Ramblings And Stuff

[DOUGHBOYS]

I know. I know. Baseball players are human too. I know.
Still, I don't remember a beginning of a season where so many managers are 'resting' so many players!
Do they need this rest already?
Tough plane rides from Arizona and Florida?
Already this week, teams are playing disjointed schedules with odd days off.
Aren't THESE considered 'a day off'?
What I think it is, is that this early, Managers are determined to follow through and give their players rest.
While it's still fresh in their minds, they're following through on the self-edict.
It doesn't make much sense on any level though. They'll need the rest during the dog days, not while the player and the air are still crisp.


Alex Rios tried to steal a base against Josh Tomlin and was thrown out by a country mile.
He didn't get the memo.
Last year, nobody even attempted a stolen base off Tomlin.
Tomlin is a catchers best friend.
In 39 career starts, he has only walked 41 hitters and thrown three wild pitches.
No truth to the rumor that he will be traded to the Mariners so that Jesus Montero can have a personal pitcher.

We see all the hype about young pitchers and how they are going to be all that and a bag of Doritos.
Well, Clayton Kershaw fits the mold, he's got 47 wins and is still only 24 years old.
Of other pitchers that are 24 or younger, the mold was broken.
Second on that list of wins is Rick Porcello with 38 wins.

Jamey Wright will probably never get drafted in any NFBC drafts.
Heck, probably never get picked up in faab neither.
Still, Wright has accomplished something that would be the envy of a lot of ballplayers.
Especially those that are either sitting on their behinds at home after not being offered a contract or those toiling in the minors hoping for a call-up.
Jamey Wright has been a non-roster invitee seven years in a row and has made a club each time.

I love splits. They don't really tell all of a statistical story, but they're a helluva lot more interesting than breaking down fb/gb ratios.
Here are a couple-
Kevin Correia had a road ERA of 2.64 last year. His owners may have picked him up after looking extremely good against a tough team on the road and decided to give him an easier start at home.
The problem there is Correia's home splits.
At home last year, Correia's ERA was 7.71

The aforementioned Kershaw has been one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Especially against the free swinging types.
Last year, cleanup hitters batted .147 against Kershaw.
As a comparison, the number nine slot in the order hit .139 vs. Kershaw.