Monday, August 13, 2007

LYNX: BY THE NUMBERS

The search for that elusive three game winning streak continues (boxscore, play-by-play). It probably shouldn't matter much given the current standings, but at this point, little victories, playing the part of spoiler and for stats are about all that's left. Breaking down the numbers, of the losses that have thwarted a three game winning streak (games which go all the way back to May) the Lynx have been outscored 38-11. The misery's been fairly evenly spread: eight different pitchers have been involved, with only one figuring in two of the streak-breakers.

Like yesterday's game, the loss could be attributed to errors and unearned runs; unfortunately this time the Lynx came out on the wrong end. With one out in the fourth, a Carlos Leon error allowed a couple of unearned runs to come around. As it turns out, they were all that the Red Wings would need. Unfortunately, the Lynx also ran into a hot pitcher; Rochester's Nick Blackburn has gone 6-0 over his last 10 starts, with a miniscule 1.64 ERA. In June he absolutely dominated: 5-0, 0 runs allowed, 21 Ks, 1 BB, and two complete game shutouts. Small victory: The Lynx did manage 5 hits off him. Already on Minny's 40 man roster, a September call-up (if not sooner) seems imminent.

Unlike yesterday's game, Rochester chose to wear more conventional jerseys - if you want to call day-glo orange, "conventional". We call foul - clearly yesterday's floral print coupled with today's disaster was a successful attempt at messing up our rods and cones. Hell, it's a miracle they only committed three errors.

Word to the wise: Tomorrow's 7.05 start should feature J.A. Happ - this may be your last chance to see J.A. before he gets "the call".

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Happ is on a roll and at seasons beginning was thought to have the highest ceiling amongst the Lynx starters but unless the Phillies have a doubleheader upcoming I question if he is going up before Sept 1. The Phillies starting 5 is doin ok, Moyer, Hamels ( outstanding ), Lohse, Kendrick & Eaton. Eaton is the weak link but I would be surprised to see him yanked from the rotation in the heat of a playoff race for a rookie.

Only 2 homestands left.....it sucks.

Carl said...

Never say die, Pete.

re: injuries, the Phillies seem snake bit. And currently they think Durbin is an upgrade over Eaton. I don't think it's too much of a stretch for them to take another look at Happ before Sept 1. After rosters expand it's a virtual lock.

Anonymous said...

Hey Carl, as recently as Saturday Eaton started and Durbin mopped up the same game, have you heard that Eaton is coming out of the rotation? Anyway Eaton is having a crap year, I didn't understand his signing this offseason in the first place and Happ or Durbin could well be an upgrade...but management typically likes vets down the stretch.

Certainly Happ is a lock to be called up Sept 1, with the Phillies in the thick of the Wild Card they won't hesitate to call up a whole bunch of Lynx players ASAP.

How about the PawSox? We won't see their premier pitching prospect Clay Bucholz, he is scheduled to pitch Friday in a doubleheader vs the Angels. How about SS Jed Lowrie? Recently promoted from AA he has been getting rave reviews this season. They are loaded with vets as well, the recently acquired OF's Kielty and Brady Clark + 2B Junior Spivey all have loads of big league experience. There is chatter that the Red Sox are dismayed with Willy Mo Pena and that Kielty could soon succeed him as their #1 RH hitting OF off the bench. ( Kielty is a switch hitter but has made a living in the bigs primarily as a RH hitting platoon OF).

I'll be out to some games this homestand, hope to see you there, gotta go, Jays game on.

Anonymous said...

In my haste to get to the Jays game ( in hindsight, why? ) I neglected to mention that we should get out to see the PawSox Jacoby Ellsbury as well. I saw him earlier this year but he is well worth seeing again. In a recently published poll of IL Managers he was voted best defensive outfielder, fastest baserunner and best baserunner in the league. The Red Sox hope that he is the heir apparent to Damon at leadoff and CF that Crisp has not become.

In the same poll Lynx C Jaromillo was voted best defensive catcher. How Thurston ( although he is playing LF most often recently ) was not voted best defensive 2B is beyond me.