And some much-needed veteran leadership.

Rockies also signed Russ Ortiz.

That 2nd one would be shocking, except they already have Adam Eaton on the active roster.

Considering the "improvement" of Matt Holliday, moving from the major leagues over to the AAAA baseball of the NL, Giambi should do very well in Colorado. He'll probably hit .400, get on base .550, and slug .800. It's amazing how much easier it is to hit that AAAA pitching in the NL.

M. Holliday OAK 2009 -- .831 OPS
M. Holliday STL 2009 -- 1.173 OPS

I'd laughed at the Russ Ortiz signing, but in two starts, he pitched well against the Dodgers. So instead, I'm wondering if the Rockies actually know this, or just desperate for pitching.

M. Holliday OAK 2009 -- .831 OPS
M. Holliday STL 2009 -- 1.173 OPS

Of course, the A's played their full interleague schedule while Holliday was still on the team. Holliday went 18 for 67, hitting .269 with an OPS of .743, versus NL pitchers. While he was with the A's, he hit AL pitchers much better than he hit supposedly inferior NL pitchers.

The most reasonable explanation for his splits would seem to be that having to play in Oakland is hugely depressing.

Jason Giambi, by the way, hit .185 against NL pitching this year.

4,
With that same logic you could also say..
M. Teixera ATL (NL) 2008 .283/.390/.512
M. Teixera LAA (AL) 2008 .358/.449/.632

You could also look at players not changing teams at all and find big first-half/second-half splits. It happens, you're smart enough to know that. Holliday was always better than a 124 OPS+ hitter, so it should not be a surprise that he has turned it on. His 143 OPS+ combined between OAK and STL this year is now right on line with he best years in Colorado (137, 150, 140)

I don't disagree that the AL is outclassing the NL at this point but the idea of the NL as a "AAAA" league is not just silly but also shows a tremendous misunderstanding about exactly how big the gap between the AAA ball and MLB ball is. Its night and day

Don't bother trying to argue logic with the NL=AAAA crowd. They're so far up on their high horses about the AL, they'll never be able to hear you.

I don't even care about Holliday, pretty much every Red Sox castoff who goes to the NL finds success.

The difficulty ratings I was given when writing a column on league strength were AL 102.5 NL 97.5 Japan 92 AAA 85.

Oakland Athletics, 2009 interleague: 5-13.

So instead, I'm wondering if the Rockies actually know this, or just desperate for pitching.

Isn't Adam Eaton being on the active roster evidence of the latter? Aaron Cook is on the DL with a sore shoulder, he's out for at least 3 weeks, and obviously with a shoulder, it could be a lot longer.

The choice to replace him will probably between something of a tandem start by Eaton/Fogg or bringing up Chacin again. The guys they thought would provide depth at the start of the season, 2006 1st rounder Reynolds and ex-A's starter Greg Smith were never healthy this season. Chacin flubbed his first start (6 walks in 3 innings) but had some decent relief appearances. On being sent down to AAA, he threw the first 5 innings of a combined no-hitter. Maybe he'll get a 2nd shot, but he's essentially making the jump from AA. Though, given the Holliday translation above, that's a lateral move.

The choice to replace him will probably between something of a tandem start by Eaton/Fogg or bringing up Chacin again.

I don't understand why Franklin Morales isn't a possibility. He's been pretty great in relief.

Jason Giambi: Pinch-hitter for hire.

Giambi's season only looks bad if you're a sheeple who looks at BA. His OBP is better than the league average, his SLG is worse, his ISO is slightly better, his OPS+ is 89

He's having his worst season, but he's still better than most of the Royals.

Eh, there's a point where BA drops below an acceptable level that you can't dismiss it.

.193/.332/.364 in 328 PAs, so he has a .171 ISO, which means almost nothing since he seems he can't hit the damn ball.

And Brandon, you'd be pissed off if the Royals actually did sign Giambi to a $4 million contract like the A's did.

I don't understand why Franklin Morales isn't a possibility. He's been pretty great in relief.

True, and he started the season in the rotation. I don't know why they're not considering it, but I haven't read of it being discussed.

Yeah, Cliff Lee sure is suffering in the big, bad NL.

Cliff Lee is one of the best players in MLB, period. What, is ####### Timmah supposed to be the 2nd coming of Brad Penny if he's suddenly wearing a Red Sox uniform?

is #11 some kind of inside joke? the AL is as much better than the NL as the NL is to Japan? seriously?

And Rich Harden is a Cy Young contender, Mark DeRosa has been dominant for the Cardinals, and Ben Francisco has been killing the ball for the Phillies. Or not.

The most reasonable explanation for his splits would seem to be that having to play in Oakland is hugely depressing.

Well, also, from all evidence, it appears the the A's may have the worst pitching and hitting coach in the majors, and training staff. This seems to have been true for several seasons, though players like G and Holliday are veterans who ostensibly might not need it.

EDIT: Well, except maybe Pittsburgh.

Well, also, from all evidence, it appears the the A's may have the worst pitching and hitting coach in the majors, and training staff. This seems to have been true for several seasons, though players like G and Holliday are veterans who ostensibly might not need it.

Something like that should be easily fixable by Beane. That he doesn't either screams neglect or simply not understanding why this is a problem.

Doesn't rockies ownership claim to only want players with Christian values? And, if so, how can they justify signing Giambi?

He wears a crucifix when he hammers like a porn star, maybe?

Why didn't this NL=AAAA thing work for freaking Adam Kennedy?

I don't need fancy numbers out of a book to tell me the NL is for sissies.

Paging Mr. battlefob. Mr. battlefob, you've got a telephone call at the front desk. It's a "Mr. Gimabi".

Why didn't this NL=AAAA thing work for freaking Adam Kennedy?

Maybe because John Smoltz was kicking ass in the AL, but he's dropped off so badly in AAAA:

Smoltz 2009 AL: 8.33 ERA
Smoltz 2009 AAAA (StL): 0.00 ERA

.193/.332/.364 in 328 PAs, so he has a .171 ISO, which means almost nothing since he seems he can't hit the damn ball.

he's like a rich-man's Greg Norton. I'm not sure why the Braves are keeping him around: he can't hit or field.

Smoltz 2009 AAAA (StL): 0.00 ERA

In one game, five innings, against one of the worst hitting teams in the league playing in one of the best parks for pitchers in MLB. Smoltz started one other game against an NL team this year - allowing 5 ER and 7 hits in 5 IP against the Nationals.

I don't think there's a lot of difference between the best teams in each league. What drags the NL down is the quality of the worst teams. One could make a good argument that of the six worst teams in MLB, five are NL teams.

-- MWE

I'm certainly loving Milton Bradley's translated AL line.

To translate for Rich, Bradley is the one you called the N word.

he's like a rich-man's Greg Norton. I'm not sure why the Braves are keeping him around: he can't hit or field.


Dodgers are having the same problem with Mark Loretta. Guys who clearly can't hit or field anymore worth a damn, but are kept on the team due to their veteran presence.

In one game, five innings, against one of the worst hitting teams in the league playing in one of the best parks for pitchers in MLB. Smoltz started one other game against an NL team this year - allowing 5 ER and 7 hits in 5 IP against the Nationals.

That is a wonderfully thought out response -- to an obviously tongue-in-cheek post.

NL as AAAA is pretty much just trash talk, for the fun of it. Apparently works real good for poking some folks in the eye.

To translate for Rich, Bradley is the one you called the N word.

To translate for Ryan, I have never called anyone the N word -- ever in my entire life. I never use that word. I simply quoted Richard Pryor, a comedian whose genius I greatly admired. Apparently, you have no sense of humor, Ryan, so comedy whizzes right through your pea-brain. As well, you apparently have no dignity or sense of honesty when you calumniate me.

By the way NL fans ... another tough outing today for Cliff Lee in AAAA baseball.