AL Wildcard race: September 20, 2011

BOS 88-67 [5-15 in SEPT]
TBR 85-68 [11-7 in SEPT] (2 GB)
LAA 84-70 [11-7 in SEPT] (3.5 GB)

MLB.com: Despite loss, Sox maintain Wild Card lead
MLB.com: Rays’ playoff chase paused with loss in NY
MLB.com: Angels ride early wave to win over Jays

Ric Flair’s Surprise Visit Energizes Red Sox Clubhouse

The Laser Show may be the shortest ride in the park, but it has the longest line! WOOOO!!

Ric Flair, a 16-time world heavyweight wrestling champion that has entertained fans for nearly 40 years, surprised the Sox with an impromptu visit that accomplished the unaccomplishable—it rendered Dustin Pedroia speechless.

Pedroia, who teamed with Josh Reddick to purchase an autographed Flair robe that has hung above Pedroia’s locker for months, was given an authentic championship belt from the ...

Red Sox pitcher served papers by Yankees fan before start

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game

“The Red Sox were very cooperative,” Cabral told The Post. “They asked me if I could serve these tomorrow because he was starting tonight. My position was, my client wants it served today, and that’s what I have to do.”

Cabral didn’t bother to hide the fact he is a Yankees fan. In fact, he proudly wore a Yankees shirt while he served Bedard the papers.

“When I walked in I was like, I’m a Yankees fan, but I’m not trying to (give ...

International Baseball Update: More Rosters released for World Cup

More rosters have been released for the 2011 Baseball World Cup (AKA “The World Baseball Classic only without Major Leaguers, NPB players or any major media attention whatsoever”).

The Netherlands currently includes 10 Minor Leaguers and 16 from the Honkbal Hoofdklasse in Holland.

Germany also is bringing some Minor Leaguers, along with players from their domestic league.

Canada has released their roster as well, and it is made up entirely of minor leaguers, plus former Expo and current ...

Bronson Arroyo bothered by ERA, not home runs

HA! He should have pitched during the .303 1930 National League seasohhhhh…

“I couldn’t care less how many home runs I give up in a season,” Arroyo said. “Having a five ERA (5.34) is going to bother me 30 times more than how those runs scored. If I gave up 100 homers this year and they were all solo shots and my ERA was 2.7, I’d be completely content.”

Arroyo is 8-12 with the aforementioned 5.34 ERA, his worst year since joining the Reds in 2006. Arroyo last season was 17-10 with ...

Lasorda to be Dodgers coach on Thursday

Vic Tanny lies. Believe me; Vic Tanny lies.

Hall of Famer Tom Lasorda will serve as an honorary coach Thursday, his 84th birthday and the final home game of the season for the Dodgers.

Current manager Don Mattingly made the invitation to Lasorda, whose Dodgers managerial career began 35 years ago when he replaced Walt Alston and lasted 20 seasons.

“I am so deeply honored and grateful that Don would ask me to do this,” said Lasorda, who will suit up and be in the Dodgers’ dugout for the ...

Glasses stolen off Ernie Harwell statue at Comerica Park in Detroit

That ####### Swofford!

Someone has stolen a pair of glasses off a statue of late Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell that stands at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Columnist Neal Rubin with The Detroit News reports that the team noticed the vandalism in July and a new pair should be in place by Thursday’s game.

It’s unclear exactly how — or when — the glasses were taken.

The Tigers notified artist Omri Amrany, who oversaw the statue of Harwell, about the theft. Amrany says the glasses are being ...

New Mexico State University Baseball ‘Hitter’ Mannequin Reported Stolen

Probably by the ACC.

The New Mexico State University baseball team says its “hitter” mannequin has been stolen.

NMSU announced Tuesday that the team reported the mannequin stolen after a player noticed that it was missing.

The six-foot tall black mannequin wearing a gray New York Yankee uniform is modeled after a baseball player holding a bat and standing at home plate. The equipment, paired with a “catcher” mannequin that was not taken, is used for pitching practice.

The hitter mannequin ...

ESPN: Szymborski: A staff for the ages (INSIDER)

n December, the Philadelphia Phillies were revealed to be the notorious “mystery team” in the hunt for Cliff Lee, eventually signing the 2008 AL Cy Young winner to a five-year, $120 million contract. With Philly’s rotation already containing Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt and Cole Hamels, the hype surrounding the team’s quartet of starting pitchers reached epic proportions. The hypemakers were wrong—the Phillies’ starters went on to exceed expectations.

After the inking of Lee, we took a look at ...

Megdal: RA Dickey: Steal of the Offseason

The Achievement of RA Dickey: A Comprehensive Selection of His Knucklers.

But would it surprise you to know he’s been the second-most valuable pitcher of any who signed last winter, regardless of salary?

Dickey’s been worth 4.6 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2011, good for 16th in all of baseball among starting pitchers. Those pitchers ahead of him: Justin Verlander, Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee (the only signing of the offseason with more value than Dickey in 2011, but who will make more in ...

BPP: An interview with Dan Szymborski

You can’t spell ZiPS without…Dan!

How long ago did you come up with ZiPS?

Szymborski: The genesis of it was there’s a [person] who contributes to Baseball Think Factory named Chris Dial, and in the late ’90s, they were talking about how someone could make a projection system that’s very basic and get most of the way there, in a way kind of a primordial version of Marcel which is a tabulator.

Before 2002, I was thinking maybe I should try my hand at a projection system. At that time, ...

Berg: The save stat, nutshelled

Yankees: Let’s all pull together to really suck!

“I couldn’t believe they were cheering me for hitting into a double play,” Swisher said. “I said: ‘Whoa, what’s this? And then I looked at the bullpen and saw Mo coming out and I said: ‘Now I get it!’ This was the greatest double play of my life.”

“Runners at first and second…it was unbelievable,” Rivera said. “I don’t ever want my teammates to do bad so I can pitch, but this time I was happy for the opportunity. ...

Crashburn Alley: The Myth of Hunter Pence’s Protection

Or as Cowboy Jeff Brantley said the other day…“The reason that Braun fella is having such a big season is because of that big fella hitting behind him…and that’s it”...or something.

You’ve heard it a million times by now: Hunter Pence has given Ryan Howard some much-needed protection in the lineup, that’s why the slugger has posted a .955 OPS in September despite chronic foot problems. The concept of lineup protection has been studied rather extensively and none of the studies have shown ...

NYBD: Silva: Give Wally Whitehurst His ’96 World Series Ring

King Wally, please.

Wally Whitehurst spent 7 seasons pitching in the big leagues with the Mets, Padres, and Yankees. This past season he was the pitching coach for the Altoona Curve, the Double-A affiliate of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Whitehurst made 2 starts for the Yankees in1996, finishing 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA. News 12 New Jersey caught up with the former righty in July when Altoona was in Trenton to play the Thunder. Ironically, Derek Jeter was rehabbing for the Trenton that weekend. During ...

Zettel: Sabermetrics: Movement, Movies, and Documentaries

With pride in our past and confidence in our baseball future, we hereby establish…that you have to scroll down for this.

I noticed over the span of the last five years that discourse about “Sabermetrics” in America almost perfectly mimics recent discourse about “Communism” in America. Due to particular ideological feelings about baseball, in which some “human element” is always upheld and tons of people still maintain “there are things that happen on a baseball diamond that cannot be ...

Steve Cameron: Lefty Hosmer making impact for Royals

Being fair to Guillen, his move was done “by the book” – you know, that imaginary baseball Bible which dictates that you set up a possible double play AND make a young left-handed hitter produce against Thornton.

Of course we know how it all turned out – Hosmer sent an 0-1 pitch screaming over the head of left-fielder Juan Pierre for a game-winning double.

Anyone who has watched the Royals this season might have predicted that outcome, in part because it was Hosmer’s 12th game-winning ...

Schoenfield: Ian Kinsler having a great season

Providing he stays within walking distance of Skillman Wok of Arlington. Yes.

Talk about a guy flying under the radar: Ian Kinsler is about to become just the ninth second baseman to hit 30 home runs twice in his career. He’s second in the American League in runs scored. He plays terrific defense, has drawn 82 walks and is 25 for 27 stealing bases.

...Now, is Kinsler really having a better season than Cano? Even though Cano is hitting more than 50 points higher, Kinsler’s ability to draw ...

Bob Ryan: His pitchers decision: They shouldn’t win MVP award

The most daring escapade ever conceived…the Bob Ryan express has just pulled in!

Justin Verlander will win the American League Cy Young Award. If there is any justice, the vote will be unanimous.

But many people, and not just Tigers boosters, want more. They want the whole enchilada. They want Justin Verlander to become the first starting pitcher to win an MVP since Roger Clemens a quarter-century ago.

I hate this. It’s a conversation we should not be having. Pitchers should be content ...

Primer Dugout (and link of the day) 9-20-2011

Spokane Daily Chronicle, September 20, 1911:

“Long Tom” Hughes of the Washington club has a sure way of proving that he is a good pitcher.  He offers to lick any one who says he is not.

Long Tom wasn’t just making idle threats about fisticuffs.

eBay: Amarillo Sox Mascot Costume

Baseball-themed nightmare fuel for the low price of $5k, with all proceeds to go to charity.

According to the ad, “The Amarillo Sox are incredibly excited to feature this one-of-a-kind item to the public.”

MLB.com: Kennedy rolls to 20th as D-backs inch closer

Ian Kennedy became the first 20-game winner in the National League as he tossed eight one-hit innings to lead the D-backs past the Pirates, 1-0, on Monday night in front of 24,458 at Chase Field.
...
Kennedy (20-4) was dominant, with the lone Pirates hit against him being a single to left by opposing pitcher Jeff Karstens in the third inning. Kennedy matched his career high with 12 strikeouts and walked one.

Wall Street Journal:  Boston Kids Finally Feel Heartbreak

This letter is for everyone in Boston who’s 10 years old or younger:

Okay, kids, sit down. Pour yourself a nice glass of milk. Eat a delicious Green Monster cookie. Eat two!

Your carefree childhood is on the verge of being rocked.

You may not realize it, but you’ve been spoiled rotten. It’s not your fault. But you’ve been historically lucky, and the cosmic bill is way past overdue….

Do you know what it means to suffer? Have you ever pounded your head against the wall for an entire ...

AL Wildcard race: September 19, 2011

BOS 88-66 [5-14 in SEPT]
TBR 85-67 [11-6 in SEPT] (2 GB)

MLB.com: Sox use rout to increase Wild Card lead

MLB.com: Red Sox’s lead in Wild Card trimmed again

Mariners add Joe McIlvaine to front office

Congrats to the mastermind behind the Arnie Gooch deal!

Former major league general manager Joe McIlvaine was hired as a special assistant to Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik on Monday.

The Mariners announced the move in Seattle, shortly after beating the Cleveland Indians 12-6 in a game shortened to seven innings by rain.

The 64-year-old McIlvaine served as general manager of the San Diego Padres and New York Mets during the 1990s. He has been with the Minnesota Twins since 1998, the ...

NL Wildcard race: September 19, 2011

ATL 87-67 [7-12 in SEPT]
STL 84-69 [12-5 in SEPT] (2.5 GB)
SFG 83-70 [11-5 in SEPT] (3.5 GB)

MLB.com: Braves’ Wild Card lead shrinks after walk-off loss

[Omar] Infante’s two-out, two-run homer in the ninth inning off Craig Kimbrel gave the Marlins a 6-5 win over the Braves at Sun Life Stadium on Monday night.

MLB.com: Berkman helps Lohse, Cards best Halladay

B-ref Blog: Sports-Reference User Survey

New from Sean’s Place.

Levine: Kerry Wood out for year, may retire

No pills to fix this.

Cubs relief pitcher Kerry Wood said he has a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss the remainder of the season, and he said if the Cubs aren’t interested in bringing him back next season he’ll retire.

Wood suffered the injury while squatting in the bullpen on Saturday, but he said he was feeling discomfort in the knee all year long.

FanGraphs New York Meetup

Amity Hall? Wuh…you guys too good for John’s Pizza? (chomp…I’ll probably be heading over…chomp)

On Sunday, September 25th, we’ll blow the horn for FanGraphs East and announce happy hour drinks and our own private space for our particular brand of nerdery. Come to Amity Hall any time after one PM eastern, and we’ll be hanging out, talking baseball and enjoying happy hour prices. And there will be a ton of togetherness because really how much can you hate a Mets fan right now. Oh! Also, come ...

Mariano Rivera sets all-time saves record

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera tallied his record-breaking 602nd save Monday in New York’s 6-4 win at home against the Twins.

Brad Pitt on the Cover of This Week’s Sports Illustrated

Throws Cher.

Brad Pitt, the star of the upcoming movie Moneyball, doffs an Oakland A’s hat and graces the cover of this week’s September 26, 2011, issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Wednesday. Pitt joins an exclusive group of non-athletes and non-coaches to be so honored — a list that includes Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, Stephen Colbert, Bob Hope, Ed Sullivan, Steve McQueen and Arnold Schwarzenegger in addition to former presidents John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Ronald ...