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Baseball Daily - Monday

Monday, June 12th, 2006

It sounds like Jake Peavy struggled on Sunday more due to rust than his recent arm troubles that he says are behind him.

Jason Lane had some big comments about his big game and may be on his way to breaking out. Lane hit .305 after the break last year.

Adrian Beltre:
Since moving to No. 2 in the order, Beltre has raised his average from .221 to .234. He has three home runs in that 11-game stretch with seven RBIs.

“He’s shortened his swing and he’s putting the ball in play a little more consistently,” Hargrove said. “It’s a little different mindset but he likes it there.”
News about the trade rumors involving Jose Guillen.

Mike Jacobs is another player who’s benefited from a lineup move.

COL at WAS

Francis:
First career start vs WAS/MON
8-13, 159.0, 5.89, 1.61, .292 career away
Ortiz:
2-2, 31.2, 4.55, 1.42, .261 this season at home
3-0, 21.0, 4.29, 1.19, .250 career vs COL

TB at DET

Kazmir:
1-3, 19.2, 6.86, 1.63, .230 career vs DET
1-1, 11.2, 4.63, 1.11, .190 career at Comerica
4-3, 4.36, 1.64, .299 this season away
12-10, 170.0, 4.29, 1.51, .256 career away
Verlander:
First career start vs TB
3-2, 35.2, 4.54, 1.43, .302 this season at home

CWS at TEX

Contreras:
0-1, 7.2, 10.57, 1.96, .258 career vs TEX (all at Ameriquest Field)
Koronka:
2-2, 37.1, 4.82, 1.23, .274 at home this season (*edited to fix)
First career start vs CWS

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Baseball Daily - Friday

Friday, June 9th, 2006

Alfonso Soriano’s change of heart:
“In Spring Training, everybody knows I said I didn’t want to play left field because I don’t consider myself an outfielder,” Soriano said. “But now I know I can play outfield. If I make the All-Star team, it’s because I can play the outfield, too. That would be great.”
The Tigers are cutting back on Justin Verlander’s innings.

Joe Mauer is 39 for his last 71 (.507) over his last 17 games.

Jake Peavy’s bullpen session went well. It was his first in almost a month, and as pitching coach Darren Balsley notes, maybe the lack of work in between starts (because of shoulder soreness) has left Peavy a bit rusty:
ake’s got a unique delivery that needs maintenance. I wouldn’t say his bullpens are more important, but they’re as important as anybody else’s. His arm was live, and he was getting through his pitches. He was pulling off his pitches [going 3 2/3 innings Tuesday night] rather than just letting it go.
Maybe I’m not ready to give up on him yet.

The New York Post is reporting that Lastings Mildredge may stick around after Xavier Nady gets activated, in place of Kazuo Matsui. That’s a handful lot of names.

PHI at WAS

Myers:
1-0, 8.0, 2.25, 0.63, .115 vs WAS this season
1-0, 13.2, 1.98, 1.02, .196 career at RFK
2-1, 40.1, 2.90, 1.34, .275 away this season
Armas:
1-1, 12.1, 5.11, 1.46, .267 vs PHI this season
1-1, 4.68, 1.72, .314 at home this season

CHC at CIN

Maddux:
2-0, 11.2, 3.09, 1.03, .222 vs CIN this season (both at home)
2-5, 40.1, 6.92, 1.61, .325 away this season
0-2, 21.0, 814, 1.62, .344 career at Great American
Ramirex:
0-1, 6.0, 6.00, 1.50, .333 this season vs CHC
1-2, 17.0, 4.24, 1.53, .265 this season at home

LA at COL

Penny:
2-0, 11.0, 0.82, 1.00, .238 this season vs COL
1-0, 6.0, 1.50, 1.00, .250 this season at Coors
3-1, 35.2, 3.79, 1.35, .279 career at Coors
3-1, 35.1, 3.31, 1.22, .245 this season away
Kim:
1-1, 19.0, 5.21, 1.47, .282 this season at home
1-1, 13.0, 1.38, 1.31, .213 this season vs LA

DET at TOR

Bonderman:
1-1, 21.0, 4.29, 1.10, .189 career vs TOR
1-1, 15.0, 4.20, 1.20, .192 career at Rogers Centre
4-0, 41.1, 3.05, 1.06, .227 away this season
4-5, 57.1, 5.97, 1.57, .322 career indoors
Chacin:
5-0, 33.0, 5.45, 1.45, .276 this season at home
0-0, 13.2, 3.29, 1.10, .204 career vs DET

CLE at CWS

Lee:
0-2, 13.0, 9.00, 1.85, .349 this season vs CWS
2-4, 55.0, 7.36, 1.65, .311 career vs CWS
0-2, 30.0, 4.80, 1.40, .269 this season away
1-0, 26.0, 6.23, 1.50, .272 career at US Cellular
Vazquez:
2-0, 12.0, 0.00, 1.17, .186 this season vs CLE
3-1, 28.1, 3.49, 1.38, .229 career vs CLE
4-1, 34.0, 4.50, 1.15, .246 this season at home

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Baseball Daily - Thursday

Thursday, June 8th, 2006

Eric Gagne’s MRI revealed no damage.

A.J. Burnett threw in a simulated game and is on pace to pitch for Toronto on June 22.

Bartolo Colon’s return next week will likely bump Jared Weaver from the rotation.

Johnny Damon’s toe is healing, even though he’s been playing through it.

Derrek Lee may begin bat swinging as soon as next week.

Kerry Wood will mostly likely miss his next start because of shoulder soreness.

SD at MIL

Johnson:
1-1, 9.0, 8.00, 1.89, .385 this season away
Davis:
1-2, 42.0, 3.64, 1.52, .227 this season at home
2-1, 39.1, 3.43, 1.60, .221 this season at day
4-2, 88.1, 3.26, 1.14, .218 last season at day
1-0, 15.1, 1.76, 1.04, .236 last season vs SD

CHC at CIN

Rusch:
2-2, 28.2, 4.08, 1.15, .202 this season away
No starts vs CIN last season, 6 relief appearances
0-0, 13.1, 1.35, 0.75, .152 in 2004 vs CIN as a starter
Arroyo:
3-0, 36.2, 2.21, 0.98, .215 this season at home
2-0, 13.2, 1.98, 0.88, .231 this season vs CHC

ATL at HOU

Thompson:
1-1, 13.0, 4.15, 1.00, .224 career at Minute Maid
Pettitte:
3-4, 52.2, 4.78, 1.50, .297 this season at home
1-3, 21.0, 9.43, 2.19 in last four starts

MIN at SEA

Santana:
1-0, 14.0, 2.57, 1.07, .264 this season vs SEA
2-1, 25.1, 4.97, 1.46, .267 career at SAFECO
Pineiro:
1-0, 15.2, 2.87, 1.28, .300 this season vs SEA
32-23, 473.2, 3.65, 1.26, .247 career at home

DET at CWS

Rogers:
4-2, 43.1, 4.78, 1.34, .284 away this season
3-3, 72.0, 4.75, 1.26, .255 career at US Cellular
Garland:
1-0, 26.1, 3.08, 1.29, .272 at home this season
3-0, 32.2, 1.10, 0.86, .181 last season vs DET

BOS at NYY

Schilling:
1-1, 13.0, 4.85, 1.15, .265 vs NYY this season
1-2, 22.2, 4.76, 1.15, .214 career at Yankee Stadium
Wright:
2-2, 21.2, 4.98, 1.57, .299 this season at home
2-4, 45.2, 6.50, 1.69, .278 career vs BOS

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Baseball Daily - Wednesday

Wednesday, June 7th, 2006

Eric Gagne:
Gagne admitted his elbow was “a little sore and stiff” after he put down the Mets in order in the ninth inning of the Dodgers’ 8-5 win. Gagne underwent surgery on April 7 to remove a nerve and said he’s still not 100 percent two months later, even after a two-game rehabilitation assignment and a one-inning return appearance at Dodger Stadium on Friday night.

Gagne struck out Carlos Delgado on a 2-2 fastball that had some life leading off the ninth. But on an 89-mph fastball to David Wright, Gagne appeared to experience discomfort as he bounced off the mound.
Derek Lowe talks about how Pedro has influenced his pitching:
“What makes him so tough — and I try to bring into my game a little bit — is to throw any pitch at any time,” Lowe said. “You ask any hitter when they face Pedro Martinez, what makes him so hard is that you have no idea what he’s going to throw at any count. There’s no rhyme or reason.”
Buster Olney has a ’scout’s take’ on Josh Beckett in today’s column:
“When you pitch in the National League, you can take innings off. You can’t do that in the American League. What separates the AL lineups — the good lineups — is the depth. In the NL, if you walk a guy, no big deal, but in the AL, the good lineups are just relentless. You have to have physical ability, but also mental toughness, to stay focused. That’s what makes Schilling so impressive, to be able to do that, and so far, Josh Beckett is not Curt Schilling. He could be — he’s got better stuff.”
I think it’s past time to sell Jake Peavy, if you can. There seems to be something wrong.

The DRays have recalled Rocco!

PIT at COL

Perez:
Career at Coors Field 2-1, 27.1, 3.29, 1.24, .216
Fogg:
1-2, 30.2, 4.11, 1.40, .258 this season at home

FLA at SF

Willis:
0-3, 23.0, 7.83, 1.65, .287 career vs SF
0-2, 9.0, 17.00, 2.89, .436 career at SF
Grew up in Oakland
Wright:
3-3, 39.1, 5.49, 1.50, .305 this season at home

WAS at ATL

Ortiz:
0-3, 20.1, 8.85, 1.77, .317 career vs ATL
0-1, 14.0, 5.14, 1.29, .224 career at Turner
Smoltz:
2-2, 39.1, 2.75, 1.02, .215 at home this season
16-7, 244.2, 2.54, 1.05, .220 career vs WAS

CIN at STL

Harang:
4-2, 42.2, 1.48, 1.01, .206 away this season
2-5, 47.1, 3.99, 1.16, .241 career vs STL
Ponson:
3-0, 24.0, 2.634, 1.38, .287 this season at home
1-1, 18.1, 5.40, 1.42, .297 career vs CIN

NYM at LA

Glavine:
4-1, 34.0, 3.97, 1.12, .225 away this season
8-9, 146.2, 3.87, 1.48, .292 career at Dodger Stadium
Perez:
2-0, 17.0, 4.76, 1.29, .258 this season at home
4-4, 59.0, 3.20, 1.34, .267 career vs NYM

BOS at NYY

Schilling:
1-1, 13.0, 4.85, 1.15, .265 vs NYY this season
1-2, 22.2, 4.76, 1.15, .214 career at Yankee Stadium
Wright:
2-2, 21.2, 4.98, 1.57, .299 this season at home
2-4, 45.2, 6.50, 1.69, .278 career vs BOS

DET at CWS

Verlander:
4-1, 36.1, 1.73, 0.94, .180 this season away
0-1, 2.2, 23.63, 3.00, .467 career vs CWS
Contreras:
3-0, 35.2, 2.27, 0.90, .181 this season at home
6-2, 78.2, 3.43, 1.21, .225 career vs DET

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Baseball Daily - Tuesday

Tuesday, June 6th, 2006

Ben Sheets threw 13 pitches in his first mound work in a month and everything went as well as it could have for 13 pitches.

The DRays hope to have Jorge Cantu back in the lineup tonight vs Anaheim.

John Patterson threw 45 pitches on Monday and is scheduled to start a Class A rehab game on Wednesday.

OAK at CLE

Zito:
1-2, 18.1, 4.42, 1.53, .242 last season vs CLE
1-3, 34.0, 2.65, 1.44, .216 career at Jacobs Field
3-1, 39.0, 2.31, 1.18, .184 away this season
vs Hafner: 1/8
vs Martinez: 6/18
vs Peralta: 3/6, HR
vs Sizemore: 3/10
Westbrook:
3-0, 21.0, 1.71, 0.71, .118 vs OAK last season
3-0, 34.1, 1.83, 1.05, .211 at home this season
vs Chavez: 8/21, 3 HR
vs Crosby: 0/9
vs Ellis: 4/18
vs Kendall: 2/9
vs Kotsay: 2/13
vs Swisher: 1/10, HR
vs Thomas: 1/6

MIN at SEA

Liriano:
3-0, 16.0, 7H, 1ER, 8BB, 15K as a starter this season
1-0, 5.0, 0.00, 1.00, .222 vs SEA this season
Hernandez:
0-1, 7.0, 3.86, 0.86, .200 vs MIN this season (at MIN)
Has alternated W and L over last 8 starts (won last)

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Baseball Daily - Monday

Monday, June 5th, 2006

Finally back off the DL…

The Astros moved their lineup around and have Craig Biggio hitting leadoff in front of Chris Burke, who is now playing center field in place of Willie Taveras. I’m a bit of a Chris Burke fan.

Jose Valverde is close to getting his closer job back.

The Giants expect to have Moises Alou back tonight when they host the Marlins.

Even though Dan Johnson is struggling, it looks like he won’t be sent down when Milton Bradley comes off the DL.

A little note about Fernando Rodney’s impressive season:
“I’m not the same this year. Now every time I go out there, I’m ready to go,” Rodney said.

This year, manager Jim Leyland says, he appreciates Rodney’s stoicism.

“He’s one of my favorites, because he doesn’t say anything. He doesn’t talk to me very much. But he’s got nerves of steel,” Leyland said. “He just goes out there and he’s got the same expression. I think he’s been absolutely fantastic.”

SD at MIL

Hensley:
0-0, 7.0, 5.14, 1.57, .296 career vs MIL
3-1, 40.0, 2.93, 1.10, .228 in May
Capuano:
0-1, 6.0, 4.50, 1.50, .240 vs SD this season
3-1, 33.1, 2.70, 0.99, .203 at home this season

BOS at NYY

Beckett
1-0, 7.0, 3.86, 0.86, .231 this season vs NYY (at Yankee Stadium)
Only career regular season start vs NYY
Gave up 7 ER and 4 HR in last start, vs TOR
Had won 4 straight prior to last game
Mussina:
1-0, 6.2, 4.05, 1.20, .250 vs BOS this season (home)
3-0, 31.2, 2.84, 1.07, .231 at home this season
vs Crisp: 5/12
vs Loretta: 3/13
vs Lowell: 3/7, HR
vs Nixon: 16/68, 2 HR
vs Ortiz: 10/42 (.238), 3 HR
vs Ramirez: 20/86 (.233). 5 HR
vs Varitek: 5/50
vs Youkilis: 0/4

WAS at ATL

Hernandez:
0-1, 23.1, 3.09, 1.29, .253 last season vs ATL
0-7, 63.2, 5.51, 1.60, .297 career at Turner
Won last three starts, with an ERA of 2.57
WAS is 2-9 in Hernandez’s last 11 starts vs. ATL. vs Betemit: 3/3
vs Giles: 8/27, HR
vs CJones: 18/52 (.346), HR
vs AJones: 16/50 (.320), 2 HR
vs Jordan: 4/26
vs LaRoche: 5/23, HR
vs Renteria: 10/29
Hudson:
0-0, 15.0, 1.20, 0.87, .204 last season vs WAS
2-0, 28.2, 2.51, 1.08, .217 at home this season
Hasn’t lost in 5 starts, 2.57 ERA in last three
vs NJohnson: 3/14
vs Soriano: 6/31, 3 HR
vs Vidro: 4/8, HR

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Baseball Daily - Wednesday

Wednesday, May 31st, 2006

How long will Lastings Milledge be with the Mets?
“The conversation that I’m going to have with Lastings is when Nady gets back, Nady is going to be in the lineup,” Randolph said. “Nady has performed pretty well, but I think the situation in this one is that it’s an opportunity for a kid to get a taste of the Major Leagues without the feeling he has to be the guy.”
News on the A’s struggles:
The A’s are in a span during which they will play 20 games in 20 days, and they are 5-9 so far.

“It’s kind of a grind,” outfielder Mark Kotsay said. “You just have to maintain your strength and get your rest — because day in and day out, [it’s the same thing].”

The A’s also have lost nine of their last 10 games. Oakland’s last five losses have been by two or fewer runs, including a 6-4 setback against the Royals on Monday, when the bullpen gave up two insurance runs after Dan Haren left the game.

The offense isn’t helping, having scored 35 runs in the last 11 games. The A’s are batting .233 over that span and .225 with runners in scoring position on the season.
Starting for Boston tonight, is David Pauley:
The 23-year-old Pauley is making the jump to the Major Leagues from the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, for whom he’s gone 2-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 10 starts this season, striking out 47 and walking just 17 in 60 1/3 innings. He has never pitched at the Triple-A level.
Lots of uncertainty in Arizona’s bullpen:
By not coming out and saying that Valverde would stay in the closer’s role, it sure seems like Melvin is leaning towards going with the recently-acquired Julio for the near future while Valverde tries to get back on track.
It looks like Gary Sheffield may be out for another extended stretch.

Paul Konerko will sit in place of Jim Thome during interleague play.

Adrian Beltre has been moved to the #2 spot. He’s at least raised his average from .189 in April to .222.

Eric Gagne has been activated and is serving his two game suspension.
A recent flag football finger injury has me off heavy typing, so no game stats until the tendon heals.

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Baseball Daily - Thursday

Thursday, May 25th, 2006

Baseball Musings notes Jason Bay’s recent surge:
Jason Bay is on quite the home run tear. In his last seven games he’s hit seven dingers, including two multi-homer games. He’s also driven in fourteen runs.

Unfortunately, his power surge hasn’t done much to help the Pirates win. They’re 1-6 after falling short in an 8-7 loss to the Diamondbacks tonight. The Pirates scored 33 runs in that stretch, meaning Bay’s driven in 42% of the team’s runs scored.
The Hardball Times posts notes found by examining the web site Hit Tracker. There’s too many good comments to quote, so I’ll just quote what the site itself does:
Hit Tracker is a spreadsheet tool that takes as inputs atmospheric information and observation data, and gives as an output the true distance that the home run traveled, along with the initial speed of the hit off the bat and the precise angles at which the ball left the bat. It does this by creating as a starting point an initial “best-guess” three dimensional trajectory for the home run, and then modifying that trajectory, a little bit at a time, until the trajectory matches the observed data from the actual home run event.
Kerry Wood might miss his next start.

Chris Carpenter was scratched from his Wednesday start due to “an inflamed bursa sac on his right side, below his shoulder”. The Cards think the injury isn’t serious.

Completing the trifecta, John Smoltz will take an extra day off before his next start; after throwing 251 pitches in his last two appearances.

Brian Roberts is finally back.

Finally some progress for A.J. Burnett. Small progress, but still progress.

There’s something about Ryan Madson as a starting pitcher that just doesn’t work. He’s back in the rotation after Cole Hamels landed on the DL and after pitching 7 excellent relief innings on Tuesday. Back in 2004, Madson’s rookie season was an impressive one, finishing the year with a 2.34 ERA in 77 innings. He appeared in 52 games that season, 51 as a reliever. The one time Philly threw him out on the mound to start a game, he lasted 1.2 innings and gave up 6 ER. Madson’s ERA as a reliever that season was 1.65. Last year, the Phillies used Madson only out of the bullpen, but this season they’ve started him 6 times. His ERA as a starter this year is 6.82. As a reliever, it’s 3.48.

Will try to get some pitching stats up later.

TB at BOS

Waechter:
0-1, 8.0, 1.013, 1.88, .258 vs BOS this season
0-1, 20.0, 4.95, 1.45, .293 vs BOS last season
0-2, 15.1, 9.39, 2.02, .364 away this season
0-2, 12.0, 8.25, 1.58, .286 career at Fenway
vs Loretta: 1/2
vs Lowell: 3/7
vs Nixon: 5/14, HR
vs Ortiz: 4/17, 2 HR
vs Pena: 1/5
vs Manny: 3/11, HR, 4 BB
vs Varitek: 4/13
vs Youkilis: 2/3, HR
Beckett:
First career start vs TB
2-0, 19.0, 2.84, 1.16, .212 at home this season
vs Branyan: 3/3, HR
vs Lee: 0/8
vs Lugo: 0/5
vs Wigginton: 3/8, HR

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Baseball Daily - Wednesday

Wednesday, May 24th, 2006

Baseball Musings has more kind words about the Arizona lineup.

The Hardball Times is graphing Brad Penny.
A second indicator of a potential rise in ERA is Penny’s left-on-base rate in 2006. Over his career, 72% of base-runners were left on base, whereas that number is up to 81% this season. That number will likely regress as the season goes on and with it more runners will score.
Xavier Nady was scratched yesterday because of stiffness in his lower back.

Welcome back to the majors, Jeff Nelson.

Aaron Rowand is ready to come off the DL on Saturday.

It looks like Jason Botts is being given a chance to DH in Texas over Phil Nevin.

Their calling it the Kendry Morales era in Anaheim:
Morales established his credentials by hitting .330 during his career in Cuba. During the 2002-03 season, Morales hit .391 with nine homers and 42 RBIs for Industriales and then starred in the Baseball World Cup by hitting a grand slam as Cuba claimed the gold medal with a victory in the final over Taiwan.

Possibly more impressive is that Morales needed nine attempts to defect from Cuba. When Morales finally got out, he had to establish residency in the Dominican and become a citizen there before gaining legal entrance to the U.S.
Gary Sheffield is back.

Cole Hamels has been scratched from his Wednesday start, due to a sore shoulder.

Sean Casey is taking BP and fielding ground balls, and he could begin a rehab assignement later this week.

STL vs SF

Carpenter:
0-0, 8.0, 3.39, 1.13, .281 last season vs SF (home)
1-0, 6.2, 5.40, 1.35, .269 career at AT&T Park
3-1, 31.0, 4.06, 1.23, .250 this season away
2-0, 32.0, 1.41, 1.03, .230 last season at day
vs Alou: 8/24, HR
vs Bonds: 2/6, HR
vs Durham: 11/38, HR
vs Feliz: 0/3
vs Finley: 4/7, HR
vs Vizquel: 10/22, HR
vs Winn: 4/19
Lowry:
0-1, 7.0, 5.14, 1.43, .308 last season vs STL
1-0, 15.1, 4.11, 1.37, .259 this season at home
6-8, 117.1, 3.30, 1.21, .242 last season at home

CLE at MIN

Sabathia:
2-1, 33.2, 3.48, 1.28, .234 last season vs MIN
2-1, 19.1, 3.72, 1.34, .250 last season at Metrodome
6-4, 112.1, 3.85, 1.32, .237 career vs MIN
5-4, 78.1, 4.37, 1.33, .247 career at Metrodome
2-3, 52.1, 3.10, 1.07, .223 last season at day
18-11, 276.2, 3.71, 1.25, .235 career at day
vs Hunter: 14/42, 2 HR
vs Mauer: 1/8
vs Morneau: 0/7
vs White: 7/20, 3 HR
Radke:
2-1, 29.0, 2.79, 1.03, .259 last season vs CLE
3-1, 5.26, 1.21, .280 at home this season
7-6, 99.2, 3.25, 1.02, .246 at home last season
3-3, 72.0, 3.88, 1.10, .264 last season at day
vs Belliard: 12/29, HR
vs Blake: 9/31
vs Boonoe: 4/18, HR
vs Broussard: 9/27, HR
vs Hafner: 8/31, 3 HR
vs Mertinez: 3/24
vs Peralta: 2/19
vs Sizemore: 4/19, HR

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Baseball Daily - Tuesday

Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006

Another slow day.

Ducksnorts goes crazy in breaking down Jake Peavy’s start last night.

Ben Sheets’ MRI showed no structural damage.

OAK at CWS

Saarloos:
1-1, 18.1, 3.44, 1.36, .265 last season vs CWS
0-1, 10.0, 7.20, 1.70, .275 away this season
(2-0, 20.2, 3.48, 1.55, .322 at home this season)
vs Crede: 4/8, HR
vs Dye: 0/4
vs Konerko: 3/8
vs AJ P: 0/7
vs Podsednik: 3/11
vs Thome: 3/4, HR
vs Uribe: 2/8
Vazquez:
Has not faced Oakland since 2004
0-2, 12.0, 9.00, 1.58, .234 career vs OAK
2-1, 21.2, 3.74, 0.78, .195 this season at home
vs Chavez: 0/5
vs Kendall: 7/22
vs Payton: 8/23, HR

CLE at MIN

Lee:
1-1, 11.0, 4.91, 1.45, .295 last season vs MIN
1-1, 16.1, 4.41, 1.59, .299 career at Metrodome
5-1, 50.0, 3.78, 1.16, .237 career indoors
vs Castillo: 2/4
vs Hunter: 3/9, HR
vs Morneau: 1/5
vs White: 2/5
Santana:
0-1, 5.1, 5.06, 1.31, .200 this season vs CLE (away)
1-1, 27.0, 3.33, 0.85, .202 last season vs CLE
3-0, 27.1, 2.63, 0.99, .223 this season at home
vs Blake: 9/28, HR
vs Boone: 1/10
vs Broussard: 4/15
vs Hafner: 1/15, HR
vs Martinez: 7/19, 2 HR
vs Peralta: 2/19, 14 K
vs Sizemore: 3/11, HR

COL at LA

Jennings:
0-1, 6.2, 4.05, 1.50, .259 this season vs LA (home)
1-1, 15.0, 3.00, 1.53, .241 last season vs LA
0-1, 6.0, 6.00, 1.83, .158 last season at Dodger Stadium
1-4, 46.0, 3.13, 1.41, .275 career at Dodger Stadium
1-3, 23.2, 6.46, 1.65, .319 this season away
vs Cruz: 2/15
vs Drew: 4/11
vs Furcal: 4/12, HR
vs Nomar: 3/14
vs Kent: 12/28, 3 HR
Penny:
1-0, 6.0, 1.50, 1.00, .250 this season vs COL
2-1, 23.2, 4.18, 1.31, .250 last season vs COL
1-0, 22.1, 2.82, 1.34, .264 this season at home
5-2, 88.1, 3.06, 1.20, .262 last season at home
vs Atkins: 4/10
vs Barmes: 1/6
vs Hawpe: 2/9
vs Helton: 9/30, HR
vs Holliday: 2/9, HR

TB at TOR

Hendrickson:
0-1, 7.0, 6.43, 1.14, .200 this season vs TOR (home)
1-1, 22.0, 5.32, 1.45, .280 last season vs TOR
2-1, 21.0, 0.43, 0.90, .162 away this season
1-0, 12.1, 4.38, 1.46, .269 last season at Rogers Centre
vs Hill: 1/11
vs Hillenbrand: 8/24
vs Hinske: 1/10
vs Johnson: 8/42
vs Molina: 3/14
vs Overbay: 1/3, HR
vs Rios: 8/22
vs Wells: 3/20, HR
Halladay:
1-1, 16.1, 3.31, 0.86, .200 vs TB this season
1-0, 16.0, 1.69, 1.06, .267 vs TB last season
3-1, 29.0, 2.79, 0.93, .219 at home this season
5-2, 60.0, 2.85, 0.88, .221 at home last season
vs Branyan: 3/11
vs Crawford: 9/35
vs Gomes: 3/11, HR
vs Hall: 5/21
vs Huff: 8/34
vs Lee: 8/23, HR
vs Lugo: 4/23, HR
vs Norton: 5/13
vs Wigginton: 0/3

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Baseball Daily - Monday

Monday, May 22nd, 2006

Scott Kazmir’s 8 shutout innings yesterday looked effortless. The kid had all three of his pitches working and he made most of the Marlins look like minor leaguers (even if many of them are).
“I was very focused out there,” said Kazmir. “I felt like every pitch, I was right in there and staring right into [catcher Josh Paul’s] glove. I really like the way everything went. Sometimes I would walk around and think about what I was doing wrong or what I could improve in my windup.
Ben Sheets is getting an MRI done to determine the status of his progress, if any.

Edgar Renteria has hit safely in 33 of the 34 games he’s played in this season.

Watch out for Tim Hudson in his next start. He threw 122 pitches yesterday, and many of them came in his pressure situations.

After a strong outing yesterday, Taylor Buchholz is learning how to pitch in the majors:
“The couple games before this, I was getting ahead of guys and then throwing fat pitches over the plate,” he said.

Although Buchholz threw too many fat pitches in those previous losses, he felt the same mechanically on Sunday as he did last week.

“Nothing changed,” he said. “I was just able to stay focused the whole game. I was trying not to get too overwhelmed. I just wanted to keep doing what I was doing the whole game.”
There were a number of fine pitching performances yesterday, and perhaps overlooked a bit was Matt Cain’s one hitter against Oakland. Cain was skipped a turn in the rotation last week so he could work on his mechanics and mental game and the results obviously paid off.

ATL at SD

Smoltz:
1-0, 9.0, 0.00, 0.67, .138 this season vs SD (home)
0-0, 15.0, 1.80, 1.07, .226 last season vs SD
0-0, 10.1, 0.87, 1.06, .222 career at PETCO
1-1, 30.0, 4.80, 1.27, .278 away this season
vs Cameron: 2/14, HR
vs Castilla: 10/48
vs Giles: 5/16
vs Greene: 2/7
vs Piazza: 11/55, 2 HR
vs Roberts: 3/11
Peavy:
0-1, 7.0, 2.57, 0.86, .160 this season vs ATL (away)
Did not face ATL last season
2-2, 37.1, 4.10, 1.23, .248 at home this season
16-8, 238.0, 2.80, 1.11, .221 career at PETCO
vs Francoeur: 1/3
vs Giles: 1/11
vs AJones: 1/9
vs CJones: 4/7, 2 HR
vs Jordan: 3/10
vs LaRoche: 2/5
vs Renteria: 4/10

OAK at CWS

Zito:
2-1, 21.2, 2.91, 0.92, .197 last season vs CWS
7-2, 68.0, 3.18, 1.04, .211 career vs CWS
1-0, 7.0, 1.29, 0.71, .091 last season at US Cellular
4-0, 33.2, 2.94, 1.07, .215 career at US Cellular
2-1, 25.2, 2.10, 1.05, .189 away this season
vs Crede: 4/15
vs Dye: 3/11, HR
vs Iguchi: 1/8
vs Konerko: 5/28, HR
vs Pierzynski: 0/12
vs Thome: 1/9
vs Uribe: 1/10
Garland:
2-1, 21.0, 2.57, 0.95, .224 last season vs OAK
1-0, 13.1, 1.35, 1.13, .260 at home this season
10-6, 113.2, 3.56, 1.12, .243 at home last season
vs Chavez: 7/19, 2 HR
vs Crosby: 5/9
vs Ellis: 2/16, HR
vs Kendall: 3/9
vs Kielty: 2/20
vs Kotsay: 3/17
vs Swisher: 1/7

STL at SF

Mulder:
1-0, 7.0, 0.00, 0.71, .174 last season vs SF (away)
6-2, 54.1, 2.98, 1.10, .245 career vs SF
3-2, 33.0, 2.45, 1.06, .246 career at SBC
vs Alou: 1/7
vs Bonds: 7/14, 3 HR
vs Durham: 4/12
vs Feliz: 1/13
vs Vizquel: 10/28
vs Winn: 11/40
Wright:
1-0, 12.1, 0.00, 1.05, .196 last season vs STL
3-7, 77.0, 5.96, 1.67, .291 career vs STL
2-2, 27.2, 5.53, 1.41, .283 this season at home
4-3, 63.0, 3.71, 1.32, .229 career at SBC
vs Eckstein: 1/6
vs Edmonds: 3/19, HR
vs Encarnacion: 2/11
vs Pujols: 7/15, HR
vs Rolen: 3/15, HR

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Baseball Daily - Friday

Friday, May 19th, 2006

Link to 2005 Interleague stats, although if there’s one thing I’ve learned from tracking these stats from the last two seasons, it’s that players and teams do well only if they’re playing well. There are few instances of predicable success based on interleague records and stats.

Jose Contreras is ready to make his start on Sunday.

Jeremy Hermida may return as soon as tonight.

Phil Nevin will mostly see bench time and pinch hitting duties during interleague play. He’s been struggling lately.

Adrian Beltre will probably miss the next few days as a result of a hamstring injury.

CHC at CWS

Maddux:
1-1, 13.0, 3.46, 1.08, .269 last season vs CWS<
1-0, 6.0, 3.00, 0.83, .208 last season at US Cellular
1-1, 10.0, 8.10, 1.80, .348 career at US Cellular
vs Dye: 3/9, HR
vs Iguchi: 1/6
vs Konerko: 4/10
vs Pierzynski: 6/11
vs Podsednik: 5/24, 2 SB
vs Thome: 2/16
vs Uribe: 1/9
Buerhle:
Did not fave CHC last season
0-0, 7.0, 1.29, 0.86, 1.74 vs CHC in 2004 (at Wrigley)
2-0, 2.77, 1.00, .208 at home this season
vs Barrett: 2/6
vs Jones: 1/27
vs Lee (out): 3/3, HR
vs Walker: 1/2

BOS at PHI

Clement:
1-0, 7.0, 1.29, 1.00, .269 last season vs PHI (at Citizens Bank)
7-4, 85.2, 3.57, 1.38, .228 career vs PHI
Last season’s start at PHI was only career appearance at Citizens Bank
vs Abreu: 13/34, 2 HR
vs Burrell: 6/23
vs Rollins: 2/26
vs Utley: 2/6
Lieber:
0-1, 5.0, 10.80, 2.20, .409 last season vs BOS (at home)
1-1, 24.1, 5.55, 1.32, .278 career vs BOS
1-3, 31.1, 6.03, 1.37, .304 this season at home
9-5, 102.2, 4.38, 1.29, .277 last season at home
vs Gonzalex: 7/22, HR
vs Loretta: 4/26
vs Lowell: 6/21, 3 HR
vs Nixon: 4/8
vs Ortiz: 4/13, 2 HR
vs Ramirez: 3/14, HR
vs Snow: 11/34, 2 HR

FLA at TB

Moehler:
0-0, 5.0, 1.80, 1.60, .400 last season vs TB (home)
1-3, 43.0, 4.19, 1.40, .308 career vs TB
1-2, 19.0, 4.74, 1.26, .293 career at Tropicana
4-9, 72.2, 5.45, 1.39, .310 career indoors
vs Branyan: 2/8, HR
vs Crawford: 0/2
vs Hollins: 2/3
vs Lugo: 4/8
vs Lee: 0/3
Fossum:
0-2, 11.1, 5.56, 1.50, .267 vs FLA last season
9-7, 108.2, 4.39, 1.43, .264 career at Tropicana
vs Cabrera: 1/8
vs Willingham: 0/1

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Baseball Daily - Thursday

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

The Hardball Times has their win-shares out for the first quarter of the season.

Elmer Dessens is the Royals new closer.

The Mariners’ GM says he’s not worried about Felix Hernandez. Sounds like a good buy low opportunity for fantasy teams.

Hello Cubs: Kerry Wood starts tonight and Mark Prior will make a rehab start on Friday. And even Wade Miller is making progress, as he will throw in a Rookie League game on Monday.

Jose Guillen is day to day after straining his groin.

Fasten your seatbelts, the MLB has begun collective bargaining talks.

I noted yesterday that J.J. Hardy suffered a high ankle sprain. Well, now he’s on the DL and the Breweres expect Bill Hall to pick up full-time what he’s been doing so far this season.

MIN at DET

Radke:
0-1, 2.1, 23.14, 4.29, .643 this season vs DET
2-0, 19.1, 4.66, 1.24, .295 last season vs DET
1-0, 13.1, 4.72, 1.27, .304 last season at Comerica
vs Guillen: 10/25, HR
vs Inge: 7/37, HR
vs Ordonez: 25/61, 2 HR
vs Polanco: 6/11
vs IRod: 27/64, 8 HR
vs Shelton: 2/5, HR
vs Young: 10/33, 2 HR
Rogers:
2-0, 13.0, 3.46, 1.00, .208 this season vs MIN
1-0, 20.2, 2.18, 1.21, .275 last season vs MIN
2-0, 16.0, 0.56, 0.81, .161 this season at home
6-1, 57.2, 2.65, 1.16, .254 career at Comerica
vs Castillo: 2/13
vs Hunter: 9/26, 2 HR
vs Mauer: 2/9
vs Morneau: 1/10
vs Stewart: 15/55, Hr

TOR at ANA

Halladay:
1-0, 9.0, 1.00, 0.56, .133 this season vs ANA
Did not face ANA last season
4-4, 59.2, 5.58, 1.41, .299 career vs ANA
1-2, 22.2, 9.13, 1.63, .323 career at Angel Stadium
vs Anderson: 8/21, 2 HR
vs Cabrera: 5/19
vs Erstad (out): 9/19
vs Figgins: 2/12
vs Vlad: 5/19
vs Kennedy: 7/23
vs Salmon: 5/13
Lackey:
0-1, 8.0, 2.25, 0.75, .207 this season vs TOR
0-0, 8.0, 0.00, 0.63, .154 last season vs TOR
2-1, 27.1, 3.29, 0.95, .186 this season at home
5-3, 87.2, 3.90, 1.38, .251 last season at home
vs Glaus: 1/3, HR
vs Hillenbrand: 3/15
vs Hinske: 1/13
vs Johnson: 2/10
vs McDonald: 2/15, HR
vs Rios: 1/5
vs Wells: 3/16

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Baseball Daily - Wednesday

Wednesday, May 17th, 2006

Barry Bonds will not play tonight.

Brian Roberts is a day or two away from returning, although there is an off chance he’ll be back tonight.

Bob Melvin on Ben Sheets:
“I’m focusing [on being] without Ben Sheets for the next four weeks,” Melvin said before the Brewers-Phillies game at Miller Park. “If he’s back sooner, then it’s a bonus to us. If he’s not back in four weeks, then we’ll evaluate it at that time. … We don’t know, the doctors don’t know, Ben doesn’t know right now.”
As noted yesterday, Josh Beckett is fine.

While the Dodgers’ closer Eric Gagne is making steady progress, they also have a new reliever in the mix.
If Little has decided to go with a closer by committee until Gagne returns, Saito is in that committee, and you never know what can come of that. The last time a Dodgers manager said he would close by committee, Gagne fell into Jim Tracy’s lap.
Gustavo Chacin is on the DL.

J.J. Hardy has a high ankle sprain.

Details here on Brad Lidge and his tipping of pitches.

MIN at DET

Santana:
1-0, 7.0, 2.57, 0.71, .160 this season vs DET
2-0, 12.0, 3.00, 1.17, .255 last season vs DET
1-3, 26.0, 4.15, 1.31, .260 this season away
2-0, 29.0, 1.86, 1.00, .204 career at Comerica Park
Has won last four starts
vs Guillen: 3/18
vs Inge: 5/21, HR
vs Ordonez: 9/22, 3 HR
vs IRod: 5/14, HR
vs Shelton: 4/9
Verlander:
1-0, 7.0, 1.29, 1.14, .231 this season vs MIN
1-1, 13.0, 4.15, 1.38, .275 career vs MIN
1-2, 15.2, 6.32, 1.66, .338 this season at home
vs Castillo: 2/2
vs Hunter: 1/6
vs Mauer: 3/5
vs Morneau: 2/5, HR
vs Stewart: 1/7

BOS at BAL

Wakefield:
2-0, 12.0, 2.25, 1.33, .240 this season vs BAL
0-2, 12.2, 7.82, 1.58, .333 last season vs BAL
7-3, 90.0, 2.90, 1.22, .221 career at Camden Yards
vs Conine: 4/30
vs Gibbons: 9/31, 3 HR
vs Lopez: 4/13
vs Millar: 4/10
vs Mora: 11/36, 2 HR
vs Tejada: 17/56, 5 HR
Bedard:
0-1, 2.0, 22.50, 5.00, .500 this season vs BOS
0-1, 10.2, 6.75, 1.69, .275 last season vs BOS
3-0, 30.0, 3.90, 1.53, .299 this season at home
vs Nixon: 3/5
vs Ortiz: 2/9
vs Pena: 2/2
vs Ramirez: 3/11
vs Varitek: 1/10
vs Youkilis: 1/7

SEA at OAK

Moyer:
0-1, 5.2, 4.76, 1.24, .286 this season vs OAK
1-1, 22.2, 6.35, 1.68, .320 last season vs OAK
10-6, 138.1, 4.10, 1.29, .260 career at McAfee
vs Chavez: 20/59, 6 HR
vs Crosby: 3/16
vs Ellis: 3/15, HR
vs Kendall: 6/18
vs Kielty: 7/21
vs Kotsay: 16/27 (.593), HR
vs Swisher: 0/4
vs Thomas: 16/40, 6 HR
Zito:
1-0, 6.0, 0.00, 0.17, .053 this season vs SEA
2-0, 27.1, 2.63, 1.10, .235 last season vs SEA
10-2, 125.1, 3.81, 1.25, .253 career vs SEA
0-2, 22.1, 5.64, 1.30, .234 this season at home
8-7, 117.2, 4.05, 1.16, .223 last season at home
vs Beltre: 4/16
vs Ichiro: 21/65, 3 HR
vs Sexson: 3/15, HR

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Baseball Daily - Tuesday

Tuesday, May 16th, 2006

Josh Beckett only threw 80 pitches in last night’s win over Baltimore, and there was speculation that he early departure was due to the recurring blister problem Beckett has fought with over his young career: Yet:
As it turns out, Beckett caught his spike during his sixth inning warmup tosses and tweaked his back, but it didn’t seem to be anything serious.
Yesterday, I wrote about my impressions of Alex Rios after seeing him in person on Sunday. Today, there’s an article with reason for Rios’ turnaround:
When a pitcher was in his delivery, Rios would bring his front foot back before striding forward. Given his 6-foot-5 frame, the technique was hindering his ability to catch up to fastballs, especially ones on the inside portion on the plate.

“The bigger you are, the tougher it is for your timing,” Gibbons said. “What would happen is the ball would be on top of him and his swing would break down. He’d be leaning back, and that’s when he slows his bat down, and he’d get a bigger loop in the swing. He wasn’t catching up with the inside pitch.”

Now, Rios starts in a more crouched stance and only strides forward after shifting his weight back first. The tap is gone, and so is his tendency to lift his body up during his swing.
It’s official, Francisco Liriano is part of the Twins’ rotation.

Brett Tomko seems to be for real, after dominating at Coors Field last night.
Tomko gave some credit to an adjustment he made in his changeup three starts back with the input of bullpen coach Dan Warthen and pitching coach Rick Honeycutt.

“I felt guys were seeing the pitch, and we worked on a couple of things to make it more deceptive,” Tomko said. “Everyone knows I’m a fastball pitcher. We made a little mechanical change that has taken four mph off the changeup, and it’s made a huge difference. Guys can’t sit on the heater.”
Gary Sheffield is eligible to come off the DL later this week, but Joe Torre says that the Yankees’ RF is at least another week or two away from returning.

FLA at ATL

Willis:
0-1, 2.2, 10H, 7ER, 2BB this season vs ATL
1-1, 23.0, 3.13, 1.26, .281 last season vs ATL
1-1, 19.1, 4.66, 1.34, .280 career at Turner Field
vs Giles: 4/21, HR
vs AJones: 8/26
vs CJones: 81/9, HR
vs Jordan: 5/11
vs Renteria: 1/4
Hudson:
1-0, 15.2, 2.30, 0.96, 1.85 this season at home
7-4, 103.2, 3.39, 1.26, .254 last season at home
1-0, 6.0, 1.50, 1.00, .217 this season vs FLA
2-0, 12.1, 1.46, 1.30, .229 last season vs FLA
vs Cabrera: 4/8
vs Jacobs: 1/6

BOS at BAL

Schilling:
2-0, 14.0, 2.57, 0.93, .220 this season vs BAL
4-4, 64.0, 3.66, 1.06, .241 career vs BAL
2-2, 35.0, 4.68, 1.24, .271 career at Camden
vs Gibbons: 2/14
vs Lopez: 15/50 (.300), 3 HR
vs Mora: 3/22
vs Tejada: 6/17
Chen:
0-2, 14.1, 8.16, 1.81, .328 at home this season
7-5, 124.1, 4.05, 1.26, .240 career at Camden
0-1, 6.0, 4.50, 2.17, .348 this season vs BOS
2-1, 19.1, 4.19, 1.45, .257 last season vs BOS
vs Loretta: 3/11
vs Lowell: 5/16
vs Ortiz: 3/10
vs Ramirez: 3/10
vs Varitek: 6/12, 2 HR
vs Youkilis: 2/6