Happ has been hit really hard in two games, especially giving up 8 runs in two innings against Tampa in May. That one game shot his ERA from 2.00 to 3.50. His second-worst loss was in Colorado, where everybody gets hit hard sometime.

In his 17 wins he's given up more than three runs only twice. So his won-loss record isn't really out of line.

So in 22 of his starts he gave up 36 earned runs. In his other three starts he gave up 19 runs in only 12 innings. I suppose this is true to some extent for all pitchers (a couple of bad starts inflating an otherwise-excellent ERA), but Happ's case seems extreme.

He hasn't had any tough losses, and only two wins without a quality start.

I have. ;)

But yeah, he's a good pitcher. He had a prior stint with the Jays, not too great. But he is the 2nd time around. He's being paid like a #4 starter, but is like a #2 pitcher (behind Marco Estrada). So glad they made David Price (13-8, 3.97 ERA) and his 217 million dollar contract walk (wonder if the same thing will happen this year).

The other Jays' "ace" is Aaron Sanchez. He led the league in wins a while back. All 3 are Cy Young candidates IMO.

Assuming the Jays make it to the ALDS, their rotation will likely be Estrada, Happ, Sanchez and Marcus Stroman (heck, they might even use a 3-man rotation). Might not sound like a "scary" rotation (probably because they haven't done too well in their career prior the Jays or are really young), but the Jays' starters do have the lowest ERA (and WHIP, and also most IP) in the AL.

I was able to get 2 tix on another site seatgeek to this game, for $26 each. Section 11RS

One thing it looks at is fan behavior concerning tickets. Say tickets for a really big game are going for $300 on Stubhub or wherever.

What the authors find is that if you already have a ticket, say you paid $50, it is likely you will go to the game rather than sell it for $300. Yet you wouldn't spend $300 to buy a ticket to the game.

1. It's a nightmare to get <OUT> of Chavez Ravine.

2. I've reached a stage in my life where big screen, cold brew and wings at the local pub is better than going to the game & deal with people & $12 beer & line at bathroom.

3. I don't live in LA, so I'm doing this strictly from profit and profitability point of view.

4. My SFG friend have gotten me two tix to the LAD/SF game on the last Sunday of the season. Where Vin will do his last-last game of his life.

5. Did you know: Vin Scully was a Giants fan growing up.

<“I was walking home from grammar school, 9 years old, and there was a Chinese laundry with a big glass window and a long tape with the line score from the game, and the Yankees were killing the Giants,” said Scully, referring to an 18-4 Yankees victory in Game 2. “I just remember, looking at the score. Instead of saying, 'Wow, that must be a great Yankee team,’ as a little kid, I said, 'Oh, those poor Giants.’

“That’s how I became a Giants fan, as God is my judge.”>

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/shea/a...

That game 2 was played on Oct 2. 1936, and guess what's the date for the Sunday Season Finale LAD/SFG?

I'd always heard LA fans start leaving in the 7th inning, so I'd think it would be easier after the game.

Did I mention you can drink (on the train) adult beverage going to the games??

But I've never tried to see if that's actually true, or not. Don't want to be stuck at 4th & King and have to wait for 5 hours before the station opens again.

---

NCAA Football starts, plus three-day Labour Day weekend, gonna be great!!

This is the player who loses in the first round, and the player loses to someone in the second round, who loses in the third round, all the way to the loser in the finals.

Was hoping that these teams (CIN, ATL, MIN, even MIL) would make it to at least Labour Day, but it might not be the case.

(in contrast, Dodgers have largest divisional magic number at 29, Cubs smallest at 16; for making the postseason, Cubs are the smallest at 14, while the largest are the Twins, at 52)

Although I do have to wonder, even if a team is mathematically alive, does that mean there is still some bizarre outcome of games that will result in them making the postseason?

An example of a team being mathematically alive, but are actually eliminated: Team A and B are both at 87-72. Team C at 85-74 (all in same division, wild cards out of reach). Team A and B face each other in a final 3 game set, Team C is mathematically alive, but in reality, they are out of postseason contention, since Team A or B will win at least 2 out of 3, and be beyond the reach of Team C.

I don't know the name of it either, but I've seen (and "calculated" it before). I actually do it like a "standings", so for MLB, WS champion is 1st, loser is 2nd, LCS loser of WS champion is 3rd, other LCS loser is 4th, and so on.

For instance, for the 2011 MLB postseason, the standings would be:

1) STL 2) TEX 3) MIL 4) DET 5) PHI 6) TB 7) ARI 8) NYY