Monday, July 25, 2005
Extra Frames
Rafael Palmeiro just drew a walk after nine-pitch duel with Rangers reliever Kameron Loe.
Sammy Sosa promptly followed that great at-bat with a first-pitch-swinging 5-4-3 double play. That's the 11th DP that Slammin' Sammy has grounded into this season, which basically puts him tied for 23rd in the majors in that category.
The GIDP leaders in baseball are all bunched up over a very small range of numbers. There is one guy, Bill Mueller of Boston, who has grounded into 17. Pedro Feliz has grounded into 16 twin killings. There are three guys with 15; two with 14; five with 13; nine with 12; and an absolute slew of players with either 11 or 10.
This tight bunching of totals makes the major league leader look especially bad then. Sean Casey of the Reds has grounded into 23 double plays this year, six more than the next highest total. That's a lot of rally killin' going on right there.
This is nothing particularly new for Casey. He's always been susceptible to the DP; since 2000 he ranks 9th in baseball in this category.
The Top 10 since 2000
Paul Konerko: 107
Jeff Bagwell: 92
Bernie Williams: 89
Magglio Ordonez: 87
Edgar Renteria: 86
Jon Olerud: 83
Jorge Posada: 81
Tori Hunter: 80
Sean Casey: 78
Andruw Jones: 78
Quite a few good players on that list. It seems the key to hitting into a lot of double plays would be either a) be as slow as an ox, or b) hit in the middle of an offense that puts a lot of guys on base. When you're a guy like Jorge Posada, it's a double-whammy. Most of us can run faster on on our hands ... backwards, than Jorge can huff and puff around those bases. And he's spent most of his career hitting in the bottom half of one of the best offensive teams in the league. Nothing ground-breaking in that analysis.
Casey's already surpassed his previous career high of 19 set in 2003. He's grounded into 16 DPs in a season three times: 2000, 2001 and 2004.
The Red Sox are heading to extra innings right now for the first team this season. It's their 99th game of the season, making it the furthest they've ever gone in a season without playing extra frames.
Wells threw another solid game tonight:
Base hit Trot Nixon to lead off the 10th. Varitek's a good bunter, but not sure if he'll be squaring around.
Meanwhile in Balitmore, the Rangers are threatening to put this game away. They have 1st and 2nd with 0 outs in the top of the 9th, already up 4-2. Fly ball to right, one out, no advance by the runners. Blalock up, Ryan's in for Baltimore.
3-2 on Veritek.
Orioles got out of the inning with no further damage.
End of first post: 10:26 p.m.
Varitek struck out, but Nixon was able to swipe second base. Olerud's up now. Jesus Colome on the mound.
Roberts just led off with a single in Baltimore to get things going for the O's.
Odd play in Tampa. Sharp hit towards short, the ball hits Nixon, leaving Olerud at first with two outs. Listening to the radio broadcast, so having trouble envisioning exactly what the play looked like. Also trying to type simultaneously with the action.
Hollins just made a putout to end the inning.
In Baltimore, after a Melvin Mora strike out, Miguel Tejada ended the game with (what else?) a 5-4-3 DP.
End of 2nd post: 10:32 p.m.
Carl Crawford leading off for the Rays in the 10th. Schilling up 0-2 on him.
Where to go? With Texas-Baltimore a wrap, I guess I'll go over to Wrigley, where the Cubs are down 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th. Also wouldn't mind catching a quick glance of Cleveland-Oakland...
Infield hit for Crawford. Ground ball to Mueller, had to range to his left, made a one-hop throw that Olerud couldn't pick.
Cantu has already shown bunt before Schilling has even gone into his motion.
Bunt back to Schilling who threw to Renteria who made a nice play to hold the bag at second. The Sox announcers are saying Boston may have gotten a break on the call.
Gomes just popped out into foul territory. Two outs, man on 1st.
Huff's up.
Game over.
Aubrey Huff doubled off the right field wall, Cantu scored from first without a play at the plate.
4-3 Tampa in 10 innings.
That's a wrap for me tonight.
Think I'll read for a bit before bed, and keep the Mets game on in the background.
Rafael Palmeiro just drew a walk after nine-pitch duel with Rangers reliever Kameron Loe.
Sammy Sosa promptly followed that great at-bat with a first-pitch-swinging 5-4-3 double play. That's the 11th DP that Slammin' Sammy has grounded into this season, which basically puts him tied for 23rd in the majors in that category.
The GIDP leaders in baseball are all bunched up over a very small range of numbers. There is one guy, Bill Mueller of Boston, who has grounded into 17. Pedro Feliz has grounded into 16 twin killings. There are three guys with 15; two with 14; five with 13; nine with 12; and an absolute slew of players with either 11 or 10.
This tight bunching of totals makes the major league leader look especially bad then. Sean Casey of the Reds has grounded into 23 double plays this year, six more than the next highest total. That's a lot of rally killin' going on right there.
This is nothing particularly new for Casey. He's always been susceptible to the DP; since 2000 he ranks 9th in baseball in this category.
The Top 10 since 2000
Paul Konerko: 107
Jeff Bagwell: 92
Bernie Williams: 89
Magglio Ordonez: 87
Edgar Renteria: 86
Jon Olerud: 83
Jorge Posada: 81
Tori Hunter: 80
Sean Casey: 78
Andruw Jones: 78
Quite a few good players on that list. It seems the key to hitting into a lot of double plays would be either a) be as slow as an ox, or b) hit in the middle of an offense that puts a lot of guys on base. When you're a guy like Jorge Posada, it's a double-whammy. Most of us can run faster on on our hands ... backwards, than Jorge can huff and puff around those bases. And he's spent most of his career hitting in the bottom half of one of the best offensive teams in the league. Nothing ground-breaking in that analysis.
Casey's already surpassed his previous career high of 19 set in 2003. He's grounded into 16 DPs in a season three times: 2000, 2001 and 2004.
The Red Sox are heading to extra innings right now for the first team this season. It's their 99th game of the season, making it the furthest they've ever gone in a season without playing extra frames.
Wells threw another solid game tonight:
IP H R ER BB KAnd could've looked even better if Mike Timlin hadn't been knocked around a bit, allowing inherited runners to score.
6.1 9 3 3 0 5
Base hit Trot Nixon to lead off the 10th. Varitek's a good bunter, but not sure if he'll be squaring around.
Meanwhile in Balitmore, the Rangers are threatening to put this game away. They have 1st and 2nd with 0 outs in the top of the 9th, already up 4-2. Fly ball to right, one out, no advance by the runners. Blalock up, Ryan's in for Baltimore.
3-2 on Veritek.
Orioles got out of the inning with no further damage.
End of first post: 10:26 p.m.
Varitek struck out, but Nixon was able to swipe second base. Olerud's up now. Jesus Colome on the mound.
Roberts just led off with a single in Baltimore to get things going for the O's.
Odd play in Tampa. Sharp hit towards short, the ball hits Nixon, leaving Olerud at first with two outs. Listening to the radio broadcast, so having trouble envisioning exactly what the play looked like. Also trying to type simultaneously with the action.
Hollins just made a putout to end the inning.
In Baltimore, after a Melvin Mora strike out, Miguel Tejada ended the game with (what else?) a 5-4-3 DP.
End of 2nd post: 10:32 p.m.
Carl Crawford leading off for the Rays in the 10th. Schilling up 0-2 on him.
Where to go? With Texas-Baltimore a wrap, I guess I'll go over to Wrigley, where the Cubs are down 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th. Also wouldn't mind catching a quick glance of Cleveland-Oakland...
Infield hit for Crawford. Ground ball to Mueller, had to range to his left, made a one-hop throw that Olerud couldn't pick.
Cantu has already shown bunt before Schilling has even gone into his motion.
Bunt back to Schilling who threw to Renteria who made a nice play to hold the bag at second. The Sox announcers are saying Boston may have gotten a break on the call.
Gomes just popped out into foul territory. Two outs, man on 1st.
Huff's up.
Game over.
Aubrey Huff doubled off the right field wall, Cantu scored from first without a play at the plate.
4-3 Tampa in 10 innings.
That's a wrap for me tonight.
Think I'll read for a bit before bed, and keep the Mets game on in the background.
