Author Archives: Paul Francis Sullivan
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 12, 2013
Photo Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America
Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast is the second part of my conversation with A’s relief pitcher Sean Doolittle.
I took questions from some of my Oakland A’s fan friends and passed them along to Sean.
And along the way, we got to the bottom of the meaning of a unicorn and the identity of a juggler. It all makes sense.
To listen to Part 1 of the conversation, listen below.
Follow Sean Doolittle on Twitter HERE.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 11, 2013
Photo: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images North America
Oakland Athletics left handed reliever Sean Doolittle was the guest on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
He talked about his career, the A’s, having two Champagne celebrations in three days and an interesting story about Josh Donaldson and his knowledge of a pitcher he faced in a critical game.
Follow Sean Doolittle on Twitter HERE.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 11, 2013
To Listen to Part 2, just scroll down some more….
Photo Source: Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images North America
Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast is the second part of my conversation with A’s relief pitcher Sean Doolittle.
I took questions from some of my Oakland A’s fan friends and passed them along to Sean.
And along the way, we got to the bottom of the meaning of a unicorn and the identity of a juggler. It all makes sense.
To listen to Part 1 of the conversation, listen below.
Follow Sean Doolittle on Twitter HERE.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 10, 2013
Photo: Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports
It is time for The Sunday Request on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
@sullybaseball wondering what your thoughts are on #TomVerducci‘s #bonusbatter idea. I kind of like it. http://t.co/8AkeWUMR6y
— Mike (@Boston_Braves) November 7, 2013
I’m not against changes nor do I cling to tradition. But I am not sure I am in line with Verducci’s scheme.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 9, 2013
Photos: ESPN – Rob Tringali/MLB Photos/Getty Images
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I chatted with ESPN Insider writer and the creator of ZiPS, Dan Szymborski.
We talked about internet arguments, why fans will learn the wrong lesson from the 2013 Red Sox, predicted which teams would go on ill advised spending sprees and other topics.
Follow Dan on Twitter by clicking HERE.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 8, 2013
Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast I point out some things that we never seem to learn every off season:
The teams that dominate the off season are rarely the team that wins and inevitably some player we all wrote off will become the great hero of the next October.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 7, 2013
Photos: Andrew Wooley – Getty Images – USA Today – J. Meric/Getty Images North America – AP Photo/Toronto Blue Jays via The Canadian Press, Fred Thornhill
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I review the finalists for the off season awards and give a good long look at the results of Who Owns Baseball (WOB.)
WOB was my great experiment to try and track players value based upon how they became the big performer of individual days, taking in account stats and the significance of the game.
Four of the final names very well might line up with the real awards.
But why are Matt Moore and R. A. Dickey there? Is that a flaw in WOB? Or is it a flaw in US?
The final tally for Who Owns Baseball can be found here.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 6, 2013
The Astrodome is going to be demolished. And with it goes any uniqueness of the Astros-franchise.
That’s the topic for today’s Episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Here is the Sully Baseball video from 2011 about the Astros identity.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 5, 2013
Google Earth
The controversy over where the A’s are going to play is hitting a petty and infantile fever pitch.
And MLB is FINALLY acting like a parent in the situation.
What does this have to do with my son’s dinosaur toy?
Better listen to today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 4, 2013
AP Photo/Paul Sancya
Free Agent pickings are slim if you are looking for a star. Teams know NOT to let elite players under 30 walk. So offer these free agents more than 3 years at your own risk.
Also the Tigers continue a strange trend of managerial hires where previous coaching experience is not required.
This and more on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 3, 2013
AP Photo/Ted S. Warren
Today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast is not so much a Sunday Request as it is a Sunday Response.
Andrés du Bouchet is one of the funniest and most talented comedic minds currently breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide on the planet Earth. As an Emmy nominated writer and frequent performer on Conan, his brilliant comedic imagination and performing style can be seen on national TV.
And I had the privilege of seeing him as a sketch performer in the late 1990s and 2000s in venues all around New York.
A big sports fan and a lifelong Mets supporter, Andrés went to Twitter to question the adoration of David Ortiz after the 2013 World Series.
So, when the inevitable evidence finally turns up that Ortiz has been on PEDs for the entire Boston portion of his career, is baseball over?
— Andrés du Bouchet (@dubouchet) October 31, 2013
I just think it’s a shame that a city’s biggest folk hero has so clearly been a PED user since he got there. Nothing against Boston.
— Andrés du Bouchet (@dubouchet) October 31, 2013
Meanwhile ESPN continues to mythologize the knucklehead.
— Andrés du Bouchet (@dubouchet) November 1, 2013
If he were a Yankee fan, I’d chalk it up to sour grapes and remind him that Andy Pettitte was practically deified in September.
But I decided to actually respond, not as a Red Sox fan, but as a baseball observer. Why does David Ortiz and Andy Pettitte get off Scott Free while the likes of A-Rod have to fight for their baseball lives.
My conclusion is that PED’s don’t really enter into the thought process.
Follow Andrés on Twitter HERE.
Here is Andrés as seen on TV.
© Atrossity Photography
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 3, 2013
November 3, 2013
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 2, 2013
photo by Christopher Evans – Boston Herald
The Boston Red Sox are having their World Series victory parade today. And I am jealous of all the Bostonians who get to go and celebrate there while I am stuck in dreary California.
But instead of whining about it, I gave a call to my dear friend, the writer with a wonderful comedic mind, Jen Deaderick. She was at the parade with her daughter and she described the day over the phone on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Follow Jen Deaderick on Twitter @jendeaderick
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Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – November 1, 2013
MLB.com
The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast continues into the off season.
I want a decent World Champion Red Sox T-Shirt, but most of them are just ugly.
Meanwhile Derek Jeter’s insanely rich contract has led to an interesting Twitter exchange.
@sullybaseball @Buster_ESPN they need a draw to do that. Jeter is currently their biggest draw…
— Q. Carter (@QCarter21) November 1, 2013
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DAVID ORTIZ AND JON LESTER OWNED THE WORLD SERIES – Final WOWS Tally
Photo – Jim Davis – Boston Globe Staff
I completed WOO, Who Owns October, and showed that Michael Wacha and David Ortiz were the two dominant forces of this October.
It is difficult to argue against that result.
Now let’s take a look at the other postseason SullyMetric. Beyond owning the Postseason, who specifically owned the World Series. Who owned the World Series as a pitcher and a hitter keeping both team’s production in mind.
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOWS (Who Owns the World Series.)
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOWS to a worthy player on the losing team.
My explanation for Who Owns the World Series (WOWS) is HERE.
It should be no surprise that David Ortiz got the highest WOWS total. His .688 average, 1.948 OPS and 2 homers with 6 RBI were enough to earn that right. His 8 walks set the table for a lot of other heroics including the Jonny Gomes homer and the Shane Victorino double. He was the overwhelming shadow over the entire series, like it or not. His 3 1/2 WOWS total topped all hitters. Nobody else had 2.
Carlos Beltran and Matt Holliday each finished with 1 1/2. Jonny Gomes’ homer got his total to 1.
Meanwhile Jon Lester‘s two victories and 0.59 ERA in 15 1/3 innings almost got him World Series MVP honors. He struckout 15 and walked only 1, giving the Red Sox a pair wins in games where the Cardinals started Adam Wainwright.
His 2 WOWS led all pitchers.
John Lackey raised his total to 1 1/2 with the clinching win. Surprisingly Felix Doubront, who didn’t even pitch in the Division Series, also finished with a 1 1/2 total with his solid relief in Games 3 and 4.
So like WOO, WOWS crowned the two most worthy players for the World Series. Anyone who saw the Series and kept track of the games would have to agree that David Ortiz and Jon Lester owned it.
WOWS works!
DAVID ORTIZ AND MICHAEL WACHA OWNED OCTOBER – Final WOO Tally
Michael Ivins/Getty Images
Elsa – Getty Images
This is the last day of October but in essence, the month has already been won by David Ortiz and Michael Wacha.
I created the SullyMetric Who Owned October? to determine which player was the dominant force throughout the post season.
I explain the stat HERE, but basically for every post season game, the winning team had a hitter and a pitcher awarded a full WOO based upon how they contributed to the victory.
And, at my discretion, I gave a 1/2 WOO to a player on the losing team if they deserved it.
The idea would be the pitcher and the hitter who had the highest WOO total would be the ones who dominated the post season.
And if the two winners are any indication, it worked in determining the best.
Big Papi David Ortiz finished with a 5 1/2 WOO, the highest total for any batter. Besides his big numbers in the World Series en route to an MVP, he had the highlights throughout the postseason. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 31, 2013
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
I listen to Game 6 of the 2013 World Series without knowing the outcome.
At 10:51, I react to the last strike of the World Series.
Then my dad and I sit down and talk about how great these years have been for Red Sox and Giants fans.
That and more on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
John Lackey and David Ortiz earned full WOOs and WOWS.
Matt Carpenter received 1/2 WOOs and WOWS.
Confused what a WOO and WOWS are?
An explanation for Who Owns October can be found HERE.
An explanation for Who Owns the World Series can be found HERE.
An updated WOO tally can be found HERE.
An updated WOWS tally can be found HERE.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Who Owns the World Series (WOWS) – Tally Updated For WS Game #6 October 30, 2013
Photo: Matt Slocum – AP
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOWS (Who Owns the World Series.)
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOWS to a worthy player on the losing team.
For a full explanation, click HERE.
From October 30th’s game:
Receiving 1 WOWS:
John Lackey redeemed his Red Sox career by pitching into the 7th, letting up a single run and getting the victory despite letting 10 Cardinals reach base. Red Sox won the game 6-1 and the World Series
David Ortiz overwhelmed the entire game. By walking 4 times (three of them intentionally) he set up rallies and put St. Louis on the defensive all night as the Red Sox won 6-1 and took the series.
Receiving 1/2 WOWS:
Matt Carpenter collected 3 hits and gave the Cardinals hope briefly in Game 6. He would ultimately strikeout to end the 6-1 victory for the Red Sox.
Who Owns October? (WOO) Tally Updated For WS Game #6 October 30, 2013
photo by Matt West – Boston Herald
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOO.
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOO to a worthy player on the losing team.
For a full explanation, click HERE.
From World Series Game #6
Receiving 1 WOO:
John Lackey redeemed his Red Sox career by pitching into the 7th, letting up a single run and getting the victory despite letting 10 Cardinals reach base. Red Sox won the game 6-1 and the World Series
David Ortiz overwhelmed the entire game. By walking 4 times (three of them intentionally) he set up rallies and put St. Louis on the defensive all night as the Red Sox won 6-1 and took the series.
Receiving 1/2 WOO:
Matt Carpenter collected 3 hits and gave the Cardinals hope briefly in Game 6. He would ultimately strikeout to end the 6-1 victory for the Red Sox.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 30, 2013
I am hoping the Red Sox win tonight, if for no other reason than to avoid baseball on Halloween.
Also I make the connection between Albert Pujols/Michael Wacha and Rogers Hornsby/Frankie Frisch.
That and more on today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Confused what a WOO and WOWS are?
An explanation for Who Owns October can be found HERE.
An explanation for Who Owns the World Series can be found HERE.
An updated WOO tally can be found HERE.
An updated WOWS tally can be found HERE.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 29, 2013
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast, I take a look at Koji Uehara and what a bargain his contract is.
Plus the final legacy of 1918 can be, at long lost, put to bed.
Jon Lester and David Ortiz earned full WOOs and WOWS.
Adam Wainwright and Matt Holliday received 1/2 WOOs and WOWS.
Confused what a WOO and WOWS are?
An explanation for Who Owns October can be found HERE.
An explanation for Who Owns the World Series can be found HERE.
An updated WOO tally can be found HERE.
An updated WOWS tally can be found HERE.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Who Owns the World Series (WOWS) – Tally Updated For WS Game #5 October 28, 2013
L.G. Patterson/MLB.COM
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOWS (Who Owns the World Series.)
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOWS to a worthy player on the losing team.
For a full explanation, click HERE.
From October 28th’s game:
Receiving 1 WOWS:
Jon Lester won his second game of the World Series, pitching 7 2/3 innings and allowing just 1 run, striking out 7 and walking none as he dominated the Cardinals, 3-1.
David Ortiz went 3-4, drove in a run in the first and raised his mindboggling World Series average to .733 as he helped the Red Sox top St. Louis, 3-1.
Receiving 1/2 WOWS:
Matt Holliday launched a game tying home run that supplied basically all the offense for St. Louis as they lost 3-1 to Boston.
Adam Wainwright threw 7 innings and struck out 10 to only one walk. It wouldn’t be enough as he was the hard luck loser, 3-1 to Boston.
Who Owns October? (WOO) Tally Updated For WS Game #5 October 28, 2013
Photo: L.G. Patterson/MLB.COM
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOO.
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOO to a worthy player on the losing team.
For a full explanation, click HERE.
From World Series Game #5
Receiving 1 WOO:
Jon Lester won his second game of the World Series, pitching 7 2/3 innings and allowing just 1 run, striking out 7 and walking none as he dominated the Cardinals, 3-1.
David Ortiz went 3-4, drove in a run in the first and raised his mindboggling World Series average to .733 as he helped the Red Sox top St. Louis, 3-1.
Receiving 1/2 WOO:
Matt Holliday launched a game tying home run that supplied basically all the offense for St. Louis as they lost 3-1 to Boston.
Adam Wainwright threw 7 innings and struck out 10 to only one walk. It wouldn’t be enough as he was the hard luck loser, 3-1 to Boston. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 28, 2013
I watched Game 4 of the World Series with authors Gar Ryness (aka The Batting Stance Guy Follow @battingstanceg) and Michael X. Ferraro.
We talked a lot of baseball a little bit about Dinosaurs with my kids and turned it into today’s episode of The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Jonny Gomes and Felix Doubront earned full WOOs and WOWS.
Allen Craig received 1/2 WOOs and WOWS.
Confused what a WOO and WOWS are?
An explanation for Who Owns October can be found HERE.
An explanation for Who Owns the World Series can be found HERE.
An updated WOO tally can be found HERE
An updated WOWS tally can be found HERE.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Who Owns the World Series (WOWS) – Tally Updated For WS Game #4 October 27, 2013
(AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOWS (Who Owns the World Series.)
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOWS to a worthy player on the losing team.
For a full explanation, click HERE.
From October 27th’s game:
Receiving 1 WOWS:
Felix Doubront gave the Red Sox 2 2/3 solid innings, striking out 3 and bridged the game to the final few innings, earning the win, 4-2.
Jonny Gomes got the biggest hit of the series, a 3 run homer, that gave the Red Sox a lead they would not relinquish for a 4-2 final over the Cardinals.
Receiving 1/2 WOWS:
Allen Craig once again slammed a huge hit off of Koji Uehara and remained a strange force in the endings of the World Series games, which St. Louis lost, 4-2. Read the rest of this entry
Who Owns October? (WOO) Tally Updated For WS Game #4 October 27, 2013
Boston Herald Staff photo by John Wilcox.
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOO.
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOO to a worthy player on the losing team.
For a full explanation, click HERE.
From World Series Game #4
Receiving 1 WOO:
Felix Doubront gave the Red Sox 2 2/3 solid innings, striking out 3 and bridged the game to the final few innings, earning the win, 4-2.
Jonny Gomes got the biggest hit of the series, a 3 run homer, that gave the Red Sox a lead they would not relinquish for a 4-2 final over the Cardinals.
Receiving 1/2 WOO:
Allen Craig once again slammed a huge hit off of Koji Uehara and remained a strange force in the endings of the World Series games, which St. Louis lost, 4-2. Read the rest of this entry
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 27, 2013
(AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee)
Oh… we are talking about Game 3 on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast!
I sat down with my wife right after the game and talked about the play and other parts of the game that drove me batty.
The then conversation got strange.
Matt Holliday, whose heroics were overlooked, and Trevor Rosenthal earned full WOOs and WOWS.
Felix Doubront and Xander Bogaerts received 1/2 WOOs and WOWS.
Confused what a WOO and WOWS are?
An explanation for Who Owns October can be found HERE.
An explanation for Who Owns the World Series can be found HERE.
An updated WOO tally can be found HERE.
An updated WOWS tally can be found HERE.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Who Owns the World Series (WOWS) – Tally Updated For WS Game #3 October 26, 2013
Photo: Jeff Roberson – AP
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOWS (Who Owns the World Series.)
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOWS to a worthy player on the losing team.
For a full explanation, click HERE.
From October 26th’s game:
Receiving 1 WOWS:
Matt Holliday went 2-5 and drove in 3 of the Cardinals 5 runs and scored another as they topped Boston in an bizarre 5-4 win in Game 3.
Trevor Rosenthal let up a seeing eye hit and little else, striking out 2 in 1 2/3 innings and earning the 5-4 victory for the Cardinals.
Receiving 1/2 WOWS:
Xander Bogaerts tripled and scored the Red Sox first run and tied the game in the 8th giving Boston fleeting hope in their 5-4 loss to St. Louis.
Felix Doubront gave the Red Sox 2 critical innings of shutout ball, getting the game tied into the 7th inning. It wasn’t enough as St. Louis won 5-4.
Who Owns October? (WOO) Tally Updated For WS Game #3 October 26, 2013
Photo: Ronald Martinez – Getty Images
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOO.
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOO to a worthy player on the losing team.
For a full explanation, click HERE.
From World Series Game #3
Receiving 1 WOO:
Matt Holliday went 2-5 and drove in 3 of the Cardinals 5 runs and scored another as they topped Boston in an bizarre 5-4 win in Game 3.
Trevor Rosenthal let up a seeing eye hit and little else, striking out 2 in 1 2/3 innings and earning the 5-4 victory for the Cardinals.
Receiving 1/2 WOO:
Xander Bogaerts tripled and scored the Red Sox first run and tied the game in the 8th giving Boston fleeting hope in their 5-4 loss to St. Louis.
Felix Doubront gave the Red Sox 2 critical innings of shutout ball, getting the game tied into the 7th inning. It wasn’t enough as St. Louis won 5-4.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 26, 2013
TOPPS
Today on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast I look at those players who almost became Gods.
Players like Marty Barrett, Mike Napoli and Sandy Alomar Jr. would have become World Series MVPs and worshipped by their fan bases if only their team got the finals outs to win it all.
An updated WOO tally can be found HERE.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Sully Baseball Daily Podcast – October 25, 2013
Photo: Jim Rogash – Getty Images
Well look what we have here! We have an actual World Series. And for Red Sox fans, there are reasons to be nervous in Games 3 and 4.
That and remembering 1986 and celebrating Pedro Martinez on The Sully Baseball Daily Podcast.
Carlos Beltran and Michael Wacha received full WOO’s and WOWS’.
David Ortiz and John Lackey received 1/2 WOO’s and WOWS’.
Confused what a WOO and WOWS are?
An explanation for Who Owns October can be found HERE.
An explanation for Who Owns the World Series can be found HERE.
An updated WOO tally can be found HERE.
To subscribe on iTunes, click HERE.
To subscribe on SoundCloud, click HERE.
Who Owns the World Series (WOWS) – Tally Updated For WS Game #2 October 24, 2013
Photo: Mark L. Baer, USA TODAY Sports
Each winning team for every post season game gets a pitcher and a hitter who earn a full WOWS (Who Owns the World Series.)
And at my discretion, I award a 1/2 WOWS to a worthy player on the losing team.
For a full explanation, click HERE.
From October 24th’s game:
Receiving 1 WOWS:
Carlos Beltran came back from a rib injury to collect 2 hits including a key RBI single that gave St. Louis an insurance run against the Red Sox as they took Game 2 of the World Series, 4-2.
Michael Wacha pitched 6 electric innings, keeping the Red Sox off of the board for the first 5 innings. He finished surrendering just 3 hits and 2 runs while striking out 6, earning his 4th October win for the Cardinals, 4-2.
Receiving 1/2 WOWS:
John Lackey was a hard luck loser, pitching into the 7th innings, being charged with 3 runs and striking out 6 along the way as the Red Sox lost 4-2 to the Cardinals.
David Ortiz homered and briefly gave the Red Sox the lead against the Cardinals. It would not hold as St. Louis triumphed, 4-2.
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