From the recently traded infielder’s Twitter account, an image of the recently traded infielder with recently traded teammates Josh Beckett and Adrian Gonzalez — in grave emotional pain, all of them.
There are people who will suggest to you, in your life, that “Violence is not the answer.” Those people are right, provided the question is something to the effect of, “What is the best way to resolve a conflict?”
That said, there are some questions to which “violence” is the answer — like, for example, “What is a means by which the Houston Astros field ground balls to the pitcher’s left?” “Violence” was the answer to that question on August 7th. It was also the answer to that question during the bottom of the fourth of the Astros’ game against the Mets today.
Regard, Fernando Abad and Jason Castro getting physical on R.A. Dickey’s unintentional bunt situation:
Is Charlie Blackmon just 3-for-21 since his recall this past Saturday (to replace Carlos Gonzalez, who’s on the bereavement list) — or is he 1-for-1 in an at-bat that will repeat ad infinitum?
The Road Ranger Travel Center in South Beloit, IL, is a classic example of Prairie School design.
The author is attending, with a good and old friend, is attending tonight’s Class A Midwest League game between the Beloit Snappers (a Twins affiliate) and Peoria Chiefs (Cubs) in Beloit, Wisconsin.
Here’s a provisional itinerary for the author’s trip. All times are Central.
12:15pm
Buy tickets through Snappers website. Feel moment of exhilarating and dirty pleasure that accompanies all online purchases.
NotGraphs has learned this early evening that right-hander Zack Wheeler — ranked first among Mets prospects this preseason by FanGraphs’ Marc Hulet and Baseball America and probably other entities — is pretty hungry right now. A source with knowledge of the situation believes he’s going to order a pizza. He might play Call of Duty with fellow Mets minor-league pitcher Jack Leathersich, we’re hearing now, as well. The latest reports suggest that he (i.e. Wheeler) would not be averse to playing online with interested parties.
More on this story as it develops.
Apropos of nothing, except the brief abeyance of life’s crushing burdens, here are three lightly annotated passages from the Base Ball Notes in the April 16th edition of the Louisville Courier-Journal from 1887 (a full page of which one can read here) — upon which Notes the author happened while abeying the crushing burdens of his own life, for example.
The Ramsey in question here is Toad Ramsey, who would end up pitching 561.0 innings for the 1887 edition of the Louisville Colonels, the second-highest total in the league. Regarding the suggestion that he is a “fat boy,” that appears — according to Michael Clair et al — to be more fact than suggestion.
As for the “new rules” invoked here, here’s what they were (courtesy Baseball Almanac):
• The pitcher’s box was reduced to 4 feet by 5 1/2 feet.
• Calling for high and low pitches was abolished.
• Five balls became a base on balls.
• Four “called strikes” were adopted for this season only.
• Bases on balls were recorded as hits for this season only.
• The batter was awarded first base when hit by a pitch.
• Home plate was to be made of rubber only — dropping the marble type and was to be 12 inches square.
• Coaches were recognized by the rules for the first time ever.
The following tweet is entirely and in-no-way altered from the original (click to embiggen):
As Dave Cameron noted during his most recent appearance on FanGraphs Audio this week, Kelvin Herrera’s changeup is likely the best pitch right now that no one is going completely bananas about. Among its (i.e. that changeup’s) credentials are how it has a 25.0% swinging-strike rate (while league average is ca 15% for a change, according to Harry Pavlidis) and a 77.8% ground-ball rate (whereas ca 50% is average for a change). It’s not surprising, then, that Herrera’s changeup has been better in terms of runs above average than almost every other reliever’s.
Here’s Herrera throwing the changeup to Nate McLouth during his most recent appearance (box). The Baltimore center-field camera allows for a particularly clear view of the pitch’s movement.
The following tweet is entirely and in-no-way altered from the original (click to embiggen):
