June 9, 2008 [LINK / comment]
We built this Citi (Field)
New! The Citi Field page is now in a semi-completed state, much like the future home of the New York Mets, construction of which is about 70 percent completed. The diagram is still preliminary, leaving out certain details, pending further research. The same goes for the New Yankee Stadium. I hate to admit it, but I'm more impressed with the design of the Mets' future stadium than with the Yankees' future stadium being built in The Bronx.
NOTE: Back on April 24, I said I would have that page ready "next month, for sure," but that depends on what the definition of "next" is.
Less bulk, more speed
Back to old-fashioned "small ball"! Sunday's Washington Post analyzed the increased number of stolen bases and decreased number of home runs in the post-steroid era. While the number of stolen bases has risen from a low of 1.06 per game in 2003 to 1.24 so far this year, the number of home runs has declined from an average of 2.34 per game in 2000 to 1.89 per game thus far this year. Part of this trend stems from the rapid decline in the use of performance-enhancing drugs, but part of it reflects the increased use of quantitative methods ("sabermetrics!") to assess the risks and benefits of stealing bases. The article mention four sluggers who are good at stealing bases (A-Rod, Chase Utley, David Wright, and Derek Jeter), but neglected to mention Alfonso Soriano, who as a National in 2006 became the first and only player to get 40+ homers and stolen bases in one year.
Nats are in bad shape
As a team, the Washington Nationals have gone back into a negative cycle, below .400 for the first time in several weeks. This is mainly a reflection of the banged-up roster: Ryan Zimmerman, Nick Johnson, Austin Kearns, Paul Lo Duca, Chad Cordero, and others are all on the disabled list, and it may be weeks before the team is in good enough shape to win consistently.
Tonight at Nationals Park, the Nationals will try to avoid being swept by the Giants, which would be the first four-game sweep the Nats have suffered since April 5-8, 2007, versus the Diamondbacks. That was also a home series.