Monday, September 13, 2010

SweetSpot Weekend Roundup: September 13

By Bill

The View from the Bleachers (Cubs): Game 143: Just Give Me Some Truth
"First, the good (and interesting) news. As Darrell told me a few days ago, today’s starter, Casey Coleman, is a third generation big-leaguer.  Now for the bad news. Coleman is way too hittable to be a useful ML pitcher."

Austin's Astros 290 Blog: Astros Fall in Another Ugly One
"I also hope that anyone who thinks that Brad Mills is the NL Manager of the year was playing close attention to tonight’s game.  Because I’m pretty sure that a manager of the year wouldn’t burn through nine pitchers in an 11-inning game because he’s so obsessed with lefty-righty matchups that he pulled three different guys who had thrown fewer than 11 pitches."

Dodger Thoughts: Welcome to the 2011 Dodgers, Jay Gibbons
Jay Gibbons is one of those guys I had consigned to the back of my mind forever, never thought I'd hear his name again after he played so badly three seasons ago that he even played his way out of Baltimore. He's been excellent in a month-or-so sample for the Dodgers, however, and Jon says you can pretty much pencil him in for 2011.

Disciples of Uecker (Brewers): Capuano as a Starter
Chris Capuano has managed to hang on for years longer than ever seemed possible. Between his encouraging five starts in 2010 and the Brewers' lack of exciting options, Jack thinks he's got at least one more in him.

Mets Today: Mets Game 143: Loss to Phillies
Thirteen words you probably never thought you'd hear or read (and then the rest for context): "As Mets fans we are blessed to have the Phillies in our division and in turn the opportunity to see two of the best righthanded starters in baseball pitching over the course of a weekend."

Crashburn Alley (Phillies): Understanding Ryan Howard's WAR
Bill takes one writer's uninformed dismissal of WAR as an opportunity to explain how it works, and why it likes Jamey Carroll, et al. better than Ryan Howard in 2010.

Ducksnorts (Padres): Stranded, Caught in the Crossfire
"If there is a player who takes better advantage of his park than Gonzalez, I don’t know who it is. How cool would it be to magically transform from Juan Encarnacion into, oh, Jeff Bagwell v. 1994 whenever you return home from a road trip? I so want that super power."

Bay City Ball (Giants): State of the Giants -- September Edition
Written before Sunday's 6-2 victory over the Padres that tied up the NL West. Got to be one of the most interesting teams left to follow right now.

Fungoes (Cardinals): Better for Rasmus to Speak Softly, Carry Big Stick
Thoughts on the huge day by beleaguered Colby Rasmus. My favorite part: Pip calls Rasmus "the subject of an amateurish squabble among the team’s powerbrokers, Tony La Russa and Albert Pujols."

Nationals Baseball: One thing on Dunn's fielding...
Harper urges some caution about Dunn's "improved" fielding at first base. Seriously, how is it that anyone thinks it's a good idea for Dunn to be anything but a full-time DH? I mean, besides Adam Dunn himself. I can see why he might not see things that way.

Weaver's Tantrum (Orioles): Luke Scott--Tiger Killer?
"Luke Scott has a well-earned reputation for destroying the Detroit Tigers....In two games this year, Luke is a respectable but not spectacular 2 for 8 with one walk. Both hits were singles. Will Luke turn it around?"

Fire Brand of the American League: Somebody Out There Still Believes
On hope in the face of increasing hopelessness.

Sox Machine (White Sox): Thanks to Thome, huge game rests on Harrell's shoulders
"Ozzie knew Thome still could hit, and was unsure about whether other groups knew as well. This is a great defense for answering complaints about one-dimensionality after re-signing Thome, by the way."

The Daily Fungo (Tigers): Widespread Selective Amnesia from Media on Huff's Pennant-Race Experience
And from Huff too, apparently. Lots of cute little stories about how Huff is thriving with the Giants in his first sniff of pennant-race baseball...which would be awesome, if Huff hadn't hit .189/.265/.302 as the Tigers fell to pieces in the stretch drive just last season.

Royals Authority: Bloom Off the Renovated K?
Attendance is down in 2010 after the excitement from the good-as-new Kaufman Stadium in 2009, which could be a bad sign for future payroll and such.

Nick's Twins Blog: Not So Easy to Find
Some thoughts on Twins' DH Jason Kubel, in response to a Twit-versation Nick, myself and some other Twins fans had with FanGraphs' Dave Cameron regarding a rather infamous article Cameron wrote in spring 2009.

It's About the Money, Stupid (Yankees): Joba and FIP
Mark with a brilliant piece on the single most unfairly maligned player in baseball.

Pro Ball NW (Mariners): Fusco's a Goner; Jackson Generals
Apparently, Mariner scouting director Carmen Fusco is set to take the fall for the Josh Lueke silliness--good move? Bad move? Who's to say?--while the "West Tenn Diamond Jaxx" are set to undergo a badly, badly needed rebranding.

Baseball Time in Arlington (Rangers): The Ones We Remember
"Depending on your perspective, [Friday] night's Yankees-Rangers tilt was either a tension-packed classic or absolutely painful to endure. Maybe both."

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