The Angels hit into three double plays in the game, running their season total to 74 in 74 games. That leads the American League and ranks second in the majors behind the Cardinals (80). And it's a number that manager Mike Scioscia finds a little difficult to explain. "Really with our team speed, if we're putting guys in motion, we should be able to minimize that," Scioscia said. "It's a sample size we hope will correct itself as we move forward in the season. "I don't think that's as big a concern. I think we're all more concerned with strikeouts and hitting with runners in scoring position."
It's an obvious fact that the Angels are having a hard time getting hits with runners in scoring position, but the good news is they're getting guys on base. Sure they're leading the league in hitting into double plays, but you have to recognize that in order to hit into a DP you have to have a runner on base i the first place. The thing that makes me go "Humm" is that Scioscia is concerned about the strikeouts. In my mind, strikeouts aren't a big deal. The chances of scoring from first with no outs is 40%. The batter strikes out, the scoring rate drops to 27%. However, if the batter hits into a double play, the scoring rate is now 7%. In other words, with a runner on first and no outs, there's a 20% greater chance the team will score if the batter strikes out instead of hitting a ground ball. (This data is a few years old, but I doubt much has changed)
And here's another one in this post - Hunter comes through for both Angels RBIs against Marlins - The Orange County Register
Scioscia started catcher Jeff Mathis for the third time in four games, a day after Mathis hit his first home run since opening day. Scioscia said he hopes the frequency might "get him into a bit of a rhythm and he can start to contribute on the offensive side, too."
Mathis is currently hitting .191. In over 1200 plate appearances in his 7-year career, Mathis' batting average is .198. Rhythm's not the problem big guy. He's doing what he's always done.
Also within this post, Torii Hunter says:
"I'm usually good in those (runners-in-scoring-position) situations but this year has been difficult," said Hunter (the Angels went 1 for 11 with RISP. "But I come through every once in a while."
You know what? He's right. So far this season, Hunter is hitting .241 with runners in scoring position compared to a .278 clip over his career. In 2010 he hit .297, while posting a .315 average in 2009. The concern to me is, is his .241 just a half season long run of bad luck, or is it indicative of the player he's become due to age (or some other effect)?
Offensive woes? Check this out - Indians fire hitting coach amidst offensive woes - CBSSports.com
Indians manager Manny Acta named Bruce Fields the Tribe's new hitting coach prior to Sunday's game against the Pirates. Fields replaced Jon Nunnally in the role, who was fired after an awful stretch of offense from the Indians. They have been shut out four times in June and seven times in their last 30 games.
Although the Angels have only been shutout twice in June compared to the four times for the Indians, the Indians have outscored the Angels 65-47 in the month. In the last 30 days? The Indians have scored 105 runs, the Angels 102. I'm not advocating firing Mickey Hatcher, I'm just saying the Indians weren't the worst scoring team in the league.
Angels coach Picciolo indebted to McKeon - angels.com
Picciolo and McKeon go way back to 1977, when Picciolo made his Major League debut as an infielder for the Oakland A's under McKeon's stewardship. Thirteen years later, it was McKeon again, in San Diego, who gave Picciolo his first big league coaching job. When Greg Riddoch was elevated to the Padres' managerial post by McKeon, who became the general manager, Picciolo was promoted from his roving infield instructor role to San Diego's first-base coach.
Paralyzed outfielder Johnathan Taylor won’t sign with Rangers - HardballTalk
The Rangers have made a donation to the fund supporting Taylor’s rehab, and they invited him on the field along with their other Georgia-based draft picks prior to Saturday’s game against the Braves in Atlanta. Once Taylor completes school, the hope is that he’ll become a part of the Rangers organization in some capacity.
A Rare Event: The Los Angeles Angels Actually Play In Los Angeles - Daggle.com
Orange County is my home, so it kills me that my hometown baseball team — the Angels — pretends to be in Los Angeles when it is not. Even worse is when the franchise admits to its own fans the stupidity of its name. Case in point, this email I just received from the Angels:
"See your Angels in Los Angeles" the email goes, to let me know that the Angels will actually be playing against the real Los Angeles team, the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The franchise moves that almost happened - The Hardball Times
The city of Los Angeles began to court the Senators. The fastest-growing city in the country was going to be a Senators city. The West Coast would go crazy for them. And the courtship continued during the 1956 World Series in Brooklyn. However, when Walter O’Malley got wind that Los Angeles officials were in town, he let them know that his Dodgers would consider Los Angeles as an option in case their stadium proposal fell through.
And now, Selig vs McCourt:
Bud Selig rejects Frank McCourt's deal with Fox TV - MLB - SI.com
"Mr. McCourt has been provided with an expansive analysis of my reasons for rejecting this proposed transaction. Critically, the transaction is structured to facilitate the further diversion of Dodgers assets for the personal needs of Mr. McCourt.
Frank McCourt Must Go (UPDATED) - It's About The Money
Here’s an expense that’s one of my personal favorites: over one 18-month period, Jamie McCourt paid over $100,000 to various florists, and charged the Dodgers for the expense. How much have the McCourts managed to extract from the Dodgers? Well, if we ignore the debt the Dodgers took on so that the McCourts could buy the Dodgers but include the McCourt salaries, the McCourts have withdrawn from the Dodgers anywhere from $109 million (Frank McCourt’s estimate) to $141 million (Jamie McCourt’s estimate). The truth is, the real amount the McCourts plundered from the Dodgers may be more than $141 million – at the moment, all we have to go on is what each McCourt has been willing to admit to. (In case you were wondering, during their ownership of the Dodgers the McCourts have paid not one penny in income tax.)
Major League Baseball, Frank McCourt seem ready for a fight - ESPN Los Angeles
In a statement released Monday afternoon, Selig said of his decision, "We owe it to the legion of loyal Dodger fans to ensure that this club is being operated properly now and will be guided appropriately in the future. This transaction would not accomplish those goals."
THE BOX:
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| Game Information |
| Attendance - 16984 |
| Game Time - 2:47 |
| Temperature - 76 |
| Umpires - Home - Dan Bellino, First Base - Tony Randazzo, Second Base - Larry Vanover, Third Base - Brian Gorman |