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Cubs 5, Giants 2

Moving the Needle: Aramis Ramirez homers to tie it in the bottom of the ninth, +.465 WPA. The Giants held a 1-0 lead from the second through the eighth, and handed the ball to Brian Wilsin with just three outs to record. He got the first one easily enough, but on a 3-1 pitch he served Ramirez a succulent cookie. Ramirez obliged by bashing it over the left field wall, tying the game. Three extra frames passed without a run, though the Giants did load up the bases with one out in the 12th. In the 13th they finally re-took the lead with a Pablo Sandoval homer, and then got the first two batters out in the bottom half. But a Jeff Baker double and Darwin Barney single re-tied it, and following an intentional walk Geovany Soto capped the comeback with a three-run shot.

Notables

Marcos Mateo: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K. That’s some heavy lifting in relief of Carlos Zambrano, who left the game with lower back problems in the second.

Matt Cain: 7 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 6 K. He’s gone at least seven and allowed zero or one run in four of his last five starts. It’s always a shame when the bullpen can’t hold a game like this.

Also in this issue: Cardinals 9, Orioles 6 | Tigers 5, Mets 2 | White Sox 6, Rockies 4 | Yankees 5, Brewers 0 | Astros 7, Rangers 0 | Marlins 5, A’s 4 | Red Sox 5, Phillies 2 | Pirates 6, Blue Jays 5

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Without two key moves last year, the Diamondbacks probably wouldn’t find themselves in contention for a playoff spot. While the team’s offense, fourth in the NL in wOBA, has carried it most of the way to its 44-38 record, the other components are not as impressive. Their team defensive efficiency is right at the league average, so they’re not getting help much there. The starting rotation as a whole hasn’t fared particularly well, ranking 11th in ERA, 10th in FIP, and 14th in xFIP in the NL. But two pitchers are helping keep them afloat, Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson. If not for one trade in the 2009-2010 off-season, they might still be crawling in the basement.

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Cubs 2, Giants 1

Moving the Needle: Aramis Ramirez walks off with a single, +.368 WPA. Neither team scored through six, but in the seventh the Cubs led off with a double and a single to record the first run. The Giants added theirs in the top of the ninth, also after a leadoff double and a single. An intentional walk and a single loaded up the bases, but a ground ball double play ended the threat. That would have been the biggest WPA swing if not for Ramirez’s walk-off single with two outs in the ninth.

Notables

Ryan Dempster: 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 6 K. The run scored after Carlos Marmol came on in relief, though Dempster did allow the leadoff double to set up the tying run.

Tim Lincecum: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 9 K. One of the walks was intentional. That’s seven out of 17 starts with nine or more strikeouts.

Also in this issue: Angels 1, Nationals 0 | Indians 6, Diamondbacks 2 | Cardinals 5, Orioles 1 | Mets 16, Tigers 9 | White Sox 3, Rockies 2 | Twins 1, Dodgers 0 | Rangers 3, Astros 2 | Yankees 5, Brewers 2 | Phillies 2, Red Sox 1 | Marlins 3, A’s 1 | Padres 4, Royals 1 | Braves 5, Mariners 3 | Reds 4, Rays 3 | Blue Jays 2, Pirates 1

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While trade season primarily involves contenders raiding also-rans for useful players, we always hope for that trade that makes us go: what? When the Red Sox traded Manny to the Dodgers in 2008: What? (Which was preceded, of course, but a much louder what when it was reported they traded him to Florida.) We don’t see those very often, because they often involve high-profile players with big contracts, which complicates matters. Chances are we won’t see any jaw-dropping moves this off-season, but that doesn’t preclude us from writing about possibilities.

Today we’ll hold a bad contract swap meet. There aren’t too many huge, horrible contracts out there — that is, contracts that a team would dump if possible and not really miss the player’s production. The entrants, with the year their contracts expire and the money they’re owed beyond 2011 (assuming options declined):

Boston Red Sox: John Lackey (2014, $47.85m)
New York Mets: Jason Bay (2013, $39.26m)
San Francisco Giants: Barry Zito (2013, $46m)
Chicago Cubs: Alfonso Soriano (2014, $57m)

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Rays 4, Reds 3

Moving the Needle: Johnny Damon puts the Rays ahead in the eighth with a two-RBI double, +.602 WPA. Until the bottom of the ninth, Johnny Damon had done it all for the Rays. He opened up the scoring with a solo home run, which held up until the Reds got two in the eighth. Now down 2-1, the Rays put runners on first and second for Damon, who blooped one to shallow left. Chris Heisey went for the dive, but it ricocheted off his glove, allowing both runners to score. Jay Bruce then answered with a game-tying homer to lead off the ninth, but Evan Longoria felt he had something to prove and hit his own homer, the game-winner, to lead off the bottom half.

Notables

David Price: 7.2 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 12 K. He was really rolling until the eighth. The Reds got half their hits and all their runs off him that inning.

Johnny Cueto: 7.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 1 BB, 6 K. A bloop double ruined everything.

Also in this issue: Angels 11, Nationals 5 | Diamondbacks 6, Indians 4 | Cardinals 6, Orioles 2 | Giants 13, Cubs 7 | Giants 6, Cubs 3 | Mets 14, Tigers 3 | Twins 6, Dodgers 4 | Rockies 3, White Sox 2 | Yankees 12, Brewers 2 | Rangers 7, Astros 3 | A’s 1, Marlins 0 | Phillies 5, Red Sox 0 | Braves 5, Mariners 4 | Padres 4, Royals 2 | Pirates 7, Blue Jays 6 |

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It might come as a shock to FanGraphs readers, but not everyone has a use for the statistics we use on this site. Plenty of fans, and probably even some people more closely connected to the game, are comfortable with their personal observations. That’s fine. Baseball is a game, and the game is meant, first and foremost, to entertain. We all enjoy it in our own ways, and, as long as it doesn’t involve harming others, no one should disparage anyone else’s way of enjoying it. By hearing them out we might even find new ways to enjoy the game ourselves. But enjoyment is not at all the same as evaluation. That’s where we’ve run into some issues.

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Indians 5, Diamondbacks 4

Moving the Needle: Kelly Johnson‘s triple ties the game, but Orlando Cabrera’s homer puts the Indians back ahead, +.404 WPA each. If there’s anything better than having a tie atop the WPA leader board, it’s having a big-time tie at the top. In the bottom of the eighth Johnson laced one into the gap in right-center, bringing around Wily Mo Pena all the way from first. That tied the game at four. A half inning later, with closer J.J. Putz on the mound, Cabrera laid into one and put it just over the wall in left, putting the Indians back ahead.

Notables

Lonnie Chisenhall: 2 for 4, 1 2B. He led off the fifth with the double down the right field line, and advanced to third on a single, but the Indians couldn’t bring him around to score. Then in the sixth he came up with runners on first and second in a tie game, and he grounded one past the diving Johnson at second to put his team ahead. That’s about as nice a debut as you can hope for. I think we’re all going to enjoy watching this Lonnie Chisenhall kid — if for no reason other than he has a fun name. Lonnie Chisenahll.

Asdrubal Cabrera: 2 for 4, 1 2B, 1 HR. He now has 80 fewer PA than 2010, but has four more doubles (20) and 10 more homers (13). ::pats self on back, Barry Horowitz style::

Also in this issue: Angels 4, Nationals 3 | Tigers 4, Blue Jays 2 | Cubs 7, Rockies 3 | Dodgers 15, Twins 0 | Padres 4, Rays 3 | Braves 3, Mariners 1 | Reds 5, Rays 0

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Some teams get it, and some teams do not. As we discussed last week, the White Sox apparently do not. They’re just 4.5 games out of the AL Central lead after an abysmal start, yet they continue playing one of the league’s weakest hitters and placing him atop their lineup. That’s only going to hamper their chances to overtake the Tigers and Indians. A move is necessary, but they’re not making it.

The Seattle Mariners, on the other hand, appear to understand their current position. They’re at .500, just a game and a half behind Texas for the AL West crown. They have the league’s least potent offense, which surprises no one. But they had areas where they can improve. Earlier this month I wrote about Chone Figgins and his job security. Last week the Mariners finally made the move, recalling Dustin Ackley and benching Figgins. It might not be a cure-all for the offense, but the move shows their willingness to make the team better even if it means bruising some egos.

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Tigers 8, Diamondbacks 3

Moving the Needle: Miguel Cabera’s two-run single gives the Tigers the lead, +.499 WPA. For the first six innings Jhonny Peralta’s homer stood as the only run. Then the Diamondbacks broke through for two runs, taking the lead. An inning later the Tigers would get it all back. A pair of two-out walks to load the bases is a bad sign and it is made all the worse when Cabrera is the man due up. On a 2-1 pitch he pulled one into left, bringing around two runners and giving his team the lead back. Cabrera’s hit was the first in a string of five straight singles that led to a big inning for the Tigers.

Notables

Jhonny Peralta: 3 for 4, 1 HR. The homer was mentioned before, but Peralta deserves mention for his two-hit, two-RBI day as well.

Joe Saunders: 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K. He takes a lot of crap, because 1) he was the most recognizable name in the Dan Haren trade last summer, and 2) he’s not good. He pitched well in this one, however, which gives good occasion to mention that Tyler Skaggs, not Saunders, was the centerpiece of the Haren trade.

Also in this issue: Orioles 7, Reds 5 | Mariners 2, Marlins 1 | Nationals 2, White Sox 1 | Rays 14, Astros 10 | Dodgers 3, Angels 2 | Royals 6, Cubs 3 | Brewers 6, Twins 2 | Yankees 6, Rockies 4 | Phillies 3, A’s 1 | Mets 8, Rangers 5 | Red Sox 4, Pirates 2 | Blue Jays 5, Cardinals – | Padres 4, Braves 1 | Giants 3, Indians 1

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Giants 2, Twins 1

Moving the Needle: Michael Cuddyer gives the Twins a fighting chance in the ninth with an RBI double, +.212 WPA. The Twins were getting absolutely nothing done off Tim Lincecum, but they finally broke through against closer Brian Wilson. Alexi Casilla walked to start the inning, and Cuddyer whaled a double into the left-center field gap, his third hit of the day. The hit scored Casilla and put the tying run in scoring position with none out. But Wilson took over from there, striking out Delmon Young before getting a fly out and a ground out to end the game.

Notables

Tim Lincecum: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 12 K. That’s his third start of the season with at least 12 strikeouts.

Brian Duensing: 6.2 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 2 BB, 5 K. It was a valiant effort, but when Timmy’s on you need to be perfect as well in order to match him inning-for-inning.

Also in this issue: Diamondbacks 5, Royals 3 | Nationals 1, Mariners 0 | Mets 4, A’s 1 | Cardinals 12, Phillies 2

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