With one game left in the month of May, the Miami Marlins have already clinched the franchise record for wins in any month (20). This historic month has been led by superb pitching and Giancarlo Stanton.
Stanton has hit 11 home runs, 28 RBI, and scored 22 runs this month, all of which are career bests for any month. Also career bests are Giancarlo's slugging percentage and OPS (on-base plus slugging) at .743 and 1.164 respectively. Stanton has a batting average of .333 is also his career best average for a month. For everything that is made of Josh Hamilton's monster season, Stanton's stats for the month of May are nearly identical in every category (except Giancarlo has more broken scoreboards).
The Marlins find themselves tied for second place in the NL East. They look to close the gap tonight versus the first-place Nationals as Josh Johnson takes the mound.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Useless Stat of the Day
The Miami Heat have defeated the Indiana Pacers in six games to reach the Eastern Conference Finals for the second straight season. LeBron James and Dwyane Wade dominated the last three games of the series, but they have their three-point shooters to thank.
In the first three games of the series, the Heat shot 5-for-42 (11.9%) from three-point range. In the final three games of the series, Miami shot 21-for-48 (43.8%). When Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers and Mike Miller are consistently contributing, this Miami team is tough to beat even without the help of All-Star Chris Bosh.
In the first three games of the series, the Heat shot 5-for-42 (11.9%) from three-point range. In the final three games of the series, Miami shot 21-for-48 (43.8%). When Shane Battier, Mario Chalmers and Mike Miller are consistently contributing, this Miami team is tough to beat even without the help of All-Star Chris Bosh.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Useless Stat of the Day
Of the nine games played so far in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals (Celtics v. Sixers, Heat v. Pacers), the team that has led after the 1st quarter has gone on to lose every single one of the games (0-9).
By comparison, of the nine games played in Western Conference Semi-Final (Spurs v. Clippers, Thunder v. Lakers), the team that had led after the 1st quarter is 5-3 (one game was tied at the end of the 1st quarter).
By comparison, of the nine games played in Western Conference Semi-Final (Spurs v. Clippers, Thunder v. Lakers), the team that had led after the 1st quarter is 5-3 (one game was tied at the end of the 1st quarter).
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Useless Stat of the Day
The Heat have allowed 82.6 points per game this postseason, more than 10 points fewer than their regular season and the best of all 16 playoff teams. Of all 16 playoff teams, the Heat have the second-highest +/- differential at +10.8. The Spurs are the only team above them with a +16. All five of the Heat's playoff wins have come by at least 9 points while the two losses have been by a combined 5 points. The majority of those games have come with Chris Bosh in the lineup. He will be unavailable once again tonight. Miami has lost their only full game without Bosh this postseason.
The Miami Heat take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final tonight. The series is tied 1-1.
The Miami Heat take on the Indiana Pacers in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Final tonight. The series is tied 1-1.
Monday, May 14, 2012
The Key to Heath Bell's Success (Or Failure)
To say that Miami Marlins Closer, Heath Bell, is struggling is an understatement. The $27 million man has an ERA of 10.03 and 4 (officially) blown saves along with other blown ties.
Heath Bell has not been 100% awful. There is a silver lining. When Heath Bell has an outing with at least one strikeout, he is a completely different pitcher. In the combined outings where Bell strikes out a batter, he has gone 7 innings pitched while allowing only one earned run (ERA of 1.29). In outings where Bell fails to record a strikeout, he has lasted 4.2 IP while allowing 12 earned runs for an astronomical ERA of 23.14.
The Marlins Closer has only pitched one inning where he has not allowed a run nor recorded a strikeout.
Bell’s ERA In outings where he walks a batter? 13.50
Bell’s ERA In outings where he walks a batter? 13.50
While many suggest that Bell’s signing was a complete failure, to me it appears to be either hit or miss. If he records a strikeout, he turns into a dominate pitcher, however those outings without a K, cover your eyes.
Useless Stat of the Day
Sunday afternoon, the Miami Marlins improved to 18-16 with a walk-off Grand Slam by Giancarlo Stanton. It was already the 5th walk-off victory for the Fish, which is tied for the major league lead.
The Marlins are now 10-2 in the month of May, after finishing April with a record of 8-14.
The Marlins are now 10-2 in the month of May, after finishing April with a record of 8-14.
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Useless Stat of the Day
The Miami Marlins lead the MLB in stolen bases (34) and stolen bases percentage (85%). The Marlins are led by Emilio Bonifacio with his Major League leading 15 stolen bases and still has yet to be caught stealing.
The Fish are also tied with the Colorado Rockies with the most blown saves (8) in the majors and are the worst in save percentage (38%). Out of their 13 save opportunities, only 5 have been successfully closed out.
Despite all that, the Marlins are in fourth place in the NL East with a record of 16-15. They are only 2.5 games back of the Nationals and Braves for first place.
The Fish are also tied with the Colorado Rockies with the most blown saves (8) in the majors and are the worst in save percentage (38%). Out of their 13 save opportunities, only 5 have been successfully closed out.
Despite all that, the Marlins are in fourth place in the NL East with a record of 16-15. They are only 2.5 games back of the Nationals and Braves for first place.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Useless Stat of the Day
The New York Knicks have gone 4,024 days without winning a playoff game. Their last playoff victory came on April 29, 2001 in a First Round Game 3 versus the Toronto Raptors. They would go on to lose that series along with an NBA record 13 consecutive playoff games after that.
New York is one game shy of being swept out of the first round by the Miami Heat. In the three games of the series, the Knicks are averaging 77 points per game while allowing 97 points per game to Miami. Carmelo Anthony has shot 22-for-64 (34%) with 6 assists and 13 turnovers in the series.
Game 4 will be on Sunday at 3:30 PM in Madison Square Garden. If they fail to win on Sunday, the Knicks will go at least another year without being able to snap the streak of futility.
New York is one game shy of being swept out of the first round by the Miami Heat. In the three games of the series, the Knicks are averaging 77 points per game while allowing 97 points per game to Miami. Carmelo Anthony has shot 22-for-64 (34%) with 6 assists and 13 turnovers in the series.
Game 4 will be on Sunday at 3:30 PM in Madison Square Garden. If they fail to win on Sunday, the Knicks will go at least another year without being able to snap the streak of futility.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Useless Stat of the Day
The 2012 NBA Playoffs are in full swing. For the second straight year, the Chicago Bulls and the San Antonio Spurs top their respective conferences and own the #1 seed and home-court advantage through their Conference Finals.
For the past nine seasons, since the 2002-2003 season, only one top seeded team in the Eastern Conference has reached the NBA Finals. The '08 Boston Celtics were the only team to reach (and win) the NBA Finals as a #1 seed in the East since 2003. In that span, six #2 seeds, one #3 seed, and one #4 seed have went on to win the East.
The Miami Heat were the top seed in 2005 but lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Detroit Pistons. Both times the Heat went on to the NBA Finals, they were seeded #2 and beat the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference Finals despite not having home-court advantage ('06 Pistons, '11 Bulls).
This pattern appears as though it might continue this year. The #1 Chicago Bulls have already lost the heart of their team in Derrick Rose for the remainder of the playoffs and the beginning of next season. The Miami Heat are current favorites in the East and are aiming to be the seventh #2 seed to make the Finals in the last ten seasons.
For the past nine seasons, since the 2002-2003 season, only one top seeded team in the Eastern Conference has reached the NBA Finals. The '08 Boston Celtics were the only team to reach (and win) the NBA Finals as a #1 seed in the East since 2003. In that span, six #2 seeds, one #3 seed, and one #4 seed have went on to win the East.
The Miami Heat were the top seed in 2005 but lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the Detroit Pistons. Both times the Heat went on to the NBA Finals, they were seeded #2 and beat the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference Finals despite not having home-court advantage ('06 Pistons, '11 Bulls).
This pattern appears as though it might continue this year. The #1 Chicago Bulls have already lost the heart of their team in Derrick Rose for the remainder of the playoffs and the beginning of next season. The Miami Heat are current favorites in the East and are aiming to be the seventh #2 seed to make the Finals in the last ten seasons.
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