It was the worst of times, it was the best of times.They were the suckiest of sluggers, they were the strongest of sluggers. They couldn’t hit, they couldn’t be retired. This is the tale of two sluggers who gave us two quarter seasons of two extremes . . . that apparently made no difference.
Aramis Ramirez and Carlos Pena began the year looking like two black holes in an already pretty crappy lineup. The two corner infielders seemed to form the cornerstone of the Cubs’ offensive hopes, so when they crumbled it was no surprise that this team struggled to win.
Then something happened. Like a Dyson promises never to do, they both stopped sucking. In fact, they didn’t just no longer suck, they began to hit like players whose team might have a chance of winning. I don’t need to tell you how that worked out for the team, but I thought I would take a look at just how drastically different their springs were from their summers.
I’ve divided each of their seasons so far into halves. Aramis Ramirez has played in 86 games, so I separated his pre-All Star stats into 43-game splits. Carlos Pena was less cooperative and played in 87, so I’ll just put game 44 (a 1-3, 1 BB performance) in the second half to better support my case.
Here were their first-half numbers:
| Name | G | Rslt | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | SH | SF | ROE | BA | OBP | SLG |
OPS |
BAbip |
| Aramis Ramirez | 43 | 20-23 | 183 | 166 | 14 | 49 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 13 | 1 | 21 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .295 | .355 | .386 | .741 | .331 |
| Carlos Pena | 43 | 20-23 | 162 | 129 | 15 | 27 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 19 | 29 | 1 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .209 | .354 | .349 | .703 |
.265 |
Now that’s bad. For both guys. Aramis had a respectable batting average, but it corresponded with Theriot-grade power numbers and no small amount of BAbip luck. The team was actually within shouting distance of .500 at the time, little thanks to these two. So let’s see how they did in the second half.
| Name | G | Rslt | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | IBB | SO | HBP | SH | SF | ROE | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS | BAbip |
| Aramis Ramirez | 43 | 15-28 | 178 | 166 | 29 | 50 | 9 | 0 | 14 | 34 | 6 | 0 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .301 | .337 | .608 | .946 | .281 |
| Carlos Pena | 44 | 16-28 | 178 | 155 | 28 | 37 | 5 | 1 | 14 | 30 | 20 | 1 | 45 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | .239 | .326 | .555 | .881 | .235 |
I love this. Both men improved despite seeing their BAbip and OBP go down, mainly because they started to hit for power. They both struck out at about the same frequency (a bit more, actually). They both walked a little less frequently. The obvious difference is that they both started hitting the ball out of the ballpark, which tends to help offensive matters. What I love most? The impact this made on the team.
The power surge in the middle of the Cubs’ lineup coincided with a precipitous drop in win percentage. Essentially, Ramirez hitting like an All Star and Pena slugging the ball with authority saved the team from being lethally unwatchable. The Cubs went from being a near-.500 team with no pop in the first 1/4 of the season to being a .350 team in the second, all while the guys they needed to hit for power started to do so with consistency.
So if your best hitters work their way out of a power slump on a sustained basis and your team actually becomes twice as bad, what does that say about your team? I think it says, “You suck!” really, really loud. Rammy and ‘Losy hitting for power was one of those “if only” factors optimistic Cubs fans clung to in the first quarter of the season. Well, that “if only” came true, and the team got worse. This team? This record. That’s our reality, Cubs fans. Savor every moment.
Comments
(dying laughing), I got quite the rant about this from the repair guy when I took my Dyson in to be serviced a month or two ago.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Szrururu 1-2 with a BB in his Daytona debut
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius](dying laughing), I got quite the rant about this from the repair guy when I took my Dyson in to be serviced a month or two ago.[/quote]False. I trust that dude from the commercial to the death. He speaks with a thick but completely intelligible accent. It must be true.
AndCountingQuote Reply
Good article, but I would have liked a little more about how this upturn in power actually led to more losses. You’d think it was the pitching, but off the top of my head Dempster has improved, and Garza has been pretty solid the whole year. So how could these guys heating up actually have a negative effect on the team? I’m stumped.
Steve SwisherQuote Reply
[quote name=Steve Swisher]Good article, but I would have liked a little more about how this upturn in power actually led to more losses. You’d think it was the pitching, but off the top of my head Dempster has improved, and Garza has been pretty solid the whole year. So how could these guys heating up actually have a negative effect on the team? I’m stumped.[/quote]
There were a lot of Tony Campana, DJ LeSpellcheck, Koyie Hill, and Lou Montanez starts during that stretch.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Steve, the confluence of power hitting and increased losses is correlation, not causation. It’s not intended to be a casual connection. As for why the increased losses, I would guess that Castro coming back to earth from that really hot start, Barney coming back to earth and getting hurt, and Byrd and Soto and Baker getting hurt had something to do with it. I may have the timeline wrong, but I’d imagine that even the increase in power couldn’t stop all of that from taking a team that was kind of sucking and no fun to watch and turning it into a team that was really awful but a little more fun to watch.
UrkQuote Reply
This should have been an Unobstructed View, AC. I know you’re new here, so please read a few posts so you can understand the culture we have here before barging in with all your spreadsheets, faget.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]There were a lot of Tony Campana, DJ LeSpellcheck, Koyie Hill, and Lou Montanez starts during that stretch.[/quote]
Someone needs to put a huge “minus sign” on top of the chestplate of the Marvel War Machine for these guys. Even if they are slightly positive in WAR.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Speaking of Unobstructed Views, they used to appear on the sidebar but now they are gone. *sad face*
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Speaking of Unobstructed Views, they used to appear on the sidebar but now they are gone. *sad face*[/quote]
Huh, maybe the survey module broke it. Thanks for pointing it out.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Huh, maybe the survey module broke it. Thanks for pointing it out.[/quote]
Those responsible have been sacked.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Heh, this is from Aramis’ Fangraphs page:
ACTQuote Reply
our third round pick DeVoss started tonight for AZL. Jim Callis says we have a deal with Vogelbach in place and our 5th rounder (the guy from South Africa) has a deal in place as well
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]our third round pick DeVoss started tonight for AZL. Jim Callis says we have a deal with Vogelbach in place and our 5th rounder (the guy from South Africa) has a deal in place as well[/quote]
*fap fap fap*
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Tegan (Chicago): What’s happened to Trey McNutt? He seems to really be struggling this year. Is he still salvageable or is he nothing more than organizational filler again?
Jim Callis: He’s had repeated blister problems. Still has a quality arm, but it’s been a lost season. Long-term potential hasn’t changed, though.
dylanjQuote Reply
(dying laughing)
The AAA “All-Star” game is on and the International League is beating the PCL on a 3-run homer where all the runs were unearned.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]I think Ramirez gets traded back to the Pirates.[/quote]
Alright, I said this once and got cool story bro’d for it, but since it might be coming true, I’ll say it again. I had a very vivid dream that Ramirez did get traded back to the Pirates. But the Pirates in the dream were a mix of the MLB Pirates and my daughter’s coach pitch Tee-Ball team, also called the Pirates. Mercurial Outfielder was also in this dream, but since I’ve never met him and have no idea what he looks like, he appeared as a block of floating text.
I know, I know, “Cool Story Bro!” I’m just saying that, if any portion of this comes true, I want credit for having seen the future.
UrkQuote Reply
[quote name=Urk]Alright, I said this once and got cool story bro’d for it, but since it might be coming true, I’ll say it again. I had a very vivid dream that Ramirez did get traded back to the Pirates. But the Pirates in the dream were a mix of the MLB Pirates and my daughter’s coach pitch Tee-Ball team, also called the Pirates. Mercurial Outfielder was also in this dream, but since I’ve never met him and have no idea what he looks like, he appeared as a block of floating text.
I know, I know, “Cool Story Bro!” I’m just saying that, if any portion of this comes true, I want credit for having seen the future.[/quote]
Only if Aramis flies back to Pittsburgh accompanied by a block of floating text.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
DeVoss is a true Cub. 0-3 with 2 K’s
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]This should have been an Unobstructed View, AC. I know you’re new here, so please read a few posts so you can understand the culture we have here before barging in with all your spreadsheets, faget.[/quote]Turn it green.
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=Steve Swisher]Good article, but I would have liked a little more about how this upturn in power actually led to more losses. You’d think it was the pitching, but off the top of my head Dempster has improved, and Garza has been pretty solid the whole year. So how could these guys heating up actually have a negative effect on the team? I’m stumped.[/quote]Urk pretty much said it as well as I could answer this, but yeah, I definitely didn’t mean to indicate their power brought on more losing. I just think it’s a telltale sign that a team is in sad shape when a marked improvement by two of the team’s best players coincides with a sharp downward drop in team performance. This team is just bad. Sometimes broadcasters will use the phrase, “This guy is carrying his team right now.” Nobody can carry this team. Can’t be done.
AndCountingQuote Reply
Ben Wells had a nice line tonight for Boise
5IP 6H 2ER 1BB 4K
But more interesting, he had 9:0 GB:FB ratio on outs in play. The 6 hits he gave up were 1 fly ball, 2 line drives to consecutive hitters, 2 infield singles and then 1 seeing eye single.
He’s had 4 very good starts so far and has laid 2 eggs (1 non-start).
Chris DickersonQuote Reply
Remember that guy Soriano? Dominica, hit for power and could steal a few? I was just reminiscing the days when he was on the team. What ever happened to him? Bus accident? Boat sank? That guy could have been something.
He could have been a contender.
binkyQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]Urk pretty much said it as well as I could answer this, but yeah, I definitely didn’t mean to indicate their power brought on more losing. I just think it’s a telltale sign that a team is in sad shape when a marked improvement by two of the team’s best players coincides with a sharp downward drop in team performance. This team is just bad. Sometimes broadcasters will use the phrase, “This guy is carrying his team right now.” Nobody can carry this team. Can’t be done.[/quote]
I forgot to mention that Soriano had a hot start too. It is true that no one could carry this team, but, if you could take Soriano’s April, Castro’s April and May, Pena and Ramirez’s June and July & make them last all season, while also magically having John Grabow suffer everyone’s injuries for them…
UrkQuote Reply
…they might break .500
UrkQuote Reply
Soriano hit several homers early, but to call him “hot” at any point this year is misleading. Hasn’t he been wallowing near the .300 OBP mark all season? He can’t carry this team, not even a little. And even when Soriano gets in those truly ridiculous power surges, it’s not enough for the Cubs. And to expect one to come along at any point now is probably pure fantasy. As fantasies go, I’d pick a different one.
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=Urk]Alright, I said this once and got cool story bro’d for it, but since it might be coming true, I’ll say it again. I had a very vivid dream that Ramirez did get traded back to the Pirates. But the Pirates in the dream were a mix of the MLB Pirates and my daughter’s coach pitch Tee-Ball team, also called the Pirates. Mercurial Outfielder was also in this dream, but since I’ve never met him and have no idea what he looks like, he appeared as a block of floating text.
I know, I know, “Cool Story Bro!” I’m just saying that, if any portion of this comes true, I want credit for having seen the future.[/quote]
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]Soriano hit several homers early, but to call him “hot” at any point this year is misleading. Hasn’t he been wallowing near the .300 OBP mark all season? He can’t carry this team, not even a little. And even when Soriano gets in those truly ridiculous power surges, it’s not enough for the Cubs. And to expect one to come along at any point now is probably pure fantasy. As fantasies go, I’d pick a different one.[/quote]
FWIW, I believe his wOBA was over .370 at some point in spite of the horrendously low OBP. Some might call a .370+ wOBA hot.
MishQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Some might call a .370+ wOBA hot.[/quote]
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]Soriano hit several homers early, but to call him “hot” at any point this year is misleading. Hasn’t he been wallowing near the .300 OBP mark all season? He can’t carry this team, not even a little. And even when Soriano gets in those truly ridiculous power surges, it’s not enough for the Cubs. And to expect one to come along at any point now is probably pure fantasy. As fantasies go, I’d pick a different one.[/quote]At the end of April it was .278. I agree with you. What he did was misleading because a .278 OBP is just plain awful. It was nice that when he did hit the ball it went out of the park. That was the only thing that made it halfway acceptable, but I said it at the time and I’ll say it again: if you have a .278 OBP, I don’t care what you slug because you suck. (dying laughing)
mb21Quote Reply
http://mlb.sbnation.com/2011/7/13/2274319/mlb-realignment-for-reals#71851815
You have to scroll a bit for KOWOH’s comments.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
On Alvin’s midseason grades…
(dying laughing) “Some need to be lower.” That’s some fine performance art.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]On Alvin’s midseason grades…
(dying laughing) “Some need to be lower.” That’s some fine performance art.[/quote]
I rank it somewhere between Les Mis and The Lion King.
MishQuote Reply
If by several he means ONE, then correct.
That’s kind of the point and my problem with the move all along. No matter what he did at the plate, Hamilton was always a great defensive OF and worthy of a shot at the 25-man roster. He was the second coming of Mickey Mantle and the Cubs didn’t scout him.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]I rank it somewhere between Inspector Javert and Jean Valjean.[/quote].
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Depends which Javert and which Valjean, JG.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Depends which Javert and which Valjean, JG.[/quote]
Why don’t you take a break from the performance art and tell me what you mean.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/7/13/2272670/chicago-cubs-2011-midseason-grades#71848333
I wonder why Alvin let that one go…
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Actually, it would CREATE scheduling problems, Paulie. Try again.
by Al Yellon on Jul 13, 2011 2:25 PM PDT upreplyactions [/quote]
Alvin is such a fucking cunt.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
How would it create scheduling problems? There are still 30 teams. It’s the same fucking thing as it is now. Al is a retard.
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]How would it create scheduling problems? There are still 30 teams. It’s the same fucking thing as it is now. Al is a retard.[/quote]
It’d create scheduling problems because interleague would go on all year? I don’t see that as a problem. My only real issue with the schedule is the balance of it; if that gets solved, I don’t really care otherwise.
Al’s scheduling problem might be a euphemism for something might give on the whole DH thing.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]How would it create scheduling problems? There are still 30 teams. It’s the same fucking thing as it is now. Al is a retard.[/quote]
If someone did what Alvin did in that comment, he’d castigate them for not explaining their point.
Like in comment No. 33 above.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
This is how the schedule currently balances:
Recent season schedules
Since 1998 there are thirty major league teams whose advance schedule for every season comprises 2430 games, namely 162 games for each team including 81 as “home” and 81 as “visitor”. Some games may be scheduled for sites other than the two home ballparks but one of the two is always designated the home team. Beside that advance schedule, some games are postponed and rescheduled; occasional one-game playoffs are added to the championship season in order to break ties; and annual postseason series also follow.
Currently the schedule includes 252 “interleague games” that match one team from the American League and one from the National League; the other 2178 games match a pair from within one league. About half of the latter match teams from within one division and about half match teams from different divisions in one league. In the Central Division of the National League, which alone has six teams, every pair of division rivals plays 15 or 16 games. Within the other, smaller divisions every pair of teams plays 18 or 19 games.
Division games (1091). There are 61 pairs of teams from within one division.
25 pairings will play 19 games each (475 games)
21 pairings will play 18 games each (378 games)
13 pairings will play 16 games each (208 games)
2 pairings will play 15 games each (30 games)
Total: 1091 games.
Other intraleague games (1087). There are 150 pairs of teams from two different divisions within one league.
23 pairings will play 10 games each (230 games)
15 pairings will play 9 games each (135 games)
8 pairings will play 8 games each (64 games)
34 pairings will play 7 games each (238 games)
70 pairings will play 6 games each (420 games)
Total: 1087 games.
Interleague play
The schedule for interleague play comprises 84 three-game series, namely six series (18 games) for each of fourteen AL teams and as many as six for each of sixteen NL teams.
Among the 224 interleague pairs of teams, 11 play six games every year, which are scheduled in two three-game series “home and home”, or one at each home ballpark. Five of these matches feature two teams in the same city or in neighboring cities, where they wholly or partly share territorial rights. Six are regional matches at greater distance, four of which are in the same state.
Baltimore and Washington
Chicago Cubs (Northside) and Chicago White Sox (Southside)
Cincinnati and Cleveland
Florida (Miami) and Tampa Bay (Tampa/St. Petersburg)
Houston and Texas (Arlington/Dallas)
Kansas City and St. Louis
Los Angeles Angels (Anaheim) and Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee and Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
New York Mets (Queens) and New York Yankees (Bronx)
Oakland and San Francisco
San Diego and Seattle
These local and regional series account for 66 interleague games and the other 186 are determined by rotation.
XoomwaffleQuote Reply
A rivalry of epic proportions!
Also, don’t the Braves/BoSox play every year
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]A rivalry of epic proportions!
Also, don’t the Braves/BoSox play every year[/quote]
To be fair, that seems to be the only rivalry that isn’t at least somewhat compelling.
And no, the Braves and the BoSox don’t play this year.
XoomwaffleQuote Reply
[quote name=Xoomwaffle]This is how the schedule currently balances:
Recent season schedules
Since 1998 there are thirty major league teams whose advance schedule for every season comprises 2430 games, namely 162 games for each team including 81 as “home” and 81 as “visitor”. Some games may be scheduled for sites other than the two home ballparks but one of the two is always designated the home team. Beside that advance schedule, some games are postponed and rescheduled; occasional one-game playoffs are added to the championship season in order to break ties; and annual postseason series also follow.
Currently the schedule includes 252 “interleague games” that match one team from the American League and one from the National League; the other 2178 games match a pair from within one league. About half of the latter match teams from within one division and about half match teams from different divisions in one league. In the Central Division of the National League, which alone has six teams, every pair of division rivals plays 15 or 16 games. Within the other, smaller divisions every pair of teams plays 18 or 19 games.
Division games (1091). There are 61 pairs of teams from within one division.
25 pairings will play 19 games each (475 games)
21 pairings will play 18 games each (378 games)
13 pairings will play 16 games each (208 games)
2 pairings will play 15 games each (30 games)
Total: 1091 games.
Other intraleague games (1087). There are 150 pairs of teams from two different divisions within one league.
23 pairings will play 10 games each (230 games)
15 pairings will play 9 games each (135 games)
8 pairings will play 8 games each (64 games)
34 pairings will play 7 games each (238 games)
70 pairings will play 6 games each (420 games)
Total: 1087 games.
Interleague play
The schedule for interleague play comprises 84 three-game series, namely six series (18 games) for each of fourteen AL teams and as many as six for each of sixteen NL teams.
Among the 224 interleague pairs of teams, 11 play six games every year, which are scheduled in two three-game series “home and home”, or one at each home ballpark. Five of these matches feature two teams in the same city or in neighboring cities, where they wholly or partly share territorial rights. Six are regional matches at greater distance, four of which are in the same state.
Baltimore and Washington
Chicago Cubs (Northside) and Chicago White Sox (Southside)
Cincinnati and Cleveland
Florida (Miami) and Tampa Bay (Tampa/St. Petersburg)
Houston and Texas (Arlington/Dallas)
Kansas City and St. Louis
Los Angeles Angels (Anaheim) and Los Angeles Dodgers
Milwaukee and Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul)
New York Mets (Queens) and New York Yankees (Bronx)
Oakland and San Francisco
San Diego and Seattle
These local and regional series account for 66 interleague games and the other 186 are determined by rotation.[/quote]False.
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]At the end of April it was .278. I agree with you. What he did was misleading because a .278 OBP is just plain awful. It was nice that when he did hit the ball it went out of the park. That was the only thing that made it halfway acceptable, but I said it at the time and I’ll say it again: if you have a .278 OBP, I don’t care what you slug because you suck. (dying laughing)[/quote]His OBP was .278, but his wOBA was .376. That doesn’t suck at all.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]Soriano hit several homers early, but to call him “hot” at any point this year is misleading. Hasn’t he been wallowing near the .300 OBP mark all season? He can’t carry this team, not even a little. And even when Soriano gets in those truly ridiculous power surges, it’s not enough for the Cubs. And to expect one to come along at any point now is probably pure fantasy. As fantasies go, I’d pick a different one.[/quote]
I didn’t say that Soriano could or could have carried this team. Where did you get that? I definitely didn’t say anything about him having a power surge now. its called past tense dude. Try reading the post that you’re quoting, eh?
I had about 89 different Ifs involved in that comment, all to the point of saying that _IF_ absolutely EVERYTHING HAD (there’s that past tense thing) gone right, then MAYBE this team COULD HAVE broken .500. that’s hardly unicorns and rainbows territory. Maybe it would have been less “misleading” if I had further qualified the note about Soriano’s start by saying it was, as far as i could remember, hot relative to his usual production in the early months and hot relative to last year when he seemed awfully broken down most of the season. Anyway, thanks for being a dick!
UrkQuote Reply
Dude, I wasn’t even talking to you. You’re never joining me on a desert island.
AndCountingQuote Reply
I do[quote name=AndCounting] I just think it’s a telltale sign that a team is in sad shape when a marked improvement by two of the team’s best players coincides with a sharp downward drop in team performance. [/quote]I think it’s meaningless (or nearly so). The other side of the coin is that the team was near the .500 mark with their 2 best hitters under-performing. This team has been bad because of their overall performance, but the fact that the team’s record nosedived when their corner infielders started producing is just a coincidence.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]Dude, I wasn’t even talking to you. You’re never joining me on a desert island.[/quote]Can’t we all just share the same desert island and bitch and moan about how bad the Cubs are? (dying laughing)
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=josh]Remember that guy Soriano? Dominica, hit for power and could steal a few? I was just reminiscing the days when he was on the team. What ever happened to him? Bus accident? Boat sank? That guy could have been something.
He could have been a contender.[/quote]This was what I was responding to. (dying laughing)
I was just explaining why I didn’t mention Soriano at all in this post. I don’t think he’s a serious threat to carry this team at any point, and I don’t really consider him in the “if” statements that could help most.
Yeah, I saw you mentioned his April. But I was really just trying to say that his power numbers in April were misleading, not that you, with malicious deceitfulness, were saying he had been hot. Sorry, man, I was agreeing with you all along. (dying laughing)
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]I do
I think it’s meaningless (or nearly so). The other side of the coin is that the team was near the .500 mark with their 2 best hitters under-performing. This team has been bad because of their overall performance, but the fact that the team’s record nosedived when their corner infielders started producing is just a coincidence.[/quote]It is. It’s a coincidence. I think it’s a hilarious coincidence.
AndCountingQuote Reply
I agree. Coincidences are amusing. It’s like the end of last year when the Cubs were winning with most of their hitters slumping, Koyie catching, and Nady at first.
ACTQuote Reply
Not sure if anyone posted this yet but Will Carroll polled a bunch of baseball people and came up with the Top 10 next generation of GMs. #10 is of particular interest….
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/will_carroll/07/13/baseball-gms/index.html?eref=twitter_feed
JManQuote Reply
You weren’t talking to me even tho I called Soriano’s start “hot’ in the post right above your post? And no one else had over the course of the thread? Okay then.
I’d agree that Soriano hitting a bunch of home runs while posting an OPB of .278 is misleading in that it makes him seem more valuable than he is. But, relative to what any of us expected of him and relative to what he’s likely to contribute at any point, hitting 10 home runs in a month probably qualifies as “hot.” it’s not like “hot” is an objective measure that necessarily correlates to value added to the team in a concrete way.
UrkQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]This was what I was responding to. (dying laughing)
I was just explaining why I didn’t mention Soriano at all in this post. I don’t think he’s a serious threat to carry this team at any point, and I don’t really consider him in the “if” statements that could help most.
Yeah, I saw you mentioned his April. But I was really just trying to say that his power numbers in April were misleading, not that you, with malicious deceitfulness, were saying he had been hot. Sorry, man, I was agreeing with you all along. (dying laughing)[/quote]
gotcha- sorry too. I didn’t see the post you were responding to. I guess that if an infinite number of monkeys are typing comments about a losing baseball team over an infinite span of time, there are bound to be nonsensical disagreements.
UrkQuote Reply
deleted for beating the discussion to death (dying laughing)
But I’ll keep the reference to Soriano’s April being the Hillary Swank of hot hitting. (dying laughing)
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]Dude, I wasn’t even talking to you. You’re never joining me on a desert island.[/quote]
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Aisle424]
[/quote](dying laughing)
WaLiQuote Reply
Aisley lost his legs? That’s terrible.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Confession: I actually haven’t laughed all morning. When I say (dying laughing), I mean (dying inside).
AndCountingQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]Confession: I actually haven’t laughed all morning. When I say (dying laughing), I mean (dying inside).[/quote]Is that because you are black?
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=AndCounting]When I say (dying laughing), I mean (dying inside).[/quote]
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
giggity giggity
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khXgPOLefGc[/quote]
Hi-ee-nus.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Well, after Ryno’s link made me shoot coffee out my nose, I’m back to almost (dying laughing) for real.
AndCountingQuote Reply
Aisle424Quote Reply
http://www.overthemonster.com/2011/7/14/2275323/just-no-everyone-stop-it
MishQuote Reply
Is Jose Bautista’s agent really named Bean Stringfellow?
AndCountingQuote Reply
(dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) Wow
mb21Quote Reply
MishQuote Reply
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/woba-by-batting-order-2011-all-star-break-update/
A couple of amusing bits:
The Cubs best lineup slot so far has been the 6-hole.
Despite having Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs’ 9-hole has been the worst in the MLB.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]
[/quote]
So did you call already?
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]http://www.overthemonster.com/2011/7/14/2275323/just-no-everyone-stop-it[/quote]The reason we have the “MVP has to be from a playoff team” debate every year is because the MVP award is ambiguously defined. They should just throw it out and replace it with a “Player of the Year” award or something.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]The reason we have the “MVP has to be from a playoff team” debate every year is because the MVP award is ambiguously defined. They should just throw it out and replace it with a “Player of the Year” award or something.[/quote]
I don’t really care about the MVP award. Until they define it as the “Player with the most WAR” award, it’s always going to be subjective and vaguely defined.
BerseliusQuote Reply
Clemens ——> mistrial b/c the gov’t is stoopidd
http://deadspin.com/5821212/
WenningtonsGorillaCockQuote Reply
[quote name=WenningtonsGorillaCock]Clemens ——> mistrial b/c the gov’t is stoopidd
http://deadspin.com/5821212/%5B/quote%5D
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
Oh my. Even the judge was like “you’re stoopid” (dying laughing)
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]
[/quote]How do I know it’s a real birth certificate and not a fake?
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]I don’t really care about the MVP award. Until they define it as the “Player with the most WAR” award, it’s always going to be subjective and vaguely defined.[/quote]
I care insofar as it impacts eventual HOF credentials. My favorite player of all-time is probably Chase Utley and he is already at 48.5 WAR despite only playing fulltime only since 2005 (his first four full seasons he had 7+ WAR); I think when he retires, he’ll be in teh HOF conversation of WAR, but in terms of MVPs and gold gloves, he won’t have that going for him.
MishQuote Reply
I have a man crush on Hillary Swank.
GBTSQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]I care insofar as it impacts eventual HOF credentials.[/quote]
You can swap “MVP award” with “Hall of Fame” in my earlier comment and it still stands. I’d love to see Ron Santo in the HOF (especially before he died), but I won’t pretend that the reason why is much more personal than it is analytical.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]You can swap “MVP award” with “Hall of Fame” in my earlier comment and it still stands. I’d love to see Ron Santo in the HOF (especially before he died), but I won’t pretend that the reason why is much more personal than it is analytical.[/quote]
I also find HOF/MVP discussion to be a great place to combat traditional baseball wisdom; I’ve slowly turned my friends (to the dark side) by using these awards as a jumping off point for better analytics; Felix vs CC being a prime example. So I am actually a big fan of that discussion, and I do care.
To use a Batman Begins analogy, your view of Gotham is more like Ras Al Ghoul, whereas I’m more like Bruce Wayne.
MishQuote Reply
So will the government now spend even more money on stupid shit that nobody cares about?
mb21Quote Reply
[quote name=mb21]So will the government now spend even more money on stupid shit that nobody cares about?[/quote]
Correct.
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]
To use a Batman Begins analogy, your view of Gotham is more like Ras Al Ghoul, whereas I’m more like someone who was dying for an excuse to compare himself to Batman[/quote].
BerseliusQuote Reply
.
Aisle424Quote Reply
Yay?
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Yay?[/quote]
It’s at least a possible sign that the Cubs aren’t skimping on the draft this year, which is good.
Aisle424Quote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]
Oh my. Even the judge was like he’s a pitcher, so i don’t care.[/quote].
GBTSQuote Reply
i dont know if md saw this but callis said yesterday he has heard the cubs already have a 1.65 deal in place with Vogelsbach that the mlb is holding up
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius].[/quote]Correct (dying laughing)
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=mb21]So will the government now spend even more money on stupid shit that nobody cares about?[/quote]Now?
MishQuote Reply
DeVoss is supposed to be a big on base guy with no power.
dylanjQuote Reply
[quote name=dylanj]DeVoss is supposed to be a big on base guy with no power.[/quote]Well, somebody has to take Kosuke’s place.
ACTQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]Well, somebody has to take Kosuke’s place.[/quote]I believe DeVoss is suppose to be extremely fast.
JManQuote Reply
[quote name=JMan]I believe DeVoss is suppose to be extremely fast.[/quote]Well, somebody has to take Campana’s place.
MishQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
The good ole days…
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Brandon Allen —–> Majors
MishQuote Reply
Who’s Brandon Allen?
Greg MadduxQuote Reply
1B prospect for the Dbags.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]Now?[/quote]
Well there is no “now” here.
Christian ShepherdQuote Reply
Probably a bit old for a prospect, but whatever.
MishQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-you-know-you-are-a-fucking-idiot-right,20907/
Someone please respond to Alvin with this.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
This makes too much sense. Therefore MLB will not do it.
http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/07/14/an-idea-for-a-better-all-star-game/
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.theonion.com/articles/report-you-know-you-are-a-fucking-idiot-right,20907/
Someone please respond to Alvin with this.[/quote]
We have a source, so it must be true (dying laughing)
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]We have a source, so it must be true (dying laughing)[/quote]
Then turn off the performance art for a moment and post the link at BCB.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110712&content_id=21757820&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chc
Wait, he said it in Spanish (in which Castro is fluent) and they translated it into clumsy English (“very incredible”)? Why?
ACTQuote Reply
SPANISH, MOTHA FUCKA, DO YOU SPEAK IT?!
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110712&content_id=21757820&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chcWait, he said it in Spanish (in which Castro is fluent) and they translated it into clumsy English (“very incredible”)? Why?[/quote]
You assume that American beat writers can write.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=ACT]http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110712&content_id=21757820&vkey=news_chc&c_id=chcWait, he said it in Spanish (in which Castro is fluent) and they translated it into clumsy English (“very incredible”)? Why?[/quote]Must be a Cub translator. They can’t do anything right.
CormsQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]We have a source, so it must be true (dying laughing)[/quote]
How’s the new book so far?
WaLiQuote Reply
What’s sadder…that the “gunman” got his ass kicked and raped, or that he reported it and was called a “bitch”?
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/3691278/Robber-fed-Viagra-and-kept-bras-sex-slave-by-salon-owner.html
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]How’s the new book so far?[/quote]
Hurry up and read it (dying laughing). It is a huge fucking book. I can’t believe I’m only halfway through it. The paperback release is going to be monstrous.
BerseliusQuote Reply
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius]Hurry up and read it (dying laughing). It is a huge fucking book. I can’t believe I’m only halfway through it. The paperback release is going to be monstrous.[/quote]
(edit by b – minor spoiler I guess here)
I’ll probably be starting it next week. Half way through reading about dumb bitch queen and the rest of the book.
WaLiQuote Reply
KG
Matt Szczur, OF, Cubs (High-A Daytona): 1-for-3, 2 R, BB. High-A debut.
Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 2-for-4, R, K. Definite progress with .318 batting average and .491 slugging in 33 games since June 1; almost the anti TTO player with 11 walks and 31 strikeouts over 280 at-bats.
MishQuote Reply
[quote name=WaLi]I’ll probably be starting it next week. Half way through reading about dumb bitch Cersei and the rest of the book.[/quote]
(minor spoiler)
(dying laughing). Someone needs to make a dictionary for the series, just so we can put a picture of Cersei Lannister next to “paranoid” and “train wreck”
BerseliusQuote Reply
[quote name=Berselius](minor spoiler)
(dying laughing). Someone needs to make a dictionary for the series, just so we can put a picture of Cersei Lannister next to “paranoid” and “train wreck”[/quote]
(dying laughing) agreed. I am actually enjoying the book, but knowing that the better stories are in ADWD is making me rush through it.
WaLiQuote Reply
[quote name=Mish]
Josh Vitters, 3B, Cubs (Double-A Tennessee): 2-for-4, R, K. Definite progress with .318 batting average and .491 slugging in 33 games since June 1; almost the anti TTO player with 11 walks and 31 strikeouts over 280 at-bats.[/quote]He should fit right in.
ACTQuote Reply
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
I realize it’s just AZL, but I laughed at this ArizonaPhil tid bit
“AZL Rangers pitchers struck out 15 AZL Cubs in the game, with 13 out of 14 outs between the 4th and 8th innings coming via the punch-out, including Gioskar Amaya and Dustin Geiger three times a piece.”
Chris DickersonQuote Reply
Yeah, I’d like to compare Alvin Yellon to a cunt.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2011/7/14/2274128/the-future-of-jim-hendry-and-the-cubs#71899555
Here’s that post if anyone wants to reply with my comment and video.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ie9M-ys1bTg[/quote]
I’m assuming this is a fan-made “trailer” but I thought it was well-done.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I’m assuming this is a fan-made “trailer” but I thought it was well-done.[/quote]
No, Nolan was going for a Blair Witch Project effect with the next Batman.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]No, Nolan was going for a Blair Witch Project effect with the next Batman.[/quote]
Looked like they blurred a Hannibal Lecter look-alike to create the Bane shot. From the publicity photos the dude who is supposed to play Bane doesn’t look that big…I think they should’ve hired a steroid-freak wrestler as the body double.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I think they should’ve hired a steroid-freak wrestler as the body double.[/quote]
They would have, but Ryne Sandberg is on the production board.
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]
[/quote]
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khXgPOLefGc[/quote]
Everything this guy just said is bullshit.
Thank you.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Maybe I should make that video my signature, so all of my posts will be…
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]Everything this guy just said is bullshit.
Thank you.[/quote]
What’d you do in your father’s garage?
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]What’d you do in your father’s garage?[/quote]
That’s a bullshit question…
I did watch the movie for possibly the 500th time last night and it never gets old.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
[quote name=Rice Cube]I did watch the movie for possibly the 500th time last night.[/quote]
What are you, a fuckin’ world traveller!
Dr. Aneus TaintQuote Reply
[quote name=Jame Gumb]What are you, a fuckin’ world traveller![/quote]
Oh, there’s a fuckin’ surprise…
Rice CubeQuote Reply
Obsequious Spew was broken for me until I turned off ABP.
/nevery word
Suburban kidQuote Reply
Bubbles is excited for the promotions in the farm system…
I kinda want to trade Pena and Ramirez so we cant give Vitters and Flaherty a look..
I kinda want to see an infield in September of
Flaherty 3B
Castro SS
DJ 2B
Vitters 1B
bubblesdachimpQuote Reply
preview up http://obstructedview.net/chicago-cubs/previews/series-preview-florida-marlins-43-48-at-iowa-cubs-of-chicago-37-55.html
EDIT: link fixed
BerseliusQuote Reply
Prince Fielder likely will not become a Diamondback…
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-passan_prince_fielder_all_star_mvp_071311
Rice CubeQuote Reply
redacted for tardiness.
melissaQuote Reply