbers a bit.
Obscure baseball records and more at my blog, Recondite Baseball.
by TheJay on May 6, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
Apropos of nothing
One of the high points of my day is when the rambling one uses a link to highlight the incompetence of others, and the link is broken.
"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 5, 2009 12:23 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Closer rankings
After you find Matt Capps (ranked 15th), in Cliff Corcoran’s SI rankings, you need to browse to the next page of closers to find Trevor Hoffman (at #17)
Maybe he put together his rankings before last night’s game.
by grant76 on May 5, 2009 1:48 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
Lincecum is going against the Cubs today
3-1 SF in the 4th.
"I didn't realize his velocity was that high," said Macha, noting that radar readings aren't flashed during exhibition games.
by battlekow on May 5, 2009 2:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs
6-2 now, nice
Tangentally I got a chance to check out AT&T Park on Saturday. Great ballpark.
by warwick5s on May 5, 2009 3:27 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs
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NL Central Standings
| W | L | PCT | GB | STRK | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St. Louis
|
91 | 71 | .561 | 0 | Lost 6 |
|
Chicago
|
83 | 78 | .515 | 7.5 | Lost 1 |
|
Milwaukee
|
80 | 82 | .493 | 11 | Won 3 |
|
Cincinnati
|
78 | 84 | .481 | 13 | Won 2 |
|
Houston
|
74 | 88 | .456 | 17 | Lost 3 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
62 | 99 | .385 | 28.5 | Lost 2 |
(updated 2.9.2010 at 4:45 AM CST)
Certain photos copyright © 2010 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
