Ranking Shortstops

Posted on August 22, 2001 by Andyzipp in Bleacher Rap

By Knoxbanedoodle
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on August 22, 2001.

The four best shortstops in the NL are, in no particular order, Rich Aurilia, Jimmy Rollins, Ricky Gutierrez and Orlando Cabrera – the last being yet another gem shining in the vacuum that is Montreal.

I am no stats guru, so the following analysis will be kind of soft. Through August 20, among current NL shortstops, Lugo is 5th in total chances and 4th in putouts. His fielding percentage is better by 3 points than Gutierrez, and off the leader’s pace (Cabrera) by 17. Ordered by ABs, Lugo is fifth among NL shortstops in batting average, and 3rd in OBP. Read More

The Rawhide Barons

Posted on August 10, 2001 by Andyzipp in Bleacher Rap

By Brian C.
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on August 10, 2001.

The two US Supreme Court cases that were chiefly involved in the decision that Major League Baseball does not comprise interstate commerce are Federal Base Ball Club of Baltimore, Inc., v. National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs et al. (1922), wherein this upstart “federal club” alleged antitrust violations after being gobbled up by the National League; and Toolson v. New York Yankees (1953), which addressed the Sherman Act compliance of reserve clauses in player contracts. The decisions in these cases concluded and affirmed, respectively, that baseball cannot be regulated under existing antitrust law. Our suspicion, that these conclusions were predicated largely on the argument that you just don’t mess with baseball, were well founded.Read More

Counter Intuitive

Posted on August 8, 2001 by Andyzipp in From Left Field

By Breedlove
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on August 8, 2001.

An excellent email came in about the Elarton discussion last time out that raised a question already slated for discussion:

Your piece on the demise of Elarton is interesting. Given the inherent unpredictability of most pitchers, it is always risky to give up on one such as Elarton who has shown great promise. Nevertheless, he has clearly stunk for the better part of a year now, so the trade for the pennant race rental of a workhorse such as Astacio is probably not unreasonable.Read More

Rocky Mountain Bye

Posted on August 2, 2001 by Andyzipp in From Left Field

By Breedlove
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on August 2, 2001.

Before the 2001 season started it seemed the Astro Nation would not have parted with Scott Elarton for anything short of a superstar. Even then it would have to have been the perfect situation. But the organization and its fans soured on Elarton when he suffered through poor mechanics and poor health and turned in a poor performance, and the Astros’ situation was far from perfect. Read More

Hey, Ump…Yer Outta Here!

Posted on July 27, 2001 by Waldo in Bleacher Rap

By Waldo
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on July 27, 2001.

Boneheaded calls by sports officials are nothing new. No one has to look further than the January 17, 1999, NFC Championship game between the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons to find a fantasic example. Going into overtime (and, hence, sudden death) at the HumpDome, the teams were tied at 21, and the Vikings had just missed a 38-yard field goal attempt at the end of regulation that would’ve sent them to Super Bowl XXXIII. After the team representatives and the referee had gathered for the coin toss, the Vikings called it in the air. “Tails.” The coin landed tails.Read More

Turning The Page

Posted on July 6, 2001 by Andyzipp in From Left Field

By Breedlove
Editor’s note – This article originally appeared on AstrosConnection.com on July 6, 2001.

On June 23rd the Astros parted company with one of the great characters in franchise history when they traded the troubled Jose Lima to the Detroit Tigers for righthander Dave Mlicki. Over his few short seasons in the Astros rotation Lima’s star rose to heights and fell to depths rarely witnessed in Houston sports. By the end even El Loco himself was ready to acknowledge he had to move on, but he will still be missed. For a time, watching the Astros without Jose Lima will be like reading the Sunday paper without the comics.Read More

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