Comments on: TGIF Reading: That word, I do not think it means what you think it means. http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/ In-your-face baseball commentary Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:48:13 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: melissa http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55601 melissa Sun, 04 May 2008 00:30:28 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55601 While I don't like Lou's stubbornness in not even considering batting the pitcher 8th, I have to cut him some slack in regard to Soriano leading off. Unless the Cubs acquire Brian Roberts or another traditional lead-off hitter they don't really have a better option than Soriano. His career stats have shown that his production in the lead-off slot has not continued when he is lowered in the batting order. His strike outs increase and his power numbers and average decrease when he is moved down in the order. When and if they move him down in the order he isn't going to drive in more runs because he won't be seeing as many fast balls and having the same success. It's a catch-22 he has the kind of power you like to see lower in the order but if you put him lower in the order he won't produce power numbers. If they acquire a lead-off hitter they will probably have to move him to the 6 or 7 hole. Fukudome hitting 5th behind Ramirez affords him some protection in the order which I don't believe Soriano would. I felt at the time and still do feel that Hendry made a huge mistake by signing an aging, defensively deficient, lead-off hitter with a sub-par OBP to a long term deal for huge money. After Barry Zito this may be one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory. I will say in Soriano's defense that his 14 home runs last September were a major factor in the Cubs winning their division. I would also add that the team that scores first ends up winning the game 67% of the time so lead-off home runs aren't such a bad thing. While I don’t like Lou’s stubbornness in not even considering batting the pitcher 8th, I have to cut him some slack in regard to Soriano leading off. Unless the Cubs acquire Brian Roberts or another traditional lead-off hitter they don’t really have a better option than Soriano. His career stats have shown that his production in the lead-off slot has not continued when he is lowered in the batting order. His strike outs increase and his power numbers and average decrease when he is moved down in the order. When and if they move him down in the order he isn’t going to drive in more runs because he won’t be seeing as many fast balls and having the same success. It’s a catch-22 he has the kind of power you like to see lower in the order but if you put him lower in the order he won’t produce power numbers. If they acquire a lead-off hitter they will probably have to move him to the 6 or 7 hole. Fukudome hitting 5th behind Ramirez affords him some protection in the order which I don’t believe Soriano would. I felt at the time and still do feel that Hendry made a huge mistake by signing an aging, defensively deficient, lead-off hitter with a sub-par OBP to a long term deal for huge money. After Barry Zito this may be one of the worst free agent signings in recent memory. I will say in Soriano’s defense that his 14 home runs last September were a major factor in the Cubs winning their division. I would also add that the team that scores first ends up winning the game 67% of the time so lead-off home runs aren’t such a bad thing.

REPORT COMMENT

]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55603 Nick Kapur Sat, 03 May 2008 07:31:38 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55603 Melissa, I agree with you that Pinella makes out really foolish lineups. I think much more than batting the pitcher ninth, it is just crazy that he bats Soriano leadoff - that is costing the team at least 15 or 20 runs a year, I'd bet. Fukudome should be batting second and Soriano should be batting 5th. But I do agree that Pie would do a lot better if he could bat ninth, after the pitcher, because right now he is getting absolutely nothing to hit, and he doesn't have the patience yet to bat 8th and lay off all the junk they throw him ahead of the pitcher. Melissa, I agree with you that Pinella makes out really foolish lineups. I think much more than batting the pitcher ninth, it is just crazy that he bats Soriano leadoff – that is costing the team at least 15 or 20 runs a year, I’d bet. Fukudome should be batting second and Soriano should be batting 5th.

But I do agree that Pie would do a lot better if he could bat ninth, after the pitcher, because right now he is getting absolutely nothing to hit, and he doesn’t have the patience yet to bat 8th and lay off all the junk they throw him ahead of the pitcher.

REPORT COMMENT

]]> By: Nick Kapur http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55588 Nick Kapur Sat, 03 May 2008 07:29:32 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55588 Yovani is down? This is terrible news! I really like that guy. I am still amazed Ned Yost let him keep pitching, after he'd obviously torn something up in there right good. Ned Yost is insane and has no business managing a pitching staff - I think he probably cost the Brewers *at least* 3 or 4 wins last season. Yovani is down? This is terrible news! I really like that guy. I am still amazed Ned Yost let him keep pitching, after he’d obviously torn something up in there right good. Ned Yost is insane and has no business managing a pitching staff – I think he probably cost the Brewers *at least* 3 or 4 wins last season.

REPORT COMMENT

]]> By: melissa http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55602 melissa Fri, 02 May 2008 23:04:58 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55602 Sarah, I tried to warn you against falling in love with the Brewers this season. I wish I could say I feel bad about your fantasy woes but that would be a lie. You may just want to eliminate the tonic altogether and empty out a 40 oz. of Old Milwaukee in honor of your dearly departed Yovani. Sarah,
I tried to warn you against falling in love with the Brewers this season. I wish I could say I feel bad about your fantasy woes but that would be a lie. You may just want to eliminate the tonic altogether and empty out a 40 oz. of Old Milwaukee in honor of your dearly departed Yovani.

REPORT COMMENT

]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55600 Lyndsay Fri, 02 May 2008 21:23:33 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55600 and I feel like Cliff Claven for knowing that and actually verbalizing it. and I feel like Cliff Claven for knowing that and actually verbalizing it.

REPORT COMMENT

]]> By: Lyndsay http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55599 Lyndsay Fri, 02 May 2008 21:23:10 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55599 NO NO NO...you guys are all wrong about the song. he's referring to being a peg leg - you know how when a sailor "loses his leg" (as he says in the 2nd line) and has to walk around with a wooden leg they refer to him as "peg leg"? HELLO! If you don't remember...go back and watch Pippi Longstocking again. NO NO NO…you guys are all wrong about the song. he’s referring to being a peg leg – you know how when a sailor “loses his leg” (as he says in the 2nd line) and has to walk around with a wooden leg they refer to him as “peg leg”? HELLO!

If you don’t remember…go back and watch Pippi Longstocking again.

REPORT COMMENT

]]> By: Sarah Green http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55587 Sarah Green Fri, 02 May 2008 20:21:28 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55587 Oh my God, Melissa! This is even worse than you realize. Yovani was supposed to be the stud of my fantasy team (once Roy Oswalt and Justin Verlander failed to live up to their abilities). I was getting trade offers for Gallardo only a couple of days ago. If only I had taken them. Curse you, fickle baseball gods!!!!!! I think I need to go home and watch Bridget Jones' Diary with a giant tub of lactose-free ice cream and a tall vodka tonic (easy on the tonic). Felix Pie's problems are nothing to me at this moment. Oh my God, Melissa! This is even worse than you realize. Yovani was supposed to be the stud of my fantasy team (once Roy Oswalt and Justin Verlander failed to live up to their abilities). I was getting trade offers for Gallardo only a couple of days ago. If only I had taken them. Curse you, fickle baseball gods!!!!!!

I think I need to go home and watch Bridget Jones’ Diary with a giant tub of lactose-free ice cream and a tall vodka tonic (easy on the tonic). Felix Pie’s problems are nothing to me at this moment.

REPORT COMMENT

]]> By: melissa http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55582 melissa Fri, 02 May 2008 19:58:31 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55582 More bad news for the Brewers, Sarah, it's being reported Yovani Gallardo will be out the rest of the year with a torn up knee. He got wiped out by Fielder during the game yesterday but continued to pitch. Even though they won the battle yesterday the Cubs may be in a much better position to win the war now. Also, Tuesday night against the Cubs Sheets did not look like himself. Piniella has already said he isn't going to bat the pitcher 8th because it's just not conventional which I find totally annoying. It has not been proven out yet but it would seem to give your 3,4, & 5 hitters more RBI opportunities if you have someone getting on base that bats 9th. I can't stand watching a struggling young hitter like Felix Pie languish in the 8 hole in front of the pitcher. He sees nothing to hit and he doesn't have command of the zone yet. Sooooooo frustrating. More bad news for the Brewers, Sarah, it’s being reported Yovani Gallardo will be out the rest of the year with a torn up knee. He got wiped out by Fielder during the game yesterday but continued to pitch. Even though they won the battle yesterday the Cubs may be in a much better position to win the war now. Also, Tuesday night against the Cubs Sheets did not look like himself.

Piniella has already said he isn’t going to bat the pitcher 8th because it’s just not conventional which I find totally annoying. It has not been proven out yet but it would seem to give your 3,4, & 5 hitters more RBI opportunities if you have someone getting on base that bats 9th. I can’t stand watching a struggling young hitter like Felix Pie languish in the 8 hole in front of the pitcher. He sees nothing to hit and he doesn’t have command of the zone yet. Sooooooo frustrating.

REPORT COMMENT

]]> By: Chris http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55581 Chris Fri, 02 May 2008 19:21:25 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55581 Valid point Paul. I think it is this way because "Thats the way it has always been done" Valid point Paul. I think it is this way because “Thats the way it has always been done”

REPORT COMMENT

]]> By: Paul Moro http://umpbump.com/press/2008/05/02/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/comment-page-1/#comment-55597 Paul Moro Fri, 02 May 2008 19:16:53 +0000 http://umpbump.com/press/tgif-reading-that-word-i-do-not-think-it-means-what-you-think-it-means/#comment-55597 RE: pitcher batting 8th - Because the conventional way of thinking in baseball is very much built for short-term gain. The lineup is generally set-up for the first time around the order. After that, it's a free-for-all. It's for reasons like this that people care about rotation orders. And the conventional way of thinking about baseball is really hard to crack. I mean, look how long it took for people to understand the value of OBP. RE: pitcher batting 8th – Because the conventional way of thinking in baseball is very much built for short-term gain. The lineup is generally set-up for the first time around the order. After that, it’s a free-for-all. It’s for reasons like this that people care about rotation orders. And the conventional way of thinking about baseball is really hard to crack. I mean, look how long it took for people to understand the value of OBP.

REPORT COMMENT

]]>