Are There Any BASEBALL Fans On The Forum?

[1967redrider]

Nats @ Cubbies but I'm watching Caps/Bruins playoff game #2. C- A- P- S- !!!

[jerryd6818]

John, you probably already know that the Cub's beat Washington 7-3

It was good to see John Lester again and Schwarber (even though he hit a dinger clear out of the park)

[Mumbleypeg]

Rangers beat the damnYankees and Gerrit Cole (the best pitcher money can buy) 5 - 2 tonight. We were fortunate enough to be at the game. Rangers jumped ahead in the second inning and led the rest of the way which thankfully kept the obnoxious damnYankees fans quiet.

Of course, tomorrow is another game and might be the other way around. But I'm glad to get to see the Rangers (or anyone else) beat them, and gonna enjoy it while I can!

Ken

[thankgod4rkids]

Nats @ Cubbies but I'm watching Caps/Bruins playoff game #2. C- A- P- S- !!!

Yep. Baseball is on hold for me too. Too bad about that OT loss tonight. My daughter named our dog Tukka so she was rooting for Boston. Minnesota fan myself and the Twins are horrible so I'll stick with watching the Wild for as long as it last.
Bill

[doglegg]

Rangers beat the damnYankees and Gerret Cole (the best pitcher money can buy) 5 - 2 tonight. We were fortunate enough to be at the game. Rangers jumped ahead in the second inning and led the rest of the way which thankfully kept the obnoxious damnYankees fans quiet.

Of course, tomorrow is another game and might be the other way around. But I'm glad to get to see it and gonna enjoy it while I can!

Ken

And our young man, Adolis Garcia, hit a home run and stole home. A rare feat. Always good to beat the Yankees.

[Mumbleypeg]

And our young man, Adolis Garcia, hit a home run and stole home. A rare feat. Always good to beat the Yankees.

Adolis Garcia is having a good year, leads all rookies in several offensive categories and is playing great defense too. Has a cannon arm. His infectious “I’m having fun” attitude and the way he plays the game remind me of Adrian Beltre. I just hope he’s not a flash in the pan! Hard to believe the Cardinals had him and Arozarena both at one time, and let them both get away.

Ken

[jerryd6818]

Hard to believe the Cardinals had him and Arozarena both at one time, and let them both get away.

Ken

A different moment in time with different circumstances and different needs. Stuff happens. If we could only see into the future.

[Mumbleypeg]

Hard to believe the Cardinals had him and Arozarena both at one time, and let them both get away.

Ken

A different moment in time with different circumstances and different needs. Stuff happens. If we could only see into the future.

Ain’t that the truth! Like the Rangers trading Kyle Hendricks to the Cubs for a has-been Ryan Dempster who was a total flop for the Rangers. They thought Dempster would help them to the playoffs that year but he was terrible.

You’d think they would learn but about a year later they traded C.J. Edwards and a bunch of prospects to the Cubs for Matt Garza, who was also terrible.

Ken

[1967redrider]

Nats @ Cubbies but I'm watching Caps/Bruins playoff game #2. C- A- P- S- !!!

Yep. Baseball is on hold for me too. Too bad about that OT loss tonight. My daughter named our dog Tukka so she was rooting for Boston. Minnesota fan myself and the Twins are horrible so I'll stick with watching the Wild for as long as it last.
Bill

Nice!

[jerryd6818]

Cubs took another one from the Nats 6-3. Climbing the ladder of success in the National League Central. Of course it's not wise to get to excited this early in the season. A winning streak or a losing streak can make a huge difference in the standings. (He said, restating the obvious)

[1967redrider]

Going to the Nats game on Saturday, Beltway Series vs. Baltimore. Will I get to see my first 2021 win?

[KLJ77]

Cubs took another one from the Nats 6-3. Climbing the ladder of success in the National League Central. Of course it's not wise to get to excited this early in the season. A winning streak or a losing streak can make a huge difference in the standings. (He said, restating the obvious)

Nat's fan here, Jerry. Your Baby Bears are out sticking my Nat's. Hopefully, they won't get skunked, but the Cubs are looking strong on both sides. (Off / Def) I can always hope the Nat's will have another 2019 year.

BUT...congrats to your Cubs for their double win thus far.

[jerryd6818]

Four game series so the worst they can do is split. Time to go turn on the tube and see how it goes.

[OLDE CUTLER]

The way things are going this year, I can just see the MLB managers pacing back and forth in front of the bench of seated players with a ball in hand saying to them, "Gentlemen, this is a baseball. Anyone here know how to hit it?"

[doglegg]

My Rangers are doing their part to increase the number of no hitters this year. Unfortunately we are on the wrong end.

[jerryd6818]

Well I'll be dipped. Cubs lost last night and still took over 2nd place from the Brew Crew. Don't know how long that will last but it's nice for now.

[Mumbleypeg]

The way things are going this year, I can just see the MLB managers pacing back and forth in front of the bench of seated players with a ball in hand saying to them, "Gentlemen, this is a baseball. Anyone here know how to hit it?"

MLB has been trending that way for several years. The availability and usage of modern day statistical “analytics” has changed the game, mostly in favor of pitchers. Defensive positioning of players, including infielder shifts, has made it much more difficult for even the best hitters to be as successful. Pitchers have statistical information telling them what weaknesses the hitter they’re facing has, not just overall but even based on the pitch count of that at-bat (for example what is the best type of pitch and location to throw to that particular hitter with two strikes, etc).

Pitchers are being taught the art of “tunneling” pitches. Tunneling means they throw every pitch from the same arm release point, with the same motion, etc. The pitches all look the same to the batter until the last 20-30 feet from home plate. Then they move/break. By which time the hitters can’t adjust - it’s too late. So they swing and miss, or make weak contact. Last night against the Rangers, Corey Kluber was masterful at doing exactly that. He had a great night where his pitches were well located and breaking late. David Murphy, recently retired and a pretty good hitter in his day, remarked in about the 5th inning that Kluber’s curveball was the best he’d seen it since 2015, breaking sharp and late.

Of course, pitchers still have to execute. They still make mistakes. Hitters have analytical data also but over all, use of analytics favors pitchers and fielders more than it does hitters. That is a huge reason why league-wide batting averages, on-base percentages, and other offensive metrics have been trending downward for years.

Ken

[OLDE CUTLER]

The way things are going this year, I can just see the MLB managers pacing back and forth in front of the bench of seated players with a ball in hand saying to them, "Gentlemen, this is a baseball. Anyone here know how to hit it?"

MLB has been trending that way for several years. The availability and usage of modern day statistical “analytics” has changed the game, mostly in favor of pitchers. Defensive positioning of players, including infielder shifts, has made it much more difficult for even the best hitters to be as successful. Pitchers have statistical information telling them what weaknesses the hitter they’re facing has, not just overall but even based on the pitch count of that at-bat (for example what is the best type of pitch and location to throw to that particular hitter with two strikes, etc).

Pitchers are being taught the art of “tunneling” pitches. Tunneling means they throw every pitch from the same arm release point, with the same motion, etc. The pitches all look the same to the batter until the last 20-30 feet from home plate. Then they move/break. By which time the hitters can’t adjust - it’s too late. So they swing and miss, or make weak contact. Last night against the Rangers, Corey Kluber was masterful at doing exactly that. He had a great night where his pitches were well located and breaking late. David Murphy, recently retired and a pretty good hitter in his day, remarked in about the 5th inning that Kluber’s curveball was the best he’d seen it since 2015, breaking sharp and late.

Of course, pitchers still have to execute. They still make mistakes. Hitters have analytical data also but over all, use of analytics favors pitchers and fielders more than it does hitters. That is a huge reason why league-wide batting averages, on-base percentages, and other offensive metrics have been trending downward for years.

Ken

Ken, you are certainly correct in your assessment of the present day situation with hitters. In addition to that I would have to add that in my opinion another thing contributing to the problem is all the MLB hitters buying in to the "launch angle" craze. The pitchers have made a nice adjustment to that by throwing fastballs higher in the strike zone and sliders. Most pitchers are using the slider at a much higher frequency than in the past. The high fastballs get missed by swinging under them with the uppercut swing, and the sliders that come in looking the same get missed by swinging over them. Just like a cold war arms race, there is an advance, followed by a countermeasure.

[OLDE CUTLER]

My Rangers are doing their part to increase the number of no hitters this year. Unfortunately we are on the wrong end.

Rangers have not scored in their last 22 innings now. Bummer

[jerryd6818]

Cubs beat Washington today (that's 3 outta 4) so now it's off to St. Louis for the weekend. Keepin' my fingers crossed.
Cubs Run Differential has jumped from negative figures to +7. There they go, getting my hopes up.

[jerryd6818]

Cubs took the Cardinals to the wood shed last night 12-3. A win tonight and tomorrow for the sweep (wishful thinking) and they'll trade places in the standings.

[Mumbleypeg]

And our young man, Adolis Garcia, hit a home run and stole home. A rare feat. Always good to beat the Yankees.

Adolis Garcia is having a good year, leads all rookies in several offensive categories and is playing great defense too. Has a cannon arm. His infectious “I’m having fun” attitude and the way he plays the game remind me of Adrian Beltre. I just hope he’s not a flash in the pan!

Ken

Garcia did it again last night. Walk off home run against the Cheaters from Houston! Rangers win 7-5, Garcia had 5 RBIs. I don’t know how long it will last but I’m enjoying watching the young man play.

https://www.mlb.com/rangers/video/check ... -off-homer

Ken

Edit: Garcia did it again today! Two “no doubter” home runs, Rangers 8 - Lastros 4.

[1967redrider]

Had an excellent outing at Nats Park today, sweet 12-9 win so that's 2-0 in this Beltway Series. Great seats and nice weather, fun to be in n the park without mask restrictions, 15,000 allowed to attend. Ryan Zimmerman passed a milestone too, franchise leader in runs scored.

*Edit- forgot to mention, double Grand Slams, luckily the second one was by the Nats.

[Just Plain Dave]

All we get on Sudden Link is the Rangers.
Yesterday the Astros were at the Rangers.
The TV guys were in the tank for the Rangers.
Ticked me off.

[Mumbleypeg]

Rangers walk it off again over the Lastros! Game winning RBI? - Adolis Garcia.

How sweep it is!

Ken