The Hardball Times

THT Daily: Pedro’s back

by Matthew Carruth
September 04, 2007

Major League News for September 4
Today’s Links
Player News
Yesterday’s Results
Today’s Games
Standings
Game of the Day
Top Minor League Performances

You can always find the most recent THT Daily at http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/content/thtdaily/

THT Links

Wait til next year - For those teams already out of the race ... here's a handy analysis of this year's crop of free agents from Rich Lederer over at Baseball Analysts.

Bum shoulder - Marlins sensation Hanley Ramirez is consiering offseason surgery on his shoulder. He's a great player to watch, so hopefully he'll be okay.

Farewell, Canada - The Ottawa Lynx, the Phillies' Triple-A affiliate, played their last game in Ottawa yesterday. They'll be moving to Pennsylvania next season, leaving the Blue Jays as the only pro-baseball team in Canada above Single-A ball.


THT Links represents the best efforts of our editors in scouring the various tubes of the interweb for both relevant and irrelevant news items. If you have happened upon a story that we have overlooked or wish to give feedback of any sort, please notify us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Player News
Player Headlines are courtesy of Rotoworld

In his return from shoulder surgery, Pedro Martinez gave up three runs—two earned—and five hits over five innings Monday versus the Reds. He fanned four, including Aaron Harang in the second for the 3,000th strikeout of his career. Martinez typically worked in the low-80s, and when he reached back for more, it got him to only 87. Still, he was able to limit the damage against a lineup that's pretty good against righthanders. It was an encouraging beginning, but he is working with very little margin for error when he tries to sneak 82-mph fastballs by major league hitters.

Roger Clemens went for an MRI on his right elbow after giving up five runs in four innings and taking the loss to the Mariners on Monday. According to Joe Torre, Clemens felt "grabbing" in the fourth inning. The Rocket is expected to miss at least one start, putting Mike Mussina back into the rotation.

Yesterday’s Results
American League
BOS    13  TOR    10    (Recap and Boxscore)
SEA     7  NYA     1    (Recap and Boxscore)
TB      9  BAL     7    (Recap and Boxscore)
CLE     5  MIN     0    (Recap and Boxscore)
LAA     9  OAK     5    (Recap and Boxscore)
KC      8  TEX     1    (Recap and Boxscore)

National League
ATL     5  PHI     1    (Recap and Boxscore)
WAS     6  FLA     3    (Recap and Boxscore)
LAN    11  CHN     3    (Recap and Boxscore)
NYN    10  CIN     4    (Recap and Boxscore)
HOU     9  MIL     7    (Recap and Boxscore)
PIT    11  STL     0    (Recap and Boxscore)
SD     10  ARI     2    (Recap and Boxscore)
COL     7  SF      4    (Recap and Boxscore)
You can download a compact version of yesterday's boxscores from Heater Magazine.

First Inning's Major and Minor League Daily Reports:
{embed="pageblocks/FirstInning_Team_Lookup"}

Today’s Games
National League
 ---------------
 Florida Marlins at Washington Nationals, 7:05 PM
  (L) Dontrelle Willis (8-14) vs. (R) Shawn Hill (3-3)
 New York Mets at Cincinnati Reds, 7:10 PM
  (L) Oliver Perez (12-9) vs. (R) Matt Belisle (7-8)
 Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta Braves, 7:35 PM
  (R) Kyle Lohse (7-12) vs. (R) Tim Hudson (15-7)
 Los Angeles Dodgers at Chicago Cubs, 8:05 PM
  (R) Brad Penny (14-4) vs. (R) Steve Trachsel (0-0)
 Houston Astros at Milwaukee Brewers, 8:05 PM
  (R) Brandon Backe (0-0) vs. (R) Carlos Villanueva (6-3)
 Pittsburgh Pirates at St. Louis Cardinals, 8:10 PM
  (R) Matt Morris (8-8) vs. (R) Joel Pineiro (3-2)
 San Francisco Giants at Colorado Rockies, 8:35 PM
  (R) Tim Lincecum (7-4) vs. (L) Franklin Morales (0-2)
 San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks, 9:40 PM
  (R) Chris Young (9-5) vs. (L) Doug Davis (12-11)
 
 American League
 ---------------
 Chicago White Sox at Detroit Tigers, 7:05 PM
  (R) Jon Garland (8-10) vs. (R) Jeremy Bonderman (11-7)
 Seattle Mariners at New York Yankees, 7:05 PM
  (L) Horacio Ramirez (8-4) vs. (R) Chien-Ming Wang (16-6)
 Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox, 7:05 PM
  (R) Roy Halladay (14-6) vs. (R) Josh Beckett (16-6)
 Baltimore Orioles at Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7:10 PM
  (R) Jeremy Guthrie (7-5) vs. (L) Scott Kazmir (11-8)
 Kansas City Royals at Texas Rangers, 8:05 PM
  (R) Billy Buckner (0-0) vs. (R) Kevin Millwood (9-11)
 Cleveland Indians at Minnesota Twins, 8:10 PM
  (L) Aaron Laffey (2-1) vs. (R) Kevin Slowey (3-0)
 Oakland Athletics at LA Angels of Anaheim, 10:05 PM

Standings
The graphics next to each team are called "sparklines.” They depict each team’s performance over the last month. Each "up" bar is a victory and a "down" bar is a loss. There are horizontal lines for home games and red bars represent games decided by two runs or less. "PWins" is short for Projected Wins, based on each team’s Run Differential, and is often a better measure of a team’s true strength. Other team graphs and stats can be found on our Team Page.
American League East        Pwins  Diff
BOS     83  55 .601    0.0   88    -5    sparkline graph
NYA     76  62 .551    7.0   81    -5    sparkline graph
TOR     70  67 .511   12.5   73    -3    sparkline graph
BAL     59  77 .434   23.0   62    -3    sparkline graph
TB      57  81 .413   26.0   55     2    sparkline graph
American League Central     
CLE     79  58 .577    0.0   76     3    sparkline graph
DET     73  64 .533    6.0   75    -2    sparkline graph
MIN     69  69 .500   10.5   70    -1    sparkline graph
KC      62  75 .453   17.0   66    -4    sparkline graph
CHA     58  79 .423   21.0   53     5    sparkline graph
American League West        
LAA     81  56 .591    0.0   78     3    sparkline graph
SEA     74  62 .544    6.5   69     5    sparkline graph
OAK     68  71 .489   14.0   69    -1    sparkline graph
TEX     63  74 .460   18.0   65    -2    sparkline graph


National League East        Pwins  Diff
NYN     77  60 .562    0.0   75     2    sparkline graph
PHI     72  65 .526    5.0   73    -1    sparkline graph
ATL     70  68 .507    7.5   74    -4    sparkline graph
WAS     61  77 .442   16.5   58     3    sparkline graph
FLA     60  78 .435   17.5   62    -2    sparkline graph
National League Central     
CHN     70  66 .515    0.0   72    -2    sparkline graph
MIL     69  68 .504    1.5   68     1    sparkline graph
STL     67  67 .500    2.0   60     7    sparkline graph
CIN     62  76 .449    9.0   62     0    sparkline graph
HOU     62  76 .449    9.0   61     1    sparkline graph
PIT     60  77 .438   10.5   61    -1    sparkline graph
National League West        
SD      76  61 .555    0.0   77    -1    sparkline graph
ARI     76  63 .547    1.0   65    11    sparkline graph
LAN     72  65 .526    4.0   72     0    sparkline graph
COL     71  66 .518    5.0   73    -2    sparkline graph
SF      62  76 .449   14.5   67    -5    sparkline graph


Wildcard Standings
American League             
NYA     76  62 .551    0.0
SEA     74  62 .544    1.0
DET     73  64 .533    2.5
TOR     70  67 .511    5.5
MIN     69  69 .500    7.0
National League             
ARI     76  63 .547    0.0
PHI     72  65 .526    3.0
LAN     72  65 .526    3.0
COL     71  66 .518    4.0
ATL     70  68 .507    5.5

Game of the Day
The National League Central is the division no team wants to win: each contender lost yesterday, including Milwaukee’s 9=7 loss to Houston. The erratic Derrick Turnbow and the Brewer bullpen gave the game away, allowing six runs in the last three innings. Astro rookie Hunter Pence provided the big blow, a two-run triple in the eighth.
HOUSTON (9) VS MILWAUKEE (7) - FINAL

HOUSTON                ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
H Pence cf              4  2  3  2   1  0   0  .327
C Burke 2b              3  0  1  0   1  0   0  .222
 B Lidge p              0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 J Anderson lf          0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
L Berkman 1b            4  1  1  1   1  1   2  .278
C Lee lf                4  1  1  0   1  0   3  .301
 T Miller p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 C Qualls p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
M Loretta ss-2b         5  1  1  1   0  0   2  .273
L Scott rf              3  2  0  0   2  2   0  .252
T Wigginton 3b          3  1  1  0   1  1   2  .281
B Ausmus c              2  0  1  2   1  1   0  .231
 a-M Lamb ph            0  0  0  0   1  0   0  .292
 B Backe pr             0  1  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 E Bruntlett ss         0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .240
R Oswalt p              3  0  0  0   0  0   3  .138
 C Sampson p            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .154
 D Borkowski p          0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 b-O Palmeiro ph        0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .234
 c-C Biggio ph          0  0  0  1   0  0   2  .253
 E Munson c             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .248

Totals                 31  9  9  7   9  5  14

a-walked for B Ausmus in the 8th;  b-hit for R Oswalt in the 8th;  c-hit 
sacrifice fly to right for O Palmeiro in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Lee (39, B Sheets); H Pence (28, B Sheets). 3B - B Ausmus (3, B 
Sheets); H Pence (8, G Aquino). HR - L Berkman (28, 9th inning off C Spurling 0 
on, 0 Out). S - C Burke. SF - C Biggio. RBI - M Loretta (33), B Ausmus 2 (24), 
C Biggio (47), H Pence 2 (55), L Berkman (89). 2-out RBI - B Ausmus 2, H Pence 
2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - R Oswalt 2, M Loretta 1. GIDP - C 
Lee 2. Team LOB - 6. 
 
BASERUNNING: Picked Off - H Pence (1st base, B Sheets). 
 
FIELDING: Outfield assists - H Pence (J Estrada at 3rd base). DP: 2 (C 
Burke-M Loretta-L Berkman, T Wigginton-C Burke-L Berkman). 
 
MILWAUKEE              ab  r  h rbi bb so lob   avg
G Gross rf-lf           3  1  2  0   1  0   0  .254
 K Mench lf             1  0  1  0   0  0   0  .273
J Hardy ss              4  0  0  0   0  0   4  .277
R Braun 3b              3  2  2  1   1  0   0  .332
 D Turnbow p            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 B Shouse p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 G Aquino p             0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 b-V Rottino ph         1  0  0  0   0  0   2  .000
 C Spurling p           0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
P Fielder 1b            4  0  1  0   1  0   1  .283
C Hart cf-rf            5  2  2  1   0  1   1  .286
G Jenkins lf            2  0  1  1   0  0   0  .262
 B Hall pr-cf           2  1  1  1   0  1   2  .259
J Estrada c             4  1  2  0   1  0   3  .283
C Counsell 2b-3b        4  0  2  3   0  0   1  .223
B Sheets p              2  0  0  0   0  2   0  .071
 a-J Dillon ph          1  0  0  0   0  0   1  .400
 S McClung p            0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 S Linebrink p          0  0  0  0   0  0   0  .000
 R Weeks 2b             1  0  1  0   0  0   0  .231

Totals                 37  7 15  7   4  4  15

a-flied out to center for B Sheets in the 6th;  b-grounded to second for G 
Aquino in the 8th.

BATTING: 2B - C Hart (24, R Oswalt); R Braun (21, C Sampson); K Mench (20, B 
Lidge). 3B - C Counsell (2, R Oswalt). S - J Hardy. SF - B Hall. RBI - G 
Jenkins (57), C Counsell 3 (23), C Hart (64), R Braun (72), B Hall (57). 2-out 
RBI - G Jenkins, C Counsell 3. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J 
Estrada 2, J Dillon 1, V Rottino 2. GIDP - J Hardy 2. Team LOB - 9. 
 
BASERUNNING: SB - C Hart (22, 2nd base off R Oswalt/B Ausmus). 
 
FIELDING: E - C Counsell (2, throw). PB - J Estrada. DP: 2 (R Braun-C 
Counsell-P Fielder, J Hardy-C Counsell-P Fielder). 
 
----------------------------------------------------
    HOUSTON         - 000 300 141   --   9
    MILWAUKEE       - 000 203 200   --   7
----------------------------------------------------

HOUSTON                      ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
R Oswalt                      5 2/3  10   5   5   2   3   0   3.35
C Sampson                       2/3   2   2   2   2   0   0   4.65
D Borkowski (W, 4-3)            2/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   5.05
B Lidge (H, 7)                1       2   0   0   0   0   0   2.97
T Miller (H, 15)                1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   4.89
C Qualls (S, 4)                 2/3   1   0   0   0   1   0   3.11

MILWAUKEE                    ip       h   r  er  bb  so  hr    era
B Sheets                      6       5   3   3   6   5   0   3.36
S McClung (H, 1)              0       1   1   0   1   0   0   6.23
S Linebrink (H, 18)           1       0   0   0   0   0   0   3.86
D Turnbow (H, 32)               1/3   1   3   3   2   0   0   4.30
B Shouse (H, 19)                1/3   0   0   0   0   0   0   2.27
G Aquino (L, 0-1; B, 2)         1/3   1   1   0   0   0   0   5.62
C Spurling                    1       1   1   1   0   0   1   5.01

S McClung pitched to 2 batters in the 7th.

WP - B Sheets, C Sampson, G Aquino. IBB - B Ausmus (by B Sheets), J Estrada 
(by R Oswalt), P Fielder (by C Sampson). Pitches-strikes: R Oswalt 113-75; C 
Sampson 22-9; D Borkowski 7-5; B Lidge 13-10; T Miller 5-4; C Qualls 12-9; B 
Sheets 118-72; S McClung 17-10; S Linebrink 11-6; D Turnbow 22-10; B Shouse 
2-2; G Aquino 9-5; C Spurling 13-8. Ground balls-fly balls: R Oswalt 8-5; C 
Sampson 1-1; D Borkowski 1-1; B Lidge 2-1; T Miller 0-1; C Qualls 0-1; B Sheets 
3-9; S McClung 0-0; S Linebrink 3-0; D Turnbow 0-1; B Shouse 0-1; G Aquino 1-0; 
C Spurling 2-1. Batters faced: R Oswalt 26; C Sampson 6; D Borkowski 2; B Lidge 
5; T Miller 1; C Qualls 3; B Sheets 27; S McClung 2; S Linebrink 2; D Turnbow 
4; B Shouse 1; G Aquino 2; C Spurling 4.
 
UMPIRES: HP--Paul Schrieber. 1B--Fieldin Culbreth. 2B--Tim Mcclelland. 
3B--Marty Foster. 

T--3:50. Att--31,226. 
Weather: 84 degrees, sunny. Wind: 5 mph, in from left.

The following graph tracks the game's Win Probability, courtesy of Fan Graphs. You can also view live WPA graphs at Fangraphs during any ballgame all season long.

image

Top Minor League Games
The following list, provided by First Inning, includes the top minor league batting (based on Runs Created) and pitching (based on Game Score) performances from yesterday, with a focus on each team’s top prospects.
ORG LVL PLAYER            AB  H 2B 3B HR BB SO  Notes
LAA AAA Brandon Wood...... 5  3  2  0  0  0  1  
ATL AA  Van Pope.......... 6  3  3  0  0  0  1  
CLE AA  Stephen Head...... 4  2  1  0  1  1  1  
CLE AAA Andy Marte........ 4  1  1  0  0  0  1  
PIT AAA Andrew McCutchen.. 3  2  1  0  0  1  1  
BAL A   Billy Rowell...... 4  2  0  0  1  0  1  
NYY AAA Eric Duncan....... 2  2  0  0  1  1  0  
CIN A   Drew Stubbs....... 3  2  1  1  0  0  0  
OAK AAA Kevin Melillo..... 4  3  1  0  0  1  0  
ARI AA  Chris Rahl........ 6  5  1  0  0  0  1  3 R
NYY AAA Brett Gardner..... 5  4  0  0  0  0  0  3 SB
CLE AA  Matthew McBride... 4  3  2  0  0  0  0  

ORG LVL PLAYER            IP  H  R ER SO BB HR  Notes
KC  AAA Luke Hochevar..... 6  2  2  2  5  3  1  
CIN AA  Johnny Cueto...... 7  4  2  2  8  0  0  
DET AAA Chris Lambert..... 6  1  0  0 10  2  0  
PIT A+  Todd Redmond...... 7  1  1  1  7  2  0  
WAN AAA Collin Balester... 6  4  2  2  8  1  1  
BAL A+  Jason Berken...... 7  4  0  0  7  1  0  
OAK AAA Andrew Bailey..... 8  3  1  1  4  1  0  
SEA AA  Justin Thomas..... 7  8  5  2  6  1  0  15 GB
CHC AA  Mitch Atkins...... 3  1  0  0  3  0  0  
TOR AA  Ricky Romero...... 6  9  4  4  4  2  0  
STL AAA Mike Parisi....... 6  7  2  1  5  1  1  
BAL A   Pedro Beato....... 2  0  0  0  2  0  0  

Access THT’s stats here…
{embed="content/2005stable"}


Matthew Carruth is an editor for The Hardball Times. He welcomes any and all sorts of communication at his email.

<< Return to Article