World Series! Game Three!
DMZ · October 24, 2006 at 4:45 pm · Filed Under Game Threads, General baseball
Detroit @ St. Louis, Nate Robertson versus Chris Carpenter. 5:33 supposedly.
Detroit @ St. Louis, Nate Robertson versus Chris Carpenter. 5:33 supposedly.
Preston Wilson?!? Batting 2nd?!?!?
That makes JI a sad camper.
So, fun pitching duel or dumb pummelling?
Probability of Precip: 0%
Current : 41°F
Feels like: 37°F
Hmm, sounds like a situation that calls for extra grippy non-discolored fingers. I’ve heard somebody has a book about that…
Are we watching a baseball game or riding on a carousel?
That makes JI a sad camper.
Really?
I confess ignorance to most of St. Louis’s roster, so I’m not really sure what the options are, but Wilson seems like a not terrible choice. He was bad in Houston, with a .243 EQA, but hit for a .268 EQA in St. Louis, and PECOTA had him at a .266 EQA this season. We probably shouldn’t just ignore his Houston performance (unless he was injured then and is healthy now), but more signs would seem to point to him as a league average hitter than as a bad hitter. And his .292/.362/.496 line against LHP this season isn’t too shabby, either.
Wilson has looked like she-ite lately. The last thing STL needs is a automatic strikeout in front of the team’s best hitter.
How ’bout this lineup?
Eckstein
Belliard
Pujols
Rolen
Edmonds
Speizio!
Wilson/Encaracion/Taguchi
Molina
Carpenter
Maybe, oh, I don’t know, LaRussa should slot Chris Duncan in the lineup somewhere. He might win rookie of the year as a great power-hitting prospect is all. His 2nd half numbers are similar to Howard’s 2005. He only got 47 ABs vs. LHPs all year long…so why not give him a start? But then…he DOES have So Taguchi….
Man, LaRussa’s a genius.
I was trying to remember when Jack Buck died, and came across this on WIkipedia …
“After two years of calling baseball telecasts Buck was dismissed by CBS. The official reasoning behind Buck’s ouster was that he simply had poor chemistry with lead analyst Tim McCarver. “
#6 swap Spiezio with Duncan, and we’ve got a deal. I think he’s very over looked…one of my favorite Cardinals…
Right now, Duncan makes Manny Ramirez look like Mike Cameron, so considering that, best case scenario, he’d hit .270/.330/.470 v. LHP, on average, over the course of the year, you might as well go with a veteran who can play *some* defense.
Polanco has the same oddly bulging temples as Jim Leyritz…
How ’bout this lineup?
Eckstein
Belliard
Post-ASB:
.225/.280/.422 — Wilson
.246/.298/.371 — Belliard
If Wilson is the worse choice, I don’t think it’s by much. For the most part, it just looks like Mr. LaRussa doesn’t have many good options.
Yeah, but it’s v. a lefty. The other option would be to hit Edmonds 2nd.
Oh wait, I just figured out why Preston is playing: 5-5 2HR lifetime v. Robertson.
Ah, small sample size gets Wilson into the lineup. 5/5 with 2 HR’s against Robertson.
Call him 5/6 now.
seeing Rolen reminds me– the Philly Daily News addresses 3rd base:
“And the Adrian Beltre experiment, begun under Gillick’s extended watch in Seattle, isn’t working out all that well for the Mariners in cavernous Safeco Field. Perhaps Beltre could regain that 48-homer righthanded stroke he showed in 2004 with the Dodgers if he hit behind Howard, perhaps coming East (with $35.5 million in salary due through 2009) in a deal that could send embattled leftfielder Pat Burrell (and his remaining $27 million) to the Mariners if he would waive his no-trade clause.
But that doesn’t sound likely, to hear Gillick talk. “There’s a very strong possibility that Pat’s in leftfield,” said Gillick, who noted that despite Burrell’s .258 average and his .222 mark with runners in scoring position, “You don’t find 29 home runs and 95 RBI in the street.”
I don’t like Wilson batting 2nd either. Showing Mookie in the stands is growing old, Preston better hit something tonight (due up next).
I wouldn’t mind seeing Duncan in there. Sure, his D is far from stellar but I think getting him more than 1 at bat will help this team more than he can hurt it, especially with Carpenter on the hill.
“You don’t find 29 home runs and 95 RBI in the street.â€
You might if you looked on Waveland Avenue.
There we go Preston! Baby-steps.
to no ones surprise, Matsuzaka has hired Boras: “He’s got a 95-mph fastball, a phenomenal breaking ball and he’s a bulldog on the mound,” Boras said. “He’s got No. 1 stuff, and there are only 12 to 15 No. 1 type pitchers in the majors.”
When does Fox’s contract expire? Not that features on Brandon Inge & pitchers who wear glasses don’t hold my interest…
Nice, Pujols slaps a double instead of taking the walk!
Add to that, very Ichiro like!
dammit. answered my own question.
“On July 11, 2006, it was announced that the Fox Broadcasting Company had signed a new seven-year contract, which will guarantee that the World Series will appear on Fox through the 2013 season. The package was officially announced on October 17, with the news that TBS will air all MLB Division Series games through 2013 and alternate League Championship Series with FOX during the contract.”
I wouldn’t mind seeing Duncan in there. Sure, his D is far from stellar but I think getting him more than 1 at bat will help this team more than he can hurt it, especially with Carpenter on the hill.
I used to feel that way about offense/defense platoon issues, but I’ve gradually gone to the position where I feel it’s best (especially in a lineup with a bunch of holes) to go with your best defensive players to start the game, and then you can leverage your ace pinch hitter in a good spot in the game, if you even need extra runs. One of the hardest things about scoring runs is getting your best hitters to hit with runners in scoring position. By keeping Duncan on the bench, you get a shot at doing that. And you know Leyland isn’t going to take out Jones (or Zumaya if he’s available) just for a platoon advantage.
That throw home always seems to be an adventurous one for Inge.
By keeping Duncan on the bench, you get a shot at doing that. And you know Leyland isn’t going to take out Jones (or Zumaya if he’s available) just for a platoon advantage.
Agreed.
However, I’d like to take my chances of not facing either of those two and one way to try for that is by being ahead late. I understand your point but also think with Edmonds and whomever in the other corner OF spot, the OF defense would be sufficient. That is, in the 2005 Mariners sense (assuming Ichro’s in center).
Wooh! Go Edmonds!
#25– huh. I was thinking he was still pretty new at it, but Inge has now played more than half his major league games at 3B…
huh. I was thinking he was still pretty new at it, but Inge has now played more than half his major league games at 3B…
I haven’t witnessed a whole lot of Inge’s postseason work, but he was a big defensive asset for the Tigers during the regular season.
I would love a free taco…
Ugh. So I’ve spent most of my day in the crawlspace under my house, where, while working on, say, brittle PVC and corroded galvanized steel I can sit up if I stoop a little, and now I have two hours where things are curing before I crank up the pressure, see if it all worked, and my reward… Nate Robertson being beat up by guys using nerf bats. Come onnnnnnnn.
Just from a matchup perspective, don’t you want Bonderman going up against Carpenter? Sure, Robertson’s a leftie, but he’s not, fundamentally, that good, and then you’re… ahhh, I’ve ranted about the rotation enough already.
It is legitimately frustrating, though, DMZ. To me, no one in the Tigers’ rotation is anything special other than Bonderman. The other guys are above average, sure, but Bonderman’s the only one I would consider an ace.
Isn’t using Zumyia v. taguchi and Carpenter overkill?
And here’s the thing, to me. It’s one thing to take into account Rogers’ veteran experience and think he’s not going to get rattled, or whatever else you want, but I can’t see how you could evaluate the rotation candidates and put Bonderman in at #4 when that potentially means he’s not going to be available to start either game 6/7 if it comes to that.
I don’t know. Leyland makes me crazy, obviously.
How does signing “God Bless America” honor America? Really, I don’t understand.
How does signing “God Bless America†honor America? Really, I don’t understand.
The same way singing the new John Don’t Call Me Cougar song does.
As for Bonderman I suspect the reason is this:
Verlander, 3.63 ERA
Rogers, 3.84
Robertson, 3.84
Bonderman, 4.08
Their SPA are slotted by ERA.
I’d PH for Preston, BTW. Zumaya ain’t comin’ out.
It takes 17 flushes of the toilet in the women’s room at Safeco to get all the way through “God Bless America” without having to hear any of it.
FYI.
That’s interesting, I wonder if Leyland really put that little thought into it.
I see now that Zumaya’s pitching FOX turned the gun on, and– oh gee– shocking development, he just hit 100 MPH.
And, speaking of music, why do they play the theme from “Green Acres” at a baseball game?
That’s interesting, I wonder if Leyland really put that little thought into it.
There’s a big difference between a SP with an ERA in the threes rather than fours- at least as far as most baseball people think-.
But yeah, Bonderman has waaaaaaay better stuff than Robertson. Maybe he just wants to see Belliard/Big Juan hit 5th most of the time.
Oh dear. That was a sad play.
Timmy says:
“That’s a bad play by Zumaya.”
It’s the insightful commentary that keeps me coming back.
Also a big woot for the CBA getting done!
I’d PH for Preston, BTW. Zumaya ain’t comin’ out.
Dude, he’s got a .500 OBP tonight, I was totally right about him.
(If only I lived in a world where I could believe that.)
I suppose that if you count this game as the one they’d most likely lose while in St. Louis, might as well get all the bad D & ass-bat-ery out of the way.
#35– By singing God Bless America, they earn more money for the Boy & Girl Scouts of America, thereby strengthening the Youth of America.
I don’t think I’d ever punt a World Series game if I was a manager. I’d be throwing everything available at every good chance to win. You gotta go for the jugular. The knockout. Etc.
Dude, he’s got a .500 OBP tonight, I was totally right about him. (If only I lived in a world where I could believe that.)
Not only that, it means LaRussa is, like, totally the smartest dude whoever lived and stuff!!!
JI…re #39
I don’t think they are using the radar gun. MLB had an article on how they are calculating pitchers speed in the post season.
Speed Measurement
was Byrnes on the pre-game tonight?
People write books about LaRussa, he must be a genius.
People also write books about cheating. Cheaters must be geniuses too.
I argue Gaylord Perry was a cheating genius.
Where did you go, Gaylord Perry? A nation turns its lonely heart to you.
God, no more Mellencamp, please!
Though, I really can’t wait to see the car based on that ‘concept vehicle.’ New for the 2008 model year – the Chevy Anvil!
btw, did you see KIRO’s slide show of baseball cheaters?
Gaylord’s thoughts on “Kennygate”
Spare grease
I see now that Zumaya’s pitching FOX turned the gun on, and– oh gee– shocking development, he just hit 100 MPH.
On ESPN radio (and I don’t know who was doing the color, but he made Hendu sound like a genius) they mentioned that the numbers they’re showing on the scoreboard at the field never hit 100, and they were speculating that the gun was “slow” and Zumaya was seeing them and overthrowing to try to crack 3 digits which was why he was so wild.
did you know that when you google ‘Gaylord Perry’, the first suggested search is ‘Gaylord Perry spitball’?
as you might imagine, when the whole Rogers thing came up, many reporters immediately called Ol’ Gaylord for a thought or two…
Tom and Jerry? TOM AND JERRY?
Who in the world likes Tom and Jerry? It’s not funny. The only quality that ever recommended it is that it was on.
Except that one set in the far future where Tom and Jerry both use remote-controlled versions of themselves. That one was cool.
#57– I believe ESPN has Miller & Morgan, with Dave ‘Soup’ Campbell performing the Chris Myers duties.
I miss Joe Miller. Man, he’s good.
#59– this one from the Chuck Jones era?
Yes! I remember the first time I saw that, I was totally blown away, it was such a high-quality cartoon, and Tom and Jerry as a whole sucked sooo bad.
Oh, man, I wish they’d stop replaying that.
I think I know why the speeds of pitches are so high! They’re using Jamie Moyer’s radar gun from France.
I think the vaunted Tiger bullpen is rapidly collapsing.
bring on Braden Looper!!!!
I’m mad now, because I can’t find a way to get those good Tom & Jerry cartoons on DVD – they’re apparantly missing from the DVD spotlight set. It’s distracting me from my disappointment w/r/t the Cardinals.
Tom and Jerry as a whole sucked sooo bad.
Beany & Cecil, however….
I love that there was a fan with a “Cardinals use only raw talent to win” sign.
Really.
Reaaaaaalllly.
Anyway, I can’t believe how the Tigers are gift-wrapping this series for the Cardinals. I know Leyland’s a pal of LaRussa, but handing him the World Series to save Tony’s job is still low.
hah. I knew that early glimpse of the pregame didn’t include Byrnes’ hair.
hey, look!
Tom And Jerry: Paws For A Holiday [DVD]
The ongoing struggle between everyone’s favorite cat and mouse will heat up the winter months with this collection of laugh-filled animated adventures. Includes “Mice Follies” (1954), “Designs on Jerry” (1955), “The Tom and Jerry Cartoon Kit” (1962), “Snowbody Loves Me” (1964), “I’m Just Wild About Jerry” (1965), “The A-Tom-Inable Snowman” (1966), and “Advance and Be Mechanized” (1967).
As much as FOX bothers me, at least the crew was playing Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Audioslave. In other words they’re not completely soulless,
and Amazon…
Barry Melrose to do ESPN’s analysis… Wheee! Was a potted plant unavailable?
Followed by You’re with Me, Leather, leading a cast of Kruk, Dusty Baker (!) and Peter Gammons. My cup underfloweth.
You know what else is on Amazon? “The Cheater’s Guide to Baseball” for a bargain $11.
I am, in case you’re curious at all, watching ESPN’s post-game because I’m afraid about cranking the water back on and seeing today’s work explode or something.
#49
Byres wasn’t on pre-game today. It was Joe Girardi instead.
*Byrnes
so? did the pipes hold?
Uhhh, yeah, though it seems for my hours of work the reward was a less leaky leak and no change in the larger problems yet to be confronted. I’ll have to revisit it when I get a chance. Siiigh.
In case anyone’s still wondering, I think the Tigers’ rotation is based on the idea that the Cardinals are weaker vs. LHPs and that Rogers should have both starts at home, where he’s better. That means that Rogers had to start Game 2 and that Robertson should get two starts as well. That leaves 3 starts for Verlander and Bondermann. I guess, Leyland preferred Verlander for some reason.
Once again, Detroit started Nate Robertson against the other team’s best pitcher. I wonder if Leyland is doing this on purpose…
Robertson is clearly the weak link in their rotation. By starting him against Carpenter (or Wang, for that matter), he’s basically giving away this game to gain an advantage in all others.