BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: All-Star Game buzz

Baseball Primer Newsblog
— The Best News Links from the Baseball Newsstand

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

All-Star Game buzz

Clint Hurdle...another big fan of M-O-Q-U-I-R-K.

Clint Hurdle said he consulted with several people when putting together his National League batting order. Oakland GM Billy Beane probably was not one of them.

“You look at the numbers that many of these men have put up,” Hurdle said. “(But) you know, I’m a big fan - I hear about OPS, OBP - I’m a big fan of G-U-T-S. I like guts.”

So much for Beane’s whole Moneyball philosophy, with its importance on on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) and other relatively obscure statistics.

Repoz Posted: July 15, 2008 at 07:12 AM | 19 comment(s)
Related News: General, Colorado

Reader Comments and Retorts

Go to end of page

Statements posted here are those of our readers and do not represent the BaseballThinkFactory. Names are provided by the poster and are not verified. We ask that posters follow our submission policy. Please report any inappropriate comments.

Page 1 of 1 pages

1. Flynn brings the ghetto on Prince Fielder Posted: July 15, 2008 at 07:40 AM (#2856772)

Oakland: 51-44
Colorado: 39-57

2. Guts Posted: July 15, 2008 at 07:42 AM (#2856773)

I wish I could like you more, Clint, but thanks for the sentiments.

3. Shooty misses Bill King Posted: July 15, 2008 at 08:06 AM (#2856781)

It's always nice to random shots taken at Beane. You know what would be nice, if the A's actually had some of these gutless OBA heavy guys on the goddam team. THAT would be nice.

4. Crashburn Alley Posted: July 15, 2008 at 08:24 AM (#2856787)

Yeah... the A's have a collective .323 OBP which is 10th in the AL. Of their players who have logged 200+ AB's, only Jack Cust and Ryan Sweeney have OBP's significantly higher than the league average (.324).

What "guts" do you need in baseball? It is arguably the least "gutsy" sport (and that's why it's so good, since it requires much, much more than brute strength). And who assigns the "guts" ratings? I'm going to go out on a limb and guess Rick Reilly.

5. Rusty Priske Posted: July 15, 2008 at 08:46 AM (#2856796)

OPS is 'relatively obscure'?

6. TWO!-OH!-OH!-OH! CLAP!-CLAP!-CLAP!CLAP!CLAP! Posted: July 15, 2008 at 09:01 AM (#2856809)

Has any TV show ever aired that Repoz doesn't have encyclopedic knowledge of?

7. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: July 15, 2008 at 09:13 AM (#2856818)

So he is claiming Soto is gutless? What a coward of a manager.

8. depletion Posted: July 15, 2008 at 09:21 AM (#2856824)

When you're out of Butz, you're out of guts.

God, guns and guts. What was the question?

9. Slinger Francisco Barrios (Dr. Memory) Posted: July 15, 2008 at 09:50 AM (#2856847)

God, guns and guts. What was the question?

Something to do with Pennsylvania voters, I believe.

10. B. Selig Posted: July 15, 2008 at 09:57 AM (#2856855)

If there's a wrong way to put together an All-Star lineup, Hurdle will find it.

11. Alan Keiper Posted: July 15, 2008 at 10:01 AM (#2856860)

The record for sac bunts in a game is three, set by the NL in 1944 and the AL in 1987. The last sac bunt in a game was 1998 by Tom Glavine. The biggest "What the !#%&*" bunt occurred in the '44 game, with Joe Medwick bunting in the 8th inning with a 6-1 lead. Marks to remember as we watch Clint Hurdle manage tonight.

12. Hubie Brooks Posted: July 15, 2008 at 10:08 AM (#2856865)

What "guts" do you need in baseball? It is arguably the least "gutsy" sport (and that's why it's so good, since it requires much, much more than brute strength). And who assigns the "guts" ratings? I'm going to go out on a limb and guess Rick Reilly.

Running into the outfield wall takes "Guts".

13. BeanoCook Posted: July 15, 2008 at 10:11 AM (#2856873)

Hurdle may be an idiot, but his lineup is better than the AL's lineup.

14. ellsbury my heart at wounded knee Posted: July 15, 2008 at 10:17 AM (#2856878)

Hurdle may be an idiot, but his lineup is better than the AL's lineup.

Because the players are better, or because of something Hurdle did?

15. JJ1986 Posted: July 15, 2008 at 10:31 AM (#2856889)

The NL lineup seems perfectly fine. I'd probably change it to Hanley, Utley, Pujols, Berkman, Holliday, Jones, Braun, Soto, Fukudome, but that's basically the same.

16. Alex Vila Posted: July 15, 2008 at 10:57 AM (#2856926)

“You look at the numbers that many of these men have put up,” Hurdle said. “(But) you know, I’m a big fan - I hear about OPS, OBP - I’m a big fan of G-U-T-S. I like guts.”

When I read that excerpt, Lloyd Bridges came immediately to my mind's eye.

17. Marmaduchscherer Posted: July 15, 2008 at 12:04 PM (#2857016)

Has any TV show ever aired that Repoz doesn't have encyclopedic knowledge of?

Admit it, you immediately thought of Mike O'Malley and the aggro-crag when you saw "G-U-T-S."

18. Alex Gordon's #1 Fan Posted: July 15, 2008 at 12:50 PM (#2857068)

What's funny is Clint probably would have been the kinda player Billy Beane the GM woulda liked and would have given a shot too after he busted in Kansas City. Good power, great walk numbers in the minors at a very young age. Clint was a Moneyball guy and didn't even know it.

19. jonathan (Joseph HannaCust) Posted: July 15, 2008 at 01:01 PM (#2857085)

Admit it, you immediately thought of Mike O'Malley and the aggro-crag when you saw "G-U-T-S."

I'm 20 years old and even I didn't get that reference until you posted this.

Page 1 of 1 pages

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

All-Star Game buzz

Reader Comments and Retorts

Support BBTF

My Bookmarks

Hot Topics