With the action over in the American League, there are only six teams above .500 at the end of April. The Kansas City Royals are one of them. They creamed Minnesota 11-2 to finish the month with a 14-13 record for the season so far. Billy Butler and Alex Gordon both homered, but the entire […]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:53 pm | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Low Scoring NL
The Brewers/Astros game is the fourth to go final in the National League, and the third one to end in a 2-1 score. Jason Bourgeois singled home the winning run for the Astros in the bottom of the ninth. The other final was 3-2. Of the remaining four games on the board right now, not […]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:24 pm | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Tough Bullpens
The Indians defeat the Tigers 3-2 in 13 innings. The bullpens went 12 innings of scoreless ball before Orlando Cabrera drove in the winning run with a single in the 13th. Detroit scored two runs in the fourth and didn’t score after that.
Posted by David Pinto at 10:19 pm | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Guerrero Ties Reyes
Vladimir Guerrero went walkless in four at bats Saturday night to end April with no walks in 104 at bats. That ties Jose Reyes for the most at bats with no walks in the month of April since the start of the 1957 season. The top five: No walks in April, 1957-2011 Batter At Bats […]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:13 pm | Games, Players, Records | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Navarro Passes
The man believed to be the oldest living professional baseball player passed away: Emilio “Millito” Navarro, believed to be the oldest living professional baseball player, died Saturday in his Caribbean homeland of Puerto Rico. He was 105. The former Negro Leagues star died while surrounded by relatives, said a statement from his family. He was […]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:21 pm | Deaths | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Low Power Win
The Yankees defeat the Blue Jays 5-4 without the use of a home run. Six of their seven hits fell for singles, they drew five walks, and one batter reached on a hit by pitch. This is only the second time in 15 wins the Yankees took the W without a home run.
Posted by David Pinto at 7:26 pm | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Not By the Hair on His Chinny Chin Chin
Brian Wilson makes his save interesting, loading the bases with Nationals as he tried to protect a 2-1 lead in the ninth. Adam LaRoche struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the game, as Wilson was one pitch off the plate away from blowing a save. The Beard has saved eight game in nine […]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:20 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Smooth Swing
Carlos Santana just hit his third home run in his third consecutive game to cut the Tigers lead in half, 2-1. With Santana heating up after hitting around the Mendoza line for the second half of April, the Indians have a chance to maintain their competitiveness in the AL Central. The teams go to the […]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:14 pm | Games, Players | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Crushing Win
The Rangers left no prisoners Saturday afternoon as they bashed the Athletics 11-2. The Rangers, unlike Friday night, picked up six extra-base hits, including three home runs. Colby Lewis did give up two home runs, bring his season total to 10 in 30 innings, but those were the only two runs he allowed in eight […]
Posted by David Pinto at 6:56 pm | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Bad Ab
Ryan Zimmerman will miss six more weeks of baseball as his injured abdominal muscle requires surgery. The Nationals are 9-8 without Ryan, so maybe they can continue to play decent enough ball until he returns.
Posted by David Pinto at 5:15 pm | Injuries, Pitchers | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 30, 2011
Well Timed Triple
Gerald Laird saved his eighth career triple for the top of the ninth as he drives in the winning run in the Cardinals 3-2 win over the Braves, pitching duel of the day. Laird isn’t playing much or hitting much this season, but four of his seven hits have gone for extra bases. While Brandon […]
Posted by David Pinto at 4:17 pm | Games, Pitchers, Players | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Bobble Tie, Wild Ending
After two straight complete games, James Shields took a 1-0 lead into the ninth inning. He gave up a lead-off double that brought Kyle Farnsworth into the game. When Torii Hunter reached third with one out, the Rays brought the infield in. Howie Kendrick played into the Rays hands by hitting the ball to second, […]
Posted by David Pinto at 4:09 pm | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Great Sign
I agree with Emma Span, this is a great sign. The problem with semi colons, of course, is that they can lapse into a comma. 🙂
Posted by David Pinto at 4:00 pm | Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Halladay in Niese
The first pitchers duel of the day ends in a 2-1 complete game victory for Roy Halladay. Jonathon Niese put up a good fight, allowing two runs in 6 1/3 innings of work, but the Mets were only able to score by stringing together three singles in the fourth inning. Roy struck out eight and […]
Posted by David Pinto at 3:42 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Small Break, Big Loss
Pablo Sandoval needs surgery to repair a broken hamate bone. The hamate is a small, hooklike bone in the hand and fractures are all too common in baseball. It usually takes three weeks before the player can begin rehab work, but then there is scar tissue with which to contend. Whenever he returns, Pablo is […]
Posted by David Pinto at 2:50 pm | Injuries, Players | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Pitching Afternoon
The three one o’clock EDT games have completed three innings, and none have produced a run so far. James Shields and Brandon Beachy have not allowed a hit yet, Shields striking out six, Beachy two. Update: The Mets score a run in the top of the fourth, the only plate crossing on the day.
Posted by David Pinto at 1:54 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Strikeouts and Walks
Kevin Youkilis is turning into Adam Dunn a bit, and Peter Abraham wonders why. At Baseball Analytics, I try to answer the question.
Posted by David Pinto at 1:38 pm | Players | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Games of the Day
Toronto tries to make it two in a row against the Yankees as they send their rookie star Kyle Drabek against A.J. Burnett. Drabek’s worst start of the season came against the Yankees, but he still manages to bring a 3.30 ERA into the game. He’s putting quite a few runners on base with 17 […]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:59 am | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Weaver Pitching Tomorrow
I’m somewhat surprised that the Angels are holding Jered Weaver out until tomorrow. All month Mike Scioscia started him with exactly four days rest, no matter how many days off for the Angels in between. Today, however, Joel Pineiro gets the nod coming off the disabled list. I suppose after two complete games Mike wants […]
Posted by David Pinto at 10:43 am | Management, Pitchers | Permalink | 2 Comments
April 30, 2011
Singles Night
The Oakland Athletics downed the Rangers 3-1 on Friday night despite the Rangers knocking out 11 hits. All of them were singles, and all came from the third inning on. Texas never managed to get more than two hits in an inning, plus one runners was take out on a double play and one going […]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:31 am | Games | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Marcum in the Middle
Shaun Marcum continued to prove is acquisition worthy as he pitched seven shutout innings against the Astros Friday night. The Brewers plans to dominate with a big three rotation hasn’t quite worked out. Zack Greinke is rehabilitating an injury and Yovani Gallardo holds a 5.70 ERA. Marcum, however, lowered his ERA to 2.21 last night […]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:15 am | Pitchers | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 30, 2011
The Moment
Sometimes there is a moment in a season that changes perception of a team. Until last night, the Indians were a team that was off to a good start. Down 3-0, then 5-2, they fought back to tie the game on a two-run, Asdrubal Cabrera home run. Then in the ninth, they loaded the bases […]
Posted by David Pinto at 7:58 am | Games, Team Evaluation | Permalink | No Comments
April 30, 2011
Saturday Update
The Day by Day Database is up to date.
Posted by David Pinto at 7:38 am | Day by Day | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2011
Marquis de Shutout
Jason Marquis five hits the Giants, not allowing a walk and striking out seven as he pitches a 3-0 shutout. It’s the fourth shutout of his career and his first since the 2009 season. Marquis even helped himself with an RBI as he goes one for three on the evening, lowering his batting average to […]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:39 pm | Games, Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2011
Dice-K Injured
Daisuke Matsuzaka left Friday night’s game with an injury. No word on what he injured or how serious it is. Boston leads Seattle 4-3 in the sixth as Mike Cameron homered twice against his old team.
Posted by David Pinto at 9:18 pm | Injuries, Pitchers | Permalink | 1 Comment
April 29, 2011
Tweeting to a Suspension
Ozzie Guillen appears to have been suspended for tweeting: What MLB did not specify was what part of the suspension was related to what Guillen did on the field following the first inning of the White Sox’s game at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday and what part was because of his tweeting. His actions on the […]
Posted by David Pinto at 9:16 pm | Management | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2011
McDowell on Leave
The Braves disciplined Roger McDowell today: The Atlanta Braves placed pitching coach Roger McDowell on administrative leave Friday while they investigate allegations that he made homophobic comments and crude gestures toward fans before a game in San Francisco last weekend. McDowell also is accused of using a baseball bat to threatening a fan who objected […]
Posted by David Pinto at 4:17 pm | Baseball Jerks, Management | Permalink | 2 Comments
April 29, 2011
Umpiring is Having to Say You’re Sorry
Tom Andersen sends along this link to a New York Times story the end of the Mets winning streak. Tom comments on a part of the story about Jose Reyes and the umpire who erroneously called the shortstop out on a triple: I noticed a note in this morning’s Times that the umpire who mistakenly […]
Posted by David Pinto at 3:28 pm | Players, Umpires | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2011
Maxing Out
At Baseball Analytics, I look at the changes in Max Scherzer‘s slider since his demotion to the minor leagues last May.
Posted by David Pinto at 3:20 pm | Pitchers | Permalink | No Comments
April 29, 2011
Crime Doesn’t Pay
The Padres are stealing bases but not getting much out of it: The Padres rank second in the major leagues with 28 steals this season. But only seven of those steals have resulted in runs – largely because the Padres have struggled with runners in scoring position. Back when the The Hidden Game of Baseball […]
Posted by David Pinto at 1:46 pm | Base Running | Permalink | 2 Comments