Astros 5
A’s 4
contributed by NeilT
When the Astros play the A’s, it always makes me think of their manager, Mr. Bean, and his transformative use of statistics. Of course as you know, I myself am a statistics god, and today I thought I’d discuss an overlooked area of baseball statistics. Everybody knows the traditional player metrics: OPS+, RAR, WAR, oWAR, dWAR, WHIPP, ERA+, rtzhm, and G, but very few of us keep track of our own personal fan statistics. I thought as part of today’s recap I’d share some important single game fan stats, so that you too can track your interest in any given game through personal metrics.
DWYSOAera (discussions with your significant other about ERA). It is a universal truth that no one’s significant other understands ERA, and explanations of ERA are both muddled and immediately forgotten. With Keuchel (0.90) matching Kazmir (1.33), this game demanded an extended discussion of ERA with Kris. “No, it’s the number of runs that the pitcher would have given up if he’d pitched a theoretical 9 innings. He didn’t really give up .9 runs. He didn’t really pitch 9 innings, but he has pitched 9 innings, just not those 9 innings.” This discussion was repeated several times, until Kazmir was replaced by Evan Scribner. Neither pitcher through 7 had given up a run. They’d given up walks (Keuchel: Zobrist in the first, Canha in the third; Kazmir: Rasmus in the second, Altuve in the fifth, Conger in the 7th), and hits (Keuchel: Gentry and Semien 1B in the 3rd; Kazmir: Gattis 1b in the 2nd, Altuve 1b in the 3rd, Lowrie 1b in the 4th, Conger 1b in the 5th, Altuve 1b in the 7th). But through 7 neither pitcher gave up a multi-base hit. Through 7 neither team could string together enough offense to score a run, though Keuchel loaded the bases in the 3rd. When Kazmir left, he’d thrown 106 pitches, 69 for strikes. I’d mentioned ERA to Kris 5 separate times for a DWYSOAera of 3.88, and we weren’t watching the game.
NTVPG+ (number of TVs at a party you wish were tuned into the game, where the party has lots of TVs). Yesterday was the anniversary of our friends Tony and Bruce, who met 20 years ago at a Log Cabin Republicans event. They threw a party. I know, you’re surprised that I know a couple of Republicans, but I think they had conversion therapy, and anyway I know many Republicans who I like and respect. I’ve even voted for Republicans. Anyway, Tony and Bruce have a big house, and it was packed. There were some city council members, and a mayoral candidate, and the guys who live across the street, and just lots and lots of people. There were also televisions in every room, none of which were tuned into the Astros game. I think I counted six televisions, none on. These pitchers were brilliant, and from time to time I was checking my phone, but damn: 6 TVs, baseball brilliance, and not one tv tuned in. To be fair though, we were only there through a couple of innings, and then went on to dinner at Holley’s Seafood Restaurant and Oyster Bar. Because it was a West Coast game, and we weren’t at the party very late, my NTVPG+ for the evening was a very low .066. I suspect they remembered to turn on the televisions after we left.
GdCaaRwS (Gameday Checks at a Restaurant with your Spouse). Have you been to Holley’s? It’s really very good. I had broiled oysters, and the rolls, and the grouper. Kris had the flounder. I’d go back. We were there until about 11.
This was probably my best statistic of the night, but to be fair I’ve followed a lot of games on Gameday during the past few seasons. I swear I kept looking, but I couldn’t ever find the Astros games on TV. We left about the 8th, when Marwin Gonzalez replaced Gattis as a pitch runner and was caught stealing 2nd. I put my phone on game day and laid it on the table as soon as we were seated. That’s six innings of Gameday, in a restaurant, with my wife. Of course we’ve been married a long time. 1.000.
TTVwHL (Turning on the TV when home late). This is really a minor statistic, and it’s importance is highly debated. You either do, or you don’t, and it’s one that early in the season or during playoffs—remember playoffs?—is easily inflated. I’m not even going to share my numbers, but I did get home in time to see Keuchel come back in for the 9th. Nine innings pitched, with the only baserunners in the first and third. 2 BB, 2 1b, 4K, 14 ground outs. 106 pitches, 64 for strikes. Brilliant. Just brilliant. This is a night to remember when Cy Young rolls around.
FBDGZ (F-Bombs dropped in the GameZone). This is not a category I’m very good at. There are guys like MRaup whose numbers are astronomical, and I’m lucky if I drop an F-bomb per series—not per game, per series. But after Keuchel left, the game got crazy. In the bottom of the 10th, with Dan Otero pitching and Springer (2B) and Lowrie (IBB) on 1st and 2nd, Marwin doubled in 2 runs, then got caught off base in a baserunning kerfuffle. Keuchel was up for the win! Gregerson, who has pretty much been money, came in to close things out, and instead gave up a 2-run double to Josh Reddick. One F-bomb dropped. 2-2. Then in the top of the 11th, with Eric O’Flaherty replacing Otero, Carter walked, Rasmus walked, Conger laid down a perfect sac bunt to move the runners, Robbie Baseball singled in two runs and advanced to 2nd on an error. Altuve IBB, and my favorite relief pitcher, Abad, replaced O’Flaherty. Springer singled in Grossman. End of inning, 5-2.
Bottom of the 11th, Neshek in for Gregerson. Mostly I like Neshek, but last night I didn’t like Neshek. Sogard singled, and Semien hit a two run homer. Two F-bombs dropped, in only three GZ appearances! Davis singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Zobrist finally popped out for the first out. Sipp replaced Neshek, and Butler flied out to Springer. Qualls replaced Sipp and Lawrie flied out to center.
NeilT’s FBDGZ: .666.
What a game. What a night for my personal statistics.