# Baseball July 2009 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** baseball-mlb\ **Created:** [July 2, 2009, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737 "2009-07-02T20:43:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/221 "2009-07-15T03:31:14Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > And once again the superior league wins the All-Star game. BOOO! Take your DH and stuff it! šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/222 "2009-07-15T03:32:20Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I would say the NL Central is truly up for grabs between the Brewers and Cards. I donā€™t have much faith in the Cubs to make a storm, but anything can happen. A good thing about my 'Crew is that we have a fairly easy second half (LOOOOVE facing the Natinals for the second series) so hopefully that helps. > > If the Brewersā€™s starting pitching holds we win. If notā€¦Have fun St. Louis. And by ā€œanything can happenā€, youā€™re including the Reds in this conversation, yes? šŸ˜‰ OK, nevermind. šŸ˜ƒ ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/223 "2009-07-15T04:00:53Z")
My predictions. AL East: Rays Central: Twins West: Rangers Wild Card: Red Sox NL East: Phillies Central: Brewers West: Dodgers Wild Card: Marlins World Series. Rangers vs Phillies. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/224 "2009-07-15T04:18:48Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > And by ā€œanything can happenā€, youā€™re including the Reds in this conversation, yes? > > šŸ˜‰ > > OK, nevermind. > > šŸ˜ƒ Ya knowā€¦totally forgot about how good their pitching has been. Now you just need to score. (Sounds like high school :p) ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/225 "2009-07-15T04:26:31Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > You also come in here to tease D-backs fans! šŸ˜ƒ You know, that part comes so naturally that I forget I do it, my friend. šŸ™‚ ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/226 "2009-07-15T05:37:41Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Iā€™ve decided that from now on Iā€™m going to read these threads telling myself that **Elvis** is actually Ken Tremendous doing experimental comedy. Heh. > [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > I understand that batting average is a historically over-rated statistic, and there are much better ways to measure value today, but ā€œdoesnā€™t mean squatā€? > > As sneaky as that stat can be, if you have a guy batting .360 and another guy batting .240 Iā€™d be willing to wager the .360 guy is having a better year, no matter what his slugging % is (Iā€™m purposefully leaving out OBP because I canā€™t see how the .240 guy could be better there.) Donā€™t leave out OBP. OBP is the reason that BA doesnā€™t mean squat. If you know OBP, you can safely ignore BA. ---
**Author:** ![ColonelDax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/71e660/32.png) [@ColonelDax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ColonelDax)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/227 "2009-07-15T15:20:54Z")
Pedro Martinez has [signed with the Phillies](http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=amBxMRrOwir0) for the rest of this season. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/228 "2009-07-15T15:23:55Z")
> [@Yookeroo](#): > > Heh. > > Donā€™t leave out OBP. OBP is the reason that BA doesnā€™t mean squat. If you know OBP, you can safely ignore BA. Oh, I know. You can say that when you have other statistics available, BA is not nearly as valuable as OBP, OPS, etc. My point was simply that if BA was the _only_ statistic you had, and there was a large discrpancy you could still derive value from it. That horse be dead now. ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2009, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/229 "2009-07-15T16:02:03Z")
The only division I know well enough to make a prediction is the NL East. I think itā€™s the Phills ā€“ they have their problems, but I just donā€™t think anyone else in the division can put the pieces together. That was a good game last night. The All-Star game is the only exhibition game in all of sports I find myself caring about. Frikkinā€™ Carl Crawford. ā€“Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/230 "2009-07-17T14:20:04Z")
Anyone believing the Astros as serious contenders in the NL Central? 7-3 in their last ten games and an impressive shutout of the Dodgers last night. The NL Central is bunched up right now with the Astros, Brewers, and Cubs all withing a couple of games of each other. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2009, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/231 "2009-07-17T15:23:30Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Anyone believing the Astros as serious contenders in the NL Central? 7-3 in their last ten games and an impressive shutout of the Dodgers last night. The NL Central is bunched up right now with the Astros, Brewers, and Cubs all withing a couple of games of each other. Not without some moves, Iā€™m afraid. There are just too many holes in that lineup. But Iā€™ve been wrong about them before, and the starting pitching is definitely good enough (where did this Wandy R. come from? I have him on my fantasy team so no complaints, but damnā€¦). The Reds could have been in the discussion but now with Bruce out and them already having so much trouble scoring even in that ridiculous park I feel pretty safe counting them out. So itā€™s probably down to the Cards, Brewers, and Cubsā€¦ and I donā€™t really feel safe picking any one of them. My heart says the Cards have enough, especially if Glaus comes back at some point and DeRosa recovers from his wrist injury well. If they could make a move for an OF to end the Ankiel/Duncan situation then theyā€™d be in a much stronger place. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/232 "2009-07-18T02:04:17Z")
How sad is it that the Blue Jays started Devid Dellucci in left field tonight? Seriously, they needed this guy and couldnā€™t have just given the job to someone already on the farm, like Buck Coats or Randy Ruiz or maybe one of the beer vendors? Is Ricciardi even TRYING anymore? Dangerous Daveā€™s now 12 for 63 this year with zero homers. Holy moly, this is the guy we needed. And being 35 years old and three years removed from his last good year, so much upside! For fuckā€™s sake. What is it with Ricciardi and aquiring useless, hurt, old left fielders that he liked five years ago? Last year it was Wilkerson AND Stewart AND Mench, and now Dellucci. News flash; just because a guy was good years ago doesnā€™t mean you should overlook his pathetic inability to play major league ball in 2009. God willing, Ricciardi will be fired soon. His dismissal cannot come soon enough. ---
**Author:** ![storyteller0910](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@storyteller0910](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/storyteller0910)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/233 "2009-07-18T02:14:39Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > God willing, Ricciardi will be fired soon. His dismissal cannot come soon enough. Look, **Rick** , itā€™s not that I donā€™t feel for you. I do. But at least your village idiot will be gone soon. Youā€™ll get some smart guy in there, someone with the ability to understand baseball in the ways Ricciardi was supposed to when he arrived, and soon this will all be but a memory. Whereas Iā€™m pretty sure weā€™re stuck with Omar Minaya forever. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/234 "2009-07-18T03:04:07Z")
Well, Albert picked up pretty much where he left off. Two solo homers tonight. I have a feeling most of his homers from here on will be solo. Right now, if i had to face him with the bases loaded, iā€™d think about an intentional walk. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/235 "2009-07-18T04:26:38Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Well, Albert picked up pretty much where he left off. Two solo homers tonight. > > I have a feeling most of his homers from here on will be solo. Right now, if i had to face him with the bases loaded, iā€™d think about an intentional walk. Ludwick has been nuts lately, though, hitting over .400 this month. Heā€™ll cool off eventually, but for now, it sure is nice having him in the cleanup spot. De Rosa is supposed to be back this weekend. His wrist is still fubar until he has surgery, but he intends to try to play with it and have the surgery in the offseason. Weā€™ll see how long that lasts. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/236 "2009-07-18T05:36:07Z")
I really havenā€™t the faintest as to who will win the NL Central. Maybe itā€™s the ā€œwonder of baseballā€ but I cannot predict anything with these teams anymore. Some days the 'Crew look like all stars (hitting homers, scoring runs) then they will hit games like today and get blanked. The Reds pitching is greatā€¦sometimes. Their hitting is greatā€¦sometimes. The St. Louis Pujolsā€™s are doing well enough on his backā€¦but if the rest of the team is nixā€¦theyā€™re dead. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/237 "2009-07-18T19:49:13Z")
Great duel today between Sabathia and Verlander. Particularly great because the Yankees wonā€¦ ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/238 "2009-07-18T22:38:25Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Great duel today between Sabathia and Verlander. Particularly great because the Yankees wonā€¦ Good duel, results sucked. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/239 "2009-07-19T04:00:55Z")
If you have an all-star closer on your team (who oh, by the way, is only the MLB record holder), why not use him? The Crew are up 5-1 on a gem of a pitching day by Parra and they donā€™t put in Hoffman. Why? I understand that they are up enough to merit bringing in someone else and not really worry about blowing it. But overall anyone know why? Also: I can hear ā€œletā€™s go Brewers!ā€ chants. Man itā€™s a far cry from the 90s) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737/240 "2009-07-19T04:06:04Z")
I donā€™t know if someone has yetā€¦but mad shout outs to MLB network for being awesome. Popping in and out of gamesā€¦good rapport with each otherā€¦overall awesome. I love being able to watch every night. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-july-2009/501737.md?page=13)