NERD Game Scores for Saturday, May 17, 2014
Devised originally in response to a challenge issued by viscount of the internet Rob Neyer, and expanded at the request of nobody, NERD scores represent an attempt to summarize in one number (and on a scale of 0-10) the likely aesthetic appeal or watchability, for the learned fan, of a player or team or game. Read more about the components of and formulae for NERD scores here.
Most Highly Rated Game
Los Angeles NL at Arizona | 20:10 ET
Clayton Kershaw (20.2 IP, 41 xFIP-, 0.8) faces Chase Anderson (5.1 IP, 62 xFIP-, 0.1 WAR). The virtues of the former are manifest. The virtues of the latter aren’t entirely, but largely, summarized by means of the animated GIF below, which animated GIF depicts Chase Anderson’s fantastic changeup.
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Los Angeles NL Television.
Two Brief Notes
Regarding Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels‘ poor NERD score at the moment is largely due to his mediocre park-adjusted xFIP (107 xFIP-), although his most recent start, during which he struck out 10 (box), was also his most promising of the four he’s recorded since returning from injury.
Regarding Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features Seattle and Minnesota, starts at 7:10pm ET, and can be accessed by means of this hyperlinked text.
Complete Schedule
Here’s the complete and very sortable table for all of today’s games. Pitching probables and game times aggregated from MLB.com and also the rest of the internet.
| Away | SP | Tm. | Gm. | Tm. | SP | Home | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Harang | ATL | 6 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 2 | STL | Shelby Miller | 14:15 |
| Matt Garza | MIL | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | CHN | Edwin Jackson | 14:20 |
| Bartolo Colon | NYN | 5 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 6 | WAS | Gio Gonzalez | 16:05 |
| Edinson Volquez | PIT | 3 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 5 | NYA | David Phelps* | 16:05 |
| Hector Noesi* | CHA | 6 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 4 | HOU | Jarred Cosart | 16:10 |
| Homer Bailey | CIN | 7 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | PHI | Cole Hamels | 19:05 |
| Scott Kazmir | OAK | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | CLE | Josh Tomlin* | 19:05 |
| Bud Norris | BAL | 3 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 5 | KC | Danny Duffy* | 19:10 |
| Rick Porcello | DET | 7 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 7 | BOS | John Lackey | 19:10 |
| Roenis Elias | SEA | 6 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 4 | MIN | Sam. Deduno* | 19:10 |
| Mark Buehrle | TOR | 3 | 6 | 5 | 3 | 6 | TEX | Robbie Ross | 20:05 |
| Clayton Kershaw | LAN | 10 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 9 | AZ | Ch. Anderson* | 20:10 |
| Robbie Erlin | SD | 7 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 5 | COL | Jordan Lyles | 20:10 |
| Tom Koehler | MIA | 2 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 7 | SF | Tim Lincecum | 21:05 |
| Cesar Ramos | TB | 0 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 5 | LAA | C.J. Wilson | 21:05 |
To learn how Game NERD Scores are calculated, click here.
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
So out of fifteen games, nine get exactly average NERD scores of 5, with five of the remaining six within a point of the average.
You’re just a tool of the regression-to-the-mean lobby, man.