GOG 2011 #03

1. Oakland sweep!
2. 4 strickouts
3. shutdown for Balfour, meltdown for Ross
4. 1 XBH, 2 SB
5. 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 RBI
6. Oakland has more IP, more Ks, and fewer ER from their starters
7. 2 hits, 0 runs, 2 double plays for the Minnesota second baseman

1. A’s 2-1
2. 4 Ks
3. Shutdown: Fuentes. Meltdown: Blevins
4. 2 Extra base hits, 3 SB
5. 4 Hits, 1 BB, 2 RBIs
6. Athletics-IP,ER, Twins-Ks
7. 1 hit, 0 Runs, 1 DP

1. A’s 2-1
2. 5
3. Shutdown: Fuentes; meltdown: Ziegler
4. 1, 1
5. 3, 2, 2
6. A’s; A’s; A’s
7. 3, 2, 2

1. Series Outcome [3 points] Twins, 2-1
2. One of Willingham’s Two True Outcomes [2 points] 3 Ks
3. Shutting Down, Melting Down [3 points each] – Shut Down, Breslow / Meltdown, None
4. Coco on Fire [2 points each] 2 XBH / 2 SB
5. Mauer on Ice [2 points each] 5 H / 2 BB / 2 RBIs
6. Duelling Starters [1 point each] A’s, More IP / A’s, More K / A’s, Fewer ER
7. Replacing Nishioka [2 points each] Twins 2B – 3 H / 1 R / 3 DPs Turned

1. Predict the series outcome. [3 points] A’s Sweep
2. The power stroke has been nice, but I really hope that Josh Willingham doesn’t continue to strike out in 50% of his at-bats (he has 11 Ks in 22 AB so far!). Predict how many strickouts! [2 points] 2
3. Shutdowns and meltdowns are a pretty interesting and intuitive way of looking at relief pitcher performance, introduced about a year ago on fangraphs. The idea is simple — if a relief pitcher improves the team’s win probability by at least 6%, they get a shutdown; if they decrease the win probability by at least 6%, they get a meltdown. Needless to say, the Oakland bullpen has compiled more meltdowns than shutdowns this season, with Breslow (2 meltdowns, 0 shutdowns) leading the way. Pick an Athletics reliever who records a shutdown against the Twins, and one who suffers a meltdown. [3 points each]
Shutdown: Balfour Meltdown: Blevins
4. Coco Crisp has been keeping things exciting on offense (someone has to, right?) with two doubles, two triples(!), and three stolen bases. Predict how many extra base hits and stolen bases for the A’s leadoff hitter. [2 points each] XBH: 2 SB: 2
5. So far in 2011, Mauer is hitting just .222 with 3 BB and no extra base hits. I’m sure he will turn it around, but hopefully that won’t happen in this series. Predict his hits, walks, and runs batted in. [2 points each] H: 2, BB: 1, RBI: 1
6. Starting pitching has been the bright spot for the A’s so far (their starting pitchers have accumulated 1.1 WAR, which is tied with the Rays and White Sox and is behind only the the Blue Jays and Rangers). The opposite has been true for the Twins, whose starting pitchers have already contributed half a win below replacement (worst in the majors). Which team gets more innings from their starters? Which teams starting pitchers record more Ks? Which teams starters allow fewer earned runs? [1 point each] A’s across the board
7. Twins second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka suffered a broken leg yesterday after Nick Swisher slid into him while trying to break up a double play. Predict hits, runs, and double plays turned for Nishioka’s replacement(s). [2 points each] 2 H, 1 R, 4 DPs

1. A’s 2-1
2. Willingham’s K’s: 3
3. Shutdown: Fuentes; Meltdown: Blevins
4. Crisp’s XBH: 1; SB: 3
5. Mauer’s H/BB/RBI: 2/2/2
6. More SP IP: A’s; More SP K’s: A’s; Fewer SP ER: Twins
7. Nishioka’s Replacement H/R/DP turned: 1/0/3

   1. A’s SWEEP. Has to happen eventually.
   2. 3 Ks for Willingham
   3. Shutdown: Ross. Meltdown: Breslow
   4. Coco: 2 XBH, 2 SB
   5. Mauer: 1H, 2BB, 1RBI
   6. More innings: A’s. More Ks: A’s. Fewer ER: A’s.
   7. 1H, 1R, 3DP

Oh wait, this isn’t a game thread.

1. 2-1 Twins
2. 4 K for the Hammer
3. Shutdown – Fuentes. Meltdown – Cramer
4. 2 and 3
5. 4 hits, one walk, 5 RBI
6. A’s across the board
7. 1 hit, no runs, 4 DPs

1. Twins 2-1
2. Willingham’s K’s: 4
3. Shutdown: Fuentes; Meltdown: Ziegler
4. Crisp’s XBH:2; SB: 2
5. Mauer’s H/BB/RBI: 4/3/3
6. More SP IP: A’s; More SP K’s: A’s; Fewer SP ER: Twins
7. Nishioka’s Replacement H/R/DP turned:2/1/4

1. Predict the series outcome. [3 points] 2-1 Twins
2. The power stroke has been nice, but I really hope that Josh Willingham doesn’t continue to strike out in 50% of his at-bats (he has 11 Ks in 22 AB so far!). Predict how many strickouts! [2 points] 4K
3. Shutdowns and meltdowns are a pretty interesting and intuitive way of looking at relief pitcher performance, introduced about a year ago on fangraphs. The idea is simple — if a relief pitcher improves the team’s win probability by at least 6%, they get a shutdown; if they decrease the win probability by at least 6%, they get a meltdown. Needless to say, the Oakland bullpen has compiled more meltdowns than shutdowns this season, with Breslow (2 meltdowns, 0 shutdowns) leading the way. Pick an Athletics reliever who records a shutdown against the Twins, and one who suffers a meltdown. [3 points each] Shutdown Blevins, Meltdown Ziegler
4. Coco Crisp has been keeping things exciting on offense (someone has to, right?) with two doubles, two triples(!), and three stolen bases. Predict how many extra base hits and stolen bases for the A’s leadoff hitter. [2 points each] 3, 2
5. So far in 2011, Mauer is hitting just .222 with 3 BB and no extra base hits. I’m sure he will turn it around, but hopefully that won’t happen in this series. Predict his hits, walks, and runs batted in. [2 points each] 3, 1, 1
6. Starting pitching has been the bright spot for the A’s so far (their starting pitchers have accumulated 1.1 WAR, which is tied with the Rays and White Sox and is behind only the the Blue Jays and Rangers). The opposite has been true for the Twins, whose starting pitchers have already contributed half a win below replacement (worst in the majors). Which team gets more innings from their starters? Which teams starting pitchers record more Ks? Which teams starters allow fewer earned runs? [1 point each] A’s for all three
7. Twins second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka suffered a broken leg yesterday after Nick Swisher slid into him while trying to break up a double play. Predict hits, runs, and double plays turned for Nishioka’s replacement(s). [2 points each] 2, 0, 2

1. A’s 2-1 (C’mon A’s, don’t make a liar out of me!!!!)
2. Willingham’s K’s = 5
3. Relievers: Shutdown = Balfour Meltdown = Blevins
4. Gogo Coco: 2 Xtras/2 Steals (Twins theme, DYSWIDT)
5. Mauer (which auto corrected to mauler – no likey): 3H/2W/2RBI
6. Starters: A’s/A’s/A’s (Did you expect anything different)
7. The Replacement: 3H/1R/2 DP turned)

1. A’s 2-1
2. 4
3. shutdown-fuentes meltdown-ziggy
4. 2/2
5. 2/3/0
6. A’s/A’s/A’s
7. 0/0/3

1. A’s 2 / Twins 1
2. Willy’s K’s: 4
3. Shutdown = Ross / Meltdown = Zeigler
4: Coco’s XBH: 3 / Steals: 2
5: Mauer’s H:4 / BB:1 / RBI:2
6: Innings:A’s / K’s: Twins / ER’s:A’s
7: Replacement H:2 / Runs:0 / DBL:4

Colin,

I wanted to offer to do some future GOGs. Here’s the schedule for the next couple months with the series I’m volunteering for, in case others want to volunteer for other series, cut and paste in a reply.

Dates Team GOGer
4/11-4/13 White Sox
4/14-4/17 Tigers PDXathleticsfan
4/19-4/20 Red Sox
4/21-4/24 Mariners
4/25 – 4/27 Angels
4/29 – 5/2 Rangers PDXathleticsfan
5/3 – 5/5 Indians
5/6 – 5/8 Royals
5/9 – 5/11 Rangers
5/13 – 5/15 White Sox PDXathleticsfan
5/16 – 51/7 Angels
5/18 – 5/19 Twins
5/20 – 5/22 Giants PDXathleticsfan
5/23 – 5/26 Angels
5/27 – 5/29 Orioles
5/30 – 6/1 Yankees

1. 2-1 bad guys
2. 2
3. Fuentes for both.
4. 4
5. 3H / 2BB / 1 RBI
6. All A’s
7. 1 H/ 0 R/ 3 DP

determined to try to keep up this season

1. 2 – 1 Twins
2. 4 K’s
3. Shutdown: Balfour / Meltdown: Fuentes
4. 3 XB’s; 4 SB’s
5. 3, 3, 2
6. A’s – all
7. 2, 0, 2

   1. 2-1 A’s (I’m sticking to it until it works!)
   2. 3
   3. Shutdown: Balfour, Meltdown: Fuentes
   4. 2 EBH, 2 SB
   5. 4 hits, 2 walks, 2 RBIs
   6. A’s, Twins, A’s
   7. 2 hits, 1 run, 3 DP

1. A’s 2-1
2. 4 Ks for the Other White Meat
3. Shutdown: Fuentes/ Meltdown: Ross (Welcome back to The Show, Ty. Don’t worry, it’ll get better.)
4. Coco: 3 XBH, 2 SB
5. Mauer (we went fishing in Cabo!): 4 H, 1BB, 2RBI
6. SP IP/K/ER: MOO!
7. Not Nishioka: 2 H, 1R, 2DP

Let’s Go A’s

1. Predict the series outcome. A’s 2 Twins 1 (comeback!)
2. Josh Willingham doesn’t continue to strike out in 50% of his at-bats (he has 11 Ks in 22 AB so far!). Predict how many strickouts! 4Ks
3. Pick an Athletics reliever who records a shutdown against the Twins, and one who suffers a meltdown. Balfour, Fuentes
4. Coco Crisp. Predict how many extra base hits and stolen bases for the A’s leadoff hitter. XBH 2, SB 2
5. Mauer is hitting just .222. Predict his hits, walks, and runs batted in. 3H, 2BB, 2RBI
6. Starting pitching has been the bright spot for the A’s so far. The opposite has been true for the Twins. A’s more innings, A’s more Ks, Twins fewer ER
7. Twins second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka suffered a broken leg. Predict hits, runs, and double plays turned for Nishioka’s replacement(s). 3H, 1R, 1DP

1. 2-1 A’s (dammit, I’m staying with this until it happens)
2. 4K
3. Shutdown: Balfour. Meltdown: Breslow
4. XBH: 2, SB: 2
5. 4 H, 1 BB, 3 RBI
6. A’s more innings, A’s more K’s, A’s fewer ER
7. 2 H, 0 R, 1 DP

Predict the series outcome. [3 points] A’s sweep!The power stroke has been nice, but I really hope that Josh Willingham doesn’t continue to strike out in 50% of his at-bats (he has 11 Ks in 22 AB so far!). Predict how many strickouts! [2 points] 3 K
Shutdowns and meltdowns are a pretty interesting and intuitive way of looking at relief pitcher performance, introduced about a year ago on fangraphs. The idea is simple — if a relief pitcher improves the team’s win probability by at least 6%, they get a shutdown; if they decrease the win probability by at least 6%, they get a meltdown. Needless to say, the Oakland bullpen has compiled more meltdowns than shutdowns this season, with Breslow (2 meltdowns, 0 shutdowns) leading the way. Pick an Athletics reliever who records a shutdown against the Twins, and one who suffers a meltdown. [3 points each]
Shutdown – Blevins Meltdown – Ross
Coco Crisp has been keeping things exciting on offense (someone has to, right?) with two doubles, two triples(!), and three stolen bases. Predict how many extra base hits and stolen bases for the A’s leadoff hitter. [2 points each] 1 xbh, 2 sb
So far in 2011, Mauer is hitting just .222 with 3 BB and no extra base hits. I’m sure he will turn it around, but hopefully that won’t happen in this series. Predict his hits, walks, and runs batted in. [2 points each] 2 H, 1 BB, 2 RBI
Starting pitching has been the bright spot for the A’s so far (their starting pitchers have accumulated 1.1 WAR, which is tied with the Rays and White Sox and is behind only the the Blue Jays and Rangers). The opposite has been true for the Twins, whose starting pitchers have already contributed half a win below replacement (worst in the majors). Which team gets more innings from their starters? Which teams starting pitchers record more Ks? Which teams starters allow fewer earned runs? [1 point each] A’s more IP, Twins more K’s, A’s fewer ER
Twins second baseman Tsuyoshi Nishioka suffered a broken leg yesterday after Nick Swisher slid into him while trying to break up a double play. Predict hits, runs, and double plays turned for Nishioka’s replacement(s). [2 points each] 1 H, 0 R, 2 DP

With the series tied 1-1 (#1), pitchers are dominating. Each team’s starters have pitched 14 innings, with the A’s up 9-3 in Ks but also up 2-1 in the ER category (#6). Willingham (#2) has managed only 2 Ks, and Coco (#4) only 1 SB and 0 XBH. On the Twins side, Mauer (#5) has a mere 2 H, 0 BB, and 1 RBI, and their 2B have combined for just 1 H, 0 R, and 0 DPs turned (#7). Perhaps brightest of all are the sequential Shut Downs in Game 2 by Balfour and Fuentes, with no Melt Downs to speak of (#3).

1. Series Outcome – A’s, 2-1 [3 points]
2. Willingham’s Strickouts – 3 K [2 points]
3. Shutdown, Meltdown – Shutdowns, Balfour & Fuentes (2) / No Meltdowns [3 points each]
4. Coco Crisp – 0 XBH / 1 SB [2 points each]
5. Joe Mauer – 3 H / 0 BB / 1 RBI [2 points each]
6. Starting Pitchers – A’s, More IP (21.1 to 19) / A’s, More K (14 to 8) / A’s, Fewer ER (4 to 5) [1 point each]
7. Twins 2B – 1 H / 0 R / 0 DPs Turned [2 points each]

Shutdowns: Balfour (.101 WPA), Fuentes (.367 WPA), both in Game 2; Fuentes (.091) in Game 3