jerichoholicninja

So, watching Ryan Raburn throw a perfect inning while his team was down 10-2 against the Tigers last night got me thinking: Teams should pitch position players more often in blowouts. Now I'm not talking about throwing your center fielder in the 8th or bringing your short stop in for a save but when the game is out of reach it's pointless to waste a bullpen pitcher who could help you win tomorrow or the day after. Some of you are probably think, "Wait Mr. Ninja, there's a reason these guys aren't big league pitchers." I would agree with you. But how bad are they really? Baseballreference has a nice section where you can view all the position players who have pitched in major league history. I chose to look at the stats for the 113 position players who have pitched since 1990. How have they fared? In 173.1 innings: 7.02 ERA 1.97 WHIP .290 BAA 7.3 BB/9 3.2 K/9 1.2 HR/9 .8 R/IP Not too great huh? But what would you expect, they're not pitchers. I haven't found a way to look at every single pitching appearance individually (without looking up box scores for all 113 players) but I found this to be interesting. Of the 113 players chosen, 63 only pitched 1 game and 46 of those 63 didn't give up a run. That's 73%. The reason those guys did so "well" is probably because the games were blow outs and the other team wasn't trying really hard, basically just trying not to be embarrassed by striking out. But who really cares? A scoreless inning is a scoreless inning. Just for comparison sake how have major league relievers done since 1990? In 326,687.2 inning: 4.07 ERA 1.45 WHIP .253 BAA 4.3 BB/9 7.2 K/9 .9 HR/9 .5 R/IP All of those numbers are a lot better than the position players, however, the one I would like to point out is the runs per inning. Relievers are giving up .5 runs per inning and position players are giving up .8 per inning. That's 60% more runs but were not talking about having your position players throw multiple innings. We just want 1 inning out of them, in blow outs. So here is what I am proposing: When your team is down 6 runs or more in the 9th, do not waste bullpen innings, throw a position player. Why 6 runs? According to win expectancy, when you are down 6 runs or more in the 9th you are expected to win less than .12% of the time. So the game is over. Just looking at the Brewers this season, they have been in this situation 9 times. That's 9 innings they could have saved the bullpen, which this season could be very helpful considering how bad and short the starters have been at times. Another reason to throw position players if the effect it has on the team. Last night in a blow out the Indians were having a great time cheering on Raburn. Even Justin Verlander in the other dugout was yelling for him to throw the hook when he got to two strikes. It loses a team up and gets the fans into it. Relievers are incredibly important and keeping them fresh is just as important. It's time for teams to stop wasting garbage time innings on players who will be vital to winning games tomorrow or the next day.

Apparently you missed the part where I said "For example:", as in, maybe this fictional situation will help you answer my question. Thanks mothership. That answers my question.

Brian Anderson doesn't do anything for me. So often he says something just to fill air time and it's usually pretty dumb and I find him to be all around boring. I wouldn't miss him a bit if he were to leave. They need to dump Bill and replace him with Dan Plesac from MLB Network. Maybe they could poach Matt Vasgersian back while they're at it. They could probably work it as part of Braun's plea deal.

Can a player with a no trade clause block a waiver claim? For example: Kyle Lohse has a full no trade clause (pretty sure he doesn't but just using him as an example) and he is placed on revokable waivers and claimed. Doug just wants to get rid of his contract and allows the team to just take him. Could Lohse invoke his no trade clause to block the claim? Technically it's not a trade.

Weeks' numbers aside, is there any non-pitcher that swings through and misses as many fastballs down the middle as he does? For a guy who supposedly has fast hands he completely misses a lot of hittable pitches.

http://fullcount.weei.com/sports/boston/baseball/red-sox/2013/08/07/our-turn-to-learn-a-baseball-tradition-reconsidered/ Gabe Kapler with an interesting article about how pre-game batting practice works in Japan. Seems more beneficial than how it is done in America.

No. I never was on the Axford band wagon and I'm ready for it to leave the station. The Brewers got their season and a half of success from him now it's time to move on.

I think that's a question that has to be asked and something I've been wondering myself since the beginning. Every player involved in this whole thing is Hispanic except for Braun. I don't know what it means but it seems odd to me. The majority of players suspended for performance enhancing drugs since 2005 have been Hispanic players. I am not sure if it has any validity, but I know there is a theory that foreign players are typically caught more often because they aren't as adept at the cover-up given communication barriers they face in the United States. Like I said it may not have any basis, but I have heard the idea discussed. A couple of years ago this is what David Ortiz said. The hispanic players go back home in the offseason and don't know what they can and cannot take.

'bout time Ron. It only took you 3 years for me to see you argue anything. Edit: Maybe I should say "see you shake your head and respectfully disagree with a total crap call."

But he's proven closer.

Please leave Axford. I'm sick of seeing you suck.

Melky Cabrera, Bartolo Colon, and Yasmani Grandel tested positive last year and were suspended last year (and part of this year for Grandel). However, they won't be suspended now because of their connections to biogenesis because they were already suspended last year for testing positive. To me if you are going to suspend all these other players because of their "connection", those three guys need to be suspended too. What difference does it make that they served a suspension for testing positive last year. Last year's positive results and this year's "connection" are two separate issues and should be dealt with separately.

Or, to play conspiracy theorist here... Some completely innocent players are going to be suspended because of unfounded hearsay or a vindictive "clinic" owner. I understand most people think MLB's testing is pretty worthless but the fact that all these players are getting suspended without a positive test is ludicrous to me. Even more ludicrous is that the players that HAVE tested positive AREN'T getting suspended.

I think that's a question that has to be asked and something I've been wondering myself since the beginning. Every player involved in this whole thing is Hispanic except for Braun. I don't know what it means but it seems odd to me.

That was a disgrace. The player was obviously arguing the call but was in no way over the top or out of line. That umpire should be fined and suspended for that. Just terrible and an embarrassment to professional umpires.

BarneyStinson is either Betancourt or Ron Roenicke. I'm leaning more towards Ron.

Please be Yuni. Pretty, pretty please. Or Roenicke.

This is what I don't get. If Braun has been on something since he was in college, shouldn't he have failed a test before 2011? If he did only use in 2011, then it really didn't make that big a difference and he should still be an elite player.

If you put him anywhere put him in right field. There is less to learn and less to do. Catchers are just like pitchers in that during BP (when they're not hitting) they're standing in the outfield shagging a ball or two.

When they were talking about this on MLB Tonight they said it was because he would be suspended under the "integrity of the game" clause or something like that and you cannot appeal that kind of suspension.

Good thing I don't own fancy things or live in Madison.

Two weekends ago my girlfriend's family was talking about this. One of her aunts works at a bank and deals with this. Most banks will not let you look inside the house before purchasing it. Sometimes there's nothing wrong but often the previous owners strip the wiring for copper, do extensive damage out of spite, or just do nothing to clean it up. I agree it sounds intriguing but seems like a big risk.

There wasn't much for trades overall. Way too many GM's overestimating their team and holding on to players they should trade. Phillies should have sold a bunch of guys. The Mets should have traded Parnell and Byrd. I don't think the Royals have any clue anymore. Twins should have traded Morneau. Yankees should have traded some guys. The Cubs held on to some guys they should've traded.

Yuni is still on the team because of April. His OPS by month this season is just incredible. .848 MAR/APR .489 MAY .323 JUNE .697 JULY

I think MLB Now is actually pretty good whenever someone other than Harold is on. They generally have a reasoned view on things and at least like to consider stats unlike Harold who I have seem a few times defend to the death Zach Cozart hitting 2 for the Reds.