4/8 MVP: Clay Buchholz, SP, Boston Red Sox - 7 IP, 0 R, 8 K, 4 BB, 3 H, 0.471 WPA
4/8 GOD: Cincinnati Reds (13) @ St. Louis Cardinals (4) - Yes, a game with a run differential of nine is the Game of the Day. The Minnesota Twins loss to the Kansas City Royals in Kansas City actually had the same average leverage index; however, I chose the Reds vs. Cards game to illustrate that the final score doesn't tell the story. With that.... Turning Point: Score tied 4-4 in the top of the ninth. Mitchell Boggs enters for the Cards. As he often does, Shin-Soo Choo walks to lead off the inning. Chris Heisey then pops out to second base. Choo advances to second on a wild pitch, which then leads to a intentional walk to Joey Votto. Brandon Phillips did not like being disrespected and takes it out on Boggs. Phillips doubles to right scoring Choo. 5-4 Reds. The Cards 'pen imploded from there and the Reds tacked on eight (!) more runs in the 9th. Lesson: Don't disrespect Brandon Phillips.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
MLB MVP O' the Day - April 7, 2013 - National Beer Day Edition
In case you missed it, yesterday was National Beer Day. Naturally, the Brewers are involved in both the MVP and GOD for the day. It is also the reason the post is so late.
4/7 MVP: Jonathan Lucroy, C, Milwaukee Brewers - 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 HBP, WPA 0.55
4/7 GOD: Arizona Diamondbacks (8) @ Milwaukee Brewers (7) - Turning Point: Tie score top of the 11th, John Axford in. Cliff Pennington leads off with a double to left. Ron Roenicke starts to question bringing a Canadian in to pitch for the Brewers on National Beer Day in the United States. Eric Hinske hates Molsen and homers, giving the D'Backs a 8-6 lead. The great American, and Eustis, Florida native, Jonathan Lucroy tried to bring the Brew Crew back in the bottom of the 11th with a RBI single that scored Norichika Aoki. However, the damage was done. John Axford's mistake on National Beer Day is something you don't do when you pitch for the Brew, and rightfully he is now out of a job. Be wary new Canadian closer Jim Henderson. April 7, 2014 is looming.
4/7 MVP: Jonathan Lucroy, C, Milwaukee Brewers - 2-3, 2 RBI, 1 HBP, WPA 0.55
4/7 GOD: Arizona Diamondbacks (8) @ Milwaukee Brewers (7) - Turning Point: Tie score top of the 11th, John Axford in. Cliff Pennington leads off with a double to left. Ron Roenicke starts to question bringing a Canadian in to pitch for the Brewers on National Beer Day in the United States. Eric Hinske hates Molsen and homers, giving the D'Backs a 8-6 lead. The great American, and Eustis, Florida native, Jonathan Lucroy tried to bring the Brew Crew back in the bottom of the 11th with a RBI single that scored Norichika Aoki. However, the damage was done. John Axford's mistake on National Beer Day is something you don't do when you pitch for the Brew, and rightfully he is now out of a job. Be wary new Canadian closer Jim Henderson. April 7, 2014 is looming.
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Baseball Prospectus Tears Down Verducci Effect
Good stuff from Russell Carleton from Baseball Prospectus debunking the Verducci Effect, which trys to predict pitcher injuries based on increased innings pitched.
Here is my favorite paragraph:
Here is my favorite paragraph:
"The Verducci Effect is a case of speculation mixed with a really poor understanding of the scientific method, and that is a dangerous combination. It gives the illusion of knowledge, and that's more dangerous than simply not knowing something. It's tempting to want to grab onto the Verducci explanation, especially when a young pitcher with so much promise suffers such a large setback, because a wrong explanation feels better than no explanation."
MLB MVP O' the Day - April 6, 2013 - Kevin Frandsen!
4/6 MVP: Kevin Frandsen, PH, Philadelphia Phillies - 1-1, 3 RBI. Down 3-1 in the bottom of the ninth, the man, the myth, the legend, Kevin Frandsen came to the plate with the bases and two outs and doubled to center, scoring three and lifting the Phils to a 4-3 win over the Royals. That, folks, is how you become the Marcello Ball Daily MVP.
4/6 GOD: Minnesota Twins (6) @ Baltimore Orioles (5) - Turning Point: The O's brought in closer Jim Johnson in the top of the ninth with score tied 5-5. Jamey Carroll lead off the inning by grounding out 1-3. Aaron Hicks then reached on an error by Chris Davis. Joe Mauer struckout and Josh Willingham walked. Next up, Justin Morneau with two outs and runners on first and second. Morneau singled to center, scoring Hicks and lifting the Twinkies to a 6-5 lead. Unfortunately for O's fans, Chris Davis did not hit in the ninth (he was in the hole when the last out was made) and did not have the opportunity to atone for his sin in the ninth. Chris Davis giveth and Chris Davis taketh.
4/6 GOD: Minnesota Twins (6) @ Baltimore Orioles (5) - Turning Point: The O's brought in closer Jim Johnson in the top of the ninth with score tied 5-5. Jamey Carroll lead off the inning by grounding out 1-3. Aaron Hicks then reached on an error by Chris Davis. Joe Mauer struckout and Josh Willingham walked. Next up, Justin Morneau with two outs and runners on first and second. Morneau singled to center, scoring Hicks and lifting the Twinkies to a 6-5 lead. Unfortunately for O's fans, Chris Davis did not hit in the ninth (he was in the hole when the last out was made) and did not have the opportunity to atone for his sin in the ninth. Chris Davis giveth and Chris Davis taketh.
Saturday, April 6, 2013
MLB MVP O' the Day - April 5, 2013 - Gordon = Brett?
4/5 MVP - Alex Gordon, LF, Kansas City Royals - 3-6 (3B), 2 R, 3 RBI, 0.43 WPA
4/5 GOD - Minnesota Twins (5) @ Baltimore Orioles (9) - Turning Point: Chris Davis strikes again! Grand slam off of Tyler Robertson in the bottom of the 8th to make the score 9-5 O's. The O's started the inning off down 5-4, but Nolan Reimold and Nate McLouth led of the inning with singles off Casey Fein. Buck Showalter then pulled a OOOOOOHHH DUSTY and had Manny Machado sac bunt, which lead to Reimold and McLouth advancing a base and an intentional walk to Nick Markakis. Maybe that was Buck's plan all along, but it seems curious to take the bat out of Markakis' hands against Fien, a righty, to have him face a righty Adam Jones. Pacman Jones II made Showalter look like a genius by singling to left, scoring Reimold and loading the bases for the man hitting everything. Ron Gardenhire tried to slow the left-handed Davis down by bringing in a lefty. Sorry Gardy.
4/5 GOD - Minnesota Twins (5) @ Baltimore Orioles (9) - Turning Point: Chris Davis strikes again! Grand slam off of Tyler Robertson in the bottom of the 8th to make the score 9-5 O's. The O's started the inning off down 5-4, but Nolan Reimold and Nate McLouth led of the inning with singles off Casey Fein. Buck Showalter then pulled a OOOOOOHHH DUSTY and had Manny Machado sac bunt, which lead to Reimold and McLouth advancing a base and an intentional walk to Nick Markakis. Maybe that was Buck's plan all along, but it seems curious to take the bat out of Markakis' hands against Fien, a righty, to have him face a righty Adam Jones. Pacman Jones II made Showalter look like a genius by singling to left, scoring Reimold and loading the bases for the man hitting everything. Ron Gardenhire tried to slow the left-handed Davis down by bringing in a lefty. Sorry Gardy.
Friday, April 5, 2013
MLB MVP O' the Day - April 4, 2013 - Lee Outduels Davis
4/4 MVP: Cliff Lee, SP, Philadelphia Phillies - 8 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 8 K, 0 BB
Honorable Mention: Chris Davis (is Hitting Everything), Hitter, Baltimore Orioles - 2-3 (HR, 2B, HBP), 1 R, 4 RBI, 0 K
4/4 Game of the Day: Chicago Cubs (3) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (2) - Turning point: Nate Schierholtz and his well trimmed beard blasted a two run homer off of Jared Hughes with two outs in the top of the ninth to score himself and Anthony Rizzo (who reached on a walk and stole second). Schierholtz's homerun gave the Cubbies a 3-0 lead, which was necessary since Carlos Marmol is their closer and he his not great at his job.
Honorable Mention: Chris Davis (is Hitting Everything), Hitter, Baltimore Orioles - 2-3 (HR, 2B, HBP), 1 R, 4 RBI, 0 K
4/4 Game of the Day: Chicago Cubs (3) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (2) - Turning point: Nate Schierholtz and his well trimmed beard blasted a two run homer off of Jared Hughes with two outs in the top of the ninth to score himself and Anthony Rizzo (who reached on a walk and stole second). Schierholtz's homerun gave the Cubbies a 3-0 lead, which was necessary since Carlos Marmol is their closer and he his not great at his job.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
MLB MVP O' the Day - April 3, 2013 - Neither Opening Day nor Night Edition
Bunting Rules!
4/3 MVP: Matt Joyce, Pinch Hitter --> LF , Tampa Bay Rays, 2-2 (1 HR, 1 bunt single!), 2 R, 2 RBI
4/3 GOD: St. Louis Cardinals (9) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (10) (16 innings) - Jason Kubel led off the bottom of the 16th with a walk against Fernando Salas (who was in his third inning of work). Ian Kennedy (yes, the pitcher Ian Kennedy) sac bunted Kubel over to second (Bunting Rules!) Cliff Pennington finalized the game with a groundball single to right, scoring Kubel from second. Good night, game over, drive home safely.
4/3 MVP: Matt Joyce, Pinch Hitter --> LF , Tampa Bay Rays, 2-2 (1 HR, 1 bunt single!), 2 R, 2 RBI
4/3 GOD: St. Louis Cardinals (9) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (10) (16 innings) - Jason Kubel led off the bottom of the 16th with a walk against Fernando Salas (who was in his third inning of work). Ian Kennedy (yes, the pitcher Ian Kennedy) sac bunted Kubel over to second (Bunting Rules!) Cliff Pennington finalized the game with a groundball single to right, scoring Kubel from second. Good night, game over, drive home safely.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)