October 4, 2002
Fear The Monkey
Those pesky Angels somehow managed to overcome their starting pitcher giving up 6 runs in 2 2/3 innings to beat the Yankees 9-6.
A few thoughts while wondering if the Rally Monkey could kick Mystique and Aura's ass in a fight...
Francisco Rodriguez can throw it a little bit.
I have to confess that I don't know a whole lot about him as a player, but I have been impressed with what I have seen of him in the post-season.
He throws absolute gas and he added in some awesome breaking stuff tonight.
A quick look at his minor league credentials makes him look even more promising...
AAA Salt Lake:
42 IP
59 K
13 BB
30 H
1 HR Allowed
2.57 ERA
AA Arkansas:
41 IP
61 K
15 BB
32 H
2 HR Allowed
1.96 ERA
That's called consistency folks.
Total that up, do a little bit of addition, division and multiplication and you come up with about 13 strikeouts per 9 innings, to go along with only 3 homers allowed in 83 IP and a decent walk rate as an added bonus.
Anyone that puts up those kind of numbers in AA/AAA and was born in the same decade that I was (the 80s baby!) is a good bet to be something special.
I would say Mr. Rodriguez has a very good chance of being a very good pitcher in the major leagues.
And an even better chance of being on at least one of my Diamond-Mind keeper league teams next year (unless the person reading this is actually in one of my leagues - you know who you are! - in which case I think Rodriguez stinks and has no future).
It was nice to see Tim Salmon come through with a big hit.
Mostly because it helped cause the Yankees to lose, but also because Salmon has been a very good player for a long time, all with one team.
He has also been a very consistent player, except for last season.
Salmon got his first full-time MLB gig in 1993 when he played in 142 games, won Rookie-of-the-Year and hit .283/.382/.536.
Not a lot of players play at the exact same level as they did in their rookie season for their entire career, but Tim Salmon has been pretty close.
Including this season, Salmon has 10 full seasons in the big leagues.
In those 10 seasons...
He has had an on-base % of at least .370 in 9 of them.
He has had a slugging % of at least .490 in 9 of them.
The only exception?
Last season.
Salmon had a career low OBP of .365 (which is still good) and a career low in SLG of .383 (which is not so good).
But Salmon bounced back big time this year, hitting .286/.380/.503 which is an almost identical stat line to that of his rookie season and right in line with the rest of his career.
Remember on tests when a question would ask, "Which one of the following is least like the others?"
The answer is D) Tim Salmon, 2001.
Troy Percival.
My god, has anyone ever looked more like a Major League Baseball Closer than he does?
The squinting, the scrunched up face, the delivery and the 98 MPH fastball.
Right out of Central Casting.
Here is a stat to chew on...
Troy Percival versus right handed batters in 2002: .138 batting average and 0 HRs in 109 at bats.
GO ANGELS!!!! (Because if the Twins can't make it to the 2nd round of the playoffs, at least maybe the Yankees won't either)
