Thursday game notes

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@Orioles 3, Rays 2 (14): “Words fail / Buildings tumble / The ground opens wide; / Light beams / down from heaven / They stand before my eyes; / They’re actual size, but they seem much bigger to me….” (Apologies to They Might Be Giants.)

Those crazy birds are now 27-7 in one-run games, and 13-2 in bonus cantos.
Tough sequence for Matthew Joyce: First, Randy Wolf whiffed him to end the 14th with the lead run in scoring position (the 2nd time a southpaw was summoned just for Joyce, who entered the game in the 9th). Then, his diving effort brought him up just short.
Leave it to the youngest guy in the AL to get the first game-winning hit on a 3-and-0 count in over 2 years … and look who had the last one.
Randy Wolf got the win in the shortest outing of his 374 games — 1 batter, 4 pitches.
“I know tomorrow you’ll find better things”: Young Chris Archer has a bright future, but so far his record is 0-3; he took the loss in his only relief outing; he’s fanned in his only PH appearance; and was caught stealing in his one time as a pinch-runner.

@Angels 6, Athletics 0: Just to throw another twist into the AL Cy Young race — and, oh-by-the-way, to save the the Angels’ postseason hopes (for another day, at least) — Jered Weaver came back razor-sharp (9 Ks, 1 walk, 2 hits and 7 zeroes), grabbing a share of the league lead with his 17th win. Torii Hunter, slotted in the cleanup spot, produced the game’s first run with an oppo drive in the 7th, and he closed the scoring with an RBI single that same frame. Brett Anderson had everything going his way up to then, collecting timely DPs and stranding runners as he sought his 5th straight win allowing 1 run or less. And he might have gotten away with only 2 runs, but Jesse Chavez — bought from Toronto last month, for reasons inscrutable — had a forgettable green-and-gold debut, letting in all three inherited runners plus one of his run before he finally got an out.

Would anyone care to handicap the AL CYA race right now? Some observers think that the Greinke and King Felix awards (2009-10) shattered the old mold, but all those votes really proved is that a guy who leads in ERA and WAR can cop the hardware without big Win numbers. But right now it’s doubtful that we’ll have such clarity among the AL CYA contenders.

Yankees 2, @Red Sox 0: Phil Hughes spearheaded New York’s first Fenway shutout since 2008, taking the baton into the 8th and beating Boston for the 3rd time in 4 tries this year.

Rafael Soriano needs 2 saves to become the 4th Yankee with 40 in a season. Dave Righetti had 1, John Wetteland had 1, and Mariano has 8. Soriano still holds Tampa Bay’s season record with 45 in 2010. (Fernando Rodney has 42.)
With decisions in his 3 remaining starts, Hughes would become the first Yankee with 30 decisions since 1989.
Derek Jeter tied Willie Mays with 3,283 hits. He’s 16 for 43 in Boston this year, but over all it’s been one of his least successful venues. Jeter’s batted .263/.694 in 136 Fenway games, compared to .318/.851 in his home parks. But his team is 72-64 in games he’s played in the Hub.
New York’s last two individual shutouts in Fenway were by Mike Mussina, on 2002-08-28 and 2001-09-02.
The win insured NY’s 20th straight season at .500 or better. They’re halfway to setting a new franchise record; they were over .500 from 1926-64, 39 years.
Pedro Ciriaco reached 200 PAs, needs 7 more to set the Red Sox record for most PAs with no more than 4 walks.
How did I miss this? Along with his 2 HRs on Wednesday, Curtis Granderson struck out twice, breaking the franchise season record that he set just last year. He added 3 more on Thursday to reach 173. At this pace, the GrandyMan would finish the year with 196 whiffs — 70 more than The Mick ever had in one year and 63 more than Reggie‘s NY peak.

Cardinals 2, @Dodgers 1: Some 43,000 turned out for the premiere of Slump and Slumper, Hollywood’s hot new comic inaction thriller. Both clubs skidded into town having lost 6 of their last 7, as if neither wanted to go down in history as the first-ever second wild card team.

Can this be right? LA’s last winning homestand was May 18-20, a 3-game sweep of St. Louis? Their homestands since then have gone 2-6, 3-3, 3-4, 2-4, 4-5, 2-4, 3-4, and now 0-1. That’s 19-31 in all.

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Doug

12 years ago

If Weaver gets to 20 wins, he will win the CYA. If the Angels go on a 5-day rotation, Weaver gets 4 more starts – TEX, CHW, @TEX, @SEA, the last on the final day of the season.

If the Angels clinch or get eliminated early, then probably only 3 more starts. Unless, he needs one more chance to try to win no. 20.

Weaver’s IP and SO/IP are both down a fair bit this season.

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

But if David Price also reaches 20 wins wouldn’t he have the edge over Weaver based on better ERA, higher WAR, more Ks?

Editor

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Ed

Yes, Ed, Price would get the edge on my ballot.

What I meant (but didn’t say) is Weaver would, in my view, have to win 20 to win the CYA. Was just commenting on Weaver’s chances, per JA’s suggestion that he might be back in the mix with his sharp outing yesterday after a few less impressive starts recently.

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

Gotcha Doug. I would think that Price is the favorite at this point, given that he leads in wins and ERA which tend to trump everything else in the CY Young race. Tonight’s a big night for him though as he goes into NY to face CC and the Yankees.

Editor

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Ed

Price came through with flying colors. CC had his lowest strikeout total in 6+ IP since June 19 last season.

Voomo Zanzibar

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

It seems that both leagues are with open in the Denton True race.
Is it possible that both Kimbrel and Rodney would get it?

Jim Bouldin

12 years ago

You’re right John, wow! That’s astounding frankly. I don’t feel so bad about giving up Granderson now, especially after the season Jackson’s had.

Author

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Jim Bouldin

Jim — What is it you think I’m right about? (The scores, maybe?) Seriously, though … My note about Granderson’s Ks wasn’t meant to be a rip — I just honestly hadn’t heard that he set the club record, again.

I do think the Tigers came out ahead in that 3-way trade, with Jackson and Scherzer providing more value than what they gave up, and at a much better cost. But 40-HR CFs don’t grow on trees, either.

Jim Bouldin

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

Not sure why I worded it that way John to be honest. I just meant that finding out that Granderson had set the Yankee K record by a country mile over Reggie, was definitely a wow! moment for me as well. I had no idea.

I agree with you. They’re all good players but Scherzer and Jackson are making the deal look pretty good at this point. I think the upside on Jackson in particular is very high. A year ago I did not however.

Hartvig

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

I have to admit that I felt the same way as you did about Jackson last year, Jim. What worried me the most was his taking a fairly big step back in plate discipline and just how lost he looked on far too many occasions with a bat in his hand.

All good now however.

MikeD

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

It’s probably human nature, but I think whenever teams make a deal there is a need for the media to declare one team a winner, and there is a desire on the part of fans to think their team came out ahead. Yet this deal remains one of the more interesting one in years because it still seems like all three teams came out ahead, at least at varous times, which seems impossible, but not necessarily so. It comes down to what needs the team had at the time of the deal. The Yankees wanted a LH’d, power hitter who… Read more »

Hartvig

12 years ago

Reply to MikeD

And amazingly enough Edwin Jackson, who was also part of that trade, is also going pretty well this season too. In fact, I just read an article that B-R linked to on MLB Reports that he may have been the best free agent signing of the off-season (at least in terms of value for money spent). I disagree- I think it’s Josh Willingham- but still I would have been very happy if my Tigers had passed on Prince Fielder and Delmon Young and signed those two, along with Jamey Carroll instead. They still would have had enough money to sign… Read more »

MikeD

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

You know, I forgot that Edwin Jackson also switched hands in that trade. Be curious to see what happens to Jackson this offseason. He’s once again putting up a solid, but unspectacular year, while grinding out 200 innings. There’s value there, but probably not as much compared to what Scott Boras will seek for his client again. Willingham will probably “regret” the contract he signed with the Twins after he sees what Swisher gets from some team on the open market. The Twins should totally maximize his value and trade him after Hamilton, Swisher and Upton sign. Multiple teams will… Read more »

Hartvig

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

I was really surprised that they didn’t move him this year. They had no chance of contending. He was putting up the best numbers of his career- they still are but they were even better then. But most importantly in this at-least-supposedly steroid-free era he is going to be 34 years old and chances are that his production will likely return to what it had been- which was still pretty good- but there’s always the risk that it might fall off even more than that as well. But I still wish that it was the Tigers that were taking that… Read more »

MikeD

12 years ago

Reply to Hartvig

Hartvig, I thought he would have been moved at the trade deadline, but it appears the Twins didn’t like what was being offered. I’m sure he’ll be traded this offseason. He’s done nothing to decrease his value (actually increased it) and his cheap contract for the next two seasons will appear to be an even bigger bargain once the free agents sign. In other words, they may have made the smart move by holding on to him for a few more months.

deal

12 years ago

I am not sure if technically Chris Archer stuck out in his PH appearance. He was finishing the AB of Ryan Roberts – on Baseball-ref the AB was charged to Roberts. Archer does have a K, but it is later in the game. If Baseball-ref has this scored correctly I think we have a bit of a scoring oddity. Archer entered the game as a pinch hitter, for a PH appearance he is never actually credited for. In the game only One Rays position player finished the game playing at the same position in the field where he started –… Read more »

Author

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to deal

deal, you are right — the strikeout AB completed by Archer was charged to Ryan Roberts, by rule. Thanks for the correction.

bstar

12 years ago

So this was one of those super-rare Yankees wins without a HR, right? That would be….five for the season, JA? I think that ties the all-time low mark that you and Richard C deduced, unless I’m mistaken about the number.

Editor

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to bstar

Right you are, bstar. Yanks are now tied with the ’99 Tigers for fewest wins in a full season when not homering. One more win, and NY will be tied with the ’73 Braves for second on that list.

bstar

12 years ago

Eeking out a 2-1 win over the Nats tonight, Atlanta won its 20th straight game with Kris Medlen starting. According to Elias, this is the fourth longest streak of a team winning consecutive starts by one pitcher in history: 1. Whitey Ford 22 (1950-53 Yankees) 2. Carl Hubbell 22 (1936-37 Giants) 3. Lefty Grove 21 (1931 Athletics) 4. Kris Medlen 20 (2010-12 Braves) 4. Roger Clemens 20 (2001 Yankees) Although Medlen’s been as lights out as you can be recently, the 2010 portion of his winning streak (he didn’t start a game in 2011) was quite flukey, as he gave… Read more »

Jonas Gumby

12 years ago

Reply to bstar

This whole time I thought I was being a savvy Fantasy Player with my Kris Medlen pick-up 5 starts ago, when I really only caught the lightning in the closing credits!

bstar

12 years ago

Reply to Jonas Gumby

No, Jonas, I’d say you got it right. Medlen’s reign of terror didn’t really begin ’til he got into the starting rotation eight starts ago. As I mentioned @16, he really wasn’t anything special in the latter part of 2010 (the last time he was in the rotation).

Jonas Gumby

12 years ago

Reply to bstar

That’s true. I re-checked his game logs, and, as you mention, his starts only began again recently, after mostly relief.

Jim Bouldin

12 years ago

Orioles lost a one run game last night in the first game of a great series storyline. There’s still hope John…

But those Oakland A’s are just not going anyway. Moneyball all over again?

Author

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Jim Bouldin

Jim, I refuse to hold out any hope for my side of our bet. I realized that it was keeping me from enjoying the Baltimore story, including their threat to beat out the Yankees.

Jim Bouldin

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

John, your alma mater has allowed me to sit and work all week, in what can only be described as one of the finest library facilities I have been in (and I’ve been in a lot). Furthermore, even Buckeye vs Wolverine animosity has depths to which it should not sink below. Therefore, cancel from your mind all thoughts of scarlet and gray BVDs and stop with all rehearsals of “Hang on Sloopy” on your air guitar and thoughts of “dotting the I” in script Ohio. Please do understand however that the shotgun/television option remains on the table. Just think of… Read more »

12 years ago

Reply to Jim Bouldin

As an OSU fan, I demand to see John’s performance posted on Youtube! 🙂

Author

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Jim Bouldin

To clarify, I am not a U-M alum. I lived in Ann Arbor in 3 different stints as a young’un, for a total of about 9 years, and my fandom has been imprinted ever since. It’s a beautiful town, and not just the campus.

Jim Bouldin

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

Special leniency granted for instances of childhood brainwashing 🙂

Mike L

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

Having gone to JHU, I would like to claim some measure of comfort/solace should the Birds (or “Boids”) actually take the crown from my Yankees.

tag

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

Ann Arbor is indeed a great town, not the birthplace of the incomparable James Newell Osterberg, Jr. but where he got his musical start, and the long-time residence of a friend of mine called Art, who dated the comparable Madonna Louise Ciccone in high school. She was of all things a cheerleader. Unlike John, both Iggy and Madonna went to UM. Maybe both of them should have to sing in their underwear. But then they’ve been doing that for years.

Jonas Gumby

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

Kudos, tag, for making two Iggy references within one week, both within logical constrains of the topic.

Richard Chester

12 years ago

Reply to Jim Bouldin

Jim: Have you seen my post #71 on the recent Derek Jeter blog.

Jim Bouldin

12 years ago

Reply to Richard Chester

Yes Richard and I meant to thank you and everyone else for their help on that.

Paul E

12 years ago

Reply to Jim Bouldin

Hard to believe the O’s lost a one-run game….thought I might add this:
Mike Trout has now played 162 major league games in his 2 seasons:

136Runs 330Total Bases 49/53SB/CS 192Hits 68XBH .309/.374/.531 154OPS+

and possibly a Gold Glove? all in his age 19 & 20 seasons

Jim Bouldin

12 years ago

Reply to Paul E

Paul, is that 53 times caught stealing, or 49/53 successes?

Jim Bouldin

12 years ago

Reply to Jim Bouldin

Holy grand larceny Batman, that’s 49 out of 53 SB successes.

The synonym of which is “very rare indeed”.

MikeD

12 years ago

Reply to Paul E

Weren’t the A’s also compiling a tremendous record in one-run games? They were earlier this season. Perhaps that’s changed.

If an unstoppable force were to meet an immovable object…

Editor

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to MikeD

Oakland’s record in 1-run games is 22-15, .595, fourth best in the majors, behind Baltimore, Cleveland and Atlanta. The Orioles’ mark is also the best record since 1901 in 1-run games. Here are all the .700 and above records. Rk Tm Year G W L W-L% RS RA pythW-L% 1 BAL 2012 35 27 8 .771 131 112 .571 2 BAL 1981 28 21 7 .750 105 91 .565 3 PIT 1908 45 33 12 .733 111 90 .595 4 BAL 1970 55 40 15 .727 224 199 .554 5 PIT 1909 47 33 13 .717 159 138 .564 6… Read more »

Author

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

Doug, thanks for posting that (and — sigh — for jogging my memory of the Situational Records finder).

What I find most interesting about the 2012 Orioles’ astounding one-run record is that it’s not built on volume of WINS, but on avoiding one-run LOSSES.

For this year alone, they’re tied for 25th in number of one-run games, and two other teams have as many wins — but every team has more one-run losses, and 26 of them have at least twice as many.

Editor

Doug

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

I just noticed that the Pirates made the top 5 in the above list in back-to-back seasons. They finished 2nd in the first season and were WS champs the next year with a 110-42 record. Also, the Royals are on this list twice in 4 years, one division flag and one pennant. In fact, every other team on the list won a pennant or division, except the ’81 Orioles and ’13 Senators, who both finished 2nd. Conclusion? (a) it’s not just luck (b) you’ve got to be good to be lucky (c) you’ve got to be lucky to be good… Read more »

Jim Bouldin

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

One game means nothing of course, but I did find it interesting that last night Showalter decided to try a Dave Roberts, by sending the runner with two out in the ninth, down a run. The guy got thrown out and that was it, but it showed that at least in this game, the O’s were forcing the issue, not being passive. I really do think Showalter is playing a part in this, though it’s admittedly nothing more than an opinion. I think some of the surprise on the whole thing for this year’s O’s is that when they were… Read more »

Author

John Autin

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

It’s interesting that all of those teams that Doug listed @33 had good to great season records. Of course, if you give any team a head start of about 31-12 (the average of those 15), the odds are they’ll have a good season. Here’s what I find most interesting about that group: The 14 teams before this year’s Orioles had a combined .712 W% in one-run games, but also a .600 W% in other games. Only this year’s O’s and the 1981 edition were under .500 in other games. Those are also the only teams in the group that were… Read more »

MikeD

12 years ago

Reply to Doug

@36, thanks, Doug.

Related, I always wondered if teams that are either about to take a major step forward or step backward signal it by playing in a higher percentage of one-run games the year prior to their leap forward or backward.

Author

John Autin

12 years ago

I can’t believe I didn’t fully grasp this sooner: The Giants are using multiple closers, by choice. Their most recent saves (counting Saturday) have gone: Sergio Romo, Javier Lopez, Romo, Lopez, Romo, Romo, Lopez, Romo, Lopez, Romo, Lopez, Lopez, Clay Hensley, Jeremy Affeldt, Affeldt, Santiago Casilla, Casilla, Casilla, Romo, Romo, Casilla, Hensley. Five Giants have at least 3 saves (first to do that since the 2009 Rays). Three Giants have at least 7 saves (joining this year’s Padres as the first since the 2008 Cardinals). Lo and behold, the skies have not fallen on them. In fact, they’re 2nd in… Read more »

Voomo Zanzibar

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

Here’s an article about it from August 8th:

http://mlb.sbnation.com/2012/8/8/3228187/giants-closers-bruce-bochy-jeremy-affeldt-sergio-romo

12 years ago

Reply to John Autin

Interesting that no one seems massively thrilled about it. All the talk is “it’s working for now” and “ideally you have one guy”, which seems strange given the results. You have to imagine that if Wilson returns healthy next year (big if) he’ll go straight back in as the closer, for better or worse.

MikeD

12 years ago

Reply to RJ

A healthy Wilson should return to the closer role since that’ll make the Giants stronger. Teams can replace usually their closers, and do so effectively depending on who else is in the pen, but what’s lost is that player then needs to be replaced. An example is Soriano in NY. He’s done a great job filling the void left by Rivera, but they never replaced Soriano’s role in the 7th, and that forced the LOOGY and ROOGY duo or Rapada and Eppley to pitch more innings. Relatd, after watching the Angels bullpen blow yesterday’s game to the Royals, I expect… Read more »

12 years ago

Reply to MikeD

I said very much the same thing when Wilson got injured: irrespective of the closer issue, you’ve still lost a strong arm in the pen. The Giants bullpen is pretty deep, but it would undoubtedly be strengthened by a fighting fit Brian Wilson.