SnakeBytes 5/4: Still in Houston, Still Waiting for Awful Space Industry Puns
by soco on May 4, 2010 1:12 PM EDT
in Snake Bytes
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Your daily links, quick and dirty style since I gotta go go go on to my next class and learn up Chinese governing.
[mlb.com] Kelly Johnson, Ubaldo Jimenez earn National League's monthly honors
From yesterday...
AND NOW, THE TASER VIDEO YOU'VE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR
[Edit by Jim] Forgot the Player of the Week poll yesterday, so here it is...
[azcentral.com] Diamondbacks get another crack at Roy Oswalt
Arizona Diamondbacks get another crack at Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt, Oswalt is 9-1 with a 1.96 ERA against Arizona.
[azcentral.com] Arizona Diamondbacks beat Houston Astros to snap 3-game skid
Arizona Diamondbacks beat Houston Astros to snap 3-game skid, D-Backs rookie pitcher Cesar Valdez won his first major-league game, a 9-1 victory over the Astros.
[mlb.com] Arizona Diamondbacks at Houston Astros - May 4 - Game Preview
Ian Kennedy aims to continue his solid pitching tonight against Roy Oswalt.
[dbacks.com] Valdez victorious in debut as D-backs roll
Chris Snyder and Chris Young had a nice homecoming and starting pitcher Cesar Valdez's Major League debut was a winning one as the D-backs defeated the Astros, 9-1, on Monday night.
[espn.com] Phillies Fan Says "Don't taze me, bro! "
Because who doesn't think its funny when one of those crazy Phillies fans get a few seconds of high voltage love?
[yahoo.com] Dodgers fan films himself catching Pirate's Home Run
This is pretty darn cool to watch, check it out.
Around SBN
[Beyond the Box Score] 32 Predictions Contest, v.2010 ($50 reward for winner! Mark and Droo make cameos)
Enter Beyond the Box Score's 32 Predictions contest for your chance to win $50. All you need to do is pick the higher number 32 times...
[SB Nation] Ubaldo Jimenez Stays Amazing As Rockies Silence Padres
Ubaldo Jimenez struck out a career-high 13 batters in seven innings to lead the Colorado Rockies to a 5-2 win over the San Diego Padres in the first of a three-game set at Petco Park.
[SB Nation] Strained Hamstring Sends Rafael Furcal To The DL
And a couple by Jim
[FoxSportsArizona.com] Storm clouds looming - "Once upon a time, the nearest the Diamondbacks came to political controversy was opposing the funding plan for the Cubs' spring training facility. How long ago that seems."
[SB Nation.com] MLB Power Rankings: The More You Know - Your go-to fifth week MLB power rankings, where the competition's just as hot at the bottom as it is at the top. I provide the commentary for the NL West teams.
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My fantasy team is getting killed by injuries.
Ellsbury, Anderson, and now Furcal.
However, great to see Johnson get honored. Maybe with him and the Rockies’ pitcher getting some awards, maybe the NL West can finally get some media notice.
Oh wait, a fan got tasered in Philly? Nevermind.
Well there's your problem!
I chuckled at this:
The reports were accurate on Cesar Valdez’s sinkerball: It moves a lot.
Though I agree with the last thing said, Valdez just needs to throw strikes like he did in the final three innings in his next few starts and he’ll be just fine. Heck, the guy might stick in the bigs this year if he throws like that.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 1:20 PM EDT reply actions
What kind of ceiling do you think he has?
I hear voices in my head They council me They understand They talk to me.
valdez's
sinker and heavy changeup looked filthy…i really hope he gets the chance to stick in the majors this year, even after benson comes back. not sure how we’d juggle our rotation…but i like cesar a lot
Not a chance
The guy gets better and his fastball picks up velocity as he works further into games. His rates aren’t the problem, as demonstrated by a huge ERA/xFIP split (8.07/4.60 – regardless of what you think about xFIP, that large of a split is demonstrative of something). Just needs some friendly regression and to stick to his bread and butter pitches.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
And wow...
that is a freaking GINORMOUS xFIP/ERA split.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Haha ok I clearly couldn't tell.
And I know, right? He’s getting screwed seven ways from Sunday. And he’ll be fine.
On a related note, the best xFIP of EJ, Max, and IPK, of course, belongs to IPK. Good grief.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
That's so awesome.
I hope IPK embarrasses the Houston Mendozas Astros tonight.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
+1
I’d love a CGSO. If he can 8-inning 2-run the Phils and nearly 8-inning 1-run the Cubs, he can CGSO the Astros.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Haha
ReplyFAIL.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions
Probably
#4/5ish, maybe higher. He could definitely be a surprise #3 if his sinker velocity picks up to the 89-91 I’ve heard, he throws his change six or seven MPH below that, and he masters his command (i.e. pitches like the last three innings, not the first two in terms of attacking the strike zone). If not, he could have trouble getting batters ahead or behind any given pitch because they’re basically the same – similar velocity, just a matter of how far down it’s going to go.
But good sink on your fastball can get you major-league success if you keep in low in the zone, regardless of how fast you throw it. Brandon Webb won a Cy Young, and his career FB velocity average is 88.5 MPH. 89-91 is perfectly o.k. for Valdez. The big thing is that difference in FB/CH velocity. Back to Webb, his career average change-up velocity is 80.4 MPH. Valdez needs to find a velocity split like that.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Reload the story
I just added a link to an awesome video of a man catching a home run – during a game AND BP, same batter (Andrew McCutchen).
Things ’Skins has in common with foulpole for 400, please. -- soco
SBN Power Rankings:
http://www.sbnation.com/2010/5/4/1457567/mlb-power-rankings-baseball-may
Dbacks at #20
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Does anyone listen to ESPN Baseball Today podcast?
I like it, but it’s getting on my nerves a little. The host keeps saying that the Dbacks are the only NL West team that’s not gonna contend this year.
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
If that's what he's saying
He’s a moron. Just saying.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea
For some reason he believes the Dodgers will come around and that the Padres pitching is somehow as good as it’s been up to now.
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
Really?
Jon Garland’s going to maintain a 2.06 ERA with a 4.61 FIP (which does not deduct him for pitching at Petco) and a 23:20 K:BB ratio? Riiiight.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 2:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Oh, yeah
Because Jon Garland and Wade LeBlanc are really going to maintain those same numbers through the rest of the season.
"I'm always insistent, Wodehouse. But I'm not to be trusted, am I?"
Beat you to it.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 2:12 PM EDT up reply actions
I had to go check LeBlanc's last name
But, seriously, he’s not going to maintain a 0.52 ERA.
"I'm always insistent, Wodehouse. But I'm not to be trusted, am I?"
Put it this way
LeBlanc, Correia, and Garland have the same chance of maintaining their current ERAs as Livo.
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
I saw Livo's ERA was like 1-something
WTF??
Things ’Skins has in common with foulpole for 400, please. -- soco
Yea, he is tied with Ubaldo for MLB lead
I even picked him up for a fantasy spot start
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
Atlanta isn't exactly a juggernaut
But I did the same with Pelfrey last week, and let’s say that was the difference between 8-2 and 6-4.
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
its Erik Karabell and he is really down on our bullpen
doesn’t think the pitching can contend.
insert signature here
Erik Karabell
Should stick to fantasy. Our ‘pen will start to naturally improve a little and we’ll make a couple of savvy JByrnes moves to bolster it (see Rosa, Carlos).
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Yea, but we lead the MLB in runs scored
We are not good, but we are not that bad. The Dodgers aren’t going on a 20-5 run anytime soon, that’s for sure.
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
But its ESPN
So the Dodgers are always on the brink of breaking out.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions
They have very stiff opinions
They always predict division champs to repeat.
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
And always predict
big market teams to do ZOMG AWESOME
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Except for Tampa
They have a real love affair with Tampa, but they play the Yankees, so that makes sense
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
+1
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions
apparently ryen recillo
was reprimanded the other day for having a baseball session on the SVP show and not mentioning the Yanks or Sox once.
insert signature here
Why would we?
(Listen to ESPN, I mean.)
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speaking of which
does anyone know if MLB or MLB Network has a podcast/radio show? That would be pretty ballin.
Life is not a flower.
I like to keep up with the news around the league.
In a way, it’s actually better if they don’t talk about the Dbacks or the NL West. I get my Dbacks talk from Gambo and Ash (and the Internet of course).
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
In other news, Adrian Gonzalez
runs his mouth about teams pulling out of spring training and players boycotting the all-star game. I remind you, this guy plays for the team that plays the Mexican national anthem before home games more often than not (it seems there is a Mexico night every time I go to a game) and flies the Mexican flag above the American flag in right field.
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
I was gonna add that
to the Snake Bytes clippings, but didn’t get around to it.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry for the Vulgarity but **** A-gon
The dude is born in California plus what does he have to worry about he is famous. I mean really these people need to stop talking out their asses read the law and realize its no worse than the federal immigration law.
I hear voices in my head They council me They understand They talk to me.
The problem I have with these morons (like Gonzalez or Ozzie Guillen)
is that they haven’t read the law, not a single line of it. They are riled up by knee-jerk La Raza media and the Jesse Jacksons of the world into protesting the things they have no knowledge of.
Bring back the Baltimore Chop!
Not to
reignite the political discussion here, but I had to laugh at Jesse Jackson’s letter calling for MLB to move the 2011 All-Star Game from “Diamondbacks Stadium.”
Life is not a flower.
I liked the piece on the front page of the Republic on Sunday that basically said how everyone was reacting badly to the law.
"I'm always insistent, Wodehouse. But I'm not to be trusted, am I?"
Okay dudes
I edited the Snakebutts instead of listening to this Comparitive Gov’t lecture to give you guys the video of the Phillies Fan being tased.
Life is not a flower.
Woo I can't get enough of that.
#imwithsoco.
I hear voices in my head They council me They understand They talk to me.
Oh, man
Some really bad puns in the comments there.
"I'm always insistent, Wodehouse. But I'm not to be trusted, am I?"
Was this ever clipped?
FanGraphs on the Dbacks’ bullpen: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/snakebitten-by-relievers/
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With the wonders of the Clipping tool
We can see that no, it wasn’t.
"I'm always insistent, Wodehouse. But I'm not to be trusted, am I?"
Really cool article. Thanks.
"Love is the most important thing in the world, but baseball is pretty good too. " ~Greg, age 8
More FanGraphs stuff before last night's game:
Cesar Valdez prospect stuff:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/one-night-only-hail-cesar-valdez/
KCR trade stuff:
http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/royals-diamondbacks-swap-prospects/
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Other stuff:
Snyder’s HR went for 457 feet, and was the longest of his career. Previous longest was 451.
http://www.hittrackeronline.com/hrdetail.php?id=2010_726
Ken Rosenthal writes about KJ:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=2518+East+Seneca+Street,Tucson,AZ&daddr=Denver,+CO+to:Milwaukee,+WI+to:Tucson,+AZ&hl=en&geocode=FTsM7AEdhkZj-SnbcfBpvHHWhjGfRFI7mgz86w%3BFRJfXgIdgQ—-SnPFx8jqoBrhzHWNoon-PSOEQ%3BFba4kAIdVqfC-innR4tX1wIFiDGEe0G1IhlfRA%3B&mra=ls&sll=37.500345,-99.42805&sspn=16.152521,43.022461&ie=UTF8&ll=37.509726,-99.404297&spn=16.152521,43.022461&z=5
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PreviewFAIL.
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-latest-news-from-May-042710
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yknow, you are an editor
You could edit the article to add the links…. :P
Things ’Skins has in common with foulpole for 400, please. -- soco
Yeah, but there's not much point
to adding one or two links.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Especially
If they turn out to be a map to somewhere in Tucson… :-)
Good thing you weren’t looking up a strip-club, or you’d have some ’xplaining to do!
"We defy augury" -- Hamlet
Yeah hey, who's coming in from Milwaukee??
Things ’Skins has in common with foulpole for 400, please. -- soco
Nobody.
My brother wants me to road trip with him to Milwaukee next month, so I was checking the distance and time.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DUDE
Stop by Indianapolis, heelloooooooooo…..
Things ’Skins has in common with foulpole for 400, please. -- soco
No, I will be June 16th-19th
Are you going to still be there then?
Things ’Skins has in common with foulpole for 400, please. -- soco
.....?
1. We wouldn’t be there until June 25thish
2. The midwest isn’t a small place, dude… that’s at LEAST an extra 300 miles.
3. Still not sure if I’m going.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Baaah...
Okay, well yeah your timing’s off, but if your timing did match up, you should totally come, 300 miles be damned.
Things ’Skins has in common with foulpole for 400, please. -- soco
when you live in the Midwest
300 miles is nothing. Thats my mom’s commute to work every day
insert signature here
2518 E Seneca
is my new address, so no. No strip club.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I liked this column
Faith and Fear in Phoenix: Please don’t take our All-Star Game.
Instead of exacting retribution on everyone in the state, sports leagues such as Major League Baseball should use major events in the state as a chance for discussion and education […] P.S.; Isn’t having to watching the Diamondbacks’ bullpen more punishment than any boycott the sporting world could dole out?
"I'm always insistent, Wodehouse. But I'm not to be trusted, am I?"
Lineups for Tonight's Game
Posted very early:
Diamondbacks (12-14)
K. Johnson – 2B
S. Drew – SS
J. Upton – RF
M. Reynolds – 3B
A. LaRoche – 1B
C. Young – CF
G. Parra – LF
C. Snyder – C
I. Kennedy – RHP (1-1)
Astros (8-17)
M. Bourn – CF
J. Keppinger – 2B
C. Lee – LF
L. Berkman – 1B
H. Pence – RF
P. Feliz – 3B
T. Manzella – SS
H. Quintero – C
R. Oswalt – RHP (2-3)
Well there's your problem!
Hmmm....
no change for the Dbacks, eh?
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just swapping Drew and Young in the lineup
"I'm always insistent, Wodehouse. But I'm not to be trusted, am I?"
Yeah
but all the same position players in all the same places on the field.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ARGH...
I just realized that I missed my 65,000th comment!
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dont worry
you will probably flip the counter soon enough and hit it again in another week or two.
I got nothin'.
Yeah
I’m coming up on 16 bit worth of comments, so I guess I’ll hafta erase everything and start over at that point.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just an interesting tidbit for the SBN Power Rankings.
“Arizona is 10-0 when scoring more than five runs, and 0-9 when scoring less than five.”
Dude, we went fishing in Cabo.
Have you been reading the Snakepit?
Jim’s mentioned that numerous times, including last night in the GDT.
I’m 99% sure Jim wrote that for the Power Rankings.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Actually yeah
I’ve been reading it a bit more than usual lately, too, ’cause I finally got my RSS reader set up on this comp. Guess I just glanced over it every time it was mentioned.
Dude, we went fishing in Cabo.
Except tonight.
PWN.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 11:41 PM EDT up reply actions
more fangraphs articles on the dbacks.
Wow, scroll down to the Giants fan's comments.
I guess hataz gonna hate.
Paraphrased: “Chase, Coors and Minute Maid are hitters’ parks, the wind was blowing out at Wrigley, and he just got lucky at Dodger Stadium. BUT he didn’t hit well at Chase because he never does.”
Seriously, why all the animosity towards LaClutch?
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Because he's a Giants fan
And is pissed that LaRoche didn’t want to sign there even for more money because the Giants’ offense sucks (fewer RBI, which some idiotic baseball people still pay attention to) and their ballpark wouldn’t have been nearly as conducive to LaRoche’s success. Just bitter.
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 4, 2010 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Well
I KNOW that. But other people too, not just Giants fans.
ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO KELLY JOHNSON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I haven't seen it as much, I guess.
Aside from a certain SnakePitter who has taken fifty years to warm to LaClutch. :-P
http://xkcd.com/290/ (caution: profane)
by Dan Strittmatter on May 5, 2010 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions
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