SB Nation User Blog: Valatan

All Star Game Overflow 3

Valatan — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 05:19:13 -0000

How long does this game have to go before it's declared a tie, with a decisive game seven of the world series to be played in Kaufmann Stadium/PNC Park? Will Ludwick throw the 17th inning?

3-3, 15th inning, Scott Kazmir on the mound.

Number of games won in a 162 game season versus the probability of winning that many games, with ...

Valatan — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:05:09 -0000

Number of games won in a 162 game season versus the probability of winning that many games, with the assumption that the team in question has a 50% chance of winning any given game.

Game 79 Overflow III

Valatan — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 04:21:32 -0000

Does it seem like this game will never end? 6-6, 8th inning.

Game 77 Overflow thread II: the fall of Papelbonistan

Valatan — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 21:24:01 -0000

So, Adam Kennedy is the hero against Jonathon Papelbon. Tied score in the tenth.

Game 62 Open Thread #2

Valatan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 01:21:53 -0000

This is the craziest game ever. let's hope that they can complete the comeback from 8-1.

8-6 Nats in the seventh.

Game 60 Rain Delay thread

Valatan — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 02:31:09 -0000

So, we're in a rain delay. Let's hope they get this in, and the bats stay alive. I'd hate to see a steal of home not count. 5-0 Cardinals, top of fifth, two on for the cards, no out

Great USS Mariner post on segregation in baseball

Valatan — Sat, 17 May 2008 23:50:42 -0000

Great USS Mariner post on segregation in baseball

People have probably seen this, but it is truly fantastic. One of the funniest things I've read in ages

Game 45 Overflow Thread II: Electric Boogaloo

Valatan — Sat, 17 May 2008 20:39:47 -0000

tied game going into the 10th. Let's not run into any more stupid outs on the basepaths, please

On restraint (or... save the heart attack for when the zombie space aliens attack!)

Valatan — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 21:49:14 -0000

Before this season began, people were debating whether this team would win 60 games or whether it would hold on and break even at 82. Almost no one expected that the pitching would hold up to the extent that it has, and virtually every surprise that we've had this season has been an overwhelmingly positive one: Wellemeyer cutting down on the BBs, while maintaining the strikeouts; Izturis getting on base; Lohse being able to go deep in games right off of the bat; even Skippy has been far superior offensively to anything we could have hoped for. So far, the only really serious bad surprise we've had is that Troy Glaus has been having trouble getting his power going, but the team around him has been able to at least pick up the slack*.

The point is, however, that the team is playing very well: far better than anyone could have predicted--virtually no one would have picked the cardinals to open the season by winning each of their first four series, yet here we are, in that very position. Not only that, however, but the team is really competing in every game we play in. They are clawing back from deficits, even after seeing the bullpen cough up leads and fall behind.

So, why the hypercriticality? I'm seeing harsh criticism fall on any and all players who don't live up to a Pujolsian standard of performance. It seems like anyone who falls short on a particular play gets invective thrown at them, despite the overall performance that they might have had on that particular day, even. This is a really long season, and this team has been playing very well to date, and doing so in a very entertaining, encouraging, and engaging manner. It really doesn't make much sense to me to get all that bent out of shape over particular in game decisions at this point, considering how long the season is going to go.

This team has serious problems with depth and health, and if it is going to last through the season performing at a high level, this means that the players are going to have to get rotated in and out of the lineup pretty frequently. There isn't a clear set of three ideal starting outfielders, and Glaus probably isn't at 100%, and is going to need days off, regardless of who we have to spell him on his days off. Two of the three of Izturis, Miles and Kennedy have to be in the starting lineup on any given day, at least until Ryan is off of the DL. Rico Washington will be back in Memphis when Ryan is off of the DL. Why get bent out of shape regarding these things, which are either constraints of the current roster (and hence, probably unchangeable until Julyish) or are temporary fixes with preordained endpoints and solutions?

Being critical is fine, and being unhappy with decisions is also fine. But, I can't really see why there is much reason to get seethingly upset at the Cardinals, or even at particular players, at this point in time. The team is playing beautifully (loss yesterday or no). Let's just enjoy this for now, and at least see if the pitching falls off of the wheels to start marching down to New Busch with pitchforks and torches.

Believe me, the benefits your pets will feel from the decrease yelling will make this attitude worthwhile.

*Franklin's struggles are a bit of a surprise, too, but they were predicted by more than a few people.

Game 13 Overflow Thread

Valatan — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 22:00:05 -0000

Well, at least Lincecum is gone. Let's get those bats going.