September 12, 2007
Another Big Score
For the seventh time in their last twenty one games, the Baltimore Orioles allowed more than ten runs in a game. The Angels lead 16-6 in the eighth inning. You might think they are going for a record, but for the whole season they've only allowed ten runs or more fifteen times, including tonight. Tampa Bay played twenty two such games so far this season. With Baltimore, it's just another piece of their recent swoon.
And while the Angels are winning big, they should be a bit concerned with Kelvim Escobar. He allowed six runs in 5 2/3 innings tonight, the third rough outing in a row for him. Over his last five appearance, he's only pitched well once, giving up a 6.43 ERA in that time.
Leo Mazzone probably has dreams of returning to the NL--the day his guaranteed contract expires.
Phillips' OPS this year is .830, and 2007 is his career year. His total career number is .727 on more than 1,600 plate appearances. Even in his career year he's not enormously above average as an offensive player. The NL average, including pitchers, is .754.
Maybe we should call this the Soriano Effect. A player who really isn't terrific offensively, but who has that crowd-pleasing combination of home runs and stolen bases, gets overrated and eventually overpaid. Soriano, by the way, is at .847 this year, pretty much the same as his career .837.
Phillips is earning only a little more than minimum salary this year. But another season like 2007 will see his price zoom. Probably not to Soriano levels, though.
Oops, put the comment in the wrong thread.