BigSqwert

QUOTE (chw42 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 07:59 PM) Great start by Hellickson. 7 IP 2 ER 6 K 2 BB Qualls in to blow the game. Gives up a leadoff single to get things started in the 8th.

QUOTE (GoSox05 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 02:50 PM) Rays purchased the contract of RHP Jeremy Hellickson from Triple-A Durham. They have some nice pitching depth. He's making it look easy after 2 innings of work.

QUOTE (bigruss22 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 04:49 PM) I dont have the data to back it up but past generations seemed to get married before 25 quite often and never had as many problems in divorce as are seeing now (atleast so it seems). Is it more of a generational gap? I don't know if that's right but back then divorce was frowned upon and a wife getting beaten on a daily basis felt forced to stick through the marriage.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 02:41 PM) Yes, I checked. His total ERA was only 5.40 and he logged a lot of innings in one of the best hitting parks in baseball. Is there a similar stat that also includes inherited runners scored?

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 02:39 PM) It's a pitcher's ERA normalized by the cumulative set of ballparks he's pitching in and the performance of the rest of the league. ERA+ of 100 = average pitcher. ERA+ of 120 = very good pitcher. ERA+ of 82 = Randy Williams. You sure he was that high?

QUOTE (hi8is @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 02:37 PM) Can you give me a run down of the ERA+ statistic http://tinyurl.com/3a32e73

Have a good one!

Big surprise that ESPN's new power rankings still have Boston ahead of us.

QUOTE (Milkman delivers @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 01:47 PM) Whoa, less than 10 innings in more than a month and a half? That's very little use. And 9 hits in 9 innings isn't great. Still light years better than what he had produced prior to this stretch.

For the details, data and charts for each, click the link

Jackson extension? He's a Boras client so that's highly doubtful.

Excellent points shack.

QUOTE (Chet Kincaid @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 11:07 AM) At this point, I consider anything that the Sox get get out of Linebrink, other than mop up duty, to be a bonus. Hopefully he is able to contribute to the team in the run up to the playoffs. At this point he isn't cringe-inducing bad so I'm pleased.

QUOTE (scenario @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 11:00 AM) Many people are not aware of the huge impact that Scott Linebrink had on Floyd getting his act together. Both have a very strong "faith-based" approach to life. Scott shared his thoughts, etc., with Gavin at a critical time in Floyd's development. And it has played a critical role in Floyd's new found self-confidence and success. And slightly off topic but anyone else notice that Linebrink's last 8 or 9 starts have been pretty damn good? Could you imagine if he had one of those elite half seasons the rest of the way?

I know this might sound crazy but I almost would rather use a rotating platoon of the DH/1B/3B/OF with Viciedo, Vizquel, Lillibridge, Teahen and Jones than to pick up a very expensive player that's struggling or dinged up. With Kotsay out of the equation I think that rotation would work quite well and it's probably closer to what Kenny and Ozzie envisioned at the beginning of spring training.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 10:53 AM) He'll be put on waivers, no doubt. It would be interesting to see if someone did claim him with an eye on 2011. I really doubt that anyone would claim him. Boston and NY have a limitless check book.

AL Central waiver candidates per MLB Traderumors. Interesting that they brought up Peavy's name. I never really considered that as an option. If the Sox brass feel that he may never be the same pitcher again maybe they try to unload him? And it makes the Jackson deal even more interesting.

Rios

Pierre

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 10:23 AM) Vegas has Tampa as a slight favorite to win tonight at -115 Is that comparable to football's 3 point home field advantage?

Regardless of who's favored lets hope for a Rays sweep.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 10:09 AM) I'd like to note...in this post, you used the phrase "The rookie" as opposed to other phrases you could have chosen. For example "Hellickson" or "the Rays top prospect" or "one of the top prospects in baseball coming into this year" or "The 23 year old who has gone 18-4 with an ERA of 2.5 at AAA Durham over a year there". He's still a prospect that hasn't proven anything at the major league level. Sure he might dominate tonight but it's a stretch to think that he is favored to win. Besides, the Twins offense has been clicking.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 09:39 AM) Even though the Twins looked really good beating up the teams at the bottom of the AL...I think you're seriously underestimating how good the Rays are, esp. at home. But you have to give the Twins the edge tonight with the rookie going tonight against Pavano (8-0 in last 10 starts).

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 09:50 AM) You know the thing that strikes me as absolutely remarkable? Right now, when Teahen gets back, we'll have exactly the setup for which a rotating DH makes sense. You have a handful of older guys in the field, or guys who are injury-prone and could benefit from extra time off (Q, Konerko, Vizquel). You have several guys on your bench who are flexible defensively (Jones, Teahen, the Stealth Elf) or who happen to play the same position as the guys you like giving extra rest to (Viciedo). You have a young guy who clearly is benefiting from big league at bats but who might struggle a bit more than you'd like as an everyday player (Viciedo). This is the situation that cries out for the rotating DH and a lineup set by matchups. You get Viciedo into the game every other day or so, but shield him from the toughest righties you face (i.e. he doesn't see Verlander). You get Vizquel into the field every other day, or at most 2 out of 3 days, and you take advantage of his defense and what he's brought to the lineup. You use Jones regularly to keep the guys in the OF rested and healthy, especially if there's a LHP on the mound. You use Teahen as your lefty counterpart to Viciedo and Jones, giving Konerko extra rest. It's almost as good of a "rotating DH" situation as you could want. But sadly, we're going to throw that away. Can you just email this post to Kenny and Ozzie?

QUOTE (balfanman @ Aug 2, 2010 -> 09:40 AM) I can certainly understand the benefit of playing everyday in AAA and this may help him have a hot bat when he returns in September. A counter argument to that would be that even if Viciedo doesn't get 1 at bat in August, his sitting on the bench being available for pinch hit duty would do more to help the team by provoking an opposing manager into a pitching change than having Kotsay around. And we can better utilize that flexible DH bull crap with Viciedo in the mix. He can alternate 3B duties with Omar based on pitching matchups as well as get into the DH rotation with Teahen and Jones. I just don't see any value in keeping Kotsay at this point.