One Night Only: Hot Game Previews for June 16th
Whaddo I look like, a frigging psychologist over here?
This edition of One Night Only contains:
1. Previews of varying sizes for four games: Texas at New York (AL), Baltimore at Toronto, Milwaukee at Chicago (NL), and New York (NL) at Atlanta.
2. Pitcher and Team NERD scores for every one of tonight’s games.
3. One man’s trash.
Texas (8) at New York Americans (7) | 13:05 ET
Starting Pitchers
Rangers: C.J. Wilson (5)
96.0 IP, 7.78 K/9, 3.09 BB/9, 46.4% GB, 3.50 xFIP, 88 xFIP-
Yankees: Brian Gordon (N/A)
55.1 IP, 9.11 K/9, 1.14 BB/9, 0.65 HR/9, 2.55 FIP (Triple-A)
Regarding Who Brian Gordon Is
Currently? A starting pitcher for the New York Yankees.
Regarding Who Brian Gordon Is, Part II
Up till, literally, yesterday? A minor-league pitcher in the Philadelphia system.
Regarding Who Brian Gordon Is, Part III
Up till 2007? An outfielder who batted .275/.321/.460 in over 4000 minor-league plate appearances.
What John Sickels Said About Him (i.e. Brian Gordon) Once
“[T]here have been worse pitchers with major league careers.”
Where That Rates, So Far as “Endorsements” Go
Somewhere below “ringing.”
Why Gordon’s Story Is Interesting, Probably
Whaddo I look like, a frigging psychologist?
Why Gordon’s Story Is Interesting, A Guess
Because there’s some joy to be derived from the improbable — which, that’s what Gordon’s story is (i.e. improbable).
But, Seriously
I don’t look a psychologist, right? Because that’d be the worst.
Three Other Games
Baltimore (3) at Toronto (8) | 12:37 ET
Right-hander Zach Stewart, ranked third in the Toronto system by our man Marc Hulet, makes his major-league debut this afternoon.
Milwaukee (8) at Chicago Nationals (0) | 14:20 ET
One excellent pitcher? Check. Another excellent pitcher? Check. One pretty excellent team? Check. Another pretty excellent team? Not so much.
New York Nationals (4) at Atlanta {7) | 19:10 ET
Jason Heyward’s back (among other reasons to watch)!
Also Playing
These games are very likely playing at some kind of sporty channel near you. (Pitching probables and game times from MLB.com.)
pNERD = Pitcher NERD
tNERD = Team NERD
Game = Time and Average NERD for Game
* = Fewer than 20 IP, NERD of 5 (or 10 for debuts)
Carson Cistulli has published a book of aphorisms called Spirited Ejaculations of a New Enthusiast.
Wow. A game score of nine. I am floored.
That’s w/ the pitcher-heavy method, of course, but it makes sense: Garza and Greinke have been excellent, as have the Brewers.
And also the Cubs are playing, too.
Outcome of this game shows you how hard prediction is for a single game in baseball. Two 10 rated pitchers and there were 19 total runs scored.