Well, my fear and loathing of Calvin Borel was appropriate as he took yet another Kentucky Derby in the wet. Darn him. I started the morning well by taking of four of six races in Beulah Park's final Pick 6. Well in the sense of picking four winners. Not well in the sense of not winning any money.
On the baseball front, after a delay in starting his season because of an injury, Josh Prince has been struggling at Class A Brevard County hitting .204/.259/.296 with three steals. He has been a little rough in the field as well.
Yu Darvish is having another fantastic start for the Fighters. He is 4-2 and third in the league in ERA at 1.96. His 67 strikeouts leads the league (in 55 innings) and he has surrendered just one home run.
I've returned to wine after a long hiatus. In the early 1990's I was really into Australian wine, got out of wine altogether, but based on Gary Vaynerchuk's influence have gotten back into it. I'm probably going to start talking about some of the wines I've had this year (I haven't had an awful lot).
A couple book reviews are backlogged and will be published this week. I almost have packages ready to be sent out. Think that about covers it.
Showing posts with label yu darvish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label yu darvish. Show all posts
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Friday, September 4, 2009
August Prince and Darvish updates
Josh Prince has not had an easy time of it since being promoted to Wisconsin but he's had flashes of success. He is still walking at a pretty good clip but has gone six straight games without a stolen base, the longest stretch of his brief pro career. He did his first professional home run against Burlington on August 24th and continues to play well in the field. It is not uncommon to take some time to adjust after a promotion and I expect he'll come around in the latter parts of the season. Despite not having played there in several weeks, Josh is still the Pioneer League leader in stolen bases. Brian Ruggiano of the Ogden Raptors needs four steals in the final eight games to tie Prince.
Yu Darvish had his struggles in August as well. Here's the game by game look.
Darvish loses to Rakuten 3-1 despite 12 strikeouts and just five hits because of five walks allowed.
153 IP, 95 H, 36 BB, 144 K, 13-4, 1.41 ERA
The following week he posts almost the same exact stats, 12 K's, 5 H in 8 IP. With just one walk, though, he holds Seibu to two runs and gets the victory.
161 IP, 100 H, 37 BB, 156 K, 14-4, 1.45 ERA
Darvish gets crushed by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks as third baseman Jose Ortiz goes deep off of Darvish twice. Darvish throws the complete game, however.
169 IP, 110 H, 38 BB, 161 K, 14-5, 1.70 ERA
You have to love Japanese baseball. Darvish leads the league in ERA and victories and is second in strikeouts. Without question he is the best pitcher in the league. So what do the Fighters do? They have Darvish skip his next start so that he can go to their practice facility and work on his form.
Of course, it may have been to protect him, too. Five members of the Fighters had contracted swine flu so depending on the location of the practice facility, they may also have been trying to keep him healthy.
Yu Darvish had his struggles in August as well. Here's the game by game look.
Darvish loses to Rakuten 3-1 despite 12 strikeouts and just five hits because of five walks allowed.
153 IP, 95 H, 36 BB, 144 K, 13-4, 1.41 ERA
The following week he posts almost the same exact stats, 12 K's, 5 H in 8 IP. With just one walk, though, he holds Seibu to two runs and gets the victory.
161 IP, 100 H, 37 BB, 156 K, 14-4, 1.45 ERA
Darvish gets crushed by the Fukuoka Softbank Hawks as third baseman Jose Ortiz goes deep off of Darvish twice. Darvish throws the complete game, however.
169 IP, 110 H, 38 BB, 161 K, 14-5, 1.70 ERA
You have to love Japanese baseball. Darvish leads the league in ERA and victories and is second in strikeouts. Without question he is the best pitcher in the league. So what do the Fighters do? They have Darvish skip his next start so that he can go to their practice facility and work on his form.
Of course, it may have been to protect him, too. Five members of the Fighters had contracted swine flu so depending on the location of the practice facility, they may also have been trying to keep him healthy.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
July Darvish and Prince update
July was full of intrigue for Yu Darvish and Josh Prince.
I was all excited about the potential of Josh Prince setting the single season stolen base record for the Pioneer League. The Pioneer League is a short-season league, playing just 76 games in a year. Despite this, Prince was on pace to steal 55 bases, having pinched 26 in 36 games. The record is 60, set by Tom Goodwin of the Great Falls Dodgers who stole 60 bases in 63 games. Prince had a shot, especially if he would have been able to get another high steal game like he did at the start of the season.
Alas, the chance is now zero. That's a good thing for Prince, though, as he was promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He has three steals in four games there and also has hit a pair of doubles. He's one step closer to reaching the majors. Prince has a shot at maintaining his league lead in steals in the Pioneer League, though. Casper's Avery Barnes is his biggest threat.
On the other side of the world, Yu Darvish had an episode which left me wondering what the equivalent event would be here and how Bud Selig would handle it. We'll get to that as we continue the game by game accounting:
Rakuten manages nine hits but can plate just a single run in seven innings against Darvish. One walk and seven strikeouts issued as Darvish gets a no-decision:
112 IP, 70 H, 22 BB, 103 K, 10-2, 1.13 ERA
Darvish has his worst start of the year against the Seibu Lions. In seven innings he again gives up nine hits but two of them are home runs, doubling his season total for home runs allowed. He limits the damage to four runs but still takes the loss.
119 IP, 79 H, 24 BB, 108 K, 10-3, 1.36 ERA
Is Darvish tiring? Is something wrong? Nah. Just human. Throws a complete game next time out. A four-hitter, striking out nine. He does give up another homer, though, as his only run surrendered.
128 IP, 83 H, 25 BB, 117 K, 11-3, 1.34 ERA
Three straight games with a home run allowed? Darvish enters the All-Star Break with another complete game, this time allowing two hits, one a homer, as Nippon beats Lotte, 2-1.
137 IP, 85 H, 29 BB, 123 K, 12-3, 1.31 ERA
Here's where the drama starts. Two days later, Darvish gets the start for the first All-Star game (the All-Star series is a best of three games in Japan). This surprised me a bit. Japanese starters tend to throw just one game a week so they get six days rest typically. Darvish is going again after one day? Granted, it's an All-Star Game and he wasn't going to pitch much anyway. I still thought it was an unusual decision.
Darvish did not pitch much anyway as he took a line drive off of his pitching shoulder and left the game after one inning.
Can you imagine the response here in the States if such a thing were to happen. We no longer have the skills competition before the All-Star game because Barry Larkin injured his knee during one in the 1980's. The All-Star game decides home field for the World Series now because we had a tie game one year. If a pitcher of Darvish's ability and popularity were to take a line drive off the shoulder in an All-Star Game!!!, I think that either the game would cease to be held or that pitchers would have to pitch behind batting practice screens and bunts would be disallowed. Probably the latter since no one bunts anyway in an All-Star game and MLB wouldn't want to lose the revenue.
Darvish is tough. His next start was pushed back a day to help him recover from the bruise and he threw another dandy to close out the month. Served up yet another home run but added nine strikeouts in eight innings.
145 IP, 90 H, 31 BB, 132 K, 13-3, 1.30 ERA
Darvish continues to be the best pitcher in Japan right now even with a month that contained five home runs allowed and his worst start.
I was all excited about the potential of Josh Prince setting the single season stolen base record for the Pioneer League. The Pioneer League is a short-season league, playing just 76 games in a year. Despite this, Prince was on pace to steal 55 bases, having pinched 26 in 36 games. The record is 60, set by Tom Goodwin of the Great Falls Dodgers who stole 60 bases in 63 games. Prince had a shot, especially if he would have been able to get another high steal game like he did at the start of the season.
Alas, the chance is now zero. That's a good thing for Prince, though, as he was promoted to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. He has three steals in four games there and also has hit a pair of doubles. He's one step closer to reaching the majors. Prince has a shot at maintaining his league lead in steals in the Pioneer League, though. Casper's Avery Barnes is his biggest threat.
On the other side of the world, Yu Darvish had an episode which left me wondering what the equivalent event would be here and how Bud Selig would handle it. We'll get to that as we continue the game by game accounting:
Rakuten manages nine hits but can plate just a single run in seven innings against Darvish. One walk and seven strikeouts issued as Darvish gets a no-decision:
112 IP, 70 H, 22 BB, 103 K, 10-2, 1.13 ERA
Darvish has his worst start of the year against the Seibu Lions. In seven innings he again gives up nine hits but two of them are home runs, doubling his season total for home runs allowed. He limits the damage to four runs but still takes the loss.
119 IP, 79 H, 24 BB, 108 K, 10-3, 1.36 ERA
Is Darvish tiring? Is something wrong? Nah. Just human. Throws a complete game next time out. A four-hitter, striking out nine. He does give up another homer, though, as his only run surrendered.
128 IP, 83 H, 25 BB, 117 K, 11-3, 1.34 ERA
Three straight games with a home run allowed? Darvish enters the All-Star Break with another complete game, this time allowing two hits, one a homer, as Nippon beats Lotte, 2-1.
137 IP, 85 H, 29 BB, 123 K, 12-3, 1.31 ERA
Here's where the drama starts. Two days later, Darvish gets the start for the first All-Star game (the All-Star series is a best of three games in Japan). This surprised me a bit. Japanese starters tend to throw just one game a week so they get six days rest typically. Darvish is going again after one day? Granted, it's an All-Star Game and he wasn't going to pitch much anyway. I still thought it was an unusual decision.
Darvish did not pitch much anyway as he took a line drive off of his pitching shoulder and left the game after one inning.
Can you imagine the response here in the States if such a thing were to happen. We no longer have the skills competition before the All-Star game because Barry Larkin injured his knee during one in the 1980's. The All-Star game decides home field for the World Series now because we had a tie game one year. If a pitcher of Darvish's ability and popularity were to take a line drive off the shoulder in an All-Star Game!!!, I think that either the game would cease to be held or that pitchers would have to pitch behind batting practice screens and bunts would be disallowed. Probably the latter since no one bunts anyway in an All-Star game and MLB wouldn't want to lose the revenue.
Darvish is tough. His next start was pushed back a day to help him recover from the bruise and he threw another dandy to close out the month. Served up yet another home run but added nine strikeouts in eight innings.
145 IP, 90 H, 31 BB, 132 K, 13-3, 1.30 ERA
Darvish continues to be the best pitcher in Japan right now even with a month that contained five home runs allowed and his worst start.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Yu Darvish and Josh Prince updates
So what's going on with Yu Darvish and Josh Prince, two of my favorite baseball players?
Darvish has continued to pitch well since my last post. Well is probably too light a word. Darvish continues to dominate the Pacific League. He currently leads the league in starts, wins, innings, earned run average and strikeouts.
Picking up where I left off, in his May 30th start, Darvish had his third 10+ strikeout game of the season as he defeated the Hanshin Tigers. He allowed four hits, two walks and one run in seven innings.
74 IP, 45 H, 16 BB, 68 K, 7-1, 1.09 ERA
The Yomiuri Giants dealt Darvish his second loss of the season on June 6th, stringing together most of their six hits in the sixth inning to take a 3-2 lead which they would not relinquish.
82 IP, 51 H, 17 BB, 74 K, 7-2, 1.32 ERA
How did Yu handle the setback of a "bad" start? Eight innings of shutout ball (wouldn't want to see that ERA approach 1.50) against the Chunichi Dragons and his fourth 10+ strikeout performance.
90 IP, 56 H, 19 BB, 84 K, 8-2, 1.20 ERA
His next outing was a little more pedestrian. Seven innings of three hit ball. One run, no walks, five strikeouts in a victory over the Carp.
97 IP, 59 H, 19 BB, 89 K, 9-2, 1.21 ERA
Lastly, his most recent start against the Chiba Lotte Marines gave Darvish his tenth victory of the season. Eight innings of shutout ball with just two hits, two walks and seven K.
105 IP, 61 H, 21 BB, 96 K, 10-2, 1.11 ERA
No home runs allowed in any of the most recent games.
Just for fun, let's prorate Darvish's stats over 34 starts and put up some numbers for comparison:
275 IP, 160 H, 55 BB, 251 K, 26-5, 1.11 ERA (Darvish)
305 IP, 198 H, 62 BB, 268 K, 22-9, 1.12 ERA (Bob Gibson's 1968 season)
That's just insane. when you consider that the tenth best pitcher in the National League that year had a 2.44 ERA and the tenth best pitcher in the Pacific League has a 4.10 ERA, Darvish's season becomes even more mind-blowing.
Josh Prince's career is far less developed than Darvish's but has also been enjoyable to follow. He has an eight game hitting streak (he's only played in nine games) and has 13 steals (leads league), a .333 batting average and a .478 OBP (5th in the league). He also leads the Pioneer League in runs and walks. I am a tad concerned about his .389 slugging - don't want to see him become the next Jason Tyner but otherwise he is looking really good as a professional.
Darvish has continued to pitch well since my last post. Well is probably too light a word. Darvish continues to dominate the Pacific League. He currently leads the league in starts, wins, innings, earned run average and strikeouts.
Picking up where I left off, in his May 30th start, Darvish had his third 10+ strikeout game of the season as he defeated the Hanshin Tigers. He allowed four hits, two walks and one run in seven innings.
74 IP, 45 H, 16 BB, 68 K, 7-1, 1.09 ERA
The Yomiuri Giants dealt Darvish his second loss of the season on June 6th, stringing together most of their six hits in the sixth inning to take a 3-2 lead which they would not relinquish.
82 IP, 51 H, 17 BB, 74 K, 7-2, 1.32 ERA
How did Yu handle the setback of a "bad" start? Eight innings of shutout ball (wouldn't want to see that ERA approach 1.50) against the Chunichi Dragons and his fourth 10+ strikeout performance.
90 IP, 56 H, 19 BB, 84 K, 8-2, 1.20 ERA
His next outing was a little more pedestrian. Seven innings of three hit ball. One run, no walks, five strikeouts in a victory over the Carp.
97 IP, 59 H, 19 BB, 89 K, 9-2, 1.21 ERA
Lastly, his most recent start against the Chiba Lotte Marines gave Darvish his tenth victory of the season. Eight innings of shutout ball with just two hits, two walks and seven K.
105 IP, 61 H, 21 BB, 96 K, 10-2, 1.11 ERA
No home runs allowed in any of the most recent games.
Just for fun, let's prorate Darvish's stats over 34 starts and put up some numbers for comparison:
275 IP, 160 H, 55 BB, 251 K, 26-5, 1.11 ERA (Darvish)
305 IP, 198 H, 62 BB, 268 K, 22-9, 1.12 ERA (Bob Gibson's 1968 season)
That's just insane. when you consider that the tenth best pitcher in the National League that year had a 2.44 ERA and the tenth best pitcher in the Pacific League has a 4.10 ERA, Darvish's season becomes even more mind-blowing.
Josh Prince's career is far less developed than Darvish's but has also been enjoyable to follow. He has an eight game hitting streak (he's only played in nine games) and has 13 steals (leads league), a .333 batting average and a .478 OBP (5th in the league). He also leads the Pioneer League in runs and walks. I am a tad concerned about his .389 slugging - don't want to see him become the next Jason Tyner but otherwise he is looking really good as a professional.
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