MLB Topics

[Westside]

While it has been an extremely disappointing year to be a Mariners fan (oof ); I am very surprised how little press Nelson Cruz is getting right now. If Seattle was anywhere near the playoffs, he would be leading the MVP charge.

He is on pace to be the first player in some 40 years to lead the league in home runs (4 ahead of 2nd) and hits (tied with Kinsler). Quite an impressive feat.

[CrashDavisD3]

Former Chapman baseball player Tyler Hadzinsky, left his role as a financial services senior consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City to take a position in baseball operations in the St. Louis Cardinals' front office. Hadzinsky was a star player in baseball and soccer at Chapman. Tyler was part of Chapman teams that played in several DIII Baseball Championship Series(aka World Series for DIII baseball). Tyler could be part of team in the MLB to make it to the World Series.

Story from earlier this year.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/103903044/front-office-hopefuls-aim-to-make-dreams-a-reality

[Mr. Ypsi]

Miguel Cabrera (who else?) has won the batting title again - 4th time in five years.  I'm pretty sure he has now locked up a first-ballot HoF award.  A couple more great years (he's only 32) should make it unanimous.  Justin Verlander is an iffier case - he is probably already in, but another great year or two might be needed.  At the moment he looks a lot like Jack Morris, who I think should be in, but can't quite get the votes.

[Bombers798891]

Miguel Cabrera (who else?) has won the batting title again - 4th time in five years.  I'm pretty sure he has now locked up a first-ballot HoF award.  A couple more great years (he's only 32) should make it unanimous.  Justin Verlander is an iffier case - he is probably already in, but another great year or two might be needed.  At the moment he looks a lot like Jack Morris, who I think should be in, but can't quite get the votes.

Thankfully for Verlander, he's a lot better than Morris, who was deservedly kept out (How anyone voted for Morris and not Mike Mussina is laughable.) Verlander will likely be in if he can rebound and pitch solidly for a few years, though I don't think he would be voted in if his career ended now.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Miguel Cabrera (who else?) has won the batting title again - 4th time in five years.  I'm pretty sure he has now locked up a first-ballot HoF award.  A couple more great years (he's only 32) should make it unanimous.  Justin Verlander is an iffier case - he is probably already in, but another great year or two might be needed.  At the moment he looks a lot like Jack Morris, who I think should be in, but can't quite get the votes.

Thankfully for Verlander, he's a lot better than Morris, who was deservedly kept out (How anyone voted for Morris and not Mike Mussina is laughable.) Verlander will likely be in if he can rebound and pitch solidly for a few years, though I don't think he would be voted in if his career ended now.

Jack Morris's claim rests mainly on post-season heroics - he was one of the greatest post-season pitchers ever.  In 1984 for the Tigers, he had two complete game victories.  In 1991 for the Twins he was the WS MVP.

[Bombers798891]

Miguel Cabrera (who else?) has won the batting title again - 4th time in five years.  I'm pretty sure he has now locked up a first-ballot HoF award.  A couple more great years (he's only 32) should make it unanimous.  Justin Verlander is an iffier case - he is probably already in, but another great year or two might be needed.  At the moment he looks a lot like Jack Morris, who I think should be in, but can't quite get the votes.

Thankfully for Verlander, he's a lot better than Morris, who was deservedly kept out (How anyone voted for Morris and not Mike Mussina is laughable.) Verlander will likely be in if he can rebound and pitch solidly for a few years, though I don't think he would be voted in if his career ended now.

Jack Morris's claim rests mainly on post-season heroics - he was one of the greatest post-season pitchers ever.  In 1984 for the Tigers, he had two complete game victories.  In 1991 for the Twins he was the WS MVP.

Except that he wasn't, actually. He was 7-4 in the postseason with a 3.80 ERA. In no way is that "one of the best ever." I mean:

Lefty Gomez 6-0, 2.86
Bob Gibson 7-2, 1.89
Allie Reynolds 7-2 2.79
Red Ruffing 7-2, 2.63
John Smoltz 15-4, 2.67
Curt Schilling 11-2, 2.23
David Wells 10-5, 3.17
Dave Stewart 10-6, 2.77
Chris Carpenter 10-4, 3.00

I could go on, but you get the point. Morris' postseason was not historical. Morris had a great 1991 World Series and a 1984 Postseason. Which, okay, it's great. It's also not really all that unique from other pitchers' best postseasons.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I surrender!  I was a Tigers fan in that magical year of 1984 (when they barely even needed Jack to wipeout the Padres), and perhaps got carried away with his 1991 performance (especially his 10-inning, complete game win in game seven).  I'll grant that his career was borderline HoF overall, and his postseason record was only above average overall, but can you grant me that game seven in 1991 was one for the ages!

[Bombers798891]

I surrender!  I was a Tigers fan in that magical year of 1984 (when they barely even needed Jack to wipeout the Padres), and perhaps got carried away with his 1991 performance (especially his 10-inning, complete game win in game seven).  I'll grant that his career was borderline HoF overall, and his postseason record was only above average overall, but can you grant me that game seven in 1991 was one for the ages!

Oh it totally was. I mean, in essence, Morris' entire HOF case has been built around that. It's created this narrative that he was this insane big game pitcher, this "ace"—actually, he probably wasn't the best pitcher on any teams he pitched on that went to the World Series, despite his Game 1 starts. But when you dominate a Game 7 of arguably the greatest—and most well-remembered—World Series of the past 30, 40, years, I mean, that's huge.

Morris was a good pitcher, don't get me wrong. But his myth WAY outstrips the reality of his career.

[Ralph Turner]

A feel good article about Mr Cub.

http://www.wsj.com/article_email/chicagoans-thoughts-turn-to-mr-cub-1445032357-lMyQjAxMTI1MjE2NzIxMDcwWj

I got this link from one of my SABR friends in our Banks-Bragan chapter in Dallas-Ft Worth.

[Mr. Ypsi]

A feel good article about Mr Cub.

http://www.wsj.com/article_email/chicagoans-thoughts-turn-to-mr-cub-1445032357-lMyQjAxMTI1MjE2NzIxMDcwWj

I got this link from one of my SABR friends in our Banks-Bragan chapter in Dallas-Ft Worth.

Great story!  Thanks for posting it, Ralph.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Something weird in the Tigers/Astros game tonight.  I'm sure it is not unique, but I can't recall ever witnessing it before.  Justin Upton (NOT a slow runner by any measure) was on second, Miggy Cabrera hits a double, Justin only went to third!  On camera, it was clear that Miggy's shot would not be caught, but I assume Justin feared it would be.  Then the third base coach held him up, though (to me, at least) it was clear that a runner with Upton's speed could have beaten a throw to the plate by ANYONE.  Like I say, I'm sure it has happened some time before, but I can't recall ever seeing consecutive doubles NOT yielding a run.

Fortunately, the Tigers prevailed by a 5-3 score, but if my man Miggy misses his second Triple Crown by one RBI, Upton and the third base coach are off my Christmas card list!

[Mr. Ypsi]

Cameron Maybin is off to what has to be an historic start for a 'new' team (he was a Tiger for his rookie season, but only batted .143).  He was on the DL for the start of the season, but has now played in 9 games, and has a nine game hitting streak.  In 8 of those games he has more than one hit.  His last three game he has two hits each, and his BA keeps FALLING!  He is now 'down' to .545!

He was traded to the Marlins in 2008, and has basically been a 'journey-man' ever since (until this year).  I might wonder if the Tigers made an error, except that he was the key demand of the Marlins in the Miguel Cabrera trade!  Currently it looks like Detroit 2, Florida 0.  (Maybin has scored 9 runs in 9 games; 4 of them were driven in by Miggy.)

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yet another example of why no sane person would ever bet on MLB.  Less than three weeks ago, Chris Sale (generally considered the best current pitcher in the AL) was 9-0; Jose Quintana had the best ERA in the AL.  In four starts by each since then, the White Sox are 0-8!   That includes yesterday, when Mike Pelfrey (0-for his Tiger career) beat Sale (who fell to 9-2), and today when a resuscitated Justin Verlander just plain out-pitched Quintana (who probably lost his lead in ERA).

It may be, as numerous managers and commentators have said, that "momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher", but ya can't even count on consistency from starting pitchers!

[Jack Parkman]

Yet another example of why no sane person would ever bet on MLB.  Less than three weeks ago, Chris Sale (generally considered the best current pitcher in the AL) was 9-0; Jose Quintana had the best ERA in the AL.  In four starts by each since then, the White Sox are 0-8!   That includes yesterday, when Mike Pelfrey (0-for his Tiger career) beat Sale (who fell to 9-2), and today when a resuscitated Justin Verlander just plain out-pitched Quintana (who probably lost his lead in ERA).

It may be, as numerous managers and commentators have said, that "momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher", but ya can't even count on consistency from starting pitchers!

I'm sane (for the most part) and I bet on Kershaw, Sale and Arieta for the first 5-6 weeks of the year, then shut it down after making my money.  Baseball is tough to bet on since every day is different.  I do, however, appreciate what those 3 did for my checking account early in the year.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Yet another example of why no sane person would ever bet on MLB.  Less than three weeks ago, Chris Sale (generally considered the best current pitcher in the AL) was 9-0; Jose Quintana had the best ERA in the AL.  In four starts by each since then, the White Sox are 0-8!   That includes yesterday, when Mike Pelfrey (0-for his Tiger career) beat Sale (who fell to 9-2), and today when a resuscitated Justin Verlander just plain out-pitched Quintana (who probably lost his lead in ERA).

It may be, as numerous managers and commentators have said, that "momentum is tomorrow's starting pitcher", but ya can't even count on consistency from starting pitchers!

I'm sane (for the most part) and I bet on Kershaw, Sale and Arieta for the first 5-6 weeks of the year, then shut it down after making my money.  Baseball is tough to bet on since every day is different.  I do, however, appreciate what those 3 did for my checking account early in the year.

That was good (and/or lucky) betting on those three, and wise to shut it down at least on Sale (probably could have kept it going a while longer on Kershaw and Arieta).  Both my eyes and my gut tell me that Verlander is going into 'Cy Young' mode and Zimmermann seems to be in a magic place (his two losses were both on 'not bad' outings, but he got his 7th win on his only horrible outing of the year).

Last night was fun in a 'laugher' win way - 11-0.  (You know it is a total laugher when Romine and Saltalamacchia (both below the Mendoza line)  PH for Cabrera and Victor Martinez (both over .300) AND BOTH GET ON BASE - and get driven in by J. D. Martinez!)  Tonight was joyous in a different way - Aaron Sanchez had a one-hit shutout thru 8, then the Tigers erupted - tied it in the bottom of the ninth and won it (with bases loaded and no outs) in the tenth.