2010 MLB Season Game Thread: May

[Ramp]

Tyler Clippard is 6-0 out of the Nats pen

badass

[Party]

http://twitter.com/susanslusser/status/13691557016

Dallas Braden's grandmother is here and speaking to the press. She says, and I'm not joking, "Stick it, A-Rod." #Athletics

[PitchingWinsGames]

Dallas Braden's grandmother, swagger

[Swifty]

Stay classy, northern California.

[Ramp]

haha good stuff

[Swifty]

Who are you and what have you done with Jeremy Hermida?

[Ramp]

if you're implying 1 game, sure... otherwise he's still having an awful season
--------------------
heh, in this game his OPS has gone up about .080 points

[Bobbob1313]

Yeah. He was OPSing .714 before today. He's still be the same old Hermida.

[Namaste]

Hermida is always good for a real good day twice a month

How has he been in the OF this year?

[Swifty]

Predictably hilarious

[Madman81]

Tyler Clippard is 6-0 out of the Nats pen

badass

4 of them are on blown saves

[FishFanInPA]

Just for comparison's sake, here's a look at the production of Josh Willingham, who reached signed a one-year, $4.6 million deal to avoid arbitration this offseason, compared to Mets left fielder Jason Bay, whom the Mets signed to a four-year, $66 million contract this offseason.

Willingham: .263 AVG, .408 OBP, .516 SLG, .924 OPS, 6 HR, 18 RBI, 146 OPS+

Bay: .248 AVG, .346 OBP, .389 SLG, .735 OPS, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 97 OPS+

I present that with the knowledge that 31 games is still a narrow sample size and that Bay is historically a very streaky hitter, the kind of slugger who, just when you forget about him, can carry a team for a month or two. And of course, service time is responsible for much of the contract disparity.

With the Mets on tap for the Nats tonight, bringing up the Bay comparison is just a dramatic means to make this point: Willingham stands out among his peers. Among National League left fielders, he ranks tied for second home runs, second in on-base percentage, third in slugging percentage, third in OPS and third in RBIs. He compares so well despite a .275 batting average on balls put in play, which is below league and well below Alfonso Soriano (.368) and Ryan Braun (.388), the two left fielders who edge him out in most categories.

"He's just going to give you a great at-bat every time, whether he hits a homer or not," Adam Dunn said. "He puts the ball in play and gets on base. He's a very underrated player."

By the way, Willingham, 31, is on record as saying he would like to sign an extension and remain in Washington. The Nationals own his rights until the end of next season.

More Hammer love...

[kylekash]

Man.. we couldn't have used that guy. Glad we held onto Hermida and got that Bonifacio guy. His speed is really helping the AAA club!

[Party]

But we have no money!

[Ramp]

Griffey Jr apparently fell asleep in the clubhouse in the 5th inning of a game recently