Lookout Landing

It's really not the regular season anymore

It is as far as data processing is concerned.

I am very tired.

One game playoffs should count as playoff games

and not the regular season

Wheeeeeee!

That’s the spirit!

Worth repeating:

General manager John Mozeliak confirmed that Lohse was meeting with team doctors instead of making his start.

The team has scheduled a press conference for Monday afternoon.

Senior baseball writer Joe Strauss has learned that the expected value of the contract is akin to the deal signed by Carlos Silva last offseason. Silva received a four-year, $48-million deal from Seattle. Sources have confirmed that the average annual value is worth better than $10 million.

I can’t believe that this FO is “saber” it has to be a lie.

93, 93 97, 94 and 94 this year

Kyle Lohse's tRA+ since 2004:

He's no different, I know.

It's rather remarkable consistency

I look at it as a nice starting point too decline from.

His swinging strike rate already started.

Wonderful.

Lineups:

Detroit, (Garcia)

1. C Granderson, CF
2. G Sheffield, DH
3. M Ordonez, RF
4. M Cabrera, 1B
5. M Thames, LF
6. R Raburn, 2B
7. B Inge, 3B
8. D Ryan, C
9. R Santiago, SS

Chicago (Floyd)

1. O Cabrera, SS
2. D Wise, LF
3. J Dye, RF
4. J Thome, DH
5. P Konerko, 1B
6. K Griffey Jr., CF
7. A Ramirez, 2B
8. A Pierzynski, C
9. J Uribe, 3B

I think the Tigers want this one more.

Is this game on TV anywhere or is it mlb.tv time?

The Sox site says it's on WGN

and of course it’ll be on mlbtv

Blackout rules able with WGN?

They never did before.

You should be fine.

Depends on the situation but usually no

since I don’t think this is considered a playoff gmae.

http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp#20080929

No blackouts today

Why is there a game today? This isn't a one-game playoff!

.Taylor - September 29, 2008 reply

Makeup game that got rained out.

Rained out a while ago

Ahhhh.

I was wondering why it wasn’t the Twins against the Sox.

.Taylor - September 29, 2008 reply

It's win or be killed for the Sox

Especially with Ozzie running the show.

He's tiny

I'm man enough to say I've been cockpunched by a jockey.

Vidoe please.

Or video. Either one.

I can't wait for the media to start pimping Cora as the new manager

Griffey in center!

I think the Tigers want this one more.

It is imperative that I find the time to watch

It would be hilarious if this game were rained out.

They would probably put everyone on a plane to MIN or TOR,

and play the game the same day.

Chicago has HF in the event of a one game playoff

SO it is possible the fly Twins into Chicago for a possible DH, but doubtful because a one game playoff would sell out.

Mariner Melee - September 29, 2008 reply

I don't know why but I giggled at "CF"

So WGN has gained the rights to Alf re runs and they are very excited about it.

Extras! We did it!

We're not through yet!

This isn't extras yet

You should let him write the game recap for tomorrow

After reading 61-101 last night, I was thinking how hilarious it would be if you and Jeff switched roles on LL for a couple of weeks

seattlebruin - September 29, 2008 reply

Fuck no

I hate having to write anything that leaves the subject bar

This was a preemptive comment

!!!

I really want to see Junior somehow fuck their season over today.

Preferably with a severe lack of range.

Double06 - September 29, 2008 reply

I guess Sheffield is one away from 500

and I haven’t heard a peep about it form the press.

I want the Twins to win the division...

…so I pray the Tigers kill the Sox.

You're no fun.

I know.

Sorry about that.

Agreed

Go Tigers

Yes!

Someone actually agrees with me on this one. Excellent.

C'mon when is this party getting started

Whoo hoo

Regressive Tax
Labor Economics is awesome!!!!!!

Tiger must be thrilled to have this game today.

ThundaPC - September 29, 2008 reply

Wooooo baseball!

I'm guessing everyone is now gone.

I'm still here.

All right! Now I won't be like that guy on the Blue Jays blog.

Not even a little bit.

Well, I just got here. But I'm here, anyway.

It's fucking on.

Let's go Tigers!

Let's go Sox!!

Let's go either one!

I prefer the Sox, but I’m not going to get in an upheaval about it.

You're failing at reply.

That's not all I'm failing at.

Also,

I will forever hate the White Sox for the 2005 ALCS.

I couldn't figure out why for a minute. I'm caught up now.

Why?

I mean, heck, for the first time in history, someone ACTUALLY stole first base!

PositivePaul - September 29, 2008 reply

Doug Eddings must die.

Okay, so I just remembered why I want the White Sox to fail

“He gawn”

ugh

MarkE - September 29, 2008 reply

YOU CAN PUT IT ON THE BOAARRRD, YES!

That also fuels my hatred.

God, me too. See how I waver?

The Sox lead 1 to nothing

YEEESSSS!!!

Ohh I just remembered why I want the White Sox to fail

Freddy!!

*Would be OK with a no-hit loss by Freddy.

*Actually would rather see the Sox win than see Freddy do well

Make up your damn mind.

So it turns out Orlando Cabrera is a giant asshole.

I used to like him.

I'm happy he was trade because

“Wizard of OC” is the worst nickname of all time

The worst part is how it required a little clever to be that bad

It confused me for years because

O.C. doesn’t exactly rhyme with oz

Wheeee!

1-0!!

Gavin Floyd

Backtrack Player of the Year Candidate 2009

Hawk Harrelson is pretty much the worst ambassador the south could have hoped for.

Yeah but Cletus is a such a cartoon character

Aaaaaaah

Needs more shoes. Stat.

Hey, so one one showed up for this game.

If you had tickets to this, and then it started to rain

why would you leave? You’ve already committed your day to the game. Wait it out.

I would be surprised if it was close to being sold out in the first place.

But Jesus, if the Cubs draw well the White Sox should at be able to have people in the upper deck for what is absically a playoff game— in fact the delayed start time should me more walk ups.

US Cellular doesn't have real baseball fans.

It is disgustingly bad. Safeco has more knowledgable fans.

I bet they have a few.

It's pretty god awful.

Maybe, but how many team actually have a "good" fanbase?

Unsuccessful Ones

having unsuccessful teams breeds better fans then good teams

But the Mariners

But the Yankees
But the Caridnals

GREAT GOOGLY MOOGLY

take that Jeter!!!!

Gotta give the Tgiers credit for not making this Peoria North.

Considering how badly they probably didn't want to play today I imagine they want to take it out on the Sox something fierce

Yes, but Inge blows at hitting

he shouldn’t start

If I were a GM I swear I'd collect players like this

Guy who are plausable defenders at third, catcher, and center are fairly ordinary...

I meant bad hitters with great defense

I meant bad hitters with extraordinary utility

Meh

he’s had competent years with the bat and last time he played full time I believe he ranked 1st in defense at 3rd base.

And he makes 6 million dollars next year

Career OPS+ is 84, worse than the '08 Mariners

yeah but

for that three year stretch he was league average with a bat and the rangiest 3rd basemen in the game not named Feliz. (admittedly he has always been error prone) that has value.

I'm sure his hitting will only improve at the age of 32 after two off years.

No

but their farm system is bare of position players, it’s not like he’s blocking anyone

He's better cast in a utility role

Is MLB.tv giving anyone else trouble?

No.

So my tv gives me a 4:3 feed and mlbtv gives me a 16:9 feed

…switching over

Blow me

I'm watching both the mvbtv feed and the tv feed for the fun of it.

OK, not really but I could.

I'd like to be watching this game.

it would be awesome

if one delayed the other by a couple seconds so you could have instant replay

nay sir

It's on WGN

Who has WGN?

People with satellite dishes have WGN

Well…at least my parents do and they have Dish Network.

People that aren't me don't count.

Good point.

It's on limited basic here

Crazy.

$15 a month

This is pretty much the only time I've ever cared about having WGN.

But $15 a month for limited basic is pretty good.

I think it's a ripoff considering You get two channels worth watching

WGN and Vs. and you’re not even supposed to get Vs. as it comes in fuzzy)

It boils down to $150 a year for decent recpetion

It's like $25 in Seattle.

Sounds like a raw deal.

You don't get anything but the broadcast channels either.

Might as well just buy a new tv.

Makes the $50/mo for digital totally worth it.

I pay $120 for digital cable, internet and phone.

Not too bad, although I have no need for digital phone.

Ironically my work does

I'm at work?

I'm Ron Burgundy?

Looks like the tables have turned dickwaddle

Not really

As I said this our WGN feed crapped out on us

Do they have WGN in Seattle?

Nyet.

I was shock when I was in Bellingham

and couldn’t find it

Only on satellite.

ESPN2 is carrying the game

Late

Yup

Hey, look at that.

Has it been on the whole time?

I think so

wasn’t listed

Go White Soxs! One game playoffs are awesome!

Tyler - September 29, 2008 reply

Yes they are

Especially when the TIGERS win! Wooooo

"Sometimes you need to just run and stop worry about the outcome"

Yeah Granderson is bad player because he doesn't get thrown out enough.

So Miguel Cabrera went and had a nice season, it seems.

I kinda forgot about him.

Monster second half

Is the National League really that bad

or did the AL stars just have off years?

He's going to have to get better for his contract to not be a bad value

I would be surprised if he didn't.

So Miguel Cabrera is going to lead the American League in home runs...

dammit

my internet just started acting up

aw

that pitch looked good to me

I'd vote for Halladay

Alexei Ramirez looks like an alien.

Two Rs and Two Ls - September 29, 2008 reply

Fact.

I can't stop looking at his gameday picture.

his production

is remarkably similar to Jose Lopez

Park Factors

bwhahahahaha

Griffey hilariousness?

Sadly no

Two Rs and Two Ls - September 29, 2008 reply

The gameday picture had that well into the gap

I had to figure it wasn’t Junior messing it up.

He would never get there

Inge!

all tied up!!!!!!

Sweet!!

I can't believe that Gavin Floyd isn't terrible.

1st and 3rd

0 outs

Holy shit Romantaigo has had a good year

Been unlucky, too.

I would disagree as someone appears to have given him a major league job.

I think he's refering

to his BABIP with a 23.5% LD rate

So do I.

SC has him at 24.8%.

This at bat causes me to recall the "head regular" at VEB

emphatically stating his cause that Granderson was a bad ballplayer because he strikes out too much, and is bad against lefties.

Other blogs are worse

Have you been ordered to make peace?

or do you mean

“…than mine”

Bingo

You think a better blog would have more clarity.

I thought it was pretty clear

Could mean

“than VEB”

Which would be quite a damning statement

Both interpretations would be true

So this blog is better because the author's comments are multi layered and cause the reader to look within one's self?

It's the depth that really puts this place over the top

That and the Anne Frank jokes.

It's nice to know I help.

I'd like to see BCB try to be that daring

Why do you hate that place again?

I hate Al Yellon

I cannot read him.

I tried, but I found the dirt under my fingernails more interesting.

Sec 108 - September 29, 2008 reply

He's even more annoying than you think

God I love blog politics

zomg no blog politics

*blogatics

HH lite

This was less confusing

Oh come on

They’ve got to score here.

Well he got out alive.

your tv must be way ahead of mlb.tv

They usually are anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute ahead

Well it is on ESPN2...

I had no idea

Stay tied!

Ben Zorbrist had an ISO of.252

So Gary Sheffield is a weird hitter.

I hope he gets stuck on #499

and no one offers him a job

I'd love that as well.

His batted ball profile is bizarre.

I wanna hold down Uribe and shave that thing off his face.

You too!

Dude

I think you just got slurved

A Rays/ Twins series

would have a good chance at being baseball’s last all indoor playoff series

/Stark

Good job asshole

That appears to have been a hilarious series of events.

looks like Griffey can wait another year.

Perhaps this is setting up for a epic series of extras

A tie would have been a better setup.

Game tying bottom HR of the ninth inning

Did Gavin Floyd make 2 errors on the same play?

Not technically, no.

He bobbled, and then threw the ball away

basically a three base mistake

Jermaine Dye's career path gets more and more bizarre every season.

He's pulling an Ibanez, but better.

Not even comparable

not even the same hemisphere

In terms of refusal to decline, though?

Although, wow, you’re right.

At this point I wouldn't be surpirsed

if he posted a .290 OBP next year, missed most of 2010, and won the MVP in 2011.

I would have bet anything he was done after 2004.

yeah

His 2006 was holy balls redonk.

I could never leave Stat Corner and be perfectly fine with that.

The White Sox deserve to lose if they cant hit Freddy's slop.

http://statcorner.com/team.php?team=DET&year=2008&leag=A_L

bahahahahahaha

WIllis in only at -11.2

He only threw 24 innings

I need value per out

-.18

Thank you

SP with xIP > 10

John Van Benschoten  		PIT  	-0.19884417  	SP
Dontrelle Willis 		DET 	-0.18126544 	SP
Gio 	Gonzalez 		OAK 	-0.14908845 	SP
Jason 	Jennings 		TEX 	-0.14070745 	SP
Doug 	Mathis 			TEX 	-0.13822112 	SP
Matt 	Palmer 			SFN 	-0.13190041 	SP
Jimmy 	Barthmaier 		PIT 	-0.13151345 	SP
Steve 	Trachsel 		BAL 	-0.12927873 	SP
Tommy 	Hunter 			TEX 	-0.12911962 	SP
Dan 	Meyer 			OAK 	-0.11246834 	SP
Daryl 	Thompson 		CIN 	-0.10885753 	SP
Matt 	Morris 			PIT 	-0.10693944 	SP
Nick 	Adenhart 		ANA 	-0.10570795 	SP
Chuck 	James 			ATL 	-0.10316391 	SP
Homer 	Bailey 			CIN 	-0.10281862 	SP
Wade 	LeBlanc 		SDN 	-0.10002870 	SP
Miguel Batista 		SEA 	-0.09875639 	SP
Luis 	Mendoza 		TEX 	-0.09820204 	SP
Adam 	Loewen 			BAL 	-0.09803511 	SP
Dennis Sarfate 		BAL 	-0.09760531 	SP

4 people from Texas, 3 from Baltimore on that list.

Batistia has been surprisingly effective.

Poor Justin Verlander

surrounded by incompetants

Scrupio - September 29, 2008 reply

He'w welcome to come over here and deal with that.

*he's

People still think Kenny Rogers is good.

David Pinto thinks the Cardinals are getting a reasonable deal

What?

Going rate does not equal smart

It's like everybody forgot how they landed Lohse in the first place

I did not. >:-|

This will work in our advantage when we hire the new, smart GM that knows better.

It's not even really going rate.

I chose to point out the biggest flaw.

It's just stupid

How does David Pinto make a living doing what he does?

Is he usually like this?

Whore links?

I’m not sure, but apparently you should be a lot more profitable than you are.

That article was full of lies

BAHAHA

WHOA!

"This ballgame is tied at twooooooooooooo - YES!"

I no longer want a one-game playoff. I want Hawk to die tonight.

Those aren't mutually exclusive results

ESPN2 has Steve Phillips

but they also have HD

No way

DAMMIT

The Tigers are treating this like a playoff game.

As they should

I imagine Leyland said something along the lines of “this is our playoffs” before the game. Like everyone does.

I'm loving it even through gameday.

I would if I were him

because it’s the (pardon me) RIght Thing To Do

$41m for Lohse

Dear God.

4th year guar or option?

Lohse will receive a $1.25 million signing bonus, $7,125,000 in 2009, $8,875,000 in 2010 and $11,875,000 in each of the final two seasons. He also gets a full no-trade clause.

WHAT THE FUCK

WHY WHY WHY

At least he's pretty.

He'd look prettier sideways

Not in the mood

I have a headache

He's a sexy people too.

He has his moods

I don't want to wake up by a grumpy gload.

I thought this said something different for a second

Whatever it was, probably not that either.

True

He is at that.

Hoooooo boy.

This will be fun when Ankiel and Ludwick are in line for raises

and Pujols hits free angency

When does Pujols hit free agency?

Most likely 2012

Well, at least it's just one year.

You could backload Pujols and be okay. Still insane.

Ankiel is a free agent in 2010

They need to lock him up at some point

And Ludwick fascinates me. I don't know if he's as good as he was this year, but he's someone they might want to keep around too.

He's 29, probably due to have his arb years bought out

That's almost as bad as the Silva contract.

On a plus note for the Cardinals

Lohse probably can’t pitch as bad as Silva did this year

Worse

full NTC

FULL NO TRADE

With that contract though, how likely is it to be relevant?

It’s still stupid of course, but it’s not 48 million.

Does anyone think Sheets could be had for the same sum of money?

Not now, even with the injuries.

I think it might be worse.

Though Loshe is better

Lohse is better now,

but off the top of my head I think

Silva before 2008 > Lohse before 2009

by a touch

Loshe is more consistent

Lohse doesn't have the peaks that Silva had, but he doesn't have the valleys either.

LATE

Depends on how you weigh the NTC but I think it's a wee bit better

They didn't bother to seek other options

I didn't say it was good

FULL NTC

AND HE'S NOT GOOD

Sets a bad precident

Chruchill's source must be liar

or Mo has no power what so ever

one of the two

...

haha

Or they're really bad at being "saber"

At least it's not a Joel Pineiro extension.

There is no floor

I didn't say it isn't stupid

I think I'm being quite rational in my state.

Shiny ERA?

I know better now

I could forget the last 6 years of my life.

Sometimes I wish we could have our knowledge undone

If it weren't for the good hitting and spectacular outfield defense

Kyle Loshe would have never looked superficially pretty enough to propose this contract to.

Wow.

Now we are only probably

the worst run team in baseball

The understand replacement level talent on some level

I'd still rather be a Cards fan.

I am too distracted by the Piniero/Franklin multi year deals to be as mad as I should be.

If this is any thing like the Tiger playoff games I am used too

Seay will follow this up by throwing the next comebacker into the stands

Pravada

"The game plan as stated by club officials is to finalize a short list this week, begin the interview process the following week and have the position filled prior to or soon after the World Series. In almost all cases, Major League Baseball does not allow clubs to make major announcements during the Fall Classic. "

!!!

I hope they hire a black Jew

I'm afraid to escalate this

Stupid Sox.

The games tied in the 6th and they're singing goodbye.

I hope they ground into a double play.

I am begging for a DP

The truth is out there.

He looks like the bug monster from Men in Black in the flesh suit if it was a black farmer.

Oh dear.

I'm all for Equal Opportunity, but this is pushing it.

Or NVM!

Baseball tomorrow!

I hate the White Sox.

Agreed.

A one game playoff is far far better than no baseball

To you.

Seriously.

Not at the risk of more White Sox.

We’ve been over this tough.

You are wrong.

You underestimate how much I hate the White Sox.

It will lead you to the dark side.

Why so much hates?

Ozzie Guillen, mainly.

GREAT interview with him in Sporting News a couple issues back.

I swear he’s mentally retarded.

*though

That actually changes the tone and meaning quite a bit.

ALEXI RAMIREZ!

OK, that was so worth it.

Garces - September 29, 2008 reply

fucking hell.

Oh shit.

Well that blows.

BALLS

That was pretty awesome.

Wrong.

That sucked :(

This is an incredible username

Why thank you!

No one usually gets it.

Agree.

Thanks!

I don't get it

It's a Back to the Future reference.

I like dramatics

I like silly comedies.

mark sobba - September 29, 2008 reply

Alexi's frame is kinda reminding me of Jacoby.

That sounds

alot sexier than I hope you intended.

AZSEAfan - September 29, 2008 reply

Hahaha...

Not exactly what i meant…

Awww fuck.

That guy is not typing real words on that laptop in the Angels commercial

In fact, I’m pretty sure he’s just tapping the h key over and over

HH.

You think I'd be mad that Thornton turned into an asset but I'm not.

I hate Matt Thornton.

Yeah me neither.

It actually has occurred with many former Mariners.

Omerta - September 29, 2008 reply

Ramontiago!

It's catching on!

fuck you hawk!!!!!!

Alexei Ramirez is my Brandon Fahey.

You think he is adorable?

Kinda'.

In an ET sort of way.

I wonder how much money Edgar Renteria is going to get.

Well

1) He sucks
2) He is a year removed from not sucking

I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a 1 yr deal.

I wonder how terrible his defense is...

According to RZR he's not very good.

Yuniesque even.

How's his defense, though?

His offense wasn’t that terrible.

If I call correctly, it is mediocre.

Even if his BABIP regresses some, his hitting still isn’t that could, some of his power/walks/speed would need to return to make him a bargain pickup

If he was cheap enough and we were able to dump Yuni, I'd be okay with it I think.

He’s a better hitter than Yuni and I don’t care what RZR says, I’m sure he’s better defensively too.

But since that's not happening, I think he'd be a decent stopgap for someone else who might compete.

Welcome back to St. Louis!

I'd rather have Everett.

If I'm StL.

Doubt he his who he used to be

I wish defensive value was as easy to predict and quantify as offensive value.

Duh.

Kennedy/ P / Everett

batting 7, 8, 9, would make for some short games

Hmm. Yeah, maybe not.

Renteria might actually be a good way to go.

Sorry Matthew :<(

Would you want to go long term though?

With the impending Ludwick, Ankiel and Pujols situations?