Congrats Starlin. You're a first ballot hall-of-famer now!
The Cards are taking on the Reds over the next few days. I think it's difficult to talk about this series without mentioning what happened last August. TB started today's broadcast by talking about the brawl, so I'll put in my thoughts as well. When most people see the video of the brawl, http://mlb.mlb.com/video/play.jsp?content_id=10842801&topic_id=11493214, they see Johnny Cueto pushed up against the screen and kicking his legs aggressively. When TB watches the video, he must see something else. At the beginning of today's Cards v. Reds game, TB said, "Cueto brushed his cleats against Carpenter's back." Brushed, really? Is that why Carpenter had cuts and bruises all over his neck and back? Let me guess, Cueto also "brushed" his cleats against Jason LaRue's head giving him a career-ending concussion. At least MLB saw that Cueto was out of control because if TB would have been in charge of the consequences, I'm sure Carpenter would have gotten the 7 game suspension for getting in the way of Cueto's metal cleats. Ridic.
To the game....
In the top of the 5th, TB starts talking about Drew Stubbs running on Cards catcher Yadier Molina. He says, "Even with Molina behind the plate, if running is one of your team' s major assets, shouldn't you do it even with him behind the plate?" Before I get into the details of this, TB said "Team's major asset," he did not say "an asset of Drew Stubbs," indicating that the Reds are a good running team. The Reds have stolen 54 bases and have gotten caught 27 times. Looking at the NL, this puts the Reds behind the Astros, Dodgers, Brewers, Mets, Phillies, Nationals, Padres, Pirates, Rockies and Diamondbacks. When you add the AL, they are behind the Red Sox, Royals, Angels, Yankees, Mariners, Rays, Rangers and Blue Jays. They are 11 out of 16 in the NL and 19 of 30 in all of MLB in stolen bases ... how is this an "asset of the Reds?" Oh wait, I forgot ... the Reds are great in every aspect of the game! My bad TB. The Reds have the best running game in the history of MLB.
In the bottom of the 5th, TB mentions the five NL players up for the All-Star Final Vote. When he gets to Victorino, he questions him being there saying, "Is Victorino really having that good of a year?" TB, how about I answer your question with a question. Should Victorino be an All-Star if he is batting 38 points higher than Jay Bruce, has scored 6 more runs than Bruce, has an equal amount of hits as Bruce (in 43 less plate appearances), has hit 8 more triples than Bruce, struck out 49 times less than Bruce and has a higher OBP, Slugging percentage and OPS than Bruce? Let's not forget Victorino's 3.3 wins above replacement to Bruce's .2 (stats courtesy of baseball-reference.com). Victorino also plays an incredible center field. A few posts ago, Zeke suggested that I use UZR (ultimate zone rating) when ranking defensive players. This one's for you Zeke ... Victorino's UZR is currently at 8.0 ... Well above the MLB average. On the other hand, you have Bruce at -4.3 ... a bit below the MLB average. No disrespect to the month May that Bruce had, but I think the question that TB should really be asking is, "Is Jay Bruce really having more of an all-star year than Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates?" My opinion (not that anyone is asking) is no way in he**! Jay Bruce is battling teammate Drew Stubbs to be the strikeout king of the NL (Stubbs is currently winning), and Andrew McCutchen is whooping Bruce in every offensive category except homers and RBIs (and he is just a few behind in each of those). Let's also not forget McCutchen's 4.9 WAR (only behind Bautista and Reyes) and his UZR rating of 8.3 puts him forth among all outfielders in MLB ... Bruce is currently in 53rd place.
After questioning Victorino's place in the Final Vote, TB goes on about Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum making the All-Star Team saying, "Neither one of them have the stats this year." My only question is this ... When did TB start caring about stats? All season long he's been making blind statements and not paying attention to stats. I know TB is high on Mike Leake and he really wants him to be an all-star, but I'd only choose Leake over Cain or Lincecum if I needed a few new shirts from Macy's.
Time to sign off for the night. Happy Birthday, America.
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