Filed under: Arizona Diamondbacks, baseball, Chicago Cubs, Detroit Tigers, MLB, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates
The Cubs won a wild one, to say the least: an 12-inning, 4 four and 47 minute 10-8 win. (Boxscore) The Cubs led 7-0 at one point, before a 5-run fourth inning for the Pirates, and 3 more runs to make the game tied 8-8 in the 7th. As the game went into extras (in the moral words of Michael Kay, “FREE BASEBALL!”), four runs of nothing except head banging for Cubs and Pirates fans alike. (The cubs left 34 runners on base in the game – the pirates only 17.) The Cubs finally scored twice in the 12th and held on for the win.
19 total walks were given up in the game, including 5 from Evan Meek in the 12th alone. By my calculations, 466 pitches were thrown in the game. That’s what you call a marathon.
And, after all that, my fourth favorite player in the league didn’t get a hit. (That’s Nyjer Morgan, who went 0-3.)
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Meanwhile: The D-Backs signed Chris Young to a 6 year contract, and it’s believed that it’s close to Troy Tulowitzki’s 30-mill contract in the offseason.
Uh, what? Sure, he hit 36 homers last year, but he also had a .237 AVG, a .295 OBP, and, most telling, an 89 OPS+. Now he’s solid young talent with room to improve and has obviously very impressive power. But unless he gets his average and walks up soon, those 36 homers won’t do much, and it’ll be close to 30 million wasted for below-average production.
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In other news: It’s about 9 PM EST, and the Yanks are winning against the DEVIL Rays in the 7th inning, 4-1. Now – brace yourselves – the Yankees may score more than 4 runs for the first time this season.
As of before tonight’s game, The Yankees are batting .146 with runners in scoring position this year, worst in the league, and are averaging 2.83 runs per game, 3rd worst in the league. Now I know it’s only six games into the season, but… still. The only thing that has saved the Yanks from a Detroit-like embarrassment of a start to the season is their pitching. Perhaps a few years ago the Yanks would be 0-6 or 1-5 if not for their pitching this year.
Oh, and the team that’s second worst in AVG w/ RISP and worst in RPG? Detroit. Only the Yanks have a team ERA of 4.17 (Bloated by that 13-4 rout vs Tampa Bay), while Detroit has a team ERA of 5.30. Thus, Detroit is 0-6.
Sorry Detroit fans, but I’ve got to say it: He, he, he.
Update, 9:20 PM EST: The Yankees have scored 5 runs! And by a 2-out hit with RISP. Rejoice in the streets!
-Red
Filed under: Alex Rodriguez, Arizona Diamondbacks, Awards, Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies, Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners | Tags: A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez, Bob Melvin, Coors Field, Dustin Pedroia, Eric Wedge, Jake Peavy, Jim Leyland, Josh Beckett, Matt Holliday, Mike Hargrove, Mike Sciosia, Ryan Braun, Troy Tulowitzki
That time of year has come – the playoffs, so it makes perfect sense to try to predict who wins the various awards of baseball. Keep in mind that I am not saying who I think should win, rather I am saying who I think will win. Also, keep in mind that the awards given in the offseason are voted upon before the postseason begins.
AL MVP
Alex Rodriguez. Come on. I don’t have to explain this one, do I?
NL MVP
Matt Holliday probably clinched it by getting that huge hit on the one-game playoff versus the Padres.
AL Cy Young
Josh Beckett had the most wins. Surprise?
NL Cy Young
Jake Peavy. We’re all smart people here.
AL Rookie of the Year
Dustin Pedroia may not deserve it, but he gets the Boston spotlight and the flashy numbers.
NL Rookie of the Year
Ryan Braun. Sorry, Troy. But he edged you out. To be honest, Troy wouldn’t deserve it anyways because he was only an average hitter when you factor in the Coors Effect. But the difference in defense still doesn’t quite make up for it. Smart stats aside, it’s hard for the sportswriters to ignore 30 homers.
AL Manager of the Year
Jim Leyland? Mike Hargrove? I’m kind of out of options here. There was nobody who stood out at all. I guess Eric Wedge makes the most sense, or maybe Mike Sciosia.
NL Manager of the Year
Bob Melvin virtually willed the D-Backs into the playoffs, and though I thought that Ned Yost was the frontrunner, the Brewers missing of the playoffs means that Melvin will likely take the metal home.
The Baseball Exchange 