104 thoughts on “August 3, 2011: Post-Break Blues”

  1. After having absolutely no ideas, I submitted a really stupid entry into the spookymilk contest for this week. Then, when I was falling asleep I thought of a much better idea and have emailed its title to myself so that I can flesh it out tonight. Falling asleep is such a productive time.

    1. Yeah, I have a lot of script breakthroughs in those dreamlike moments. The only problem is convincing myself it's a good enough idea to get up and write down, since getting up for anything generally delays my sleep for at least half an hour.

      1. Sometimes in the middle of the night, I think of something that's funny, then I go get a pen and I write it down. Or if the pen's too far away, I have to convince myself that what I thought of ain't funny.
        -Mitch Hedberg

        1. But then you'll probably have to find someone that can read your handwriting so you can remember what you wrote down.

          1. I used to record my dreams, but half the time when I went to transcribe, I couldn't read my handwriting for nothing. Either that, or the dream was so nonsensical I didn't know how to put it into paragraph form.

    2. I'm pretty close to sending in a stupid entry. I'm just not coming up with anything snappy. I guess I'll have to try and come up with something when I go to bed tonight.

        1. My best of two not-good ideas entails a bunch of work for someone not on the teams- soooo, that would be probably be you, Spooky. I'm not confident about that one getting a good score from you for some reason.

          1. Take solace in the fact that my submission for this challenge last season was intended to be so stupidly hard that it couldn't score highly - and then Spooky made it the final five challenge. (And only one person, in my opinion, made a particularly good submission for it, so it may have actually been as stupidly hard as I intended.)

            1. Yours didn't strike me as difficult, though many players obviously thought so. That week turned out to be a late-game bummer.

              Edit: That is to say, I thought it was difficult, but not prohibitively so...I figured I'd just run it near the end when the players left could handle it. And, most of them didn't handle it particularly well. Well, it happens.

              1. That week was a late-game bummer for reasons other than just the overall weakness of the submissions.

          1. We're on #4, which this year is the Create-a-Challenge challenge. It should be pretty interesting, whether good or not, since it's not just a writing season.

      2. And submitted. This will never work as the final challenge, but is easily doable, scoreable and way better than the crap I submitted yesterday.

    1. CoC, thanks for the link, this is fascinating to me. I still plan to produce a Gehrig biopic... some day.

  5. In case you haven't heard, Craig Counsell is currently on a 0-for-45 streak. One more hitless at-bat and he ties the record, set by the immortal Bill Bergen in 1909.

    1. What is "double hustle"? Also, is that the most bases a Mariner has gotten in one at-bat this season?

        1. That's terrific. I'm also very happy that there was a guy near him wearing an Ackley jersey.

    2. That's mostly the pitcher's fault. The shortstop went in the hole to field the ball and the second baseman was backing up the throw at first base, which left second base wide open. That's the pitcher's job to cover second in that case. Hard to blame the third baseman for not thinking about covering third on an infield hit.

      1. Admittedly, I don't usually pay super close attention to what the second baseman does on a play like that, but really, backing up first base on a throw from the shortstop? That sounds like an exercise in futility. He certainly wasn't in a position where he could have caught an errant throw when the ball made it to first base.

        If it's hard to blame the third baseman for not thinking about covering second on an infield hit, when is the last time you've seen a pitcher cover second base on an infield hit?

        I always figured the second baseman covers second base on that play, and if anyone is backing up first base, it's the catcher or the right fielder. If I would blame the pitcher for anything, it's not covering third base after all of the other infielders go to cover second base. Also, wouldn't it be reasonable for the catcher to cover third base in that situation? With the runner past first base, the first baseman would then be free to cover home on an overthrow to third base.

        1. Reading the recap, it sounded like 3B ran toward second along with the SS after he realized second was open. Keep in mind 3B is Scott Sizemore who, AFAIK, used to be a 2B. He might just not have known what to do. I agree the pitcher probably should have been on his way over to third after Ryan broke for second. I suspect the catcher was backing up. As for 2B backing up first, the angle the SS was throwing from could lead to a deflection into short RF off the wall. Seems RF could handle that, I agree.

          AFAICT this was scored defensive indifference to second and third. I disagree with that. The fielders attempted to cover. Throws were made. It wasn't indifference. I think he should have been awarded a triple.

          1. Agree on the triple thing. After all, a pop-up lost in the ceiling can be ruled a homer, even though the ball wasn't hit hard.

            Indifference means they didn't care if he took third base. I would be willing to bet they cared.

              1. I checked the box score this morning -- he was credited with a single. No errors, no stolen bases on the play. It HAS to be a triple, because the ball was never taken out of play or returned to the pitching rubber, and the bases were empty, so there was no "advancing on a throw" to another base.

                I don't get the defensive indifference at all.

                1. I guess not, I'm more going by the spirit rather than the letter of the law, since I don't know what the rulebook says on something like this. Sure, there was no batter in the box, but essentially the defense wasn't covering a base and the runner beat the defenders to the base. That's exactly what happens on a stolen base, right?

                  I heard someone claim that the play was scored a single and two fielders choices. That makes more sense to me than defensive indifference, but maybe not as much sense as a triple. I think I'd still lean towards stolen bases in my personal book.

                  1. from Rule 2.00:

                    FIELDER’S CHOICE is the act of a fielder who handles a fair grounder and,
                    instead of throwing to first base to put out the batter-runner, throws to another base in an
                    attempt to put out a preceding runner. The term is also used by scorers (a) to account for the
                    advance of the batter-runner who takes one or more extra bases when the fielder who
                    handles his safe hit attempts to put out a preceding runner; (b) to account for the advance of
                    a runner (other than by stolen base or error) while a fielder is attempting to put out another
                    runner; and (c) to account for the advance of a runner made solely because of the defensive
                    team’s indifference (undefended steal).

                    but from 10.06:

                    10.06 DETERMINING VALUE OF BASE HITS
                    The official scorer shall score a base hit as a one-base hit, two-base hit, three-base
                    hit or home run when no error or putout results, as follows:
                    (a) Subject to the provisions of Rules 10.06(b) and 10.06(c), it is a one-base hit if the
                    batter stops at first base; it is a two-base hit if the batter stops at second base; it a
                    three-base hit if the batter stops at third base; and it is a home run if the batter
                    touches all bases and scores.
                    (b) When, with one or more runners on base, the batter advances more than one base on
                    a safe hit and the defensive team makes an attempt to put out a preceding runner,
                    the scorer shall determine whether the batter made a legitimate two-base hit or
                    three-base hit, or whether the batter-runner advanced beyond first base on the
                    fielder’s choice.

        2. The pitcher's job is to survey the field on a play and cover a base that's needed. It's not like it is far to second base for him. The angle on a throw from deep in the hole means it is easiest for the second baseman to back it up. He doesn't have to catch a bad throw, just be there to try to keep the runner at first. I would imagine the A's put extra emphasis on this because they have so much foul territory. Basically, everyone was attempting to help out on the play except the pitcher. He was just standing and watching. That's all I need to know to know who to blame.

          1. Under most circumstances (especially with no one on base), the infield rotates towards the ball. This means the 3B/SS converge on the ball and one of the two makes the play, the 2B converges towards second, and it is absolutely the RF (and catcher) who back up the first baseman. The second baseman should not be near first unless the ball was hit to that side of the infield.

            1. This is my understanding of how things usually work. It seems like the outcome of this play is a good example of why you would want the second baseman to rotate towards second base rather than go on a fishing expedition near the RF line. IMO, it doesn't make sense for the pitcher to automatically cover second base on the play. If he starts running for second base when the ball is hit, he's probably going to distract the shortstop when he's trying to make the throw. I've never been a pitcher, but I'd guess the natural place for a pitcher to move on those plays is in front of the mound so he's not in the way of anyone else. From that position, it'd make sense for him to cover third, but not really second.

            1. On that angle, the catcher would never get there. Plus, that's asking the guy carrying a ton of equipment and using a ton of energy just to do his own job to do a ton of running. The catcher should back up anything up the middle, but deep in the hole or third-base line is asking a lot. Plus, its not like it would be hard for the pitcher to cover second. He doesn't have to get all the way there, just be in the general vicinity so the runner doesn't even consider trying to advance.

              1. I don't think I've ever seen a pitcher back up 2b on a play, other than perhaps a rundown.

                What the hell were the SS and 3b doing on this play after Sogard made the throw to first? Signing autographs?

                The screw-up at 2b was unfortunate, but not particularly embarrassing. The subsequent failure to cover 3b was inexcusable.

              2. He might be wearing a lot of equipment, but as a catcher, that's what coaches tell you to do when the bases are empty, pretty much from the day you become a catcher. Nobody expects the catcher to actually cut off the throw in the air; he's there in the event that the throw ricochets off the wall toward the plate or on an angle he can intercept. The right fielder moves in as a backup in case the ball goes the other direction. Again, no one expects anyone to catch a ball which gets past the first baseman on the fly.

                On balls hit to the left side, the pitcher frequently acts as a floater. Third base, and not second, is his responsibility on balls to the left side because he can't cross in front of the shortstop or third baseman if they're making a throw. That makes covering second base the second baseman's responsibility. No one expects the batter to reach third on a ball kept in the infield, but the pitcher was out of position if he wasn't between the mound and third, and closer to third, by the time Ryan was on his way to second. Say someone makes the throw to second, but no one is there to cover the bag - it goes into center field (the center fielder should have moved in closer to the infield to back up the throw). The center fielder then must either get the ball back to an infielder or attempt to throw Ryan out at third. Who should be covering third? The pitcher.

                1. "When you get a ball past the third baseman over there and it's a ball the shortstop is going to dive for or backhand, the second baseman is often backing up first," Ryan said. "So if you can get past the first and second basemen, you've got second base open. So I looked for it and it looked like nobody saw me. So I just took off.

                  "Then when I got to second it looked like the closest person to third was right next to me, and I figured if I get past him, I've got third," he said. "Then I almost died, but I didn't. So I got back up and I looked at home and I saw [catcher Kurt] Suzuki flying home, and dang, too bad he couldn't trip and fall or something. I don't know if I would have made it, but it would have been pretty fun to crawl home and score on that."

                  Ryan pulled off a similar play earlier this year, taking second on an infield single against the Tigers on June 9 in Detroit, when he noticed the second baseman had drifted over toward first after his ground ball had taken the shortstop deep into the hole.

                  1. Regardless of what Ryan said, doesn't mean the catcher isn't also backing up first, or that the pitcher is responsible for backing up second. To your point about catchers not being responsible for running to cover first (or third, for that matter), there's this from Chad Moeller's blog:

                    The responsibilities of the catcher are almost endless and I will try to cover some of them in no particular order.

                    1. Back up first base on every ground ball unless there is a man on second or third.

                    ...

                    6. With a runner on first on a ball bunted to the third baseman the catcher must cover third.

                    7. If a runner is picked off first we must sprint to first base to help in a run down.

                    If the pitcher is supposed to cover second, how does he get there without interfering with the throw from the left side? Why is the second baseman "drifting" (the words from the end of your quoted article) to back up a base already backed up by two other players when he is the only one with a route to second on which it is impossible to interfere with a throw to first from the left side?

    3. It reminds me of a play by Chad Allen in May of 1999, also against Oakland. Allen hit a ground ball to deep first and beat the pitcher covering. Afterward, everyone just started walking slowly toward their positions, and no one was anywhere near second, so Allen just took off. The startled pitcher threw the ball wildly into the outfield, and Allen ended up circling the bases.

  7. For some this might breach the topic of politics, so be warned. With that said, here is an account of of the planning, the capture, and the after math from the bin Laden raid from the New Yorker. A great read.

  8. Did anyone else watch that hide the money show on ABC last night? If so, can you SPOILER the last 10 minutes or so. Omar took forever outside and I missed the end.

    5. Usually with stuff like this I can at least make up some far-fetched reasoning behind the stupidity, i.e., misguided politics or religion, etc. I can't figure this one out at all... basic run-of-the-mill ignorance just baffles me.

        2. If that's the case (and I agree with you and spooky that it looks likely), is it too much to hope that the police can track down the culprit?

          1. Maybe it was one of the other Barts that did it, sir.

            There are no other Barts!

        1. It depends on whether you look at a better record as improvement, or higher comedy value.

        2. If the Vikings improve by one win, then no one wins, correct? So, wouldn't that mean that the expectation is a one-game improvement?

        3. I'm surprised the under is favored here. I'd expect them to get right around 7 or 8 wins.

          As an only slightly related tangent, it costs a hell of a lot of money to go to a football game live. I checked on the Vikings website, and in order to get tickets for the Packers/Vikings game at "Mall of America Field" you have to buy a ticket to a preseason game as well and it ends up costing over $350, to sit in the nose bleeds, for two people. Even if you cut that in half, $175 for two football tickets is ridiculous. I'd like to go to one professional football game at some point in my life, but for those prices I think I'll wait a while.

          1. I think things like this aided my emotional detachment from the Vikings and the league in general, it just feels so removed from real life that there's no point in paying attention for anything other than the crazy.

                  1. even better than HD TV at home -- HD TV with a DVR so that you can watch the game in 90 minutes!!!11one111!!!

                    The worst part about seeing a game live? I can't decide between
                    --the blood trickling from my ears due to the jet-engine level piped in cr@p noise (although still not as bad as at NBA games),
                    --the incessant advertising,
                    --the airport-concessions-would-blush pricing for food and "beer,"
                    --the drunk idiots, or
                    --all the standing around on the field waiting for TV to get back from commercial breaks.

                    2. I've committed to DVRing all sporting events I want to watch to reduce the amount of time it takes away from my family. It is amazing how much time it saves. I can watch a baseball game in 90 minutes as well as a football game. Even basketball games can be shortened by skipping halftime and timeouts. It is sweet. It also allows me to keep my normal work schedule and be more productive at work. The only downside is having to keep away from things that could tell me the result of the game, such as the Internet and TV channels with scrolling scoreboards.

          2. I've been to just one, thanks to a fairly rich stepfather. We were somewhere around the eighth row.

            I'm glad I did it, but I was stunned at the company. You'd think such tickets would be cost-prohibitive for obnoxious drunks, but they aren't. I had three beers during the game - one was a result of the guy next to me ordering one when we forgot he had another full one - but still ended up way, way more sober than everyone around besides my stepdad.

            1. Good lord. This is part of why I worry I would hate it. I'm not fond of drinking to excess especially in public. If I'm going to make an ass out of myself, it's going to be in my own home thankyouverymuch. And if I was dropping that kind of coin, I think I would want to savor the experience, not just spend the day in a drunken blur.

          3. Zack, it has been my policy in life to never spend a cent to attend an NFL game. I think I've been to four or five, but I definitely have paid no money and don't plan to ever.

            It's better on TV.

          4. I've been to two. Once as a tag-along with a friend who got one from his employer; once as a birthday present from my wife (who assures me I'll not see a repeat of that gift).

            Edit: I should note that both were enjoyable experiences, no obnoxious folk in my direct vicinity either time.

            1. The guy I was sitting next to - the one who gave me the beer - was the most drunk I've ever seen anyone who could still function. I think it was a noon start, too.

              He was tagging along with a friend - he himself was a Bengals fan, not really invested in the game. Maybe rooting for the Bengals lately gives him reason to drink so much before noon.

              1. I was at a Redskins-Cowboys MNF game in 1987, which was awesome in just about every way possible. Since then, I've been to one Chargers game in SD in/around 1990, which was ok; one Bears game at Soldier Field (fun)in the mid-1990s; and one 49ers game at Candlestick in about 2004 or so (an interminable infomercial experience).

          5. I've been to one - a Vikings playoff game, great seats. Boring. Football is a TV game. Basketball and hockey are great live. Baseball is a great radio game.

            2. Correction. High school football is great live too. College football is good live. Pro football sucks live.

              NBA basketball would be great live if the owners would just let the game sell the game*. I don't need to have my hearing damaged by piped in music at. every. possible. opportunity. Good god, people. Turn it DOWN.

              *I saw Michael twice, once at the old Chicago Arena Stadium, once at the new Arena Stadium/United Center. Those were awesome experiences. And I've been to one Kings game -- in '09 when they retired Chris Webber's jersey. Great game, but I had a splitting headache from the ridiculous noise level. It would have been loud without the piped in noise, but with it, it was dangerous to one's health.

              NHL games are indeed awesome. The best pro sports experience I've ever had was at an SRO North Stars game against the Black Hawks in the Met Center in about 1982.

              But those are all blood sports in terms of their style of entertainment. Baseball games, in comparison, are stately, civilized entertainment events. You go for the ambience, for the food, for the fellowship, and to enjoy the game.

  12. Span and Revere atop the lineup tonight. Delmon DHing, Tolbert at second, batting ninth. Hopefully, we have a late lead and Gardy can stick Repko in right for Kubel. That would be an awesome outfield.

    1. That would be an awesome outfield.

      Uhhhh. I'm not convinced that "awesome" is the right word. How about "decent defensive outfield"??

      an awesome outfield would be more like the Oakland A's OF in 1981 (Rickey!, +2.3 dWAR and a GG in LF, Dwayne Murphy, +0.9 dWAR and a GG in CF, and Tony Armas, +1.5 dWAR in RF). Or the A's OF of the early 1970s (Joe Rudi, Bill North, Reggie; in 1973 their dWARs were +0.8, +2.6 and +1.3, respectively; Rudi won multiple fielding grammys; North probably should have won a couple).

        1. I guess you were too. Span in limited innings this year is at 1.8 dWAR, so he's been GG worthy. The OF would essentially have three above-average range CFs. That qualifies as awesome in my mind. I didn't say "best-ever." After having Delmon and Cuddyer lumber around the OF over the last several years I don't think I need to have that high of standards to reach awesome.

    1. I think it was mentioned a few months ago, when the brew was in the planning stages. It's still cool.

  15. First the hard drive on my home machine goes. Now my laptop hard drive. Awesome. What next? At least we will be doing our part to stimulate the economy.

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