Baseball Toaster was unplugged on February 4, 2009.
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1) using profanity or any euphemisms for profanity
2) personally attacking other commenters
3) baiting other commenters
4) arguing for the sake of arguing
5) discussing politics
6) using hyperbole when something less will suffice
7) using sarcasm in a way that can be misinterpreted negatively
8) making the same point over and over again
9) typing "no-hitter" or "perfect game" to describe either in progress
10) being annoyed by the existence of this list
11) commenting under the obvious influence
12) claiming your opinion isn't allowed when it's just being disagreed with
Brad Penny's hitting and pitching prowess this season is reflected in the news being circulated by the Dodgers' public relations department that Penny might become the first Dodger pitcher to have a higher batting average than ERA (if you are kind enough to ignore placement of the decimal point) since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981 (.250 batting average, 2.48 ERA).
Although Penny's ERA rose to 2.51 after he allowed three runs in the sixth inning Thursday, his batting average climbed all the way to .293 thanks to a 2-for-3 night at the plate. In fact, Penny would be batting .317 if his third-inning line drive hadn't been turned into an unassisted double play by Todd Helton.
Besides Penny being a leading Cy Young candidate, it has actually started getting to the point where he is in position to receive Most Valuable Player votes. According to Baseball Prospectus, Penny's Value Over Replacement Player as a pitcher is 46.2 (tops in the National League). As a hitter, Penny's VORP is 7.1. The combined total of 53.3 places Penny third in the NL behind only Chase Utley of Philadelphia (53.5, but Utley just broke his hand) and Hanley Ramirez of Florida (53.4). While this doesn't factor in fielding for position players, it's still some pretty serious company to be in - especially when you realize how Penny has taken on the stature of staff stopper on a pennant contender.
In any case, what the whole batting average-over-ERA thing got me wondering was how Orel Hershiser could have avoided accomplishing this. In 1993. Hershiser began the year red-hot at the plate and only got hotter when summer arrived, crossing the .400 mark by going 2 for 2 on August 1 and getting as high as .424 (25 for 59) with an RBI double August 29. On that date, his batting average was well ahead of his 3.70 ERA.
As it turns out, Hershiser had a higher batting average than ERA all the way until the final batter he faced in 1993, on October 2 – the Dodgers' 161st game that year.
He entered the game batting .366 (26 for 71) with an ERA of 3.48 (81 earned runs in 209 1/3 innings pitched).
Kip Gross immediately replaced Hershiser, who would have needed to either get another hit, or avoid getting an out while not allowing any more runs through at least the eighth inning, in order to get his batting average higher than his ERA again.
So close!
Thanks to Baseball-Reference.com for enabling my research.
* * *
Also from the Dodger press notes:
JORIS EST ARRIVE! – Joris Bert, the Dodgers 19th-round selection in the June 2007 First-Year Player Draft will make his professional debut tonight for the Gulf Coast League Dodgers. Bert became the first player drafted out of the MLB's European Academy, and the French outfielder is drawing quite a bit of attention across the Atlantic. Arnaud Romera and Michel Goldstein of France 2, a news station in France, arrived at Dodgertown this morning to cover Bert and his debut. The news crew figures to be the first of several French electronic and print media interested in the 20-year old Bert.
* * *
Tonight's 6:05 p.m. game:
Considering Utely won't be increasing his VORP anymore for a while and that Hanley has the shoulder problem if Penny continues at this pace he could win the VORP crown. Woo Hoo
During that season, I remember all the talk being about whether he would be the first starting pitcher to hit .400 since, I don't know, somebody.
If someone has to be sacrificed on the altar of Ned's annual trade time panic attack it should be Abreu.
http://www.insidesocal.com/dodgers/archives/2007/07/rocky_mountain.html
But short of that, keep him.
http://insidethedodgers.mlblogs.com/my_weblog/2007/07/tonights_lineup_2.html
updated rosenthal....
Better than trading Kershaw, but I still don't like it.
or Tex....
by the name of Evan Grant?
i forgot to add this part:
However, the fragile state of the Dodgers' rotation could force them to focus solely on pitching, and the Rangers are insisting that they include Class A left-hander Clayton Kershaw, a Dallas native, in a Teixeira deal.
Totally not worth it.
I would do Loney and Meloan for Teixeira. Getting the extra win or so over Loney is worth giving up a relief pitcher, in my opinion.
That leaves, basically, Ethier for Benoit, which I would not do. At all. And I'm not a huge Ethier fan.
For the greater good.
I would not be in favor of that trade.
I think Teixeira is a little over rated because he hits a lot of jacks in a hitters park. While I used to be for Loney and Lowe for Teixiera (prior to the Dodgers pitching issues), I wouldn't even give up Loney for him straight up anymore.
This is coming from someone who is not a huge Loney fan.
He was jobbed.
51 saves...!
BTW: How many MVP votes did Baez get during his 40+ save year...?
I think it's a ridiculous argument. But enough people believe it to ruin chances for pitchers.
"Since 1967, when the Cy Young has been awarded in both leagues, pitchers have won the MVP award 7 times, the last being Dennis Eckersley in 1992."
Still, I wonder what the Dodgers' postseason chances would look like with Teixeira at 1B instead of Loney. PECOTA looks at that, right? If the percentages go up enough -- and I don't know how much would be enough -- I think I'd do it.
The bigger problem is limiting the MVP candidates to primarily those teams with the best records. Kinda like only giving the Pac-10 POY award to a player on the first place team.
Look at the numbers, use VORP or Win Shares, and give the award to the best guy. No inane chatter. Just performance. Crazy, huh?
Yes, he did. I just impressed myself.
I'm a very strong proponents of using "Player of the Year" language instead of "MVP".
I am legion.
Brad Penny batting: .293/.326/.390, 87 OPS+
Juan Pierre batting: .284/.316/.337, 72 OPS+
Baez had 41 saves of the D-Rays' 67 wins (61%).
Rivera had 43 saves of the Yanks' 95 wins (45%).
I definitely have lost my point. Now I'm just having fun looking stuff up since I am usually the guy saying "Does anybody know...?"
I'm all about getting someone like Dotel, but if it's going to cost a really good prospect then why bother? I'd rather keep the prospect and just bring up Meloan.
IsoP:
Penny: 97
Pierre: 53
To be fair, Penny is a lot bigger.
He called us La La Land.
Uh oh.
Yeah. He's definitely a good hitter, but to give up Loney + a couple other prospects for him is just ridiculous. We've got our first baseman for the next several years and there's no reason to trade him for a guy that we'll have to pay 100 or so mill to. It just makes no sense.
I think there is something in his contract that stipulates that he cannot be offered arbitration.
Eat it, Paree!
2007 EqA -
Juan Pierre: .245
Hong-Chih Kuo: .261
Eckersley 1992 was 7-1 with 51 saves and a 1.91 ERA (196 ERA+). The A's won 96 games that year meaning he saved 53% of them.
Gagne 2003 was 2-3 with 55 saves and a 1.20 ERA (335 ERA+). The Dodgers won 85 games that year meaning he saved 65% of them. He got the CY but was 6th in MVP voting.
Bonds got the MVP both years, but of course he was in a different league than Eckersley. Different eras (and ERAs) I guess.
How about no.
Anybody have a dust pan and fox tail I can borrow?
Oh, the trouble you've caused!
2007 HORP (Heart over replacement player):
Kuo: 0 (Injured players have no heart! See Drew, J.D.)
Pierre: -65,535 (Integer overflow - his heart is so big it wraps all the way around the value scale)
This would be even more funny, except deep down inside, we all have an unsettling feeling that if Colletti was offered a bag of Doritos for Kemp and Loney, he might actually go for it if he happened to be hungry at the time.
"My gut is telling me no... but my gut is also very hungry. ..."
What?
The baseball establishment would cut off their arms before admitting that an arrogant outsider like Mike Marshall knew something they don't. I wish someone would throw the screwball again. I keep hearing how it is bad for your arm and then I look at Mike and Fernando's career and how many lousy pitchers could use a trick pitch and wonder.
Not in any way saying that Mike and Fernando would have been lousy pitchers if they didn't throw the screwball.
Kei Igawa wishes he was Kaz Ishii.
Buster Olney did mention the Padres and us. I don't think Ned would want him though.
"It had me LOL."
Recursive error, does not compute!
The balance of power in the NL West shifts again.
If I had to LOL every time I LOL'd, this place would be nothing buy LOL's. Jon Weisman's Dodger Thoughts and LOL Emporium.
A subsidiary of Globo-Chem
Maybe you're thinking of second baseman/alleged steroid purchaser Jerry Hairston Jr.
Scott Hairston is fourth or fifth outfielder type.
How often do two competitive teams in the same division make a deal at the deadline? That has to a pretty rare occurrence.
Where's Pit-Pat?
the visual of ROFLMAO is a lot more compelling then a simple LOL.IMO.
But if you go sayin' things like ROFLMAO
You ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow
Music and Lyrics by Joe Raposo & Jon Stone
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
It's the most remarkable word I've ever seen
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
I wish I knew exactly what I mean
It starts out like an "A" word as anyone can see
But somewhere in the middle it gets awful "QR" to me
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
If I ever find out just what this word can mean
I'll be the smartest bird the world has ever seen!
It might be kind of an elephant
Or a funny kind of kazoo
Or strange, exotic turtle
You never see in a zoo
Or maybe a kind of a doggie
Or particular shade of blue
Or maybe a pretty flower
Naah, not with a name like that, Uh uh!
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
It's the most remarkable word I've ever seen
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
I wish I knew exactly what I mean
It starts out like an "A" word as anyone can see
But somewhere in the middle it gets awful "QR" to me
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
If I ever find out just what this word can mean
I'll be the smartest bird the world has ever seen!
Ab-cuh-def-ghee-jeckle-min-ah-quer-stu-wick-sez!
Let's all sing the rhyming song, the rhyming song, the rhyming song,
Let's take turns and rhyme together
The rhyming song
I left my keys in your car (the rhyming song, the rhyming song)
There's no hot water at my hotel (the rhyming song!)
jklmnopqr
jeck-el-men-op-quer
"I've always wanted to see what Hairston could do with a healthy 500 ABs, but he's run into bad luck at the worst times. He was once very highly regarded; you can read a post I wrote on his history here. Hairston's only played outfield this year, but he broke in as a second baseman so he might be able to fill in for Marcus Giles if the Padres can put up with subpar defense. Otherwise he can help out at either outfield corner, especially against lefties."
I think he's overrating this a bit, but I guess we'll see.
On geek boards, I've seen ROFTL pronounced (and even spelled) "roofles".
It's also the answer of any Evan Grant-related statement:
"The Dodgers are offering Loney, Kemp, Martin, and Broxton for Teixeira, but the Rangers want Billingsley too."
"Roofles".
(There's a pretty funny/stupid ROFTLMAO music video on YouTube, btw)... and yes, I should really be getting back to work.)
It's pretty disturbing that he didn't continue to rehab given that the Diamondbacks are still in the race. They're a whole lot more likely to be sellers now.
Why would the Diamondbacks be sellers when they're 1 1/2 games out of first place and Johnson was barely healthy getting the team to this point in the first place?
You know I collect 'em
The pens in my pocket, I must protect them
My ergonomic keyboard never leaves me bored
Shoppin' online for deals on some writable media
I edit Wikipedia
I memorized Holy Grail really well
I can recite it right now and have you R-O-T-F-L-O-L
1-1 top 2nd.
2-1 Padres Middle of the 2nd.
http://www.beloblog.com/Pe_Blogs/baseball/dodgers/
I see there that Juan Pierre: In My Own Words is coming.
If anyone is counting on me to twist those words, that person will not be disappointed.
3-1 Padres.
Interesting article by Bill Plashke. I actually think that booing Bonds its perfectly acceptable, even when he breaks the record, because it attacks the cheater who broke Aaron's record. But he makes a solid argument for not booing.
Interesting article by Bill Plashke. I actually think that booing Bonds its perfectly acceptable, even when he breaks the record, because it attacks the cheater who broke Aaron's record. But he makes a solid argument for not booing.
3IP 5K's.
I wish I thought of it first.
Andy Benes 1,036
Peavy 991
Trevor Hoffman 963
Eric Show 951
Andy Ashby 829
In the same period that the Padres have existed (1969-present), the Dodgers have had 8 pitchers with more Ks than Benes's 1,036.
I spoke with one scout who compared Meloan's stuff to Barry Zito's.
Also. MB put the Padres up. I know he's an intelligent guy but I was counting on him to mess SD up more than he helps. But if he has learned, thats a bummer.
Also, neither of them have been in my kitchen.
That wouldn't be a bad thing, if it were.
I've heard of driving, boating and even riding (a horse) while inoxicated but never Space Shuttling while drunk.
What in heck is the matter with NASA astronauts?
Sheesh!
/off topic off
He also throws 95 MPH.
they also breath on have skin & hair.
"Giving up a lot of home runs can be a positive thing, because when you give one up you know how not to pitch that guy in the future."
-- Brett Tomko
"I think the lack of power helped me get to the big leagues as quick as I did."
-- Juan Pierre
"I swing at pitches out of the strike zone because it's a way of letting the pitcher know he can't relax, there's no pitch location where he's safe."
-- Nomar Garciaparra
"How many errors you have as a second baseman is meaningless. An error's just one extra opportunity to turn a double play."
-- Jeff Kent
Pierre
Tomko
Kent
Nomar
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/baseball/mlb/07/27/bonds.dodgers.steroids.ap/index.html
you gotta think the Pierre quote is fake no? It's baseball talk with the others I feel.
And those are all believable. Nice work on those. I haven't a clue which is real. I'll go with what the CF said.
When it comes to mockery, we're all Cobra Kai.
Here's a small quiz to pass the time during the rain delay: Who has the highest batting average in major league history of all players with at least 50 at bats? (The answer will surprise many people).
Pierre is also the one who reminded us that, while hitting 50 HRs in a season is fine, you still have 550 other ABs where you're not hitting HRs.
wow
It was a *goo*d question, and there's a fat chance anyone would guess the correct answer.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN199307260.shtml
Not only did the D's put a 15-1 hurting on the Giants, but Orel pitched a complete game and got two hits to raise his average to .378. This was during the period when we were still trying to figure out whether Piazza was for real or not.
Hey, 5 out of 6. Just like Karros.
if you don't mind my asking, what home Jersey were you wearing on the DT get together? I remember is was a home jersey but i forget who's # you were wearing.
Vinnie said something like with in an hour I think.
I met & shook your hand at the end of the game, I was wearing a DT blue shirt.
Karros's 6 seasons encompassing his five 30-100 years: .278/.341/.492, 120 OPS+
The year right after that (2002; age 33): .235/.303/.388, 85 OPS+
Nomar, 2001-2006: .303/.352/.506, 120 OPS+
Nomar, 2007 (age 33): .282/.327/.353, 79 OPS+
No word on whether or not Nomar will be banished to the Kevin Kennedy Zone in 2013.
http://tinyurl.com/ywmb8s
Why don't they just make up the games this weekend? To soon to sell tickets?
"It will be made up when the Dodgers return to Coors Field in September. The exact date is still to be determined.
The two teams play a three-game series Sept. 18-20. Both teams have an off day on Sept. 17."
There is NO WAY the Dodgers proposed that deal. NO WAY.
And 8-1 Padres, top 8th.
Likely standings starting Saturday:
Dodgers --
D-Backs 1 GB
Padres 1½
That goofy smile he has just got a little more annoying
I know...
It's pretty weird but i don't think i'd be one of the crazies booing, i'd probably just sit there & watch as he breaks a glamorous record with no feelings what so ever.
"Tomko and Billingsley were pushed back a day, which might push Hendrickson, who has been the scheduled Sunday starter, out of the rotation. Rockies are skipping Fogg, who would have been tonight's starter, and staying with their scheduled Sat (Jeff Francis) and Sun (Ubaldo Jimenez) starters."
244 I would like to see #756 come on an inside-the-park HR.
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