JML update, Aug. 15

Ian Kinsler was hitless in four at-bats as the host Yankees beat the Texas Rangers, 3-0. Scott Feldman takes the hill tonight for the visitors against Freddy Garcia.

The Mets also lost 3-0 to the host Cincinnati Reds. Their defeat was more annoying. The score was 0-0 going into the bottom of the ninth when Manny (Acosta) was being Manny, giving up a hit and a walk before giving way to Josh Edgin who gave up the game-winning three-run homer to Jay Bruce. This is one of those scoring decision that have always bugged me. Edgin gives up the home run, by Acosta gets the loss. Granted that Acosta put the winning run on base, but if Edgin does his job… Just sayin’. I’ve been going back and forth with Murray Chass, the former baseball writer for The New York Times, who recently posted this piece on R.A. Dickey being perhaps the best pitcher in the majors this year. This paragraph in particular grabbed my attention:

(I digress here. When I mention pitching victories, critics let me know how foolish I am. Hey, dummy, they write, haven’t you learned that wins are a meaningless, at least most unimportant, measurement of a pitcher’s performance. He has no control over winning and losing, they say. I say nonsense and will continue to say nonsense.)

We exchanged a couple of emails in which I maintain that for the most part a pitcher doesn’t have control. Case in point: Sunday’s game against the Braves. Jonathan Niese left after eight innings with a 6-1 lead. The bullpen took over and almost spit the bit, turning a brilliant performance into a nail-biter. So just how does the starting pitcher have control over the outcome under such circumstances? Chass says “by pitching nine innings,” so this conversation can keep going in circles.

By the way, Ike Davis was 0-3 with a walk in last night’s loss.

Ryan Lavarnway and Danny Valencia each went 1-4 but the Boston Red Sox fell to the host Baltimore Orioles, 7-1. Craig Breslow did not appeared in the game for the Sox. Ryan Kalish was optioned to the minors last Friday.

Kevin Youkilis had been mostly batting in the second slot since joining the Chicago White Sox. Last night he batted fifth and was 1-4 as Chicago beat the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-2.

Ryan Braun continues to struggle. His 0-5 performance dropped his batting average under the .300 mark as the Milwaukee Brewers lost to the host Colorado Rockies, 8-6. He remains confident, however, that he will bounce back.

Jason Marquis did not appear in the San Diego Padres’ 6-0 loss to the host Atlanta Braves. Michael Schwimer did not appear in the Philadelphia Phillies’ 1-0 win over the host Miami Marlins. Sam Fuld did not appear in the Tampa Bay Rays’ 3-2 loss to  the host Seattle Mariners.

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