2009 MLB season discussion*

[Penthesilea]

Wow, hope Rick Ankiel is ok. Looked brutal

[Melena]

Jesus, anyone else think this is the breakout year for Greinke? A complete game shutout, and a .4 ERA so far for the year. I know he can't do this all year, but god damn he's been my best 7th round fantasy baseball pick I think i've ever had.

[KoalaTrap]

John Buccigross (Sportscenter anchor and fantastic hockey writer) called Greinke as Allstar game starter like 2 weeks ago. I love me some Bucci so I hope he's right. Central seems like it might be a dog fight, much like the east. AL will be entertaining all year long.

[Akiyama]

Yeah. I love that guy. He's too fun.

[KoalaTrap]

Read his weekly NHL column that has a large portion of non-sports in it. He's way into nerdy music and naming babies and life lessons. I read a lot, mostly fiction but I've decided to get the book he co-wrote with Keith Jones about his NHL career just cause he's just a fine and passionate writer.

MLB note: I'm watching the Sox <3 v Yanks atm and I'm kinda scared they want Paps to get a 5 out save.

Edit: http://search.espn.go.com/john-buccigross/

Bucci column archive.

[Ensam]

Jeff Francouer on OBP

"If on-base percentage is so important, then why don't they put it up on the scoreboard?" Francoeur says.

I'm so glad he isn't on my team lol.

[Akiyama]

Yeah. Not only can he not hit most of the time, but he's an idiot.

[Ensam]

To be fair, he's at least better than the Marlins color announcer (Tommy Hutton), who went on a tear about how Jeremy Hermida needs to stop taking walks (walking 20% of teh time, 3rd in the NL in walks) and be more aggressive. Brought up Adam Dunn and Manny Ramirez, the two ahead of Hermida in walks, about how their walks are "ok" because they also hit a lot of home runs, so walks are meaningless if you don't hit HRs (huh?). Said which would you rather have, a .400 OBP or 90 RBIs. I was just like, *facepalm*. Certainly annoying though when have a leadoff hitter with a .310 OBP and a #6 hitter with a .400 OBP and a low SLG.

Frency's quote does bring up my curiosity if OBP is displayed on scoreboards though.

It's displayed on the scoreboard in dolphin stadium (so is OPS), and I'm pretty sure it isn't displayed in Tropicana Field though I'm not 100%. I haven't been to Yankee Stadium in 10 years and I didn't even know about OBP back then so don't know about there. Only 3 ML stadiums I've been to.

I always get interested in those kinda things aswell as with displayed on TV when they're showing a game.

[fren.]

Joba just struck out 5 guys in one inning.

Could have done without the 89-91mph meatballs in the first inning though.

Edit: Holy shit; 12K's in 5 2/3, struck out the last 8.

[Rhinox]

Joba just struck out 5 guys in one inning.

Could have done without the 89-91mph meatballs in the first inning though.

Edit: Holy shit; 12K's in 5 2/3, struck out the last 8.

Nice accomplishment. Considering you have to have a pretty bad defense to pull it off.

[Pringles]

Joba just struck out 5 guys in one inning.

Could have done without the 89-91mph meatballs in the first inning though.

Edit: Holy shit; 12K's in 5 2/3, struck out the last 8.

It's not possible to strike out 5 in a single inning....

[Rhinox]

you can. Just need horrible defense to pull it off.

[Pringles]

I still don't see how, looking over the game summary so far I don't see it either.

[Cephius]

He didn't strike out 5 in one inning, I'm watching the game >_>

But yeah, you can do it if the catcher drops the 3rd strike and fails to throw out the runner at first base...

[Headspace]

Volquez having a good start again. However, he's over 8 IPs again, and I'm not watching it, but I don't want Dusty running up his pitch count again

[Pringles]

Yea I remember seeing that once before after I made my post, I just didn't see where Joba had done it looking over the game day summary.

[Akiyama]

Joba had a nice game, and it would've been awesome if he had the lead after the inning where he left being all pumped up.. but I think they were still down 4-3. I understand a closer getting pumped after striking someone out with a couple runners on, K-Rod doing it because he does it all the time, or someone else doing it to win a game, but Joba doing it in like.. the end of the 5th inning down 4-3 with a couple runners on? Plenty of starters have to get out of those situations and leave the field without pumping their fists. That and his team is still losing due to his first inning. :/

Still a decent start with a ton of strikeouts though.

[Heian]

What happened to my Joba being classy post, when he purposely beaned Jason Bay.....

[fren.]

It's not possible to strike out 5 in a single inning....

I was kidding. He K'd Ortiz twice in one AB.

Posada is out 2 months with a hammy injury. ARod, Marte, Bruney, Nady, and Wang. The two worst pitching staffs in the league coming into tonight were the Yankees and Sox (last) baseball is such a shitty sport.

[Akiyama]

If you count the bullpen, it'd probably put the Yankees behind the Sox, right? I'm not sure. I know starter wise, the Sox are worse right now, even though Wang is just.. so.. ugh. Haha.