NERD Game Scores for Sunday, June 7, 2015
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
Houston at Toronto | 13:07 ET
McHugh (70.2 IP, 92 xFIP-) vs. Dickey (70.0 IP, 119 xFIP-)
When the author first introduced pitcher NERD scores and the algorithm used to calculate them, there was near consensus among the wide readership that knuckleballers ought to receive a bonus of some sort, owing to the appeal of that same pitch. The solution at that time: an addition of (5 * KN%), where KN% denotes knuckleball rate, to every pitcher’s score. At no point in the meantime has there been any great uproar suggesting that the knuckle bonus was poorly conceived. That said, R.A. Dickey has produced so far in 2015 both (a) the worst fielding-independent numbers and also (b) the worst run-prevention numbers since before he was a Met or even a Twin. And yet, he currently possesses an 8 NERD, placing him at roughly the 85th percentile among all starters. Bearing in mind that the entire endeavor is futile, the reader is encouraged nonetheless to meditate upon whether Dickey’s NERD score is representative of the pleasure one continues to derive from his craft.
Readers’ Preferred Broadcast: Toronto Radio.
Two Brief Notes
Constantly Looping Video: Joe Ross’s Fastball and Slider
Washington right-hander Joe Ross recorded his major-league debut yesterday against the Cubs, producing a 4:0 strikeout-to-walk ratio and single-game 2.36 xFIP over 5.0 innings (box). Below is constantly looping video of both his fastball and slider from that same game.
Today’s Free Game
Today’s free game features San Diego at Cincinnati, starts at 13:10 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. Note that the calculations both for team and game NERD scores have changed recently to better integrate playoff odds into same. Read more about those changes here, if you’re the sort of person accustomed to making poor life decisions.
| Away | SP | Tm. | Gm. | Tm. | SP | Home | Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C.J. Wilson | LAA | 3 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 6 | NYA | CC Sabathia | 13:05 |
| Collin McHugh | HOU | 6 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 8 | TOR | R.A. Dickey | 13:07 |
| Bud Norris | BAL | 1 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 10 | CLE | Carlos Carrasco | 13:10 |
| Od.r Despaigne | SD | 2 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | CIN | Johnny Cueto | 13:10 |
| Ken. Graveman | OAK | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 7 | BOS | Clay Buchholz | 13:35 |
| Gerrit Cole | PIT | 10 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 4 | ATL | Alex Wood | 13:35 |
| Ryan Vogelsong | SF | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | PHI | Sean O’Sullivan | 13:35 |
| Alfredo Simon | DET | 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7 | CHA | Jeff Samardzija | 14:10 |
| Mike Fiers | MIL | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | MIN | Mike Pelfrey | 14:10 |
| Colby Lewis | TEX | 3 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 0 | KC | Jeremy Guthrie | 14:10 |
| Kyle Hendricks | CHN | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | WAS | Jor. Zimmermann | 16:05 |
| Jose Urena | MIA | 6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 0 | COL | Kyle Kendrick | 16:10 |
| Jacob deGrom | NYN | 10 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 3 | AZ | Josh Collmenter | 16:10 |
| Chris Archer | TB | 10 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 6 | SEA | M. Montgomery* | 16:10 |
| Lance Lynn | STL | 5 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 4 | LAN | Zack Greinke | 20:08 |
* = Fewer than 10 IP, NERD at discretion of very handsome author.
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
Why doesn’t CC Sabathia use periods in his nickname like R.A. Dickey and C.J. Wilson?
Per Wikipedia:
On July 7, 2008, Sabathia was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for Matt LaPorta, Michael Brantley, Zach Jackson and Rob Bryson. During his press conference, Sabathia made it known to the assembled members of the media that he would prefer his name to be spelled “CC” rather than “C.C.”