Yardbarker: Paul Lo Duca

MLB Playoff Positional Power Rankings: Catchers

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 09:31:19 -0500

With the MLB playoff picture beginning to take its final shape, it’s time to start looking at each of the teams still in the race and see how they stack up against each other. For the next week, I’ll be breaking down all the teams on a position-by-position basis. Today, we look at the guys calling the games, which really is a case of the haves and have-nots. 1. Joe Mauer, Twins This guy might not only be the best catcher in the playoffs this year, but he might be the best ...

Billy Wagner's Most Valuable Pitches

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 05:00:10 -0500

More photos » by Frank Franklin II - AP Browse more photos » To commemorate Billy Wagner's return this week, I compiled a list of his top 10 most valuable pitches as a Met per WPA. It should bring back some pleasant, and not so pleasant, memories during this lost season. A major caveat of relief pitcher WPA is that relievers often create their own high-leverage situations. Walking the bases loaded ...

Mid-Season Filler: The Mets' Most Recent Trade With Each Team

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:51:48 -0500

Over the last decade or so, the Mets have made some big trades. Big, as in acquiring superstar players (Mike Piazza, Roberto Alomar, Johan Santana), and big as in big (Mo Vaughn). Successful trades for second-tier players have been scarce during this timeframe, although trades involving throw-ins John Maine and Oliver Perez worked out reasonably well. I saw a post over at Brew Crew Ball, which presented the last trade the Brewers had made with each team. I was curious to see the same for ...

How Many Trades For An "Ace" Have Lead To A World Series Ring?

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:20:00 -0500

This is a question that has always bothered me, because while I know that trading for an "ace" has paid off in getting a particular team to the postseason, i'm not quite sold on their ability to help a franchise to a World Series ring.In order to figure this out, i've compiled a small list of trades for "aces", but it's admittedly incomplete. However, I still wanted to post about it because I would like to be educated by anybody else out there who remember deal...

Why We Boo

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:00:00 -0500

Nomar Garciaparra's recent warm reception in Boston brought up the issue again, and Diamond Leung chided Dodger fans for it: Why do Dodger fans boo former Dodgers? I'm not talking about obvious examples, like if Andruw Jones were to squish out of the visitor's dugout, or every time Gary Sheffield and his collection of burnt bridges come back to Dodger Stadium. I'm talking about fan favorites. Joe Beimel got booed. Eric Gagne got booed. Same with Mike Piazza, Paul Lo Duca an...

It's The Fifth Annual Hall of Hate Vote!

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:47:00 -0500

So it's the All-Star Break ... no baseball until Thursday (although, if you're a Met fan, you haven't really seen baseball since May, so what does it matter to you?) But that doesn't mean that baseball can't fill your lives. First, you had Monday night's glorified batting practice/swing destroyer known as the Home Run Derby. And then tonight, you have the All-Star Game from St. Louis.But in between, why don't you flex your frustration muscles and vote in our fifth ...

GameThread: Boston Red Sox At Washington Nationals. Game 68 Or 69 Of 162.

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:00:22 -0500

More photos » by Charles Dharapak - AP 2 months ago: Washington Nationals pitcher John Lannan delivers a pitch against the Florida Marlins during the first inning of a baseball game in Washington, Friday, April 17, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak) Browse more photos » Next Game Boston Red Sox @ Washington Nationals Tuesday, Jun 23, 2009, 7:05 PM EDT Nationals Park Brad Penny vs John La...

If Posada is done for the year, Lo Duca to the Yankees?

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 12:17:23 -0500

The New York Yankees might need a catcher. The Washington Nationals have Paul Lo Duca, an overpaid, unnecessary, bump on a log who could/should be available for peanuts. Could there be something here?

Sizzlers and Fizzlers, Week 7

Sun, 25 May 2008 23:39:28 -0500

In a season comprised of streaks and slumps, Fantasyfanatics.com baseball expert helps us sort through the latest trends. Here's a look at the players who are hot and some who are not. Our first sizzler is Lance Berkman (1B, Houston Astros): Berkman has really been on fire the entire season, but I thought he deserved his due. Over his past 6 games, Berkman has posted a .348 BA, .423 OBP, a HR, 2 RBI, 4 R, and 2 SB. He also hit 4 HR last week. In total, Berkman is hitting .387, with a .466...

LoDuca: I am not a cheater

Wed, 14 May 2008 16:11:08 -0500

Paul Lo Duca, Washington Nationals' catcher and a character in the non-fiction essay the Mitchell Report, called into the Joe and Evan Show on WFAN 660 in New York this morning. The show hosts, who have had plenty of harsh words for Lo Duca, were extremely cordial but did an honorable job in asking Lo Duca several steroid related questions.