tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post432915728299691828..comments2023-06-17T08:53:42.643-04:00Comments on ShysterBall: And That HappenedCraig Calcaterrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-90289400400377726042008-06-03T17:59:00.000-04:002008-06-03T17:59:00.000-04:00Well, right, but to me back east they all ended af...Well, right, but to me back east they all ended after bedtime. When I woke up to the slate of box scores, I had a choice: pick on the low hanging fruit (Oliver Perez's craptacular performance) or think hard to say something insightful about the Dodgers and Angels. Given the little time I had thanks to Shyster Jr., I went with the low hanging fruit.Craig Calcaterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-14333531435730673322008-06-03T17:41:00.000-04:002008-06-03T17:41:00.000-04:00I believe the Dodgers-Rockies and Angels-Mariners ...I believe the Dodgers-Rockies and Angels-Mariners both finished before the Giants-Mets games.Bob Timmermannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08557837169697676093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-30906409701537640992008-06-03T16:08:00.000-04:002008-06-03T16:08:00.000-04:00Craig - I have a 2-year old son who decided to wak...Craig - I have a 2-year old son who decided to wake up at 5:30 the other morning (and does so occasionally). Thankfully, it hasn't become a trend, but I can relate. <BR/><BR/>You did forget though, that if your 3-year-old is healthy and somewhat robust, you can generally sell him into labor somewhere. Less mess than infanticide, plus a decent profit if you know how to haggle. Food for thought.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I really do love your writeups whether the Angels are in them or not (this is the first place I come in the morning). We'd welcome you over on the Left Coast if you decide to move out here (East Coast games start at 4 pm!!!), but keep up the good work where you're at, and I'll welcome the Angels new when I can get it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-1330901644397922462008-06-03T15:13:00.000-04:002008-06-03T15:13:00.000-04:00APBA Guy-The A's squeak out another victory at hom...APBA Guy-<BR/><BR/>The A's squeak out another victory at home, and I find myself in the curious position of defending Mr. K Suzuki, he of the lowest OPS <BR/>(.635) among qualified (see ESPN definition) catchers, behind even Jason Kendall.<BR/><BR/>The basic argument is this: the A's have the 3rd lowest team ERA in MLB at 3.51, close to the leading Jays (at 3.32). The catcher does have an impact on the team ERA, especially one who catches 9 of 10 games, K Suzuki is second in caught stealing percentage, above Pudge but behind Kendall, and for over a month he took one for the team batting leadoff. Since he has been repurposed to a more comfortable 9th hole, his OPS is up 60 points. Nobody will confuse him with McCann or Posada, but he's doing an excellent job behind the plate and having a positive impact on the staff. Just watch a few games and see how the pitchers react to him. He's closer to a Matheny/Ausmus type catcher (though still years away from THAT skill level-he's only 24, very young for a starting catcher).<BR/><BR/>As for Daric Barton, I'll let someone else take that one. :)Production at first is definitely a problem for the A's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-91711793290874306642008-06-03T12:43:00.000-04:002008-06-03T12:43:00.000-04:00No, you make a good point Daniel. I have to blame...No, you make a good point Daniel. I have to blame my son for the lack of West Coast coverage in general and Angels coverage in particular.<BR/><BR/>See, I usually start writing these up at around 10PM eastern as the east coast games are going final, and then finish with west coasst games when I wake up the next morning because, let's face it, I can't stay up as late as I used to.<BR/><BR/>For the past week, my boy -- who will turn 3 in July -- has decided that waking up at 6 am would be fun(yesterday it was 5:20!). My wife is either at the gym or in the shower around then, so I have no choice but to get him. Needless to say, that has killed my ability to write up the west coasters in anyting approaching a comprehensive fashion (I've opted for low hanging fruit in recent days).<BR/><BR/>Possible solutions:<BR/><BR/>(1) Kill my son. Promising, but probably involves a lot of paperwork;<BR/><BR/>(2) move to Marin County or Coronado Island, or Newport Beach or somewhere like that so I can get the west coast scores in by a decent hour. Again, promising, but I'll have to ask the New York Post people for a raise on what they pay me for book reviews. Currntly it's like $400 a pop. If they'd raise it to, say, $10,000 a review we may be getting there.<BR/><BR/>(3) I can suck it up and work a little harder.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, it looks like 3 is going to have to carry the day until my boy decides to sleep later.Craig Calcaterrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00190345915954808542noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-54934207920136069752008-06-03T12:35:00.000-04:002008-06-03T12:35:00.000-04:00I love your writeups Craig, but no Angels for like...I love your writeups Craig, but no Angels for like 5 days in a row? Give some love to the LAA. Okay, I'll stop complaining about this free blog now.<BR/><BR/>Here's some math for you: <BR/>Ken Griffey Jr - 400 Hr's - Emotion = Garret Anderson<BR/><BR/>Also, it's interesting that the NL West is so bad. Just about everyone was predicting this division to be a crapshoot among 4 85 - 90 win teams (Dbacks, Dodgers, Padres, and Rockies). Boy was that wrong.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-52751560870892838412008-06-03T09:43:00.000-04:002008-06-03T09:43:00.000-04:00Even though the results didn't show it (a better d...Even though the results didn't show it (a better defense would have gotten him out of the inning), Smoltz was pretty filthy last night. I'm not sure exactly what he was throwing, but it was clocked at 95 and had ridiculous sink.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542095161977433894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-53794578275769599292008-06-03T09:02:00.000-04:002008-06-03T09:02:00.000-04:00ha! Thanks for the note Craig... last night's game...ha! Thanks for the note Craig... last night's game was especially grueling all around. Melvin leaves Davis in 1 batter too long, Reynolds error contributes to 2 runs scoring, our LOOGY gives up the go ahead HR to Prince, and we get em loaded in the 9th with 1 out and come up empty after a popup and a strike out on a ball 4 inches inside and low. <BR/><BR/>Just think if Arizona had been playing well for the last 5 weeks, we could be printing playoff tickets already.Drehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12308565071470315778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9131289420618991795.post-56914794059114923642008-06-03T06:33:00.000-04:002008-06-03T06:33:00.000-04:00It will only be fitting if the M's trade Jeff Clem...It will only be fitting if the M's trade Jeff Clement or some other good prospect to the Reds for Junior and then bench him in favor of Jose Vidro when he doesn't hit.Mark Runsvoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13749478502694372288noreply@blogger.com