After four-plus seasons of really bad baseball, Tony Muser was fired last night by the Royals. The move wasn’t a surprise, and it wasn’t unwarranted: Muser had a success-to-tenure ratio envied by the people who run network television. It’s important to point out that this is just a first step, albeit a long overdue, very…
One of the first places I look now when a “surprise” team gets my attention is at the defense. This, I guess, is the big lesson from last year’s Twins and Mariners, and a good thing to think about going forward. We can project pitching and hitting pretty well because our tools for handling past performance in those areas are sharp; it’s harder to say from year to year which teams are going to have the best defenses because we can’t say with certainty from year to year who the best fielders are. At the extremes, we’re OK–Andruw Jones is good, Jose Canseco isn’t–but there’s a big middle ground in between, and knowing who’s having a good season with the glove in May is less simple than knowing which hitters are shocking us.
One of the first places I look now when a "surprise" team gets my attention is at the defense. This, I guess, is the big lesson from last year’s Twins and Mariners, and a good thing to think about going forward. We can project pitching and hitting pretty well because our tools for handling past…
In doing so, however, they annoyed some people. Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon used six relievers to get the final ten outs, including three in the eighth inning alone. The pitching changes stretched the time of the game to just over three hours, and set off alarm bells among some people for whom length of games is a pet issue.
The Pirates won again yesterday afternoon, beating the Dodgers 3-2 to go to 13-7 and stay atop the NL Central. In doing so, however, they annoyed some people. Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon used six relievers to get the final ten outs, including three in the eighth inning alone. The pitching changes stretched the time of…
Not only can I not come up with a column idea for Wednesday, but the baseball game I’m watching for inspiration “features” the Tigers and Royals, who could make an NHL fan out of anyone. This is just bad baseball.
Blarg. Not only can I not come up with a column idea for Wednesday, but the baseball game I’m watching for inspiration "features" the Tigers and Royals, who could make an NHL fan out of anyone. This is just bad baseball. Of course, even a bad baseball game as its charms. The Royals’ Chris George…
Last Friday, I made my annual trek to Sacramento for a River Cats game. I head up to Northern California once a year to see my friend Sean, and we used to go to San Francisco or Oakland for a game. With the new park and new team in Sacramento, we’ve been dropping by Raley Field for the last two years.
Last Friday, I made my annual trek to Sacramento for a River Cats game. I head up to Northern California once a year to see my friend Sean, and we used to go to San Francisco or Oakland for a game. With the new park and new team in Sacramento, we’ve been dropping by Raley…
A lot of people have written in to express their astonishment over Joe Morgan’s latest ESPN column. Reduced to its essence, Morgan argues that the ability to reach base isn’t the most important skill for a leadoff hitter, nor even the second-most important. The column is filled with old-baseball-player wisdom, and the rationale behind it pretty much comes down to, “because I’m a Hall of Famer, and I say so.”
A lot of people have written in to express their astonishment over Joe Morgan’s latest ESPN column. Reduced to its essence, Morgan argues that the ability to reach base isn’t the most important skill for a leadoff hitter, nor even the second-most important. The column is filled with old-baseball-player wisdom, and the rationale behind it…
How freaking good are the Mariners?
After looking downright mortal during a season-opening 3-3 homestand, the Mariners have run roughshod over the AL West, ripping off nine consecutive wins over divisional rivals, the last five without their best hitter, Edgar Martinez. They’ve won easy (5-1 and 8-1 over the Angels) and they’ve won hard (late rallies to beat the Angels 5-4 and the Rangers 13-11), but they’ve done nothing but win.
How freaking good are the Mariners? After looking downright mortal during a season-opening 3-3 homestand, the Mariners have run roughshod over the AL West, ripping off nine consecutive wins over divisional rivals, the last five without their best hitter, Edgar Martinez. They’ve won easy (5-1 and 8-1 over the Angels) and they’ve won hard (late…
Last night’s Braves/Mets game was like so many of the games these two teams have played over the last four seasons. It featured big hits, good defense, interesting tactics, and was decided by one run. Thanks to a five-run seventh inning and two Mike Piazza bombs, the Mets are now 3-1 against their rivals this year.
Last night’s Braves/Mets game was like so many of the games these two teams have played over the last four seasons. It featured big hits, good defense, interesting tactics, and was decided by one run. Thanks to a five-run seventh inning and two Mike Piazza bombs, the Mets are now 3-1 against their rivals this…
I saw very little baseball over the weekend, taking off early Friday with my wife to celebrate our sixth wedding anniversary. Even though it was only a few days, I feel like I missed a lot. I guess that’s one of the great things about baseball: so much happens every single day.