Sluggers’ Slump: What’s Going on Here?

18 Thursday Sep 2014

Tags

"The Atlantic", baseball, Brian Mills, Doc Ellis, Hitting, MLB, No-Hitter, Pirates, Pitch f/x, Pitching, Strike Zone, Umpires

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(Jacob deGrom Ties MLB Record, Strikes Out 8 Straight. Pix-USA Today)

Have you noticed how it seems hitting has been trumped by pitching in baseball, not only this year but for a number of years now?

With Red Sox in last place, 26 games behind the AL East winner Orioles, I have had a good deal of time to think about more than just my beloved team and their miseries. While I have enjoyed the Nats’ good season, it’s not the same as rooting for Boston.

Looking at some box scores a few weeks ago, I was struck by what seemed to me to be low batting averages, even of the best players for the best teams in baseball. In fact, when I looked at the six leading teams in all the MLB Divisions, only two clubs had anyone hitting over .300 (one of those two teams just had one player hitting .301, and he is now below .300).

I began looking at other statistics, going back as far as 2000. Here are just some of the things I found when I looked at every year from 2000-2014 (being retired and having a losing baseball team allows for spending time on such matters):

Three Dilemmas. Please Advise.

17 Wednesday Sep 2014

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 11 Comments

Tags

Baltimore Orioles, baseball, Dilemmas, Las Vegas Bets, Red Sox, Washington Nationals, World Series

unnamed (Not shown: Multiple Red Sox tickets to win the 2014 Pennant & World Series.)

Dilemma #1:

The Facts: The Washington Nationals and the Baltimore Orioles secured playoff positions last night in their respective MLB Divisions (NL East and AL East). Thus both have a shot at winning the 2014 World Series. I have been a Nats’ fan (a distant second, of course, to being a Red Sox fan) since they arrived in DC. I have rooted against the O’s for years, except when they play the Yankees. I hold two Las Vegas $10 bets. One for the Nats (payoff $110) and one for the O’s (payoff $260).

The Dilemma: Whom do I cheer for to win the World Series?

(Note: I also hold three $10 tickets for the Nats to win the 2014 Pennant. Total payoff for the three tickets, $145.)

Dilemma #2:

The Facts: On my Orioles’ WS ticket, I have written the name “Nelson” in the upper right hand corner of the ticket. Nelson is a friend who roots for the O’s and rubs it in when they beat the Sox. Nelson does not know I bought this ticket with him in mind.

The Dilemma: Do I inform Nelson I have the ticket, and do I give it to him?

Dilemma #3:

The Facts: I also bought a bunch (I’m embarrassed to say how many) of Sox tickets for them to win the 2014 Pennant and World Series. (If either the Nats’ or the O’s win the World Series, I can recoup the cost of most of my foolish Sox bets.)

The Dilemma: What do I do with all my useless Sox 2014 tickets.

Please advise.

Eli & His Aba Sing the ‘National Anthem’

08 Monday Sep 2014

Posted by Richard in Family and Friends, Go Sox

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

"Take Me Out to the Ball Game", Father & Son

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September Nats’ Tickets…On the Way to the Playoffs?

29 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

baseball, Nats' Games, Washington Nationals

Empty seat I have a few September Washington Nationals tickets available, all at no cost to you, other than perhaps buying me some peanuts at the game (if it is a game we are seeing together):

The available dates:

Stepping Back from the Precipice…for the Moment.

01 Friday Aug 2014

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Andrew MIller, baseball, Ben Cherington, Bill Beane, Boston Red Sox, John Lackey, John Lester, Red Sox, Sox, Yoenis Cespedis

sox

Twenty-four hours ago I asked my wife Ellen to lock up all the sharp knives and put a barrier across the stairs to the third floor.

It was clear to me that the Sox were about to explode, that GM Ben Cherington was about to cast off, minimally, our two top pitchers and one of our top relievers.

For what? A bunch of prospects?

My well being was threatened, and I needed protection from acting impulsively.

This morning I told Ellen she could unlock the knives and take down the barrier to the third floor.

For the moment at least, things didn’t seem so dire.

The All Star Game – 2014

21 Monday Jul 2014

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

2014 MLB All Star Game, Derek Jeter, Target Field

First, a few of Ellen’s pictures from the only MLB All Star game I ever attended:

What MillersTime Readers Predicted for 2014

14 Wednesday May 2014

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

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Tags

Baseball Predictions, MillersTime 2014 Basebal Contests, Who's (Hu's) on First?

by: JamieD On 9/3/10, Total ProSports.com. If you've never seen or want to see the Abbott-Costello piece again: http://bit.ly/1mV1fyH

by: JamieD 9/3/10, Total ProSports.com. (If you’ve never seen or want to see the Abbott-Costello piece again: http://bit.ly/1mV1fyH)

I’ve finally gotten around to summarizing some of your 2014 MillersTime Baseball Contest predictions. There are too many variables to put them all on a spread sheet as I’ve done before, but here are some of what the wise and not so wise fans said:

Join Me at the Ball Park

13 Tuesday May 2014

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

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Tags

Free Tickets, MLB Baseball, Nationals Park, Nats, Washington Nationals

A few more opportunities to join me at a Nats’ game or, in a couple of instances, get two tickets for yourself:

Take a Kid to a Nats vs Cards Game for Free

10 Thursday Apr 2014

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 2 Comments

Saw my first 2014 Nats’ game last night, a four hour (OK 3:56), 17 run, 25 hit, 18 strike out, three error, 364 pitch game won because the Marlins chose to intentionally walk Anthony Rendon to fill the bases and face Jason Werth, who responded with a grand slam home run.

A good ending to a long night filled with everything that is good and sometimes not so good about baseball.

Anyway, the purpose of this post is to offer two terrific seats, fifth row behind the visitor’s dugout between home and third, for the Friday, April 18, 7:05 PM Nats vs Cards game.

I’ll be glad to donate them to someone who will take a young person to the game.

If no one wants to do that, I’ll sell the two for a total of $100.

The face price of the tickets is $80 per ticket. But since I pay $50 for them, I’m offering the two for a total of $100.

Let me know if you’re interested in either offer.

At Fenway – Celebrating the 2013 Season

06 Sunday Apr 2014

Posted by Richard in Family and Friends, Go Sox

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

2014 Ring & Flag Ceremony, Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park, Fenway's Finest, The "Bricks", The Family

April 4, 2014 – At Fenway Park to Celebrate the 2013 Magical Season

Outside Fenway:

Inside Fenway:

On the Field:

Best Birthday Pix Ever

02 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by Richard in Family and Friends, Go Sox

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Best Birthday Pix Ever, Boston Red Sox, Nelson Romero, President Obama

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The story behind the picture:

Most folks who follow the Red Sox and keep an eye on the President thought that the Sox visit to the White House was to recognize the magical year my heroes had going from last to first. And most of the press focused on Papi taking a “selfie” with Obama.

However, I can reveal here on MillersTime that that was only part of the story.

My good friend and buddy Nelson, through his beisbol contacts, arranged for my two heroes (backed by the entire Red Sox team) to personally wish me a Happy Birthday.

How’s that for friendship?

Now That That’s Over…

01 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

2014 Millers Time Baseball Contests, Boston Red Sox, Fenway, MLB, Opening Day, Washington Nationals

Now that we know the mighty Sox will not be 162-0 this season…

And now that 60 of you have responded to my incessant nagging to get in your 2014 MillersTime Baseball predictions (one-third of you doing so in the final 24 hours)…

We can proceed with the best six months (seven for some of us) of the year.

I’m listing below Washington Nationals’ games for which I invite friends, foes, fans and faux fans to join me for a game at no cost, save perhaps buying me a bag of peanuts and being captive to my baseball natterings for three hours.

These are just the games for April and May. Later, I’ll list some summer and September games.

Contest Deadline Extended

21 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by Richard in Go Sox

≈ 4 Comments

2007. WS.photo With a bit of reluctance (not wanting to reward slackers, procrastinators, and laggards), I am, nevertheless, extending the deadline for submissions to the 2014 MillersTime Baseball Contests.