Aardsma

Okay, I know I said I was taking time off, but this mugshot is too good to let go.

I thought Chris Heintz had the best ever possible mlb.com mugshot last year. I was wrong. David Aardsma, Cubs Relief Pitcher tops him. Any guess what was said to him right before the photo was taken?

Leave of Absense.

I think I have a lot of minor things to say, but I'm going to be busy studying for some professional exams for the next few months, so i don't know if I can really keep up with things, so this will probably be my last post for a while. I'll keep commenting at SBG.com though.

1. I like the way the Twins have been playing lately. I'm excited to watch games and see how they turn out. I'm not thinking anything about the postseason, I just want this team to win games, and a lot of them. If they could win 85 or so games and come in third (or even fourth) I would be very happy. I don't want to think what might have been with different personnel, I just want the winsand exciting games.

2. Watching snips of the NCAA baseball tournament and Roger Clemens in AAA, I've seen and appreciated white caps. How come no MLB teams have these? They look great with white home unis. I was thinking about what teams could fit one into their unis seamlessly and came up with: the White Sox. White cap with Black "Sox" and Bill. Can't wear it with the black alt unis, though. Detroit and Cinci could obviously work, too.

3. Cat Osterman and the Texas Longhorns Softball lost their third game of the WCWS two weeks back and were eliminated. This was her senior season and so now she's done. There is a small pro league, but I don't know if she's interested. She'll probably play for the US team, but the US and Canada so overpower the rest of the world that it's hardly competitive.

4. I'm trying out soccer a bit. Not sure what I think. I've decided Ecuador is my team because their unis are great and they look to be good enough to win a few. Yellow shirts, blue shorts, red socks, and they look just like the country's flag.

5. I'm thinking of a new statistic for relief pitchers, but to put it together, I need inherited runners and IRs allowed, and I can only find that in the individual players' breakdown. Does anyone know where I can get full team of (preferrably) league stats with IRs in it. I've checked a few sites in addition to Yahoo, MLB.com, and ESPN. Sportsline has IRA, but not IRs.

WCWS, Day 2.

[I've got a good picture to add here, gets to the "foot on the rubber" question. For some reason, it's not taking. Look at picture 10.]

First: if you're not watching that WCWS, you're missing a lot of good baseball-like action. Six games so far, one 7th inning comeback for a 1-run win, 2 extra inning games, and three 2-0 shutouts with late scoring. So, that's nine runs deciding 6 games.

What did I say yesterday about no pitch and bad defense? Well, unfortunately, it came true for Texas last night. Cat had a no-hitter (1 HBP) going in the 6th, when, with 1 out, she hit a batter's knee.

[I thought it should have been called a strike, the knee seemed to be in the strike zone, and her foot was on (over) the batter's box line, on the plate side. The batter was taking a running swing (which happens in softball). The announcers didn't mind, and I don't know the rulebook, so... I do think that with Cat's strike zone (hint: Jose Lima would be jealous) the pitch would have been a strike if the batter hadn't moved. I may be biased.]

Next batter strikes out. Then, the runner stole second and it looked like the batter was standing on the base after a swing-and-miss. That batter was then walked semi-intentionally (she's Arizona's slugger). The next batter hit a ground ball to short left that could have actually made the force at third, but at least should have held the runners to one base or got an easy out at home, had the outfielder not muffed it and let it roll under her glove. One run in with runners at first and third. Then, the runner at first fakes a steal of second, drawing the throw from the catcher, and the runner at third comes home. Good fake, and that probably works a lot better in softball than baseball, with the clumsier, slower ball and the shorter distance between bases. Next batter strikes out. Final score 0-2. Cat's line: 6 IP, 1 H, 2 HBP, 1 BB, 2 R, 1 ER, 13 K, 0 run support. Arrgh!

The second game looked like the first with Monica Abbot getting the same run support, but both of her runs were earned (1 HR). Now, Tennesse and Texas would have to win Three games over Two days (one today, two tomorrow against the same team).

Texas will play the winner of UCLA/Alabama. The winner of that game plays Northwestern on Sunday (twice if necessary). I think Cat can do it if she gets any run support. Maybe they should let her bat again (career line: 1.000/1.000/2.000 in one plate appearance - a double).

Tennessee will play the winner of ASU/OSU. The winner of that game will play Arizona on Sunday (twice if necessary).

Okay, now if you're inside a bit today, watch some of these games. The pitchers are constantly walking tightropes, knowing that any run is probably gonna decide the game. Imagine baseball if each ace were able to pitch each day. Santana-vs-Garcia-type-games for a whole tournament.

WCWS, Day 1.

I tracked the score of the first game, Oregon State vs Arizona, mostly to know when the Texas game would start. The score stopped in the 5th, and then I found out there was a weather delay. "Crap" I think to myself.

Background: Texas got burned by weather last year when they had to play 3 games in about 20 hours to make up for some rain delays.

Digression: Now, Texas is a lot like last year's Twins: all pitching, little offense. Only, Johan Santana can pitch just about every game, and strikes out about 60-70% of batters. I think I read that Texas has a low defensive metric, probably as the fielders aren't used to seeing the ball in live game situations. /Digression.

I don't remember how the Longhorns got to the loser's bracket, but in their semifinal matchup, as Cat had already pitched like 19 innings since 7:00 pm on Saturday, the 3:00 Sunday game had the Longhorns start their other pitcher, Meagan Denny, who is not bad, but probably not in the top 25. Three runs and two outs later, Cat relieves with a perfect 5.1 innings and something like 13 K, but the Longhorns batters were shut out. /Background.

Therefore, I want every game to be played on the right day this time through. I don't think any of the other teams are as dependent on their one ace to win games as Texas is, and so any thing that would require bunching games together later in the weekend is bad. Luckily, the game is only delayed about 100 minutes. OSU comes back to tie it in the 6th, but Arizona wins 3-2 in the 9th. With the delay and the extra innings, Texas doesn't start its game against Arizona State until about 4:30 -- I'll be able to watch some of it!

Cat pitched a near-perfect game, 22 batters, 21 outs, 18 K, 1 H, 0 BB. In the 5th, already up 1-0, Texas Shortstop Desiree Williams hit the ball right off the foul pole, and had to be told it was a homerun. 2-0 was the final score. If Texas can score 2 runs in each game and stay at one game a day, they just might make it to the finals. Again, all pitch, no hit. They play Arizona at 6:00 tonight.

Between the Spelling Bee, I watched parts of the first night game, Alabama vs Northwestern. Good game. A Wildcat hit a 7th-inning-2-out solo homerun to tie the game at the last moment. They won in 10, but I missed it.

After that, Tennessee and UCLA started at 11:20. I caught a little of the beginning be vowed to not fall asleep on the couch and left when UCLA had a 2-0 lead in the 3rd or fourth. Apparently, Tennesse won with a 3-run 6th. I like Tennessee, too, their pitcher, Monica Abbott looks to be about 6'6 and her pitching motion starts with her bent over with her head at her knees like Mike Mussina. She's only a junior, so maybe she's my softballer to watch for next year.

Yay! UCLA lost!

It would be cool to see Tennesse and Texas go at it in a national championship. White and Orange "T" vs White and Burnt Orange "T". Loser should have to use different colors and blank caps for the next year.

Oh, and Cat Osterman was awarded her third semi-consecutive National Player of the Year award. No other player has 2. I say semi-consecutive, because she did not play in 2004, instead going to the Olympics. Texas has been to the WCWS Cat's last 3 years on the team and did not make the tournament in her year on the olympic team.

No loser's bracket games today, and no winners brackets games tomorrow (stay in the winners bracket 'Horns!). Four teams go home on Saturday, 2 on Sunday. Hope the weather stays nice.

Clemens and Baker

1. Sending down Baker? For a third catcher? How does that make any sense?

2. I wonder (and I haven't looked) if Roger Clemens has a no-trade clause in his contract. If not, and the Astros fall further out of the pennant race and Roger pitches like he did last year, they could trade him for beaucoup prospects to the BoSox, the Yanquis, the Mets, or whoever...

Roger Clemens

Sportscenter is talking about Clemens maybe having signed with the Astros for the remainder of 2006. Just got me thinking... I hope he goes into the hall of fame as a Blue Jay, with the Ugly 90's cap and everything. Something about that would really amuse me. Also, I want Clemens to sign with the Rangers to see what happens to him in the ballpark. If he can keep his ERA down there, he should sign with the Rockies for the second half of 2007.

I don't really like the guy but I realize he's the best of our generation and he would've got my NL CY vote last year. Too bad he was never in the same division as Bonds.

Defense

I've been watching tonight's game lightly. It seems that the Twins Defense is worse than even SBG thinks it is. The Twins defense may actually be giving hope to the Angels when they're probably close to writing off the season.

Last night: the last two runs of the game should have been unearned on bad throws/catches/whatever.

Tonight: In the first, well Figgins was caught stealing, but maybe Castillo needs to sell the out to the ump better. (Is there flopping in baseball?) Then Luis Rodriguez misplayed a ball that led to Cabrera's scoring.

In the fifth, well, I can't remember how it all happened (I'm watching lightly) but I'm pretty sure that none of those runs should have scored. The Twins should have a 3-0 lead off Kubel's homer, instead, they're just close enough to get Fransisco Rodrguiez another save.

Women's College World Series

If you gave the NCAA selection committee any grief for not getting a single #1 pick right for the Men's basketball tournament, you've got to give them props for seeing the NCAA softball tournament. It's 64 teams, but only the top 16 are seeded. Of the 16 teams to advance to the Super regionals, 13 were the seeded teams, with #16, 13, and 11 losing (2 4s and a 3 in Bball tourney lingo). And the 8 teams in the Women's College World Series are top 8 top-seeded teams in the tounament. That's right, there were no upsets in the second weekend.

So, Cat Osterman's Texas is in as the #3 in the WCWS. If seeding continues to form, they will beat #6 Arizona State on Thursday (2pm on ESPN), lose to #2 Arizona on Friday (6pm on ESPN2), beat #5 Alabama on Saturday (8pm on ESPN), and Lose to #1 UCLA on on Sunday (2 pm, ESPN), for a third-place finish (same as last year). Hopefully, a few more upsets will happen this weekend. Even if Texas doesn't win it all, I just hope it isn't the UCLA Lady Yankees. I guess I'd pull for Alabama, even with those silly helmets.

Counting Homers

Not to Alarm anybody, but Babe Ruth is still #2 homerun hitter (USA, no disrespect to Oh-San).

See, Ruth didn't have 714 homeruns in his career, he had 729, or 730.
And Bonds doesn't have 715, he has 724 or 726. (without Torii, he'd have 727).
Aaron actually has a smaller lead than you think with 761 or 763.

Where are these uncounted homeruns? In the postseason and all-star game.
Babe had 15 postseason (I think that's WS only) and 1 all-star homerun.
Barry has 9 postseason HRs and 2 All-star homeruns (hence Torii taking one away).
Hank had only 6 in the postseason, but 2 in all-star games.

I can see an argument for not including All-Star game homeruns, I mean, it is (was?) an exhibition game. But why don't we include postseason Homers? Real, live Major-league pitching in an even more important setting for all parties than the "championship season." There might be an argument that with the expanded playoffs, players have more opportunities, but even the single-season records aren't pro-rated to 162 games. Career homers after the 154th game of the season are definitely not excluded. Sure, including postseason HRs benefits players on better teams but they already have the benefit of getting more ABs in a game if their teammates are better batters, and they won't get pitched around as much.

Maybe I've gone Meta, but why do we count what we count? Could we count spring training HRs? Only if the pitcher was on a 40-man? Rehab stint? Minor-league? Sure, the quality of the pitching is lower, but we don't exclude homeruns off Eric Milton or September call-ups. Could WBC homers count? Should we go back and find the homers in games that weren't official because they were later called due to rain?

You stare at black and white long enough and you start to see the fuzzy gray border.

Guilty Pleasure

This probably makes me a bad person, but, this spring, one of my life's simple pleasures has been watching the Cubs lose. I haven't really been able to enjoy the Twins winning, and Mike Scioscia in last place really hasn't been televised, but the losing of the Cubs is there for you to watch, on WGN, nearly every day.

I feel a little remorse when I realize that this also means that Jacque Jones is losing, but you gotta crack some eggs to make an omelet.

I have no idea why I love seeing the Cubs lose so much, but I do and it's beautiful, and I'll cheer for any random MLB team to run roughshod over them, or let them come back despite giving up 8 homeruns, only to beat them in the 11th. Maybe soon we'll get a no-hitter into the 9th, only to give up 5 runs and the win right there. That would fit.

There are three teams that I can watch 80% of the games of on TV: Twins, Braves, and Cubs. I perenially want the Braves and Twins to meet in the World Series, and the Cubs to be really embarrased somehow. I wish on them what I wish on the Vikings: coming tantalizingly close only to have it taken away at the last, most painful time. (I am a Vikings fan, too, though.) I was so happy with the Marlins back in 2003 because of what they did.

Comeon Cinci, 3 runs in the 9th to tie. Let's do it!