TDA Bullpen - Our Writers' Blog

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Slap Hits

Some random tidbits at the approximate 3/4 mark of the season:

• The Cubs play 44 of 47 remaining games against opponents with records of one game above .500 (the Marlins) on down. Houston could still make a move on the wild card by sweeping the Cubs, but that hardly seems likely. By contrast, the Giants and Padres play about half their remaining games against +.500 teams, including a fair number against one another and the Dodgers. With Wood and Prior healthy, Maddux and Zambrano pitching well, it's hard to see how with a creampuff schedule like this the Cubs will blow it. But I'm sure Cubs fans will be convinced there's a way.
  
  
• Oakland has half its remaining schedule against Anaheim, Texas, Cleveland, and Boston...Boston also has six against the Yankees left on the schedule, plus series against Anaheim and Oakland. Anaheim and Texas, as you might infer, have schedules similar to Oakland's. The AL Wild Card will be a duke-out compared to the NL.
  
  
• Bonds Hits vs. Runs: after being pitched to for a good part of the end of July and early August, Barry's nearly back on pace for more runs than hits -- 91 runs and 94 hits at this writing. Bonds stole third uncontested the other day: he's six for six in steals this season, and this is at least the third base I recall he stole without a throw. One of the freakiest seasons on record continues.
  
  
• Lyle Overbay vs. Earl Webb: Overbay was on pace to beat Webb's all-time single season doubles record of 67 a month ago, but is only at 39 now with 46 games to play. He's tied with Brian Roberts...and Ron Belliard of Cleveland is now the league leader at 42. Belliard's on pace for 58 doubles, well off the mark. This is still the all-time record in one of the medium-significant categories that seems most likely to fall - just not this year.
  
  
• Olympic Baseball Sighting: Finally MSNBC covered baseball today -- with a 20-minute concatenated version of the marquee matchup, Cuba vs. Japan. Japan won 6-3... The American, er, Greek team had a surprisingly good outing against Cuba yesterday, losing only by a 5-4 margin. One thinks this is more about the weakness of Cuba than the medal hopes of Greece, though... Taiwan has started out 2-1 and might have a shot at nudging Australia out for the medal rounds if they can beat Italy, Greece, and the Netherlands this coming week. The 3-0 victory over Australia may well have been the decisive game of the early rounds for Taiwan... Canada has outscored its opponents by 20 runs in its first three games -- but has yet to play Cuba, Australia, or Japan... Italy's club team has been a disappointment thus far, but you have to hand it to the Italians for going mostly with actual Italian nationals this time out.
  
  

posted by The Crank 1:17 PM