Monday game notes

Athletics 3, @Angels 1: The fourth time was the charm for Jarrod Parker. Given just 2 runs total in his 3 prior starts against Anaheim, Parker had gone 0-2 (and the A’s 0-3) despite his run average of 3.05; and when he gave back an early 1-0 lead on a 2-out rally in the 3rd that began with a walk to Mike Trout, it seemed more of the same was in store. But Parker allowed just one more hit through 7, Brandon Moss did his thing, and the bullpen closed it out, pulling Oakland within 3 games of idle Texas and dropping the Angels to 1.5 games out of the wild card.

  • With 17 HRs in 217 PAs, Moss’s .302 isolated power ranks 2nd among all hitters with 200+ PAs. He’s broken out of a slump by hitting .353/1.083 in his last 14 games (5 HRs, 23 R+RBI); the A’s went 11-3 in those games and are 37-14 in his starts this year.

@Reds 4, Pirates 3 (14): After losing a 3-1 lead in the 7th, Pittsburgh filled the bags with no outs in the 14th. But Chase d’Arnaud flied out on the first pitch, not deep enough; Pedro Alvarez lunged at a first-pitch curve and pulled a grounder to 1B, which the reigning Gold Glover turned into a nifty force at home; and Jose Tabata rolled out to end the threat. No surprise that Cincinnati won it in the bottom half.

  • With so much going wrong for the Pirates, recriminations seem almost pointless. But looking at that 14th inning, I can’t help wondering why d’Arnaud, a mediocre RHB just called up from the minors, was batting in the cleanup spot against a RHP in a crucial situation. Well, d’Arnaud had pinch-run for righty-basher Garrett Jones in the top of the 10th after Jones drew a walk that moved Andrew McCutchen to 2nd base with no outs. Hunh? Sure, d’Arnaud can run circles around Jones — but what’s the marginal advantage in that situation, with Cutch’s run paramount and Aroldis Chapman being an extreme SO/flyball pitcher? Sure, Gaby Sanchez is a defensive upgrade over Jones at 1B — but you don’t think about that move until after you take the lead. Finally, if you’re going to pinch-run for Jones if he gets on, why even let him bat there, given his career .201 BA vs. southpaws and Chapman’s (heh-heh) .101 career mark against LHBs? Very puzzling sequence by Clint Hurdle, though some have used another word.
  • Further fogging up that 10th inning: With 2 on and no outs, Alvarez — himself at .210 lifetime vs. LHPs — batted away against Chapman, and struck out on 4 pitches; that gave him 3 Ks in 4 hitless matchups against Chapman, and a career K rate of 38% vs. LHPs.

@White Sox 6, Tigers 1: Speaking of hopes slipping away … After Detroit missed multiple chances to extend a 1-0 lead, Alex Rios snatched the lead away by punishing an 0-1 meatball with 2 aboard, and when A.J. Pierzynski followed with his 26th, the Tigers were toast.

  • Coming off two straight disasters, Jose Quintana frustrated the Bengals over 7.2 IP, working out of jams in the first 3 innings, then retiring 16 of 17.
  • Through August 7, Rick Porcello was 9-6 with a 4.62 ERA. He’s lost his last six starts while posting a 4.50 ERA, with Detroit totaling 10 runs.
  • No Mo in Motown: Since sweeping the Sox for a share of first, the Tigers have lost 6 of 7, scoring 1 or 2 runs in all 6 losses.

@Brewers 4, Braves 1: Norichika Aoki‘s heroic turn went down as tragedy on Sunday, but he was triumphant in Monday’s encore. Undaunted by their missed chance against the Cards, or by a 6-inning shutdown from Mike Minor, the Crew crashed through with 4 runs in the 7th, exploiting the mistakes of Jonny Venters & Co. Their comeback, and the Cards’ comedown, brought Milwaukee back within 5 games.

  • This Prado artifact is on loan from the Museum of What Were They Thinking? But then, the Braves seemed determined to run themselves out of this game from the start: Heyward CS in the 1st, Freeman picked off in the 2nd, another Prado dive-bomb at 3B….
  • Playing in their former hometown for the first time since last April, the Braves lost for the 4th straight time, but they still hold a 29-19 edge against the Brewers in Cream City.

@Padres 11, Cardinals 3: St. Louis began their final Western jaunt with a junker, as the Friars hung 5 crooked numbers, touching all 5 Cardinal hurlers, who combined to hand out 8 walks and suffered 17 safeties in only 8 innings. Eric Stults, the 32-year-old journeyman waived by the White Sox in May, improved to 5-0, 2.08 since joining the rotation on August 6.

  • The Padres are 33-22 since the Break and 15-5 more recently. They’ve scored 5+ in 5 straight home games, matching their longest streak since moving to Petco in 2004. They hadn’t done it even 4 straight games since 2007.
  • Cameron Maybin scored 3 runs and had 2 extra-base hits, each feat just his 2nd this year.
  • The Cards are 32-37 on the road, and have lost 5 straight on the West Coast.

@Phillies 3, Marlins 1: A 13-4 stretch — built, as in their blueprint, on pitching — has chopped a 10.5-game wild card deficit down to 5 games. Kyle Kendrick kept Miami hitless through 5 and set new highs with 8 Ks and 6 straight Quality Starts (5-1, 1.49), and Domonic Brown flashed the power that’s been M.I.A. for 2 years, with his first-ever HR off a southpaw.

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Jim Bouldin
11 years ago

Stick a fork in the Tigers, they’re done.

No offensive strategy whatsoever and somebody please explain to me what in the #*!% Ryan Raburn is doing in the lineup, or anywhere near the major leagues for that matter.

Of course there’s always the chance the White Sox will exceed the Tigers’ ineptitude and hand them a playoff spot, but I doubt it.

Hartvig
Hartvig
11 years ago
Reply to  Jim Bouldin

They REALLY blew it in the offseason. Instead of addressing their real needs they spent a fortune on yet another player who’s best position is with a bat in his hands and tied up nearly another $7 million based on 2 decent months of performance from yet another who cannot field. For a tiny fraction of what they spent they could have had Aramis Ramirez at third, Josh Willingham in the outfield and Jamey Carroll at second, leaving them a ton of financial flexibility to try and find another outfielder or starting pitcher. I just have to believe that Ilitch’s… Read more »

Doug
Doug
11 years ago

The Tigers and ChiSox seem perfectly matched – underachievers who alternate between being hot or not. After their cold spell, the Tigers could very well go into Chicago and turn it around. Or not.

Whoever ends up winning, can at least be thankful the loser likely won’t be in the Wild Card derby.

Jim Bouldin
11 years ago
Reply to  Doug

Somebody please do a post on why splitting teams into divisions is inherently stupid. Do either the White Sox or Tigers honestly deserve a playoff spot over any two of the Yankees, Orioles, Rays, A’s or Angels? I don’t think so. They’re mediocre teams; I don’t want to watch them in the playoffs. And I’m a lifelong fan of one of the two.

And then a seconf post on why adding a second wildcard team and a one game playoff is even stupidity squared. Or modify the exponent to 1.83 if you prefer (with apologies to Bill James).

Timmy Pea
Timmy Pea
11 years ago
Reply to  Jim Bouldin

The season is not over yet Jim, 20 games left and a lot can happen. I understand the argument for those other teams but everybody knows the rules going in and if you didn’t have divisions you’d be giving more juice to the the teams that have high payrolls. Go Sox!

Jim Bouldin
11 years ago
Reply to  Timmy Pea

Problem with the payroll equalizer argument Timmy is that it’s potentially Oakland, Tampa or Baltimore that loses a playoff spot to the Central Div. winner, not just Angels or Yankees, and the former are not big payroll teams. There’s no way I want to see that–goes against everything I believe in.

deal
11 years ago

Snapshots of Marlins @ Phils – nothing special Kendrick, Reyes, Dobbs, Darin (Babe) Ruf on Bench (20 HRs in Aug at AA Reading) and Topps Cards that never were of Dom Brown and Erik Kratz

http://phungo.blogspot.com/2012/09/snapshots-2012-09-10-marlins-1-phillies.html

other observations – Brown’s HR was a deep shot. Reyes Looked disinterested at points. Kendrick had every pitch up after he lost no-hitter for about 2 batters. Antonio Bastardo did a nice job of recovery after throwing a 3rd strike WP to lose a K in the 9th.

bstar
11 years ago

Aroldis Chapman may be shut down for a little while. He couldn’t touch 95 on the gun last night, walked three batters, and was replaced mid-inning for the first time this year. Dusty Baker said the docs told him Aroldis’ shoulder is fatigued, and he plans to give Chapman some rest down the stretch.

Timmy Pea
Timmy Pea
11 years ago

The Phillies are winning again tonight and Pierre is 3 for 3 with a double. If they can hold on they’ll be at .500.

Timmy Pea
Timmy Pea
11 years ago

Speaking of Juan Pierre, he has excelled at being a part time player. Few guys are able to play a little more than half the time and maintain consistency. I think Pierre is helped because his game at the plate is very one dimensional. Timing and rhythm really don’t come into Juan’s approach, he just takes a slap at the ball.

FPS
FPS
11 years ago

The last team to load the bases with no outs in the 14th inning or later in a tie game and not score was the Colorado Rockies on 7/4/10. They ended up loading the bases with no outs again in the 15th but ended up scoring the winning run.

Timmy Pea
Timmy Pea
11 years ago

I know the Phillies have to climb over 3 teams to make the playoffs, but of the 4 teams they are clearly the best now that they have all their guys back and healthy.

Timmy Pea
Timmy Pea
11 years ago

Incredible! The Dodgers and Cards both lost and Philadelphia AND Milwaukee are both just 4 games out. I wonder what the latest date a team under .500 and made the playoffs was?

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
11 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

1994 Texas Rangers

Shping
Shping
11 years ago

Yes indeed, the BrewCrew — and Phillies — are still very much alive and kicking! @4 Jim — You do realize that extra playoff teams generates a LOT more excitement for the great game of baseball all around the country, right? That a lot of people in Milw, Philly, LA, St. Louie, Tampa, Anaheim, Oakland, Detroit, etc. who couldve completely given up on baseball and their teams by now, are really excited about what’s going on? Would you really rather have just two giant leagues with no divisions again, waiting out the season until the Yankees and Dodgers prepare to… Read more »

Ed
Ed
11 years ago
Reply to  Shping

Shping – I didn’t read Jim’s comment to mean that he was in favor of going back to the way things were in 1952. He was simply pointing out that the present setup doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the best teams will make the playoffs.

Shping
Shping
11 years ago
Reply to  Ed

Maybe not, but i think he actually was trying to make both points. Either way, i disagree. Splitting teams into divisions
may not make “logical” sense, but it’s been a part of almost all team sports for a long time, an accepted set-up that adds a LOT of regional flavor, rivalries, etc.

And i’m sure others will disagree with me, but i love the way the new 1-gm playoff makes winning the division meaningful again

Shping
Shping
11 years ago
Reply to  Ed

Maybe not, but i think he actually was trying to make both points. Either way, i disagree. Splitting teams into divisions
may not make “logical” sense, but it’s been a part of almost all team sports for a long time, an accepted set-up that adds a LOT of regional flavor, rivalries, etc.

And i’m sure others will disagree with me, but i love the way the new 1-gm playoff makes winning the division meaningful again

Jim Bouldin
11 years ago
Reply to  Shping

Shping I wasn’t advocating doing away with the playoffs, although neither am I necessarily against the idea. Baseball got along quite well until 1969 without them. There is a 3rd way here. And a 4th and a 5th and an umpteenth. Indeed there are a bazillion flavors of how to conduct an end of season tournament. You could for example, have no divisions and just simply take the x best teams. You can fix x if you want, or–if have anarchist tendencies, you can install a system where x varies depending on the final distribution of W-L records in the… Read more »

Jim Bouldin
11 years ago
Reply to  Jim Bouldin

should be:
“But what you don’t want to do is increase x and then decrease the number of games played in some series. Either have a legitimate playoff or don’t”.

Shping
Shping
11 years ago
Reply to  Jim Bouldin

Good points and well said, Jim. Nonetheless, my rebutalls would be: –Time is a factor. Longer playoff series WOULD be better at determining the truly best teams, but we dont want to be playing in Nov and we don’t want to shorten the season either, do we? –More teams in playoff hunt = more excitement –Why bother with 1-gm playoffs that might just be random crapshoots? 1.)It fairly, yes, fairly forces the wildcard teams to burn up their ace starter before round 2, and 2.) it will be fun as heck to watch! I can honestly say that even if… Read more »

Jim Bouldin
11 years ago
Reply to  Jim Bouldin

Fair enough Shping, there’s nothing wrong with generating some high pressure excitement. My main point I guess is that we just have to remind ourselves that the playoffs do not necessarily determine who the best teams are. Personally I’d like to see a flexible system whereby the number of teams admitted into the playoffs, and the number of games in each playoff series, are determined by the “separation at the top” that occurs in the regular season, i.e. if x number of teams are within y games of each other, there is a playoff between such teams, with the specifics… Read more »

Voomo Zanzibar
Voomo Zanzibar
11 years ago
Reply to  Shping

Side note to 1952:

Teams really worked to NOT throw lefties at the Red Sox.

Boston was 15-9 vs southpaws.
26 games.

The next-least games vs lefties was Philadelphia with 41 (23-18)

By contrast, the Yankees saw 62.
And it didn’t help (40-22)

http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1952-standings.shtml#expanded_standings_overall::none

Lawrence Azrin
Lawrence Azrin
11 years ago
Reply to  Voomo Zanzibar

Whitey Ford’s record against the Red Sox in Fenway was so bad that eventually they just completely stopped pitching him there.

tag
tag
11 years ago

John,

Loved the Atlanta/Brew Crew writeup. Cleverest use of the word artifact in a long while. Plus enjoyed the reference to the Cream City. You don’t see too many houses with those bricks anymore, but the ones that remain are stunning.

tag
tag
11 years ago

Got cut off:

The Prado is definitely one museum worth visiting. In addition to seeing all the great Velasquezes, etc., you get out of that Madrid sun for a while.

RJ
RJ
11 years ago

Anyone else like the cut of Adam Eaton’s jib? He’s been mashing in the minors, great speed, great arm, looks like a top prospect. Picked in the 19th(!) round by the Dbacks two years ago. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/2012/09/11/20120911scouts-honor-diamondbacks-outfielder-adam-eatons-blazing-speed-scrappy-play-worthy-few-tales.html

RJ
RJ
11 years ago
Reply to  John Autin

This Adam Eaton has 3/8 of that Adam Eaton’s career WAR, having played six games hahaha.

Jonas Gumby
Jonas Gumby
11 years ago
Reply to  RJ

I’m amazed that Eaton hasn’t been brought up sooner to replace Chris Young. Or, at least, experimentally brought up to see if he could hang. I’d say Chris Young was washed up if he was ever good. I live in Arizona, and think he’s a great guy (and he must treat the writers well, too), but you can’t bat .230 more than 2 months of one season, let alone 7 years, and still play every day.

PP
PP
11 years ago

According to BBREF, Trout’s leads the AL by 4.2 WAR and mlb by 4. I’m sure it’s happened before, but probably not too often.

Richard Chester
Richard Chester
11 years ago
Reply to  PP

For position players only Ruth led the majors by 4.8 in 1923 and by 4.7 in 1926. For all players, position and pitching, I did not find anyone. It’s easy to track down. Go to BR, click on leaders and then click on WAR Year-by-Year Top Tens.

PP
PP
11 years ago

ahh, forgot about the top tens