Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics

That phrase was popularized in the United States by Mark Twain (among others), who attributed it to the British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli. It seems that there is a stat for everything and we all have our own opinions.

I voiced my displeasure with Dave Roberts not playing Yasmani Grandal last night after his breakout game against the Reds on Wednesday. Many other Dodger fans voiced the same displeasure over Roberts lineup choices.  Well, the Dodgers scored 9 runs with that horrible lineup.  Maybe it really isn’t all about the lineup after all. It’s not going to get any easier as Striker Buehler is going against Jack Flaherty tonight. Flaherty has been pretty consistent all year.  With him it’s all about “pitch count.”  His last two starts have only been 5 innings each due to pitch counts.

The Dodgers lead the NL in runs scored but St. Louis is only ten behind as they have been the best hitting team in the NL since the All-Star Break.  They are much like the Dodgers: lots of HR and strikeouts:  The Cards have just 50 less K’s than the Dodgers.  #1 in runs scored and #1 in pitching ERA – they should have 90 wins, but they don’t.  Forget all that – these last 15 days of the season will tell the tale.

Houston Mitchell of The LA Times had a classic quote yesterday on the use of statistics:

Well, one of the problems with stats is that I can find a stat for pretty much everyone that makes them look like one of the best players in the league, or one of the worst. That’s why I always encourage you to seek out as many stats as you can find about a player and team and make judgments based on all of them.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’d like to give you some advice, but Houston Mitchell said it best::

It’s what we have talked about all season. I get so many emails from readers filled with anger and rage after losses. They call the team a bunch of losers and choke artists. But here’s the thing. The Dodgers aren’t out of it yet. They are making it difficult for themselves, but they still can make the playoffs. I don’t know if they will. You don’t either. If they do make it, I don’t know if they will win the World Series. You don’t either. There have been teams that have won 84 games and won the World Series. There have been teams that have won 116 games and got knocked out before the World Series. Anything can happen, you just need some guys to get hot.

What I would recommend to some of you is that you don’t let each game linger in your mind. If you are still seething over a Dodgers loss more than 10 minutes after the game ends, then you are doing it wrong. Calm down. Relax. If being in a playoff race isn’t an overall enjoyable experience for you, then you may want to find something else to do with your time. It’s not worth the stress. There are fans of other teams that haven’t made the playoffs in years. They’d love if their team had won one division title recently, let alone five in a row. So, if you are angry, spend some time with your friends. Hug your significant other. Play with your kids. Pet your dog. But you can still ignore your cat, because cats are evil and were sent here from an alien planet as spies.

Rants & Raves

• You know I like Kike Hernandez, but is he really a better CF than CT3?  Not that either one is a bad choice…
• I hereby declare the Brian Dozier experiment officially over. Injury?  Old age? Hot lights of LA? He should not be on the playoff roster – I take Utley over him. Too bad – he’s a great guy, but this is a bottom-line business.  You can’t “hope” that he gets untracked in a pennant race.
• CT3 has changed up his swing… especially with 2 strikes.  If he can get hot it changes the whole lineup.
• Austin Barnes is returning from the grave.
• Clayton struggles against the Cards… specifically the Cards in St. Louis where he has a 3.78 ERA.  Most of the damage is coming on the first pitch as the Cards are jumping on it, because they know the first pitch might be the best pitch they get from him.  I think that calls for an adjustment.
• Caleb Ferguson is a important part of this pen. He has the guts of a Cat Burglar. 
• How well the Dodgers’ bullpen fares is going to be determined how well Kenta Maeda and Alex Wood adapt to their new roles as “high-leverage relievers.”  Neither of them love it, but it’s for the good of the team.  I think both can for a L-R version of Cleveland’s Andrew Miller – It could be “light’s out” or a “Chemistry Killer” – It all depends upon their attitudes.  Both want to start.  
• For those who care, Logan Forsythe is hitting .274 with a .679 OPS as he as skidded back to the bottom.  He won’t get much of a deal next year.  1-year/$1.5 million?
• While we are talking about former Dodgers:
  • Josh Reddick is hitting .239 with a .689 OPS – kind of like he did for us.
  • Willie Calhoun is hitting .250 with 1 HR and 9 RBI in 76 AB’s.  Not impressive…
  • Frankie Montas has a 3.96 ERA and a 1.48 WHIP and is no longer a strikeout pitcher with 43 in 62 IP.
  • Of course Shebler and Peraza are doing good for Cincy, but they had no place to play in LA.
  • Just a few old friends…
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