More Plaschke Brilliance

Plaschke's cornerstone argument for the Dodgers not making a trade is that without (injured) Jason Schmidt, they become a much better team thru addition by subtraction:

hate to be a pity pooper, but I've got a different stat.

It doesn't require a calculator, only common sense.

The Dodgers were 1-5 in games in which Schmidt appeared.

They are 40-26 when he did not.

They have, in other words, been the best team in the National League without him.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke22jun22,1,892205.column?coll=la-headlines-sports


Well, isn't that brilliant!

Seattle is 37-32 with Jeff Weaver... and 36-26 without him.
Arizona would have 4 more wins without Doug Davis...
SF would be five games better without Matt Cain...

In fact, every team would have a better record without their worst starter's stats... Unstated, though obvious fact is that is that teams don't have anyone better to replace them with.

Another insightful baseball piece, Bill. Great use of "stats".

Keep with the weepy pieces about 85 year-old USC fans, and the Compton High girls' softball team. Leave the real baseball analysis to the good bloggers. It's embarrassing to you.

 

pw(oi)ned.

 

In the case of Matt Cain, the Giants would be worse without him. His ERA is 3.15, yet his record of 2-7 is due to SF's anemic offense.

 

He was testing material for "Around the Horn."

 

I'll toast to that one, BG. ;D

 

What did he write about with this?

 

It was fabulous, a story on the rough times of the Compton High softball team, probably, oh tree years ago.

When Plaschke covers and analyzes pro sports teams is when the trouble begins.