THT Awards

Welcome to the awards.

All stats are for the games starting Monday, Aug. 22 and ending Sunday, Aug. 28. If you are a new reader, reference the week one column for category explanations.

This week’s proof that assigning wins and losses to a pitcher is an archaic practice that must stop

Good luck division

Anthony Vasquez was shelled for six runs in five and a third but got the win anyway as Zach McAllister yielded a 10 spot to the Mariners lineup, defying all odds. The bullpens combined to throw nine and a third giving up three runs while striking out nine.

The starters in the 22-9 Yankees/A’s slugfest did about what you would think they would do: 12 runs in seven innings on 17 hits. On the plus side, they only walked one and neither received the loss.

Bud Norris and Alex White combined to allow 10 runs in 11 frames on 13 hits and five walks. Neither got the loss. White was in line for the win until Matt Belisle blew the save. Belisle got the win as the Rockies scored to take back the lead.

The next day, Wandy Rodriguez and Aaron Cook combined to allow 12 in 11 innings and each walked away with a no-decision.

Fausto Carmona was charged with six runs on eight hits in six and a third against the Royals. He squeaked out a no-decision as the Royals bullpen coughed up the lead.

In the Sunday night game, Jered Weaver and the Rangers lineup spared Colby Lewis the indignity of a loss as the Rangers righty was smoked by the Angels offense for five runs in six innings. Weaver allowed seven.

Bad luck division

Chris Carpenter gave up one run in eight innings on five hits, a walk, and a hit batsman. He struck out seven and ended up with a no-decision because the Cardinals could only score one run off Nate Eovaldi and a quartet of relievers.

Wade Davis threw nine innings, allowing only two runs yet walked away without the win because the Rays bats waited until the 10th inning to score their third run.

Vulture Award

Chris Perez blew his fourth save and got bailed out by Brandon League and Shin-Soo Choo.

Mark Melancon blew his fifth save and the Astros subsequently handed him his seventh win.

A Hardball Times Update
Goodbye for now.

Wes Littleton Award

Andrew Bailey entered with a three-run lead and immediately allowed a leadoff Jorge Posada home run. He also allowed a Russ Martin double and walked two. The second of the two walks plated the second run of the inning. He got one of the ugliest saves you are likely to see.

Francisco Cordero allowed two runs on two hits. He also let loose a wild pitch. Three run saves are possible even when you pitch badly.

Please hold the applause

Greg Holland, who has been spectacular this year overall, allowed a double, a triple, a walk, and two runs in two innings. He inherited a three run lead and the Royals scored another pair between his two innings. They scored another two runs immediately after he left the game.

Any sufficiently advanced defense is indistinguishable from pitching

Clay Hensley struck out only one of the 21 Phillies he faced in five and two thirds. Only three hits fell fair and one of those was a home run so the defense didn’t have a chance at that one.

Joe Carter Award

Amazingly, Juan Rivera drove in seven while batting .174/.231/.348.

Marco Scutaro went .219/.257/.344 and found a way to collect six RBI.

The Oakland duo of Coco Crisp and Josh Willingham drove in six each and ended the week at .222/.267/.481 and .222/.267/.407 respectively.

As a contrast, the normally harmless James Loney posted a .444/.483/.778 line with five extra base hits and drove in six. Joey Votto slugged 1.000 with four home runs and drove in six.

Sanchez Award

Vladimir Guerrero smacked eight hits in 26 PA. However, only one of those hits went for extra bases and it was a double. He also failed to walk. .308/.308/.346 doesn’t work for a designated hitter.

Delmon Young posted an anemic .303/.303/.364 line in 33 PA.

Delmon’s teammate Magglio Ordonez looks well past done as his .273/.273/.273 line in 11 PA doesn’t look that different than his .230/.282/.298. I always liked Magglio and it’s sad to see his end look so grizzly.

Jonathan Lucroy went .273/.273/.318 for the Brewers while Chief Justice Jon Jay didn’t help the Cards close the gap when he went .273/.304/.364.

Harmon Killebrew Award

Curtis Granderson got a hit in less than a quarter of his at-bats, but three of his hits went over the fence and he chipped in five walks on his way to a nice .217/.400/.609 line.

Steve Balboni Award

Mike Carp fanned in half of his 28 plate appearances on his way to a putrid .111/.172/.222 week.

Geovany Soto would have killed for Carp’s week, striking out in 10 of his 21 PA and flailing his way to a .000/.091/.000 week. Yeah. It was that bad.

Jim Thome will have weeks like this one. 11 K, 21 PA, .053/.143/.211. He will also have weeks when all of those rate stats will be four to five times higher than that.

Three true outcomes

Brandon Allen smashed three home runs, walked four times, and struck out 14 times in 35 PA.

Jay Bruce posted a 2-4-10 in 28 PA.

Alex Gordon gave the Royals a 2-3-9 TTO week in 23 PA.

Nick Swisher went 5-5-7 in 26 PA.

Granderson: three-five-seven in 28 PA.

Troy Tulowitzki: 3-5-8 in 27.

Chris Young: 2-6-7 in 27 PA.

The anti-TTO

Rafael Furcal went 0-1-1 in 27 PA.

Delmon’s 0-0-2 in 33 explains a lot about why he was in the Sanchez category, as does Vlad’s 0-0-2 in 26.

This week’s MVP

AL: Adrian Gonzalez needs a nickname. That aside, his week featured five homers and four walks to go with six singles and a double. His line for the week was .387/.457/.903 in 35 PA.

NL: Corey Hart stuffed the stat sheet this week with eight singles, a double, a triple, three home runs, two steals with no CS, and three walks in 29 PA. .500/.552/.962.


4 Comments
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Mitch
12 years ago

I think A-Gone is a decent enough nickname for Gonzalez.

ecp
12 years ago

The way you talked about Greg Holland I assumed he got a save for his “efforts.”  It wasn’t until I clicked over to the box score that I realized it was actually just a hold.

John M Barten
12 years ago

Mitch: I never have been a big fan of the first initial-first syllable of last name nickname construct, especially when they involve names and initials that are that common. You will never, ever find me referring to myself as J-Bart.

ecp: Sorry for any confusion. “Please hold the applause” is specifically for recognizing holds. The Littleton is for saves.

Oscar
12 years ago

Urgent correction:

Magglio’s end should be “grisly”, not “grizzley”.

Other than that, the Awards have always been my favorite THT feature. Keep on rockin’!