BBTF's Newsblog Discussion :: NL playoff race: September 19, 2012

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

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

NL playoff race: September 19, 2012

NL Wildcard

ATL 86-64 [12-6 in SEPT] (6.5 GA)
STL 79-70 [8-9 in SEPT]
LAD 77-72 [7-9 in SEPT] (2 GB)
MIL 76-72 [13-4 in SEPT] (2.5 GB)
PHI 75-74 [12-5 in SEPT] (4 GB)

MLB.com: Braves win 21st straight with mighty Medlen on hill
MLB.com: Freese, Molina homers help Lynn earn 16th win
MLB.com: [Game 1] Bats slowed as Dodgers drop first game in DC
MLB.com: [Game 2] Kemp’s homer rescues Dodgers for twin-bill split
MLB.com: Streaking Brewers stay in playoff chase
MLB.com: Howard’s clutch homer in ninth propels Phillies

NTNgod Posted: September 19, 2012 at 11:07 PM | 33 comment(s) Login to Bookmark
Tags: braves, brewers, cardinals, dodgers, pennant race, phillies

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.

1. Sleepy supports unauthorized rambling Posted: September 19, 2012 at 11:34 PM (#4240734)

So Medlen entered today with 3.7 bWAR in 9 starts. Today had to push him over 4, right?

Oh, and he's set up to pitch the one game playoff. Yay.

2. with Glavinesque control and Madduxian poise Posted: September 19, 2012 at 11:48 PM (#4240743)

Kimbrel did not strike out anyone in his appearance tonight. The last time that happened, it was July 18th.

Kimbrel has appeared in twenty games since then. In those twenty appearances, Kimbrel has pitched 20 1/3 innings, walked four guys, given up nine hits and two runs, both on home runs, and struck out 43 batters.

Seven of those appearances, every batter retired was retired by strikeout, including a 1 1/3 inning appearance with four Ks, but he struck out every batter he faced only three times.

(he walked a guy in the 1 1/3 inning appearance)

3. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: September 20, 2012 at 12:00 AM (#4240749)

Not relevant to any races, but the bottom of the 10th and top of the 11th in Chicago pretty much sum up 2012 for the Cubs.

4. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 20, 2012 at 12:05 AM (#4240752)

The Nationals were rather badly hosed by the umpires in the second game:

With two outs, Kemp ended up scoring the sixth run for the Dodgers on a forceout by Ramirez. It appeared Ryan Zimmerman tagged Gonzalez before Kemp touched home plate, but umpire Alan Porter ruled that Kemp had already scored before the out was made.

The Nationals announcers indicated that Kemp was 6 feet from the plate when the third out was made, and the umpire didn't even realize he had to make a call. Seems like another replay category.

5. zack Posted: September 20, 2012 at 01:20 AM (#4240796)

The Nationals announcers indicated that

So it was more like 6 inches?

6. The Yankee Clapper Posted: September 20, 2012 at 02:13 AM (#4240810)

More like 8 feet, now that I've seen the video. Terrible umpiring.

7. Joey B. has ignited his October #Natitude Posted: September 20, 2012 at 08:19 AM (#4240855)

Yep, and that's the second time in five days now we've gotten screwed over by a mind-bogglingly horrendous, it-wasn't-even-remotely-close blown call that handed the other team a run they didn't deserve. These incompetent assclowns are such a total f*cking joke, the integrity of the game is practically nonexistent at this point.

8. ThisElevatorIsDrivingMeUpTheWall Posted: September 20, 2012 at 08:23 AM (#4240857)

I think the Nats did get one call, from my vantage point at the game, it looked like Harper missed second base on the way to third for his triple. But at least that would have had to been an appeal play.

9. SoSH U at work Posted: September 20, 2012 at 09:03 AM (#4240871)

I think the Nats did get one call, from my vantage point at the game, it looked like Harper missed second base on the way to third for his triple. But at least that would have had to been an appeal play.

I take it the Dodgers didn't appeal. And if they didn't, then the Nats didn't get a call.

10. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: September 20, 2012 at 10:05 AM (#4240934)

With two outs, Kemp ended up scoring the sixth run for the Dodgers on a forceout by Ramirez. It appeared Ryan Zimmerman tagged Gonzalez before Kemp touched home plate, but umpire Alan Porter ruled that Kemp had already scored before the out was made.

I'm unclear what happened-was it a force play on Gonzalez? In that case the run shouldn't count even if Kemp had crossed the plate and was in the dugout. Kemp scoring before a tag was applied would only matter if a force was not in effect.

11. SoSH U at work Posted: September 20, 2012 at 10:10 AM (#4240939)

I'm unclear what happened-was it a force play on Gonzalez? In that case the run shouldn't count even if Kemp had crossed the plate and was in the dugout. Kemp scoring before a tag was applied would only matter if a force was not in effect.

According to the box, it wasn't a force play. Gonzalez was on second with no one on first and he was tagged out by the third baseman.

12. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: September 20, 2012 at 10:16 AM (#4240949)

Got it, thanks. That excerpt says forceout, that's why I was confused.

13. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: September 20, 2012 at 10:23 AM (#4240956)

Medlen for Cy Young - crazy?

14. bunyon Posted: September 20, 2012 at 10:38 AM (#4240967)

The Nationals announcers indicated that Kemp was 6 feet from the plate when the third out was made, and the umpire didn't even realize he had to make a call. Seems like another replay category.

An obvious and easy case for replay. Because, by definition, you're only worrying about it between innings. There should be absolutely zero delay in reviewing such plays.

15. musial6 Posted: September 20, 2012 at 10:49 AM (#4240975)

Guys, it was not even close. The Dodgers broadcasters called it "One of the worst calls you will ever see".

They called it correctly in real time.

Mattingly pulls the Jedi Mind Trick.

Replay shows it wasn't close.

They overturn it anyway.

16. Don't want the truth; just wanna see some dingers Posted: September 20, 2012 at 11:05 AM (#4240990)

Medlen for Cy Young - crazy?

If you combined Medlen's 2nd half with Beachy's 1st half, you'd have a runaway winner.

17. Edmundo got dem ol' Kozma blues again mama

Posted: September 20, 2012 at 11:19 AM (#4241005)

Medlen for Cy Young - crazy?

Yes, that's a very lopsided trade.

18. bfan Posted: September 20, 2012 at 11:22 AM (#4241011)

Just picking the top NL pitcher in WAR, Cueto, if Medlin went out and gave up 43 earned runs in 72 innings (an ERA of 5.37), he would equal Cueto's season, and those incremental innings are a suck performance. They are each 8 games above .500. We do not have the "relievers throw 1 inning at a time so they do not have to pace themselves" argument with Medlin. So why not medlin for Cy Young, as is?

19. Rants Mulliniks (formerly Cold Prosimian) Posted: September 20, 2012 at 11:28 AM (#4241017)

Even with just the 125 innings he's pitched though, he's 5th in bWAR, 2nd in WPA, and first in several advanced cumulative stats. If he can make two more starts, win them both and keep his ERA around 1.50, I'd put him first on my ballot. To me, a season with 140 IP and a 1.50 ERA is more worthy of the award than anything the guys with over 200 IP are doing. His ERA+ is 266 right now for christ's sake.

20. musial6 Posted: September 20, 2012 at 12:12 PM (#4241071)

Medlen has 3 starts better than Cueto's best, going by gamescore - he's definitely worthy of 2nd or 3rd place votes for his performance.

As things currently stand, Dickey has to be the winner.

Right now he's first in IP, ERA, and just a single strikeout behind 1st place Kershaw (who is hurt). He's also got NL best 5 CGs (to Cueto's 2) and 3 shutouts (to Cueto's none).

21. RB in NYC (Now Semi-Retired from BBTF) Posted: September 20, 2012 at 01:05 PM (#4241150)

Medlen for Cy Young - crazy?

Cy Young now, or Cy Young 1892?

22. phredbird

Posted: September 20, 2012 at 02:05 PM (#4241257)

i saw the time play on tv too. i don't know what the umps were thinking. dodgers got a big break.

23. boteman Posted: September 20, 2012 at 02:46 PM (#4241319)

i saw the time play on tv too. i don't know what the umps were thinking. dodgers got a big break.

Interview with Nats catcher Flores reports he overheard umps conferring on it say, "I thought the bases were loaded" which would mean Porter thought it was a force play not requiring him to make a call, therefore not paying much attention. Which, in fact, is what he actually did--not pay attention.

I wish the official scorer could assign errors to umpires.

24. SoSH U at work Posted: September 20, 2012 at 03:38 PM (#4241396)

By the way, that's some bad baserunning by Gonzalez. Once he saw Zimmerman fumbling with it, he should have stopped, rather than running into an out and costing his team a run.

25. BourbonSamurai, vassal of the Harpsburg Empire Posted: September 20, 2012 at 03:43 PM (#4241401)

Medlen for Cy Young - crazy?

Yes, that's a very lopsided trade.

Hold out for Addie Joss. I'm telling ya he's got crazy durability.

26. Tom Nawrocki Posted: September 20, 2012 at 03:53 PM (#4241411)

In 1998 Randy Johnson made 11 starts for the Astros, throwing 84.1 innings with a 10-1 record and a 1.28 ERA. He finished 7th in the Cy Young voting.

In 2008, C.C. Sabathia made 17 starts for the Brewers, throwing 130.2 innings with a 11-2 record and a 1.65 ERA. He finished 5th in the Cy Young voting.

Both those guys were big stars prior to their shortened seasons, which Medlen is not. I can't imagine he's going to do any better than those two did.

27. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide Posted: September 20, 2012 at 03:59 PM (#4241420)

In 1998 Randy Johnson made 11 starts for the Astros, throwing 84.1 innings with a 10-1 record and a 1.28 ERA. He finished 7th in the Cy Young voting.

In 2008, C.C. Sabathia made 17 starts for the Brewers, throwing 130.2 innings with a 11-2 record and a 1.65 ERA. He finished 5th in the Cy Young voting.

Both those guys were big stars prior to their shortened seasons, which Medlen is not. I can't imagine he's going to do any better than those two did.

Rick Sutcliffe 1984

28. Tom Nawrocki Posted: September 20, 2012 at 04:14 PM (#4241440)

Sutcliffe made 20 starts for the Cubs that year. My guess is that that's the lower bound for a starter to get serious consideration for the Cy Young.

29. Loren F. Posted: September 20, 2012 at 04:20 PM (#4241450)

#26 nails it. Also, Medlen has emerged as a force very recently, whereas the writers have been thinking about Dickey, Gonzalez, Cueto, etc. as the top NL pitchers for months now -- it's difficult to get people to change their frame of reference. If Medlen tossed a no-hitter, that would put him in the spotlight and help a great deal. But odds are he will be down-ballot from Dickey, Cueto, maybe Kimbrel, and the other likely suspects.

30. Tom Nawrocki Posted: September 20, 2012 at 06:09 PM (#4241551)

Congratulations to the Cincinnati Reds, who have become the first team to clinch a playoff berth.

31. Misirlou is bad, he's nationwide Posted: September 20, 2012 at 06:21 PM (#4241561)

Sutcliffe made 20 starts for the Cubs that year. My guess is that that's the lower bound for a starter to get serious consideration for the Cy Young.

150 innings. And considered understates it, he was the unanimous winner.

32. Walt Davis Posted: September 20, 2012 at 07:15 PM (#4241594)

Writers probably gave Sutcliffe some credit for his Indians time that season (fairly or not) which put him at 244 IP and 20 wins (and a much worse ERA+). And it was the Cubs winning something for the first time in 40 years. And while not a star he wasn't unknown -- former RoY, 1 AS, and a 5th place CY finish.

Not exactly a great year. Gooden as a rookie was #2 -- very nice season. Sutter and Andujar (20-14, 260 IP) were next.

33. Loren F. Posted: September 20, 2012 at 08:03 PM (#4241624)

Zito won today. It's been 10 years since his Cy Young. His WAR the last three seasons: 0.9, -0.6, -0.2 (this season obviously not over). He's 34 but if you'd asked me I would've guessed 38 or 39.

You must be Registered and Logged In to post comments.

<< Back to main

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

NL playoff race: September 19, 2012

Reader Comments and Retorts

BBTF Sponsor

Support BBTF

Bookmarks

Hot Topics