Good morning!
Here are several go-to links that will make the day a bit more bearable:
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Via Baseball Think Factory, retrontario.com serves up a platform-shoe, polyester-pants version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”
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The Indians spent $5 million in the hope that Grady Sizemore would return to his old self; alas, the oft-injured center fielder is again hurt and expected to miss the next eight to twelve weeks.
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Meanwhile, a bunted ball struck A. J. Burnett in the face, resulting in a right-eye orbital fracture. Burnett may be out of action for several weeks. Earlier in the week, the Pirates newcomer had received No. 34 in exchange for paying the college tuition for teammate Daniel McCutchen’s unborn child.
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In an article entitled, “Inside the Phillies: Who needs sabermetrics?” Bob Bookover of the Philadelphia Inquirer quotes old-school manager Charlie Manuel:
“When you’re sitting there and a guy brings up sabermetrics, they don’t know nothing about that guy, and that may be the biggest thing,” Manuel said. “Sometimes a guy will look at you and say, ‘Why did you play that guy, he’s 1 for 16 against that guy with seven punch-outs?’ But when I’ve watched that guy, he might be 1 for 16, but nine of those at-bats the guy hit about three or four balls hard.
“Shane Victorino last year, for instance, was 2 for 16 or something like that against Derek Lowe, and before I played him we talked about it. He told me he had a plan for going up there against him, and he stuck with it, and he got three hits.”
Inside the Book’s Tom Tango replies:
If a follower of sabermetrics would ever dare suggest that 2 for 16 means something, please remove his sabermetrics card, then call the hotline and have him reported. We devoted half a chapter in The Book arguing precisely AGAINST using 2 for 16. Please, don’t ascribe the idea of resting someone that is 2 for 16 to sabermetrics.
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Via Craig Calcaterra of Hardball Talk, the Astros’ Brett Myers will move from the starting rotation to the closer slot. Fangraphs’ Eno Sarris explains why the move makes sense for Houston.
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Why does the network that broadcasts Knicks and Rangers game wish to bid for Dodgers’ broadcasts? Richard Sandomir of the New York Times confirms an earlier Los Angeles Times report from Steve Dilbeck on the strategy, which regrettably would not include the franchise’s return to Brooklyn.
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The Cardinals gave star catcher Yadier Molina a five-year extension worth $75 million. SweetSpot’s David Schoenfeld approves. Dave Cameron of Fangraphs is a bit more skeptical but likes the deal on balance.
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Via MLB Daily Dish, two younger players also signed five-year contracts: 24-year-old center fielder Cameron Maybin of the Padres and 21-year-old catcher Salvador Perez of the Royals.
Bobby V lights a match under the Boston-Bronx rivalry.
That’s it. Have a walk-off week!