July 5, 200520 yr comment_2764693 I think the big problem with Keith Foulke is in large part because of the lower K rate (6.69 compared to 8.57 last year and 9.19 the year before) and the increased BB rate. He has 15 walks in 39 IP this season and he had 15 BBs all year last year. That's 3.46 BB/9 and when you're walking guys, you tend to open yourself up to a greater opportunity to get hit around. His K/9 has decreased over the last three years, his BB/9 has steadily gone up, and his H/9 has exploded this season. 2005 PASB: 6.69 K/9 and 3.46 BB/9 and 10.62 H/9 2004 PASB: 7.66 K/9 and 2.11 BB/9 and 6.51 H/9 2003 PASB: 9.70 K/9 and 1.98 BB/9 and 6.83 H/9 2002 PASB: 6.80 K/9 and 2.20 BB/9 and 8.78 H/9
July 5, 200520 yr comment_2765300 The fact that the Reds believe that Dunn is the problem with their team should be indicative of where that franchise is heading.No kidding. If anything, he's the kind of guy you'd build your team around. Great power, high OBP and can be a big run producer with the right guys in front of him. People dwell on the K's, but it's not that big of a deal since he's hitting balls out of the park or walking when he's not striking out. He wouldn't turn a team like the Cubs completely around, but getting a guy like him could definitely set that offense in the right direction.
July 5, 200520 yr Author comment_2765566 It happens all the time. Pitching is a fickle beast, and it is hard telling when pitchers might fall off the cliff. This could be the result of some arm injury. I doubt it is the dreaded Steve Blass disease that struck Ankiel, as Foulke's BB rate is too low yet. It is worth noting that Foulke's ERA is 8.35 at Fenway, and 4.35 on the road. Both are too high for a closer of course. An arm injury is the most likely cause, IMO.
July 6, 200520 yr comment_2769888 It turns out that it may be a knee injury of two that may be to blame for him sucking the meat missle this year.
July 6, 200520 yr Author comment_2773652 How much damage can the Nationals do in the playoffs? They can win all three series. Seriously, the Nationals are the luckiest team in baseball. They are 22-7 in one run games, an outstanding total. That is due to the success of their closer, Chad Cordero. The question is whether good fortune will continue to smile on them. I like Cordero, but that 1.42 ERA is likely to rise. I give them a 50/50 shot at the postseason. After that, I question if the pitching staff is good enough. Livan Hernandez is great, John Patterson's having a good year, but Esteban Loaiza's a quick starter, and the rotation is thin after that. If they do make the postseason, they could likely go as far as they can until running into the St. Louis Cardinals.
July 6, 200520 yr comment_2773825 What would be the fallout in Quebec if the Nationals pull the same thing off the Avalanche did when they left Quebec? Its a what if, I know, but would it pretty much kill baseball (hell, professional sports) off in that location? I guess that's what I'm getting at. Also, long term can the Nationals keep being a contender for the WS? Or this just a fluke?
July 6, 200520 yr comment_2774444 All the old school baseball guys will try and tell you that they are for real now, because they have heart. Bullshit. Look at the run differential and also what Al mentioned with 1 run games. They are a slightly better than .500 team playing way over their head.
July 10, 200520 yr comment_2817858 Sorta outta leftfield (well, centerfield, I guess), but what's with all of the off-hand remarks about Jim Edmonds' sexual orientation? Nothing around our boards, but I've seen jabs at the subject elsewhere on many occassions? Any ground to them or just morons yapping? Also, a bit of a stretch, but WS-wise, who do you like out of each league?
July 10, 200520 yr Author comment_2820129 Sorta outta leftfield (well, centerfield, I guess), but what's with all of the off-hand remarks about Jim Edmonds' sexual orientation? Nothing around our boards, but I've seen jabs at the subject elsewhere on many occassions? Any ground to them or just morons yapping? Well, Jim Edmonds has never offered to sleep with me, so I have no first-hand knowledge of the subject. This is the first I have heard about it actually. I think there are some gay athletes in baseball, and that there is nothing wrong with that. Also, a bit of a stretch, but WS-wise, who do you like out of each league? Minnesota and Atlanta, assuming the Braves do not win the division outright. The Nationals are lucky, but so far ahead that they can win 93 games just by playing .500 ball the rest of the way.
July 10, 200520 yr comment_2820938 Are you talking about the Wild Card? For a second I thought you were calling Twins/Braves for the World Series.
July 10, 200520 yr Author comment_2823915 Wild card I meant. World Series, I think its St. Louis, and either Boston or the White Sox.
July 10, 200520 yr comment_2824078 More likely Boston than Chicago. I'm starting to lose faith in the White Sox....
July 10, 200520 yr comment_2824398 Why, because they got swept by a hot team that they've not had success against in years?
July 12, 200520 yr comment_2837924 I wouldn't worry about it. Although, it would be quite the sight to see them cough up a double-digit lead in a weak division.
July 12, 200520 yr comment_2839353 Close enough. A nine game lead isn't a lock for the division, but I'd be surprised if they piss it away that this juncture. It's gonna take a lot of H2H losses to eat away at that lead.
July 16, 200520 yr comment_2889555 And that's all that really matters when it comes to getting into the postseason. You beat the teams in your division and you're good to go. They've opened an 11-game lead, so I seriously doubt they aren't making the postseason at this point. Here's one for Al: why are some people acting as if Leiter being added to the rotation is going to help the Yankees? He was DFA for a reason; the guy has completely lost it. Yet I've heard people act like him joining the team is actually going to be a positive.
July 16, 200520 yr comment_2889607 And that's all that really matters when it comes to getting into the postseason. You beat the teams in your division and you're good to go. They've opened an 11-game lead, so I seriously doubt they aren't making the postseason at this point. Here's one for Al: why are some people acting as if Leiter being added to the rotation is going to help the Yankees? He was DFA for a reason; the guy has completely lost it. Yet I've heard people act like him joining the team is actually going to be a positive. Well, I think people are getting desperate.
July 16, 200520 yr comment_2890593 A positive? That's CRAZY talk. Leiter was a joke, at times, this year. He had one really good start that I can think of - against Pedro at Shea, but that was it. One of the worst pickups in Marlins history. Gotta finally admit that.
July 16, 200520 yr Author comment_2891494 Here's one for Al: why are some people acting as if Leiter being added to the rotation is going to help the Yankees? He was DFA for a reason; the guy has completely lost it. Yet I've heard people act like him joining the team is actually going to be a positive. When your third and fourth starters combine for 3.2 innings and 12 runs in a game, you will be surprised what looks good in your rotation. The Yankees have yet to learn their lesson. They keep feeding off names rather than finding quality pitching. The warning signs were there last year, and it now appears Leiter has reached the end of the road. If he can not succeed in Florida, I do not see how he could succeed in Yankee Stadium. Leiter can reel off a quality start here and there, but he's not going to solve their problems obviously.
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