Jeff Niemann Pitches Well, Giants Over A's

by R.J. Anderson on Jul 10, 2009 11:09 PM EDT

If nothing else, Jeff Niemann believes in the baseball version of Darwinism. His three best starts have come against the Mariners, Royals, and now Athletics; that triumvirate equates to the three worst offenses in the American League. I'm not complaining, Niemann did flash some things tonight that I hope to see more often from him. In quick, weekend form:

- 31% breaking pitches

- 14 GB: 9 FB

- 8.5% whiffs

That's it Jeff! By golly, that's everything I've ever wanted from you.

Welcome Evan Longoria back to the homer column. We were a week away from hitting the month mark. Maybe the hamstring is getting better.
I'm contemplating whether Gio Gonzalez or Oliver Perez is the worst case scenario for David Price. One on hand: reliever, on the other: Oliver Perez.
Pat Burrell with a pair of extra base hits tonight. Woo.
The Red Sox beat the Royals 1-0 and the Yankees lead the Angels 4-0 early on. Good news/bad news today for the Rays on the Angels front. Good news: they lose arguably their best hitter in Torii Hunter and further the Rays gap on them. Bad news: this happens when they play the Yankees, the team that refuses to lose at this point.
Dioner Navarro has officially taken Tomas Perez' spot as Executive of Pie.
Yuniesky Betancourt and Jeff Francoeur were both traded today. Surprisingly, Dayton Moore only acquired one of these players. He must be heartbroken.

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Comments

Edwin who?

by acablue on Jul 10, 2009 11:16 PM EDT reply actions

OT: I love how ESPN is trying to justify the Francoeur trade

Cherry-picking stats to make Church and Frenchy look equal. Lols.

2009 Rays Baseball: Still Kings of the Sunshine State

by JMB on Jul 10, 2009 11:18 PM EDT reply actions

It's honestly unbelievable how bad Jeff Francoeur is.

His defense has been declining for three straight years, he’s hitting 250/283/352… Honestly, I’m not sure what stats you can even cherry pick to make him look good. He has 12 doubles and 5(!!!!!) home runs. That’s Navarro offense… from right field.

by Suttree on Jul 10, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions

SportsCenter used batting stats based on hitting after getting behind in the count

Yeah…..they’re scraping the bottom of the barrel there

2009 Rays Baseball: Still Kings of the Sunshine State

by JMB on Jul 10, 2009 11:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Sonny writes from Durham

I feel like this is home

by Raymondo on Jul 10, 2009 11:20 PM EDT reply actions

Arguably Niemann has pitched two of the best games this year

by Raymondo on Jul 10, 2009 11:22 PM EDT reply actions

I wonder how many Shields starts would make that list if anyone would score for him

2009 Rays Baseball: Still Kings of the Sunshine State

by JMB on Jul 10, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Ecen Shields rarely goes the distance

But he’s had a couple gems

by Raymondo on Jul 10, 2009 11:28 PM EDT up reply actions

Shields never gets enough support to go the distance

That and his stuff isn’t going to be able to overpower enough hitters, but he SHOULD also have 2 CGSO probably this year, against Baltimore & Oakland, but didn’t get them for run support reasons

by Transplanted on Jul 11, 2009 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions

Only sour note

Michael Aubrey takes Wade Davis deep twice

by Raymondo on Jul 10, 2009 11:29 PM EDT reply actions

Weird start for Niemann

He struck out 9, walked two, and only allowed 5 hits in 6 innings, but allowed 5 earned.

Jason McEachern tracker: 17 ip 11 h 2 er 0 bb 15 so 1.06 ERA
www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Jul 10, 2009 11:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Weird start for Davis**

Jason McEachern tracker: 17 ip 11 h 2 er 0 bb 15 so 1.06 ERA
www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Jul 10, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions

HR's will do that

by Raymondo on Jul 10, 2009 11:39 PM EDT up reply actions

going back a week or so to relive an arguement

but your first statement R.J. is the reason I believe if Jeff Niemann faced the same opponents as JH, not only would his numbers be better than Hammel’s but he would be a near all-star if not an all-star. Basically my point being that opponents matter when looking at a guys performance.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 10, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions

8 wins for Lurch. Can he please get to 15 so we can stop hearing about He Who Shall Not Be Named?

Into the Wall : Sarcasm for the Soccer Guy

by ReasonableDoubt on Jul 10, 2009 11:51 PM EDT reply actions

It's amazing how many Heater types

suddenly have E-Jax’s penis in their collective mouth.

by untexan on Jul 10, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

OT Jonathan Sanchez, uh, pitching really well against the Pads

Through 7

Jason McEachern tracker: 17 ip 11 h 2 er 0 bb 15 so 1.06 ERA
www.raysprospects.com

by Imperialism32 on Jul 11, 2009 12:05 AM EDT reply actions

OH HE HAS A PERFECT GAME?!?!?!?

Into the Wall : Sarcasm for the Soccer Guy

by ReasonableDoubt on Jul 11, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Uribe fucked up the perfect game but that, that shall remain nameless is still intact.

by Dbullsfan on Jul 11, 2009 12:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Through 7 1/2 innings in SF

there have been nine hits in the SD-SF game and the Giants have all of them.

by untexan on Jul 11, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions

10 K's 100 pitches for Sanchez

by Dbullsfan on Jul 11, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions

OH HEY THE ANGELS TIED IT UP WOOOOOOOOOOO

Into the Wall : Sarcasm for the Soccer Guy

by ReasonableDoubt on Jul 11, 2009 12:10 AM EDT reply actions

Oh lord don't stop now

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 11, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions

I turned on mlb.tv last night the AB Lincecom lost his no hitter maybe I can do the same to Sanchez

by Dbullsfan on Jul 11, 2009 12:16 AM EDT reply actions

If you just lost a perfect game in the 8th and you are up 7-0, why not just work from the wind-up. who cares about the runner

by Dbullsfan on Jul 11, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions

NOthing like losing it on an error

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 11, 2009 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions

I made a fanshot to discuss this game, it sounds like a good one so far

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 11, 2009 12:23 AM EDT up reply actions

try not to start an arguement but EJax lowest ERA for a starter in Detroit since 76

by Dbullsfan on Jul 11, 2009 12:23 AM EDT reply actions

Banned

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 11, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Who, Fidrych?

The Bird had a career year too. Never heard from again. Not saying that will happen to E-Jax but I would be wary.

by untexan on Jul 11, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

yea

by Dbullsfan on Jul 11, 2009 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

I heard from him this year, no disrespect

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 11, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions

But he talked to the ball

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jul 11, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

E-Jax

looks to me to have found it in Detroit….have been watching him since he came up with the Dodgers….this is what we all expected to happen, just earlier!:-)

"You came into my life, you came into my heart, you came into my family"

by bgfour on Jul 11, 2009 12:28 AM EDT up reply actions

No one expected this

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 11, 2009 12:41 AM EDT up reply actions

great article in ESPN The Magazine

attributing a lot of E-Jax’s success to adding a curveball to his arsenal. Article says he was playing catch with Shields and threw a couple curves and Shields was impressed and told him he needed to throw some of those in games. He started to in his last start or two at the end of the regular season. And apparantly he’s taken off from there. Nothing the Rays could’ve predicted, esp when he was due for arbitration and having a surplus of pitching.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jul 11, 2009 1:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, he is throwing the curve slightly more.

3.5% at 80.4 mph compared to 1.5% at 78.5 mph last year.

The biggest difference is the effectiveness of his slider, which reinforces RJ’s idea that he learned a new grip for it. Last year he threw his slider 21.8% of the time, averaging 86.3 mph. Pretty much the same average speed this year, but he’s throwing it 25.4% of the time, with much different effectiveness. Last year’s value for the slider was 18.8, which is bad. This year’s value is 6.3, which isn’t the best in the league, but good.

I don’t think you can really chalk it up to anything other than his mechanics have come together – cutting your walk rate in half really doesn’t have anything to do with pitches, just actually getting them over the plate.

by Suttree on Jul 11, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

Niemann superb: Francouer 25

Jeff looked like what the Rays expected when they drafted him 4th overall in 2004. Great to see him dominate. Weak opposition, though.

Church for Francouer looks like a slamdunk for Atlanta….but, at 25, there’s still hope that Francouer will respond to the right mix (hitting coach, ballpark) and become who we thought he was

"You came into my life, you came into my heart, you came into my family"

by bgfour on Jul 11, 2009 12:26 AM EDT reply actions

If Niemann becomes even 70% of what he could have been, he's still a solid #3 starter

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jul 11, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions

not discussed in the gdt but

The AL Derby hitters are a huge disappointment. Joe Mauer, Brandon Inge, and Nelson Cruz. I know Longoria said he didn’t want to participate and maybe no one else did either. I’m starting to think that maybe baseball should look at doing the Derby like the NBA does with the dunk contest, have it where you don’t have to be an all-star to compete. That way guys like Pena could still enjoy the festivities and the field would be a lot better (although the NL guys are great.)

by Dbullsfan on Jul 11, 2009 12:29 AM EDT reply actions

The AL Derby is a mess this year for various reasons

Longoria got hurt, Hamilton wasn’t really allowed to do it, Morneau & Teixeira declined and like everyone else isn’t on the team that would normally be able to do it

Question is, who’s the 4th guy?

by Transplanted on Jul 11, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

The other people don't matter

It’s Albert’s castle..and he will take his throne

Swav or Die
For the lulz

by SRQman on Jul 11, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

my money would be on Gonzalez

I can’t wait until he is out of SD, he has some serious power

by Dbullsfan on Jul 11, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Agreed

The problem is that there’s a stigma associated with the event. Almost everyone who does well there goes on to have a horrible second half. It’s probably more luck than anything, but it’s like the Madden curse.

Bad Left Hook - The SB Nation boxing blog
"Baseball is played on the field, not on a calculator."

by Brickhaus on Jul 11, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions

Satow 4 innings of relief tonight for BG

Follow Me on Twitter @FreeZorilla

by FreeZorilla on Jul 11, 2009 12:34 AM EDT reply actions

No hitter.

wow

"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey

by Gone Phishing on Jul 11, 2009 12:41 AM EDT reply actions

They're playing The Natural for Jonathan Sanchez in San Fran

No-hitter, only a Juan Uribe error away from a PG. Kung Fu Panda hit a homer too.

First Giants no-no in 33 years.

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jul 11, 2009 12:41 AM EDT reply actions

Wow, the Padres suck

Lincecum took a no-no into the 7th yesterday.

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jul 11, 2009 12:45 AM EDT reply actions

Didn't something like this happen to them the year before? Back to back no-nos?

Maybe not the Padres, but it happened to someone not too long ago, indicative more of a team of completely inept bats then exceptional performances on the mound.

I can't wait until we trade him for a reliever.

by kericr on Jul 11, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions

Their luck will run out

(same goes for the guy I'm playing in fantasy baseball who keeps picking up pitchers daily.....Piniero yesterday, Johnathan Sanchez today)

"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey

by Gone Phishing on Jul 11, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions

With his luck, Sanchez turns into a pumpkin like Johnny Vander Meer.

We know something you don't know
And if we don't share then we don't grow
Unabomber set the whole world on fire

by Orlando Rays on Jul 11, 2009 1:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Piniero has been better for the Cards this year than Wainwright so far

That will likely change though

by nolesblogger on Jul 11, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions

WAYBAR'S BROTHER DELIVERS!

Three-run bomb for the Angels. 10-6 lead in the 7th.

by untexan on Jul 11, 2009 1:06 AM EDT reply actions

Thank Jesus for that one

Yankees need to start feeling the ups AND downs like all teams. All they do is win and it shouldn’t** happen

**also known as luck

"Doesn't Manny Ramirez look like the monster from Predator??" - Will Farrell as Harry Carey

by Gone Phishing on Jul 11, 2009 1:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Lot of good pitching today

6 shutouts, 4 CGSO, a no-hitter

by Transplanted on Jul 11, 2009 1:52 AM EDT reply actions

I beleive in the pitching version of intellegent design

….Its a legitimate debate people.

"What the hell is a Labradoddle?"

by davelrogers on Jul 11, 2009 9:16 AM EDT reply actions

Not according to DRays Bay

We wait on his implosion, yet find Kazmir’s last start “encouraging”

Strange

by Raymondo on Jul 11, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

in defense he hasn't had good peripherals

but what is confusing is no one thinking he can or may improve but rather awaiting his demise. Although I’d like to see him put together another solid start vs a decent offense. His 2 CG shutouts have come against the A’s and Royals, two of the worst offenses in baseball. But he also pitched well against Toronto in his last start before last night.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jul 11, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions

I've reserved judgment to this point. I partially agree with your point.

Yes, he will get better at things like working a count and knowing what he needs to do on a situation-to-situation basis, but it is not like he is going to pick up a new pitch anytime soon. We have seen a lot of good things, and the beef that people have, is something that he can improve without picking up a new pitch or any other type of vast leap forward. I wonder if he realizes the correlation between increased bendy stuff and decreased run totals?

SOSH AUCTION to K ALS

by Sandy Kazmir on Jul 11, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions

he's definitely learning the advantages of getting ahead in the count

he’s got decent stuff when he actually uses all of it. And that’s the part that can improve. His groundball rate can improve when he consistently uses his off-speed pitches. His whiff % and K’s can improve as he gains more confidence in his pitches. If he can do any of that, he can be a very solid starter. It comes down to Kazmir or Niemann in terms of trade value at the end of the season.

by raysfaninminnesota on Jul 11, 2009 10:49 AM EDT up reply actions