Darren Oliver

4+ SO/BB, 50+ IP, 7.5+ SO/9 (2010 & 2011)
J.J. Putz (Career: 3.2 SO/BB, 9.3 SO/9)
Roy Halladay (3.7, 6.9)
Rafael Betancourt (4.6, 9.6)
Cliff Lee (3.4, 7.3)
Darren Oliver (1.7, 5.8)

He wasn't able to close out Game 6, but what Darren Oliver has done over the last few years is remarkable.  It makes you wonder what his career numbers would be if he had been in the bullpen his entire career (his ERA this year was 2.29, his career ERA is 4.60).  Oliver is a free agent and apparently wants to return for at least another year.  He shouldn't have too much trouble finding a team considering he has been one of the best left-handed middle relievers over the past few years.

How great were Ryan Braun and Matt Kemp in 2011?

.324 BA, 33 HR, 33 SB, 111 RBI, 109 R (since 1900)
1922 Ken Williams (Browns)
1997 Larry Walker (Rockies)
2011 Ryan Braun (Brewers)
2011 Matt Kemp (Dodgers)

Did Matt Kemp deserve to win the MVP? Maybe.  Probably.  But, we all know that when the numbers are close enough the guy on the playoff team always wins.  The AL may as well enshrine it in writing, having only given one (!) MVP award to a player who didn't go to the playoffs (in a non-strike year) since Cal Ripken in 1991 (A-Rod in 2003).  If Kemp keeps playing this way, it could play to his advantage in the future, although that's not much of a consolation right now. 

Regardless, they both had incredible seasons that stack up very well if measured historically.  Kemp bested Braun in most of the stats measured by sheer volume (playing in 11 more games than Braun helped) and Braun edged Kemp with some percentages (BA, OPS, SLG). 

As shown above, the only 2 players in history that could equal the worst numbers either Braun or Kemp had in these 5 categories  (Braun's output except for BA) were Larry Walker and Ken Williams.  To be fair to Walker, he was great on the road in 1997 (.346, 29 HR, 62 RBI), but it didn't hurt that he was playing at Coors where he hit .384 (he hit a staggering .381 at Coors for his career, covering nearly 600 games). 

Ken Williams was the first 30/30 players, and the only 30/30 player until Willie Mays in 1956.  He was a fine player (.319 career), but it was the only time he had 30 HR or 30 SB.  It was such a great year, he received except 0 votes for MVP , despite leading the league in HR and RBI.

This probably won't be the last time that the NL MVP will come down to Braun and Kemp, although it's hard to imagine both of them having this type of season again in the same year again. 

Top Relievers through 27

2.15 ERA or lower, 150+ Games in Relief, through age 27 (since 1900)
1963-68 Frank Linzy (Giants) 2.15 ERA, 230 G
2005-08 Jonathan Papelbon (Red Sox): 1.84, 202
2009-11 Andrew Bailey (A's) 2.07, 157
2010-11 Jonny Venters (Braves) 1.89, 164

Guest Post - The UK League Needs US Help

The UK League Needs US Help

Although the Brits claim to have invented baseball, they are still in need of further US assistance if they’re to bring the leagues up to US standards. With just 35 clubs and 51 league teams in a population of 65 million people, few towns have a representative team.

Jane Austen and Baseball

Jane Austen mentions baseball in her novel Northanger Abbey, written around 1798-99, some 43 years after the English first started playing the sport. The game came back to England – Derby to be precise – in 1890, after Francis Ley discovered the game in the US. This led to the first baseball club in the town and although survived for just eight years, the stadium was called the Baseball Ground which became home of the local soccer (football in the UK) team, Derby County FC who remained there until 1997.

Local pressure, which didn’t agree with the number of Americans in the Derby team, forced them out of the first league after just one season. Now teams are calling out for more American experience to bring the quality of the games and therefore the numbers of spectators up to acceptable levels.

The peak of interest in baseball in the UK was in the years just before the Second World War. Professional standards were attained and as many as 10,000 people attended matches. The year before the war the Brits managed to beat the US to win the first World Cup of baseball – so what happened after that? Well, the British are still playing baseball, but not to US standard.

The British Baseball Federation

The British Baseball Federation (BBF) governs the game in the UK. All teams have to be members of the BBF to be able to compete in the national league and the three AAA, AA and A tier leagues below. A full program of young and junior leagues hopes to bring players to the forefront in years to come.

The national league consists of just ten teams. The AAA league has 4 teams in the north and 6 in the south. The AA is set into three zones; 5 north, 5 midlands and 13 south. The A league has all 8 teams in the south.

The national league, AAA and AA compete in a four team finals tournament at the end of the season. The top 2 from the Southern Conference and the top two from the Northern Conference play knock out matches with the tournament winner going through to the Championship series. The championship series of the National league is a best of 3, while the AAA and AA matches are just single games.

The Dominant Teams

Four teams have dominated over recent years. The Richmond Flamers, London Mets, Croydon Pirates and Bracknell Blazers give the league a very southern, almost London only feeling. If the game is going to expand you will need to see teams from major towns competing in the highest leagues.

Another International Team Due For 2012

The British national baseball team is currently ranked 23rd in the world. Players consist almost entirely of British born players who have lived most of their lives in either Canada or the US, with two South African born members. There are 40 teams on the list so there are plenty below, although it must be galling for the British team to see many smaller nations ahead of them in the rankings.

The national team set up will be expanded in 2012 with the introduction of an under 23 team. This will hopefully allow players to play in international matches helping the individuals’ progress through to the full national team.

The national junior team is at a major dilemma stage. Six of the team will reach the maximum age of 18 this coming year and won’t be able to play for the team any more. This means they won’t be able to play internationally unless they achieve selection to the senior national team. With the introduction of the under 23 team, more players will continue to compete internationally with a more gradual feed through to the senior squad. It’s the senior team that battles with local games in the European Championship and internationally in the World Baseball classic.

If British baseball is to expand, more Americans and Canadians currently living in the UK need to get involved in the game at all levels. Only then will the experience of the few help the many who need to learn from experienced players, for the long term stability of the game.


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Izzy Woods is a travel writer and sports fan. Since moving to London, she has written on behalf of numerous clients (including a cruise deals company) in between keeping up on Britain's progress in lesser-played, American sports.

Guest Post - Red Sox Three Biggest Organizational Needs for 2012

This is a guest post from Brett Pharis.  Hope you enjoy!

Red Sox Three Biggest Organizational Needs for 2012

Throughout the last couple months, the struggles in, and outside, the Red Sox clubhouse have been widely publicized. Blowing an incredible lead in the AL wildcard race, bullpen chicken & beer, and the loss of the organization’s heralded Manager and GM, to name the most blatantly obvious issues. Clearly, the Sox will need to make some changes in 2012 to return successful and give the loyal fan-base something to cheer about again. Specifically, the Red Sox will need to address these three needs in the off-season, in order of importance:

Finding a New Manager

Whether you agree or not with the recent decision to fire Terry Francona, the fact is the Sox desperately need to fill the open position. There have been a number of big names swirling around the rumor mill, and a number of interesting lesser-known names as well. Here are my top 5 picks for the open position; I’ve listed each with 1-5 stars representing the respective coach’s fit within the clubhouse:

1. John Farrell – Manager, Toronto Blue Jays (3 stars)

Farrell seems like a natural choice for the Red Sox, as he was the former pitching coaching and has an extremely stern coaching style. That sort of gruffness is exactly what the organization needs right now. Hey led the Blue Jays to an 81-81 season in 2011 in the very competitive AL East.

It seems, however, that Farrell is not a realistic choice any longer because of the recent amendment the Blue Jays organization has made to its employees’ contracts, restricting lateral moves within MLB. This is a shame because he clearly would have been a great fit for the Sox.

2. Dale Sveum – Former interim Coach (2008), Hitting Coach, Milwaukee Brewers (3 stars)

Sveum has come up in a number of recent press conferences held by current GM, Ben Cherington.

Cherington is clearly thinking outside the batter’s box on this one. Sveum has head coaching experience at the minor league level, with a fairly decent record, 213-211. Additionally, he’s been inside the Boston organization as the third base coach from 2004-2005, under former teammate Terry Francona’s management. His interim stint was extremely short – a mere 12 games – but he did go 7-5 with a team that was destined to sit out of the playoffs that season.

3. Mike Maddux – Pitching Coach, Texas Rangers (4 stars)

Another potential candidate mentioned by Cherington, Maddux has the insight and skills necessary to dial a pitching rotation in, and keep order in the clubhouse. With a deep understanding of AL game-play, it seems Maddux could be a legitimate front-liner in Cherington’s search. Maddux pitched for the Red Sox late in his career and is familiar with the pressure and commitment that come with managing in a large sports town like Boston.

4. DeMarlo Hale – Bench Coach, Boston Red Sox (3 stars)

Hale hasn’t been brought up much in these discussions, but his understanding of the current clubhouse chemistry and his ability to deal with the big-name talent that Boston has been able to retain during the past decade. He has significant head coaching experience within the Red Sox farm system and I see him as a legitimate candidate in this competitive race.

5. Dave Martinez – Bench Coach, Tampa Bay Rays (2 stars)

Currently Joe Madden’s most important assistant coach, Martinez has been integral in the success of

Tamp Bay organization over the past few years. He clearly has an understanding of the competition within the AL East, but has no head managing experience, and little input when it comes to pitching strategy and forming rotations (obviously both huge disadvantages for him getting a chance at this position)

Building a Pitching Rotation – Starters Needed!

The bullpen became the Achilles heel for the Sox late in the 2011 season. With the injury and impending surgery for John Lackey, it will be extremely important for Boston to replenish the bullpen, specifically the starting rotation. While there are a number of potential players the Red Sox will most assuredly look into, these 3 seem to be the best immediate free agent options:

1. Aaron Harang – San Diego Padres

Harang had a 14-7 season in 2011. He’s got a solid quiver of pitches that helped him throw 124 strike outs this season. With 28 starts and a season ERA of 3.64, Harang would add much needed consistency to a bull pen that has struggled recently. Harang does have a mutual option at $5 million for the 2012 season so the Sox would need to put more than that on the table to attract him to New England.

2. C.J. Wilson – Texas Rangers

This seems like a no-brainer – an AL pitcher with legit numbers, a consistent performer, and has legitimate 35-start potential. C.J. was an All-Star this year, went 16-7, and threw 200+ innings. In 2010, Wilson had 15 wins with another 200 inning year. The only downside has been his recent performance in the post-season, currently 1-5. However, he’s come through in some big games of late and Texas will definitely be looking to hold on to Wilson for 2012. His 2011 salary was $7,050,000 so this deal could thin the pocketbook. Note: If the Rangers win the World Series, consider this deal impossible.

3. Edwin Jackson – St. Louis Cardinals

Jackson had a decent season considering his late move to St. Louis. He finished 12-9 with 148 strikeouts. His aggressive style of pitching would work really well in the hitters-league. Jackson was an All-Star in 2009 and threw a no-hitter in 2010. His 2011 salary was $8,350,000 which is the most expensive opportunity in my list at the moment, although I would imagine Wilson’s salary potential will be increased dramatically if the Rangers win. Bottom-line: Wilson and Jackson will be more expensive to persuade in 2012. Will the Red Sox decide to lure either?

The final piece that the organization desperately needs to address is leadership. Leadership may come from hiring the new manager, but could come from retaining veterans like David Ortiz, or picking up a free agent or two to help drive focus on the bench or in the bullpen. There’s been talk about being more aggressive with conditioning and training which could clearly help endurance during the long season, but may also help establish more discipline in the clubhouse. I’m confident the storied organization will find a way to improve and move beyond a disappointing 2011 season. A good first step might be cutting out the chicken, beer, and Xbox!

Brett is a writer for CableTV.com. He typically writes about Sports and Entertainment. You can follow him on Twitter, @TeachFromSLC.

Walks in 2011

Average Walks Issued by Team
2011 - 501
2010 - 526
2009 - 554
2008 - 545
2007 - 536
2006 - 528
2005 - 507
2004 - 541
2003 - 530
2002 - 542
2001 - 527
2000 - 608

The number of players with 100+ walks in 2011 (5) was much lower than just a few years ago (11 in 2007).  That number is more similar to the 80's and early 90's than the late 90's or early 00's.  It makes sense, because pitchers are probably more likely to go after hitters now than in the steroid era.  Walks did go down in 2005 only to bounce back, so it's not a given than it will go under 500 per team in 2012, but it is a possibility.