Monday, May 11, 2009
Both L.A. teams in one day
Longtime fans of Baseball-Related Program Activities may remember that, on August 30, 2004, Levi and I went to two baseball games in two cities in one day: White Sox vs. Phillies in Chicago, and then Brewers vs. Pirates in Milwaukee.
We finally had a chance to recreate that experience. Levi came to Los Angeles for business, and both the Dodgers and Angels were at home, and on May 9, the Dodgers were scheduled for an afternoon game, with the Angels playing at night.
The only thing that put a damper on the experience was Manny Ramirez being suspended for 50 games just three days before we were going to see him.
What Levi, I, and hanger-on Jason did end up seeing was the Dodgers defeating the Giants 8-0, followed by the Angels over the Royals, 1-0. Yes, we saw no visiting team runs. We also saw complete games by three pitchers -- Eric Stults of the Dodgers, Joe Saunders of the Angels, and Zack Greinke of the Royals. Greinke entered the game with a 0.40 ERA, which meant that his ERA went up after pitching a 1-run complete game, which is almost as rare of an event as the Dodgers and Angels both playing at home the same weekend. The Angels game finished in 2:07 -- not quite as short as the 1:56 Indians-White Sox game on our road trip, but impressive nonetheless.
(Special shout-outs to Maggie, Kimiko, and Kate for being hangers-on for the first game.)
There have already been plenty of Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium pictures on this blog over the years, so all you get here is a picture of Greinke looking intense during his warmup:
We finally had a chance to recreate that experience. Levi came to Los Angeles for business, and both the Dodgers and Angels were at home, and on May 9, the Dodgers were scheduled for an afternoon game, with the Angels playing at night.
The only thing that put a damper on the experience was Manny Ramirez being suspended for 50 games just three days before we were going to see him.
What Levi, I, and hanger-on Jason did end up seeing was the Dodgers defeating the Giants 8-0, followed by the Angels over the Royals, 1-0. Yes, we saw no visiting team runs. We also saw complete games by three pitchers -- Eric Stults of the Dodgers, Joe Saunders of the Angels, and Zack Greinke of the Royals. Greinke entered the game with a 0.40 ERA, which meant that his ERA went up after pitching a 1-run complete game, which is almost as rare of an event as the Dodgers and Angels both playing at home the same weekend. The Angels game finished in 2:07 -- not quite as short as the 1:56 Indians-White Sox game on our road trip, but impressive nonetheless.
(Special shout-outs to Maggie, Kimiko, and Kate for being hangers-on for the first game.)
There have already been plenty of Dodger Stadium and Angel Stadium pictures on this blog over the years, so all you get here is a picture of Greinke looking intense during his warmup:
Labels: angel stadium, angels, dodger stadium, dodgers, eric stults, game report, giants, joe saunders, Manny Ramirez, royals, zack greinke
Saturday, April 04, 2009
The 2009 predictions
And without further adieu...
Looking forward to another baseball season!
| Sports Illustrated | Bill James formula | |
| AL East | ||
| 1. N.Y. Yankees (97-65) | 1. Boston Red Sox (95-67) | |
| 2. Boston Red Sox (96-66) | 2. N.Y. Yankees (91-71) | |
| 3. Tampa Bay Rays (90-72) | 3. Tampa Bay Rays (87-69) | |
| 4. Baltimore Orioles (80-82) | 4. Toronto Blue Jays (85-77) | |
| 5. Toronto Blue Jays (79-83) | 5. Baltimore Orioles (68-93) | |
| AL Central | ||
| 1. Minnesota Twins (85-77) | 1. Cleveland Indians (86-76) | |
| 2. Cleveland Indians (82-80) | 2. Minnesota Twins (85-77) | |
| 3. Chicago White Sox (79-83) | 3. Chicago White Sox (83-79) | |
| 4. Detroit Tigers (77-85) | 4. Detroit Tigers (79-83) | |
| 5. Kansas City Royals (74-88) | 5. Kansas City Royals (73-89) | |
| AL West | ||
| 1. L.A. Angels (86-76) | 1. L.A. Angels (98-64) | |
| 2. Oakland Athletics (81-81) | 2. Texas Rangers (78-84) | |
| 3. Texas Rangers (73-89) | 3. Oakland Athletics (75-87) | |
| 4. Seattle Mariners (69-93) | 4. Seattle Mariners (70-92) | |
| NL East | ||
| 1. N.Y. Mets (92-70) | 1. Philadelphia Phillies (91-71) | |
| 2. Philadelphia Phillies (89-73) | 2. N.Y. Mets (89-73) | |
| 3. Atlanta Braves (84-78) | 3. Florida Marlins (80-82) | |
| 4. Florida Marlins (77-85) | 4. Atlanta Braves (76-86) | |
| 5. Washington Nationals (70-92) | 5. Washington Nationals (64-98) | |
| NL Central | ||
| 1. Chicago Cubs (93-69) | 1. Chicago Cubs (93-69) | |
| 2. Milwaukee Brewers (84-78) | 2. Milwaukee Brewers (88-74) | |
| 3. St. Louis Cardinals (82-80) | 3. St. Louis Cardinals (83-79) | |
| 4. Cincinnati Reds (80-82) | 4. Houston Astros (82-80) | |
| 5. Houston Astros (70-92) | 5. Cincinnati Reds (73-89) | |
| 6. Pittsburgh Pirates (64-98) | 6. Pittsburgh Pirates (67-95) | |
| NL West | ||
| 1. L.A. Dodgers (88-74) | 1. Arizona Diamondbacks (85-77) | |
| 2. Arizona Diamondbacks (87-75) | 2. L.A. Dodgers (83-79) | |
| 3. San Francisco Giants (77-85) | 3. Colorado Rockies (79-83) | |
| 4. Colorado Rockies (76-86) | 4. San Francisco Giants (72-90) | |
| 5. San Diego Padres (69-93) | 5. San Diego Padres (72-90) | |
Looking forward to another baseball season!
Labels: bill james, predictions, sports illustrated
2008 predictions in review
I can't believe I forgot to do this last year, especially given what happened in the American League East! In my defense, I was more interested in this prediction at the time.
For those of you just joining us, every year, baseballrelated.com presents the predictions from the baseball preview issue of Sports Illustrated, as well as the predictions produced by an extremely quick-and-dirty formula from a Bill James Baseball Abstract of the 1980s. It's now time to compare the 2008 predictions against the 2008 final standings.
Neither prediction did particularly well in 2008. Both failed on the surprising Rays, and on predicting the Tigers to finish first (actually, the Bill James formula had them tied with the Indians). The Bill James formula also predicted the Padres to finish first -- yikes.
But now we start with a clean slate for 2009, and two fresh sets of predictions. They will be posted here soon.
For those of you just joining us, every year, baseballrelated.com presents the predictions from the baseball preview issue of Sports Illustrated, as well as the predictions produced by an extremely quick-and-dirty formula from a Bill James Baseball Abstract of the 1980s. It's now time to compare the 2008 predictions against the 2008 final standings.
| Sports Illustrated | Bill James formula | Actual results |
| AL East | ||
| 1. N.Y. Yankees (94-68) | 1. N.Y. Yankees (95-67) | 1. Tampa Bay Rays (97-65) |
| 2. Boston Red Sox (92-70) | 2. Boston Red Sox (95-67) | 2. Boston Red Sox (95-67) |
| 3. Toronto Blue Jays (87-75) | 3. Toronto Blue Jays (84-78) | 3. N.Y. Yankees (89-73) |
| 4. Tampa Bay Rays (80-82) | 4. Baltimore Orioles (69-93) | 4. Toronto Blue Jays (86-76) |
| 5. Baltimore Orioles (64-98) | 5. Tampa Bay Rays (64-98) | 5. Baltimore Orioles (68-93) |
| AL Central | ||
| 1. Detroit Tigers (90-72) | 1. Cleveland Indians (90-72) | 1. Chicago White Sox (89-74) |
| 2. Cleveland Indians (89-73) | 2. Detroit Tigers (90-72) | 2. Minnesota Twins (88-75) |
| 3. Chicago White Sox (77-85) | 3. Minnesota Twins (85-77) | 3. Cleveland Indians (81-81) |
| 4. Kansas City Royals (73-89) | 4. Chicago White Sox (78-84) | 4. Kansas City Royals (75-87) |
| 5. Minnesota Twins (72-90) | 5. Kansas City Royals (67-95) | 5. Detroit Tigers (74-88) |
| AL West | ||
| 1. L.A. Angels (87-75) | 1. L.A. Angels (92-70) | 1. L.A. Angels (100-62) |
| 2. Seattle Mariners (82-80) | 2. Seattle Mariners (85-77) | 2. Texas Rangers (79-83) |
| 3. Oakland Athletics (75-87) | 3. Oakland Athletics (82-80) | 3. Oakland Athletics (75-86) |
| 4. Texas Rangers (72-90) | 4. Texas Rangers (77-89) | 4. Seattle Mariners (61-101) |
| NL East | ||
| 1. N.Y. Mets (91-71) | 1. N.Y. Mets (91-71) | 1. Philadelphia Phillies (92-70) |
| 2. Philadelphia Phillies (86-76) | 2. Philadelphia Phillies (88-74) | 2. N.Y. Mets (89-73) |
| 3. Atlanta Braves (85-77) | 3. Atlanta Braves (82-80) | 3. Florida Marlins (84-77) |
| 4. Washington Nationals (73-89) | 4. Florida Marlins (73-89) | 4. Atlanta Braves (72-90) |
| 5. Florida Marlins (72-90) | 5. Washington Nationals (72-90) | 5. Washington Nationals (59-102) |
| NL Central | ||
| 1. Chicago Cubs (91-71) | 1. Milwaukee Brewers (80-82) | 1. Chicago Cubs (97-64) |
| 2. Cincinnati Reds (87-75) | 2. St. Louis Cardinals (80-82) | 2. Milwaukee Brewers (90-72) |
| 3. Milwaukee Brewers (85-77) | 3. Chicago Cubs (79-83) | 3. Houston Astros (86-75) |
| 4. Houston Astros (74-88) | 4. Houston Astros (76-86) | 4. St. Louis Cardinals (86-76) |
| 5. St. Louis Cardinals (73-89) | 5. Cincinnati Reds (75-87) | 5. Cincinnati Reds (74-88) |
| 6. Pittsburgh Pirates (70-92) | 6. Pittsburgh Pirates (68-94) | 6. Pittsburgh Pirates (67-95) |
| NL West | ||
| 1. Colorado Rockies (89-73) | 1. San Diego Padres (89-73) | 1. L.A. Dodgers (84-78) |
| 2. Arizona Diamondbacks (88-74) | 2. Colorado Rockies (85-77) | 2. Arizona Diamondbacks (82-80) |
| 3. L.A. Dodgers (85-77) | 3. Arizona Diamondbacks (85-77) | 3. Colorado Rockies (74-88) |
| 4. San Diego Padres (79-83) | 4. L.A. Dodgers (84-78) | 4. San Francisco Giants (72-90) |
| 5. San Francisco Giants (68-94) | 5. San Francisco Giants (73-89) | 5. San Diego Padres (63-99) |
Neither prediction did particularly well in 2008. Both failed on the surprising Rays, and on predicting the Tigers to finish first (actually, the Bill James formula had them tied with the Indians). The Bill James formula also predicted the Padres to finish first -- yikes.
But now we start with a clean slate for 2009, and two fresh sets of predictions. They will be posted here soon.
Labels: bill james, predictions, sports illustrated
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Take Me Out...
Those of you who know me know why I think this poster, now appearing on my living room wall, is totally awesome -- it combines two of my interests.
It's also a bit of a lie. There's no regular "historic streetcar" service to AT&T Park right now; it's only in the planning and occasional demonstration stages. The folks at Market Street Railway are a little anticipatory (and, actually, selling the poster to promote and raise funds to help the service along).
It's also a bit of a lie. There's no regular "historic streetcar" service to AT&T Park right now; it's only in the planning and occasional demonstration stages. The folks at Market Street Railway are a little anticipatory (and, actually, selling the poster to promote and raise funds to help the service along).
Labels: at+t park, giants, san francisco, streetcar, trains
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Yes, we can (create a minor-league baseball promotion)
On June 23rd, the Brooklyn Cyclones will become the Baracklyn Cyclones -- and there are a lot of amusing elements involved in the promotion.
Labels: barack obama, brooklyn cyclones
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Just how bad is the economy?
On the trip in 2004, the lowest price we paid for gas was $1.789, in Ohio.
Gas here in Los Angeles, which tends to be a bit pricier than in Ohio (due to higher taxes and a special low-emission blend), is now running about 10 cents per gallon below that.
Gas here in Los Angeles, which tends to be a bit pricier than in Ohio (due to higher taxes and a special low-emission blend), is now running about 10 cents per gallon below that.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Fire up the TV set
At 7:00 P.M. Eastern on January 1, the brand-new MLB Network will present a rebroadcast of Don Larsen's perfect game from the 1956 World Series. As I understand it, the source is a kinescope that was discovered fairly recently.
Channel 213 on DirecTV. For other services, check your listings.
Channel 213 on DirecTV. For other services, check your listings.
Labels: directv, don larsen, mlb network, tv
Friday, December 05, 2008
The right opportunity at the right time
Via Sports by Brooks: the St. Petersburg Times reports that the Rays are looking for a new person to portray Pansy the Wuss-Wuss Fish, or as they call him, Raymond. Here's the actual job posting.
That Times report mentions that the previous Pansy was fired last month; no word on any official cause.
That Times report mentions that the previous Pansy was fired last month; no word on any official cause.
Labels: devil rays, mascots, pansy
