Looking at the Game of Baseball from all ends of the Spectrum
Not to dwell on the Lee/Pujols issue but I just happened to glance at mlb.com’s website. On their “Who’s Hot Who’s Not” column, guess which two firstbaseman are listed first in the “Who’s Hot” column? Coincidence? Or good ol’ fashioned friendly competition? Looks like they’re both making their case the best way they can.
Not to dwell on the Lee/Pujols issue but I just happened to glance at mlb.com’s website. On their “Who’s Hot Who’s Not” column, guess which two firstbaseman are listed first in the “Who’s Hot” column?
Coincidence? Or good ol’ fashioned friendly competition? Looks like they’re both making their case the best way they can.
Can we all agree on this? Apparently, Corey Patterson has asked Dusty Baker to lead off and Dusty in his infinite wisdom has put him in the number one spot. Huh? Let’s take a look at Corey’s numbers: Lifetime OBP: .300 2005 OBP: .279 His OBP mark is not particularly impressive. Actually, it kinda sucks. This … Continue reading “Memo to Dusty: Corey should not leadoff”
Can we all agree on this?
Apparently, Corey Patterson has asked Dusty Baker to lead off and Dusty in his infinite wisdom has put him in the number one spot.
Huh?
Let’s take a look at Corey’s numbers:
His OBP mark is not particularly impressive. Actually, it kinda sucks. This year’s mark of .279 is the worst he’s had in any full season. in addition, Mr Contact has 71 strikeouts in 277 at-bats.
More to the point, there are other Cubs who might be more suited for the leadoff spot. Neifi Perez’s OBP of .312 is no great shakes but is certainly better than Patterson’s. Todd Walker doesn’t have a whole lot of speed but the name of the game is getting on base and Walker’s .357 fits the bill.
Dusty is known as a player’s manager and that’s usually a good thing. But don’t let that cloud your judgement, Coach.
After today’s Sox’ 12-2 defeat of the Cubs, Teddy Ballgame has to be dancin’ in the streets tonight. They got to Mitre early and never let up. The run support came not from the usual players rather the bottom five in the Sox order went 11 for 22 and scored 8 runs. A.J. Pierzynski went 2 … Continue reading “White Sox win first of the Red Line Series”
After today’s Sox’ 12-2 defeat of the Cubs, Teddy Ballgame has to be dancin’ in the streets tonight. They got to Mitre early and never let up. The run support came not from the usual players rather the bottom five in the Sox order went 11 for 22 and scored 8 runs. A.J. Pierzynski went 2 for 3 with a double and a homer and 3 rbis.
Mitre has shown himself to be Mr Inconsistent. At times, he can be unstoppable. Other times, he just doesn’t have his stuff. In seven starts, he has allowed 5 or more runs four times. On the other hand, in his other three starts, he has allowed 2 or less runs including two shutouts.
Mitre indeed has a case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.
Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins 4 for 6, 2 HR, 3 runs, 6 rbis Florida defeated Atlanta 8-0 and Cabrera was responsible for 7 of those runs. Special mention goes to the D-train who pitched a shutout for his 12th win of the year.
Miguel Cabrera, Florida Marlins
4 for 6, 2 HR, 3 runs, 6 rbis
Florida defeated Atlanta 8-0 and Cabrera was responsible for 7 of those runs. Special mention goes to the D-train who pitched a shutout for his 12th win of the year.
Today is my anniversary. I have been married to my wonderful wife for 16 years now. She’s quite the trooper. For our honeymoon, we went to Cooperstown to see Johnny Bench, Carl Yastrzemski, and Red Schoendienst inducted into the Hall. I remember a lot of red being worn around town that weekend for some reason. Harry … Continue reading “She’s a keeper”
Today is my anniversary. I have been married to my wonderful wife for 16 years now.
She’s quite the trooper. For our honeymoon, we went to Cooperstown to see Johnny Bench, Carl Yastrzemski, and Red Schoendienst inducted into the Hall. I remember a lot of red being worn around town that weekend for some reason.
Harry Caray was awarded the Ford Frick award that year. For a Cub fan, that was a thrill for me.
I also remember Bart Giamatti, the “Intellectual” Commissioner who died too young, being booed by the Rose fans in the crowd. “Free Pete Rose! Free Pete Rose!”
After the ceremony inside the museum, I was waiting in line for a movie or something and there was an elderly gentleman ahead of us. He had a name tag like he might be someone special. I glanced at it and it said:
(Prince Hal)
Hal Schumacher
This was Prince Hal Schumacher who pitched for the New York Giants in the 30’s and 40’s! Career record of 158-121 with an ERA of 3.36.
I struck a friendly conversation with him while we were waiting but didn’t pepper him with questions. He seemed like a real nice man. It didn’t occur to me till afterwards to get his autograph. Oh well, opportunity lost, memory gained. I just looked him up. Turns out he was living in Cooperstown when he died four years after I met him.
Anyway, thanks to my wife for a great honeymoon and sixteen wonderful years.
Carlos Lee, Milwaukee Brewers 3 for 4, 2 HR, 3 runs, 4 rbis Lee’s performance was responsible for the Cubs’ demise on Wednesday. Lee is someone to watch. In his six years in the majors, his season homerun totals have never gone down (16, 24,24,26,31,31) and you can almost say the same about his slugging percentage … Continue reading “6/22 Linescore of the Day”
Carlos Lee, Milwaukee Brewers
3 for 4, 2 HR, 3 runs, 4 rbis
Lee’s performance was responsible for the Cubs’ demise on Wednesday.
Lee is someone to watch. In his six years in the majors, his season homerun totals have never gone down (16, 24,24,26,31,31) and you can almost say the same about his slugging percentage (.463, .484, .468, .484, .499, .525).
The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms with former Illini catcher Chris Robinson. Robbie was drafted this year by the Tigers in the 3rd round.
The Detroit Tigers have agreed to terms with former Illini catcher Chris Robinson. Robbie was drafted this year by the Tigers in the 3rd round.
Gary Sheffield, New York Yankees 4 for 6, 2 HR, 3 runs, 7 rbis Bernie Williams (5 rbis) and Derek Jeter (5 for 6, 5 runs) came close but Sheff wins it today. Give him lots of credit for the Yanks’ incredible comeback against the Rays. The top 7 hitters in the Yankees lineup had only … Continue reading “6/21 Linescore of the Day”
Gary Sheffield, New York Yankees
4 for 6, 2 HR, 3 runs, 7 rbis
Bernie Williams (5 rbis) and Derek Jeter (5 for 6, 5 runs) came close but Sheff wins it today. Give him lots of credit for the Yanks’ incredible comeback against the Rays.
The top 7 hitters in the Yankees lineup had only 3 LOB in the game. Sometimes a low LOB total is a reflection of not getting runners on base. Obviously, that was not the case in this game.
Albert Pujols, St Louis Cardinals 2 for 3, HR, 2 runs, 3 rbis Albert is just doing what he does best. Driving in runs. Yeah, yeah, D Lee still has my vote.
Albert Pujols, St Louis Cardinals
2 for 3, HR, 2 runs, 3 rbis
Albert is just doing what he does best. Driving in runs.
Yeah, yeah, D Lee still has my vote.
There’s a tight race in the All-Star balloting for National League firstbaseman. As of June 20: Albert Pujols 1,283,047 Derrek Lee 1,117,634 …and Lee seems to making ground. There is a Lee/Pujols discussion going on over at Baseball Musings with 27 comments and counting. Now all my baseball friends know two things about me: I … Continue reading “Who Gets Your Vote for NL Firstbaseman?”
There’s a tight race in the All-Star balloting for National League firstbaseman. As of June 20:
…and Lee seems to making ground.
There is a Lee/Pujols discussion going on over at Baseball Musings with 27 comments and counting.
Now all my baseball friends know two things about me:
If I based my vote on loyalty, this would put me in a bind. Fortunately, I’m able to look past loyalty and and vote for the firstbaseman who deserves it.
Both Lee and Pujols are having All-Star seasons and let’s face it, both will see time in the game. As for who gets my vote, it has to be Derrek Lee. One poster on Baseball Musings put it quite succinctly. What more can Lee do? He leads the NL in BA, rbis, HR and is second in runs and doubles. And something that goes unnoticed, he has 10 stolen bases in 12 attempts.
Lee’s value to his team is unmeasurable. Without Lee, the Cubs would be floundering in 3rd or 4th place in the NL Central. Yes, Pujols contributes much to the Cardinals. He also has a lineup that protects him. Something that Lee doesn’t always have.
I love Albert Pujols. He is no doubt the better firstbaseman over the long haul. He will have the better career. I will go out on a limb and predict that barring injury or scandal, Albert will have a career worthy of Cooperstown (and I will be there when he is inducted).
But he is not this year’s All-Star. That honor should go to Derrek Lee.
D Lee has my vote. How about you?