# MLB: May 2010 **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 2, 2010, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025 "2010-05-02T13:46:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Hawkeyeop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/958977/32.png) [@Hawkeyeop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hawkeyeop)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/41 "2010-05-07T16:52:16Z")
> [@Asimovian](#): > > I really, really dislike the rules about awarding wins to closers. I went to see my sad-but-beloved Dodgers play last night. We took a 3-1 lead into the top of the 9th inning. In comes Jonathan “Blown-The-NLCS-Two-Years-Running” Broxton to lock down the first major league win for rookie John Ely, who baffled the Brewers for 6.2 brilliant innings. What could go wrong? > > Well, as usual, if Jonathan Fucking Broxton feels the slightest bit of pressure (I guess we can add backing up your rookie pitcher to the category of “pressure” for him), he blows it. By the time the carnage was over, Broxton had blown the save and slumped onto the bench having allowed the game to be tied, narrowly escaping worse damage than that, and having ruined the kid’s great performance. > > Enter an actually awake Dodger offense in the bottom of the 9th. With one out, Andre “Walk-Offs Are What I Do” Ethier slams home a victory for the Boys in Blue, who win it 7-3 over Milwaukee. And who gets credit for the win? The guy who blew the save and was on the bench being pinch-hit for in the bottom of the 9th. Jonathan Fucking Broxton. > > Why can’t the same rule apply here that applies when a starting pitcher goes less than five full innings? Why not let the official scorer choose who gets the win? The Dodgers had two hitless relief appearances from Ronald Bellisario and Hung-Chi Kuo. Why not give one of them the victory? Wouldn’t that make more sense? And people wonder why wins aren’t taken seriously as a stat. I don’t know that your way would be any better really. It would cause a lot of subjective decisions. It would be better simply not to assign individual wins in a team sport. I’m not sure where the animosity for Broxton comes though. He is top tier closer and has been dominate this year other than one poor appearance. Speaking of wins Zack Greinke, has an era of 2.08 in his last 47 starts. The Royals are 22-25 in those starts. This season the Royals have scored 16 runs in his 6 starts. In those starts the Royals bullpen has given up 20 runs. Thus, if Greinke had not given up a run this year, the royals still would have outscored in his starts. I hope he gets to pitch for a major league team some day. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/42 "2010-05-09T21:22:38Z")
> [@Hawkeyeop](#): > > And people wonder why wins aren’t taken seriously as a stat. I don’t know that your way would be any better really. It would cause a lot of subjective decisions. **It would be better simply not to assign individual wins in a team sport.** I tend to agree with the bolded part, but i think it’s rather unlikely that Wins will be dropped from baseball this late in the game. For better or worse. they’re here to stay. While changing the current system might lead to some subjective decisions, the fact is that there are already subjective decisions in baseball statistics, in the case of things like Errors. Hell, the very mechanism by which we award Wins in baseball now is, in itself, a subjective decision. Furthermore, just because a decision is subjective doesn’t mean that it’s not a good one; even subjective decisions can often be clearly sensible decisions. Take today’s Giants-Mets game. Tim Lincecum pitched 6 full innings for the Giants, gave up just 2 runs, and left the game with a 4-2 lead. In the 7th inning, two Giants pitchers combined to concede three runs and hand the lead to the Mets, 5-4. One of these Giants pitchers was credited with a Hold (another stupid stat), while the other was credited with both a Blown Save and a Win, after the Giants came back in the 8th to retake the lead and win the game 6-4. Assuming that the Win stat isn’t going away, i think it would be completely reasonable, in cases like this, to give the Win to the starting pitcher. Sure, he wasn’t the guy on the mound when his team took the lead for the last time, but he also wasn’t the guy who let the other team take the lead with a 3-run inning. Giving the Win to the starter in cases like this is, in my opinion, certainly better than rewarding, with a Win stat, the same guy who blew the lead in the first place. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/43 "2010-05-09T21:42:20Z")
And on today’s baseball: The Padres _should_ have swept the useless Astros, and would have except for Jerry Hairston. With San Diego leading in the bottom of the 9th, Hairston (at Shortstop) gets a routine ground ball. Not only is it routine, but the hitter is Carlos Lee, not exactly the fastest guy in Major League Baseball. Instead of an easy out at first, Hairston throws the ball 12 feet over Adrian Gonzalez’s head and into the crowd, not only allowing Lee on base, but handing him second base as a bonus. A ground ball gets the pinch runner to third, and a sac fly brings him home. Padres then lose it in 11 innings. I don’t know why the fuck the Padres took on Hairston. They already had the Hairston that can actually play a bit (Scott); why add the useless Hairston as well? This is a guy with a career OPS+ of 84, and whose OBP this year is .235. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/44 "2010-05-09T22:20:24Z")
Dallas Braden of the Athletics just finished off a perfect game against Tampa! ---
**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:** [May 9, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/45 "2010-05-09T22:46:10Z")
Wow, that’s two perfect games against the Rays in about half a season of baseball. Buehrle last July, and now Braden today. ---
**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:** [May 9, 2010, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/46 "2010-05-09T23:33:18Z")
Just got home from watching Clayton Kershaw outduel Ubaldo Jimenez. Both men left the game after giving up only two hits (Kershaw after 8, Jimenez after 7). Only a couple of Kershaw’s pitches managed to leave the infield. It was a wonderful game to watch. Doesn’t hurt that the Dodgers managed a victory and a series win, either. As poorly as they’ve played this year, the Dodgers have yet to lose a series within their own division, if I’m not mistaken. Next week ought to put that to the test. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2010, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/47 "2010-05-10T02:38:47Z")
Reds, 4-2 homestand against the Mets and Cubs. Pointing and laughing at them. Only 3.5 back from the hated Redbirds. We’ll get you, fuckers! 🙂 OK, probably not, but a fella can dream. Any time the Reds get over .500, my palms get sweaty. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/48 "2010-05-12T05:51:04Z")
Padres managed to beat the Giants tonight, despite leaving 15 men on base, including leaving the bases loaded three times. San Diego’s still at the top of the NL West, despite having scored the fewest runs of any team in the division. It’s the pitching that’s keeping them at the top. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/49 "2010-05-12T11:22:18Z")
The Rays got a perfect game thrown at them and lost three in a row, looking sloppy in the field and hapless at the plate. I was feeling a bit sick about it. So I checked the score and standings this morning and they’re still in first place, still best record in baseball, most runs scored, and fewest allowed in the AL (third overall). Guess it’s not so bad. Even after 2008 we’re not used to having good results and looking for the bottom to fall out. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/50 "2010-05-12T12:38:20Z")
Wow - Cueto was one hit away from a perfect game last night. ---
**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:** [May 12, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/51 "2010-05-12T15:31:56Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Wow - Cueto was one hit away from a perfect game last night. Actually, one hit and one HBP. Ronny Cedeno got both. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/52 "2010-05-12T15:40:35Z")
Ah - didn’t see the HBP. I hate you Ronny. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/53 "2010-05-12T16:15:26Z")
Newsflash: Daisuke Matsuzaka did NOT have a nightmare inning in his start last night, and actually went past the 5th inning. Records are being reviewed as we speak to see if this has ever happened before. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/54 "2010-05-12T17:04:26Z")
The Nats are doing it with mirrors: 18-15 despite being well underwater in runs scored (138) v. runs given up (156). Being 8-3 in one-run games accounts for most of the difference. They’re winning and having fun, but they aren’t going to keep it up. Still, it’s fun to see them doing a lot better than the Orioles, who appear to be well on their way to their 13th consecutive losing season. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/55 "2010-05-12T17:55:11Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Newsflash: Daisuke Matsuzaka did NOT have a nightmare inning in his start last night, and actually went past the 5th inning. Records are being reviewed as we speak to see if this has ever happened before. Someone in one of my fantasy teams picked him up, and I thought, “good luck with that - don’t chase wins. And \*never \*chase wins with Dice-K.” He’s due for 9 walks one of these days. The Royals are batting .333 - in the wins column. 11-22 isn’t too good. On the bright side, their Pyth. record is a sterling 12-21, so they’re bound to turn it around! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/56 "2010-05-12T19:49:08Z")
Javiar Vazquez actually pitched a good game today for the Yanks though he lost 2-0. 7 innings, 7 Ks, 2 BBs and 2 ER. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2010, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/57 "2010-05-12T20:06:13Z")
Thank God. I hate the Yankees, but I pegged Vazquez for a great year. I’ve loved him since his Expos days. ---
**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:** [May 13, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/58 "2010-05-13T00:14:07Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Wow - Cueto was one hit away from a perfect game last night. The kid is going places in this league. Watch out when/if Volquez comes into the picture. The Reds, winners of five in a row (4-2 homestand against the Mets and Cubs, sweep of the Buccos) are now 19-15 and 1.5 games behind Pooholes and the Redbirds, whom lost to the **cough** SinkingFastros… OK, I can’t get too excited. This team has broken my heart with inconsistent play for so long now that I no longer will be Pavlovian about short-term success…but damn the NL Central is getting interesting! C’mon **Reds** , time to restore baseball glory to its oldest franchise! ---
**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:** [May 13, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/59 "2010-05-13T23:21:28Z")
The Padres’ Mat Latos today was one hit from a perfect game. The hit, by Eli Whiteside in the 6th, actually deflected off the pitcher and away from the fielders. The Padres sweep the Giants, and extend their NL West lead to 3.5 games. ---
**Author:** ![KennerTheGreat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a8b319/32.png) [@KennerTheGreat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KennerTheGreat)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2010, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025/60 "2010-05-14T01:16:53Z")
[Trey Hillman has been gassed as the Royals’ manager.](http://kansascity.royals.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100513&content_id=10022886&vkey=news_kc&fext=.jsp&c_id=kc) Former Brew Crew skipper Ned Yost is now in charge. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-may-2010/538025.md?page=4)