Major League Baseball Thread - 2018 Season

[bran]

KC's pitching did a pretty good job on the best hitting team in baseball so I would not discount them. As I said in an earlier post the Royals don't look that impressive on paper but that is a nicely balanced team so it should be a great World Series.

kind of reminds me of those giants teams that won the series.

[Apollo]

Sucks for the Jays to leave two sranded on 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out in the top of the 9th Heartbreaker for them. Relief for KC

We live in a time where players want to hit home runs instead of slapping a slow roller sacrifice grounder to drive in a run.

It's why the Swifch is so effective. Batters don't want to take an easy bunt single and give up a chance of adding a home run to their totals.

Imagine a team giving Wade Boggs or Tony Gwynn the entire left side of the field? They would go 4-4 with four singles.

[axlslash]

Sucks for the Jays to leave two sranded on 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out in the top of the 9th Heartbreaker for them. Relief for KC

We live in a time where players want to hit home runs instead of slapping a slow roller sacrifice grounder to drive in a run.

It's why the Swifch is so effective. Batters don't want to take an easy bunt single and give up a chance of adding a home run to their totals.

Imagine a team giving Wade Boggs or Tony Gwynn the entire left side of the field? They would go 4-4 with four singles.

I think that's a lot of it, but I don't think you're beingn totally fair to the scouting machines that exist now. The shift is definitely indicative of a hitter's tendencies, but those tendencies may be based on pitching to the hitter a certain way. If you're shifting hard on a guy, it's probably because he has a weakness where if given all inside pitches he'll pull or all away he'll push. That's not good, of course, but it permits a bit more credit to the pitcher and the scouts than "kids today just want home runs."

You're right, Boggs and Gwynn were special, near-perfect hitters. And most of the truly elite hitters today still don't get the shift. It's the homer-or-bust guys who get the shift nowadays, and I do think that has more to do with the front-office minds concocting ways to exploit weaknesses than a change in hitting styles, but I don't think using Gwynn and Boggs as examples is fair.

[Apollo]

Sucks for the Jays to leave two sranded on 2nd and 3rd with only 1 out in the top of the 9th Heartbreaker for them. Relief for KC

We live in a time where players want to hit home runs instead of slapping a slow roller sacrifice grounder to drive in a run.

It's why the Swifch is so effective. Batters don't want to take an easy bunt single and give up a chance of adding a home run to their totals.

Imagine a team giving Wade Boggs or Tony Gwynn the entire left side of the field? They would go 4-4 with four singles.

I think that's a lot of it, but I don't think you're beingn totally fair to the scouting machines that exist now. The shift is definitely indicative of a hitter's tendencies, but those tendencies may be based on pitching to the hitter a certain way. If you're shifting hard on a guy, it's probably because he has a weakness where if given all inside pitches he'll pull or all away he'll push. That's not good, of course, but it permits a bit more credit to the pitcher and the scouts than "kids today just want home runs."

You're right, Boggs and Gwynn were special, near-perfect hitters. And most of the truly elite hitters today still don't get the shift. It's the homer-or-bust guys who get the shift nowadays, and I do think that has more to do with the front-office minds concocting ways to exploit weaknesses than a change in hitting styles, but I don't think using Gwynn and Boggs as examples is fair.

Sort of!

You should read the new book that just came out about Clint Hurdle and the Pirates and their use of statistics to determine defensive position. The Pirates use the "shift" three times more than the 2nd place team and like 10 times more than the teams that rarely use it. It's a fascinating look at baseball statistics and how some teams choose to use them, and some teams don't.

The Pirates went from 70 wins to 90 wins without adding any all star players, and with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. How do you improve by 20-25 wins, with no added All Stars, and with one of the lowest payrolls out there? Their movement from a cellar dweller to a playoff team is 90% based on applying statistics (mainly in fielding) to their normal every day roster. Just changing the defense alignment of players - the same guy who cost the team -10 runs the year before, using the new field position plays, the following year was a +10 runs player. Same guy, same glove - just playing third base in a different spot. Applying the shift 500 times a year as opposed to most teams using it 150 times.

The shift is most effective against pull hitters - regardless if they are home run or bust guys.

The book talks about why major league players don't adjust to the shift defense and it was because they don't want to go outside of their comfort zone.

Their "sweet spot" and perfect swing (and what helped bring them to the Major Leagues) is pulling a pitch to right field or left field.....they aren't going to give up their sweet spot/perfect swing and attempt to bunt a ball down third base. It's akin to telling a right handed boxer that his opponent can't handle southpaws....and asking your guy to switch up and box southpaw. He isn't going to go away from his normal style (right handed) to an approach where he isn't as comfortable. Or like telling Mike Tyson to NOT go for a knock out but try and outpoint his opponent for 12 rounds. Or telling your 3-point specialist to shop shooting 3's and instead start driving to the hoop. It might be the correct thing to do - but the player won't be comfortable doing it.

The shift works because hitters don't want to change their natural stroke.

Basically, batters aren't going to go away from what they are comfortable doing. And we still have managers and staff that think all the numbers are just BS and that the "eye test" is more important than statistics on paper.

[DirtyDeeds]

Thank God Fox lost power to their broadcast truck so we get a break from the torture of Joe Buck. This MLB International broadcast they are using in the mean time isn't half bad. Wish this was the one they'd normally use!

However, they should not have paused play because of a Fox glitch.

[axlslash]

Thank God Fox lost power to their broadcast truck so we get a break from the torture of Joe Buck. This MLB International broadcast they are using in the mean time isn't half bad. Wish this was the one they'd normally use!

However, they should not have paused play because of a Fox glitch.

Agreed. Televise the game as played, don't play the game for the TV cameras.

I'm pretty milquetoast on who to root for this series, but want the Royals to win for Volquez tonight. Can't imagine what losing your father right before pitching a WS game must feel like.

[bran]

good fucking opener so far, gordon was clutch.

[DirtyDeeds]

Well, that was a tough one to lose, but the Mets had some opportunities and didn't produce. Tough, tough, well-fought game. This may be an exceptionally evenly-matched series.

[Apollo]

And that is why Baseball is the best sport. I love it so much.

Still can't figure out why Arod is in the booth. Guy disrespected baseball three times. He is a disgrace to the game.

[axlslash]

And that is why Baseball is the best sport. I love it so much.

Still can't figure out why Arod is in the booth. Guy disrespected baseball three times. He is a disgrace to the game.

And yet, with Joe Buck in the booth, he's not even the biggest disgrace to baseball on the broadcast!

[classicrawker]

And that is why Baseball is the best sport. I love it so much.

Still can't figure out why Arod is in the booth. Guy disrespected baseball three times. He is a disgrace to the game.

Same reason Fox had Pete Rose on their broadcast teams. Because Arod can help brings ratings......it is always about the ratings........Love him or hate him, and believe me I am no ARod fan, the man does know baseball and is a student of the game.

Do you feel the same way about Pete Rose despite being banned by baseball for betting on the game?

[axlslash]

And that is why Baseball is the best sport. I love it so much.

Still can't figure out why Arod is in the booth. Guy disrespected baseball three times. He is a disgrace to the game.

Same reason Fox had Pete Rose on their broadcast teams. Because Arod can help brings ratings......it is always about the ratings........Love him or hate him, and believe me I am no ARod fan, the man does know baseball and is a student of the game.

Do you feel the same way about Pete Rose despite being banned by baseball for betting on the game?

Rose didn't cheat. Roidriguez did.

That said, ARod has a pure and natural swing, and im not so sure that he wouldn't have been an all-time great without the drugs. I personally think that both Rodriguez and Rose deserve spots in Cooperstown.

[Apollo]

And that is why Baseball is the best sport. I love it so much.

Still can't figure out why Arod is in the booth. Guy disrespected baseball three times. He is a disgrace to the game.

Same reason Fox had Pete Rose on their broadcast teams. Because Arod can help brings ratings......it is always about the ratings........Love him or hate him, and believe me I am no ARod fan, the man does know baseball and is a student of the game.

Do you feel the same way about Pete Rose despite being banned by baseball for betting on the game?

I wouldn't have Pete Rose in there either. And for that matter, wtf is Pedro Martinez doing in the booth as well (earlier playoff games). I literally can't understand the majority of what he says.

Arod can at least speak and like you said, is a historian of the game. And if he just had the one steroid thing - I wouldn't have a problem with it. But he got busted twice. So after denying and apologizing....a few years later repeat the cycle. But the second time he tried to sue the players union. And again. Deny and then apologize. I've got no respect for him. Andy Pettite fessed up and apologized.

If they really want a player or two in the booth, I'm positive there are other intelligent and well spoken players or coaches out there. Arod and Rose are there just for ratings.

I think Rose and arod/bonds/Clemens should be in the Hall. But their plaques should say what they did.

And that is why Baseball is the best sport. I love it so much.

Still can't figure out why Arod is in the booth. Guy disrespected baseball three times. He is a disgrace to the game.

Same reason Fox had Pete Rose on their broadcast teams. Because Arod can help brings ratings......it is always about the ratings........Love him or hate him, and believe me I am no ARod fan, the man does know baseball and is a student of the game.

Do you feel the same way about Pete Rose despite being banned by baseball for betting on the game?

Rose didn't cheat. Roidriguez did.

That said, ARod has a pure and natural swing, and im not so sure that he wouldn't have been an all-time great without the drugs. I personally think that both Rodriguez and Rose deserve spots in Cooperstown.

I have no doubt that bonds and arod would have been hall of famers without steroids. Both would have still been all time greats.

[classicrawker]

Royals look tough to beat. They are relentless......

[downzy]

Agreed. I'm cheering for the Mets, but the Royals look unbeatable at this point.

[bran]

And that is why Baseball is the best sport. I love it so much.

Still can't figure out why Arod is in the booth. Guy disrespected baseball three times. He is a disgrace to the game.

Same reason Fox had Pete Rose on their broadcast teams. Because Arod can help brings ratings......it is always about the ratings........Love him or hate him, and believe me I am no ARod fan, the man does know baseball and is a student of the game.

Do you feel the same way about Pete Rose despite being banned by baseball for betting on the game?

Rose didn't cheat. Roidriguez did.

That said, ARod has a pure and natural swing, and im not so sure that he wouldn't have been an all-time great without the drugs. I personally think that both Rodriguez and Rose deserve spots in Cooperstown.

guys like arod, bonds and clemens didnt need to do PED's they were gifted beyond belief and its why most people are pissed off about those players.

as for being a disgrace and not being allowed in the booth, then bug selig should have never been in the booth as well. that guy is just as responsible for the PED era as any player, he looked the other way when the fat checks from tv deals, stadium deals and people going to the stands. the guy knew exactly what was going on but didnt give a fuck until congress started asking questions.

[Apollo]

And that is why Baseball is the best sport. I love it so much.

Still can't figure out why Arod is in the booth. Guy disrespected baseball three times. He is a disgrace to the game.

Same reason Fox had Pete Rose on their broadcast teams. Because Arod can help brings ratings......it is always about the ratings........Love him or hate him, and believe me I am no ARod fan, the man does know baseball and is a student of the game.

Do you feel the same way about Pete Rose despite being banned by baseball for betting on the game?

Rose didn't cheat. Roidriguez did.

That said, ARod has a pure and natural swing, and im not so sure that he wouldn't have been an all-time great without the drugs. I personally think that both Rodriguez and Rose deserve spots in Cooperstown.

guys like arod, bonds and clemens didnt need to do PED's they were gifted beyond belief and its why most people are pissed off about those players.

as for being a disgrace and not being allowed in the booth, then bug selig should have never been in the booth as well. that guy is just as responsible for the PED era as any player, he looked the other way when the fat checks from tv deals, stadium deals and people going to the stands. the guy knew exactly what was going on but didnt give a fuck until congress started asking questions.

That was just one of the terrible things that Selig did. That guy was as corrupt as they come.

There is a new book out this year about Selig. I think it's called The Game.

Selig was as corrupt as any politician out there.

As the commish of baseball he did numerous moves that specifically benefited his team (brewers) and his friends.

The guy is a complete fraud.

[DirtyDeeds]

The Royals are not unbeatable, albeit you cannot afford any mistakes at all with pitching and defense, but to beat them, you need offense! Two piddly hits by Duda was all tonight, and it was a bit painful. I totally underestimated this Royals team based on how they played against other teams with different strengths and weaknesses. Plus I just don't really know much about the AL.

I suppose this is not going to be our year, but I hope the Mets can manage to make it to a game 6 anyway.

I also, on the verge of this series starting, began to think of myself as a Mets fan and realized I have no idea how I would feel or what I would do as a fan if the Mets won. My whole fan identity is as someone whose team has always lost in my lifetime, whose team has always had that goal and dream, but just beyond reach, and has once in a blue moon seen the light at the end of the tunnel, but hasn't gotten to the end. I feel like if they won, there would be a lot of joy, but it would be short-lived, and after that, kind of a "that's it?" feeling. "So that's it, and I'm just supposed to wait around until next year and hope they do it again?" That would be the thought I guess. That just seems so of... I don't know, kind of unfulfilling. I'm not saying I don't want to see them win, but being a fan of a winner is not something I have any experience with lol. It's looking like I will be able to go on being the same fan I always was, though.

Edit: And I see the conversation is now on Selig. He is as big a disgrace to the game as they come, and the damage he has done to the game would take decades to repair. Decades. And I doubt they will ever try, too. I'm not sure he had one single positive effect on the game in his very long term as commissioner.

Edited October 29, 2015 by DirtyDeeds

[classicrawker]

I think you would be surprised how much your attitude would change if the Mets were to win Dirty. IMHO Red Sox fans had a bigger loser complex then Mets fans have until they finally broke the curse of the Bambino in 2004. From my observations living up here near Boston the Sox fans I know had a new outlook and swagger about their team after shedding that monkey.

Edited October 29, 2015 by classicrawker

[Apollo]

Deeds.....it is fun to think that the Mets paid more money to Bobby Bonilla this year than they did the DeGrom, Harvey and Syndegard.

[DirtyDeeds]

Tonight things will get interesting. Things are going to turn around tonight and the plot will thicken.

[shades]

I think Rose and arod/bonds/Clemens should be in the Hall. But their plaques should say what they did.

I think the way major league baseball has decided to handle these matters is the best solution.

If you go to the Hall Of Fame Pete Rose's stuff is all over the place, there's even a "Big Red Machine" exhibit showcasing that team with his glove, bats, cleats, uniforms, etc.

but

No plaque

Bond's has bats there, commemorative baseballs,

but no plaque

Even a section showcasing the Black Sox team.

So Clemens, Arod, Mcguire, Petite etal should find the same fate, and will

[DirtyDeeds]

That's true. Hank Aaron has an entire large room in Cooperstown. The very next room has a very small little pedestal with the Barry Bonds' home run ball that broke the all-time home run record previously held by Aaron. The ball has an asterisk etched into it by the previous owner of the ball before he donated it to the Hall. Next to this display is a larger display about Sadaharu Oh, the Japanese player who is the world-wide home run king, but never played in MLB, only in Nippon Professional Baseball. Anyway, the point is that the message by the Hall of Fame is loud and clear.

[axlslash]

That's true. Hank Aaron has an entire large room in Cooperstown. The very next room has a very small little pedestal with the Barry Bonds' home run ball that broke the all-time home run record previously held by Aaron. The ball has an asterisk etched into it by the previous owner of the ball before he donated it to the Hall. Next to this display is a larger display about Sadaharu Oh, the Japanese player who is the world-wide home run king, but never played in MLB, only in Nippon Professional Baseball. Anyway, the point is that the message by the Hall of Fame is loud and clear.

And the message is bullshit. I mean, look: at the time Bonds, Sosa, McGwuire, etc. played (or at least in the early days), there was no rule against steroid use. I believe the ban was first agreed to by the league and the union in 2004 or 2005. Not to mention that MLB was positively dead from 1994 to June or July 1998. If it weren't for the people that the BWAA is now fighting tooth and nail to ignore, there would be no more MLB as we know it, in all likelihood. Sosa, McGwire, Griffey, and Bonds rescued the game from the brink of destruction, and they deserve to be recognized. You don't get to use these guys to save the game and then treat them like villains after they do what you asked them to.

[DirtyDeeds]

I'm so excited for tonight's game. I have a feeling this one will be a great one and the real excitement of the series starts tonight.

I was feeling kind of mopey the day following the last game, but I've kind of reanalyzed and regained hope. I've got myself pepped up for this. I hope the Mets do, too!

Edited October 30, 2015 by DirtyDeeds