Which Player Would You Take?

Here's a fun little game I like to play from time to time.  Here are the stats of two ballplayers.  Looking at these two guys, which one would you select for your team?

Player A

AB - 283

H - 65

BA - .230

HR - 14

RBI - 36

OPS - .730

Player B

AB - 283

H - 70

BA - .247

HR - 12

RBI - 44

OPS - .758

Not a whole lot of difference on the surface, but if pushed, you would probably take Player B, and say, "what the hell, he's better, but not by all that much."

OK, I'm not going to wait until tomorrow to identify these guys.  Player A is the combined statistics of Rod Barajas and Mike McKenry.  Player B is Matt Weiters.  (If you have to ask why I am making such a comparison, then you probably shouldn't be reading this blog!)  I do realize that no defensive abilities are included in this comparison.

Not making any judgements here, just having a little fun with numbers, while recognizing the famous quote of Benjamin Disraeli, "There are three kinds of lies:  Lies, damned lies, and statistics".

I also thank Dan Bonk whose recent Facebook post inspired this little but of game playing.

Bombs Bursting In Air

With apologies to Francis Scott Key, but how appropriate to use his words after the dramatic home run struck by Mike "Fort" McKenry last night? I have sat through a lot of dreadful and meaningless games over the past 18 years at Three Rivers Stadium and PNC Park, and I have often stated that I'd absolutely love to see the Pirates play a meaningful game at PNC in September some year.

Well, it's not September yet, but they played a VERY meaningful game in July last night and what a treat. The Pirates trailed, were tied, led, and then trailed again, only to win it with a three run blast in the bottom of the eighth from the most unlikely of offensive heroes. That was great, great stuff that made a game that lasted 3 hours and 45 minutes seem to pass in the blink of an eye.

And is there anything cooler in Pittsburgh sports right now that watching Joel Hanrahan come in from the bullpen to put the hammer down for the Bucs in the ninth? He is amazing, and for those of you have not been at PNC Park to see this phenomenon, here is what plays on the scoreboard as Hanrahan enters the game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AnVBz80VaM

Being in the crowd walking over the Clemente Bridge after that game was fabulous. A real playoff atmosphere. I'm not sure how the rest of this Pirates season will progress, but so far, it has been an absolute blast!!