History is Happening
September 1st, 2011 | by Ray Flowers |
Usually I mention players in alphabetical order in my BaseballGuys.com article, but today I’m breaking that mold as I felt that the historic work of one Phillies hurler deserved to lead off the show.
Am I talking about Roy Halladay? Nope, but I did write about him yesterday in Is It Safe? Today I’m going to discuss the history making run that Cliff Lee has provided, and if you think I’m using hyperbole, which I have to admit I do fall into on occasion, your wrong. Lee threw 8.2 scoreless innings against the Reds Wednesday night, and with the victory in that outing he moved to 5-0 on the month. That’s not historic you say? You’d be right there. However, he also posted a 0.45 ERA for the month. I’ve got your attention now don’t I? When you combine that effort with his work in June (5-0 with a 0.21 ERA) – now we’re cooking you might be thinking. In fact, Lee’s two months of near perfection have enabled him to become just the third pitcher in the history of baseball to have two separate months in one season in which a pitcher has won at least five games (without a loss) while producing an ERA under 1.00. How amazing is that? Oh, in case you were wondering who the other two men were, here you go.
Bob Gibson (1968): 6-0 with a 0.50 ERA in June and July. Yeah, he went 12-0 with a 0.50 during that stretch. Talk about amazing.
Walter Johnson (1913): 5-0 with a 0.24 ERA (April) and 6-0 with a 0.81 ERA (July).
Now you see why I led off the piece with this news.
Since the All-Star Break Ryan Braun is hitting .357 with nine homers, 27 RBI, 35 runs and 12 steals in 42 games. Yeah, he’s good.
For those of you in NL-only leagues, Chris Heisey was activated from the DL today (he had been out with an oblique issue). I’m not sold that the Reds will play him every day, but with 12 homers, 38 RBI and 36 runs in 217 at-bats he is on a pace that would net him 28 homers, 88 RBI and 83 runs scored over 500 at-bats.
How unlucky has Felix Hernandez been this year? Last year he went 13-12, and this season he is currently 13-11 with the month of September to go. Still, in his 11 losses he permitted three or fewer earned runs six times. However, that likely wouldn’t faze Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain or Tim Lincecum of the Giants who have been criminally supported by their offense. I hope you’re sitting down before you read this – it’s pretty amazing
Zero ER Allowed
MadBum 2-1 in 3 outings
M. Cain 4-0 in 5 outings
Lincecum 5-1 in 7 outings
How do you lose games when you don’t give up an earned run. Giants’ hitters should be especially proud of themselves.
One ER Allowed
MadBum 4-3 in 10 outings
M. Cain 3-1 in 6 outings
Lincecum 6-0 in 9 outings
Two ER Allowed
MadBum 2-1 in 4 outings
M. Cain 1-2 in 6 outings
Lincecum 0-2 in two outings
What are the trio’s records in those games in which they’ve allowed two or fewer earned runs? How about 27-11. What that means though is that if they allow more than two runs the trio is just 4-21 on the year.
Jesus Montero is finally up with the Yankees. A prodigious hitter with a luminous future, scouts predict that Montero will be a middle of the order bat for years to come. The 21 year old catcher likely won’t see much time behind the plate, his defense lags well behind his bat, but he should see a fair amount of work in the DH spot, at least against left-handed pitching. He’s a must start at this point in AL-only leagues, and if you are desperate from some offense at your second catcher spot in mixed leagues you can take a flier on Montero and probably not end up looking too stupid.
By Ray Flowers
Tags: Bob Gibson, Chris Heisey, Cliff Lee, Felix Hernandez, Jesus Montero, Madison Bumgarner, Matt Cain, Roy Halladay, Ryan Braun, Tim Lincecum, Walter Johnson
By Mark on Sep 1, 2011
Should I drop Hanley Ramirez for Cuddyer in a 5×5 league?
By Ray Flowers on Sep 1, 2011
Mark – Hanley Ramirez has left shoulder instability. That doesn’t sound good. He hasn’t been ruled out for the year, but it’s not looking good. If you are not in a keeper league, go ahead and make the move to Cuddyer.
By Frankie S. on Sep 1, 2011
OK Ray so Youkilis is coming off the DL and I need to drop someone. Who would you drop? I’m thinking a pitcher, like Harden?
Scoring Categories
Runs, RBI, SB, OPS, HR, AVG
WIns, Saves, Holds, ERA WHIP, K’s
C-Salty
1B-Youkilis
2B-Lawrie
3B-Beltre
SS-Starlin Castro
OF- Holliday Stanton Either Maybin Bonafacio
Util- Trumbo Chipper Jones
P- Ricky Romero Yovanni Gallardo Jeff Neimann Colby lewis
Rich Harden Cole Hamels Hellickson Garza Freddie Garcia
RP- Chapman Nunez Putz Farnsworth Parnell
By david on Sep 1, 2011
hi, ray. i’m in a 12 team mixed h2h league with three weeks of playoffs beginning on labor day. while i know it’s not your favorite format, do you have any suggestions for pitching help over the three-week run? guys with decent stuff and great match-ups who are generally under owned?
and if you want to throw out a few sleeper playoff bats, to boot, have at it. thanks.
By Ray Flowers on Sep 1, 2011
Frankie S – You dont have any depth players? With a bench as short as it looks, letting a hurler go is the best option. Since your league does count holds Harden, as you suggested, is likely the best drop.
By Ray Flowers on Sep 1, 2011
David – With call ups just starting, potential weather issues, innings pitched limits, and just general performance uncertainty, it’s nearly impossible to know who will be pitching in what spot the next three weeks. Don’t mean to be wishy washy, you’ll just have to do the best you can planning for three weeks.
A great source to look at recent performance is FanGraphs.com:
http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2011&month=8&season1=2011&ind=0
By wesley on Sep 2, 2011
i have a couple easy ?’s for you? im in a 10 team yahoo head to head league. playoffs start next week.
1. would you drop Prado for Kelly Johnson, Aaron hill or ackley the ROS
2. would you be happy with Vasquez or go for mccarthy, fister, wells or minor. And I have 4 closers i can drop 1 and pick up another starter. valverde, Perez, Parnell or Francisco
By Ray Flowers on Sep 2, 2011
Wesley – So hard to make calls on just three weeks of playing time. Best you can do is to merry season long numbers with recent performance. Given that , it’s Prado and Ackley. Prado is hitting only .247 since the ASB. Ackley hitting. 292 with .274 OBP and .807 OPS. He’d be my choice.
Given that Parnell and Francisco aren’t really 9th inning locks, you might want to keep all four of your closers cause you’re in a h2h league.
Avoid Wells. Minor has a lot of skill, but has been up and down this year. Vazquez has been locked in for more than two months, so I’d take him over AL hurler fister and McCarthy.
and by the by, It’s ROTW not ROS.