April 2011
Monthly Archive
How much does a Home Plate Umpire Effect the Game
Posted by Tom on 30 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: MLB Banter
Take a look at the games today in the National League and decide for yourself. There are some very significant numbers that lean rather heavily towards certain teams. Is that coincidence? After the games come back and check those numbers with the outcome. It will surprise some that the numbers are eerily similar.
St. Louis Cardinals at Atlanta Braves – umpire is Tim Hudson
- Road team is 4-0 in Hudsons last 4 Saturday games behind home plate vs. St. Louis.
- Under is 4-0 in Hudsons last 4 Saturday games behind home plate vs. St. Louis.
- Cardinals are 5-1 in their last 6 Saturday games with Hudson behind home plate.
- Road team is 4-1 in Hudsons last 5 games behind home plate vs. St. Louis.
- Road team is 6-2 in Hudsons last 8 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Braves are 2-6 in their last 8 games with Hudson behind home plate.
New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies - umpire is Lance Barksdale
- Home team is 7-0 in Barksdales last 7 games behind home plate vs. New York.
- Under is 8-1-1 in Barksdales last 10 games behind home plate.
- Home team is 4-1 in Barksdales last 5 games behind home plate vs. Philadelphia.
- Under is 6-2 in Barksdales last 8 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Over is 16-6-4 in Barksdales last 26 games behind home plate vs. Philadelphia.
- Home team is 15-7 in Barksdales last 22 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Home team is 37-18 in Barksdales last 55 games behind home plate.
- Mets are 0-4 in their last 4 games with Barksdale behind home plate.
San Francisco Giants at Washington Nationals – umpire is Paul Emmel
- Road team is 4-0 in Emmels last 4 Saturday games behind home plate vs. Washington.
- Giants are 5-0 in their last 5 Saturday games with Emmel behind home plate.
- Home team is 5-0 in Emmels last 5 Saturday games behind home plate vs. San Francisco.
- Road team is 5-1 in Emmels last 6 games behind home plate vs. Washington.
- Under is 5-1 in Emmels last 6 Saturday games behind home plate vs. Washington.
- Road team is 4-1 in Emmels last 5 games behind home plate vs. San Francisco.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Emmels last 5 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Giants are 19-7 in their last 26 games with Emmel behind home plate.
- Road team is 8-3 in Emmels last 11 games behind home plate.
- Under is 5-2 in Emmels last 7 games behind home plate vs. San Francisco.
- Nationals are 0-4 in their last 4 games with Emmel behind home plate.
Milwaukee Brewers at Houston Astros – umpire is Derryl Cousins
- Road team is 5-0 in Cousins’ last 5 games behind home plate.
- Over is 5-0 in Cousins’ last 5 games behind home plate vs. Houston.
- Over is 8-2-1 in Cousins’ last 11 games behind home plate.
- Over is 4-1 in Cousins’ last 5 games behind home plate vs. Milwaukee.
- Road team is 7-2 in Cousins’ last 9 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Home team is 13-4 in Cousins’ last 17 games behind home plate vs. Milwaukee.
- Road team is 5-2 in Cousins’ last 7 games behind home plate vs. Houston.
- Brewers are 0-7 in their last 7 games with Cousins behind home plate.
Florida Marlins at Cincinnati Reds – umpire is Joe West
- Over is 4-0 in Wests last 4 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Road team is 4-0 in Wests last 4 Saturday games behind home plate vs. Cincinnati.
- Reds are 14-3 in their last 17 games with West behind home plate.
- Over is 4-1 in Wests last 5 games behind home plate.
- Home team is 6-2 in Wests last 8 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Under is 15-5-1 in Wests last 21 games behind home plate vs. Florida.
- Road team is 12-4 in Wests last 16 games behind home plate vs. Florida.
- Home team is 38-15 in Wests last 53 games behind home plate.
- Road team is 5-2 in Wests last 7 games behind home plate vs. Cincinnati.
- Over is 5-2 in Wests last 7 Saturday games behind home plate vs. Cincinnati.
- Marlins are 0-4 in their last 4 games with West behind home plate.
Chicago Cubs at Arizona Diamondbacks - umpire is Larry Vanover
- Road team is 4-1 in Vanovers last 5 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Under is 4-1 in Vanovers last 5 games behind home plate vs. Arizona.
- Over is 3-1-1 in Vanovers last 5 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Home team is 6-2 in Vanovers last 8 games behind home plate vs. Chicago.
- Under is 5-2-1 in Vanovers last 8 games behind home plate.
- Home team is 7-3 in Vanovers last 10 games behind home plate vs. Arizona.
- Under is 11-5-1 in Vanovers last 17 games behind home plate vs. Chicago.
- Diamondbacks are 1-8 in their last 9 games with Vanover behind home plate.
Pittsburgh Pirates at Colorado Rockies – umpire is Eric Cooper
- Rockies are 4-0 in their last 4 games with Cooper behind home plate.
- Over is 4-0 in Coopers last 4 Saturday games behind home plate vs. Colorado.
- Over is 4-0 in Coopers last 4 games behind home plate vs. Pittsburgh.
- Road team is 9-2 in Coopers last 11 games behind home plate vs. Colorado.
- Over is 4-1 in Coopers last 5 games behind home plate vs. Colorado.
- Over is 36-14-4 in Coopers last 54 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Home team is 15-7 in Coopers last 22 games behind home plate.
- Pirates are 0-6 in their last 6 games with Cooper behind home plate.
San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers – umpire is Bob Davidson
- Over is 5-0 in Davidsons last 5 games behind home plate vs. Los Angeles.
- Home team is 5-1 in Davidsons last 6 games behind home plate.
- Padres are 5-1 in their last 6 games with Davidson behind home plate.
- Home team is 19-7 in Davidsons last 26 Saturday games behind home plate.
- Dodgers are 3-7 in their last 10 games with Davidson behind home plate.
Umpire trends are courtesy of COVERS.
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Makes you want to go hmmm.
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I Dislike the Word CLOSER in Baseball
Posted by Tom on 28 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Cardinals
That seems so unnecessary. To deem someone the closer and they have the responsibility to get the last 1-2-3 outs in the game. These are major league pitchers, shouldn’t they be able to get 3 outs no matter what they situation is in a game? At least the majority of the time. Before I hear it from the psychologists in the readship, don’t give me this junk about it takes a different mental make-up.
Come on. Major league pitchers have, for the most part, been pitching since their youth. They have it ingrained in them to get outs in the game. They only have one real purpose no matter if it is the 7th or 8th or 9th inning. To record three outs. So to use the word CLOSER should also be used for the 7th inning guy to CLOSE out the 7th inning.
Baseball teams should be able to call on any rested (that’s another issue I have) pitcher to come in and get the outs no matter what part of the game it is. To signify that someone doesnt have the mental capacities to handle certain situation is really doing a disservice to the player.
As much as Dan and Al irritate me they have a point that sometimes the game is saved in the earlier innings. If someone is SO valuable then maybe they should come in at that part of the game to CLOSE the door. That’s my thoughts, what about you?
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Does any team have a LIGHTS OUT closer anymore?
St. Louis Cardinal Central Illinois Fan Meetup at BWW in East Peoria – May 1st
Posted by Knup on 26 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Cardinals
A couple of us Central Illinois Cardinal bloggers are setting up and hosting a “St. Louis Cardinal Fan Meetup” this coming Sunday at Buffalo Wild Wings in East Peoria. The Cardinals play the Braves at 12:35 PM so we will have an area designated for us Cardinal fans to enjoy the game and just talk Cardinal baseball. Anyone and everyone is welcome to join us. If you live in Central Illinois and love the Cardinals – join us this Sunday!!!
When?
Sunday, May 1st, 2011 – NOON CST until Cardinal game ends
Where?
Buffalo Wild Wings in East Peoria
833 W Camp St
East Peoria, IL 61611
Why?
To watch the Cardinals, enjoy some wings and drinks, and chat with other Cardinal bloggers and fans.
Who?
Any Cardinal bloggers, fans, twitter followers, etc…
Would love to hear from any of you if you are going. Shoot us a twitter @CardinalsGM if you are in the area and want to hang out and talk Cardinal baseball this Sunday. The Braves shall lose!
Pythagorus and Major League Baseball Go Together Quite Well
Posted by Tom on 26 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: MLB Banter
I was reading several articles today and felt the need to reprint one here that I found quite interesting. If you take the Pythagoreum theory and make it work for baseball you can do a rather accurate indicator has to how well a team should do for the season.
This is from Covers and you can find the entire article here. Covers is a great read on a daily basis as they have great insight into sports from a different angle.
I have reprinted this with their permission. Here is a portion of the article……
The baseball version of the Pythagorean theorem uses the numbers of runs scored and allowed by a team to determine its expected record. The formula is to square the number of runs scored and divide it by the numbers of runs scored squared plus the number of runs allowed squared.In other words, a team that scores 700 runs in a season and allows 700 runs in a season would be expected to finish exactly at .500 with an 81-81 record over a 162-game schedule. A team that scores 800 runs and allowed 600 runs would be expected to have a .640 winning percentage and a record of 104-58. Conversely, a team that scores 600 runs and allows 800 run would be expected to play at a .360 clip and finish 58-104.There are four teams this season who have underperformed their Pythagorean records by two wins. The math says these teams are poised for a regression to the mean, stat talk for a market correction, and could be good plays if undervalued by the oddsmakers. Let’s take a look at the four teams and some starting pitchers who would benefit from their teams’ change of luck.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS The Cardinals are scoring 5.18 runs a game and allowing 3.77, which should be good for a 14-8 records. Instead, they are 12-10. Despite the inefficiency, the Cardinals are hitting a National League-best .327 with runners in scoring position and two outs but that has been mitigated by grounding into double plays in 19 percent of their plate appearances with a runner on first base and less than two outs, the worst figure in the league. When the regression to the mean occurs, Chris Carpenter should benefit. The Cardinals have lost all five of his starts this season, even though his ERA of 3.90 is just 0.05 below the NL average. Furthermore, he has been the worst pitcher against the moneyline at minus-797.
ATLANTA BRAVES The Braves’ averages per game are 3.78 runs scored and 3.30 runs allowed, which should translate to a 13-10 record. Instead, they are a game under .500 at 11-12, though the regression seemed to start over the weekend when they swept a three-game series from the Giants in San Francisco. Still, the Braves have the second-worst on-base percentage (.302) and third lowest batting average (.229) in the NL.Tommy Hanson and Derek Lowe are candidates for better records when things start evening out. Both are 2-3, even though Hanson has a 3.21 ERA and Lowe’s is 3.25 after five starts. The Braves are also 2-3 in their starts with Lowe at minus-149 against the line and Hanson at minus-220.
OAKLAND ATHLETICS The Athletics are giving up just 3.09 runs a game, best in the American League, while scoring 3.64. They should be 13-9 despite the lack of offense but are instead 11-11. The Athletics’ offense ranks among the bottom half in the AL in all categories but its biggest weakness is a lack of power as their .354 slugging percentage is 12th in the 14-team league.A resurgent Brandon McCarthy, back in top form after years of injuries, is the starter who figures to gain the most if the Athletics enjoy a market correction. He is only 1-1 but has an outstanding 2.10 ERA through four starts. The Athletics are just 1-3 in his starts and -216 against the line.
CINCINNATI REDS The Reds should be 13-9 rather than 11-11 since they are averaging 5.18 runs a game and giving up 4.41. The rotation is missing injured Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey and it shows as the Reds have issued 80 walks this season, the third-highest total in the NL.The pitching certainly hasn’t been good but there is one starter who has pitched better than his record and figures to get some wins when things smooth out. That is Sam LeCure, who is 0-1 with a 4.15 ERA but has an outstanding 17/4 strikeout/walk ratio. The Reds have gone 1-2 and minus-187 in his three starts.
Now that is fascinating stuff. However, following the Cardinals everyday we should have at least 4 more wins due to the 4 blown saves that the Cardinals have given up already this year.
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Just an update that it has been about a year since I retired from teaching English and Writing. I haven’t found anything I don’t like about retirement yet. I love to sit and do internet writing about sports and wouldn’t mind doing more of it if the opportunity exists.
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Time to Bid Goodbye to Ryan Franklin
Posted by Tom on 25 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: GM Suggestions
I am not trying to be harsh but look at his numbers. They are simply awful. If it wasn’t for the propensity of Tony LaRussa to covet veterans he would be a goner. If this was Fernando Salas with those numbers he would be back in AAA or released. So now is where you throw the loyalty card at me.
Baseball can not survive long on loyalty if the workers are not performing adequately. We can’t afford to have more save blown and wish we had them back later in the year. With the impending roster moves that remove Tallet and Augenstein off the disabled list this is the best time to make the Franklin move.
He has wavered about retiring so let’s just make it for him. Time to use those power arms out of the bullpen and give ip all we got with some youngsters. If the club doesn’t keep Salas and Sanchez with the club when the two pitchers come off the DL then they are not doing what is really best for the baseball side of the game.
It is thank you for your contributions in the past, Ryan Franklin, but it is time for you to retire or take your arm somewhere else.
That’s my opinion, What is yours?
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Hey Brandon Phillips….Here’s an Idea to Ignore Him!
Posted by Tom on 23 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Cardinals
In the lyrics of a song by Billy Joel (We Didn’t Start the Fire) it says,
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight it
It appears to me that Phillips is enjoying his time in St Louis. He is saying all the things that he can to alienate and stir the Cardinals fan base. I would like to see the fans ignore him. When he comes to bat and his name is announced… complete silence. Not a word. Not a sound or a boo just silence from 40,000 people.
It’s would be just like he didn’t exist. He has gotten too much press already so it is time to take it down a notch and ignore him. Will he go away? Not if he can antagonize you like your older brother always did. Remember moms words…. if you don’t react he will quit doing it? Let’s give it a try. No sound, no tweets, no comments to Brandon Phillips.
Ignore him.
Win games.
Cardinals News: Teaming Up with Missouri Lottery
Posted by Knup on 22 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Cardinals
The Cardinals are always doing this with the community and different organizations. Now it looks like they are teaming up with the Missouri Lottery to help the classrooms. Read the press release for yourself:
ST. LOUIS (April 22, 2011) – The St. Louis Cardinals announced a partnership with the Missouri Lottery for the 2011 season that will recognize and showcase excellence in Missouri education. The new “Heroes in the Classroom” program will feature one educator a month who has demonstrated excellence in education. The selected educator will be honored for their work in the classroom with a special pre-game ceremony at a Cardinals home game, VIP tickets to the game for their family and an opportunity to throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
“We are proud to partner with Missouri Lottery to celebrate teachers,” said William DeWitt III, President of the Cardinals. “Through our partnership we will recognize some of the unsung heroes who are making a difference in the lives of students throughout the state.”
The Missouri Lottery is an important source of funding for the state’s public schools, with nearly $4 billion provided to support Missouri schools since it was established in 1986. Last year alone, the lottery provided over $255 million for elementary, secondary and higher education. Since 1993, Missouri Lottery proceeds have gone solely to the state’s public education system, and currently 26.6 cents of every dollar spent on the Missouri Lottery benefits Missouri’s public education system. In addition to celebrating excellence in education, the new partnership is designed to increase Cardinals fans exposure to the Missouri Lottery.
“We are delighted to partner with the Cardinals,” said May Scheve Reardon, executive director of the Missouri Lottery. “The additional exposure for the Missouri Lottery that comes with partnering with a team that has one of the largest and most loyal fan bases in Major League Baseball is a great opportunity.”
As part of the “Heroes in the Classroom” partnership, the Missouri Lottery will be provided with signage at Busch Stadium, print and radio advertising on the team’s game broadcasts and timely in-stadium announcements of Mega Millions and Powerball game payouts.
Social Media Night with the St. Louis Cardinals on May 17th
Posted by Knup on 22 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are hosting yet another “Social Media Night” and you, yes you, are invited! Do you tweet about the Cardinals? Do you participate in blog commenting or Cardinals facebook activity? Well, if social media interests you and you are a Cardinal fan – we hope to see you out at this years Social Media night.
When?
Tuesday, May 17th at 7:15 PM
Where?
Busch Stadium in St. Louis
Who?
Cardinals vs. the Phillies
Cost?
$20 per ticket – you can buy tickets here.
Details
For the $20 price you get:
- Field Box Ticket to the Game
- “Tweet me in St. Louis” tshirt!
- Access to the pre-game social hour: This is from 6-7 and is a chance for you to meet up with other social media fans. We will be there as well and would love to meet some of you followers. So please, comment here or send us a tweet @cardinalsgm if you are going! Drinks are available for purchase at this hour.
- You can buy tickets here. Limited number.
So there you go. at Busch Stadium between the Cardinals and the Phillies. Be there! Anyone going? Tweet me! @CardinalsGM
Remember the Traditional Doubleheaders? A Look Back at Days Gone By…
Posted by Tom on 20 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Cardinals
I sure do. I remember taking the 3 hour ride as a kid to the ballpark knowing I was in for a good 8 hours of major league baseball. It was a fun thing to think about and prepare for. I was told ahead of time by my parents or older siblings to ration out my thinking about what I wanted to eat and when I wanted it. So don’t blow the whole load at one time or I might be hungry by 6PM if I started too early. Sometimes they had a twi-night doubleheader and started at 4PM or 5PM with the first game which took you until midnight.
You get to the game and you know you will see about every player on the roster in a doubleheader. You buy two scorecards and a pencil which together cost about 60 cents at one time and found your seat. You scoured the rosters numbers as they didn’t print the starters name on the line-up card and you checked out all the starting pitchers for the other games. Yes, today’s schedule and starting pitchers were included in the card.
The scoreboard watching was more fun, at least I thought, because you saw them remove a zero and you knew they were about to inform everyone that a team had scored some runs. In those days marketing was not as prevalent and there was really not a “sea of red” across the stadium. People brought binoculars to look around and get a close look at the players.
The game starts and everyone across the stadium had at least one person in their group keeping score. People just did that and now it appears to be a lost art as all the information is on the jumbotrons. So you watch game one and get some peanuts and a hot dogs along with a drink. Now that it is over you have 30 minutes between games to get your line-up card ready and use the bathrooms. In those days you could send a kid out by himself and not worry as much as people do today.
Game 2 is ready to begin so back in your seat and you do it all over again except this game it might be some ice cream and another hot dog with a cold soda on the menu. Total of 8 hours later it is time to go home and it has been a good day for baseball and if your team won two games it was a great day of baseball. Tickets for field level were about $6.00 a piece.
Now we have some level of greed going on. Traditional doubleheaders are a thing of the past. They have to have day-night ones so they can charge you twice to come through the gates. I am not just going to blame it on the owners for this as it takes a whole group of people to have this happen. With today’s salaries they have to make money to pay them. If 40,000 pay twice instead of once that is a good chunk of change.
I miss the traditional doubleheaders.
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Today the Cardinals have a day/night doubleheader which I will enjoy through the wonders of television. Another nostalgic fact was that in olden days there was ONE game on during the week and that was Saturday afternoons.
Cardinals need to get both games today.
It Is a Bit Early to Get on Theriot for Base Running.
Posted by Tom on 18 Apr 2011 | Tagged as: Cardinals
Everyone wants to poke around at Ryan Theriot about his base running. It is a bit early to do that isn’t? Yes, he did some boo-boos in back-to-back games but does that really qualify as a problem? I don’t think so.
Look at the many problems runners have on the bases and this is not an issue. YET. With internet forums, blogs, twitter and other social media we tend to have a group of people that take delight in the foibles of sports athletes. The negative nellies are in full force and delight in seeing mistakes made by high priced athletes.
Hitting slumps, caught stealing, getting bombed on the mound are real fodder for these people.
Just a sign of the times and that is the way it will be. Wouldn’t it be fun to follow some of theses people around at their work and be able to post about their performance? I think I know what they would say and it is either, “go ahead I have nothing to hide” or ” stay away you have no clue how to do my work.”
Back to Theriot, see me after a third of the season and he may or may not have this base running issue. For now, it is TOO early.
