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Haven't done a song in a while here, and it's been even longer since we did one for a specific player anthem. Tonight's game makes this too easy ... The original is here if you want to compare these to the (clearly baseball-inferior) original lyrics, the box score is here and the new lyrics are … well, no link necessary, they’re right here, only on Batter’s Box!

B. Morrow
With profuse apologies to the creators of the Broadway musical Annie.

The shutout was thrown by Morrow
He three-hit the Mets and so B. Morrow (and the Jays) won …

Just watched that gem by Morrow
Batista tried but lost to Brandon Morrow … who won …

How about our Jays, who played their hearts out …
Our middle infielders, had four base-knocks
And both RBI

The sun'll come out thanks to Morrow
We'll hang in this race with Brandon Morrow
It’s only May …

Oh Morrow, B. Morrow,
We love Brandon Morrow
His next start’s just days away …

The shutout was thrown by Morrow
Eight K’s and just one walk for Brandon Morrow
How ‘bout them Jays?

Oh Morrow, B. Morrow,
5-and-2 B. Morrow
His next start’s just days away …

Oh Morrow, B. Morrow,
We love Brandon Morrow
We’re so glad that he’s a Jay …

Here's a song for ... er, to Morrow ... | 20 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
DJRob - Saturday, May 19 2012 @ 08:47 PM EDT (#256685) #
Love it. Bravo and good luck with Alvarez.
katman - Saturday, May 19 2012 @ 09:09 PM EDT (#256686) #
Would be interesting to see some statistical/ pitch analysis by Bauxites. Has he just strung a few good starts together, or do the denizens here think (which isn't the same as "hope") Morrow has turned a long-term corner, and will be widely recognized as a #2 starter by year-end?
Richard S.S. - Sunday, May 20 2012 @ 12:10 AM EDT (#256696) #
A little too much of the tipple was had.   Just don't sing it Mick.
Mick Doherty - Sunday, May 20 2012 @ 01:21 AM EDT (#256699) #

Nah, let's leave that to Little Orphan Brandon ...

 

TamRa - Sunday, May 20 2012 @ 04:32 AM EDT (#256704) #
" and will be widely recognized as a #2 starter by year-end?"

probably not my opinion you are asking for, but I've had him pegged as a regular Cy candidate since the spring of 2011.

#2 would be underselling him in my view.
greenfrog - Sunday, May 20 2012 @ 08:43 AM EDT (#256708) #
It's interesting that after 61.2 innings, Morrow's K/9 IP rate is the lowest of his career (still very good at 7.9), while his BB rate is also the lowest of his career (2.5). He's transmogrifying from a thrower into a pitcher. Not that he was ever an ogre.
bpoz - Sunday, May 20 2012 @ 10:02 AM EDT (#256714) #
By year end he should have another 20 starts.

So far in 9 starts, he has been great/good in 6 of them, if judging as an elite pitcher. Pitch count got him out by the end of the 6th inning on a few games.

In 2 starts against TB he has given up 12 runs, 4 runs against Baltimore. So that accounts for 16 of the 18ER that he has given up. He will have many more opportunities to improve against those 2 teams.

Cy Young TamRa? Maybe!! If he can pitch well 50% of the time against TB & Baltimore, then in 10 games (the first 10 this year) he/his team has an incredible chance of winning 8 of 10. That is a lot of wins.
Chuck - Sunday, May 20 2012 @ 10:30 AM EDT (#256718) #

Over the past two seasons, when Morrow 's results didn't seem to align with his abilities, his poor performance with men on base in general, and RISP in specific was what was killing him. In the highest leverage situations, he was at his poorest. That has all changed, thus far, in 2012.

The numbers shown are OPS with no one on, with men on and with RISP:

2010: 662/802/793
2011: 632/811/888
2012: 658/486/369

With no one on base, he is the same guy now that he has always been. But with men on base, and specifically with RISP, he has not only been able to pitch at his no one on base level, he has raised his game. He has been his most effective in the highest leverage situations.

I don't believe predicting a regression from the 486 and 369 is akin to being a harbinger of doom. Those numbers do not seem particulary sustainable. But if he can keep his men on base and RISP numbers in the same general vicinity as his no one on base numbers, he'll have made the huge strides that everyone had been hoping for.

Richard S.S. - Tuesday, May 22 2012 @ 01:09 AM EDT (#256791) #
I am going to assume an absence of an Advanced Scout on Tampa and no value in use of an old Mets' Scout means any non-minor league posts are to be used. So here goes,

Drabek was shaky and the offense was barely enough. Five games over .500 again and Baltimore and NYY both lost - 3 GBL to 1st place Baltimore and two games lead on final wild card spot. It's time to make a move up the standings and for A.A. to get us a Starter and a Big Bat.
bpoz - Tuesday, May 22 2012 @ 12:06 PM EDT (#256811) #
Do you have a small list Richard SS? IMO E Santanna from LAA. How much do we pay?

I would like to see this move being made soon...ie by July 10th or so.
Chuck - Tuesday, May 22 2012 @ 01:01 PM EDT (#256818) #
Hard to picture the Angels becoming sellers in the year they signed Pujols and Wilson.
bpoz - Tuesday, May 22 2012 @ 04:11 PM EDT (#256829) #
I agree with you Chuck and also think your statement is very sensible.

However lets assume some teams (probably half) will be quite sure that they are out of the playoffs before the season ends.

I do not know if the following teams think they are out of it already Minnesota, Cubs, Astros & Pirates.
Moving forward in time to July 1st & 31st, Aug 15 & 29 and Sept 10. You can still make trades by any of these dates but there are rules, such as passing waivers & also playoff rosters.

AA has already said that he thinks that teams will make many more trades this year for the purpose of salary relief.
EE, Marcum & KJ are all FAs at the end of 2012 I believe. If their teams are out of it at some time and their teams are not planning to offer Arb for a draft pick then trading them makes sense.
EE & Marcum will not provide much salary relief but KJ may. The teams get something back for trading them.
If traded before playoff rosters are set they obviously have more value. On Sept 10th Marcum may still have 3 starts left. I am not saying Marcum will win all 3 starts but...remember Doyle A in 1987.
Chuck - Tuesday, May 22 2012 @ 05:11 PM EDT (#256831) #
For what it's worth, BP's playoff odds report.
Mick Doherty - Tuesday, May 22 2012 @ 05:42 PM EDT (#256833) #

Doyle A in 1987.

I lived an hour from the old Tiger Stadium that year, and boy do I remember Doyle -- the greatest late-season fantasy baseball "oh what the hell" pickup in the history of the roto game! Without Doyle, the Tigers don't get the opportunity to be destroyed by the Twins in the ALCS ...

jjdynomite - Tuesday, May 22 2012 @ 07:14 PM EDT (#256834) #
Doyle A made many Toronto now-30-somethings cry in their cheerios that month of 1987.
Mike Green - Tuesday, May 22 2012 @ 08:21 PM EDT (#256835) #
Chuck, BP's Playoff Odds Report has the Rangers as having a 100% chance of making the playoffs while possessing a 26-17 record in May.  This does not come remotely close to passing the smell test.

Mike Green - Tuesday, May 22 2012 @ 09:18 PM EDT (#256836) #
I am ready for the Igarashi for Crawford move at any time. 
John Northey - Wednesday, May 23 2012 @ 09:15 AM EDT (#256844) #
Checking BP I see the Rangers at 98.8% - not quite 100% but pretty close. What is also interesting is...
0%: Royals, Mariners, Pirates, Astros
Below 1%: Padres, Rockies, Cubs, A's, Twins

So there are 8 teams that have over 100 games of meaningless baseball ahead. Great trading partners for any contender or pretender.

The Jays are listed at just 15.7% (3.5% at the division) while Baltimore is at 28.3% and the big 3 are Tampa/NY/Boston at 66.5/66.5/48.4% odds. Basically it thinks those 3 will get stronger as the year progresses while the Jays and O's will get weaker which is reasonable to assume.

The NL looks very dull this year as 80%+ odds are in place for Atlanta, Cardinals, and Dodgers. The wild card could be a battle as 2 teams are just over 50% (Marlins/Reds) while another 3 are between 29% and 40% (Phillies, Nationals, Giants).

It might seem crazy to give the Rangers such high odds this early, but really, who in their division is likely to catch them? All of the west is 5+ games back, the A's and Mariners both are viewed as more holes than talent, while the Angels have fallen apart (dead last, 8 games back).
Mick Doherty - Wednesday, May 23 2012 @ 12:58 PM EDT (#256854) #

It might seem crazy to give the Rangers such high odds this early, but really, who in their division is likely to catch them?

Exactly what I was going to post yesterday, John, but figured I might sound too much like a homer. I think 100% is silly fir anyone, but mid-90s seems abotu right for the North Texas local nine. Then again, who would be completely shocked bt the LAA going on a run of something like 25-5? That'd shake things up ...

Kasi - Wednesday, May 23 2012 @ 01:51 PM EDT (#256858) #
Since this thread is about Morrow, who else thinks he's settling in nicely as the team's "Ace". Not that I think he is a true number one yet, he needs to develop consistency first. And Romero will always likely be the leader of the pitching staff, but Romero doesn't seem to be improving. He walks too many people and just doesn't have the stuff Morrow has. I like him but I'm getting frustrated at seeing 3-5 walks out of him every start. At least when Morrow gets wild he generally doesn't allow a lot of hits and is striking out a lot, something Romero is not as good as.
Here's a song for ... er, to Morrow ... | 20 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.