Kevin Baker's book is here!

Kevin Baker's book is here!
"... an exemplary sports book..." Kirkus Reviews

Saturday, July 21, 2018

Lies! And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them

That is to say, Ma Boone with his postgame press conference today, saying that he would see, but he thought Chapman's outing was "just one of those hiccoughs that happens in the season."

Machine Gun himself kept telling reporters, "It was just a bad day."

Right.

16 balls in 19 pitches, including walking Reyes on four straight pitches with the bases loaded, and with his velocity down 5-10 mph.  If Chappie is not on the DL before the end of the week I will eat that hat I gave to Shreve.

Of course, let's not forget that the pitching started to unwind with Sonny Gray.  Top of the sixth, up 4-1 with one out and nobody on, the Gray Lady is cruising.  Then—two straight walks.

Ma made the right call with the quick hook, I thought, but thanks to a bloop single and that error on the pickoff throw, they both scored anyway.

Here are some more weird and wild stats from today's game:

—Would you believe, batters are only 3-36 against Chasen Shreve with the bases loaded?  I would not have.  But it's true!

—Braveheart Gray's outing is being lauded as a continuing improvement.  But here's the real deal:

Against sub-.500 teams:  6-1, 3.84 ERA, .242 batting average against, 0.9 homers a game.  Not exactly Sandy Koufax, but fine.

Against above-.500 teams?

1-6, 8.27 ERA, .317 batting average against, 1.7 homers a game.  Thank goodness we won't be seeing any teams like that in the playoffs.

—We'll give Judge his props today.  Three more hits, a homer, and he's now hitting .371 at home, tops in the majors.

Which led me to think, what's he hitting on the road?

It's not pretty:  8 HRs. 17 RBI,  .205/.308/.373/.681

In fact, that's almost historic.  I don't know what the hell that is even about.

Last year there was a big differential—33 homers to 19, and .312/.440/,725/1.165 at home, .256/.404/.531/.935 on the road—but not all that untypical.  Now...

And finally, a tribute to Matt den Dekker, the Mets centerfielder, for all he did for us today, courtesy of "Old Man Tucker":

Hit that ball to ol' den Dekker
He's the Mets' latest outfield wrecker
Can't come in an' he can't run back
Go right ahead an' take your hack.

Hurl that ball in to ol' den Dekker
He couldn't hit the side of a double decker
Fanned three times before they got smarter
Set him down like he was Chris Carter. 










 

9 comments:

13bit said...

Look at it this way: if El Chapo really goes on the DL, that's the Juju gods taking care of us. Then, there is NO WAY that the "trade we are all dreading"© can be for anything BUT a reliever. I don't know who's out there, but I feel that's better than for another in the long line of Cashman Trading Deadline Duds©.

Leinstery said...

Shreve is a lump of coal, he needs the pressure of the bases juiced to shine.

Chapo was shit. usually when he can't throw strikes he's still around 102. He was at 95. That's not rust. Boone looked inept in the situation. The Binders wouldn't have let him walk in a run, no less 2. Binders would have taken him out 1 pitch into the third batter. Binders was too tough they say, well sometimes you have to be a manager and not their best friend.

ranger_lp said...

The metrics have no info on when Chapman is not Chapman. No wonder Aaron turned into Clueless Boone.

Anonymous said...

when he goes on a batted ball trek
you can be sure the results are dreck

HoraceClarke66 said...

Okay then!

HoraceClarke66 said...

Great analogy, Leinstery!

And yes, it was ridiculous to go that long with Chapo. I take it he is being MRI'd as we speak.

Stang said...

Thanks for not rhyming den Dekker with pecker.

HoraceClarke66 said...

It was difficult, believe me.

Isiyku Abdulahi said...


I really want the world to know about this great man who brought back happiness into my life again after my husband left me and the kids 3 years ago for another women online when i contacted Dr Believe he cast a love spell for me within 48 hours my ex husband start calling me and begging for forgiveness for everything that have happened between us. I was so happy to have my family back together with love again here is the email of Dr Believe via believelovespelltemple@gmail.com a man with the great powers you can also call him or add him on Whats-app: +2348156148821
God bless you
I am very grateful for your help in my marriage.