MLB 2008 Part 3, Take 2

[Guest Jules]

Watching him the last two nights, I was begging the Cubs to pitch around him. Bases loaded? Tough chit, put him on first.

Last night that would have put the winning run on second. I was glad to see Wood go after him and get the better of him.

[MrRain422]

Pedroia wins by default with Kinsler and Quentin getting injured. Hamilton could still get it too, though with his drop off and crappy team, maybe not.

[Central Scrutinizer]

Last night that would have put the winning run on second. I was glad to see Wood go after him and get the better of him.

Lou's are pure brass. He's going to keep running him out there and let him work through it. Marmol worked out of a jam in the 8th too.

[jenbobblehead]

When are the Red Sox buying Hanley Ramirez? We seem to be short a Ramirez and there are still a lot of t-shirts out there.

[sweetheart-mine]

When are the Red Sox buying Hanley Ramirez? We seem to be short a Ramirez and there are still a lot of t-shirts out there.

we are definitely short a ramirez. i still miss the guy. it helps a little bit, though, when bay does things like run to back up third base before anyone else knows he'll be needed there. manny would still be standing out in left field. but i STILL miss the guy! it's easier to miss him when the team has stepped up, though. pedroia is absolutely delightful to watch -- he never stops surprising me.

[Lammycat]

Pedroia wins by default with Kinsler and Quentin getting injured. Hamilton could still get it too, though with his drop off and crappy team, maybe not.

Why default? He's had, arguably, the better season than either. Certainly better than Quentin.

[bobbob1313]

Why default? He's had, arguably, the better season than either. Certainly better than Quentin.

If Quentin didn't get hurt he was having a much better season.

 

If you take position into account, Pedroia's a very good choice. But Pedroia isn't the obvious choice. Hell, Youkilis is almost as valuable.

 

AL OPS leaders:

 

OPS

Bradley-TEX 1.029

Rodriguez-NYY .986

Quentin-CHW .965

Huff-BAL .950

Youkilis-BOS .948

Drew-BOS **.930

Hamilton-TEX .920

Morneau-MIN .910

Dye-CHW .909

Granderson-DET .897

 

Adjusted OPS+:

 

Adjusted OPS+

Bradley-TEX 171

Rodriguez-NYY 158

Quentin-CHW 149

Huff-BAL 147

Morneau-MIN 144

Youkilis-BOS 143

Hamilton-TEX 141

Ibanez-SEA 139

Granderson-DET 135

Kinsler-TEX 135

[Lammycat]

Position, yes. Also, Pedroia leads the AL in BA, Runs Scored, Hits, Doubles. Sure, some weaker categories than OPS but when talking about an MVP we need to look at the contributions of a player to his team's success. I don't think the Sox are at the top of the Wild Card without Pedroia.

[embiggen]

Last night that would have put the winning run on second. I was glad to see Wood go after him and get the better of him.

 

 

me too, but he almost loaded up the bases AGAIN, which shouldn't be happening. grrrrrrr.

[bobbob1313]

They are also not at the type of the wild card without Youkilis and Drew.

 

I'm not saying he's a terrible choice, but I think there are better choices.

 

actually, to say he might win it by default is pretty accurate. Quentin and Bradley would both be better choices if not for injury. A-Rod would be a better choice if the rest of his team didn't suck.

[tugmoose]

A

to Cliff Lee, who is 22-2.

[cryptique]

A

to Cliff Lee, who is 22-2.

...and on my fantasy team.

[Lammycat]

From today's Globe, re: Pedroia:

 

"Here

[MrRain422]

That's an awful lot of foul balls and outs.

[Duck-Billed Catechist]

Holy misunderstood stat, batman. They seem to be getting that number from his "contact %" of .920 (as of 9/8) http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/mlb/news?s..._hitters_090808

 

But contact percentage is not a matter of contact as compared to the number of swings. It is the percentage of ABs (or is it plate apperances?) where the player makes contact:

Contact%

The percentage of at bats during which the hitter makes contact with the ball. The league average in 2007 was 80.8%.

http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/mlb/news;_...berglossary-mlb

 

It is basically impossible that the contact percentage for swings and the contact percentage for ABs or PAs would be the same.

[bobbob1313]

Wow.

 

Marlins become first team in history last night to have 4 infielders with 25 home runs and tonight they become the 2nd team in MLB history to have 3 infielders with 30 homers. If Cantu goes on a little tear, who knows what could happen.

 

And why couldn't we have had a 4 game winning streak in August. Then I might have had hope.

[Duck-Billed Catechist]

I remember when you were sorta bitching about getting Cantu.

[Beltmann]

I swear, if the Brewers continue to choke and miss the playoffs, I am going to wait behind a bush at Miller Park and, at first opportunity, attack Ned Yost with nunchucks. Later I will decapitate Eric Gagne, but only for sport.

[bobbob1313]

Still don't like him all that much.

 

He's been a nice, cheap guy that has overperformed what I thought he would do, but that overperforming has his at a .273/.321/.461 line and among the worst defense at 3rd in the league.

 

His counting stats look good because he's 5th in the NL in at bats, but he's also 7th in outs.

[bjorn_skurj]

[radiokills]

yep

[sweetheart-mine]

Later I will decapitate Eric Gagne, but only for sport.

i'm afraid i know what you mean, and you have my sympathy.

[MrRain422]

NO hitter zambrano

[embiggen]

ZAMBRANO!!!!! OH YEAH!!!!

[MrRain422]

ESPN showed the ninth inning (cut away from Tigers/White Sox), and I noticed that both teams were wearing their alternate jerseys (red for the 'Stros and blue for the Cubbies) and both were wearing the road gray pants. I imagine UniWatch will comment on it tomorrow. I don't think I've ever seen a game where both teams wore road uniforms, although it makes sense here, even though technically Houston was the home team.