What if Frenchie is traded? What will I have to talk about when Frenchie is gone?
I have a few more weeks. I will make the most of them.
Francouer has 2 walks since June 15. 2! Granted, he isn't playing all the time, but 2?
On a somewhat related note, the Mets have had two games in a row (barring extra inning games, of course) where the pitcher's spot got exactly 3 ABs. Wow!
On to existentialism....
If the Mets lose at 1AM EDT or later, and no one in NY is watching, did it happen? If not, the Mets are undefeated since the all-star break. In fact, they are on a 2 game winning streak dating back to early July. Think about that!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Radical Solution to the Ollie Problem
This blog does not like Ollie. That is not news.
But he is back.
It has been suggested by an LR (Loyal Reader) James Solomon, that Ollie be returned to the rotation for a few weeks to let Pelfrey rest/work out his troubles. The Mets need Pelfrey, unless he is hurt, he has to pitch.
There is talk of using Ollie as a "situational lefty."
Here is my radical proposal.
Pelfrey and Ollie have some of the most extreme platoon splits in baseball.
Despite facing an equal number of LHBs and RHBs this season, Pelfrey has not given up a HR to a RHB all season. His OPS against is 61 points lower against righties. He dominates righties.
Ollie's OPS against is 268 points lower against lefties. Lefties have 8 total bases all season against him. He has faced 5X as many righties as lefties, as opposing managers stack their lineups with righties when he pitches. He dominates lefties.
Here's the plan: Every 5th day, put Ollie or Pelfrey in the starting line-up as the "Pitcher." Then, once the lineups are exchanged, instantly substitute one for the other. Then you get 5 or 6 innings of mostly excellent platoon matchups (where both of these guys are expected to be good). This would turn Ollie's "situational lefty" status into one that might last 5 or 6 innings (since the other team would not pinch hit their whole bench in the first two innings).
Then the guy who was in the lineup but doesn't pitch can pitch out of the bullpen once or twice until that spot in the rotation comes up again.
If the other teams catch on, and start playing more balanced line-ups...more's the better! Pelfrey faces more righties, Ollie faces more lefties, they are both more effective. Indeed, if Pelfrey pitched against mostly righties, his .741 OPS against (and no HRs allowed) would be quite awesome .
This is unconventional, but the Mets are in a freefall and Ollie's going to be on the roster. We might as well try to get some use out of him.
But he is back.
It has been suggested by an LR (Loyal Reader) James Solomon, that Ollie be returned to the rotation for a few weeks to let Pelfrey rest/work out his troubles. The Mets need Pelfrey, unless he is hurt, he has to pitch.
There is talk of using Ollie as a "situational lefty."
Here is my radical proposal.
Pelfrey and Ollie have some of the most extreme platoon splits in baseball.
Despite facing an equal number of LHBs and RHBs this season, Pelfrey has not given up a HR to a RHB all season. His OPS against is 61 points lower against righties. He dominates righties.
Ollie's OPS against is 268 points lower against lefties. Lefties have 8 total bases all season against him. He has faced 5X as many righties as lefties, as opposing managers stack their lineups with righties when he pitches. He dominates lefties.
Here's the plan: Every 5th day, put Ollie or Pelfrey in the starting line-up as the "Pitcher." Then, once the lineups are exchanged, instantly substitute one for the other. Then you get 5 or 6 innings of mostly excellent platoon matchups (where both of these guys are expected to be good). This would turn Ollie's "situational lefty" status into one that might last 5 or 6 innings (since the other team would not pinch hit their whole bench in the first two innings).
Then the guy who was in the lineup but doesn't pitch can pitch out of the bullpen once or twice until that spot in the rotation comes up again.
If the other teams catch on, and start playing more balanced line-ups...more's the better! Pelfrey faces more righties, Ollie faces more lefties, they are both more effective. Indeed, if Pelfrey pitched against mostly righties, his .741 OPS against (and no HRs allowed) would be quite awesome .
This is unconventional, but the Mets are in a freefall and Ollie's going to be on the roster. We might as well try to get some use out of him.
Monday, July 19, 2010
This was the same guy????
Do you remember that call last year when the ball landed fair on a Mauer double in the ALDS against the Yankees, but the LF umpire called it foul?
Well, the same umpire was behind home plate for the Met game yesterday.
Did you see it?
Well,
First, K-Rod throws a strike that’s called a ball. He complains. Blanco complains.
Then, rather than just ejecting them both (which he should have), Cuzzi angrily flexed his muscles to show his frustration. He looked insane.
Then, there’s a ground ball to third, Wright lollygags the throw, and the runner slides home safely. By a lot. Cuzzi calls him out.
Then, the next batter hits a swinging bunt that bounces behind the plate, then rolls a foot into fair territory (a fair ball). Cuzzi gets this one right, but then the 3rd base ump over-rules him, calling the ball foul from 110’ feet away, when no one asked for help.
Put aside the question of whether a 3B ump CAN over-rule a home plate ump on that call (the plate umpire has the fair/foul calls all the way to the base). Put aside whether that ump SHOULD over-rule that call (did he really think he saw it better than the guy standing right there?
Since the ball never came anywhere near hitting the batter (it was like 2’ away from him, in the other batters box) and, I assume, the 3rd base ump is not actually blind, there is only one explanation. The 3B ump was doing a make-up call for the plate ump (Cuzzi).
This crew works together all year. Maybe the 3B ump has to do this for all the calls Cuzzi blows during the season.
Can you imagine the pressure? To get all the calls right AND provide make-up calls for when your partner blows one that costs a team the game?
Well, the same umpire was behind home plate for the Met game yesterday.
Did you see it?
Well,
First, K-Rod throws a strike that’s called a ball. He complains. Blanco complains.
Then, rather than just ejecting them both (which he should have), Cuzzi angrily flexed his muscles to show his frustration. He looked insane.
Then, there’s a ground ball to third, Wright lollygags the throw, and the runner slides home safely. By a lot. Cuzzi calls him out.
Then, the next batter hits a swinging bunt that bounces behind the plate, then rolls a foot into fair territory (a fair ball). Cuzzi gets this one right, but then the 3rd base ump over-rules him, calling the ball foul from 110’ feet away, when no one asked for help.
Put aside the question of whether a 3B ump CAN over-rule a home plate ump on that call (the plate umpire has the fair/foul calls all the way to the base). Put aside whether that ump SHOULD over-rule that call (did he really think he saw it better than the guy standing right there?
Since the ball never came anywhere near hitting the batter (it was like 2’ away from him, in the other batters box) and, I assume, the 3rd base ump is not actually blind, there is only one explanation. The 3B ump was doing a make-up call for the plate ump (Cuzzi).
This crew works together all year. Maybe the 3B ump has to do this for all the calls Cuzzi blows during the season.
Can you imagine the pressure? To get all the calls right AND provide make-up calls for when your partner blows one that costs a team the game?
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Can a Blog Have a "Bucket List"?
If so, this blog's "Bucket List" has one thing on it:
"Do a real time 'Keith Hernandez is an idiot' live blog." I have attempted it in the past. A guy can dream.
Until then, there is this nugget from tonight's game:
Gary: Cutter, on the inside corner for a strike.
Keith: That was a change-up!
Gary: At 86?
Keith: Maybe it was a sinker.
Gary: Well, something was going on there....
Gary didn't finish his sentence. I will. "....it was most likely a cutter like I said two minutes ago while you were doing a body shot off Mrs. Met."
Is there a Mrs. Met? Shouldn't there be? Maybe "Ms. Met?" No, that's not it. It's Miss Met. She should be a big baseball fan, and she should not be a feminist (so no "Ms."). She would constantly steal the remote to put BACK ON the Met game.
Now we're talking!
"Do a real time 'Keith Hernandez is an idiot' live blog." I have attempted it in the past. A guy can dream.
Until then, there is this nugget from tonight's game:
Gary: Cutter, on the inside corner for a strike.
Keith: That was a change-up!
Gary: At 86?
Keith: Maybe it was a sinker.
Gary: Well, something was going on there....
Gary didn't finish his sentence. I will. "....it was most likely a cutter like I said two minutes ago while you were doing a body shot off Mrs. Met."
Is there a Mrs. Met? Shouldn't there be? Maybe "Ms. Met?" No, that's not it. It's Miss Met. She should be a big baseball fan, and she should not be a feminist (so no "Ms."). She would constantly steal the remote to put BACK ON the Met game.
Now we're talking!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Don't make me angry...
Random musings...
1. Do you think if Votto had been named to the all-star game BEFORE today's game instead of later this week (when he will be named anyway), he would NOT have hit two HRs so far and the score would be tied? I do. (For those of you too young to remember, the title is a reference to The Incredible Hulk.)
2. How come Votto doesn't seem to have trouble with the dimensions of Citifield?
3. Did anyone else catch Keith Hernandez's comment when Travis Wood balked a runner from second to third with the pitcher up? He said that it had the effect of clearing the pitcher. Let that one sink in. Balks CAN'T clear the pitcher. The pitcher was already up (so he had already been cleared). The runner was on 2nd, so the balk didn't even break up the force play.
4. I think tomorrow's "text poll" should be a guess at Keith's BAC. In fact, that should be the text poll every game he broadcasts.
5. Am I the only one who noticed Pelfrey turning around to ask the second base umpire whether the 0-1 pitch to Drew Stubbs was a strike? It REALLY looked like he turned around and said "overturn that!"
1. Do you think if Votto had been named to the all-star game BEFORE today's game instead of later this week (when he will be named anyway), he would NOT have hit two HRs so far and the score would be tied? I do. (For those of you too young to remember, the title is a reference to The Incredible Hulk.)
2. How come Votto doesn't seem to have trouble with the dimensions of Citifield?
3. Did anyone else catch Keith Hernandez's comment when Travis Wood balked a runner from second to third with the pitcher up? He said that it had the effect of clearing the pitcher. Let that one sink in. Balks CAN'T clear the pitcher. The pitcher was already up (so he had already been cleared). The runner was on 2nd, so the balk didn't even break up the force play.
4. I think tomorrow's "text poll" should be a guess at Keith's BAC. In fact, that should be the text poll every game he broadcasts.
5. Am I the only one who noticed Pelfrey turning around to ask the second base umpire whether the 0-1 pitch to Drew Stubbs was a strike? It REALLY looked like he turned around and said "overturn that!"
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