A Tale of Two Sluggers

In News And Rumors by andcounting145 Comments

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 …

About Nothing In Particular

In Other Topics by dmick8993 Comments

The all-star game was last night. We heard a lot from former players about how it’s a disgrace to not go to the game if you’re chosen. The game isn’t the same as it once was and people’s priorities aren’t the same either. If someone does’t want to go play a practice game then so be it. I don’t know …

3 balls and 2 strikes?

In Other Topics by dmick8913 Comments

How about instead of 4 balls and 3 strikes baseball went to 3 balls and 2 strikes? For one thing, it would shorten the game, which I’m in favor of. It would almost certainly eliminate 75% of the bullpen, which I’m also in favor of. Just thought I’d post a link to the discussion on The Book Blog because it’s …

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Mid-Season Good and Bad: Position Players

In News And Rumors by aisle42494 Comments

Last year over at Aisle 424, I decided that grading players on a scale of objectivity was ultimately dumb and subjective. But since it’s like a blog law that you have to do something like that at the All-Star break, I developed my Yin and Yang system wherein I say one good thing and one bad thing about every player. …

First Half Mercifully Ends

In Game Threads by aisle424213 Comments

The first half of the Cubs’ season draws to an end today in Pittsburgh, thus leading us to wonder: It’s only the fucking All-Star break?! Starlin Castro has managed to play well enough at a thin enough position that he could be starting the All-Star game, and Aramis Ramirez has gotten serious buzz as a potential injury replacement at third …

Are even the best relievers unreliable?

In Major League Baseball by dmick8986 Comments

Carlos Marmol blew a save last night so it naturally sparked discussion about whether or not you should sign relievers to longterm contracts. Carlos Marmol is a very good relief pitcher and likely will be worth the contract he signed this past offseason. However, we know relief pitchers work so few innings that their sample size in a single season …