Not-So-Obnoxious Baseball Thread

[iaefebs]

You have got to hold Fielder at third. I mean seriously a 275 pound man scoring from first on a double? With no out you have got to be 100% possitive that there won't even be a play at the plate. It helped my Giants and **** happens and you got to play through it if you're the Tigers, but thy was bad.

Gene Lamont (3rd base coach) is known to make bonehead decisions. He has cost the Tigers more runs this year than that. For some reason he always wants to send the big guys on the team home, and hold a faster player when he could have scored. The same goes for waving a player to 3rd when they should have stopped at 2nd. When you watch a play develop that involves Lamont having to make a decision you know it isn't going to turn out well. The second thing is that Fielder doesn't know how to slide. I've seen him slide too soon and come up short of the bag, and slide so late he rolls past the bag and gets tagged out. The slide last night was horrible, feet in the air and his backside to the catcher.

 

[Guidry]

Yeh, you don't send a very questionable runner in a 0-0 game that early. Maybe down by 3 or 4 in the middle innings, you take that chance. Early scores set the mode of the game and you gotta be certain. Lead off batter in that situation you send him. Guy who runs a 7 second 40....?

 

[dudius]

Tigers need to learn how to score. They're swinging at bad pitches and letting good ones go by. I will say that Posey was zoning the ball like a fiend tonight and the umps called a few bad strikes, but they really have no excuse. I wish someone would step up and be a leader and fire them up. In the meantime, I'm off to drown my sorrows

 

[iaefebs]

Chin up dudius, the whole season has been a "what the hell" to me. When they go into the "funk" of not hitting. I usually start the game by saying, well at least get a hit, once they get a hit, then I hope they get a run. It's been this way all year. But the Tigers have won 4 in a row before. Maybe it's time to become the 1st team to come back from 0-3.

 

[scrambledegg81]

^Hence why I'm not tempting fate and wishing Detroit good luck tomorrow.

Regardless of what happens, Vogey has been such a great story and such a great comeback in the last 2 years, and I'm proud to have him as a Giant. *sniff*

 

[dudius]

Chin up dudius, the whole season has been a "what the hell" to me. When they go into the "funk" of not hitting. I usually start the game by saying, well at least get a hit, once they get a hit, then I hope they get a run. It's been this way all year. But the Tigers have won 4 in a row before. Maybe it's time to become the 1st team to come back from 0-3.

We'll see what happens. I took it with the same attitude last night. Just gets frustrating to see the team fall apart the way they do. The Giants, on the other hand, have showed unity and they've played smart baseball. Detroit has it in them to play just as well or better. They just gotta play this "must-win" baseball they keep talking about.

I'm very glad to see Scherzer is on the mound today, and hopefully he'll get some run support.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Whatta pitiful performance by the Tigers. All 'round, every game, sad. Princess completely choked on the big stage, as did Valverde. Cabrera was a joke too, as was Verlander in game one. And WTF was Leyland thinking pinch hitting a scrub who hadn't had an at-bat all post season? I get the lefty/righty match up, but this ******* hit .186 in the regular season and didn't stand a chance against a big league closer. I guess it starts at the top, when a droopy dog manager gives up and stops caring, so goes the team. Sad. Don't get me wrong, I was pulling for SF, but it would've been nice to see the other team at least make it an exciting series.

 

[dudius]

I think the tigers gave a fight last night but you're right about choking. The big hitters still weren't making enough contact and were swinging at bad pitches. I'm disappointed they didn't win, but SF played better than them in every game. Here's hoping that next year the team can learn to be more unified and maybe they can make it to another Fall Classic and prove the world they can win a damn game.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Yeah, last night they played well until the 10th, when Romo struck out the side easily. I was hoping they'd extend the series another game or two, it's always bittersweet to see the season end. It was surprising to see how poorly Detroit played after handling the Yanks so easily.... it's almost like the Tigers absorbed the souls of their ALCS enemies, which made them play just like the Yankees in the WS.

 

[McBrewskie]

This is awesome, I think Posey is bringing a dynasty about.

 

[scrambledegg81]

Tip of the hat to all Detroit fans on here. Be proud that you're the best team in the AL this season (especially sweeping the dreaded Yanks...).

 

[McBrewskie]

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

Well crap! And Napoli is a Red Sock now

 

[scrambledegg81]

As is Victorino, apparently. Too bad the Doyers didn't hang onto him, considering I enjoyed seeing them fail miserably with him in OF.

 

[dfc]

I'm glad Stubbs is no longer Cincy's problem. Here's to hoping Shin Soo Choo can hold his own in Center!

 

[rjwhite41]

Why is Toronto spending money like a drunken sailor and how do they expect to pay for it all?

 

[iaefebs]

Loved this quote from the manager of the Tigers Jim Leyland a couple days ago.

"Dave (Dombrowski) is making it easier for me," Leyland said at TigerFest Saturday. "Most people would say, 'Why doesn't he play this guy or that guy,' but now it's pretty simple. I mean, does anybody here not want to lead off Austin Jackson, hit Tori Hunter second, hit Miguel Cabrera third, hit Prince Fielder fourth, hit Victor Martinez fifth? You don't have to go to Harvard to figure that out, do you?"

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I like that the Braves added both of the Uptons and somehow made the best bullpen in all of baseball even better. Something about seeing Justin Upton and Jason Heyward in the same lineup gets me excited.

 

[Goofynewfie]

I cant wait to see the Blue Jays play this year. this is potentially their best lineup in 20 years. Even if they make the postseason still going to be lots of competition from tigers, phillies ( last year was a fluke) and giants.

 

[JohnnyO]

Mets fan here. Just checking in from the cliff.
If I don't decide to jump, I'll check back in for next season.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

Phillies last year weren't a fluke, they're old. Philly will be in the playoff hunt, and I wouldn't be shocked if both of the wild cards come from the NL East. Braves and Nationals last year weren't flukes either. Since the advent of Jason Heyward, the Braves have averaged 91.3 wins a season. I can't see any way they're a safe bet to not win 91 or 92 unless they're decimated with injuries like they were in 2011. Can you say the Phillies are better than 91 or 92 wins? I can't. I mean sure perfect world where Utley is healthy and an MVP and Howard is healthy and still a great hitter. Phillies rotation short of injury should be awesome. Halladay should bounce back, his FIP was much lower than his ERA, Lee is one of the 10 best pitchers in baseball and Hamels is great. Unless someone gets hurt their rotation is excellent. As far as their offense goes, this is what they're working with

C - Ruiz - Good but a cheater, lets see how his numbers go from here
1B - Howard - Old coming off a miserable season, who knows where he goes from here
2B - Utley - Old and injury prone.
3B - Michael Young - LOL. Young's value is 100% based on his ability to hit for average. For soem reason I think he'll struggle with that in Philly. Doesn't walk much and his power is in freefall.
SS - Rollins - Old coming off a great season, but I'll bet he doesn't repeat it.
LF - Brown - If he puts it together could be a star.
CF - Revere - Similar, but honestly I don't expect Revere to be more than a poor man's Michael Bourn. At the very least he'll provide great defense for the meh brown and the oh so terrible.
RF - Delmon Young - HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I know he's a former top prospect, and he had some ability, but I don't know where that all went. Can't hit, can't field, can't run the bases. Guy is a bum.

Compare that to the Braves

C - McCann - Risky because he's coming off surgery
1B - Freeman - Young star in the making
2B - Uggla - Solid 2B
3B - Francisco/Johnson - below average 3B
SS - Simmons - Young superstar in the making, may never hit enough to be a superstar but arguably the best defensive SS in baseball.
LF - Justin Upton - Need I say more? Sure he stank a bit last year but him at his worst is still a well above average player
CF - BJ Upton - Not a great defender but can hit really well. Sucks at average but walks and has power.
RF - Heyward - One of the best players in baseball when he's healthy. Kid does it all, hits, walks, steals, homers, plays defense. There's nothing he can't do, except half ass it.

I'll fully admit the Phillies rotation will be better. But that's why the season is interesting.

It's early, but if I had to guess who the best teams in baseball are I'd go with (not in order just trying to pick a top 10)

Nationals
Braves
Phillies
Reds
giants (though never know with the dodgers
Angels
A's
Yankees
Rays
Tigers

Jays could force themselves in that mix as well of course, but they're in a tough division, and a lot of the guys they went out and acquired are risky. First I'll compliment them on getting R.A. Dickey, guy is great, he'll be their ace almost for sure. Also think they made a good low risk signing in DeRosa. Melky is also a good risk signing. Obviously he cheated and that's why he played like an MVP candidate, but his issues were always effort related not talent related so if he puts in the effort, he should be gold. But lets talk about the Marlins trade. Bonafacio is a solid player, like him, Mark Buerhle is a great 3, like him, Josh Johnson is one of the best pitchers when he's healthy, the issue, he's not always healthy. And I loathe Jose Reyes, guy isn't a ball player, he's a show off. Gimme Andrelton Simmons over him any day. One year Reyes can decide to play and be an MVP, the next he can mail it in.

 

[iaefebs]

Hey lay off Delmon Young LOL... Sure he can't run, (he runs upright with no bend and takes small baby step strides.) He can't field, but he does get there. As far as hitting he was one of my favorite Tigers. I loved seeing him at the plate in a crucial situation.

 

[JohnnyO]

I'd worry about Reyes and Dickey in Toronto. It's cold up there, no? Reyes needs heat to be able to open up and run. He may have hamstring issues by the end of April. And as good as Dickey is, his ability to deliver that uncanny knuckleball has a lot to do with weather. I know he has no idea what it's going to do in wet weather. With cold, I'm not sure if having little to no humidity is going to help him or not.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I can understand liking a player because they made some big plays. Braves had their guy with that years ago in Mark Lemke. Doesn't mean that Mark Lemke stank any less than he actually did.

I loved Delmon Young as a prospect. But after watching him play, I realized he's just another Jeff Francouer. Million dollar talent, 10 cent head. Maybe someday he puts it together, but I severely doubt it.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I'd worry about Reyes and Dickey in Toronto. It's cold up there, no? Reyes needs heat to be able to open up and run. He may have hamstring issues by the end of April. And as good as Dickey is, his ability to deliver that uncanny knuckleball has a lot to do with weather. I know he has no idea what it's going to do in wet weather. With cold, I'm not sure if having little to no humidity is going to help him or not.

If baseball physics are true a knuckle ball will be even more deadly in dry weather. May take him some time to get used to it but in dry weather the ball drops more. Also in the cold and dry the ball is less likely to fly further so there's a chance Dickey could be even better.

 

[iaefebs]

The main reason I liked Delmon was because my wife, who is a bigger fan than me, couldn't "warm up" to him as a player. I liked him because he seemed to hit when needed. We watch every game so I made it point of calling attention whenever he came to bat in a crucial moment. Sure enough he would get a hit and she started to feel it was our time to score some runs when he was at bat. She developed a Delllllmonnn chant. She still didn't like him though except during a rally. Some great players are rally killers and some mediocre guys are rally ready.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I bet I'm gonna love Delmon this year, because of all the singles he'll play into triples for Heyward.

 

[JohnnyO]

If baseball physics are true a knuckle ball will be even more deadly in dry weather. May take him some time to get used to it but in dry weather the ball drops more. Also in the cold and dry the ball is less likely to fly further so there's a chance Dickey could be even better.

You and your Canadian science.

I hope you're right. Dickey is a gem on and off the field. I'm going to really miss rooting for the guy in NY.

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

I've done so much reading on physics on a baseball and the weather because of people insisting Justin Upton cannot hit outside of Chase Field.

Basically what that says is that the ideal hitting environment is warm, well above sea level and humid. That's one of the reasons why before the introduction of the height extreme Coors or the small parks that are out there now, Fulton County Stadium was known as the launching pad. Humid air is less dense than dry air so the ball has less flight. Now the reason this is theoretical is because ball handling is a concern. If the ball is out in the humidity for several hours it will weigh more, but if it's kept in a relatively controlled environment (like an airconditioned room) and then introduced to the humidity, it's a hitters dream. Because what happens with pitchers and humid balls is they're a little softer so they can get a better grip, and as Isaid before heavier so they don't fly as far. That's why the humidor has worked so well in Colorado, all the positives of a super humid ball, without all the negatives of the less dense air. Also the humidor has likely lead to the worse defense of the Colorado OF, since balls drop faster through thin air, can't imagine how much faster they'll drop because they're carrying extra weight as well.

Basically my end conclusion was aside from a few homers maybe not happening because of less advantageous power alleys Justin Upton should still rock in Atlanta.

 

[JohnnyO]

I've done so much reading on physics on a baseball and the weather because of people insisting Justin Upton cannot hit outside of Chase Field.

Basically what that says is that the ideal hitting environment is warm, well above sea level and humid. That's one of the reasons why before the introduction of the height extreme Coors or the small parks that are out there now, Fulton County Stadium was known as the launching pad. Humid air is less dense than dry air so the ball has less flight. Now the reason this is theoretical is because ball handling is a concern. If the ball is out in the humidity for several hours it will weigh more, but if it's kept in a relatively controlled environment (like an airconditioned room) and then introduced to the humidity, it's a hitters dream. Because what happens with pitchers and humid balls is they're a little softer so they can get a better grip, and as Isaid before heavier so they don't fly as far. That's why the humidor has worked so well in Colorado, all the positives of a super humid ball, without all the negatives of the less dense air. Also the humidor has likely lead to the worse defense of the Colorado OF, since balls drop faster through thin air, can't imagine how much faster they'll drop because they're carrying extra weight as well.

Basically my end conclusion was aside from a few homers maybe not happening because of less advantageous power alleys Justin Upton should still rock in Atlanta.

tl;dr

As a Mets fan, I hope you're horribly wrong. Horribly.