Big Blue Huddle

The Rays rotation gives them a good chance against both opponents, Simms/Yat. When you get to the bullpens, I think that swings the other way. Upton is starting to pick up his offense after a miserable 4 months of the season. But, at least against the Yankees, their 220 guys seem to rip key doubles against whoever is out there for the Yankees. Shields tonight, a latter day complete game machine. Will he hold up? 

I see you are what we call a "half breed," Bill. Giants-Red Sox. That frequently means you're an older guy. When the AFL came into being, you didn't immediately embrace the Patriots. Or, perhaps, the loyalties were in the family. You were just following your Dad and older brothers? I am interested in stuff like that.

and, by extension, Angels-Rangers, who end this season with 3 @ the Big A.

This is getting interesting. No one seriously believes that Tampa is going to take 3 more in a row against the Red Sox in Boston. However three of four (the starting pitching match-ups seem favorable for that scenario) would give the Rays a net gain of 2. And then they have 5 coming up with the Yankees, who also have 3 left with the Red Sox. Consider all of the delightful possibilities contained therein.  I think after it all settles the Rangers, Yankees and Red Sox will have maintained position. But I think Scioscia and Maddon are the 2 best managers involved so you never know. 

I remember one of the first times I saw Mo pitch. Recalled 7-4-95 to face the White Sox in Chicago. 8 shut out innings, 11 Ks. Yankees win 4-1. Who would have thunk it then? He was one of the early success stories involving elbow surgery. Dr. Frank Jobe 8-92.  Stick Michael has always maintained that Rivera picked up 5 mph and 1 inch of late life on his ball following that surgery.  He's the greatest closer in MLB history. I wouldn't go as far to say that he is the greatest reliever in history, however. The distinction is  made necessary from the point of bifurcation that was LaRussa and Eckersley. The one-inning save. Consider Mo's totals heading into this season:

.1 inning-22 saves
.2 inning-14
1  inning-408
1.1 inning-70
1.2 inning-34
2.0 inning-10
2.1 inning (longest save outing)-1 8-23-96 @ Oakland

The numbers are awesome, truly. But the preponderance of one-inning saves is an evolution in the game that has made it easier to be a closer. Guys like Sparky Lyle, Goose Gossage and Rollie Fingers faced a far more difficult task. Less relievers were kept during their era. Remember the decision on staffs used to be whether you took 9 or 10. Now it's 11 or 12, at least in the A.L.

Some other notes regarding Mariano. Since 69, and through the 10 season, his save % of 89.3 (559-626) is ranked third behind Eric Gagne, who is the leader, @ 91.7 (187-204) and Joe Nathan,  second @ 89.50 (247-276). Obviously a good deal of Mo's brilliance is detailed in his endurance, the manner in which he has been excellent over such a prolonged period of time.

Another item: Rivera has saved wins for 5 Cy Young Winners: Gooden, Cone, Clemens, Big Unit and C.C. There are actually 2 pitchers who have saved games for 6 Cy Young winners. They are:
Goose Gossage-Guildry, LaMarr Hoyt, Catfish, Sparky Lyle, Gaylord Perry & Sutcliffe.
John Franco-John Denny, Gooden, Hershiser, Saberhagen, Glavine and Viola.

The most win-save combination in history: Pettite-Rivera 68, Welch-Eckersley 57, Mussina-Rivera 49, Stewart-Eckersley 43, Jimmy Key-Henke 37, Tapani-Aguilera 37.

Lastly, most seasons as a Yankee (player only)-Berra & Mantle 18. Mo, Jeter, and Posada join Crosetti, Dickey and Gehrig @ 17.

As for Wakefield, he's a good guy and a good pitcher; he earns the designation that Mantle wanted on his memorial stone: "A Great Teammate," but truly he doesn't belong in this thread.

That's pretty fair analysis. I think Dasher buried my trivia question from yesterday, Brian. The answer was George "Stork" Theodore. Remember him? A gangly, funny looking assortment of ill-fitted body parts. 

PLEASE NOTE: THERE WILL BE NO TRIVIA QUESTIONS THIS WEEKEND. THERE IS NOTHING TRIVIAL ABOUT THE SOLEMN EVENTS THAT WILL COMMEMORATE 9-11. WE REMEMBER AND HONOR.

Good follow up, Dasher. If you lived in Syracuse during that era, there was an affinity for the Tigers because they had been the parent club of the local AAA Chiefs. I saw many of them at least a few times.  Stanley was a helluva centerfielder. Not Paul Blair, but very good.

Good work Red. The 2 Aps pretty much had it covered for many years. Not all of the time, but a good percentage of it. The answer is Mickey Stanley being moved to SS by Mayo "The Clinician" Smith.  Dash had an allusion to Ray Oyler, who was another Pilots expansionite.  That season he got into a mini-brawl with Bobby Murcer at second base.  A frustrated Murcer later apologized, admitting to being frustrated about his poor defensive work at 3B. The move to the outfield soon followed. 

Wales: Eddie Matthews was a great player, an HOFer. However, he is something of a "what might have been" guy, career-wise. His early seasons led to projections of maybe 775 career HRs. He did most of his best work early in his career. For example 40+ HRs when he was 21. I think he had a bad back or neck-something like that. He is the answer to a much asked trivia question. Who is the only Brave to play in all three cities in the franchise's history?

9-9-11: Truly an odd looking fellow, The Stork played in parts of 2 seasons with the Mets. Without much distinction. Name the player. He is from the 70s.

Dash: Sorry we missed that one in the wash from the posting history. Didn't see the question.  That was a good one because it worked in Dean Chance, who gets a lot of trivia play. So does Bo Belinsky. Chance's career numbers are a bit deceiving because of the era during which he pitched, but he was still pretty good. 83 complete games in 294 career starts. Anyway 64 was his signature season, which was a great one in any guy's league. 

My question is still on the clock from above.

Yes, Red, the Big Hitter strikes again. If memory serves it might have been Frank Messer, who provided the sobriquet for Big Steve. I should note that Balboni hit 181 HRs over his career with a 451 slugging percentage. It's just that most of his damage was done with the Royals. By comparison, Bam Bam pulls in at 15 and 350.  So I took a liberty with the double-entry nicknames. Saw Meulens absolutely vaporize a ball in Syracuse at Old Mac the year when Columbus threatened the all-time winning percentage for a minor-league team. Over the left-center fence, almost to the train tracks.  He had raw power, but a poorly defined, flawed swing.

9-8-11:  The Chisox had a defensive position covered by 2 future Hall-of-Famers most of the time from the period from 1930 to 1970. They had oddly similar names. Name the 2 players.

Nicely done, Mr. Wales. All possessed the Boomer nickname.

9-7-11:  Bam Bam and Bye Bye were two of the most over-hyped, pseudo sluggers in Yankee History. Who were they?

Yes way to go boys. Mike Ferraro, once a fairly prized prospect, who was supplanted for a time by a guy named Bobby Cox. Yes, that one.  Much better manager than player that guy. Notice how The Big Hitter only responds with answers that are wrapped inside enigmatic questions furthering the puzzle. Churchill one of his heroes. Stay thirsty my friends.

9-6-11:  What explosive quality did George "Not Patton" Scott, Ron Blomberg and David Wells share? 

I looked at it from the wrong side. I only thought Yankees. It must be Pee Wee Reese. Wales way to go on Mincher.  Pretty fair power hitter especially for that era. Those numbers look like crap in today's game, but remember 68 was the absolute dregs for offense in the modern age of the game. They lowered the mound, contracted the strike zone and expanded the total number of teams following that season, which made it possible for somebody like Jim Bouton to hook on with another team, thereby getting more material for his book (s).

OK the second trivia question is going to require a certain Yankeephile. A certain genius that is way too out of my league.  He couples Einsteinian intellect with that classic Irish bent for the ironic. If he were to pat you on the back, you would include that on your resume. He once had an awkward moment, just to see what it felt like. He is simply the most interesting person in the world........he doesn't always drink beer but when he does........he is The Big Hitter Da Lama. This situation requires him.

I am a pretty big Moneyball fan. Read the book. A guy who headed up the northeastern sector scouting for the Cardinals when Mike Jorgensen was running their farm system for Walt Jocketty is a friend of mine. I talked scouting and baseball in general with him many times. The concepts found in the book actually first appeared on the scene in articles Bill James was writing for Baseball Digest in the 70s. It turns out he was writing them while working as a graveyard-shift security guard at a factory in Kansas City.  For the trivia question: Quite a few at least surfaced. I think Swisher, Blanton, Guthrie and Teahen had the longest careers. A guy who didn't was Russ Adams, who I thought was going to be an excellent MLB player. A Tar Heeler, a guy with an excellent short stroke. No defensive position. He lost heart switching around the infield and outfield. Guthrie I think is a good pitcher in an extremely poor situation.

The Dodger-Yankee question 41,47,49,52,53,55,56-the later 2 years eliminates Rizzuto. I can't think of anybody just now. That is quite a time interval. Still waiting on my Pilots question. 

There you go, Dasher. Good job. BTW: Dylan's voice has gotten so bad these days that some of his admirers walk out on his concertscomplaining that he sounds like Cookie Monster from Sesame Street.

Happy Labor Day 9-5-11:  Hardly one to pinch an inch, name the player who led the Seattle Pilots in HRs during their sole season of existence.

Special Holiday Bonus Extravaganza: On that same Pilots' team, a cameo appearance was made by a Kingston, N.Y. native who played previously for the Yankees. His career was sadly curtailed by glaucoma.  Name the player.

I don't remember what I wrote about Ian, Dash. I do remember a start he had with the Yankees when  McLelland, I think it was-the giraffe umpire-stole a game from Kennedy because he couldn't read his  pitches properly. Ian has so much late life on  his fastball that the umpires had to get used to call it a strike. Looking back, he had no chance with the Yankees. I saw him pitch against the Bisons in Buffalo when he was coming back from the aneurysm.  Watching him during that start I knew he'd get his chance somewhere.

Like Joba a lot. Think he needs a new team, as a starter. And, Phil Hughes stinks. As least as a starter. That sounds like something I would write. Still when the Hippie loses it is hard for me to be happy because I root for him too. Ian says it's just like college-USC vs Washington when they face each other. 

Boys both wrongo choices. Those guys are better than my guy in the question. So you need some help. Let's bring in Bob Dylan to assist. Close scrutiny to the lyrics will help you.

"I'm walkin down that long lonesome road, Babe
Where I'm bound I can't tell
But goodbye's too good a word, gal
So I'll just say fairly-well
  I ain't saying you treated me unkind
You could have  done better, but I don't mind
You just kind of wasted my precious time
But don't think twice,  it's all right."