I realize now the guy who came around the season-ticket-holder ring yesterday who I didn’t recognize was Felix Doubront. I wish next time they do this (which I hope is not for many years, since it’s a not-going-to-postseason sop to the faithful) they would have the handlers who accompany each player hold up signs with their names. It’s a lot harder than you’d think when they’re not wearing numbers.
I went to the game, and looking around the field was thinking “wow, who here is worth calling up on September 1?” Ladendorf is about it. Wendle wasn’t in the lineup; he was the acting 1B coach for some reason.
I’m not sure if you get out to many MILB games, but 1B tends to be coached by a player not in the lineup (or various players in one game) while the manager coaches 3B.
I hope it does. I don’t need to see the clock ticking, but what it does for pacing makes a world of difference. I especially like the between inning clock. Get the ball, get in the box, get moving.
Hah, just after I say this Wash gets two plays at 3B. The decision not to send Vogt was correct, and exactly the kind of play I had come to expect Gallego to blow.
"Kraut will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no kraut."
This involves scanning adjacent columns on B-R, so it’s possible I could have missed someone, but for anyone who gave up <40 HR the walk total would be <20, and <20 HR means a walk total under 10, so that made it reasonable. This list is somewhat devoid of Eck's and Rivera's.
At least 8 HR allowed with a HR/BB ratio of greater than 2.00, since 2000:
-Kind of funny that Mujica is the other guy who had a season that makes both lists.
-Silva putting up those numbers in a full season as a starter (188 IP) is quite impressive.
-Towers gave up almost as many HR (122) as BB (123) for his career. So close.
The Twins historically love starting pitchers with low BB/9 ratios and are willing to endure the homers. Silva’s teammate that year, Brad Radke, pitched 200 innings with 33 HR and 23 BB. This year’s runaway leader among starting pitchers is Phil Hughes (23 starts, 144.1 IP, 28 HR, 15 BB for 1.87 HR/BB). Bartolo Colon is the only other regular starter (excluding BMac here) with a ratio above 1 this season (22 HR, 18 BB).
Turns out Scribner also has not walked anyone at home this season, and in 11.2 IP last year he didn’t walk anyone at all (11 Ks). He also gave up 4 homers last year.
They were under .500 for much of the season this year, but they’ve had a very hot last couple weeks and are now 65-65. They’ll probably be avoiding last place.
I was looking at the reported attendance figures, which we speculated about months ago. Fresno has its lowest figure in the last 10 years, but they’re only down about 250 compared to the average of the last 3 seasons. Sacramento is up 10% over the last 3 seasons, but they’re basically only back to the level they were in 2009-2010; as an A’s affiliate their attendance exceeded this year’s every season up through 2008.
Very much this. I dont feel like the Grizzlies will make some big jump, but I dont see them dropping further than they have. For Sacto let’s see what 2-3 bad years do for them. Because honestly, if that was the Grizzlies, it would have been considered a good year-they were in contention off and on, and are at near .500 in the last 2 weeks? That would have been something.
Semien has his advocates who believe he’s approaching average. I agree he’s improved but won’t go so far as to say he projects to be an average defender at SS. And when you consider the ground ball tendencies of Gray, Hahn and Graveman its fair to argue that even an average defensive SS isn’t enough to truly take advantage of the team’s pitching talent.
Average seems like his best-case scenario defensively. I’m more troubled at this point by his offensive potential, frankly. He’s 802 PAs into his big league career, with a line of .247/.295/.385. That’s not going to cut unless he’s Omar Vizquel with the leather.
AL shortstops as a group are hitting .261/.306/.369 this year, so if he could be even an average defender there his hitting would be OK.
The other issue is his 2012 Reddick level of unclutchness at the plate. That’s something that he could grow out of too, of course. But right now between that and the defense he is pretty hard to watch.
Doubrant is on CRUZ control!
Great minds think alike!
I tried to delete mine but I can’t. please someone do.
i was going to post the same thing there. i can never delete
I’ve got the power!
That’s good, because the plague of overlapping threads we’ve had around here week after week are really cluttering up the joint.
It’s a real nuisance.
there goes the no hitter
There goes the neighborhood.
Oh boy, Scribbles in the 3rd inning.
I realize now the guy who came around the season-ticket-holder ring yesterday who I didn’t recognize was Felix Doubront. I wish next time they do this (which I hope is not for many years, since it’s a not-going-to-postseason sop to the faithful) they would have the handlers who accompany each player hold up signs with their names. It’s a lot harder than you’d think when they’re not wearing numbers.
I watch them on TV almost every day, and I’m terrible at recognizing the players in real life.
I really dislike Doubront, for no good reason.
He was a Red Sok
The Sounds are in Reno tonight, so it won’t be hard to get anyone worth calling up to Seattle for tomorrow.
I went to the game, and looking around the field was thinking “wow, who here is worth calling up on September 1?” Ladendorf is about it. Wendle wasn’t in the lineup; he was the acting 1B coach for some reason.
I’m not sure if you get out to many MILB games, but 1B tends to be coached by a player not in the lineup (or various players in one game) while the manager coaches 3B.
Oh I know that, but it’s usually not somebody who’s a regular on the team. Wendle has 555 PA so he’s an everyday player.
This was the first AAA game I’ve been to this season. I hope the pitch clock never makes it to the big leagues.
Posnanski was a convert:
http://joeposnanski.com/500-more-words-on-baseball-clocks/
I hope it does. I don’t need to see the clock ticking, but what it does for pacing makes a world of difference. I especially like the between inning clock. Get the ball, get in the box, get moving.
Boom goes the dynamite.
It would seem that this game is not going to come down to third base coaching.
Hah, just after I say this Wash gets two plays at 3B. The decision not to send Vogt was correct, and exactly the kind of play I had come to expect Gallego to blow.
Hey, I just realized that Ken is well enough to travel now. That’s awesome!
I don’t know if he’s doing any other roadtrips, but I believe it had been said he’d do this one.
Actually EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!
I guess the A’s are off tonight and they’re showing a minor league game.
These seven runs innings are becoming routine.
wow i homework was funner than scribble scribbling. but not the 7 run inning
does lawrie get a fine?
Missed the last 3 innings reading the last chapter of Howl’s Moving Castle, which was more plausible than 8 unanswered A’s runs.
watchthe replay of burn’s double.
the A’s dont even know the fundementals
They really should keep track of Venditte’s pitch count by arm, rather than total.
So, who had the A’s bullpen retiring the last 16 batters they faced, 19 if you count the single and out at second?
scribbles was very efficient. 5 hits, 5 er.
With 0 BB and 3 K last night, Scribner’s season is moving into historically great territory. Perhaps ptbnl can verify my list.
At least 40 IP with a K/BB ratio of 12 or better, since 1968:
1. 18.33 — Dennis Eckersley, OAK, 1989 (57.2 IP, 3 BB, 55 K)
2. 18.25 — Dennis Eckersley, OAK, 1990 (73.1 IP, 4 BB, 73 K)
3. 15.75 — Evan Scribner, OAK, 2015 (59.0 IP, 4 BB, 63 K)
4. 14.00 — Sergio Romo, SF, 2011 (48.0 IP, 5 BB, 70 K)
5. 12.83 — Mariano Rivera, NYY, 2008 (70.2 IP, 6 BB, 77 K)
6. 12.00 — Edward Mujica, SD, 2010 (69.2 IP, 6 BB, 72 K)
How about HR/BB ratio?
This involves scanning adjacent columns on B-R, so it’s possible I could have missed someone, but for anyone who gave up <40 HR the walk total would be <20, and <20 HR means a walk total under 10, so that made it reasonable. This list is somewhat devoid of Eck's and Rivera's.
At least 8 HR allowed with a HR/BB ratio of greater than 2.00, since 2000:
T1. 3.50 -- Evan Scribner, OAK, 2015 (14 HR, 4 BB)
T1. 3.50 — Zach Stewart, CHW/BOS, 2012 (14 HR, 4 BB)
3. 2.78 — Carlos Silva, MIN, 2005 (25 HR, 9 BB)
4. 2.33 — Edward Mujica, SD, 2010 (14 HR, 6 BB)
5. 2.25 — Brandon McCarthy, LAD, 2015 (9 HR, 4 BB)
6. 2.20 — Josh Towers, BAL, 2002 (11 HR, 5 BB)
7. 2.14 — Josh Towers, TOR, 2003 (15 HR, 7 BB)
You can search the pitching season finder specifically for a ratio (like HR > 2*BB).
Thanks.
-Kind of funny that Mujica is the other guy who had a season that makes both lists.
-Silva putting up those numbers in a full season as a starter (188 IP) is quite impressive.
-Towers gave up almost as many HR (122) as BB (123) for his career. So close.
The Twins historically love starting pitchers with low BB/9 ratios and are willing to endure the homers. Silva’s teammate that year, Brad Radke, pitched 200 innings with 33 HR and 23 BB. This year’s runaway leader among starting pitchers is Phil Hughes (23 starts, 144.1 IP, 28 HR, 15 BB for 1.87 HR/BB). Bartolo Colon is the only other regular starter (excluding BMac here) with a ratio above 1 this season (22 HR, 18 BB).
I’d rather take a few more walks in exchange for fewer homers.
Doolittle ended up just short on this list last year, with an 11.13 K/BB ratio.
Turns out Scribner also has not walked anyone at home this season, and in 11.2 IP last year he didn’t walk anyone at all (11 Ks). He also gave up 4 homers last year.
Hard to walk people when you float it across the plate to give up homeruns.
This season has been so uninspiring I let my BRef subscription lapse, but based on the Ks (which is all it will show me) that looks right.
what the hell is wrong with brian mccann?
OK Jesse, don’t spend that run all in one place.
i would say we need an innings eater today, but I don’t trust Jesse getting to a second course
I believe I can fly
How many floors off the ground are you.
Enough to do damage.
no, ken. we all expeced Butler to be hitting 230 at the end of ausust
no, vince, you can’t make a case that 2015 is a better year for reddick than 2012
Who are these guys?
Welcome to the Mariners.
They got the Mariners wrong, among quite a few others. I imagine this is about as bad a year as AL predictors have ever had.
nl central was pretty good
Butler scored from second on a double? Huh.
I hate them as much as everyone else here, but never let it be said that I am not fair.
A huge thank you to the SF Giants organization. They finally, for the first time in like 18 years, brought a division title to Fresno.
Meanwhile the RC’s are having the worst year they ever have I believe.
(God pls dont make me end up in Sacto having to watch that dreck again year after year…)
Only one season under .500 as an A’s affiliate.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/bullpen/Sacramento_River_Cats
They were under .500 for much of the season this year, but they’ve had a very hot last couple weeks and are now 65-65. They’ll probably be avoiding last place.
I was looking at the reported attendance figures, which we speculated about months ago. Fresno has its lowest figure in the last 10 years, but they’re only down about 250 compared to the average of the last 3 seasons. Sacramento is up 10% over the last 3 seasons, but they’re basically only back to the level they were in 2009-2010; as an A’s affiliate their attendance exceeded this year’s every season up through 2008.
I’ll be more curious to see how the next couple years go.
Very much this. I dont feel like the Grizzlies will make some big jump, but I dont see them dropping further than they have. For Sacto let’s see what 2-3 bad years do for them. Because honestly, if that was the Grizzlies, it would have been considered a good year-they were in contention off and on, and are at near .500 in the last 2 weeks? That would have been something.
2 mediocre years in 13 and 14 broght attendance down
marier radio promo just said they will be breaking down the critical 3rd pre season game for the mariner hawks
I stopped watching and bad stuff happened.
A’s 2015: Bad stuff kept happening so I stopped watching.
A’s 2015: I’ve been uninterested since 2014!
this is going to be a terrible game, huh?
Both teams could score multiple runs in each remaining half inning, that would be entertaining.
Those yellow socks with the vertical green faux stirrup stripe are hideous, and I am especially embarrassed for Vogt wearing them.
Cat scratch fever sounds so much cooler than Bartonella henselae.
that might depend on one’s personal interpretation of cool.
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Swoon.
Vince’s talk of how this is a “big swing game” because of Felix tomorrow as if anything matters anymore is adorable.
Maybe what he means is that later tonight him and Rick Rizz are gonna wife swap.
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Okay, I’ve had enough. Peace.
You just saw early Semien and current Semien on that play.
deacent tease
The two teams’ much-maligned bullpens combined threw 11.0 scoreless innings last night.
Billy Burns leadoff home run off King Felix, so predictable.
46-for-92 when hitting the first pitch, and all 3 homers on the first pitch (I was faster than SuSlu and Vince on those stats, so there).
Yet people keep giving him good pitches to hit on the first pitch.
Same last night, leadoff first pitch fastball he ripped into center for a hit. Truly baffling that he ever sees a first pitch fastball strike.
Maybe that four run M’s 1st was Bassitt’s way of showing the A’s offense that he had faith in them.
If I were a Mariners fan I would rock their original M/trident logo every chance I got.
Also if I were a Mariners fan I would found a religion devoted to Sugar Jesus.
Coming into today the A’s were 45-67 when Butler starts, 10-5 when he doesn’t.
He’s like the anti-Cespedes.
Then obviously, they need to start him as many games as possible the rest of the way.
@andeux: and I bet Butler doesn’t spend nearly as much time flexing and admiring himself in the mirror.
Billy Burns has a higher SLG than Marcus Semien.
But they are both about 30 points above Billy Butler.
Holy shit!
I cut my hair off again. Only 15″ I’m this time. Someone help me figure out how to use a curling iron now.
1. Cut a hole in the box
Thanks, and go As.
didn’t get to the game until the 7th.
ken was giggling at the cruz HR.
I need to not watch Addison Russell play defense.
Does he do good things and make you think what might have been?
Does he ever.
Sigh.
A title last year would have made it alright for me.
Same.
I would also feel better about it if not for the creeping suspicion that Semien is just pretty bad.
Semien has his advocates who believe he’s approaching average. I agree he’s improved but won’t go so far as to say he projects to be an average defender at SS. And when you consider the ground ball tendencies of Gray, Hahn and Graveman its fair to argue that even an average defensive SS isn’t enough to truly take advantage of the team’s pitching talent.
Average seems like his best-case scenario defensively. I’m more troubled at this point by his offensive potential, frankly. He’s 802 PAs into his big league career, with a line of .247/.295/.385. That’s not going to cut unless he’s Omar Vizquel with the leather.
Next year is his age 25 season. I’m willing to be patient with the bat, I think it can mature into something that ticks above average.
It would just be a lot easier to be patient if he was playing above average defense at 2B!
AL shortstops as a group are hitting .261/.306/.369 this year, so if he could be even an average defender there his hitting would be OK.
The other issue is his 2012 Reddick level of unclutchness at the plate. That’s something that he could grow out of too, of course. But right now between that and the defense he is pretty hard to watch.