Around the majors report--Oct 28

[nyy26wc]

1) Yesterday's result--

Diamondbacks 9, Yankees 1 (Diamondbacks lead series, 1-0)

2) Today's game--

Yankees (Andy Pettitte) at Diamondbacks (Randy Johnson), 7:30 PM

3) The Yankees added P Randy Choate to the World Series roster and dropped P Mark Wohlers.

4) According to the St. Louis Post Dispatch, "Giants general manager Brian Sabean has said his first priority isn't signing free-agent Barry Bonds, rather working on getting free-agent pitchers Jason Schmidt and Jason Christiansen to return. Schmidt won't come easily. Early talk is of a five-year, $55 million request."

5) NY Newsday reports the Yankees are planning on playing Randy Velarde at 1B tonight, in place of Tino Martinez.

6) A stupidity award goes to Newsday writer Jon Heyman, for accusing an Arizona paper of looking at things with "Rose-Colored Glasses" for picking Mark Grace over Tino Martinez.

In 2001, as well as during their careers, Grace had the advantage over Martinez in OPS, OBA, RCAA, RCAP, OWP, RC/G. But, Martinez does have a significant edge in costing his teams runs, relative to other 1B. Martinez excels in that area, with a -99 RCAP figure that ranks as the 3rd worst among 1B during his career. On the other hand, Grace is an absolute failure when it comes to costing his teams runs compared to other 1B, as he has a positive 124 RCAP figure. Grace's 298 career RCAA towers over Martinez's 89. Martinez is good at having an OPS under the 1B average, with a .824 career figure vs. the AL's .848 average during his career. Grace is bad at having an OPS under his 1B league average, posting a .833 career figure vs. a .803 average.

But, Martinez does have a big edge in that always important month of birth category, doubling Grace's figure, 12-6.