tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5025249047786877352024-03-16T14:53:00.256-04:00Watching Durham Bulls BaseballA blog about the Durham Bulls Baseball ClubChris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.comBlogger2048125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-10030889996245162782023-10-03T09:43:00.004-04:002023-10-03T09:43:55.621-04:00October Begins<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9W6zup_diqdac5a8luUY9yrU4jKfPrvPXFxBdmEXK7E1wHQV_k45huTOURTKAQX7WB7EMhLgfoy8odZGzcCEYZxJIoZz8sZYBwOfQWJqfAQGfAUedAZQTDdWnwEbIYTQiFUaUqczy1ESHozpiT051KuWtVoiOQTg63zkdgXO9n5Omc5jBHqsdFA7ghkJo/s3362/Baseball%20Playoffs%202023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1458" data-original-width="3362" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9W6zup_diqdac5a8luUY9yrU4jKfPrvPXFxBdmEXK7E1wHQV_k45huTOURTKAQX7WB7EMhLgfoy8odZGzcCEYZxJIoZz8sZYBwOfQWJqfAQGfAUedAZQTDdWnwEbIYTQiFUaUqczy1ESHozpiT051KuWtVoiOQTg63zkdgXO9n5Omc5jBHqsdFA7ghkJo/w400-h174/Baseball%20Playoffs%202023.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-27917652005261729852023-09-29T10:48:00.001-04:002023-09-29T10:48:24.358-04:00Summer's End<p> John Prine’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXbEFTv9zr0&list=RDnXbEFTv9zr0&start_radio=1">great song</a> comes to mind. The summer’s over and the Bulls are coming home (going home might be the better choice of verb).</p><p>In the end, however, the Norfolk Tides pretty much owned the Bulls all season. The exception was that extraordinary bottom of the 9th victory on the 4th of July. Otherwise, no doubt after last night's 7-0 drubbing, the best team is off to Las Vegas.</p><p>In the meantime, this last month or so we got to witness some terrific baseball. </p><p>See you April 2, 2024, when the Bulls take on the Jumbo Shrimp at the DBAP.</p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-30675670222035161132023-09-28T07:20:00.000-04:002023-09-28T07:20:01.532-04:00Tides Shut Down Bulls<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB-YPe7dRr9T6X0MYwcq1b4mO3A1uci3S60IL73Zo8hAh0gsn2D8NVTyaxveuiLRelIIYYb53MxcEHU-A_CyzG9YiiPrcgpjxxZcyEB9aubNxucsN1TK11sSoO2KCEAQMrPHBlqikdoNvpjg49eoesYBgJF1CVL67Oh2jjpTMAm5p_X7hnu5-W-v-A8YY/s2870/AAA%20playoffs%202023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="2870" height="48" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfB-YPe7dRr9T6X0MYwcq1b4mO3A1uci3S60IL73Zo8hAh0gsn2D8NVTyaxveuiLRelIIYYb53MxcEHU-A_CyzG9YiiPrcgpjxxZcyEB9aubNxucsN1TK11sSoO2KCEAQMrPHBlqikdoNvpjg49eoesYBgJF1CVL67Oh2jjpTMAm5p_X7hnu5-W-v-A8YY/w400-h48/AAA%20playoffs%202023.png" width="400" /></a></div>As we all know, pitching matters. Their was better than ours. <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/bulls-vs-tides/2023/09/27/738544/final/box">Box</a>.<p></p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-15254360283885660552023-09-27T08:00:00.002-04:002023-09-27T08:00:51.572-04:00Bulls Win Game 1<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYX7XQ86kD1V-TyYI_3F3FzadkroWlw4dAFlIrC_d5t6fOG95-pXDQvXeb6vDjQc57rt3tGUtUAULM_5yjffX_AKx7lPdrN7JAqD7E3hqaW34H6DnS-_UCr8zpWPAsfQ0wWyGYRZMGa4JOYkXz_CrgTdO_FLH7sscdQwTQ_NhKXtA0U-BYHrI2vfG7-dJ/s2666/AAA%20playoffs%202023.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="2666" height="49" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYX7XQ86kD1V-TyYI_3F3FzadkroWlw4dAFlIrC_d5t6fOG95-pXDQvXeb6vDjQc57rt3tGUtUAULM_5yjffX_AKx7lPdrN7JAqD7E3hqaW34H6DnS-_UCr8zpWPAsfQ0wWyGYRZMGa4JOYkXz_CrgTdO_FLH7sscdQwTQ_NhKXtA0U-BYHrI2vfG7-dJ/w400-h49/AAA%20playoffs%202023.png" width="400" /></a></div>Durham took back the lead in the 7th. Norfolk’s pitching fell completely apart in the 8th. The Bulls scored 5 runs on just 2 hits in that inning. <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/bulls-vs-tides/2023/09/26/738546/final/box">Box</a>. <a href="https://www.milb.com/durham/news/bulls-topple-tides-10-5-in-game-one-victory">Story</a>.<p></p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-85290528449291558492023-09-26T14:01:00.002-04:002023-09-26T14:03:57.338-04:00 Game 1; International League Championship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZoUIpr3TXFW6XRlgxVhRd8KXQ9_oAaceUJ-iZLWbaJkR9Vrt1SC2mAVJByjYVgR4Zn6cEeHfi8oOvUIE-uwNs96Xx7KA9U-GBXoGsOc7oD6ktmp9NKINhURZF5wc4MT-Hri4Wt96j0J5WW2yTmSp_mZ02Dj8xqRxrO2H4O78GdsCrMcVNNiN6MgDxEa1/s2256/AAA%20playoffs%202023.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="2256" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZoUIpr3TXFW6XRlgxVhRd8KXQ9_oAaceUJ-iZLWbaJkR9Vrt1SC2mAVJByjYVgR4Zn6cEeHfi8oOvUIE-uwNs96Xx7KA9U-GBXoGsOc7oD6ktmp9NKINhURZF5wc4MT-Hri4Wt96j0J5WW2yTmSp_mZ02Dj8xqRxrO2H4O78GdsCrMcVNNiN6MgDxEa1/w400-h58/AAA%20playoffs%202023.png" width="400" /></a></div><p>Although little noted by local media, which is a bit odd since a local media mogul owns the Bulls, the Durham Bulls are in Norfolk, Virginia playing the Norfolk Tides for the International League Championship. Although this is far from the first time the Bulls have been playing for a championship, this will be the first time in the new IL Triple-A format.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>IL Matchup</b></p><p>The Bulls have played the Tides 21 times this year, and have not done well. They’ve lost 15 games and won only 6. On their last visit to Harbor Park, August 22-27, they won 2 of 6. So history isn’t on the Bulls’ side. Plus, the Rays are not leaving the Bulls alone. They’ve called up outfielder Raimel Tapia and pitchers Calvin Foucher and Chris Devenski. </p><p>The Bulls are 6-4 in their last 10 games, but lost their last 2.</p><p>The Tides have been, mostly, left alone by the Orioles. The only recent big transaction was back on the 20th. They were on the road in Buffalo last week. They are 5-5 in their last 10. </p><p>On paper, the Bulls have a slight edge, but ...</p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 22px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Tides, September 26, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of September 24</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>uERA</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">48-27</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">129</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.828</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.56</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.425</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.588</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Norfolk Tides (Orioles)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">42-33</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">5</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">46</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.821</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.62</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.465</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.432</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; uERA-unearned runs per 9 innings</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Each year as the Bulls go into the playoffs (and that’s most years) what I get to say is that it’s all about the managing and coaching. The Bulls have been blessed with excellent managing and coaching crews over the years and, after a tough opening month, that’s been the case this year. But playoff success is, in my opinion, about moment-to-moment decisions. For that, we simply don’t know. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>PCL Matchup</b></p><p>Meanwhile, out in Oklahoma, the Oklahoma City Dodgers (LA Dodgers) are playing the Round Rock Express (Texas Rangers) for the PCL championship. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 22px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Express vs Dodgers, September 26, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of September 24</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>uERA</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Round Rock Express (Rangers)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">45-30</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">87</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.825</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.72</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.48</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.507</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Oklahoma City Dodgers (LA)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">40-35</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">5</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">50</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.814</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.58</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.42</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.603</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; uERA-unearned runs per 9 innings</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-20024164552165498252023-09-23T09:23:00.004-04:002023-09-23T09:23:52.142-04:00Durham Bulls Win 2nd Half<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWF20HLlyFVLmgLC3z4thLLrk4dxPlgliPoMdu6QZm9UUVbMoi8u0AxZJlg-ebp5VaYuAGo5wowDxL6ykEdLqyTpK4W0HDihihc6u8Nm5237k57WL7shVqFNAuTE1Ok7co1SIoAbdoeiMEnD5NFfUw1OEgiqgzhs4fJ0NF3H0hwf1AUjU-EdVN9JG2roa/s578/rdiff.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="348" data-original-width="578" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWF20HLlyFVLmgLC3z4thLLrk4dxPlgliPoMdu6QZm9UUVbMoi8u0AxZJlg-ebp5VaYuAGo5wowDxL6ykEdLqyTpK4W0HDihihc6u8Nm5237k57WL7shVqFNAuTE1Ok7co1SIoAbdoeiMEnD5NFfUw1OEgiqgzhs4fJ0NF3H0hwf1AUjU-EdVN9JG2roa/w400-h241/rdiff.png" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Durham Bulls' brilliant end-or-season run resulted in a championship of the second half of the International League. And what a run it has been. <a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a>.</p><p>Let’s start with game 130 on 1 September. On that date, the Bulls were 11 games over 500 and tied with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. Starting then, the Bulls played 19 games and won 16 of them. They are now 23 games over .500 with two games to play in the regular season. That’s simply remarkable. In that time the team ERA has dropped from 4.77 to 4.55 and the team OPS has risen from .816 to .829. Again, remarkable. Their run differential soared from +57 to +132, <i>beyond</i> remarkable.</p><p>They’ve got two more games down in Gwinnett to finish the season and then off to Norfolk for the first playoff game on Tuesday against the first-half champions, the Norfolk Tides.</p><p>My assumption is that we will be able to watch on MiLB.com and listen on the radio. At least that’s what I do, muting the streaming. </p><p>My guess is that today’s storm may disrupt the East Coast games, but will not affect final standings..</p><div><br /></div>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-37608650428761735542023-09-20T07:38:00.004-04:002023-09-20T07:38:56.160-04:00Bulls Win; Maintain Lead<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHhGZWo2iOdZWcyEY5YVgzDjg41UOcT7t-yB4CR7E3wvIyn9k6ofkarX8S1_2SOHI7SxynRpKgyKW0j-m_OZfAJ8MHRF-PPJXd6SYso0FcxaBxnD_4tF9GtDi4oO1dxZrhSjbjNz2OCBkPMc8eKTjC_jl0jn2t_u4M3dzoq0VWRkf5FB_PTcOJs-B77x-/s734/Standings9-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="734" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgHhGZWo2iOdZWcyEY5YVgzDjg41UOcT7t-yB4CR7E3wvIyn9k6ofkarX8S1_2SOHI7SxynRpKgyKW0j-m_OZfAJ8MHRF-PPJXd6SYso0FcxaBxnD_4tF9GtDi4oO1dxZrhSjbjNz2OCBkPMc8eKTjC_jl0jn2t_u4M3dzoq0VWRkf5FB_PTcOJs-B77x-/w400-h291/Standings9-20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Durham Bulls won, but so did the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. The Buffalo Bisons lost to the Norfolk Tides, dropping them into a tie. <a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a>.</p><p><br /></p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-43967707287552603112023-09-19T09:36:00.003-04:002023-09-20T07:39:27.014-04:00Bulls Still in First Place; Season Near End<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-Ny0Bjgq3sZGsKR1dTVWrTZTvaU15EoAdaDx8JjmAPjU9xD5JZWMf6hTtYabqS4nOCPy1t8eyqQ2y_9wATuvPAJBzxq-ctHP1MDaKHtUsoshv32WqBD02HvjpPf7IaZ3rCKm2B0gmm8--a8NhwhgkYKHRcvmh-pno_50-fDg-Y3Pg9YRd3pLXDxLIcA1/s734/Standings9-18.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="734" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp-Ny0Bjgq3sZGsKR1dTVWrTZTvaU15EoAdaDx8JjmAPjU9xD5JZWMf6hTtYabqS4nOCPy1t8eyqQ2y_9wATuvPAJBzxq-ctHP1MDaKHtUsoshv32WqBD02HvjpPf7IaZ3rCKm2B0gmm8--a8NhwhgkYKHRcvmh-pno_50-fDg-Y3Pg9YRd3pLXDxLIcA1/w400-h291/Standings9-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>The Durham Bulls had a very satisfying last week in Durham, winning 4 out of 6 against the Louisville Bats. They are now in Lawrenceville, Georgia for their final six games of the season. They are in great shape to win the second half of the International League season, but neither Lehigh Valley nor Buffalo is letting up their own runs at the championship.</p><p><a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a></p><p>What ar their competitors up to? The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Phillies) (42-27) are hosting the Worcester Red Sox (38-30). They are evenly matched teams, with the Sox holding a remote shot at the championship. Meanwhile, the Buffalo Bisons (Blue Jays) (39-28) are hosting the winner of the first half of the season, the Norfolk Tides (Orioles). The Tides have their own shot at ending in first place. </p><p>Every game by the five top teams this week will matter.</p><p>Could not have been happier to see <b><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gray--000tri">Tristan Gray</a></b> finally get to the big leagues last week. After 326 games over three seasons with the Durham Bulls, he got his call. He joined the Rays in Baltimore and <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/09/17/tristan-gray-orioles-luke-raley-manny-navarro-brandon-lowe/">did his thing</a>, hitting a home run and a single in 5 at-bats. It was a temporary assignment and he’s already back with the Bulls, but maybe later on this season? </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 22px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Braves, September 18, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of September 17</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>uERA</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">44-25</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">104</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.829</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.65</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.44</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.613</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Gwinnett Stripers (Braves)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">35-32</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">11</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">15</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.744</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.92</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.45</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.473</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; uERA-unearned runs per 9 innings</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Bulls match up well against the Strippers, who are not having a good year except as a defensive team. They have undergone a lot of roster turmoil, over 40 transactions just this month. Perhaps that has to do with Atlanta’s proximity, but it has to be tough. In comparison, the Bulls have had 27 transactions this month. The Bulls can close the deal in just a couple of games. We’ll keep an eye out. </p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-52412391462351119462023-09-15T09:06:00.003-04:002023-09-15T09:06:48.661-04:00Six in a Row<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJa9BvhNiPr04woitzzYNd_0HD6D4QFA3sfXN8_cpzX763wSv7yLuIIJqf1-VwDBrKLi6IK5DJxUaCtz1uqvhuxLzxsaEekJ8PZ42_A61592cYA_ky6iu_-nssXXBzZAX4ebvBVSpbHGwNpj23nxbX-tRO27His_z56DWq0rKimSm6rkoyIAPlb-TD-Vq/s734/Standing9-15.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="734" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJa9BvhNiPr04woitzzYNd_0HD6D4QFA3sfXN8_cpzX763wSv7yLuIIJqf1-VwDBrKLi6IK5DJxUaCtz1uqvhuxLzxsaEekJ8PZ42_A61592cYA_ky6iu_-nssXXBzZAX4ebvBVSpbHGwNpj23nxbX-tRO27His_z56DWq0rKimSm6rkoyIAPlb-TD-Vq/w400-h291/Standing9-15.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Six wins in a row. Maintaining lead in International League. Superb work by the bullpen crew. Really fun to watch veteran speed merchant <b><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamilbi02.shtml">Billy Hamilton</a></b> (recently hired by Rays) at work — bunt for single, sacrifice bunt moved runner to 2B, roamed center field. </span></p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-88301492205391837162023-09-14T08:20:00.004-04:002023-09-14T08:20:50.212-04:00Stayin' in Front<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2menlgXBa5nKfe4ETX-juZxwIb6czF_0n7hi_n64HJXWkqoApfwgU4oJ3CEUWCfeglOwzVD1ltVXR7nuVGtupI4l9vQt0seMGq0aEkg1GTeTadPPkvLuGRp0DKZUzgKqSHXq1eIovVURr3S1GsWzO8E-jzex82L2Ja0JbARKIoncq7kBVbZdWOPVG-vW/s734/Standings9-14.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="734" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2menlgXBa5nKfe4ETX-juZxwIb6czF_0n7hi_n64HJXWkqoApfwgU4oJ3CEUWCfeglOwzVD1ltVXR7nuVGtupI4l9vQt0seMGq0aEkg1GTeTadPPkvLuGRp0DKZUzgKqSHXq1eIovVURr3S1GsWzO8E-jzex82L2Ja0JbARKIoncq7kBVbZdWOPVG-vW/w400-h291/Standings9-14.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-82446506928652247242023-09-13T07:58:00.002-04:002023-09-13T07:58:15.897-04:00Looking Better<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslwbdG8Awx5tpPlmf8WMyh13hHhgevjvLQAZpAf3I34YozEJlmPn4u8k3hNzcw-_eLAy6Alav0U7VkWzxMumxLTU1xcizejaDFeoaCHAwEySWkMnL3JndFNBMSzUNPe7k2eJbWvGSa0WwtSuwAXv6wM7gZ5Sh1a7xR9qSp-sI1ZEpTnA1FT4a2Y9tuNWY/s734/standings9-13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="734" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslwbdG8Awx5tpPlmf8WMyh13hHhgevjvLQAZpAf3I34YozEJlmPn4u8k3hNzcw-_eLAy6Alav0U7VkWzxMumxLTU1xcizejaDFeoaCHAwEySWkMnL3JndFNBMSzUNPe7k2eJbWvGSa0WwtSuwAXv6wM7gZ5Sh1a7xR9qSp-sI1ZEpTnA1FT4a2Y9tuNWY/w400-h291/standings9-13.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-8778802099734253442023-09-12T11:01:00.004-04:002023-09-12T11:06:32.355-04:00Last Durham Bulls Homestand of 2023<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO36J5Y_9RnASG7JL0jMRP1Y_zVBkSD7PqFXCKNFepin8FZtyVEkKXVH8z0sp9YloJ4ksw0o6XSI6m7s_JxSXuIBRiWaiV9aracljP82cLCWhStwQfINrndq29cOBcEr40pFNkcFaRBZ-YGT4yKS59LvSWCtdRZ-srd85lheO-4SLbtDTmpDkvEaL27ue5/s952/Standings9-12.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="952" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO36J5Y_9RnASG7JL0jMRP1Y_zVBkSD7PqFXCKNFepin8FZtyVEkKXVH8z0sp9YloJ4ksw0o6XSI6m7s_JxSXuIBRiWaiV9aracljP82cLCWhStwQfINrndq29cOBcEr40pFNkcFaRBZ-YGT4yKS59LvSWCtdRZ-srd85lheO-4SLbtDTmpDkvEaL27ue5/w400-h370/Standings9-12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>The Durham Bulls had a fine week over in Charlotte, winning 5 out of 6 games and stabilizing their hold on first place in the International League. Solid pitching and exceptional hitting kept the key team metrics moving up. Run differential (+89), Team OPS (.824), and Team ERA (4.68) are the best they’ve been all season. </p><p>With 12 games left in the regular season and a 2-game lead, the key will be to stay focused as Tampa Bay makes a run at the Orioles this month. Meanwhile, their nearest competitors are facing a mixed bag of opponents. Second-place Lehigh Valley has six games against 16th-place Rochester; third-place Buffalo is playing 9th-place Scranton/Willkes-Barre. The season is far from over.</p><p>Near-term, the Rays have to figure out what to do to replace <b>Jose Siri</b>, <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/09/11/jose-siri-injury-twins-manuel-margot-zack-littell/">whose hand got broken yesterday</a>. They will surely reach down to Durham. Rehabing <b>Manuel Margot</b> is supposed to show up at the DBAP today. He would be a maybe. The only position player left who’s on the 40-man is <b>Curtis Mead,</b> but the Rays are exceptionally creative about manipulating that constraint and could call someone else up. <b><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamilbi02.shtml">Billy Hamilton</a> </b>is reportedly lurking somewhere in the Rays' system. It would be a bit ironic if he showed up at the DBAP. He could have been here back in 2013 playing for the Louisville Bats.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 22px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Bats, September 11, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of September 9</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>uERA</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">40-23</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">89</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.824</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.66</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.44</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.647</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Louisville Bats (Reds)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">30-33</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">15</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">-46</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.860</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">6.15</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.65</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.481</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; uERA-unearned runs per 9 innings</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Louisville Bats are the Triple-A franchise of the Cincinnati Reds. The Bulls have not played them this year. They have not had a very good year when it comes to wins and losses. However, they are the best hitting team in the International League and very likely to challenge the Bulls' pitching crew. </p><p>This is our last chance to watch the Bulls at the DBAP this year. Wish them well. Hope they keep on playing at the end of the month.</p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-53902887589408984472023-09-04T10:59:00.003-04:002023-09-04T11:06:49.082-04:00Great Week; Durham Bulls Stay in First Place<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmlk2l2pC68tpKIuqXOOdD5IUVhs_J4oMXNnkNwouUHFr2Slxs4YBSKYCRoGJcxFeRdCEUU1GaxgHF0UxuXaevIF0LZAEHWgvJ5KxZm01DExrfWt-Z3vs8ybrx5WKv7VAUKQsnnScii30BJYcJU1bLV4W2mg5_x61xEctt-c_oOrR05DvpKguZmiO2-Dw/s1262/standings9-4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1262" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOmlk2l2pC68tpKIuqXOOdD5IUVhs_J4oMXNnkNwouUHFr2Slxs4YBSKYCRoGJcxFeRdCEUU1GaxgHF0UxuXaevIF0LZAEHWgvJ5KxZm01DExrfWt-Z3vs8ybrx5WKv7VAUKQsnnScii30BJYcJU1bLV4W2mg5_x61xEctt-c_oOrR05DvpKguZmiO2-Dw/w400-h325/standings9-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The Durham Bulls had a fine week at home. They won 5 out of 6 games against a decent Nashville team. They moved into a tie for first place in the middle of the week, and have stayed there. They scored a bunch of runs (36) and mostly kept the Sounds in check (16). </p><p>For me, during the week I spent some time noticing that this crew is simply not the same crew that started the year with the Bulls. That’s to be expected in minor league ball. But a couple of the players whom I thought would get a chance with the Rays have not. I thought <b>Ruben Cardenas</b>, <b>Tristan Gray</b>, <b>Kameron Misner</b>, or <b>Niko Hulsizer</b> might get shots, but they did not. That’s partly because the Rays position players stayed mostly healthy. But mainly these men apparently did not have the numbers the Rays wanted. Certainly, the Bulls have benefited, and are benefiting from their presence here.</p><p>Can the Bulls stay in first place? For this coming week, I don’t see why not. They will be in Charlotte, which has had a dismal record this year. Two of the Bulls' most prominent opponents — Buffalo and Lehigh Valley — are playing 6 games against each other. Confusion at the very top is likely to continue. Plus, a couple of other teams are waiting in the wings. As much as I dislike this phony “International League” and the schedule, I have to admit that the end-of-season antics are interesting.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 22px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Knights, September 5, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of September 4</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>uERA</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">35-22</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> 69</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.819</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.72</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.46</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.647</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Charlotte Knights (White Sox)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">13-44</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">20</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"> -170</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.729</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">6.33</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.72</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.619</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; uERA-unearned runs per 9 innings</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>A matchup between the first-place and last-place teams. The Charlotte Knights have had an awful season. They are 31 games below .500 so far this year. I note that their parent club, the Chicago White Sox is 30 games below .500. So the teams haven’t been much help to each other this year. Too bad. Traditionally, the Knights/Bulls games have been pretty intense competitors. And even this year’s 18 games had only one lop-sided series. They have gone 3-3, 3-3, 5-1, this year. Nevertheless, the numbers are on the side of the Bulls.</p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-65779786088151539282023-09-01T08:44:00.000-04:002023-09-01T08:44:01.738-04:00Durham Bulls in First Place, But ...<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiz0I_mQL-bvqhov1HmbJR98y1qUWzCneKoW3y8rrUEIlXoyoUV8IKAsFTOaRtH5TyIXx-rBecopmo9lz4RMm5aTwFOhsvtm-fL2KwdPKQIY0VlOuGPUA_aNyvZfHgf_a7d0AEWOIOAnXfsaCmihrRrfxA9E5SFpCi8Md6WkQ2ZMrXcKOR6P1wKg6uV-i/s1040/standings9-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="972" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiz0I_mQL-bvqhov1HmbJR98y1qUWzCneKoW3y8rrUEIlXoyoUV8IKAsFTOaRtH5TyIXx-rBecopmo9lz4RMm5aTwFOhsvtm-fL2KwdPKQIY0VlOuGPUA_aNyvZfHgf_a7d0AEWOIOAnXfsaCmihrRrfxA9E5SFpCi8Md6WkQ2ZMrXcKOR6P1wKg6uV-i/w374-h400/standings9-1.jpg" width="374" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p>For the first time this season, the Durham Bulls are in their accustomed spot of first place in the International League, but…</p><p>Here’s where things get very odd.</p><p>First of all, this is the International League in name only. This is <b>not</b> the league that the Durham Bulls joined back in 1998. That league went away in 2020.</p><p>With that caveat out of the way, take a look at that lineup of the top 8 teams in today's 20-team league. Three teams are tied for 1st place Five more teams are within a couple of percentage points of the top. All of the teams have 20 games left on their schedule (unless a couple are making up postponements). Any one of these teams could end up winning the second half of the season. </p><p>To add just a little bit to the weirdness, if the Norfolk Tides keep up with their run (they’ve won 8 of their last 10) and win the second half, then the <i>#2 team in the second half will play Norfolk for the title</i>. How’s that for oddness?</p><p>Meanwhile, today is September 1. You can expect all these team’s rosters to go into a blender. Who has the better AA team in their system? That’s very likely to make the difference.</p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-4603017794941797862023-08-29T11:28:00.000-04:002023-08-29T11:28:10.483-04:00Week 9: Coulda Been Better<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDl1ntIYYrOyc-YIIK7NFAS7IBTwD3dx_HJXAncrE9Z68yFTy176q4r5-IVpWW1KlrtRmEHOSstPysKa29ItSCi_41z0muZPZhgCrgSOwnGgLyeDIWpZtnxxXf1gaaMqLrFs0rqa34B4qrOx5hnCflCrDkGD1iKarHwwZzpWdvaq95JrHRsjXtVfqilH36/s1218/Standings8-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1218" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDl1ntIYYrOyc-YIIK7NFAS7IBTwD3dx_HJXAncrE9Z68yFTy176q4r5-IVpWW1KlrtRmEHOSstPysKa29ItSCi_41z0muZPZhgCrgSOwnGgLyeDIWpZtnxxXf1gaaMqLrFs0rqa34B4qrOx5hnCflCrDkGD1iKarHwwZzpWdvaq95JrHRsjXtVfqilH36/w400-h369/Standings8-28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a></div><p></p><p>The Bulls did OK over in Norfolk last week, but to win the International League, they needed to have done much better. They lost 4 out of 6 games. They are alone in 2nd place in the International League, but several teams are close on their heels, including the team that’s coming to town today. And that’s a slip of a full game from the week before.</p><p>How bad was it? Bulls pitching allowed 36 runs over the 6 games; they scored 27. Their team ERA crept upward during most of the week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7U1NnCNSX3N9E2kLnqIQ06-DQkvBecLJPsr8HH9ilktmbGnfW-74GzpoiddaDrnyQfKcwwPZBK5ju9EKMKEMFKlwBfoYP8F5VZ7kxyuGXRZb3e7-IOHWwZah10An90oxG9atbrorL-ZtR9-AyeIsnfjM9F38Q5ScVkwaWIpEjeQoQMC2GC4tfd1y9JDc/s570/ERA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="570" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz7U1NnCNSX3N9E2kLnqIQ06-DQkvBecLJPsr8HH9ilktmbGnfW-74GzpoiddaDrnyQfKcwwPZBK5ju9EKMKEMFKlwBfoYP8F5VZ7kxyuGXRZb3e7-IOHWwZah10An90oxG9atbrorL-ZtR9-AyeIsnfjM9F38Q5ScVkwaWIpEjeQoQMC2GC4tfd1y9JDc/w400-h254/ERA.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>While the team OPS and Run Differential was creeping downward</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafJRaCCmA-SJimRx0it6XkOmL26lY3aYZEA7cMmxA-3YOYLUATUiAurKmFZBi8Ob1_RRb_5-RgYxGZibwFZVaZExvwG0OniePxCUTYw6j1jqox1RhybuFrTZbusTcLyWpMQCq1hondl0stlslpKhHA_WSKzSfhnYpjGqg8ViQ88ZqB2oIxlEsgruVhsIe/s517/OPS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="517" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafJRaCCmA-SJimRx0it6XkOmL26lY3aYZEA7cMmxA-3YOYLUATUiAurKmFZBi8Ob1_RRb_5-RgYxGZibwFZVaZExvwG0OniePxCUTYw6j1jqox1RhybuFrTZbusTcLyWpMQCq1hondl0stlslpKhHA_WSKzSfhnYpjGqg8ViQ88ZqB2oIxlEsgruVhsIe/w400-h265/OPS.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxv_g8qg5zAumzr7h-mqLu7X06AVC8BZssszMT_CpfWkTeCqWG6cW0FOrWBFywZEQ9L-nnSpS56Vtid8_d1A2dRci6sFthj9mkl1OkF6Nk9UpctTJ_AYjE_xA_74zu5SXvmnx4FHTyBKBXSnAaWFMMuCv1jeeh25GpvBH7VmASgzIpbSmeYiJIE63fczq/s419/RunDif.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="419" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgxv_g8qg5zAumzr7h-mqLu7X06AVC8BZssszMT_CpfWkTeCqWG6cW0FOrWBFywZEQ9L-nnSpS56Vtid8_d1A2dRci6sFthj9mkl1OkF6Nk9UpctTJ_AYjE_xA_74zu5SXvmnx4FHTyBKBXSnAaWFMMuCv1jeeh25GpvBH7VmASgzIpbSmeYiJIE63fczq/w400-h295/RunDif.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The Bulls continue to lead the league in strikeouts (1283! 25% of all plate appearances) and being caught stealing.</p><p>The <a href="https://www.milb.com/durham/roster">roster</a> saw a few more changes, notably new catcher <b>Logan Driscoll</b> and infielder <b>Ronny Simon</b>. Other changes? Well, <b>Curtis Mead </b>is back (for a while) and <b>Jonathan Aranda</b> is up with the Rays. Still on the roster is Rays catcher <b>Francisco Mejia</b> who was with the Bulls on a rehab assignment and then <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/tampa-bay-rays">got dumped</a>. The only position player left who’s on the 40-man is <b>Greg Jones</b>, but he has not played in quite a while (his last appearance was July 22). As is usual, no information on his status is available. Several pitchers (5) are on the 40-man, but I’ve no idea how the Rays may treat them.</p><p>What happens in September? Haven’t a clue. A good idea is to listen to Patrick Kinas’ analyses during the games since he is very good at digging through the pitching situations.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Weather</span></b></p><p>This week is going to be tricky. Here’s what I do. I check the <a href="https://app.truelook.cloud/dashboard/3641/4533/live?code=5hr66vwbg5tfyyjl5k53wk1j">camera</a> to see if the tarp’s on the field. If I’ve got a ticket I still wait for them to pull the tarp since I live about 30 minutes from the DBAP. If I’m feeling lazy, I just wait and watch the game on TV. You all do know that WRAL broadcasts every home game, don’t you?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">The Next Couple of Weeks</span></b></p><p>As mentioned, this is the next-to-last home series. Then the Bulls go to Charlotte (11-40) for 6 games; come back to play Louisville (25-26) for 6 games; and then go to Gwinnett (24-25) for 6 games.</p><p>The Worcester Red Sox, currently in first place in the IL, are off on a southern swing to end their season. They play Norfolk (28-23), Gwinnett (24-25), come home to Syracuse (19-30), and off to Lehigh Valley (29-22). So they have a fairly challenging month ahead of them and only one series at home. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Rays Stuff</span></b></p><p>Since late July the Rays have been playing very good baseball. Unfortunately, Baltimore has been better. And they show no sign of slowing down as September comes. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP_JhrKbFoz9LPmA2sOb5twLZ8tFk-uhKOb_PZ2gtyZsQxcADe9WgvNZN8wOTLjDjmKE1t7oNqyPvW_pDY5bMKc21YQhIBkmblAzSPLMPn7A2O3ANw60EukFkS82fyi9bYgT93gB0KgiBlIVDoUT87NQENWsPjLowjTuv_UWzDS7Ad-vTNkAdVrBHtolb/s841/TB500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="841" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRP_JhrKbFoz9LPmA2sOb5twLZ8tFk-uhKOb_PZ2gtyZsQxcADe9WgvNZN8wOTLjDjmKE1t7oNqyPvW_pDY5bMKc21YQhIBkmblAzSPLMPn7A2O3ANw60EukFkS82fyi9bYgT93gB0KgiBlIVDoUT87NQENWsPjLowjTuv_UWzDS7Ad-vTNkAdVrBHtolb/w400-h274/TB500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>A <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/08/27/how-rays-had-take-deep-dive-maintain-2023-success/">thoughtful update is here</a>. And <a href="http://enews.elist.tampabay.com/q/eldrds54Ki3xvIZaERxuXsY1xU-n4QXy5YYKYDEKJ7CijXOQheIET5hCW">here</a>. If you are into geek stuff then <a href="https://theathletic.com/4813155/2023/08/29/mlb-luckiest-teams-2023/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983">here’s a look at how “lucky”</a> they have been. </p><p>The status of former Bull <b>Wander Franco</b> is a <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/08/26/wander-franco-investigation-merchandise-contract-rays-mlb/">mystery</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Matchup</span></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 19px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Sounds, August 29, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of August 27</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>uERA</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">30-21</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">2</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">49</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.816</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.83</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.46</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.642</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Nashville Sounds (Brewers)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">28-22</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">6</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">16</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.791</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.39</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.39</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.688</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; uERA-unearned runs per 9 innings</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>This will be games 13 thru 18 for the Bulls and Sounds. They split 3-3 at the DBAP in May, but early in the month, the Bulls went 4-2 in Nashville. On paper, the Brewers’ franchise has terrific pitching and just OK hitting and fielding. My guess the Bulls are going to have to depend on how well the Rays treat them on callups (up <i>to</i> Tampa Bay; up <i>from</i> Montgomery). </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Robot Umpires</span></b></p><p>Lastly, here’s a very good <a href="https://theathletic.com/4791440/2023/08/25/mlb-robot-umpires-future/">article on the prospect of ABS moving up into MLB baseball</a>. Spoiler alert: the “challenge” approach seems OK; the umpires union will have a say. My own view is that the challenge approach works. It doesn’t seem to slow the game down very much. Let me big guys argue about how many. </p><p>I was never a big fan of “pitch framing” being a valued catcher’s skill and roboump simply takes that off the table. </p><p>We had a couple of games where we had a rehabbing major league umpire behind the plate, so ABS wasn’t in use. I didn’t notice any difference, but the players did argue more.</p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-52138570538947819392023-08-22T15:17:00.001-04:002023-08-22T15:19:26.771-04:00Week 8: Durham Bulls Dominate Gwinnett Stripers<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IuVoaXBr5exVN_liI6hjk8iPo8am8VB8WSl3mgToMgxQ7rlUdjTxJJiU6qJ-IcgzQmQFKTsqu0ipXIheKXbXajG1jAU-pA1v8NXbbHc7uVEqI-fU8r01rC2Uwr9B0x0mpuBdYZhAxZTUJKHGh_mVrRxkuyOYHwLhBpIHsHiVmWAfG0neaRK9RczMes0K/s1192/Standings8-22.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="924" data-original-width="1192" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8IuVoaXBr5exVN_liI6hjk8iPo8am8VB8WSl3mgToMgxQ7rlUdjTxJJiU6qJ-IcgzQmQFKTsqu0ipXIheKXbXajG1jAU-pA1v8NXbbHc7uVEqI-fU8r01rC2Uwr9B0x0mpuBdYZhAxZTUJKHGh_mVrRxkuyOYHwLhBpIHsHiVmWAfG0neaRK9RczMes0K/w400-h310/Standings8-22.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The Durham Bulls had a very good week, taking 5 of 6 games against the Gwinnett Strippers (Atlanta Braves) and moving up into sole possession of 2nd place in the International League. They are only ½ game back. The current standings also show just how deeply flawed this bizarre version of the International League is. Note that of the 7 teams currently in contention, Durham will have played only two of them before the end of the season (Lehigh Valley and Jacksonville). </p><p>Highlights of the week include fine performances of new guys <b>Ronny Simon</b> (3 games so far), <b>Carson Williams</b> (4), <b>Raimel Tapia</b> (8), and <b>Alex Jackson</b> (13). Plus rehabbing catcher <b>Francisco Mejia</b> was in six games. None of these players, except for Mejia, of course, are on the Rays' 40-man. All those guys help make up for <b>Osleivis Basabe</b>, <b>Curtis Meade</b> and <b>Jonathan Aranda</b> being up with Tampa Bay. </p><p>As might be expected, the Bulls’ stats are running in very nice improving trends. They hit a season-high +59 in their run differential. Their team OPS of .823 was a 10-point improvement. On the downside, strikeouts continue at a very high rate and they have not gotten any better at stealing bases.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0x1tND3aUhU1ddEIoyw5cyEOK2U2QTCxemw80bb2EQCLSJ_99yt7qlI4ZoajG2x3B243jviZQJkYaIRZxsQrgrwIJ71ohEJqlxUHUpYUZg1M10c1Iln_OVxMEcscwhsVw9cmf4r93GjcgT14brs-nByBff0-5eA1tFmqYV4bIVMjryT19Pa-vUElkeS5/s413/RunDiff.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="309" data-original-width="413" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih0x1tND3aUhU1ddEIoyw5cyEOK2U2QTCxemw80bb2EQCLSJ_99yt7qlI4ZoajG2x3B243jviZQJkYaIRZxsQrgrwIJ71ohEJqlxUHUpYUZg1M10c1Iln_OVxMEcscwhsVw9cmf4r93GjcgT14brs-nByBff0-5eA1tFmqYV4bIVMjryT19Pa-vUElkeS5/w400-h299/RunDiff.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 19px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Tides, August 22, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of August 20</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Fld%</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">28-17</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">2</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">56</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.823</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.78</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.46</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.977</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Norfolk Tides (Orioles)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">24-21</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">9</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">26</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.820</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.57</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.47</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.980</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Bulls are playing the Norfolk Tides (Baltimore Orioles) this week. They’ve played them 15 times this year (9 in Durham and 6 in Norfolk). In those games, the Bulls did not do well, winning just 4. On the other hand, Norfolk is not nearly as dominant in the 2nd half of the season (they won the first half), but they are on a 3-game winning streak. Overall, their basic stats are as good as the Bulls, perhaps better. Notice that their respective parent clubs are 1 and 2 in the American League East.</p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-10650652399279630162023-08-15T09:50:00.002-04:002023-08-15T09:50:56.732-04:00Week 7: Bulls Take the Series<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaIUNUEwRyuP3Ls0eIDyCVqr2pdAu03qybONxZr0NzcsXWkSHGDA7a_q_D2PtFACIaIIPz6A8TDI8bQFa6s4bgtw_ANrTcdZTl8Jr1dbTvK-HT_u1Pxph5Zh-akx7q7z1jisqVvhFUR9OOwcn3WVkBg4k32jNbG632AyKmV7Bb3nU5wLTQH0INy3WElKx/s1474/Standing8-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="1234" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNaIUNUEwRyuP3Ls0eIDyCVqr2pdAu03qybONxZr0NzcsXWkSHGDA7a_q_D2PtFACIaIIPz6A8TDI8bQFa6s4bgtw_ANrTcdZTl8Jr1dbTvK-HT_u1Pxph5Zh-akx7q7z1jisqVvhFUR9OOwcn3WVkBg4k32jNbG632AyKmV7Bb3nU5wLTQH0INy3WElKx/w335-h400/Standing8-15.jpg" width="335" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>The Bulls had a very good week against Memphis, winning 4 out of 6 games. That puts them in a three-way tie for third place in the 20-team International League. But several of the teams in contention are on a roll. Gwinnett, the team coming to town today, has won 8 in a row, Iowa has won 5 in a row; Jacksonville and Worchester are 8 of 10. We have just 6 weeks left in the season, so looks like things will have to sort themselves out soon.</p><p>The Bulls did just fine last week. They lost two important players, <b>Curtis Mead</b> and <b>Osleivis Basabe,</b> to the Rays (they are doing just fine up there) and kept on truckin’. And the pitching roster has been chaotic — 9 transactions involving pitchers in the last 7 days! </p><p>Have to mention <b>Jonathan Aranda</b>’s back-to-back 2 home run games. Stellar performance. Can’t imagine his sticking around past September.</p><p>Overall, the Bulls outscored Memphis 41 to 35 and raised their 2nd-half run differential to +40, the best it's been all year. On the downside, they continue to lead the league in strikeouts, striking out more than 25% of the time.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 19px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Braves, August 15, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of August 13</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Fld%</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">23-16</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">3</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">40</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.817</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.79</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.45</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.977</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Gwinnett Stripers (Braves)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">21-16</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">7</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">28</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.761</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">5.15</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.46</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.985</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><p>The Bulls start a 6-game set against the Gwinnett Strippers today. From a pure stats perspective, the Bulls look pretty good, but Gwinnett has that 8-game winning streak (although 6 of those wins were against the hapless Charlotte Knights). Of equal importance is that of the 36 games left on the Bulls’ schedule, 12 are against Gwinnett. That is, one-third of the games left in the season will be against the Atlanta Braves franchise. </p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-80910041882973797882023-08-08T12:49:00.002-04:002023-08-08T12:49:40.503-04:00Week 6; Success in Nashville<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYkg13HAHiSN85xuVfmUr_i_qvvI7_wgVU1mEg2IFQOUhvtQy9lPYOzb94ro5kDPCxVKrdsLapRX7fGUV-LK74_jIj2RTlRPt9L3M6BCmZonjBZvwTu916Nkv9cbn7J9WcYQ47zoacoeWPP0R3_bDeY3ENknfTLfJ6DwoWQXHRh1aSDGE4N0QEQSYFPvh/s1264/Standings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="994" data-original-width="1264" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYkg13HAHiSN85xuVfmUr_i_qvvI7_wgVU1mEg2IFQOUhvtQy9lPYOzb94ro5kDPCxVKrdsLapRX7fGUV-LK74_jIj2RTlRPt9L3M6BCmZonjBZvwTu916Nkv9cbn7J9WcYQ47zoacoeWPP0R3_bDeY3ENknfTLfJ6DwoWQXHRh1aSDGE4N0QEQSYFPvh/w400-h315/Standings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Bulls did just fine in Nashville last week, taking 4 of 6 games. Combined with the week earlier, the Bulls have gone 9 and 3 over the last 12 games. That’s enough to put them in a tie for 5th place in the 20-team International League and just 1.5 games out of 1st. </p><p>That came during some significant roster moves. The most visible of those was a trade of our best pitcher, <b>Evan McKendry</b>, to Milwaukee for an experienced catcher, <b>Alex Jackson</b>. The oddity was that both players were in Nashville at the time, so they just swapped locker rooms. To the Bulls’ credit, they went on to beat McKendry a day or so later and Jackson has gone 5 for 15 over the 4 games he’s played with a home run and 2 doubles.</p><p>Other moves included phenom <b>Taj Bradley</b> being sent down to the Bulls last week. Bradley gave up 6 hits (2 home runs) and 4 runs over just 2 innings in his first appearance. Something simply isn’t quite right with Mr. Bradley. </p><p>Infielder <b>Curtis Mead </b>got called up to the Rays. Doesn’t look like he’s going to get much playing time. Hope it doesn’t mess him up. First time in the majors, so <b>congrats</b>.</p><p>Stats stuff: The Bulls continue to lead the IL in strikeouts averaging 1 in every 4 plate appearances. Their .352 OBP is down near the bottom, which is certainly another indicator of impatience. Overall, the pitching has been OK. The Bulls’ ERA of 4.80 is 4th in the IL and has improved over the last couple of weeks.</p><p>Looking to the rest of the season. </p><p>The Bulls are playing Memphis, Gwinnett, Norfolk (again), Nashville (again), Charlotte (again), Louisville, and then Gwinnett (again). Only Norfolk is ahead of the Bulls and the Bulls are tied with Louisville. What could that mean? It could mean that the Bulls could have a shot.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup</b></p><p>The oddity of this week’s matchup is that the parent clubs of the teams are also playing each other. St. Louis is down in St. Petersburg where the Rays are trying to keep up with the Orioles. Memphis isn’t doing all that well, but they’ve got a couple of very dangerous hitters who are probably happy to be at the DBAP. </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 19px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Redbirds, August 8, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of August 7</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Fld%</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">19-14</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">5</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">34</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.811</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.79</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.45</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.977</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Memphis Redbirds (Cardinals)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">15-18</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">16</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">0</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.802</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">5.04</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.59</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.982</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-42414126749362281792023-08-01T10:49:00.000-04:002023-08-01T10:49:17.135-04:00Great Week! Off to Nashville<p> Last week was one of the Bulls' best this year. They won 5 of 6 games against the Charlotte Knights. They scored 53 runs to Charlotte's 30. That improved their overall run differential for the year from +9 to +32. More importantly, they moved up from 11th place in the 2nd half standings to 7th. <a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a>. At the moment, however, the top of the IL standings is very cluttered. The team in the lead, Buffalo, is only a game ahead of Lehigh Valley. Lehigh Valley is only a half-game ahead of the next two teams, Iowa and St Paul. And those two teams are only a half-game ahead of the <b>next</b> two teams, Norfolk and Worcester. And they are only a half-game ahead of the <b><i>next</i></b> three teams, Durham, Indianapolis, and Rochester. Overall, half of the IL's 20 teams are within 3 1/2 games of each other. </p><p>Other geek stuff about last week. The team OPS move up 11 points from .803 to .814. After 102 games, that is substantial movement. There was a slight improvement in their strikeout rate, but they still lead the International League with 1,025. Nor has their baserunning improved. They remain 16th in the IL in stolen bases and #1 in caught stealing.</p><p>Meanwhile, the Rays continue to trade away Bulls. <b><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gamel-001ben">Ben Gamel</a></b>, he of the big red beard, <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/padres-acquire-ben-gamel-from-rays.html">went off to the San Diego Padres'</a> Triple-A team in El Paso, Texas in the middle of July. Yesterday, <b><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=manzar000kyl">Kyle Manzardo</a></b> was part of a trade with the Cleveland Guardians. I'm guessing he will end up with the Columbus Clippers. Probably a big deal in the long run for Rays and Guardians. Stories <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/07/31/aaron-civale-kyle-manzardo-rays-trade-deadline-guardians/">here</a> and <a href="https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/07/guardians-trade-aaron-civale-rays-kyle-manzardo.html">here</a>.</p><p>And then RHP <b><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=bradle000taj">Taj Bradley</a></b> is <a href="https://www.tampabay.com/sports/rays/2023/07/31/aaron-civale-taj-bradley-durhan-rays-pitching-rotation/">coming back</a>. That could be good for the Bulls. Bradley didn't do all that well as a Bull earlier this year. Then his first days up with the Rays were exceptional. Not so much lately, though, and he certainly didn't get much run support in the Rays' awful July. So, if he comes back and sorts himself out while helping the Bulls, that could be a good deal all around.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup Bulls vs Sounds</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 19px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Sounds, August 1, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of July 30</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Fld%</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">15-12</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">7</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">32</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.814</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.83</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.44</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.976</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Nashville Sounds (Brewers)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">14-12</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">8</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">-3</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.804</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.51</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.43</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.975</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>These are two very closely matched teams. In addition to the traditional stats categories, both teams' parent clubs are in the hunt for their clubs' division championship and/or wild card slot. The Brewers are a game and a half back of the Reds and the Rays are a game and a half back of the Orioles. </p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-65624584274429644102023-07-25T09:58:00.003-04:002023-07-25T09:58:46.726-04:00Bulls Back in Town<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfadMR70TLCy3olnLNDQzayeXMZjLDaM7wlR1dcAWCzARrIzd8hfOmmUIvBxwhPZYXXZ0yPlzMb-BeEALb6_u8Iifq6NtLlgAp1VfVCyGLe7_LjjrpnpUdpEKlBWUcsIRcvggztMujaLXfpg0oZ-IhWiFjBxHiTWLL-mF1uYy9IbACrWSrAZR95sLdI2Sn/s837/500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="837" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfadMR70TLCy3olnLNDQzayeXMZjLDaM7wlR1dcAWCzARrIzd8hfOmmUIvBxwhPZYXXZ0yPlzMb-BeEALb6_u8Iifq6NtLlgAp1VfVCyGLe7_LjjrpnpUdpEKlBWUcsIRcvggztMujaLXfpg0oZ-IhWiFjBxHiTWLL-mF1uYy9IbACrWSrAZR95sLdI2Sn/w400-h275/500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><p>The Bulls did not have a particularly successful post-All-Star trip. They won 4 games, two against St Paul and 2 against Rochester, and lost 5, 1 to St Paul and 4 to Rochester. They now stand 10-11 for the 2nd half of the season. That puts them in a tie for 14th place in a 20-team league, almost 200 percentage points behind the league leaders Worcester and Lehigh Valley. <a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a>.</p><p>Statistically, last week was pretty much a wash. They ended up 10th in OPS and 5th in ERA. They are not helping each other on offense with awful, league-leading strikeout numbers, 974. Roughly a quarter of the time a Bull comes to bat he strikes out. And they are not running bases very well, 16th in total number of bases stolen (74) and they lead the league in number of times caught stealing (40). <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/league.cgi?id=e94f4b04">Stats</a>.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>About them Rays</b></p><p>Meanwhile, The Bulls' parent club, the Tampa Bay Rays, are having an awful July. See chart at the top. After leading the American League East (and most of the rest of baseball) since the beginning of the season, they dropped 3 of 4 against the Baltimore Orioles. At home. In their own bandbox-by-the-bay. Ugly, ugly, ugly.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 19px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Knights, July 24, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of July 23</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Fld%</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">10-11</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">14</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">9</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.803</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.89</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.44</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.977</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Charlotte Knights (White Sox)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">3-17</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">20</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">-84</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.741</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">6.32</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.72</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.978</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Charlotte Knights are in town. They are having a much worse second half than the Bulls. They've only won 3 games so far and have stats to match. The last time they were in town, June 13-18, however, they won 3 of 6. </p><div><br /></div>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-50586384383348460662023-07-20T08:31:00.000-04:002023-07-20T08:31:03.176-04:00The Mighty Falls<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EZTTJB-JScwRO2gl3IyVlgoVE58QrxmuCTXrRAa-ZhzjS_MOX-RgYwaS2W3MaPIluEeLZBr_L88dx_TNZ5KYvzvWpKgB1xHN-ChP3f_SQK44vrKlcOlFFK3Yof9UGJ_FKdgoLSLAUB2JXnRne3VJxV5InOniHauj2H7QRKUIhyCUR2L9FsOJ5Nu6wqiU/s826/500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="557" data-original-width="826" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EZTTJB-JScwRO2gl3IyVlgoVE58QrxmuCTXrRAa-ZhzjS_MOX-RgYwaS2W3MaPIluEeLZBr_L88dx_TNZ5KYvzvWpKgB1xHN-ChP3f_SQK44vrKlcOlFFK3Yof9UGJ_FKdgoLSLAUB2JXnRne3VJxV5InOniHauj2H7QRKUIhyCUR2L9FsOJ5Nu6wqiU/w400-h270/500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American League East, 2023, Games above/below .500</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> The Tampa Bay Rays, parent club of the Durham Bulls, have fallen in recent weeks. They play 4 games against the Orioles, at Tampa Bay, this week.</p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-3374326814951982232023-07-17T10:53:00.002-04:002023-07-17T10:53:48.915-04:00Wins in St Paul; Off to Rochester<p> </p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 19px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Red Wings, July 18, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of July 17</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Fld%</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">8-7</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">10</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">14</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.807</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.83</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.44</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.977</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Rochester Red Wings (Nationals)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">7-8</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">14</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">-35</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.755</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">5.45</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.59</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.981</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><br /><div><div>The Bulls came off the All-Star break to play a 3-game set way up in St. Paul, Minnesota. They won two games out of three, and both times in the 9th inning. Starting out, the Saints were in 1st place in the International League. They are now a half-game back from Worcester. The Bulls did not move much in the standings. They are in a three-way tie for 10th place in the 20-team league. <a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>We were surprised at the lack of roster turmoil over the break. The most notable change was infielder <b><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=shento000aus">Austin Shenton</a></b> being called up from Montgomery. After woeful first days at bat, he came up with a home run and a single in yesterday's unusual game (the Bulls scored the winning runs in the top of the 9th off of a bases-loaded walk and a bases-loaded passed ball). </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup</b></div><div><br /></div><div>The Rochester Red Wings are the Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. These 6 games will be the only time the Bulls see them this year. In the second half the Red Wings are off to a poor start and the Bulls have an edge in all statistical categories except for fielding. However, as usual, who knows what the Rays and the Nationals have in mind for their teams?</div></div><div><br /></div>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-19753848289910965092023-07-10T12:09:00.005-04:002023-07-10T12:11:06.891-04:00Durham Bulls Starts Second Half<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqKt6WomY3wtUzpBvXwSQW5wS2yacksl1dE0-LXPuBVJ4SijOgaUPr8sQpnCFEmPsU1bMooJCgrQQUgmhgymL85iGpHAN1wl-7ZOGaVmdMIbYZC4w3YeqYYFJ7Q-tb6OinLuBP19882g1ogSpSyZQsH0EsneYC3QHg61lmS5qIZKcZ-9VLqZaaG2y1O5e/s779/500.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="551" data-original-width="779" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqKt6WomY3wtUzpBvXwSQW5wS2yacksl1dE0-LXPuBVJ4SijOgaUPr8sQpnCFEmPsU1bMooJCgrQQUgmhgymL85iGpHAN1wl-7ZOGaVmdMIbYZC4w3YeqYYFJ7Q-tb6OinLuBP19882g1ogSpSyZQsH0EsneYC3QHg61lmS5qIZKcZ-9VLqZaaG2y1O5e/w400-h283/500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Bulls matched against last week's opponent (Norfolk, currently in 5th place), next Friday's opp (St Paul, in 1st place), and next Monday's (Rochester, currently tied with the Bulls in 3rd)</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>The International League doesn't have an All-Star game anymore, but it does take an All-Star break along with the Majors. That means we won't have any games until next Friday. How are the Durham Bulls doing in the second half?</p><p>After 6 games in Jacksonville (3-3) and splitting 6 games at the DBAP at home against Norfolk. the Bulls are 6-6. That puts them in 11th place in the 20-team International League, but just three games back from 1st place St Paul. <a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a>. </p><p>Not too much has changed in the stats to begin the 2nd half. The most worrisome is the dismal strikeout pattern. The Bulls are the worst in the league. And they lead the league in getting caught stealing. That leads to some worries about the coaching staff.</p><p>On the other hand, if you would like to see/hear some baseball thrills at their finest, you could do no worse than to cue up your MiLB-TV app and <a href="https://www.milb.com/live-stream-games/g723724">replay the bottom of the 9th of the Bulls/Tides 4th of July game</a>. Fast forward to 3:25 or so. The crowd was huge, 11,000, because of the postgame fireworks show. The Bulls were losing 0-5, but folks started chanting because, oh, why the hell not? The Bulls did get a couple of runners on, but also got up to two outs and a 3-2 count. And then ... Well you'll have to watch it yourself. See the link Enjoy.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Matchup</b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 19px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Matchup: Bulls vs Saints, July 14, 2023</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>As of July 9, 2023</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>W-L</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rk</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>RDiff</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 15px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Fld%</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">Durham Bulls (Rays)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">6-6</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">11</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">11</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.808</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.88</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.44</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.977</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 168px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">St Paul Saints (Twins)</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">9-3</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 16px;" valign="top"><p align="center" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 30px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">46</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 36px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.833</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 26px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.67</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 32px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.55</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 14px; padding: 4px; width: 34px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 13px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.984</span></p></td></tr><tr><td colspan="8" style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 10px; padding: 4px; width: 448px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial Narrow; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 9px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">RDiff-Run differential; <span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Rk - Rank in International League; WHIP - Walks/Hits per Inning; </span></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>After the All-Star break the Bulls are off to St Paul, Minnesota for their first-ever game against the Twins AAA franchise, the St Paul Saints. The Saints are a very good team. Notable is a roster that includes 6 batters with OPSs over .900. Since Jonathan Aranda got called up, the Bulls are down to 0 batters over .900 (not counting young Blake Hunt). Now, there's no telling how many of those guys will be with the Saints next Friday, but probably most of them.</p><p>After three days in St Paul, the Bulls go around a couple of Great Lakes to Rochester, New York to play 6 games against the Rochester Red Wings. They aren't back in town until July 25th. Looks like the DBAP will be getting a long rest.</p><p> </p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-50900738755196629452023-06-27T15:16:00.001-04:002023-06-27T18:20:23.839-04:00Midseason Moonlight Graham Awards<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoe_Rrc9_oqAvD5-EIFCWoXLfQQ5ZeadHjUCBOTu2uH2HmcIMBuR7dnCBw9fUr5h9wRpwFOVHczSe2j8kuiqaPb7XW5Wq2H6dwPYGJOaC6E_rnIa-vAoTkXxyP9pgE4KqMmXeBe2HMyhBq5MI7VAwGW_z30XQytsSEgzQ3SFphXzVZHWfeXEEbDcC4PuO/s339/20050625WP_moonlight_230.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="339" data-original-width="230" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNoe_Rrc9_oqAvD5-EIFCWoXLfQQ5ZeadHjUCBOTu2uH2HmcIMBuR7dnCBw9fUr5h9wRpwFOVHczSe2j8kuiqaPb7XW5Wq2H6dwPYGJOaC6E_rnIa-vAoTkXxyP9pgE4KqMmXeBe2HMyhBq5MI7VAwGW_z30XQytsSEgzQ3SFphXzVZHWfeXEEbDcC4PuO/w271-h400/20050625WP_moonlight_230.jpg" width="271" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p>Way back in 2009, we established the <b>Watching Durham Bulls Baseball Moonlight Graham Award</b> to recognize the hitter and pitcher who spent the <b><i>least</i></b> amount of time in a Durham Bulls uniform that year. We had fun with it. We let the idea lapse a few years ago, but with this two-part season upon us, we thought we'd bring it back as a "mid-season" award. So here we go ...</p><p>The 2023 Midseason Watching Durham Bulls Baseball Midseason Moonlight Graham Award recognizes the hitter and pitcher who has spent the <i>least</i> amount of time in a Durham Bulls uniform during the first 75 games of the season. The award is named in honor of North Carolinian Archibald “Moonlight” Graham who famously played only two innings for the New York Giants in 1905, never coming to bat.</p><p>We have just a few criteria for selection. Not considered are players who come through on a rehab assignment, or (for the pitcher award) a position player thrown to the wolves at the end of a game (regrets to catcher <b><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=dini--000nic">Nick Dini</a></b> who had an inning back on June 8th that did not go well: <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/bulls-vs-redbirds/2023/06/08/723294#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=723294">box</a>).</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Hitter</b></p><p>The Midseason winner in the hitter/position player category is:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2dT3I5POLIzAOgFb5LO1ntX8cH7oOr9EitqlWW301lcxE7rHEVoLBTcU-8G-4z-vehsQINY1dHZIGEdMjkKkH0Ujx6nvcTfQjmWFsy3-1QB_bRrfegDRrUMVRTP_Jcr-7pnA9SWTJjKBBmr-uj-851nM9ycK5lHwv_4LSHLJq8zP8qULYCPm3qQQzyUP/s541/Turner2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2dT3I5POLIzAOgFb5LO1ntX8cH7oOr9EitqlWW301lcxE7rHEVoLBTcU-8G-4z-vehsQINY1dHZIGEdMjkKkH0Ujx6nvcTfQjmWFsy3-1QB_bRrfegDRrUMVRTP_Jcr-7pnA9SWTJjKBBmr-uj-851nM9ycK5lHwv_4LSHLJq8zP8qULYCPm3qQQzyUP/w266-h400/Turner2.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Gionti Turner</b></p><p>Right-handed infielder <b><a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=turner000gio">Gionti Turner</a></b> is from Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Twenty-two year-old Turner came to the Bulls from Single-A Bowling Green to play in one game in Charlotte on May 9. <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/bulls-vs-knights/2023/05/09/725485#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=725485">Box</a>. He had a decent day, notably participating in 3 double plays. At the plate, he had a single and drew a walk. He then went over to <a href="https://www.milb.com/montgomery">Double-A Montgomery</a>, where he's having a decent year. Reasonably good chance we could see the Arkansawyer again before the year is out.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Pitcher</b></p><p>The midseason winner among the pitchers is:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlJuTe1yGThlO7cQWQzZpusk89Vdm-0nuoHiUHmOl2R3gANO1MkcaDK3yoMdwkYKWe_8-bDa2u4iav9RwZt4w_FLIX9SGFUjSAuRBfNkZYotAPEQlJNZ0J4Kme-8F-CkLg0jj5OUYdF1lTgsbpMQwwsw6RoN78sev1OPyg_41SAET0YpFRzlGk3T8XRqJ/s541/zarraga.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrlJuTe1yGThlO7cQWQzZpusk89Vdm-0nuoHiUHmOl2R3gANO1MkcaDK3yoMdwkYKWe_8-bDa2u4iav9RwZt4w_FLIX9SGFUjSAuRBfNkZYotAPEQlJNZ0J4Kme-8F-CkLg0jj5OUYdF1lTgsbpMQwwsw6RoN78sev1OPyg_41SAET0YpFRzlGk3T8XRqJ/w266-h400/zarraga.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b>Alfredo Zárraga</b></p><p>Right-handed reliever <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=zarrag000alf"><b>Alfredo Zárraga</b></a> came up from <a href="bowling shoes">Bowling Green</a> to appear in 2 innings on June 3. He then went back to Bowling Green. The twenty-two year-old Venezuelan didn't have a particularly good day: 2 innings, 3 hits, 1 SO, 1 BB, 1 HR, 2 earned runs. <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/jumbo-shrimp-vs-bulls/2023/06/03/723731#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=723731">Box</a>. Nevertheless, he's doing ok in Single-A. He could be back as well.</p><p>Congrats to Gioti and Alfredo. Hope to see you back in a Bulls uniform!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b>About Moonlight Graham</b></p><p>Archibald “Moonlight” Graham achieved lasting fame as a character in the W.P. Kinsella novel, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57736.Shoeless_Joe?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=YRlNpa661C&rank=1"><i>Shoeless Joe</i></a>, and then became even more famous when he was played by Burt Lancaster (and Frank Whaley) in the Kevin Costner film, <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097351/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_q_field%2520of%2520dreams"><i>Field of Dreams</i></a>. As a ballplayer, Graham played two innings in the major leagues as a right fielder for the New York Giants in 1905. He never came to bat. <a href="https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/grahamo01.shtml">You can look it up</a>. He went on to a career as a well-loved physician in Chisholm, Minnesota.</p><p>Of interest to us is that he was a North Carolina native (born in Fayetteville, and grew up in Charlotte); graduated from UNC (where he played baseball); and was the older brother to UNC President and US Senator <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Porter_Graham">Frank Porter Graham</a>. If you find him to be an intriguing character, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonlight_Graham">Wikipedia article</a> is a good start. There’s a nice <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna8423741#.V-Ui_jKZOQ6">NBC piece </a>done on him a few years ago. And then there’s a terrific book by Fayetteville writer (and Bulls fan) Brett Friedlander and Robert Reisling, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5767645-chasing-moonlight?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=v7N3DC7c9u&rank=3"><i>Chasing Moonlight</i></a>. </p><p>Canadian author W.P. Kinsella died in 2016 and is remembered on his <a href="http://wpkinsella.com">website</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/18/books/william-p-kinsella-author-of-shoeless-joe-dies-at-81.html?_r=0">elsewhere</a>.</p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-502524904778687735.post-88562656801777273442023-06-26T13:37:00.001-04:002023-06-26T13:45:40.406-04:00The Bulls at Mid-Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cjbQGzpqEoRS3iR8HxhiGcDMguXmFLjs81quK6JokKcywMm-aqOnh_8H_TayO-ZOdbQ2ex3r1kHavGbMNI2pPdnxTFBKleNN99AF_JFnn5Okazr4KIoTKckTDZxdRo5SqLJIQnB-mpeHoUK4Z0Ot_vQxrcICvt1z-FrjKyn4GmftGeW6Wr2Ryy8BR8-2/s3642/500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2530" data-original-width="3642" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9cjbQGzpqEoRS3iR8HxhiGcDMguXmFLjs81quK6JokKcywMm-aqOnh_8H_TayO-ZOdbQ2ex3r1kHavGbMNI2pPdnxTFBKleNN99AF_JFnn5Okazr4KIoTKckTDZxdRo5SqLJIQnB-mpeHoUK4Z0Ot_vQxrcICvt1z-FrjKyn4GmftGeW6Wr2Ryy8BR8-2/w400-h278/500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>The Durham Bulls played their 75th game yesterday. That marks the end of the first half of the 2023 season for the 20-team International League. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">How Did the Bulls Do?</span></b></p><p>Just OK. They ended up in 6th place in the league, 8½ games behind the Norfolk Tides, who <a href="https://www.milb.com/norfolk/news/tides-clinch-playoff-berth-as-international-league-first-half-winners">won the first half of the season</a>. <a href="https://www.milb.com/standings/?standingsView=league">Standings</a>. Most of the season we saw a cluster of 7 or 8 teams near the top of the standings (all well below Norfolk), led by Iowa and St. Paul, who finished #2 and #3. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhk5NZCMeupiEMk6t0ugcJRTllynNV6GfDIJu2o9WtRs9V-YG9yl8zyfemhmf8esZX0dr1oGG0keqB84npvz3w1xVGE5KVS3vGEltn5VDuy7z6lUWF3yWIsa41HQ1X3TIfJQ1XIdLs43iA-OHET1sPX3JjOx0tELByJYdglBEIrSVCvHUxqekbUUYe1xVY/s1087/500+.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="760" data-original-width="1087" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhk5NZCMeupiEMk6t0ugcJRTllynNV6GfDIJu2o9WtRs9V-YG9yl8zyfemhmf8esZX0dr1oGG0keqB84npvz3w1xVGE5KVS3vGEltn5VDuy7z6lUWF3yWIsa41HQ1X3TIfJQ1XIdLs43iA-OHET1sPX3JjOx0tELByJYdglBEIrSVCvHUxqekbUUYe1xVY/w400-h280/500+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>Now there will apparently be a <i>Great Reset</i> of the won-loss numbers. We will have a new race to see who will win the second half of the season. <a href="https://www.milb.com/events/playoffs/procedures">Playoffs</a>.</p><p>The Bulls peaked in early June when they hit 10 games above .500, but went south after that. Against Memphis, Charlotte, and Syracuse the Bulls won 7 and lost 11. So the reset will be welcome.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Beyond simple won-lost, how do the Bulls look?</span></b></p><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-variant-caps: normal;"><tbody><tr><td style="background-color: #b0b3b2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 35px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 12px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 14px;"><br /></p></td><td style="background-color: #b0b3b2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 35px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>75 games</b></span></p></td><td style="background-color: #b0b3b2; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 35px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Rank (of 20)</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #d4d4d4; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OPS</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.806</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">9</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #d4d4d4; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>BA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.256</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">14</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #d4d4d4; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>OBP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.350</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">14</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #d4d4d4; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Strikeouts</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">781</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #fb0207; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>1</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #d4d4d4; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 16px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Fld %</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 16px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">.976</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 16px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">17</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #d4d4d4; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Stolen Bases</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">56</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">17</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #d4d4d4; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>Caught Stealing</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">34</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: #fb0207; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>1</b></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #d4d4d4; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>ERA</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">4.84</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">7</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="background-color: #d4d4d4; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 127px;" valign="top"><p style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;"><b>WHIP</b></span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 52px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">1.44</span></p></td><td style="border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-style: solid; border-width: 1px; height: 17px; padding: 4px; width: 43px;" valign="top"><p align="right" style="margin: 0px; text-align: right;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size-adjust: none; font-size: 16px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal;">3</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote style="border: medium; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></blockquote><p>At bat, not so good. Most notably, the Bulls strike out<i> a lot</i>—781 times in their 2907 plate appearances. That means roughly a quarter of the time a Bull comes to the plate, he strikes out. Yesterday was a good example, even though they won. Over 9 innings Bulls batters struck out 14 times. Every Bull in the game struck out at least once. In the 7th and 8th innings every Bull who came to bat struck out. <a href="https://www.milb.com/gameday/mets-vs-bulls/2023/06/25/723719#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=723719">Box</a>.</p><p>Plus they have trouble running bases. They've stolen only a few in comparison to the rest of the league and were caught a lot.</p><p>Lastly, on the position player side, the Bulls are not fielding the ball all that well. Their .976 fielding percentage is 17th in the league. They've allowed 49 unearned runs, 12% of the runs scored against the Bulls.</p><p>Pitching is so-so. On the positive side, WHIP does stand out. It reflects the Rays' obsession with not allowing walks.</p><p>Speaking of the Rays, how are they treating the Bulls? Not bad. It's been worse. Mostly pitchers to and fro from St Petersburg to Durham and from Durham to Montgomery. </p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">Needs for the second half</span></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Better plate discipline (improve OBP and BA, fewer Ks)</li><li>Slightly better pitching.</li><li>Get better at stealing bases.</li></ul><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: medium;">How about the Automatic Ball & Strike System? </span></b></p><p>I think I like it, especially when the challenge system is used. I noticed that some umpires are better at signaling what's going on to the crowd. Even then I couldn't always tell what was up unless I was listening to the radio. What about in the Major Leagues? Maybe.</p><p>But I can't pass up the opportunity to plead, again, for a four-umpire crew. </p>Chris W.http://www.blogger.com/profile/12266137926441160311noreply@blogger.com0