Tuesday Bird Droppings

by Camden Chat on Oct 20, 2009 6:31 AM EDT in Open Threads Comment 23 comments

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Angels' Mathis hits RBI double in 11th to beat Yankees

Derek Jeter didn't come through, and Joe Girardi made some questionable moves. Angels win....the Angels wins. -duck

Rollins' double lifts Phillies over Dodgers in 9th

"Jimmy Rollins lined a two-run double with two outs in the ninth inning off closer Jonathan Broxton and the Philadelphia Phillies rallied past the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 Monday night for a 3-1 lead in the NL championship series." -duck

Werth leaving days of doubt in the dust

Another reminder that Jayson Werth of the Phillies was drafted by the Orioles. And yeah, I got to see him play as a Shorebird. A lot. -duck

Productive Outs Aren't All That Productive

It's time to designate the stat for assignment. The Nationals and Orioles led their leagues in productive outs and preventing productive outs this year. Yeah, that helped a lot. -duck

Acta a finalist for Indians job

"Former Washington manager Manny Acta is getting a second interview with the Cleveland Indians ." -duck

Your chance to win 'An Evening with Brooks' tickets

Dean Jones Jr. at The Sun offers a chance to win two tickets to An Evening With Brooks. You have until Wednesday night to answer his questions and be placed in a random drawing. -duck

What new rules? There hasn't been any rules changes since the Black Sox Scandal, 1919. Big League Tegwar's Big League Tegwar known to every big-time ballplayer from Boston to Open Thread.

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That productive outs article is great

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Oct 20, 2009 9:25 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think it's that big of a deal.

Since it’s already been established here that the O’s had the least sacrifice bunts in the AL in 2009, all those “productive outs” are of the groundball and flyball variety. While they are clearly not as good as hits, it’s not like the batters were intentionally giving themselves up in bunting, so compared to unproductive outs (strikeouts, popups, groundouts that don’t advance a runner) they are obviously preferable. The problem for the O’s (and I guess the Nats too) is that they didn’t have the personnel behind the productive outs to make them mean anything and on the defensive side the pitching was so awful that even if they avoided giving up productive outs (how can a HR/walk be a productive out???) they were too busy getting shelled for it to make any difference.

by O'sFan21 on Oct 20, 2009 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant more as a general principle

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Oct 20, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah I wasn’t disagreeing with you – just making some observations.

by O'sFan21 on Oct 20, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But the difference between productive outs and unproductive ones is small, and such outs are unlikely to compensate for other hitting deficiencies.

Pretty much what I suspected. It would be interesting to know how many runs the O’s would have scored if they finished first and last in productive outs. I suspect the difference is very small.

"Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman's back, the hanging curve ball, high fiber, good scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, overrated crap."

by birdman on Oct 20, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was watching the Dodgers game

When Sherrill pitched. It was cool to see him get that big strikeout. My brother moved to LA about a week before the trade, so he’s been watching him over there also. Anyway, when Sherrill pitched, he had like two mound visits. Me and my brother Noah agree that you shouldn’t talk to George.

The stock market will never recover, our armies will never again be #1, and our children will drink filthy water for the rest of their lives - HST

by the fix is in on Oct 20, 2009 9:30 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Sub Hub makes me laugh/cry

had to share these 2 emails I recieved yesterday…

Email #1
(subject) Get great seats to any Baltimore Orioles playoff game

(body) Where do you want to sit?

Hey David,

Be there alongside your Baltimore Orioles as they chase baseball immortality. Go to StubHub, where you’ll find a fantastic selection of tickets to every playoff game – so you experience the championship chase live and in person. Check it out. Go to StubHub and get the seats you want today.

Email #2
(subject) Apologies from StubHub

(body) Hi David,

Earlier today, an email promoting Baltimore Orioles postseason tickets was sent to you. This, unfortunately, was a mistake. We regret the error and apologize for any inconvenience or confusion this may have caused.

Sincerely,

The StubHub Team

Don’t feel bad, Stub Hub. I’ve been making apologies for the O’s not being in the playoffs MUCH longer than you.

by daveh873 on Oct 20, 2009 9:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ha ha that's awesome

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Oct 20, 2009 9:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A friend of mine got the exact same email regarding The Cubs.

by VB O's Guy on Oct 20, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bell & Snyder are mashing in AFL

I know it’s early out there, and it isn’t MLB, but it is a great sign that both our future 3B and our top prospect for 1B are hitting well in Arizona. Is anyone working on Bell’s hitting from the right side, out there?

by fuddnelson on Oct 20, 2009 9:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

ahahahahahahah

SI.com nails it.

Girardi’s ‘manic managing’ costs Yankees in Game 3

"I think my motivation is to see the other guys in the clubhouse. They’re contending for the playoffs, and when I see that it gets into my body. I play like it’s the playoffs too" —Memlo

by zknower on Oct 20, 2009 11:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Also, for your viewing pleasure today,

…Bert and Ernie Ante Up.

"I think my motivation is to see the other guys in the clubhouse. They’re contending for the playoffs, and when I see that it gets into my body. I play like it’s the playoffs too" —Memlo

by zknower on Oct 20, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dear Lord

you watch the Angels and the Twins and you can’t help but think that they’re pushing: all the over-aggressive baserunning and defensive miscues that have given the Yankees a huge huge huge edge. Then you tally up all of the stupid things Girardi has done and you can’t help but think that he thinks that he’s managing for his job:

Getting rid of his DH, putting Jose Guzman or Francisco Cervelli in front of Teixeira and A-Rod.
Redefining “Captain Hook”
Wasting his quality relievers on one batter
Making like 50 trips to the mound
Intentionally walking Abreu to put multiple runners on for Torii Hunter

Jesus. Most of these things haven’t blown up in his face…yet, but if he doesn’t stop, they will, and I’ll be laughing the whole time. The worst thing, I think Girardi is a tremendous baseball mind – but clearly he is either too egotistical or jumpy or feels too much pressure to really be Very Good at his job of managing.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Oct 20, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Went to the Phillies Game

I went to the Phillies/Dodgers game last night, and I have several observations to make.

Camden Yards is a much better stadium; it feels like a ballpark, whereas Citizens’ Bank Park has an industrial feel.

It was great to attend a game in a packed stadium. The experience made me nostalgic for the old days, when there was so much excitement at Memorial Stadium and Camden Yards.

I got to see a team assembled by Pat Gillick, the GM that we let go so we could bring in Frank Wren and then Syd Thrift.

I got to see Jayson Werth, one of the few Orioles first round draft choices (Markakis, Wieters, and Matusz being the exceptions) over the last 15 years who have met with success in the majors. We traded Werth for a pitcher named John Bale. Werth, an all-star, was, of course, snapped up by Pat Gillick a couple of years ago.

I did not see a single person wearing anything other than Phillies regalia. It was great to attend a important game where the crowd actually rooted for the home team. I can’t wait for the time when we drown out the Yanks and Sox fans at OPACY.

I got to see Sandy Koufax, who was in attendance. That was a thrill.

I have faith that AM will lead us out of the wilderness; perhaps not to the promised land, but at least out of the wilderness. He may not be Pat Gillick, but at least he isn’t Syd Thryft.

by BaltoBen on Oct 20, 2009 11:33 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Did anybody throw batteries???

by O'sFan21 on Oct 20, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't forget Sam Perlozzo

"Hey Yankees... you can take your apology and your trophy and shove 'em straight up your ass!" --Tanner Boyle

by BirdFanInPhilly on Oct 20, 2009 12:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Shaprio hires Acta

I’ll question his sanity, he’d be maushga in my book.

I now have a blog: http://justanotherbaltimoresportsblog.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 20, 2009 3:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Why's that?

Acta seems like a pretty smart guy who knows what he’s doing and would be a good fit with the more sabermetrically-bent Indians.

"I like baseball, movies, good clothes, whiskey, fast cars ... and you. What else you need to know?"

by Andrew @ TLC on Oct 20, 2009 3:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

you're right

He just did such a bad job with the Gnats. But I don’t think if you put together the DNA of Earl Weaver, John McGraw, Tony LaRussa, Casey Stangel, Connie Mack, Sparky Anderson, Miller Huggins and Tommy Lasorda to create a super manager I don’t think super manager could manage the Gnats to a winning record.

I now have a blog: http://justanotherbaltimoresportsblog.blogspot.com/

by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 20, 2009 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i dont think he did such a bad job with the nats

by twistedlogic on Oct 20, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the nats players did a bad job with the nats

Acta was fine.

Some Day, Matt Wieters Will Make The Cooperstown Crowd Laugh By Talking About The Time He Batted Behind Melvin Mora And Luke Scott. -Keith Law via Matt Wieters Facts

by Stacey on Oct 20, 2009 5:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs