Archive for Louisville KY
Strikeouts!
Posted by: | CommentsHello again this week to my conclave of readers. Can you just feel the chill in the air down to the 80’s? This week I would like to do something a little different. I am going in depth on a topic that has been much discussed on sport reader blogs, strikeouts – specifically the Reds strikeouts. Most have postulated that the Reds strike out too much, but what are the facts? As a team this year, the Reds are striking out 19% of plate appearances. This places them in the middle of National League contending teams. These range from the low of the Cardinals at 16% to the Phillies at 17%, Brewers at 18.5%, the Giants at 19%, and the Braves at 21%. The American League is obviously lower due to the DH. So what about individual players? Most power hitters are in the 15-19% range for 2009-2011. Cabrera 15%, Braun 16%, Gonzalez 16%, Konerko 16%, Bautista 17%, Berkman 17%, A-Rod 18%, Fielder 19%. There are, however, notable exceptions. Matt Kemp and Ryan Howard, who are thought of as strictly power hitters, are at 23% and 26% respectively. One glance shows why Albert Pujols is revered. His strike out rate is an astounding 10%.
So what about the Reds’ players, you ask? Most of the players fall in the normal range. (Note 2011 stats only). Start with players who usually put the ball in play. Hanigan 11%, Cairo 11%, Janish 12%, Phillips 12%, Hernandez 12%, Rolen 14%. While these players are not known for their power, many are considered among the best on the team hitting “in the clutch”. Joey Volto at 17% falls in the normal range for power hitters. We now come to the “problems”. Jay Bruce at 23%, Chris Heisey at 26%, and Drew Stubbs at 30% are far above the league average. These are the players we watch time after time fail with runners on base. Shouldn’t the Reds have known this pattern from minor league play? Well, yes and no; Chris Heisey only struck out 14% in the minors so one would think there is hope for improvement. Drew Stubbs, however, struck out at a rate of 24 % in the minors while hitting for less power than he now does. I believe that is part of the problem that he now thinks of himself as a power hitter and is pulling off the ball. Jay Bruce, on the other hand, has been a model of consistency. He struck out 23% in the minors, 23% in the majors prior to this year, and 23% this year. With him, what you see is what you will get with little hope for improvement.
Lastly, what about the up and coming players? Several have good strike out rates in the minors including Dave Sappelt 12%, Yonder Alonzo 15%, Zach Cozart 15%, and Devin Mesoraco 18%. Two others, however, come with warning signs, Juan Francisco 26% and Todd Frazier 25%. A good question might be why aren’t they getting better instruction in the minors to protect the plate with two strikes, etc?
So what is the answer to the Reds problems? Well, short of personnel changes, a change in the batting order would be helpful. Bunch your clutch hitters together as the Cardinals, Phillies, and others do. By batting Stubbs first, Bruce 4th or 5th, and Heisey 7th, you are ensuring a potential strike out in the middle of every rally. This is just a basic of managing that seems to be beyond Dusty Baker. That about wraps up the strike out tutorial for this week. Until next week, Doc.
Do ethics and honesty matter in today’s society?
Posted by: | CommentsHello again this week to my party of loyal readers. The question this week is, “Do ethics and honesty matter in today’s society?” It seems that everywhere unethical behavior and lack of professionalism is just plain ignored or just gets lip service. You see it on all fronts. You see it in business when CEOs take outlandish bonuses from companies that lose money. You see it in businesses that pay out bonuses from bailout tax money from the government. You see it in rich people who accept farm or ethanol subsidies. You see it in federal politicians who rig the system to benefit those who contribute to their campaigns.
You see it on the local front in public officials who do business with themselves at taxpayer expense. You see it in the metro council who use tax money ($175,000) to help buy their re-elections. You see it in people like the parasite Judy Green who has been using or cheating the government her whole adult life and sees nothing wrong with it. You see it in her constituents who know about her crooked dealings and still support her.
You see it in sports in figures like Tiger Woods who lived like a scoundrel and looked down his nose with contempt on those who admired and worshipped him. You see it in coaches like Ohio State’s Jim Tressell, who knew his players were cheating and didn’t report it. You see it in players like former OSU QB Terrell Pryor and So. Cal’s Reggie Bush, who cheat and then leave the program for the riches of the pro ranks with no penalties for their actions.
You see it in the entertainment industry in stars who are apparently proud of doing drugs, throwing wild parties, and sleeping around with half the opposite sex. People like Charlie Sheen, Lindsey Lohan, and Arnold Schwartzenegger.
Lastly, according to Wednesday’s Courier-Journal, you see it in everyday folk who consumed 21 pages of newsprint to list delinquent taxpayers numbering in the thousands. Although I must admit, in my personal history, either the tax collectors are cheats themselves or are incompetent as they have messed up my taxes on numerous occasions. So all of these listed may not actually owe anything, but I would bet most of them do. So my initial question still stands, do ethics and honesty matter anymore?
Until next week, Doc.
From Thunder Over Louisville to the Reds
Posted by: | CommentsHello again to my cartel of readers. I guess the big non-event for most people this week was Thunder Over Louisville. Except this year it wasn’t all man-made. I would have to say I was disappointed in the fireworks show. This used to be a nice show, but I think egos have taken over. It appears now the object is to just set off as many fireworks as possible in a short amount of time. You now cannot even follow them all unless you are a bird with wide-angle vision. They are also not seemingly choreographed to the music anymore. I would rather see a smaller, well thought out display that matches the music. But that’s just me.
I was reading a book this week in which the author was commenting on the fallacy of global warning and its collective fanatics. He was commenting on the accepted “fact” of global warming. History shows similar “factual” situations in the past. In the 1970’s, ozone holes were going to end life on earth. Also in the 1970’s, the next ice age was a sure thing. In the 1950’s, it was a “fact” that there was global warming. In the 1920’s, the ice age was going to doom us all. The real fact is they don’t have a clue, but government just uses this to try to control our lives even more. We must stand up and say no!
The Reds are having a very rough stretch. The starting pitcher they bragged on all winter has been horrible. Could it be their pitchers were over-rated? The Reds remind me of little kids with their excitement at times. Some player has a good ½ season and he is the next superstar to be rewarded with a long contract. To me, the Reds have only three solid proven players, Votto, Phillips, and Arroyo. The rest are unproven, never weres, mediocre, or flashes in the pan. They like to brag about the depth in the minors, especially here in Louisville. It appears, however, to be quantity over quality. It would be far better to produce 2 or 3 star players over 7 – 8 mediocre major leaguers. You can’t win it all without a couple of star pitchers and 2 –3 all-star players. What I see on the Reds and here at Louisville are several #3 or #4 starters and many .260 or .270 hitters but no future all-stars. This simply is not going to get the job done unless they can package some in a trade for a star or two. But the Reds will not pay to acquire any more stars. So there you have it.
Until next week, stay dry. Doc.
Some People Must Be Crazy!
Posted by: | CommentsGreetings to my loyal tribe of readers. Today’s Courier-Journal provided the fodder for this week’s article. First was an article urging catholic congressmen to vote their faith when it comes to bills about programs, illegal aliens, and foreign aid. Are these the same people who always howl about separation of church and state? I believe charity is best left to churches. They do a much better job about qualifying the recipients and seeing that the money goes where it belongs. How many billions has our government given away to third world countries only to have the majority of it end up in the hands of enemy dictators and drug lords? How many dollars does the government give away in this country to people who are cheating and gaming the system? And still they continue to give it away no matter the consequences. Put charity back in the hands of the experts – the churches and associated charities!
Second in the paper today was a blurb in the sports section about a pitcher, Ross Ohlendorf of the Pirates, who is in arbitration asking for a raise from $439,000 to $2,025,000 after going 1-11 last season. He ought to be lucky he still has a job. If any of us failed like that on the job, we wouldn’t have one. Even sadder yet, the Pirates are offering a raise to $1,400,000. Where has sanity gone? It’s no wonder the average family can’t afford to go to games.
Until next week, Doc.
