- When the Rangers started the 10th inning Wednesday, they were given a 5.6% Win Expectancy- which seems a bit high, actually, given the magnitude of how low everything sorrounding the team felt. Then, this happened:
Nelson Cruz hits home run -- 11.9% win expectancy
Michael Young reaches on error -- 21.9% win expectancy
David Murphy walks -- 36.5% win expectancy
Mike Napoli singles, loads bases -- 52.8% win expectancy
Mitch Moreland singles, Michael Young scores, loads bases -- 75.7% win expectancy
Ian Kinsler flied out -- 56.2% win expectancy
Elvis Andrus singles -- David Murphy and Craig Gentry score -- 100% win expectancy
That gave us this ridiculous and happy WPA chart (which should perfectly visualize the emotion of the evening).
All information above from and available fully at Fangraphs.com, which you should go to every day.
- My first thought, when Elvis ripped that liner down the left field line, was "Spark." (I actually tweeted that, in real time, if any of you want to do some freelance back-checking). The team obviously needed something- Most writers had ran out of synonyms for 'uninspired' to use for them- and I thought either a good walkoff or a good rain delay tarp-slide was what this team needed.
I'm glad they didn't have a rain delay.
- The additions of Dempster, Soto, and Olt also probably would classify as a spark, but they just don't fit the narrative right now.
- In Olt's debut, he went 1-3 with a single. That's a triple slash line of 333/333/333, which is an OPS of 667. That's not a good OPS, but it is an upgrade over Mike Young's current 643.
Using OPS for one game is probably the silliest statistical thing I've ever done, so please note that the above should only be used for jest and for the general denigration of Mike Young.
- Did it seem suspicious to anyone else how often Young reached on error in this series? I get the feeling that Scioscia might have ordered that to happen, to increase the odds that the Rangers keep playing Young everyday -- which is probably the best thing the Rangers can do to increase the Angels' chances of winning the division.
- Mike Napoli posted a .364 OBP in the month of July. That's actually tremendous, because he posted a batting average of 183. Which seems terrible, but he only had a BABIP of 167. It's fairly exceptional to post a BA higher than one's BABiP -- even in the small sample window of one month's time.
- The Rangers currently have 5 Mikes or Michaels in their 25-man roster, which means 20% of the team is named 'Mike' in some way or the other. Being named Joe, I've been in situations like these before. They're awful.
- Joe Nathan allowed three runs on two home runs in one inning on Wednesday -- and was credited for the win. Pitcher wins are a terrible, terrible statistic.
- Prospect Rougned Odor is up for a very, very important award, and you should all go vote for him. I'd hate to see Rock Shoulders beat him in the Minor League Moniker Madness championship of 2012.
Joseph Ursery can be found on Twitter.com at the handle @thejoeursery. He can be found other places, too, in the real world, but if you go look for him there, it could be considered stalking, which WFAA generally frowns upon.
