Today in Baseball (Pittsburgh, stance, wild card, win)

[jtur88]

I was rooting for Cruz to get on base and try to steal, so Posey could tie Leslie Nunamakers record of throwing out three runners stealing in one inning (Ty Cobb was one of them).

I also enjoyed the oddity of the 5-4-2 double play, in which 4 made the putout at first and 2 made the putout at third. McCarver said that would not be a DP, for some cockamamie reason "because of the sacrifice in between", but it was. I believe the only thing t hat could intercede to make two outs on continuous play not a DP would be an error, or time called.

[jtur88]

Thriller in Chicago. White Sox and Royals go scoreless into extras. Royals score two in top of tenth. Whits Sox score one and have tying run at third with one out, and Holland strikes out next two batters.

[jtur88]

Markakis out for the rest of the Orioles season. How much does it mean? Markakis WAR is 1.3 over 100 games, or 0.26 for the remaining 20 games. A quarter of a win.

[filihok]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Markakis out for the rest of the Orioles season. How much does it mean? Markakis WAR is 1.3 over 100 games, or 0.26 for the remaining 20 games. A quarter of a win.

That'd only be true if the Orioles replaced Markakis with a replacement level player.

Today they replaced him with Wilson Betemit (who lost his starting job when the O's called up Manny Machado).

ZiPS projects Markakis for .3 WAR the rest of the season
ZiPS projects Betemit for .2 WAR the rest of the season. This projection assumes Betemit as a 1st/3rd baseman not a DH. The O's used Betemit at DH and regular DH Chris Davis in RF today. There'll be a defensive hit as well.

All this is to say basically what you said, that the difference will likely be minimal.

[case44]

Meanwhile, the Orioles keep plugging away. They're tied with the Yankees for first in the AL East. Good for them, and good for baseball.

And those Pirates are still over .500 this late in the season. Just think: They need just nine more wins to avoid another consecutive losing season and ten more to clinch their first winning season in, seemingly, forever. And they've got 21 games left. I'd say it's doable. And I think they'll finish over .500 this time. Mark it.

[Milwaukee City]

The Milwaukee Brewers are 18-5 in their last 23 games with 19 to play the Brewers are 3GB and if the Dodgers beat the Cardinals tomorrow then Milwaukee will be 2.5 with 19 to play! Early August the Brewers were 12.5GB. I never gave up watching and going to games and even when they were 12.5 back and I kept telling people that it ain't over until it's over.

Go Brew Crew!

[jtur88]

Orioles-Rays are in the 14th inning. Orioles loaded bases in bottom of 13th, none out, couldn't score the winner. I'm roooting for Rays, keep the Rays and Orioles as close together as possible so there is no daylight between them for the Yankees to get the WC.

[jtur88]

Orioles win in 14, for the sweep. Orioles against A's next, and Rays against Yankees.

[Grandstander]

You have to hand it to the Arizona Diamondbacks, last night they demonstrated a real genius for avoiding scoring in their 6-2 loss to the Giants. Arizona had nine hits and were the recipients of seven-count em-seven walks issued by the SF staff..17 baserunners and they scored two runs. The Giants also chipped in with an error.

They demonstrated their skill right away. In the first inning they got three walks and a single off Matt Cain...and still did not score, losing one baserunner to a caught stealing. In the second inning their first two batters reached...and they failed to score. In the sixth they got two hits and two batters hit by pitches...and scored one run.

The Giants staff was pitching out of the stretch all night.

[case44]

I just now noticed, but the Rangers have finally made it to 3 million fans at home. This actually happened a few days ago.

First time ever for this franchise with that spacious ballpark. Congratulations!