Pearly Gates is...Quick ReferenceRecent postsLinksRichard's other blog:Hall Of Fame:
The "Real" Media:
Halosphere:
Minor League Affiliates:
Other Baseball Blogs:
Other Random Crap (in a good way):
Soccer:Archive
Blog*Spot ArchivesContactRichard Ceccarelli Josh Mandir |
Thursday, April 21, 2005Cleveland Indians at Anaheim AngelsToday's Matchup: Kevin Millwood (0-2, 3.60) vs. Jarrod Washburn (0-0, 2.79)
The Angels have never faced Millwood, as this is his first season in the UPDATE: It looks like it is gonna be a rough night for Wash. He gave up 4 hits, 3 runs, committed an error (from what I gather it was on a pickoff throw, but I am not certain), hit a batter and threw 35 pitches in just 1 inning. Let's hope he improves a bit. UPDATE: Dallas picked up his first hit, a single, in the middle of an Angels rally for two runs. That leaves only Lou Merloni (who has barely been used) without a hit. Meanwhile, the Angels are trying to crawl back into the game, now only down 5-3 (and would be less if DaVanon or Vlad had been able to knock in some guys on 2nd and 3rd). UPDATE: The Angels have just barely crawled back to tie the game in the bottom of the 9th. It took an Ersty walk, a Rivera sacrifice, and a GA single to get that final run. Now, I am partial to sacrificing in the right situation (and I know so many people in the blogverse aren't), but leaving out the end result...is this the right call? On the thread for tonight's game, Halo's Heaven had a comment that includes a table with the expected runs in an inning based on every out and runners on base situation. Now, this is total expected runs, not likelihood of that runner scoring. Like, if a runner is on third with one out, he is more likely to score than a runner on 2nd with no out, but the runner on 2nd with no out more often leads to a bigger inning. However, that is taking every situation as if it were in a vacuum, and this certainly wasn't. Erstad was the guy on base, Rivera has not doing well and Vlad can be prone to double plays. If you can get Erstad to 2nd with 1 out, you practically guarantee both Vlad and GA get a chance to bat with a runner in scoring position. And this is the other thing that matters in this situation: out of every player on the current roster, only Ersty, Vlad, and GA are the only ones hitting decently (although, OC is getting there). So, you would rather give your two best hitters each a chance to drive in the tying run or would you take the chance that a guy not hitting well might hit into a double play, possibly ending any threat? I have to say I agree with Scioscia on this call, but not necessarily if it was someone like Figgins or Erstad instead of Rivera. UPDATE: As I typed that last update, Frankie K mowed down the Indians in the top of the 10th. As I came back to the game OC homered to win it. Very nice comeback. |
