Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Game 79: Big Game For Big Lefty

It's no more pressure than usual, as Mark Hendrickson's always pitching for his job, but tonight the team needs him to be a stopper. Boston and New York have already won, and it would be disappointing to lose three in a row. The Orioles haven't seen him this year; Lurch beat them twice in five days last September. He doesn't have to be perfect, just keep it close for six innings, seven at the most.

I don't expect Rodrigo Lopez to shut out the Jays. He's been OK in two starts since returning from the DL, but is nowhere near last year's form. Eric Hinske's return could be an emotional lift; they're back at full strength. Unless you think full strength includes Phelps -- Josh sits again, with Johnson in right and Cat at DH.

Posted by Coach on Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 06:31 AM EDT.

Game 79: Big Game For Big Lefty | 37 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

_Shane - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 07:25 PM EDT (#98998) #

Wwooooo! Dark cloud over head, Toronto down 2-0. The end is near. Scary.

Pepper Moffatt - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 07:41 PM EDT (#98999) #

http://economics.about.com
What's that score again?

Mike

_Dr B - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 07:42 PM EDT (#99000) #

...and just like that Baltimore turn back into pumpkins.

_Golly Jeepers - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 07:48 PM EDT (#99001) #

Hello? Sarcasm alert!

Pepper Moffatt - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 07:48 PM EDT (#99002) #

http://economics.about.com
JP and Carlos Tosca at the beginning of the year stated that their goal was 85 wins. If they played all 162 games, that would be a record of 85-77.

To reach that record, the Jays would only have to go 41-43 the rest of the season, which looks like it won't be at all difficult. To be honest, I had my doubts at the beginning of May, but this team should have no problem getting there given the schedule they've already played. I still think they're due for a couple more stretches where they'll look like they can't beat anyone, but this team is for real. Losing 2 games to the Orioles isn't a big deal. The Yankees have already lost 4 to TBay.

It's a *long* season, kids.

Mike

_Homer Jay - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 07:57 PM EDT (#99003) #

Too bad they did not let Josh have some badly needed extended batting practice.
This one will be a long game. I can't wait for the relievers to come fire fighting or else.

_Eric Hinske - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 07:57 PM EDT (#99004) #

Hello, I've forgotten how to play 3rd.

_Papa Squid - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 08:06 PM EDT (#99005) #

Man, Delgado's shot was TITS.

Coach - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 08:21 PM EDT (#99006) #

It's like a CFL game -- last touchdown wins. I've been one of Hendrickson's leading defenders, but that's enough.

Hinske will eventually learn that relaxed is better than trying too hard.

Dave Till - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 08:29 PM EDT (#99007) #

I agree, Coach - Lurch is toast. Corey Thurman might want to investigate Toronto's housing market (vacancy rates are up right now).

Any guesses as to how many runs are going to score tonight? My vote is for 15-14, Jays - just like that World Series game ten years ago.

Then again, it might be 22-21. Balls tend to fly out of the Dome at the best of times, and it's been humid as heck the last couple of days.

Nice catch, Reed! Every out is precious right now.

_Homer Jay - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 08:41 PM EDT (#99008) #

First doughnut, noooo!

Pepper Moffatt - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 08:41 PM EDT (#99009) #

http://economics.about.com
It's like a CFL game -- last touchdown wins. I've been one of Hendrickson's leading defenders, but that's enough.

That's really funny, because it's exactly what my Dad said. Well he said, "If I wanted to watch this &!#&* I'd go to a &*&@*(#&* Argos Game!!! DAMN JAYS.. I'M GOING TO TIM HORTONS!!!" He's a pitching and defense kind of guy.

I know it was only the 2nd, but I would have used Cat to pinch hit for Johnson.

Mike

_Homer Jay - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 08:46 PM EDT (#99010) #

Maybe I too drunk, but I do not get that Cat pinch hitting...
what about Josh for Cat just for fun.

_Lefty - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 09:35 PM EDT (#99011) #

Hey I ain't that big, ok perhaps a couple extra pounds but I'm no whale or anything eh.
lefty

Coach - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 09:36 PM EDT (#99012) #

Nice job by Sturtze, who allowed just one hit and one walk in four shutout innings, and helped himself with a fine tag play at the plate after the wild pitch. Is Tanyon going to get another chance in the rotation now?

_Dr B - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 09:57 PM EDT (#99013) #

Sturtze has his moments and has a live arm, but I suspect people sit on his fastball. If he can spot his fastball he'll do fine (but he doesn't seem to be able to do this every day.) J.P. Ricciardi's comparison of him to Chris Carpenter I thought was extremely apt (right down to the absence of a decent change-up). Sturtze is almost a really good pitcher but somehow, year-in, year-out, he's managed to avoid realizing his potential.

Coach - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 10:10 PM EDT (#99014) #

Delgado's second bomb of the night (off the lefty Groom) is followed by a Wilson blast, and all of a sudden, it's 13-8 Jays. No save situation tonight after all.

_Sportsnet contr - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 10:20 PM EDT (#99015) #

Ok you guys we get it now. Our Rob Faulds has said in the ninth that Aquillno is not in a save situation because of the "big buldge on the score board after the top of the ninth.

We will be reviewing Robs contract with us and particularly those clauses which say the play by play man must have at least an elementary knowlage of the game.

We are very sorry for the grief that Rob has caused you and all the grandmothers in the comfort of their homes.

Please be assured the Sportsnet does not take your viewership for granted and will will continue to strive for broadcasting excellence.

Again our apologies for our dim-witted decision to here a dim-wit

Coach - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 10:21 PM EDT (#99016) #

Pardon me. It was another SV for Lopez, who Tosca allowed to pitch the final two innings. It wasn't an artistic series, but we'll take the split.

_Sportsnet contr - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 10:23 PM EDT (#99017) #

Make that,
Again our apologies for our dim-witted decision to hire a dim-wit.

See what I mean, this is a complicated business.

_Dr B - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 10:31 PM EDT (#99018) #

Nice 4 hit night for Tom Wilson. He gets but 1 RBI though, as all those runners in front of him have been erased (in a good way :-) ) by Mr Delgado who adds a 5 more runs to his RBI count.

_Geoff North - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 11:09 PM EDT (#99019) #

So, when's the over/under on Delgado hitting the 100 rbi mark? Any chance of doing it before the all-star break? With this offence, it sure seems possible, and perhaps even probable.

_Chuck Van Den C - Thursday, June 26 2003 @ 11:15 PM EDT (#99020) #

Our Rob Faulds has said in the ninth that Aquillno is not in a save situation because of the "big buldge on the score board after the top of the ninth.

When Tony Kubek used to do games with Don Chevrier, he would constantly assert that pitcher so-and-so had pitched himself into a save situation, e.g., by coming into a game with a 4-run lead and then allowing a run.

While it was true that had a subsequent pitcher come in, he would have been entering the game in a save situation, Kubek was not referring to the next pitcher but the current one.

Pepper Moffatt - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 12:03 AM EDT (#99021) #

http://economics.about.com
I know it was only the 2nd, but I would have used Cat to pinch hit for Johnson.

I realized as soon as I left the house that Cat was DHing and not Phelps, so he couldn't come in for a PH appearance. Whoops.

Does anyone think Sturtze will be put back into the rotation soon?

Mike

_Jurgen - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 12:15 AM EDT (#99022) #

Sorry, this is another hijack, but it pertains to something from an earlier thread, ie. whether Win Shares are only useful after a full season. It seems pointless to post it there.

Mariner Musings explains why comparing Win Shares mid-season can be misleading:

Be wary of comparing players across teams, though. Since win shares are based on actual wins, they're skewed throughout the season just like win-loss records are because of the unbalanced schedule. You can compare players on the Mariners and the A's, as they pretty much play the reciprocal schedule throughout the season. But, comparing the Mariners to say, the Yankees, isn't the same, as they've played different teams up to this point.

Is it just me, or does this further suggest that even at the end of the season Win Shares across leagues, and even from team to team given the unbalanced schedule, can't truly be compared?

_Geoff North - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 12:40 AM EDT (#99023) #

Is it possible this is true of all stats and not just win shares? If the Rangers have to face Mariners and A's pitching 19 times each, and only get to face Blue Jay, Oriole and Devil Ray pitching six times each, it seems likely to me that their offensive stats may be skewed lower as a result. Interleague play surely comes into play also.

Perhaps someone will need to research possible "schedule effects" as a related equalizer to park effects.

_Mick - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 12:56 AM EDT (#99024) #

With Barry entering his 40's, A-Rod striking out more and getting lost in the morass of Rangerness, Alf in the Bronx just a weeee bit overhyped, Nomah showing a propensity for injury over the past several seasons, the former Vol QB dealing with the stigma of the Coors effect, the Impaler currently shelved, and with all due respect to Sammy, Sheff and their ilk, I think the question is simply this:

Carlos Delgado or Albert Pujols?

It really does come down to those two, doesn't it?

_Jurgen - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 01:17 AM EDT (#99025) #

So, when's the over/under on Delgado hitting the 100 rbi mark? Any chance of doing it before the all-star break? With this offence, it sure seems possible, and perhaps even probable.

DiamondMind just posted the pre-season odds of Delgado reaching 81 RBI in 280 AB... 1 in 1,500.

With 5 RBI today in 4 AB, and with 16 games to go before the All Star break, you're basically asking the odds of Delgado getting 14 RBI in about 58 AB. My guess--a lot better than 1 in 1,500.

He's gone 3.30 AB/RBI so far this year; he could cool off slightly (4.14 AB/RBI) and still easily make it. At this rate he'll have about 104.

_Jurgen - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 01:50 AM EDT (#99026) #

Carlos Delgado or Albert Pujols?

Sorry Jays fans, but even if Pujols' reported age is 4 years younger than reality, that still makes him 4 years younger than Delgado (31).

And what about Brian Giles (32), Manny Ramirez (31), and Lance Berkman (27)?

And, mercy, Bonds just came off two seasons of 1,300+ OPS (not to be confused with OPS+) in an extreme pitcher's park, and hasn't had an OPS below 1,000 since '91. He's currently hitting 1,123 this year (compared to Delgado's 1,090 and Pujols' 1,173). Don't be so quick to bury him; and don't think we're going to see anyone like him again in our lifetime.

From the same DiamondMind link:

- Pujols batting .387 through 279 atbats ... 1 in 100
- Pujols batting .400 over a full season of 580 atbats ... 1 in 40,000

_Elijah - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 03:49 AM EDT (#99027) #

I just watched a replay of the game and I saw some fans with the Greg Myers OPS-o-meter in centerfield after Wilson hit his HR. I thought that was pretty neat. Never seen that before. The Myers-O-Meter is at 1.006.

It's good to know there are fans that care more about OPS than batting average. Has this been there all year?

Coach - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 07:26 AM EDT (#99028) #

On Wednesday night, the BB gathering was very impressed that the Myers banner updates his OPS in real time. We were too lazy to walk all the way out there and say hello, but agreed that whoever maintains it should be in the ZLC, if they aren't already. The sign hasn't been there all year; I've noticed it the last few games.

Not to detract from Delgado's magnificent season, but counting stats "before the break" seem a bit skewed this year, as the game is so late. The Jays will have played 95 games, with just 67 remaining "after the break" -- that's what makes the century possible. Averaging more than an RBI per game for the entire first half is an awesome feat.

robertdudek - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 08:28 AM EDT (#99029) #

Of course the unbalanced schedule effects all the stats, not just Win Shares. In the same vein we can note that 95 wins in the A.L. Central is not necessarily 95 wins in the A.L. West.

_rodent - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 09:04 AM EDT (#99030) #

Delgado is quoted in the Star this morning: "We don't play half-seasons..." and devalues the significance of personal numbers. No original, but with the ring of truth. Anyway, he's having a ball: last nite in the dugout he threw a headlock on Phelps, grabbed him by the cup and wrestled him over. Good TV.

_Chuck Van Den C - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 10:45 AM EDT (#99031) #

Anyway, he's having a ball: last nite in the dugout he threw a headlock on Phelps, grabbed him by the cup and wrestled him over.

Yeah, it's all fun and games until someone puts out an eye. ;)

_pete_the_donkey - Friday, June 27 2003 @ 11:38 AM EDT (#99032) #

Rob Faulds should be drawn and quartered on the field during the seventh-inning stretch tonight.

_Donkit R.K. - Saturday, June 28 2003 @ 11:57 AM EDT (#99033) #

There simply can't be a best player debate. A best player not named Barry debate is all that matters. I'd say Pujols, Delgado, The Impaler, Manny, Nomah.

robertdudek - Saturday, June 28 2003 @ 07:56 PM EDT (#99034) #

Excuse me, are you not forgetting Alex Rodriguez?

Game 79: Big Game For Big Lefty | 37 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.