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I'm not one to predict or prognosticate, but it wouldn't shock me if Ibanez ended this thing if he gets to face MDC and his double chip cookie ball.

The 2-2 to Bloomquist was just under the belt, split the plate. I hear Mrs Fields wants to pay MDC to name that pitch.

Out. Iassonga, why is that name familiar? Wasn't he the douche that missed the strike 3 call prior to Iwamura's late HR in Tampa? Guy must have it out for Clay.

I think what we are seeing is effective wildness. Actually, maybe it's not wildness because he seems to be intent on nibbling. He's throwing it roughly where he wants to, but he's batshy and not giving in. He seems to be of the mindset that he'll allow a walk, but he won't throw a meatball. Whatever the case, it's unlikely to last. His BABIP is a ridiculously low .249. History says that won't last. When the other shoe drops, he'll probably approach his FIP (3.98 - not bad, but not this good) in ERA. EDIT: And, he might be walking 3.53 per start, but he's walking 5.64 per 9 IP. Not good.

What exactly does this tell you about Joe Girardi as a manager?

Texas, with their offense, will be no pushover in their park.

I'm skeptical it was "luck" as you call it for a couple of reasons. One, he was good up until about mid-May this year, and the first part of the year is primarily against division foes, who saw him the most last year. So those most likely to have had the epiphany you are suggesting, didn't. Two, he faced several teams from the NL who had never seen him before in interleague play this year, and he was not very good (awful against Houston and Cincy). Unfamiliarity played no role either. What has been reported has confirmed what I and many other posters have noticed. His split-change stopped becomming a pitch he could rely on for some reason. This was the vital 3rd pitch that made him so successful last year and early this year. He's a two pitch pitcher right now and should be a strict platoon LOOGY until he can reclaim the effectiveness of that pitch, which was his main weapon against RH hitters.

They certainly won't be a first choice, but I could see them being good in a platoon with another good defense where you played the matchups.

More of the same from Dan Snyder. Give up on the future, with a young core to boot, and build up for a mediocre now. Who knows, maybe his "established" player love results in a good D this time around, but I'm skeptical. What they lacked last year was edge pressure, so this should help. I like their secondary, despite the loss of Taylor, and the LB core should be good. However, this isn't the move that puts them over the top, IMO. They probably went from a 8-9 win team to a 10, maybe 11, win team. Good enough to get out of the WC round, if they are lucky, but they won't contend with the powers of the NFC. Not yet, and now that their future drafts will again lack depth, not in the future either. I hate Snyder. BL, the article does state that Taylor will finish out the remaining 2 years of his contract. I know, I know, taking an athlete at his word is never something you can have 100% confidence in, but I don't think they make the deal if he was still intent on hanging it up after this season.

Is it irrelevant? When they are losing games 3-2, 2-1 vs. Washington's 5-2, 6-3, I'd suggest it is. Their pitching is better, but their offense, right now, is worse.

JHB has reported when calls have gone in a pitcher's favor, and he hasn't posted a "strikezone" defense for every bad start, so I don't know what you are talking about there. My guess is that you only notice when he suggests there may be a reason to justify the performance. Whatever the case, I find how the game was called to be extremely relevant. Watching the game, it's easy to get the notion that a pitcher is having a hard time with location when he's falling down 1-0, 2-0 and then subesequently having a pitch that caught more plate get hit. If there is a cause and effect relationship with the application of the strikezone there, I want to know about it, because it helps explain what likely happened there. I'm not looking to excuse the performance, but get a more true assessment of what occurred and what to expect going forward. Because, like you, I think good calls / bad calls even out over time, and I'm more confident that a pitcher who is actually throwing strikes and getting screwed is more likely to find success in later starts when things "even out".

Kind of funny how a post defending one's ability to manage the facts includes comparisons to the Nationals. The A's July record and offensive prowess is on par with the ineptitude demonstrated by Washington. The fact that it is their July record I'm talking about is relevant, since the team has undergone serious changes with respect to who the regulars in the lineup are. I looked at Gameday on either Saturday or Sunday and was struck by the fact that there were 5 regulars in the lineup batting in the .220-.240 range. FIVE. Calling them AAA is an insult to most AAA teams.

An objective analysis of how the umpire calls a game gets old? Not even close. What's getting old is the position that the application of the strikezone doesn't matter. It directly impacts what occurs on the field of play. I challenge you to justify the position that this is all immaterial.

The tried and true, "I'm only going to use my closer in the 9th, and only with a lead of 1-3 runs (on the third Saturday when the moon is less than 1/2 full)" rears its head again yesterday. When Kotchman was up, Morgan chimes in [paraphrased] "He's not going with Okajima for the LHP vs. LHH matchup because Delcarmen throws harder and he needs a strikeout". Then Miller chips in, "Kotchman has the fewest K/AB of AL regulars". So, of course, you leave in the RHP with the dead straight FB in a bad platoon spot. It isn't like there's a guy who has 11.29 K/9 out there in the BP who hasn't pitched since Tuesday, Tito. Oh, that's right, the cosmic alignment isn't right. Until the 7th and 8th innings gain some stability, this will continue to be an issue for a manager who refuses to buck contemporary closer usage. Jacko was right in the Yankee game thread. He had to try and get a few more outs from Beckett and Wake late in the game because these guys have been so unreliable, and that failed. So the starters are failing to give that extra inning, the setup crew is failing to come in and shut it down with runners on, and that leaves only one other option. Use the closer to put out the fire, give the offense a chance to tack on insurance against weaker relievers (ie, not closers), and try the setup crew in a fresh inning with the lead still in hand. If that too fails, what's the big deal? You are exchanging failure for failure, but you are at least trying something different instead of pushing the same button while expecting different results.

Love Lowrie and his potential, but he is still a rook. Casey kind of hits RHP pretty well. Why he wasn't used in the biggest AB of the game is a little perplexing.

What a shitfest. Know one of the reasons, besides the good BP, the Angels do well in pythag, they always seems to group their s***** hole finding hits in one inning.

How bad does Cora have to f*** up at his "supposed" one skill to get cut from this team? I can't believe there isn't a LH middle infielder with some real range and speed who can't OBP his body weight available somewhere for nothing. At least that guy would be able to provide some speed off the bench and be a legitimate defensive replacement. I don't give two shits how much Cora is liked or whether or not he's a member of the baseball MENSA club. He sucks. At everything. If he'd make such a great coach, then let's get the ball rolling there, because he's a waste of a roster spot at this point.

Letting Garrett Anderson (RIP) get two hits off you, one a dinger, should result in a one way ticket to the buckett. EDIT: Sorry, forgot about that suchhfest of a first inning, so make that 3, and switch it to Greenville.

Sheer genius. Get rid of this sad sack. He's good for nothing.

Meat-a-ball. Jesus, was that grooved.

Tanking.

Completely agree. Speed at the top is nice, but overrated if it's making a lot of outs.

Yeah, like down to Pawtuckett. He and Clay can be pals there. You know what's funny, Van Every is playing CF and has over 20 bombs down there. Sure, the guy is a AAAA player, but he's hot right now and probably deserves a look with the big club.

This Buchholz blows. He's got that MDC, "I'm afraid if I push too hard I'll s*** my pants", look on his face. Lester going through his growing pains, which were tough, I never saw that look.