Baseball Pissing Match

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Ryan Braun: Best against the best

Thursday, August 21, 2008 | Feedback | Print Entry

Teammates have said that Ryan Braun's confidence is unique, that he's utterly convinced that he's going to get a hit in his next at-bat, no matter the situation, no matter who is pitching. He had missed a week with a back issue, and came off the bench last Saturday and whacked a pinch-hit double in Los Angeles. The guy clubs the ball to all fields, seemingly in any count.


So on Wednesday, it really didn't come as a surprise when his name surfaced at the end of a conversation about which hitters fare the best against good pitchers. I had sent off a question to Steve Hirdt of the Elias Sports Bureau along these lines: Which hitters have the best production against major league starting pitchers with ERAs at 3.75 or lower as of games played Aug. 19, and relievers with ERAs of 2.75 or lower.

This is what Steve dug out:

Five highest batting averages vs. the group of good pitchers (min: 85 ABs):

PLAYER BA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB S0
Ryan Braun .371 116 43 11 2 6 19 3 22
Matt Holliday .360 89 32 8 0 3 9 15 16
Ian Kinsler .355 169 60 16 2 6 22 14 17
Joe Mauer .355 93 33 6 1 0 13 11 10
Michael Young .338 154 52 11 1 4 25 9 29


Five lowest (min: 85 ABs), with lowest at the bottom:

PLAYER BA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB S0
Dan Uggla .154 130 20 5 0 4 8 9 45
Jason Varitek .153 118 18 5 0 2 8 11 42
Mark Reynolds .141 85 12 2 0 2 9 11 35
Chris Young .126 95 12 3 0 0 2 12 35
Jeff Francoeur .114 114 13 2 0 1 6 6 28


Most home runs vs. the group of good pitchers:

PLAYER BA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB S0
Adam Dunn .221 104 23 2 0 11 18 30 30
Vladimir Guerrero .272 114 31 4 1 10 21 12 18
Kevin Youkilis .284 141 40 4 2 9 26 17 32
Manny Ramirez .271 133 36 7 0 9 28 17 30
Carlos Quentin .280 100 28 4 0 9 17 11 16


A couple of other notes: The midline batting average against those pitchers was .232; and here are the stat lines for another hitter who has a reputation of struggling against good pitchers:

PLAYER BA AB H 2B 3B HR RBI BB S0
Ryan Howard .217 115 25 6 0 6 20 8 34


just a rough copy/paste, the writer then goes off on a number of notes and observations regarding other players and things not related to the lead part of the article.

enjoy!

[wadesworld]

Thank you very much

[reinko]

I mean c'mon...do the cubs ever lose?  I think the Brewers have lost two series since the all-star break, and we are still 4.5 back. 

[wadesworld]

I mean c'mon...do the cubs ever lose?  I think the Brewers have lost two series since the all-star break, and we are still 4.5 back.

We will be fine.

[reinko]

I know.  Pitching has been solid, timely hitting, great defense as of late.  Big two games with Cards.  Hopefully Benny can bring the magic tomorrow night

[TallTitan34]

I mean c'mon...do the cubs ever lose?  I think the Brewers have lost two series since the all-star break, and we are still 4.5 back. 

I want to say they've won 7 straight series, and if they can keep the lead tonight (up 13-8 in 8th) they will make it 8 straight series.

[TallTitan34]

Sorry I misspoke.  They had 8 series wins in a row.  Now it is 9 series wins in a row ad they just finished off Pittsburgh.

EDIT:  http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com has it at ten series in a row.  WGN said nine.  Whatever it is it's a lot!

[RawdogDX]

Another sweep heading into a 4 game home series against philli.  We'll have the pitching advantage all 4 games.

[wadesworld]

Another sweep heading into a 4 game home series against philli.  We'll have the pitching advantage all 4 games.

Cool!

[gjreda]

Cool!

Sounds like a group of fans is starting to get bitter.

[jmayer1]

Sounds like a group of fans is starting to get bitter.

I don't think anyone is getting bitter.  Unfortunately for the Cards, it looks like the Brewers are pretty good bets to get the wild card.  If the standings hold, I would much rather face the Phillies or Mets in a short series than I would the Dbacks where they can throw Webb and Haren at you twice, sandwiched around Johnson, who is one of the best postseason pitchers ever and a notorious Cubs killer.  The guys on Chicago ESPN radio were actually debating whether it would be better to get the wc than win the division if the standings stayed this way.  Of course, I don't think a team would ever throw games to not win the division just to avoid a potential matchup.

[MarquetteFan94]

Another sweep heading into a 4 game home series against philli.  We'll have the pitching advantage all 4 games.

Love the way this team is playing right now...score 26 runs the first two games then get a 2-0 win from our 5th starter....as TT said, that's 9 straight series wins!

[RawdogDX]

I don't think anyone is getting bitter.  Unfortunately for the Cards, it looks like the Brewers are pretty good bets to get the wild card.  If the standings hold, I would much rather face the Phillies or Mets in a short series than I would the Dbacks where they can throw Webb and Haren at you twice, sandwiched around Johnson, who is one of the best postseason pitchers ever and a notorious Cubs killer.  The guys on Chicago ESPN radio were actually debating whether it would be better to get the wc than win the division if the standings stayed this way.  Of course, I don't think a team would ever throw games to not win the division just to avoid a potential matchup.

all of that may be true but how does that show that wadesworld isn't bitter? 
I don't really care who the opponent is in the first round.  They won't be as good as the cubs, we'll be the best team and will win or won't, either way i'd like to go in to it with the division title.

[🏀]

all of that may be true but how does that show that wadesworld isn't bitter? 
I don't really care who the opponent is in the first round.  They won't be as good as the cubs, we'll be the best team and will win or won't, either way i'd like to go in to it with the division title.

For the second straight year.

[reinko]

Bitter? Sure Brewer fans might be a little bitter at the success of the Cubs.
But look at from perspective for just a moment.  Brew Crew, 4th best record in MLB, 2nd or maybe 3rd best record since the ASB, have only lost 2 series since July 1st (Dodgers and Cubs) and we are STILL grinding to get a WC.

So call it bitter.  I don't care.

Go Crew!

[muwarrior87]

Bitter? Sure Brewer fans might be a little bitter at the success of the Cubs.
But look at from perspective for just a moment.  Brew Crew, 4th best record in MLB, 2nd or maybe 3rd best record since the ASB, have only lost 2 series since July 1st (Dodgers and Cubs) and we are STILL grinding to get a WC.

So call it bitter.  I don't care.

Go Crew!

before last night, it was tied for first w/ the Cubs and Rays. W/ the cubs winning last night and today already, the Crew will be second.

[TallTitan34]

The Cubs and Cardinals have 29 games left.

If the Cubs go 9-20 (well below .500) the Cardinals or Mets have to go 19-10 to take a playoff spot from the Cubs.

The next closest team, Florida would have to go 24-5 to take a playoff spot from the Cubbies.

[reinko]

Thanks 87 for the stat check, I'm stuck at the laundry mat drinking Miller Lites out of my Nalgene.

I know this is a pissing match thread, but c'mon Chub fans, no love for the small market team 90 miles north?

[🏀]

I know this is a pissing match thread, but c'mon Chub fans, no love for the small market team 90 miles north?

Too many idiot Brewer fans. Go some other team for the wild card.

[wadesworld]

all of that may be true but how does that show that wadesworld isn't bitter? 
I don't really care who the opponent is in the first round.  They won't be as good as the cubs, we'll be the best team and will win or won't, either way i'd like to go in to it with the division title.

Haha I'm not bitter at all, I'm just saying that I really don't care about that.  You guys are playing very well.  So are the Brewers.  From the Brewers fans I know, we don't really pay attention to who the Cubs are overmatching and the Cubs fans all know that, so posting that stuff is really unnecessary.  If you haven't noticed, the sweep of the Brewers moved you 5 games ahead of us, and it is still 5 games.  So you can talk all you want about how frustrating it must be for Brewers fans to be playing well but the standings not changing and talk about how dominating you guys are playing, but we're matching your every win since then.  Congratulations on playing well.  We are too.

[reinko]

PTM: Wild Card, Brewers or Cards??

[IAmMarquette]

Too many idiot Brewer fans. Go some other team for the wild card.

Pot.

[RawdogDX]

From the Brewers fans I know, we don't really pay attention to who the Cubs are overmatching and the Cubs fans all know that, so posting that stuff is really unnecessary.  \

Good to hear, but?
1) why do you assume that we (cubs fans) are posting for your benefit. 
2) can you name one message board post that has ever been made in the history of the interenet that was truly and completely necessary?

[wadesworld]

Good to hear, but?
1) why do you assume that we (cubs fans) are posting for your benefit. 
2) can you name one message board post that has ever been made in the history of the interenet that was truly and completely necessary?

1) I'm not assuming you're posting for our benefit.
2) Maybe and maybe not, but I can find some that are at least somewhat necessary and have information that some people on the board care about and don't know.

[jmayer1]

Too many idiot Brewer fans. Go some other team for the wild card.

Really?  A cubs fan saying another team has too many idiot fans, that's funny.