The team LOB stat has uses, and does the individual LOB stat (e.g., “Giambi had 6 LOB in 4 ABs”), but a team cumulative stat like that perverts the numbers and is misleading. Typical that it’s used on ESPN.

I disagree with your argument, provided that a Team LOB stat is also provided (see 16) so you can massage the kinks out of this stat.

IMHO, this stat does not double count anymore than OPS double counts by adding up OBP and Slugging. It’s just up to you to understand what it does and what it doesnt’ do….

This stat counts certain men twice, if different batters left them on base (i.e., if there’s 3 men on with no outs, and none of the subsequent batters manage to drive them in, those original 3 men would count as 9 LOB).

It’s really a matter of perception, since the argument is that while it is still the baserunner, each batter can leave that runner on base independent of what other batters do… (if you really want to get into these types of arguments, look at the comments page of The Monty Hall Problem on Wikipedia).

ESPN’s broadcast team last night (Jeff Brantley – who’s awful, IMHO – and someone else) told a story about Ruben taking Cano under his wing. Earlier this week, Sierra brought Cano to the kids’ wing of the hospital at Hackensack University in NJ, to visit with the sick kids and their families. Sierra told him that such visits were part of being a major leaguer, too. Cano apparently got a big kick out of talking with one kid and his family, as they were from the Dominican Republic, as Cano himself is.

He may not know how to take a pitch, but that’s a classy act on Sierra’s part. I’m glad that’s the kind of mentoring he’s doing with Cano.

Also, give Torre credit for recognizing that this was the game the Yanks were destined to lose. During the regular season, it’s all right to manage like there will be a game tomorrow.

So, Alex, when’s your big splash review of the new “Bad News Bears” movie going to be posted? I was very skeptical, but I liked the remake a lot.

The two silver linings that I see here are that: a) Flash Gordon did not pitch yesterday, which means that his arm should not be falling off today;

b) Félix Rodríguez did pitch, and pitched well, so maybe Torre will start using him more, even if it’s only as his 4th best reliever (I’ve griped about this in the past).

Plus he’s a Jersey guy and kinda looks like a cross between Rags and a younger Bill Murray, so he’s got that goin’ for him, which is nice. Last night’s game was entertaining as hell until the bullpen gave up that quick buncha runs. I was especially pissed about Jeter’s getting gunned down at home because had A-Rod hit the same fly ball with Jeter on 3rd, at least they’d have scored one run then. He was out by a mile which makes no sense with A-Rod, Giambi, and Po coming to bat.

Hideo Nomo. All I can think of is the Biggie song, “I don’t wanna live no mo’” because that’s almost what the Yankees are starting to sing, trotting out Nomo, Small, and the rest of these retreads…

But hell, if they can win today, they’ll have won another series against a playoff caliber club. Just keep doing that and don’t worry about the Sox, esp when they’re playing Tampa. Just win, and be glad in the fact that the Schilling experiment has not paid dividends yet, and hopefully will cost them some more games again once they start playing decent clubs.

Not that that’s any predictor of future performance, of course.

Did you see Leiter pitch at all against Boston this year?

sabernar, his OPS aside, your link to Cruz Jr.’s DT card at Prospectus gives him an 87 Rate2 as a CF. Even Bernie has a 93 Rate2.

If Rate2 isn’t your choice defensive stat, Cruz Jr. also got the lowest zone rating (.766) for any CF who actual plays CF often (more than 40+ games), and the worst range factor (1.91) for CFs with 40+ games. (Bernie has a .837 ZR and a 2.30 RF in CF.)

If all that isn’t enough to change your mind, Cruz Jr. also missed a month of the season with lower back problems. No thanks.