SB Nation User Blog: northtexan95

Does anyone here still look at a player's batting average?

northtexan95 — Tue, 26 May 2009 14:27:51 -0000

When I look up a players stats I always ignore the batting average stat and instead look straight to OBP and SLG. I have no idea what the batting average is for any MLB player. When a news article or a blog mentions a players BA I gloss over it.

When I see a player's BA flashed on a TV when they come up to bat I pay no attention to it. In fact, sometimes I'm shocked because I know a player is having a good year with OBP but their BA is awful.

Batting Average just seems to be a wasted stat that shouldn't be taking up space in print, on a scoreboard, or on a TV screen. It also shouldn't be use by writers **coughRichardDurrettcough** to show how a player is performing.

Has anyone else lost faith in CJ?

northtexan95 — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 19:20:57 -0000

Has anyone else lost faith in CJ? I didn't have much coming into the season and I've lost that. He looks like the same guy as last year ... and that's a bad thing. He's talented but doesn't seem to have a clue out there.

He doesn't need to see the 8th inning anytime soon. I'd recommend sending him to AAA if there was somebody ... anybody ... ready to take his spot on the roster.

The Hamilton story just gets better and better

northtexan95 — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:24:46 -0000

This is a great story of who Josh is having pitch to him in the home run derby.

http://www.newsobserver.com/sports/story/1139201.html

Here's an excerpt to reach the 75 limit. Check the link for the full story.

HAMILTON DELIVERS ON PROMISE

ARLINGTON, Texas - Years ago, Josh Hamilton made a promise to Clay Council. They never shook hands or signed a contract. It was just the word of one baseball player to another.

Hamilton, an Athens Drive student at the time, told Council, an American Legion volunteer coach who tossed batting practice, that if he ever reached Major League Baseball's Home Run Derby he would take him along to pitch.

Three weeks ago, Council's phone rang in his Cary home. On the other end was Hamilton, the former Athens Drive High School phenom and now major league All-Star for the Texas Rangers.

"That's the first guy I thought about," Hamilton said on Thursday after batting practice before a game against the Los Angeles Angels at Rangers Ballpark.

Hamilton added, "He's done so much for so many kids and probably hasn't got a lot of thank yous for it. This is a big thank you."

Convicted steroids dealer admits supplying Kurkjian, Clayton

northtexan95 — Sat, 24 May 2008 13:50:30 -0000

PLANO, TX — David Jacobs – a Plano man convicted of distributing steroids – told the Dallas Morning News late last month that he supplied steroids and masking agents to members of the Dallas Cowboys. Now, Jacobs is making claims against other famous names in the sports world.

In an SSNN exclusive interview, Jacobs claimed he supplied steroids and human growth hormones to ESPN employees John Clayton and Tim Kurkjian. Clayton is a Hall of Fame reporter who covers the National Football League, while Kurkjian follows Major League Baseball. Jacobs claims that both men approached him on separate occasions about the illegal substances.

“Clayton came to me first,” Jacobs told SSNN. “He said he was tired of getting trampled by [ESPN NFL analyst Sean] Salisbury in those on-camera debates. Plus, off-camera, he said Salisbury regularly took his lunch money and gave him swirlies. He wanted to bulk up so he could fight back.”

According to Jacobs, Clayton became a regular customer in 2006. “I sent him the best stuff. I used [ESPN reporter Ed] Werder as a mule.”

Werder typically spends the entire NFL season reporting on wide receiver Terrell Owens‘ every move, from in front of the Dallas Cowboys’ complex in Irving, Texas. Jacobs went on to say that although he supplied Clayton with the illegal substances, he has his doubts over whether the reporter actually took them.

“I mean, have you seen the guy? I only met him a few times, but I see him on TV everyday. He made absolutely no progress,” Jacobs said. “I kept asking him, ‘Are you taking them like I told you to?’ He kept saying he did, but look at him – he’s still a 150-pound weakling. And Salisbury still buries him. He’s probably afraid of needles or something.”

Jacobs tells a similar story about Kurkjian. “Kurk basically got tired of looking like a little boy. Plus, he’s got that little squeaky voice. So I loaded him up with testosterone.”

Like Clayton, the substances Jacobs supplied appeared to have little effect on Kurkjian. Perhaps bolstered by their still-unimpressive physical statures, both Kurkjian and Clayton vehemently denied the allegations through their lawyers – but Jacobs stands by his story.

“I know it sounds unlikely, based on the obvious physical evidence, but this really happened,” a plaintive Jacobs insisted. “What would I gain by making this up? It just makes me look bad. My stuff obviously failed these guys badly.”

Jacobs says the influence of professional athletes is to blame for reporters like Kurkjian and Clayton turning to illegal performance enhancers. “These are obviously nice little men who were negatively influenced by the hulking, manly athletes they cover and work with. Who wouldn’t feel like an insecure little wimp in an environment like that?”

http://www.serioussportsnewsnetwork.com/2008/05/convicted-steroids-dealer-admits-supplying-kurkjian-clayton.html

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Greatness! lol

OT: Just when I thought

northtexan95 — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 21:00:46 -0000

Just when I thought ESPN was useless they write something like this: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=tonyharris

A very well written story about a basketball player falling into the depths of mental sickness.

OT: Great Receivers?

northtexan95 — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 03:18:40 -0000

Lynn Swann just said that someone (Hines Ward) is carrying on the tradition of "great" receivers in Pittsburgh.

So just who are these "great" receivers of Pittsburgh past? Lynn Swann is in the Hall of Fame but I don't know any knowledgeable football fans who consider him "great". Heck, most people consider John Stallworth to be the better of the two. Hines Ward? Solid receiver, great blocker (I guess) but is he "great"? Um ... no. Are there any other receivers in Pittsburgh history who could be considered "great"?

I guess Lynn could have meant "great" for a Pittsburgh receiver ... kinda like Charlie Hough would be considered a "great" pitcher for the Texas Rangers.

Evan Grant's Latest from tonight

northtexan95 — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 00:11:37 -0000

With less than a week to go before the trading deadline, the Rangers are heavily involved in talks with Atlanta on a deal that could send Mark Teixeira to the Braves, major league sources confirmed Wednesday.

The deal, however, could also expand into a blockbuster. Both Atlanta and the Los Angeles Dodgers, sources said, would like to get Teixeira and a reliever from the Rangers. Eric Gagne and Ron Mahay are of interest to Atlanta; the Dodgers are more interested in Gagne and Joaquin Benoit. Further complicating the scenario is the Rangers' interest in keeping Gagne on a long-term deal. The club and Gagne remain conversant about such a possibility.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said he would not discuss any trade scenarios.

The foundation for a deal that would send Teixeira to Atlanta would be 22-year-old catcher-first baseman Jarrod Saltalamacchia, considered the Braves' top prospect. It would likely also include a young pitcher, potentially either 23-year-old right-hander Kyle Davies or 21-year-old left-hander Matt Harrison, and infielder Elvis Andrus. The Braves, however, are not likely to part with lefty Jo-Jo Reyes.

The Dodgers also remain interested in a Teixeira-centric package, the source said. The Dodgers would likely have to part with first baseman James Loney, an outfielder such as Andre Ethier and a minor league pitcher to pull of such a deal. The Rangers love Highland Park lefty Clayton Kershaw, but it's not certain the Dodgers would include a prospect of his caliber as a third player.

Also, the Los Angeles Angels, according to a major league source, have upped an original offer of first baseman Casey Kotchman and a minor league outfielder (either Terry Evans or Nathan Haynes) for Teixeira alone.

That Atlanta and the two Los Angeles clubs are significantly interested could strengthen the Rangers' bargaining position in the final days leading up to Tuesday's 3 p.m. trading deadline. The Dodgers and Braves could end up in a head-to-head fight for the NL wild card, so keeping the other from upgrading its team could be a strong secondary motivator.

Likewise, the two Los Angeles teams are competing for the Southern California fan base. Neither can afford to watch Teixeira end up with the other and potentially in the World Series while the other is at home.

Can a pitcher earn a save without recording an out?

northtexan95 — Wed, 16 May 2007 16:29:00 -0000

Can a pitcher earn a save without recording an out?

Situation: A relief pitcher comes into a game with the following situation: 9th inning, team ahead 1-0, bases loaded, two outs, 2-0 count on the batter. He then proceeds to strike out the batter on three pitches.

Point of debate: Since the pitcher entered the game with a 2-0 count on the batter, is the at bat charged to the previous pitcher even if it's a positive outcome (postive for the pitcher)? If so, then the relief pitcher could be on the mound when the game ended with a one run win but not have an out credited to him.

Anyone know how one would score this situation correctly?