The Rangers have interest in star Korean infielder Ha-Seong Kim, MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan reports in his latest inbox column. The Kiwoom Heroes of the Korea Baseball Organization posted the 25-year-old Kim for Major League teams earlier this week.
While Kim has primarily played shortstop to this point in his career, he also spent a good chunk of time at third base this year after the Heroes brought Addison Russell over midway through the season. Kim is also capable of handling second base. As Sullivan points out, Kim checks some boxes for the Rangers by virtue of the fact that he’s a prime-aged player with the potential to provide an offensive upgrade in the infield without necessarily being boxed into one position at the time of signing.
As noted in our Rangers Offseason Outlook, Kim’s versatility indeed seems like a good fit for a Texas club that has openly expressed a desire to get younger. A pair of roadblocks at the two middle infield positions exist in shortstop Elvis Andrus and second baseman Rougned Odor, both of whom are signed for two more seasons. Andrus struggled through an injury-marred 2020 campaign, although he was a serviceable option at his position as recently as 2019 thanks to his strong glovework. Odor’s struggles have been far more persistent, however, and the question of whether the club will move on or drop him to a bench role becomes more prominent with each passing year.
Even if Texas is intent on keeping both stalwarts in place, Kim or Isiah Kiner-Falefa could be used as a multi-position utility piece. A pursuit of Kim wouldn’t necessarily be about winning immediately in 2021 so much as acquiring a long-term contributor, so if the Rangers feel he can be an everyday option at any of third base, shortstop or second base, there’s reason for the team to make a push for him and sort out playing time down the road.
The Rangers, of course, won’t be the only team in the mix for Kim; he’s also been linked to the Blue Jays already and will surely draw broader interest. Kim is an abnormally young free agent option for MLB teams, and after a strong showing early in his career, he’s broken out as a superstar-level performer in the KBO over the past two seasons.
Even as the KBO has become a slightly more pitcher-friendly setting in recent years, Kim has improved. Since Opening Day 2019, he’s slashed .307/.393/.500 with 62 doubles, three triples and 49 home home runs through 1247 plate appearances — including 30 long balls in 2020. He’s walked 145 times to just 148 strikeouts over that same two-year stretch and also gone 56-for-62 in stolen base attempts. Over the past two seasons, he’s been 41 percent better than a league-average hitter in the KBO, by measure of wRC+.
Whichever club signs Kim to a multi-year deal will need to pay a posting fee to the Heroes. That sum is dependent on the size of Kim’s contract and is on top of whatever money he’s guaranteed. The Heroes are entitled to a fee equal to 20 percent of the contract’s first $25MM in value, 17.5 percent of the next $25MM and 15 percent of anything money thereafter. Kim’s 30-day posting window began yesterday and will run through 5pm ET on Dec. 25. He’s free to sign at any point during that period and does not need to wait until the deadline to make a decision.
Rangers29 where are you my man? You’re gonna love this!
Could he be Chris M, whose question inspired this piece?
Lmao, I just saw this, and if you could use any adjective to describe my feeling, it is elated. So yes, I love it. Now we just need to make it happen.
Also, I just started posting on a local Texas Rangers blog called Lone Star Ball. It feels weird talking to a new group, I’m used to the people over here. I practically wrote a write-up this morning as an introduction lol. I guess I’ve made my mark over here if I am who people think of when a Rangers rumor occurs lol.
Man, I figured I’d find you here, too.
&, yeah, this would be an “exciting” rumor. Kim is a really fun player, man. KBO games coincided with early morning dove blinds. So I checked out a number of games…at least peripherally?
Anyway, I went out of my way to watch Kim play. I’m a terrible scout & an even worse GM. To be straight up and down. Doesn’t stop me from continuing to post my takes though lol.
Which – in this case – is Ha-Seong Kim is going to be a solid MLB player for someone, man. Speed, power, low K rate, & fields the middle infield well. Lot to like.
Hello Ducky,
Been moving apartments in the far east so I’m sorry I haven’t replied to your message on the Semien thread yet, but will do. Lady wife’s birthday tomorrow so it won’t be imminent!.
@Rangers 29 (fresh with the glow of an answered question on Mark Polishuk’s chat last night) – anyway simply put, you can’t have him. He’d look SO much better in the green and gold. He’d solve problems for us either at 2nd or SS.
Even as an English person I know the maxim about never having enough pitching but does it really extend to middle infielders???
@Ducky – what’s an early morning dove blind?
@ Ducky I’m assuming the early morning dove blind is hunting, but I’m curious where you are able to both watch KBO and hunt lmao. If you get good enough service to be able to stream KBO games while hunting, you’re probably in a fairly busy area. How can you hunt dove in the middle of a city? lol
@A’sfan Idk why, but I get a lot of questions answered in chats. I almost get a question answered each time I get on one. Sometimes I just don’t ask any because I don’t have a good question to ask.
Btw, I think Kim would look really good in the red white and blue. Don’t. Even. Think. About. It. lol
Bonjour, @A’sfaninLondon.
Stay patient while moving, man. 🙂
No worries. I like those continuing dialogues on long abandoned threads. Looking forward to your reply, serious. & – obviously – best birthday wishes to your better half.
Man.
So I’m an avid shooting sportsman. I love grouse shooting & waterfowl hunting. Because I have licences & permits in a handful of neighboring States I get 5 months of grouse season & 9 of waterfowl.
One of the things I do over summer is to hunt rock & collared doves. Farmers hate them. They’ve offered me compensation more than once. Best times to set up a blind & try to decoy them in is sunrise & sunset.
I like to start my day off this way sometimes before I get buried in that day’s/week’s building projects.
Across the pond, it would be termed “pigeon shooting”.
It is, @Rangers29.
I don’t have to go far to find places to hunt rock & collared doves. About a half hour drive.
Plus, there’s tons of marine technology out there to get WiFi basically anywhere. I’ve had days on one of my boats where I’m streaming the Yankees & Jints *at the same time* while duck hunting.
I remain convinced this is how we’ll spend every Sunday in heaven, man.
& I think he’d look pretty good in pinstripes.
Man I love any kind of bird or waterfowl hunting and wish it was better around Lampasas. I absolutely love hunting collared dove. I need to find some places to go.
My favorite pastimes, man.
I’m not really a pheasant, quail guy? But I love grouse and woodcock shooting.
MN & WI have excellent Ruffed & Spruce grouse (both average over 2 flushes/hour). I just started going to the Sandhills in NE for prairie grouse (Huns, Sharptails, Prairie Chickens), which is a different world but fantastic shooting. Outside of Alaska I don’t know of a better place in the world to be a grouse hunter.
Waterfowling is really good out here, too. North Dakota starts their Canada goose season on August 15th(!). They end spring light goose in May 16th(!). Cranes, Tundra Swan, Mallards, Wood ducks, Sea ducks on the Great Lakes. Snow geese on the Missouri River in winter. On & on, man.
Waterfowl hunting is really good out here.
We only have what’s called a vagrant population of Collared doves in MN. Lotta Rockies though. I’ve had farmers offer to pay me to shoot them. Or to buy my shells. I always decline. But those buckets & bags of farm fresh veggies they leave on my truck? Well, I do take those.
There are a lot of apps that help find places to hunt, man. Not sure if you’ve tried any of those or not.
I have not, what apps are those?
OnX is a good one.
Shows public land. I’ve never hunted Texas. So I don’t know much about their public land policies.
For me, however, I use the heck out of it up here, man.
Lone star ball has a lovely chat, good stuff there. Way better than here..
Lively*
Lively is one way to put it @…Rock.
@Ducky, I normally stay talking on a thread for maybe a day or two after it’s posted and then I and most everyone else moves on from it. Are you talking about the Semien thread that was predicting his price? Because if so, that is a very abandoned thread. Must feel like a private message being that old lol.
Yep.
That’s the one. It’s basically a Vintage Thread at this point. Provides a good forum – however – for a wide ranging generalized baseball/cricket conversation.
I couldn’t stand any ground in a cricket conversation lol. Heck, I could hardly hold a conversation over football which is probably my second most watched sport. I like Saints and Longhorns, and I couldn’t name all the players on either team lol.
Well… I’m not adding a whole lot to the cricket portion. I essentially have one story/anecdote.
But, it is pretty interesting hearing takes from someone who came relatively late to baseball & has never lived in America. Not to get too much into anyone elses business but he comes from a cricket background. Interesting perspective, imo.
I’ve been in Texas, man. I’m assuming you’re a bit of an anomaly.
& Jints, U of MN (in theory – Alma Mater), & Navy (on principle).
I am an anomaly here, but the trick is to just talk about the quarterbacks. Yes, I can speak of Sam Ehlinger or Drew Brees, but I can’t tell you whatever ratings the defensive ends have or whatever stats football uses lol. I’m not a football nerd, but a baseball nerd for sure. Time to start my throwing program as well to start ramping up for my season. I say that as I recline in a chair with my laptop and a bag of chips, but… I need the weight? I’m 5’9 195, and a starting pitcher, so maybe the weight will help. Haven’t played since I gained my last 20 pounds, (not fat) but idk if it will help my play or not.
A pitcher?
Sweeet, bro!
Tell ya…I learned a *lot* about myself out there on that little hill. I always struggled with putting weight on myself. Especially back in high school, man.
I’m not sure what the current thinking is there? Seems some bulk might help generate some power but I worry about excess causing knee &/or hip problems. Probably be best off just listening to your coaches advice lol.
Gotta put the work in though. (That’s the parent in me trying to subtly motivate you.)
🙂
Evenings (UK time) Rangers & Ducky…
Have just snuck out to pick up a kilo of tuna (the key part of the lady wife’s favourite dish) so am catching up a wee bit on the thread. Her birthday is my own kind of thanksgiving.
Always had a soft spot for the Rangers because prior to my first baseball trip to the USA in 2012 I was instructed (by my Red Sox friend) to watch (as research) the 2011 World Series. I’m sorry if that brings back painful memories.
I was expecting baseball (this might sound crass) to be a simpler version of cricket. The ball is almost exactly the same circumference but a cricket ball is solid wood in the middle rather than cork and weighs about twice as much. Beanballs in cricket are considered fair game and such is the damage that everyone under 18 is obliged (now) to wear what is basically a crash helmet. I’m amazed that baseball doesn’t offer the same protection. I have a reconstructed left cheekbone thanks to fouling one (in baseball terms) into my own face.
I was blown away by the standard of fielding and in particular the standard of throwing from the infield. It is just nuts (as a decent cricketer) how good these guys are at clutching and timing a throw. When I’ve coached kids teams I’ve always tried to emphasise not to rush – there is always more time than you think there is – but the SS & 3Bs of the baseball world light this up 4th July style.
Anyway I like the idea of watching baseball with one eye & shooting feral pigeons with the other….
I have pretty much been self taught for the past couple of years. I wanted to quit pitching a few years ago until an ex minor leaguer became our little league coach for my last year in little league. He changed a few things I was doing, and I was pitching the fastest I had ever pitched before. I could actually hear the ball pop against the mitt for the first time ever, so since then I’ve pushed myself to learn more about pitching, even building a mound at our house (out of red clay I dug). A lot of what I learn actually comes from Trevor Bauer’s Youtube channel, and he refers to different sources and things to learn about that help a lot. I modeled my curve after Bauer’s, and it has a nice hard drop that doesn’t hurt my arm or contort me any.
As for bulking up; surprisingly, a LOT of leg work. It stops your forward momentum, and acts like a slingshot after your first leg hits the ground. And then a lot of flexibility training, whether that’s yoga or stretching or bands. This is what I’m doing, I’ll probably go to HS camp and they’ll say… NO… Do this… and I’ll just suck lol. No, hopefully I’m helping myself because I’ve felt good even since my arm scare that I had from a lack of warm ups before bullpens.
So long as you don’t mention Kyler Murray we shouldn.t have a problem.
I’m so envious of you being a pitcher – I bowled (in cricket) something called leg spin – which is the dark art – think knucklers – of cricket. So much fun to basically throw a pancake at a bemused batter….
PS Hats off that you dug out your own mound – I’m guessing red clay is ridiculously heavy.
I bowl… but in bowling lol. High game is 244, I’m actually really good at that too.
The clay wasn’t too heavy once a got it in the wagon/trailer attachment for the lawn mower. It’s just tedious when here in Texas, there’s no rain so you gotta put a bucket of water in the hole before you dig and let it soften up. Though it’s not too heavy after it gets off the shovel and into the cart.
P.S… Kyler Murray…. Lol, I actually enjoy watching him play football, it would’ve been hard to watch him play baseball because of… well… the A’s lol.
See?
Now maybe Ducky is just easily amused. But I think that definitely falls under “interesting perspective”.
Uh?
I do find it notable that cricket is played *without* a glove! That ball reminds me of a cue ball, man. Mercy. That’d be like playing football with a sweater instead of pads & a helmet.
Oh…wait…
It’s probably not for everyone.
But when you do go on your Great American Baseball Road Trip, if you are this way I’ll take you out.
This might be a weird take but I’m always happy when a team from my division does well in the post season. For the A.s 2014 was the lost opportunity, but I was gutted for the Angels because they were untouchable down the stretch.
And then the rotation fell apart.
I bear no ill will upon the Rangers or the Angels (we can leave the Astros to one side!!!!) because if you’re better than my team I want you to represent my division & win.
Yeah, a lot of power can be generated from your legs.
I get it. Counterintuitive.
Conversely, some pitchers develop incredible torque through their *opposite* shoulder. Watch Rivera throw. Great example of what I’m talking about.
Bauer is a good one to study. He’s really cerebral about pitching. Also fangraphs has a lot of really good stuff about pitch design. I remember trying to learn from books. This did not always work very well. For example, I tried to throw a screwball by using a curveball grip but rotating my arm the opposite way. Hurt like hell & didn’t work at all
Sounds like you’re working at it. That work’ll pay off. I swear it, man. Also, if you continue to pitch your arm is going to hurt. No way around it, man. Get ready to spend some nights at home with bags of ice & a twelve pack. (Of coke, or whatever, obviously)
It’ll be coke lol. I live in a family of law enforcement. I really don’t plan to smoke (anything), drink, inject… or whatever adjective you want to use for using lol. Life expectant is longer, health is better, no risk of getting in any kind of trouble because of it, and better athletically. I see way more cons than pros for stuff like that. Not worth it.
Good stuff.
I’m a vet. So I’ve nothing but respect for those in law enforcement. Whether that is popular or not.
I’ve always been a bit of a drinker. Even back when I was your age. Honestly, if you never take a sip of booze in your life you’re not really missing anything.
But lots of ice, bro.
Lots & lots of ice…
I hate that supporting law enforcement is supposedly “unpopular” now. I don’t care which party you support, but it is inhumane to think that law enforcement is disrespectful. Bad ones who do bad things get arrested, fired, or demoted just like any other job. They have one of the hardest jobs you can have, they submit their life to go out there are serve each day, and they just get spit in their face by ignorant people that really don’t know… they just don’t know… Lastly, people don’t realize how diverse the police force is. They like to shout out harsh terms like “racist” even though a normal force has Asian, black, Hispanic, gay, lesbian, white, men, women, literally everyone. The most diverse work force out of any job I’ve ever seen. I don’t want to make this conversation about this now lol. It makes me angry/sad to just think about all the people that just hate officers with a passion despite what they do for everybody.
From the mouths of babes, fellas.
I’m not sure how we ended up here. But really good post, @Rangers29. Hat tip to you & your family, man.
Thanks, man. I’m glad people like you exist still, it feels like they are lessening by the hour. Anyways, throughout the day as I’ve been talking with y’all I’ve been working on my school stuff. Assignments, projects, tests. The whole deal. This has been nice, I’ll keep talking, but I just wanted to say I enjoy talking on here. Doesn’t have to be all baseball.
Posting for the first time on Lone Star Ball just reminds me of when I first started on here. This was an out for me to talk and take my mind off of stuff. Now I’m the one that gives other people advice and good words here while over there I’m “wet behind the ears”. Though the people over there are harsher than the people here. Whole different group to talk with. Though one thing did stay the same… my username… lol.
That certainly may be true. But things will swing back the other way. Right now our country is just in a really reactionary phase. As we all get further away from the flash points I think productive dialogues will come back.
Hope so anyway.
I get it, man! I’m a compulsive multitasker myself. Cleaned my shotguns, did some reading, & I’ve been cooking dinner. That’s another reason I’ve always liked baseball. I can do other things while watching or listening to a game. I struggle to do that with other sports.
You are super upbeat & have some good insights. Any baseball blog will benefit from your presence, serious. Game threads can be fun on team specific blogs, too.
I’ll be glad to share some disappointment with some different people now during games lol. Hopefully Sinclair (the company… conglomerate… that owns all the regional fox sports channels) will strike a deal up with a streaming service like Hulu, Sling, or Youtube TV again because we quit cable a while back and since then they’ve declined deals with each one of those providers. I can still find ways to watch the games though…… shh… I haven’t done that before though… it’ll feel weird lol. I could always listen to the radio if I want to though.
I’ve posted on game threads for both the Yanks & the (football) Giants. I don’t really spend any time around – or even really know anymore – other fans of those teams.
So I’ve enjoyed the experience. (note: modern Yankee fans can get pretty hysterical which can be its own version of “fun”)
I pay for streaming. I have a teenage son, so this is completely voluntary on my part lol. I dunno. Just seems like the right thing to do. & I’m truly blessed that I don’t have to worry about finances very much anymore.
Nice to not worry about money huh. Our family has had our fair share of hardship, but the past couple of years has brought good times. Not rich, not even upper class, but better than before.
We had Sling when they had the Rangers channel (FSSW), and when they dropped it we got Hulu, and then they dropped it after last season…. Might be radio or it might be… ARRGH… from now on. I’m the only Rangers fan in the house, and by far the biggest baseball fan in general. My other relatives are Astros fans since we live right in the middle of Dallas and Houston… Austin metro. That’s fun when those series occur.
It is.
Wasn’t always like that, however. When my son & I first started out we lived in 350 square foot studio apartment, man.
I had some good fortune but for the most part it was nothing but hard work, man.
Trust me, though. I’m thoroughly grateful. Good times are the goal. Some of my best memories are from when things weren’t so good financially.
I think something will change as the season gets closer. MLB has to address this. Especially if they have any intentions about growing/maintaining their popularity.
I drove across Texas once. The Mavericks were on a title run & the Rangers were having a really good season. But all anyone was talking about was high school seven man football lol.
Anyway. I’m sure you are as adept with technology as my son is. There are definitely ways to see the games. I’m really not sure what I’d do in your position. I’d like to think I’d just go without watching. But – man – I’m not sure if I would have.
Addiction is a disease my guy lol. I literally change my entire schedule for baseball. Whether it’s workouts or waking up early for a morning update blog. It’s addictive.
Whole lotta worse things in the world to be addicted to, man.
Mornings,
Given the problems of time zones, I had to sleep and thus missed a fascinating discussion covering law enforcement, pitching mechanics, shooting, addictions, the merits of hard work and the availability of games on TV.
I’m pretty lucky in that over here I can pay for mlbtv direct and as an international it costs about $140 a season (give or take for exchange rate fluctuations) which is frankly cheap as chips even though it involves getting up at 4am to watch an A’s night game.
I know I could never work in law enforcement and have only admiration and deep gratitude for those that do. The same goes for the armed forces. We have a really dreadful attitude towards vets in the UK – from what I’ve seen across the pond there seems so much more pride in looking after these guys & girls. Tragically – in the UK – about 25% of homeless males are ex armed forces.
The next great American baseball trip has had to be pushed back to 2022, but Ducky I’ll take you up on the offer! I’ve not been to Toronto, Canada (despite going to the 2013 ALDS games in Detroit where I met Jerry Blevins Dad who is a lovely bloke – I was gutted for him Jerry didn’t pitch in either game), the lady wife hasn’t been to Boston & I want to take in Fargo (for the Roger Maris museum) the twin cities, Phillie (lady wife’s choice again) Kansas City, LA (we had a dreadful experience at LAX on the way to Oakland) and I’ve never been to either Texas or Georgia. It’ll take about 18 months of saving and about a month of our lives.
I also want to head to Utah to clean out a few birdcages and make a small donation (www.gowildlife.org)…
We’d like to do as much of it as possible by train! As you can see the itinerary is a little muddled but we’ve already ticked off a few great cities – I’ve been lucky enough to go to Chicago (I saw Kerry Wood pitch in relief in his last season, who was followed by Rafael Dolis now of the Blue Jays via Japan) and Pittsburgh which is a wonderful historic City that seems to get very little publicity. September night games are on the cold side. .
I’m really envious you guys are/were pitchers because it’s one thing sports wise I’d really have liked to try. The intangibles (like holding runners) teasing the corners, the bluff and counter bluff – it’s all a bit more than just throwing a ball as hard as you can.
Have great weekends
Peter
Thanks A’s. You said you’d have to wake up at 4:00a.m for Oakland night games, so that sounds like about a 9 hour difference from Oakland which would be a 7 hour difference from Texas meaning it should be pushing 5 o’clock over there. I’m to lazy to search it, but I’m probably close lol.
I’ll check in on this thread throughout the day like I did yesterday. I was regularly going back to this article yesterday, so maybe the same will occur today.
Man.
So I used to post over on a Yankee blog. The mods were really uptight. I’d sometimes get the entire thread warned because I led us “off topic”.
It appears I’m just skilled at that.
After 9/11 Americans seemed to remember our vets. That was definitely a turning point. Lately, there has been a bit of an overall reversal. &, we’ve always had far too many homeless warriors here too, man. Honestly, America has some work to do in this regard as well.
Sounds like a great trip!
I’m in Minneapolis. Target Field really is a nice park. The whole state is actually “nice”. For real. Although Rock and Collared doves are considered “invasive species” (meaning: open season, no limits, etc) one still does need to possess a hunting license. Fyi.
I have no idea how someone who’s not from America can get one.
I’m sure the Google knows, though. A non resident license is ~ $100.
Utah has some really beautiful scenery. If you are interested in wildlife the Great Salt Lake might be something you are interested in. Over 30 species of waterfowl live on it.
I didn’t pitch (or play football) past Junior College. Truthfully, in my case it *was* oftentimes “just throwing a ball as hard as you can”. I broke that up with “getting a ball to move as much as you can”.
I probably could have used some better coaching. 😉
You as well.
Francis
Hello Ranger29
It’s an 8 hour time difference but I usually miss the first hour to avoid the possibility of falling asleep at work. I start at between 7am & 8am dependent upon site visits, my teams needs, shift patterns, so extra innings can threaten my timeliness. Mercifully for all there is no heavy machinery involved..
As a throwaway piece of advice (and please throw it away as applicable) – one of my best friends got to play cricket for England and had a 15 year career doing it, although his international career was quite brief. Well, very brief, but I don’t want to belittle my friend. The weird thing was (and bless him he got me a gig playing in Barbados in 2004) he hated it. Absolutely despised what he described as **** coaching for **** organisations where (in effect) the front office ruled the playing staff.
He is now the nations happiest maths teacher.
His take on things would be to trust yourself and pitch the way that suits your physique. In baseball terms he was a premier starter & I was a less than mediocre reliever. He got messed up because his bowling (pitching) action wasn’t perfect but he had the minerals to carve enough of a career whilst he did teacher training.
If you’ve got the desire to dig out your own mound, stick with it,, Live it and dream it. It puts a big dizzy Eric Kratz grin on my face because if I’d dug a hole in the back garden to build a mound my Dad would have crucified me.
Weirdly Ducky when I was in NY in 2015 (we went to the Yankees/Astros wild card game) we stayed 5 minutes from the Holland tunnel. I do crap photography so with the Empire State Building (at least that’s what I assume it was) in the background I was taking all manner of shots and happened on a police & fire station with art graffiti depicting 9/11 on the gates.
I was politely asked what I was doing by a fellow that was a shift worker responsible for the electrics of the Holland tunnel. I’d taken photos of the artwork and we eventually discussed the global impact over a coffee in the station. I’d been to ground zero earlier the same day.
A 20 minute walk to buy cigarettes resulted in a two hour hiatus and near castration by the lady wife when I returned.
But we agreed that if there were any positive impacts of 9/11 – I’d hope that the better treatment of veterans might be one of them. Myself and Gerald at the fire station rather than me & the lady wife.
So, I have kind of a unique work situation. Generally, from some time in early May into September I work like a maniac, man. 3. 4, mayyybe 5 days off that entire stretch (& that doesn’t include phone calls/emails), 70-100 hour weeks. It’s bananas.
The trade off is that I get to pretty much coast the rest of the year. Not for everyone. But I’m a “work hard play hard” kinda fella. I love it.
Why the buildup?
Bro…I haven’t been to the new stadium yet! It’s almost embarrassing to admit. For one, I’m really too busy during the season to make it out. Kinda.
Look, I loved growing up in The City. But, man, when I go back there now (funerals) I just can’t wait to leave, serious.
So in a way, you’re a better Yankee fan than I am!
I appreciate the story. It’s such an emotional one that I just can’t really formulate a worthy response. I can say that I’m glad I read it, man.
So.
Fun weekend around here. The football Giants won. They’re not very good but they are in first place(!).
🙂
Ran into some divers this morning. Making a big family dinner. More (American) football on the telly.
Catch ya round, @London. Always good to see a response from you on the board.
I think I’ll start my throwing program today. I have some stuff to work on beforehand, but today seems like a good day to start it. It feels like the season is right around the corner, but we still have about a month and a half to go lol. I’m also doing some independent write-ups on my own leisure over on Lone Star Ball because they have a fanpost section where you can write your own amateur articles. If I enjoy it I might consider doing more, but right now I just have a base down. It’s called “Death of the A.L West”, it’s gonna be a 5 part series about how 2021 will be the weakest year the A.L West has ever seen. It’s an odd topic, but a formidable one nonetheless.
It’s always good to start long term projects on a Monday. For some reason that just always feels right to me.
*Gotta* put the work in. But you know that. Honestly, hearing about you getting ready to pitch this spring makes you the only poster on here that I just may be a little jealous of. Man. That sounds like so damn much fun.
That sounds pretty ambitious. I’m tempted to check them out. If they have fanposts they must be a part of SB Nation. I’m actually on a few blogs there. Same user name.
I can’t help myself. Sorry. But stretch beforehand. Cool down after. And – of course – ice, ice, ice.
Stay up, bro.
I was telling my family the other day that I hated starting projects on any other day except for Sunday or Monday because those days feel like the “starting days” of my week. I thought it was odd, but it makes me feel like I’m actually doing more by starting then… it’s weird.
I’m the same user on SB Nation as well. Like I said the other day, I just started on their “Lone Star Ball” blog the other day. It’s ambitious for sure, and I don’t want to try and “steal” MLBTR’s thunder by announcing it on their popular threads, but I’ll make sure to let people like you and A’s fan know (the first write-up is actually about the A’s). Typically when a commenter at MLBTR tries to say “Hey go look at my channel” or “I wrote this go check it out”, they get taken down (the posts). It’s just disrespectful, so I won’t do that, but I’m fine with going to a thread like this and sharing it with y’all.
I plan to take it show and deliberately, so they won’t be out very soon, but when they do come out I hope they are good. I’m sort of a perfectionist.
Imma start stretching here soon for my throwing. It. Feels. Good. I haven’t played in a while actually because of odd circumstances, but I sure hope to get a head start on this batch. The last time I played I was (surprisingly) the best hitter on the team. I enjoy hitting, but I feel pitching is more of an art form. Something you can master both with and without people.
I’m coming back to this thread several times throughout the day just to check on it, I hope to talk soon, but I actually got stuff to do now.
Yeah, I can’t explain it either. Might just be that I’m conditioned to think of Monday as the first day of the week, or whatever.
I hadn’t thought of that. I do see their point. At the same time, one could argue that anything baseball related is – in general – good for MLBTR. In the end, it’s a great site. So if that’s the policy…
I was just thinking yesterday that if this article is updated it goes back to the top. If our comments get nuked, well so be it.
Uh?
Man, I’ve been called a perfectionist or a Type A personality my entire life. Maybe/probably? But I’ve always felt that if you are going to do something why not put forth your best effort.
I liked pitching because it was more of an individual position than anywhere else. I’m wired like that. WR in football. I kinda like to do my own thing as much as possible lol. Great to hear you’re starting to throw. I’m really impressed that you made your own mound.
Good stuff.
I get email updates. Sometimes they’re a little slow? But it’s the only way I can keep track of anything lol. “Actually got stuff to do now.” There’s another sentence you’ll say a lot, man.
Later date.
Deep breath. Set. Rock. Fire.
🙂
Ok, finished up my throwing for the day a few hours ago. I warmed up enough, went out there and threw 60 balls before heading back inside. It’s cold af (as Finland) out there, so ice wasn’t a requirement. In fact, it was hard to stay hot while throwing. I make it sound like it’s -20, but in reality it’s only 50-55 here, but that’s cold for Texas lol. Tomorrow I throw from 45 and 60 feet (90 throws combined). It feels good.
Yeah, temps in the fifties don’t really impress me very much lol. I won’t see a 50° day up here til April.
Good for you, bro.
You put the work in. In a couple weeks it’ll just be a habit. But I can’t lie. Just reading “threw 60 balls” made my poor old shoulder wince in pain.
What made me wince is that in two days I have to throw 125 balls from 60 feet, and the proceeding day is 135 throws from multiple distances. That made me even stumble a little lol. Luckily a rest day is right after that.
I definitely felt rusty though. I have a 6 foot tall backstop and just completely air balled one of the 60 throws right over it lol.
BTW, I am still thinking about doing that one write-up I referred to before, but I came up with another idea today: predicting who the best players of 2021 will be. I am coming up with these write-up ideas just to put out there my baseball knowledge, and hopefully just adding another layer to my resume since I want to get into FO work for a career. It would be especially great if my predictions came true and those players I mention actually perform to my high standards next season.
And now my shoulder is crying.
Man, even when I was good & stretched out I could airmail a throw or two. Or a dozen. Control was not my forte. & command? Well, lol.
I didn’t know that you wanted to work in MLB. Pretty cool, man. One of my sales guys is going to college in order to become a sports agent. I’ve known him for a few years now. I know it’s a really competitive field but I wouldn’t bet against him.
What are you going to major in when you go to college? Statistics? Econ? Management?
Sports management or Business economics. Whichever helps me land a spot in a front office better (probably management).
I am naturally good at writing and communicating, so I already have a head start on others who would be competing against me. People in the business say to try and perfect one thing that you can help an org with and stick with that unique ability. My ability would be to project and evaluate talent (sounds like a scout, but gm is the goal).
Just to test my ability, I’d like you to remember the name Logan Gilbert. A while back I looked at my list of “what makes a good pitcher”, and he met all the criteria. He’s in the Mariners org, and probably has another year and a half before his call-up, but I expect big things from him. Just wait.
BTW, I have a lot of hope for Sixto next season… just sayin’.
That’s awesome.
“A man without a plan is not a man.” ~ Nietzsche.
You want to be a GM, uh?
I see that the criticism of others doesn’t bother you. 🙂
I’ve been wondering what you meant by getting your name out there. I get it now.
That’s a great goal. Well, I think it is anyway. And, it’s good work if you can get it, as they say.
Logan Gilbert. Huh. Don’t know anything about him. But this promises to be interesting. I like Sixto, as well. Funny. The Marlins got something going on down there in Florida.
I say good for Jeter. If an organization is looking for a good luck charm you could do a helluva lot worse, man.
I’m thinking of names for my “predicting the breakout players of 2021” article. I want to have 5 pitchers and 5 hitters for my write-up, and right now I am just thinking of some guys. I was wondering if you could think of any that I could look into. I don’t want any players going into their sophomore season because more often than not those players tend to be bad. Here’s some names I have:
Pitchers:
Michael Lorenzen
Griffith Canning
Jose Urquidy
Sixto Sanchez (breaking my own rule, I know)
Hitters:
Dansby Swanson
I want to have more than 10 options to choose from by the time I’m done, and I typically have a formula that I follow for these sorts of things So I’ll choose my favorites based on that.
So these days I’m much more of a Yankee fan than a baseball fan. Ya know?
I don’t have a lot to offer at the moment. A couple Yankee players that might fit your criteria; Deivi Garcia & Clint Frazier.
On a more general level you may want to dig around the White Sox & Padres rosters as they are both stuffed with young talented players.
I’ll keep it in mind, though.
Maybe I can think of someone interesting.
I’m just gonna post my names here.
Pitchers:
Canning
Lorenzen
Urquidy
Sanchez
Garcia
Heaney
Riley Smith (D-backs)
Hitters:
Solak
Frazier
Swanson
I’ll just keep adding names when they come to me.
If I think of any more I’ll send them your way.
If Peter sees this I bet he can add a couple.
Edit: oooh, the A’s, man. Puck & Lazardo (I’m not sure if I’m spelling either of those correctly)
I threw the second round of my program today. My arm felt a lot better than it did yesterday. I did it in the afternoon so the sun was still out, and by the time I was done my arm was actually hot. It felt good to just come inside and cool down after that. 90 throws, split between 45 and 60 feet.
Good stuff, big bro.
You mentioned that you are self taught. I just want to really encourage you to be diligent with your stretching before & after throwing. That’s big as far as injury prevention stuff goes.
You probably already know that, but I’m just making sure, man.
Yep, that’s what I’m living on right now, stretching, stretching, stretching. I already feel like I’m getting a head start on the competition. The person I was catching with today was standing uphill from me too (to not be looking straight into the sun), so I was throwing uphill and looking into the sun lol. You might ask why we didn’t just turn sideways, but I have the field measured out at different increments, and I didn’t want to turn it 90 degrees just to not look into the sun. But it’s nice to throw from different angles, it gets my arm used to different positions. It just made the 90 throws feel like 120.
Ok, cool.
We didn’t pay nearly enough attention to it. Good to hear you know the deal.
Sounds like a great way to get you’re work in. Sun’ll be in your eyes when you’re playing sometimes too, anyways.
Might as well get used to it.
Don’t mind me, just adding more names.
Pitchers:
Canning
Lorenzen
Urquidy
Sanchez
Garcia
Heaney
Riley Smith (D-backs)
Kyle Cody
Corey Kluber
Relievers (volatile, I know):
Jose Urena (Yes I think he will move to the pen)
Jordan Weems
Mike Mayers
Kodi Whitley (one of my most exciting names)
Hitters:
Solak
Frazier
Swanson
Joc Pederson
Agree on Urena.
Man. Why is it so much easier to come up with names of pitchers than it is position players?
If you are doing relievers I keep waiting for Loiaisiga (NYY) to break out, too. Fangraphs loves him. Yankee fans do not.
It might be easier for me to look for pitchers because I am one, and just looking at their stuff and their stats, I can pretty much see what works and what doesn’t. Hitters have so many more variable that go into play for them, unlocking power potential, contact rate, line drive or ground ball hitter. Pitchers you could almost just look at and say “Hey he’s good”. It’s almost a science with hitters.
Idk with Loaisiga… His walks per nine and FIP scare the crap out of me. Seems erratic. I don’t watch much Yankees, but he seems like the kind of reliever who walks 3 guy straight just to proceed to strike the next 3 out. When Shawn Kelley played in Texas a few years ago he was like that. Decent era, but he walked tons of people.
I’m just having a hard time coming up with hitters, as well.
Maybe for similar reasons.
On Loaisiga:
Yeah, he can be all over the place. Which is kind of unexpected. The Yanks promoted him from AA, where his walk rate was miniscule. Control was supposedly one of his strengths. His stuff is undeniable, however.
Fangraphs pegged him as the “next Hader”. Which, obviously, hasn’t really been the deal.
Pitchers:
Canning
Lorenzen
Urquidy
Sanchez
Garcia
Heaney
Riley Smith (D-backs)
Kyle Cody
Corey Kluber
Relievers (volatile, I know):
Jose Urena (Yes I think he will move to the pen)
Jordan Weems
Mike Mayers
Kodi Whitley (one of my most exciting names)
Hitters:
Solak
Frazier
Swanson
Joc Pederson
Victor Robles
Gavin Lux
Vlad jr.
I’m starting to feel a lot looser when I throw, in a good way. 125 throws is a lot though lol. Now I just feel like sitting back the rest of the day.
Yeah, that is, man.
Bet.
You earned it.
It’s been a good day today. 150 throws today, and it was in the cold, but the good thing was that my arm never hurt today like it would’ve if I had done this 3 months ago.
And on an earlier post today (the Marlins bullpen article), mlb1225 and me had a conversation about some things I can do to get a head start on my front office career hopes. He gave me some new and useful information I can use going forward, so that was nice. He’s actually in college right nw majoring in sports management as well, so he’s definitely somebody for me to talk to about that.
Good day up here where it’s actually cold & not “cold” (heh) for me, as well.
Is that as many as you’ll make?
Or will it increase even more?
It makes sense that on a board like this you’d run into some fellas that can offer some insight/advice.
150 is the max, from now on it is just a combination of different distances, but it all adds up to 150. Like today I threw 95 from 60 then 35 from 90 and 20 from 60. I have an off day tomorrow (thank god). Now it’ll start mixing in bullpens. I felt good though, so hopefully that keeps up.
Just fastballs?
Just fastballs for the first two bullpens (and they are only at 75% percent effort) then the next two bullpens add a changeup and then the last one is all pitches, all effort. I think they are all only 25 pitches.
Pitchers:
Canning
Lorenzen
Urquidy
Sixto Sanchez
Deivi Garcia
Heaney
Kyle Cody
Corey Kluber
Relievers (volatile, I know):
Jose Urena (Yes I think he will move to the pen)
Jordan Weems
Riley Smith
Kodi Whitley
Richard Rodriguez
Hitters:
Solak
Clint Frazier
Swanson
Joc Pederson
Vlad jr.
I hope you used your off day wisely.
🙂
Catching up on stuff, started on my article, and still trying to narrow down this list lol.
I’m sorry if I bothered you, I told mlb1225 that if he wanted to talk about my article, I’d want him to come over to this post because I kind of want to keep it fairly secret. I didn’t just randomly post that to bug you lol.
I was starting to actually get a shin-splint feeling yesterday, so the day off helped a lot today. I stretched, and I’ll probably do it again too.
During my practice last night I also threw some like 50 mph Zack Grienke type eephus pitches. Enjoyed it. I liked just listening to the radio as I go out there and do my thing. Calms me down.
Bro.
If you “bothered” me I just wouldn’t respond, bro. Mlb1225 is a good poster. Whenever I see his posts I read them.
Greinke.
Man.
Do you go to Fangraphs? Great site. Anyway, they have an article on his super slow curve. Also, check *this* out; he sometimes throws change ups harder than he throws his fastball!
That is bananas.
Really makes one think about the categorization of pitches.
That’s good, I hate overstaying my welcome, or over-talking. I few years ago I used to yap all day, but since then I’ve slowed down my talking quite a lot. I still joke around, so I’m not a stone faced being, but I generally speak at appropriate times now.
As for Grienke, he’s an odd dude. Somebody I’d personally like to model my game after. Right now my pitching style is a mix of Lance Lynn, Zack Grienke, Yonny Chirinos, and Aroldis Chapman. Odd mix, but I take a little from each and apply it to what I do. It’s fun to think of myself as this Frankenstein’s monster pitcher lol.
I get it.
I’m a pretty straight up fella. If you have a booger on your nose well I’ll tell you that you have a booger on your nose lol.
&, honestly I enjoy speaking with someone who is actually pitching. Wish I’d had the understanding of it that you do when I was your age, serious. I wouldn’t have gone any further but I bet I’d’ve been better.
You should probably just work on the left handed 105 mph fastball part.
🙂
That’s really a pretty crazy mix of dudes. Gotta ask…why Chirinos?
Check out fangraphs, man. They get pretty detailed in regards to pitch design.
Chirinos is a weird one, but it’s because of my splitter that I have. Chirinos has the same one. I like his delivery and how he throws it.
I go to fangraphs when I’m trying to decipher foreign stats like Xwoba. I will look into their pitch design stuff because I like their content, thanks for that.
I couldn’t possibly throw a splitter, man. I did throw a fork ball which is a pitch you don’t really see anymore.
Eovaldi was messing around with one when he was on the Yanks. But it’s one of those pitches (like the palm ball) that has sorta disappeared. Some older school fellas will say the screw ball is extinct. It isn’t. It’s just known as the circle change now.
Speaking of weird pitches with Greinke, I think it’s always fun just to see all the pitches Yu Darvish has thrown in his career. He’s tossed a few eephuses throughut his career. Greinke is definitley one of the most interesting pitchers baseball has had in a while. Do you go on Baseball Savant? Great site to look up expected stats like xwBOBA.
“…it’s always fun just to see all the pitches Yu Darvish has thrown in his career…”
Bro. Need help lol.
Where & how do I see that, too?
Greinke, Darvish, Tanaka are my three current favorite pitchers to watch throw.
Haven’t been to Baseball Savant. Fangraphs, Baseball Trade Values, & Cots. I’ll peep it. But I still have stuff to learn about the aforementioned sites.
I’m probably gonna go throw soon, but it is super cold here today. It’s overcast, so that’s probably why. I might have to wear a heavier jacket out there so I don’t get cold.
I haven’t even looked at my sheet yet, I might have another 150 throw day today.
Hey, Rangers29.
Always good to hear from you and to hear that you’re putting in your work. I’ve watched it become a habit for you. Pretty cool.
Good stuff, bro.
Yeah it’s nice to talk to other people who don’t mind talking too. I guess that also just has to do with having time to talk.
I just got done throwing earlier. 150 again, but this time it was raining halfway through, so everything I threw slipped out of my hands lol. Practiced my splitter motion more though. It had that nice down and to the left drift away from right handed hitters.
Might work on my article this evening.
I get it.
& it’s a pretty low pressure conversation, too. We get back to each other when we can & I don’t have to worry about staying strictly on topic, or whatever.
Honestly, I only have enough energy for 2 or 3 threads a day, man.
I lived in California for a while. So I get what you’re saying. 34° degrees up here. So that rain would be snow lol.
That being said, 150 throws in the rain doesn’t exactly sound like a picnic, man.
You probably noticed, but MLB1225 was here. Have you come up with any more names or is that the final list?
The list is done, in fact I need to narrow down the starters to 5. I want to use stats though just for sake of argument.
In today’s world of baseball journalism, stats are integral.
Let me know when you put it up. I’ll join that blog for the day to read it. I may even leave a comment as a fingerprint of evidence that I was there.
That’d be great. I’ve found out LSB is a nice blog, but there are big headed (veterans) on the blog that think (know) that they are “always” right. There are good conversations nevertheless, especially if you don’t care what people say about you… and you have to be well versed in everything Rangers…
Yeah, I don’t think I’d go there regularly, or whatever?
But…at this point can you fault me for wanting to read & respond to it? Ya know? I’m generally an overly curious fella. So there’s no way I could just ignore it lol.
Yeah, us old guys can be a drag (are you on my lawn!?). But you remind me of my son in some ways. One of them being he’s always been pretty comfortable around any age group. You seem to have that same quality.
You definitely know your Rangers. I’m sure you’re holding your own over there.
No, I didn’t think you were going to comment there regularly, I was just speaking of my experience.
I was moved from public to online school when I was in 5th grade, and I’ve made friends with people way older than me ever since then. It makes me more accompanied to talk to anybody of any age. Baseball is how I was still able to be with people my age. That’s why I enjoy it so much.
The best thing anybody can learn is to have humility. I can have a conversation with anybody because I never feel like it’s a competition to win. I know that I don’t know everything, and if you go into conversations thinking that you do, you won’t be successful. I learn more when I go into conversations open to hearing other people talk rather than thinking I’m the smartest person in the room.
That’s essentially why I’d call myself “Liberal” this isn’t meant to be political, so let me explain. I don’t mean “left”, I mean open minded. People take that word so out of context it’s pathetic. When you hear liberal, you think left-leaning, when I’m really straight down the middle yet I’m liberal in my thinking.
Online education is pretty interesting, man. When all this Covid stuff happened my son’s school went to it, temporarily.
Xavier’s take is that it’s not as much “fun” but it’s way more efficient.
Those are excellent ideals to foster man, serious. It’s really, really rare to run into someone that you can’t learn anything from. And, that certainly can be humbling.
I also don’t really have a political affiliation. I’ve never actually voted for the guy I actually *want* to be president. My entire life has been about voting *against* the guy I care for the least.
Which…as far as a political stance goes is fairly tepid.
Rivalry day here for the NFL. We’re a 3 team household. My girlfriend likes the Vikings, my son the Seahawks (I know, I know) & me the Jints. Seahawks Vs Giants later today. I can’t help myself from believing in miracles lol.
Go Big Blue!
Right now it’s the Saints for me. The past two games have been out of market, but this one finally is. They’re winning despite their hiccups, but it makes me want Brees back lol.
I also had another idea this morning. Instead of making one big article with 15 players and 3 different categories, I’m going to make three articles, one for each category. And I’m also going to post it on several different sites to attract more attention.
The Saints are good!
& the Giants…well…they play in the NFC East. Which is quite possibly the worst overall NFL division I’ve ever seen.
Mercy.
That is some Really Bad Football, man.
You’re not afraid to take on big projects. That’s pretty cool. I’ll be reading it, I’m quite certain.
Just got done throwing for today. I was supposed to go out to 120 feet today, but I got out there too close to dark, so I could only do half the routine. Arm has felt a little sore the past two days, so I’m trying to really slow it down. I’m scared because it’s the same spot on my elbow that made me sit out for a couple of months just before I started the physical therapy stuff. Down near the dreaded UCL region… But if I slow it down a lot and maybe incorporate some more recovery stuff into my routine it’ll be less stressed…
A half busy day today. Lots of assignments to keep me working, so I guess that’s good.
I also have a goal to loose ten pounds before tryouts (granted if my UCL keeps hurting, then I guess that’s a moot point). Eating less than I have for the past month and doing more cardio and training should put me in a calorie deficit, so I’ll probably knock off a lot very quick just by doing that. Along with my throwing.
Ya know, it seemed like you were ramping up a bit quickly to me?
Throwing a baseball is such an unnatural & violent physical act.
I mean, think about this. We could go out & throw a football constantly for eight hours, or whatever & our arms wouldn’t get sore at all.
A few dozen throws with a baseball and you feel it the next morning.
Are you working with someone on coming up with your throwing routine?
Stretching & cardio will help you immensely out on the mound.
1-2 lbs/week is generally considered a reasonable rate of weight loss.
I left you a couple replies on the Sugano thread. Your had some good takes.
The orthopedic elbow specialist in Austin that we went to gave me a physical therapy form to follow for about a month, and then said I could start the throwing program (also a form he gave me) right after that ended.
Despite it being given to me by the doctor (who wasn’t a very good doctor btw) I’ll probably notch it down a bit the next time I go out there. I have an off day from throwing tomorrow, but looking to Wednesday, it goes like this:
60 feet (50 throws)
90 feet (20 throws)
120 feet (50 throws)
60 feet (20 throws)
I’ll go ahead and drop 10 throws off of each increment, and I’ll really focus on throwing the ball a lot slower and more “gently”. I got out there the other day and I didn’t pitch, but I was going through my motion and focusing on my accuracy. I need to just focus on throwing. Getting it there it a clean and effective way.
Alright.
That’s good. That’s really good.
I’ll also add this: even a bad doctor is a much better doctor than I am.
Brilliant stuff, I know lol.
But you hear what I’m saying. I hope.
Yeah, you’ve still got quite a ways to go til opening day, man. Really working on your form & balance sounds like an excellent plan. You can always ramp up later on down the road.
That sounds about right. I – personally – never really quite figured out that whole “accuracy” part. Bro. I threw a no hitter in H.S.
& lost the game!
Mercy. Do you have any idea how many BB’s, HBP’s, & WP’s it takes to give up 8(!) earned?
No?
Well I do.
That’ll teach a fella a thing or two about himself, uh?
Anyway take care of that arm, man.
Deeep breath. Set. Rock. Fire.
I mean, he was probably a good doctor in the knowledge department, but he wasn’t in the P.R department if you get what I’m saying… jerk is another way to say it lol.
I’m trying to get really prepared dude, I mean, I want to be in great shape by the time tryouts roll around in January. But here’s the weird part:
I don’t go to the school… I’ve been going to an independent online school called ischool for the past couple of years, not the public school’s version of online learning. So I’ll probably have to jump through a few more hoops when it comes to even playing for my local high school.
Hopefully it’ll work out though. My cousins moved down from the Dallas area a few years ago, and they live locally too, so I’d also like to play so I could see them more often.
Btw, the no-hitter thing… ouch. The last time I played organized ball was in Little League, but since then I haven played (obvious reason being obvious). But when I played in this game once when it was practically a hurricane. Winds went from 0 – 20/30 real quick, and I was called in to pitch. My coaches would have to continuously tell me to quit throwing off… this is going to be another comment…
Anyways, I came into pitch this game, it was raining and the winds were whipping the tops of the trees. Mind you, my coaches always had to tell me to quit throwing off-speed when I pitched in games because my fastball was that slow. In practice I was probably touching 60-65 (really good for little league), but when I went into a game it just nosedived… I would get really nervous on the mound and essentially choke. But I still threw strikes. I hit one person my entire little league career because I pitched so cautiously.
So I get up to pitch, warmup, and I’m ready. I start off with three “fastballs”, and the first was down. Then I set up another “fastball” to the 2nd hitter. He grounded out. After the second hitter I could hear the coaches saying from the dugout “Throw your fastball!!!”. I didn’t. Instead I kept throwing those slow lobbers, and finally on the two strike count of the last hitter, I grip this weird looking changeup with two of my fingers off the ball like a slip-pitch. And I threw it behind him… Buuut on the way to the plate this ball – by the grace of god I guess – decided to do a crazy Adam Ottavino-esque 24 inch horizontal break, and I got the called strike three.
When I got back to the dugout my coach looked so confused, and all he could say was, “Try to throw your fastball.” lol.
I got results when I pitched then, but it wasn’t because of my pretty, strike out stuff. It was 50 mph lobbers that got hit into the ground. Which I guess work just as good as K’s in little league.
I think I’ve got a plan going forward in my program.
We have some bands at our house that I can go out and use, so I won’t have to buy any and wait for Christmas shipping (jesus). I’m going to follow the Jaeger band routine for two weeks before going back out and starting my throwing program up full throttle after those two weeks.
Here’s the link to Jaeger’s band excercises: jaegersports.com/j-bands-exercises-workout/
They’ve been a very revolutionary business in how they train and develop prospects and young players. In fact, Trevor Bauer was one of their first success stories.
This comment has been all over the place, but essentially, here’s my plan:
Finish up these ten days of my throwing program, but at very minimal effort and essentially slashing it in half.
Then I’ll do their band workouts for two weeks after that with no throwing. (And I’ll keep using the bands even after those two weeks are up)
Finally I’ll ramp up my program again at full capacity and hopefully be ready to go by the time tryouts roll around.
I feel like I’m going balls to the wall with this, but it feels good, it really does.
What’s good, @Rangers29?
I’m a pretty sporadic poster. Took me a minute to get back to you. Up having some espresso, getting ready to go goose hunting. Figured I’d take some time & get back at you.
So much here, man!
With the Covid stuff, my son’s school went online for awhile last spring. It’s a private high school so they actually had a decent system in place in order to work with kids out sick or on vacations, or whatever.
His thoughts are that going to school is more fun, but online learning is much more efficient.
I know up here there are definitely programs in place that offer kids who are home schooled, or attend online schools the opportunity to take part in sports & other after school programs. No idea about Texas because – well – Texas. Ya know? But I do think you’ll be able to take part.
Jeeez, I certainly hope so.
I also think that as a country we’re going to see a *lot* more of this.
Cool that you are really trying to prepare. I never really did that at the levels you are? Sorta just went from football, to skiing, to baseball.
One last thing on the no-no. I felt terrible that we’d lost, obviously. But, man, my teammates felt worse than I did! *They* felt they’d let *me* down.
Man.
Sports, huh?
What a great story, man. & a memory that you’ll have forever. I like the imagery. Also…how the hell do you know what a slippitch is, man? That’s some super old school stuff. Where in the world did you learn about those.
Pitching, man.
Anyone who climbs that little hill is…let’s say different than other ballplayers. Sometimes that manifests itself in pretty outward ways, uh? I’m thinking about guys like Greinke & Bauer.
Bands are good stuff. I’ve used them plenty to increase flexibility (an old guy thing lol) & get in some core work. Just keep working, man. It’ll pay off. One way or another. I swear.
Always good, man.
Have a great day.
I’m out.
It made me shrivel up a little seeing that you posted your comment 7 hours ago. Doing the math, that’s around 4:30… Ouch. I haven’t woken up that early since birth.
I have a good feeling about me being able to play there, it might take some additional paperwork, but that’s no big deal. One of the main things will be the rides though… I don’t drive yet (it would be illegal if I did), so I’ll have to get rides to the field almost 5 days a week. That’s a lot. It’d be different if I went to the school and afterwards just walked out back, but this is a 10 mile drive just to get there each day. I can persuade people though, maybe I can convince some people to let me do it.
Like I said, I feel like I’m almost going over-board with this, but when I want something, I go after it with all I got, this is one of those things.
“I haven’t woken up that early since birth.”
That’s hilarious, man.
I’m a morning person. But I’m having lunch & I think I see a nap in my future. I know it’s not for everyone but I love being in a boat or a kayak with my dogs watching the sunrise over the water. &, I brought back a couple Canada’s.
So there’s that.
Like I said, here in MN that’s pretty standard stuff.
My son is driving (Lord save me lol). But he was taking cabs since as long as he can remember. It was tough growing my business & attending to his transportation. Tell ya though. After school programs & the YMCA, & Park Board saved me. He likes “doing stuff” if you know what I mean. I essentially used those things as a form of after school baby sitting, or whatever.
When I do something I throw myself fully into it, too. Sure that can cause some problems here & there. In my experience, the benefits far outweigh the negatives.
I’m also thinking about this: If I do hit it off in HS baseball and I’m practically a shoe-in for Varsity each season, then when do I work? They have their summer training, and the spring season, and I’ll need to pay for my car insurance then too. I’d have to juggle a lot of stuff, but it’d work way better if I was driving to a brick and mortar school in the first place.
Quite a few items to sort through.
Ya know, all a fella can really do is take care of what’s in front of him & work on those things that he can control.
After that? Well, I’d say it’s in God’s hands. But that’s not everyone’s philosophy.
I decided to completely halt my throwing program on Thursday and pick up the band program because I didn’t want to risk anymore injury to my UCL. I am going to be doing just band work and stretching for the next two weeks until a start a bands + throwing program schedule after that.
BTW, we spoke the other day about how I didn’t know if I could play high school ball if I didn’t go to the actual school itself, and it seems the chances of me not being able to are rising…
These are the eligibility standards of UIL participation (Texas’s high school athletic representation): uiltexas.org/policy/eligibility
They specify being a student at the school, so that puts a huge bummer on that. Plus we don’t live in a big city, so there aren’t other leagues to join.
But there is a bill going through the Texas legislature that would allow “home schoolers” to play sports at their local public school. Though even if the bill passed, it would take effect at the beginning of the 21′-22′ school year, so that’s another year of not playing.
My best chance would to be to talk to the athletic director of the school, get his input, and maybe take some action there. It’s starting to look slim though.
Despite that, I’ll still be practicing and training until I’m able to play again. Whenever that might be…
They used to have us run too. Strong legs. Stamina & endurance. Not sure if that is still recommended or not.
Man.
That kinda sucks.
I was thinking about it the other day & I asked my son. The program out here is actually fairly new. Last couple of years. & MN is always kind of a trend setter with stuff like that.
Yeah, start at the top if that’s where you are going to end up anyway. Getting some input from an AD sounds like it’ll at least give you an idea if there’s anything you can do.
Up here there was concern that some schools/athletic departments would game the system. I can actually see that being a problem in Texas due to how competitive H.S. football is, man.
A fella can only take care what’s in front of him & those few things he can directly control. If it doesn’t work out it was out of your hands. At least you’ll be able to play senior league (not sure what it’s called anymore) this summer & get on a mound for a school next spring.
I’m guessing that’s probably not the happiest thought for you, though. Man, I really hope it works out for you.
& I’m glad to hear that you keep working & you’re staying upbeat.
Yeah, I’ll have to be dragged out of the game kicking and screaming for me to finally call it quits. This ain’t it. And who knows, maybe by the grace of God I’ll be able to play this spring. Just gotta have some hope.
Anyways, after my band program is over in 2 weeks I’ll start my throwing program up again as if I was going to be playing this season. If I don’t play I will still go out and pitch “games” every 5 days or so to feel like I’m in season. I’ll get tips from coaches and such, and I’ll probably buy Jaegar’s year long throwing routine for 25 dollars (well worth it, they do some great stuff).
Baseball has kept me connected to people since I left public school, and it ain’t disconnecting me now.
That’s exactly it, man.
Stay on your square put the work in & you’ve done what you realistically could.
It sounds simple. Indeed, sometimes it even is. But certainly not always.
Baseball has been one of the true constants of my life, serious. One some level it’s been with me since really before I can remember. Once it’s in your blood, man…
I applaud what you did on that last thread about the whole name change stuff. I’m open to conversations, but once they start to challenge me with these bogus situations and whatnot I’m out. Or they’ll just try to say you’re making stuff up and make themselves look good (it doesn’t). Nice to hear some other people views on issues though. Kind of why I’d consider politics as a career because I am really good in conversations, but man….. that is cut throat stuff.
Thank you.
You conducted yourself very well, too. I had a hard time not jumping in when I saw some posters trying to “recruit” you to one “side” or the other.
I just wanted to say “back off…let him make up his own mind”. But that wouldn’t’ve been necessary. You will make up your own mind about this stuff & it definitely appears that you’ll have given it careful consideration.
To be clear, I don’t really have a problem with Cleveland changing their name one way or the other. I just feel I’ve quite a bit of experience with Native Americans & that it’s just simply not that big of a deal to them.
I certainly could be wrong.
I could be dealing with a very select group. But I don’t think this is anywhere near as sketchy as “Redskins”.
I have a tendency to turn sharp tongued New Yorker at times & I’m *really* trying to curtail that. So much of it is purely in jest. But it’s not taken that way always. In the end, it really doesn’t appear to be very helpful. It’s kind of a batting average thing.
I’m working on it.
I’ve never seen America so divided. Almost everything becomes a heated debate. Lord. We’re on a damn baseball site. Ya know? I honestly don’t ever really even want to talk politics, man. I served a couple tours for this country & after that it was pretty much, “peace out. I’m going to do my own thing now”.
I do have some real concerns about the country you & Xavier are inheriting. But he’s a good kid. So are his friends. & I don’t necessarily want to label you as a “kid”, or whatever. But whatever you want to term yourself you’re a good one of those, too.
Lol, I love the little Politically Correct bit at the end there.
Yeah, I do make up my mind on all decisions and try not to sit there and argue misinformed. I do like the debates though… makes me feel like I have a little pedestal I can stand on and speak my views from. I’m also pretty good at letting the other side know I’m listening and that I don’t hate them I just disagree. That’s what people don’t understand. Just because I disagree with you doesn’t mean I hate you. It means I disagree.
Oh, and the article they linked was about the Redskins controversy, not about this. I was trying to tell him to link me an article that supported what he was saying about the Indians thing. Not just the baseball side, but also just calling Natives “Indian”, but of course he would say “OH YOU DON’T BELIEVE IT… RACISM” when I really just want to see some sources he informed himself from.
Never once did I say anything about me knowing how Native Americans feel or anything like that because then they would’ve asked ME to link an article showing where I found that when it would really just be guessing (what Marlins was doing). That’s part of having smart debates is not letting the other side coax you into a corner to try and go for the jugular.
All I said was that I think the Indians should change their name because it makes Americans look stupid having a major American sports franchise being incorrectly named. That’s all. There isn’t an article in the world that I had to do research over to come to that conclusion because it’s my opinion. In Marlin’s case, he was assuming that most of the Natives don’t like being called Indians (a very plausible thought) though I could still ask him where he learned that because he didn’t… he presumed it.
I love coming into debates as a teen with people thinking they can “over-take” me and I just go for good point after good point. It feels good.
Thanks for letting me know about Baseball Savant. Man, I keep forgetting about it. Good stuff!
Also I don’t know why I’m not getting email notifications. I hit the key every time.
Huh.
I’m not too big on “political correctness”. It almost seems like an oxymoronic phrase. I wanted to convey that I think you are a “good kid” w/out using the word “kid”. I can definitely hear my son telling someone that he’s “not a kid”. Ya know? Now, I can get away with that with him because he & I go – ya know – quite a ways back. Generally, however, I actually refer to him & his friends as “young men”.
Exactly!
That’s really become lost. One of the truly great things about living here is that we are allowed to express different opinions. When I served my tours I was in places that if you disagreed you got lined up against a wall & executed. There is absolutely no hyperbole in that statement, man.
It is completely literal.
Gosh. I don’t need to ever see anything like that again. No one does. It’s unfortunate. I really thought this stuff would ease up after the election. It has not. That’s what really bothered me about Marlins response. He & I were on opposite sides of some issue or another over the summer. But we treated one another with respect. It was at a time when it seemed every thread was getting shut down.
Although an overall agreement never seemed possible I thought we’d reached an accord of mutual respect. Kinda bummed me out.
Ya know?
Here’s the thing that I wouldn’t post on that thread but I firmly believe is valid. The use of the word “Indian” by Native Americans reminds me of the way an ugly slur has been adopted & disempowered (apparently that word doesn’t exist…yet I find it appropriate) by the black community. I’d get destroyed if I posted that. But that’s actually the type of straight up conversations that will actually help us all understand one another.
Yeah, I did read it, too.
& I freely admitted that “Redskins” is a horrible name. Just awful. & in the capital no less.
Jeeez, now *that* looks really, really bad.
There is real power in being skilled at debate. How to clearly make your point while avoiding all the pitfalls of logical fallacies. At the same time respecting your adversary & conveying that respect. It’s not an easy thing. I get frustrated & impatient.
You have a great posting style. & there are tons of us older fellas who just love your enthusiasm for all that’s good about baseball. & you take us back to when we were lacing up the cleats & climbing that little hill. That’s the type of stuff that should really be fostered. You & I are separated by (if you use 20 years = 1 generation) nearly two generations, man. We’ve talked about a lot of different stuff but always at the heart of that dialogue is baseball.
I think that’s pretty cool. Pitchers have always been a little…let’s say quirky. You fit right in with us lol.
Those of us that have been here for any length of time know that you’re no pushover. But you are somehow always respectful.
Hey, you can call me kid if you want, in fact, I don’t really care what you call me. I’ve never been one to get bent out of shape over what people call me… Btw, if you want you could just call me Danny lol. Name’s Daniel, but everybody always calls me Danny. It’s fine.
I feel weird giving out just my name on the internet like this because you always see those PSAs about like “Creepy old dude goes to prison for being a creepy old dude” granted what’s a name going to do to anybody lol. I’m not giving out an address and direct coordinates to my house for crying out loud.
It also don’t feel right to say that I am 2 generations away from you lol. I’ve always been around and really grown up with people decades older than me, so I feel like peers to them a lot of the time. It’s odd, it really is. It messes with my psyche when I go up to somebody exactly my age and say that they’re my peer. It just feels odd. My family says I’m 15 going on 50 lol.
I also wanted to talk about the other site I have started posting on because it is a MONSTER unlike MLBTR. You have to essentially earn your keep over there. They don’t mess around with anything. Well, some of them do. I have began to “befriend” a few who have the same sense of humor as me, but we are all in a little group that gets ignored by the “big guys” of the site that think they know everything lol. Like a HS clique.
I’m more “bold” over there than I am over here because people always love to call me wrong for stuff that hasn’t even happened yet. That’s not to say I’m a mean person over there, I just share my opinions about the game and most of them aren’t well received by the “big guys”. I’ll put a link to the thread that I posted on today where I rubbed what I said before in everybody’s face because they have done the same to me.
I guess one of the good things about SB Nation is that the comments never close. I don’t get vulgar over there, but you can say some “edgy” stuff over there and get away with it. Everything is taken lightly though because they all know it’s just for fun.
The link to what I said this morning: lonestarball.com/2020/12/14/22173978/mlb-rumors-to…
I love the group over there, but maaan is it way different than over here. If this is PG-13 then that is TV-14.
Well, you know.
I didn’t think you were the type to freak out about it, or whatever. Just trying to be respectful.
Oh, man.
That stuff scares the hell outta me, man. I’ve talked with my son about those things, too. You two have both grown up around the internet. So I have to believe you’re both fairly saavy. Just keep your safety protocols in place. There are some really terrible people in this world.
“15 going on 50.” So we *are* peers then lol. Actually, that does make some sense. I mean, you *are* a baseball fan. Which stereotypically attracts a fairly older group of fans.
I’ve posted on a few SB Nation sites. Big Blue View (Giants), Bad Left Hook (boxing), the actual SB Nation site. I also used to post at Pinstripe Alley (Yankees). But over the summer (well it would have technically still been spring) the staff basically led a purge of all the posters who didn’t agree with them. Myself & a bunch of other posters were banned. Bro. I’ve never even gotten a warning posting anywhere else. Bonkers. I saw that the editor of the site was recently fired. I’m assuming it was for that. Once I saw how everything was going over there I took a bunch of screenshots. I sent them to SB Nation. Well…technically my son sent them.
Really unfortunate that some folks feel the best way for them to operate is to simply eliminate anyone with a differing opinion.
I guess it is what it is, though.
I’ll check it out. I think you’re taking a good approach. No reason to limit yourself to one specific forum. With baseball stuff I post over on Fangraphs sometimes. I gotta be in the right mind frame because those are some *very* serious fellas. Best be bringing your A game.
Right now you’re just exposing yourself to as much about baseball as you can. That’s good! Good way to pick some stuff up, man.
I’ll check it out, man. Alright. I’m going grouse hunting today. Got a new pup I’m breaking in. I spent a pretty high draft pick on him. He definitely shows a lot of potential. But right now he’s green as a shamrock, kinda clumsy, & is still just a little piece of a dog. I have high hopes that he’s going to grow into an All Star. But he needs a lot of seasoning. My retriever is helping with the training. But what he needs more than anything is to just be in the woods or on the water as much as possible.
Alright.
This time I’m going to check both boxes as for some reason I’m not getting any email notifications for this thread.
Afternoon/Mornings,
Guys – apologies to butt in but I had an eloquent response lined up earlier that got ruined by a power failure.
Really enjoy your posts (as you both know) but you have an eloquence that both projects thought and consideration and projects who you are as people. And that’s difficult enough with the spoken word and much harder in the written word.
My previous post was a lot more eloquent but given I’m on a quick break at work I have to be a bit more concise.
@Rangers Danny – I was more than disappointed to read above that you might not be able to play high school level baseball because you are home/self schooled. There are (educational) plusses and minuses to home schooling which you’ll be far more aware of than I am because I’ve only seen one side of it. But as a cricket player as a youth I wanted to play against the best players. I didn’t care what school you did or didn’t go to, my attitude was a bit was Lenny Dykstra. (Without all the other stuff!) I don’t care who you are, I want to beat you on that park. And if you beat me, I’ll beat you the next time. Or the time after that. You should be able to experience that. And it is a massive disappointment that you might not be able to immediately. It is a challenge to take that disappointment and to believe that when you get an opportunity – and you WILL – well – that you will thrive. It won’t be for lack of effort.
@ The Duckster – having been in a few mixed race relationships and having been privileged to enjoy cultural social events I wouldn’t have seen otherwise – I agree with your points from the (other) thread. I think there are times when people will be offended if they want to be offended. If I display innocence, they might perceive it as ignorance. If I display inquisition again it might be taken as accusation. And there are reasons for those perceptions.
But I’ve only ever learned through asking questions. We seem to be heading to an age of utter polarity and yet with the instant access to learning that we have, it seems insane. Insanity was a bit of a feature of the last century. It’s a much longer story for a later date but one of my grandfathers was lucky to escape WW2. Without that, no Mother, and no me. And he was a god loving conscientious objector because of his father’s experiences in WW1. Alongside the death of four of his uncles.
Anyway I’ve got to get onto the last slog for an hour and get her done at work. I hate leaving loose ends because 90% of a day can be ruined by 10% of laxity at the end of it. Took me a long time and a lot of mistakes to learn that. Might explain my “career” to date.
Take care brethren.
And with a take from abroad it’s our international correspondent Peter from London.
🙂
Always good to hear from my favorite cricket player.
Yeah, if you want to kick over enough rocks & grub around in the muck one can always unearth something that can somehow be construed as negative. Usually, I just feel some sympathy for fellas like that.
“Utter polarity”. Poignant phrasing. I’ve never seen this country so at odds. I’ve never lived in a dichotomy. Always a continuum. Black & white has never appealed to me not has it seemed very accurate, either.
It’s all just shades of grey.
I’d certainly be interested in hoisting a pint or two with you & swapping stories. Always good to hear from you. Nothing but good wishes/thoughts your way.
See ya when we see ya.
I know I haven’t posted over here in about a week though I’m back.
I got finished with my band training last Thursday, and decided to take an off day for Christmas the following day. The ensuing day I picked up my throwing program again (this time at full go), so thats what I’ve been doing the past two days or so. Besides that I’m just enjoying my break.
(Btw, Merry Christmas)
Gonna have some talks with some local HS coaches this week about if I can play or not. All I want is a definitive answer. I hate the in-between of not knowing. Gotta keep working though, you never know when the chance might come.
Anyways, earlier you said something about baseball savant, so I was just curious what your question was on that. Btw, I dont know everything about it, but I could probably help. Its a cool site for sure.
Thanks for the heads up on posting this.
A couple weeks ago for some reason I had a comment that was…I can’t remember the exact wording? But it was being reviewed by mods, apparently. It took like 18 hours, serious. There was no problem with it, but since then my notifications have been wonky. So I don’t get them all the time anymore.
Which is weird.
& a belated yet sincere “Merry Christmas” to you & yours, man.
Jeeez…that two weeks went fast, huh? Seemed like you ramped up really quickly last time? Dunno. Might wanna bear it in mind. Or not.
🙂
Yeah, it’s tough continuing to work hard without any kind of certainty. You’re sticking with it, which I think is the important thing. TX just needs to put the program in place. It’s not as simple as it sounds though. Some folks are just always trying to game the system, man.
Gotta make sure the safeguards are in place for the sleazier side of high school sports.
Ya know?
On Savant:
Do you know where or how I can find information on pitchers tunneling & extension?
Merci.
Always good, Rangers29.
I seriously have no clue about the tunneling though I do want to find a place where I can document it. As for extension… that should be on Savant because that’s easily measurable. I’ll have to go looking though.
I just bought some good cleats today so that I quit slipping when I throw. It just feels good to be able to work like I play. And to not slip and bust my butt.
I got the email address of the head coach of the HS, so tomorrow I’ll talk to him through email about if I can play. Gonna be an eventful week. Never stop working though.
Btw, I’ll ask the Savant questions to mlb1225 too. He is essentially who I want to be 5 years from now. He knows his stuff. Probably the smartest guy on this site.
Yeah, I’ve seen graphs for a specific pitchers tunneling by pitch. I just never paid attention to where they were coming from.
I would think extension would be there too? Can’t seem to find it. My son’s my tech guy, ya know? I only hit him up in true emergencies lol.
Cleats!
Awww, man.
Bro, I remember getting so stoked up about things like new cleats & wrist bands for football & baseball, man. My son’s football cleats are amazing. So light, bro. They remind me of track shoes, man.
After I became responsible for my son, I quit playing flag football & softball. Part of it was certainly time related. But I also quit skiing & riding motorcycles, too. Part of that was just not wanting to risk getting hurt doing something like that.
I got back on motorcycles a few years ago. But my days with the others are more than likely over. Meaning, I’ll not be getting a new pair of cleats again ever, probably.
Best wishes on that (direct communication), of course.
If it’s alright I hope you let me know how it goes either way. Know that I’m rooting for you. I think I speak for pretty much all MLBTR on that. That’s probably the *only* thing, uh? But we’re all Rangers29 fans, man.
MLB1225 is a fantastic poster.
Love his style.
Never trolls. Always stays cool. & yeah, really well versed & knowledgeable, man.
Alright.
Catch ya round, bro.
Afternoons fellas, hoping you had a wonderful Christmas and wishing you a rewarding New Year worthy of your efforts.
Been largely quiet MLBTR wise what with some work some play and trying to get hold of all the extended family in what is one step away from a total lockdown in London. It isn’t being wholly enforced in any way shape or form so I’ve had a few spontaneous serendipitous meetings with friends outside who coincidentally had a flask of mulled wine too. We fed some of the cutesy birds that also coincidentally make for good eating, Ducky.
Rangers – I had a bit of an epiphany on your behalf, because as the Duckster says, we’re all hoping you can play. What about videoing yourself purely as a sales tool. There seem to be yes/no/maybes about whether you’ll be allowed to play. But could you get a friend or family member to video you doing a showcase? Starting out with pointing out the mound you dug and built yourself. It’s a really powerful opening move and illustrates your determination. I’m sure it’s not unique but any coach knows talent without application and determination is worthless.
(So is the chest thumping determination without talent that I watched a few mates break their bodies that over coaches seemed to adore but there is a happy medium there somewhere…)
This might be a cheesy epiphany but the more you can show makes it more likely a rule could be massaged in your favour? Do any of these high schools also offer correspondence courses/tertiary learning “out of hours”? .Just a thought, however misinformed or old ground it might be…
And a great chance to catch up on Serbo-Croat calligraphy.
I read your thoughts/notes on tunnelling and it’s a similar thing in cricket. If you could look up James Anderson’s best moments on you tube you’ll get the idea that the two are synonymous. I’ve always tried to draw similarities between the two games – as you know – but I i think tunnelling just illustrates that the later a ball breaks, the better. Cricket wise it’s the same – the earlier the ball starts “moving” in cricket terminology – the easier it is to adjust.
I’m a big Sonny Gray fan (it’s an A’s thing I know – Ducky you might not get this! – (Danny – one of the best games I’ve ever watched was Sonny’s CG to scrape us over the line in 2014 a 4-0 win vs your Rangers) and similarly a big Stephen Vogt fan – Vogt described Gray as being the hardest to catch because of the late break. I guess – in really simple terms – if you’re going to deceive a batter you’re just as likely to deceive a catcher.
As you guys know I can’t add much to the minutiae of the debate. I’m happy that way. Regardless I did try the initial “idiot tries to pitch” in my warehouse. Sadly no cameras. Warmed up with the slightly heavier cricket ball. Hit the gallon paint can (empty!) 4 of 10. And then the baseball…. Utterly impossible to control. Got it to rise. Didn’t believe that was possible. The grip was all four seamers until my last attempt was a cricket combi top spinner. Nearly killed one of my (in)subordinates.
I too need to do a showcase for comedy value.
Anyway – much more importantly – Happy New Year….
Peter in London
First: Happy New year, fellas.
’20 was a test for us all. You guys seemed to have navigated it fairly well. I give myself a B. Got my company through it. Could have done better. Here’s to a fantastic ’21, uh?
Second…man, how cool is this? Ya know? We’ve a teenaged pitcher, a fella in his 50’s that certainly “pitched”, & an actual Cricket bowler discussing baseball/pitching/some bigger stuff.
Hat tip to both of you, serious. My son obviously grew up on the internet. Don’t know about you Peter, but the whole notion of being friends with someone I’ve never actually met is… foreign?, to me. This doesn’t seem to get in my son’s way.
I think it’s an one of those age things.
That being said, I am very grateful & proud of the way that I’ve connected with you guys. It’s really cool. So just wanted to thank you two. Not going for sappy or cheesy or whatever. Just expressing my sincere gratitude.
I’d be a tad leery of eating the pigeons from Trafalgar Square or wherever. 🙂 But I’ve a dozen French recipes for pigeon that live on farms. It’s interesting… if I refer to it as pigeon no takers. Yet if I call it rock dove I get compliments.
Words, man.
Uh?
I’m not sure if you’re using tunneling in the same way as we are. (But I do always watch the YouTube videos you suggest…honestly not sure if I’m seeing it the same way as you do?) The way we’re using it is in regards to the release point a pitcher uses for his different offerings. I hope I’m explaining this ok. Rangers29 can probably help.
In essence, the closer your release point is from pitch to pitch is good. It’s a form of old school deception. As pitchers age, it becomes harder to keep this point consistent. Verlander is a good example. Early on, everything came from the same point. Now, his release point for his breaking ball is significantly lower. Meaning, it’s easier for a hitter to pick up.
The term that’s typically applied to when a pitch moves is commonly called “action”. & you definitely nailed a *great* example of “late action” in Sonny Gray. (side note: Gary Sanchez is routinely tasked with catching one of the most difficult staffs in MLB. A fact no one seems to ever mention.)
I’m a Sonny Gray fan. Good pitcher. Didn’t work out with the the Yanks. Happens. I don’t buy into the “he can’t pitch in NY” narrative. He just wasn’t comfortable with the pitching coaches. When he got back to his former college pitching coach he went back to being a Really Good Pitcher.
Pitchers & I’m assuming bowlers are…I dunno what word to use here. Weird? Not weird like kickers in football? But it’s such an individual deal that it lends itself to a lot of individualism. If you guys are unfamiliar with Mark “The Bird” Fidrych. Please. Google him & check out some videos. Classic pitching weirdness.
I’m going to second London’s “advice”. Those are all pretty good ideas. A completely different approach than I would have thought of.
You add a lot, Peter. The Cricket/Baseball parallel is one I’ve been aware of. But interacting with a former bowler is sort of a jackpot. Plus you class the joint up!
Is a “top spinner” similar to an “over hand (or “12-6″) curve”? Also, if you were at 60’6″ & hit a paint can 4 outta ten that’s substantially better than I would have done. Ever. Heavens. I’ve tried to drill a guy in the ribs (easy now…called from the bench)…& missed! Obviously, many times I was trying to throw strikes & hit the batter.
Control wasn’t really my thing.
Always good, Peter & Danny.
Francis in Minneapolis.
This isn’t a reply to your comment, Peter. This is just a list of the pitchers for my write-ups that I want to post here so I remember them:
David Peterson
Joe Musgrove
Andrew Heaney
Sixto Sanchez
Michael Lorenzen
Oh hey Ducky! Didn’t notice you commented the same time as me. I’ll read yours right quick right now.
Yeah, that’s weird.
To throw a couple pennies in:
Like Musgrove a lot. MLB1225 sold me on him. Sanchez looks like a stud.
As for you Peter, I do wonder if I could happen to just practice early tryout at the HS and just not play games this season. It has crossed my mind.
As for the mound, we just had a big cold front come through for the past couple of days, so I’ll have to rework my mound when I get back home. Though I would like to post a YouTube video of my bullpen or something. Maybe I’d stick with it and post more…
To build on the “tunneling” notion, it does seem to me like you described it perfectly with Gray. Essentially it is just making all your pitches be released from the same arm slot each time so that they are all on the same trajectory till they break as they get close to the plate (i.e Gray, Verlander, Strasburg). So that if you drew a line of all your pitches coming to the plate, they’d all be in the same “tunnel” (or “shot group” as I’ll refer to it) until they all broke different directions getting closer to the plate. Unpredictability.
I want to watch more cricket clips now that you have started suggesting them. The crazy “knuckle-ball-esque” one you showed the other day was just cool. I love funky pitchers, so I imagine I’ll be drawn to funky bowlers as well.
It feels odd to say “bowlers” in the cricket sense because I actually bowl, myself… just, when I’m bowling. People have even told me that I’m better at bowling than I am at baseball which is amazing to me (though it is easier if you have the right technique and equipment). I’d also love to film me “bowling” in the cricket sense, and see how I do. I doubt I would be very good, but I tend to surprise myself sometimes.
Great talking to you Peter, Happy New Year!
It’s funny because I thought of you (Ducky) as being more of a Frank because you are… well… Frank lol. Francis is a good name though, fairly close to my original thought.
Ducky- This part of your last comment made me laugh: “It’s interesting… if I refer to it as pigeon no takers. Yet if I call it rock dove I get compliments.
Words, man.”. Not to get political, but modern day politics teeters on that exact though. Phrasing. People like to hear some key words and despise others even if they have the same meaning. It’s funny how that works. It’s funny how the brain works.
I emailed the coach yesterday though I still haven’t gotten to recording myself pitching yet. Between a cold front coming through and raining all week, and me happening to get a slipped disc in my back today, I haven’t been able to pitch at all.
Kind of a sucky week though. Lots of staying inside. Though our neighbor managed to set some of his 20 acres on fire the other day, which is… interesting… to say the least. Nobody hurt, no houses burned, just a lot of smoke and sirens echoing.
Lads,
I’ll explain this a bit more tomorrow, but thanks for the giant rabbit hole. Enjoyed it immensely (with the exception of Mark Fidrych’s premature death) but massive fun to play ferret. We are talking the same language about tunnelling but I don’t think I’m using the same language. Where you guys speak of break, my word is swing, or movement.
One of the best examples of what is termed “swing” in cricket is Simon Jones vs Michael Clarke….
Jones was a bit Fidrych like in terms of a career ruined by injury – but try this ludicrous piece of bowling….
youtube.com/watch?v=ue0ghB6Z_C4
I’ll catch up properly tomorrow – and apologies for the briefness again – couldn’t help laughing at the incredible natural goofiness of Fidrych, which led to Ron LeFlore, and then the games of the week on you tube (which included Fidrych’s CG vs the Yankees) and ultimately Bucky Dent being on the Rangers bench in 6-5 Rangers win over the Yankees.
youtube.com/watch?v=UXgr4FUsUGk
Oh yeah, this game is worth watching for the baserunning. That’s the only spoiler alert you’re getting.
Dan,
Hope the idea was worthy, but additionally your tunnelling ideas are only going to impress a coach. As a cr*p cricketer I was continually coached by enthusiastic amateurs. Well meaning but clueless. By the time I was about 16 I knew more than them. Wrong way about going about this point but if you’re investing your time in mechanics, tunnelling., real constructive thought about your art – you’re way ahead.
Throwing an evil thought into the mix – did either of you think about catching? Need an arm. Need intelligence. Need to be tough as old boots.
Take care and happy New Year both.
(My grade for 2020 was a C – sadly covid has killed my lady wife’s business – (and I can’t describe my own helplessness on this one) so I’ll take a C for survival.)
But hey – take care – and smile & we’ll catch up soon
Peter
Yeah, I guess I can be.
I’ve always liked when I post “quite frankly”.
Phrasing & perception are huge, man. I’ve definitely offended a Lola Granola or two due to the fact I hunt. But, *no one* ever defends turkeys.
I’m convinced it’s because most people think of them as “ugly” or whatever.
How’d you slip a disc, bro?
Ouch…
Anyway, worst case scenario & you’re in peak condition to throw in Little League. (looking for silver linings)
Yeah, that does sound exciting. Glad no one was hurt.
Yeah, Fidrych heckuva story.
But his mound antics/presence. Good heavens. Talking to the ball…man. Pitchers are all a little wacky? But Fidrych’s kinda the pinnacle of pitcher nuttiness.
That’s a screw ball! In the first video. I mean we call that type of sweeping pitch a “screw ball”. “Breaks” – if you will (cuz you already have, uh?) – towards a RH hitter from a RH pitcher.
I played catcher my sophomore year of high school. It was my way onto the varsity squad. Never done it before. I’d – also – never do it again. I played football (& baseball all the way through Junior College), skied competitively, have studied boxing & martial arts my entire life…look, I’ve done a lot of pretty challenging stuff athletically. Not always to the best results or whatever?
But, anyway… catching was the absolute most difficult thing I’ve ever undertaken athletically. It is a terrible position! I hurt that entire spring, man. & I was 16 lol!
Mercy.
Catchers sort of need to enjoy discomfort. I can think of no other way to say it. It hurts lol.
A “C” ain’t bad. I hate hearing things like about what happened to Mrs A’sfaninLondon. I understand not being able to help. Sucks.
Alright. Somehow the Giants are *still* alive, man. Do me a solid & root Eagles tonight fellas. Wouldn’t mind a few more weeks of my football season.
Y’all stay up.
I’m watching the game right now… Lets go Eagles, I guess. I don’t have much of a say in whether I like the outcome of this game or not cause my Saints are already in the playoffs. I can just sit back at this point.
I threw a bullpen today and actually got it on video. I didn’t know this either, but I pitch exactly like Kirby Yates. It is freaky how exact my motion copies his… and I don’t even try to do it. If you are unfamiliar with his motion, just look up his highlights. Holy crap, it’s so weird cause I wasn’t even trying to.
I found out that it actually wasn’t a slipped disc in my back, it was my ribs. One of my ribs was out, but I felt the pain in my back. It still ain’t 100%, but that doesn’t stop me from balling out.
As to your point Peter, I do feel advanced over most of everybody else with all of the studying I’ve done on pitching itself. I’ve read pages of data on it and have definitely watched hours of video on it. Lots of stuff to learn, but I can just look at video of my pitching now and diagnose what I need to change. I feel like a pitching doctor. That’s a better nickname then the one I garnered when I used to play little league (cup)… don’t ask.
I have never tried to be a catcher even though I think I’d be a good one. The reason being is that I broke my knee when I was 4, and I had my last surgery on it when I was 8. It stunted the growth plate in my left knee, and I had to take a lot of steps to get back to where my legs were the same size again. I’m fine now, but that is something that I do not want to re-injure. Same reason I don’t play (American) football lol.
Btw Peter, that story about your wife’s business… well that just sucks… It’s crazy how something so physically small (Corona), can make such large impacts. Part of it is overreacting, and the other part is an actual health scare… both are happening simultaneously. Just never give up on whatever you’re wanting to do. It sounds cliche, but it really is the best advice I can give.
Well… I’m not sure you were rooting hard enough. 😉
Ah, well.
Really, going into the season my hopes were that the Giants would be playing meaningful games in December. & – hey – all of the sudden the Giants have the brightest immediate future of anyone in the NFC East.
Really missed Saquon though, man. One damn game. Good luck to the Saints. I’ll be watching very little football. Until September, uh?
That’s pretty interesting.
I read an interview with Yates last year where he credits a few talks in the pen with Tanaka as when his splitter began to improve.
On splitters: my stars. Can you imagine throwing one of those? I can’t even hardly grip one right. Let alone throw one, man.
It’s pretty awesome that you’re using video to critique your outings. I know sports & baseball have changed a lot from my time playing to my son’s. Plus, he doesn’t play baseball. So I’m not altogether sure, but it definitely seems to me that you’re following a pretty advanced path.
Unless it’s a desperate situation, stay away from the catchers gear lol. With any type of knee issue? Well, run from playing catcher don’t walk. Smart not to play football, man.
If I’d’ve known about all the CTE stuff I don’t think I would have let my son play.
My girlfriend before my current Belle was convinced I have CTE. She presented a more than viable argument, too.
Full speed ahead, lads.
Always a pleasure, serious.
I throw a splitter too lol. I told you I was scarily like Yates. It’s such a beautiful pitch, just so mesmerizing to watch it do what it does. I could watch hours of splitter compilations and I wouldn’t get tired of it. So distinctive too. Just a great looking pitch.
So I got a reply from the HS coach about if I can play this year, and he said no, inevitably. He wasn’t that blunt about it, and we had a conversation back and forth about it, but ultimately, it’s a no.
Though that isn’t necessarily the worst thing in the world. I kind of like the idea of training myself for another year, alone, and seeing how I hold up against athletes who go to every practice and training session. A fun little experiment. Lots of video, training, and bullpens to come.
I want to be a starter, but I think the most pitches I’ve ever thrown in a game was 32, and that was in little league. My goals for 2021 is to find out what my top velo is, and hopefully be able to throw 60-70 pitches in an outing.
I also expect that when I go back to HS ball next year that my bat will be a noodle lol. I’ve dropped my hitting work like a rock for developing my pitching. I used to be a good hitter, but I expect that taking 2-3 years off from it will massively effect it lol.
Lots to look forward to, and I’m hoping for a good 2021.
Evening lads (my time zone as usual)
I’m going to have to slowly to go back in time to your last few posts across the thread largely because I want to try and keep it conversational rather than reply individually which would break the idea of the conversation.
And I like the conversation.
Dan, I had to giggle a little bit at your description of your neighbours pyromania but share the Ducksters thoughts that I’m glad no-one was hurt. Reminded me of when a neighbour of mine tried to rid his loft of a wasps nest (yellowjackets?) and set his roof on fire. Talk of the town (or the neighbourhood) for a week or two.
First off – thank you – and I mean thank you – to both of you – for your kind thoughts with regard to the lady wife’s business and it’s demise. Street food stalls aren’t going to survive this tomfoolery. It’s sad but inevitable. We’ll try again. we’ll try just as hard. We’ll just have to wait a little. The loss of money p*****s me off but the loss of effort and endeavour hurts more. I knew (and the numbers supported this) that we, well she, was on the right track (or close to it) and the effort (and her work ethic is supreme) she’d put in (I’m just the eye candy and I work elsewhere) it is the hardest part.
But sincerely I appreciate your genuine sympathy.
Moving on…(onwards and upwards)….
Going back in time to Fidrych – I just found him (and obviously you were young but saw it in real time Ducky) to be completely genuine. A kind of purity. He loved what he was doing and did it his own way. The “let the kids play thing” would have applied to him ten fold. The hand sculpture of the mound, (we mess about where the edge of the rubber would be) the talking, it’s not that unusual in cricket… Eccentric English idiots, I know…
.Guess we’re all rooting for the Saints…. I can’t support the Vegas Raiders (I had a loose affiliation until they were clearly angling/arguing/justifying a move). Two sport stadia are a relic and it’s probably best for all concerned. I watched once in late Sept – when I was in Oakland – the efforts to transform the coliseum from NFL back to MLB (maybe 2014) and it was a logistical nightmare. We got married in Vegas but stayed in Henderson – again lovely people in Henderson – and Dominika (lady wife) loved it, but Vegas for me (I’d been before) well twice is definitely enough.
Sorry about the Giants!
Flitting back to the catcher conversation I honestly think it’s the toughest position in (supposedly) non contact sports. I boxed (badly) as a kid, played rugby for 7 years at school – and loved it – loved the tackling – but agree – as a catcher – you’re a guide dog. You’ll feel the pop and know what is working. It is so ridiculously under-rated. And the catchers that don’t get smashed make by far the best managers because they’ve made a living tactically once already
Dan, I’m sorry about your news and that you won’t be able to play. it’s sad. It also seems a bit silly to discriminate against somebody who is home schooling just because they’re home schooling. We live in age where you really should be able to pick and choose so long as your education reaches a certain standard. And exam results reveal a certain standard. But hey, work on that mound, and throw rocks….
Meant to get further through the thread. Ducky I’m a keen ornithologist but a believer that hunters trim off the excess. Certain species (especially in crises) are a little too dominant – and the ferals (rock doves is so polite) are just a P in the A and need management. As do Canada geese for example. In the UK (and I love birds of prey) we have a terrible awful record of exterminating birds of prey. Whereas if you culled (not to excess) the problem species you wouldn’t need to worry about the falcons/eagles because they’re so specialised and thus so scarce.
A chat for another day.
Take care
Peter
Good evening, fellas.
Been away. The weather turned a bit foul so I spent a few days in Nebraska. Prairie grouse. Went through Chicago on my home. Picked up a “new” motorcycle. ’68 Triumph Daytona. She’s a beaut, serious. & I’ll drive an actual Grand Prix vehicle to…I dunno, the barbershop or whatever.
Love cafe racers, man.
I could never grip the ball right to throw a splitter. I did throw an Olde Schoole pitch called a “forked ball”, though. Less drastic but similar grip. It’s not a pitch you see very often anymore.
It behaves more like a two seamer than a split finger, though.
On Yates –
I’d like to see the Yanks sign two relievers. He’s one that’s one my list of hopeful targets. See if Hal decides to spend this winter.
I’m proud of the way you’re handling this, Danny. I hate to say this, but I’m pretty bummed that you won’t be able to play.
But you’ll be able to play little league though, right? (Not sure what they call it down there at your age…senior league?, Pony league?) That’ll get you on the mound at least.
Ya know, we didn’t have pitch limits. We had innings limits. Which is how a fella can labor through six innings of 8 earned runs & no hits, uh? Lots & lots & *lots* of pitches lol.
60+ seems like a pretty good goal. That would have gotten me through…a couple innings? 😉
But you’re much better informed than I was.
I’ll be interested to hear what your velo is. I could hit the mid 80’s. Man. Can you believe that was actually considered to be a good fastball?
Zounds.
Once I discovered pitching I didn’t have near as much interest in batting. You can always get some hacks in at a cage. But, Ohtani’s are really rare.
Guess I focused more on Danny.
I’ll get back to you in a bit, Peter.
As always, good to hear from you guys, man.
Good evening, fellas (Part II) –
About a month ago, I reread this thread myself. It’s definitely entertaining! Covers a *lot* of ground.
But baseball is always somewhere in it.
My story doesn’t involve fire?
But.
Years ago I ran a remodeling crew. I dropped the guys off at a job site & started them off. Eliminating a large chimney that was no longer in use was part of the job.
So I set one of my guys to tearing it down.
Well.
He started from the…*bottom*! Lol.
Chimney came down ahead of schedule. Which is good! Not so good was the enormous mess left behind.
I think most pitchers talk to themselves on the mound. Fidrych was just rather…overt about it. I didn’t see him during his rookie year. Saw him throw once during one of his comeback attempts. Feel like I missed something there.
Was curious if you played any other sports. Rugby. Mercy. Pads, Peter. You’d be amazed.
“Seems like I’ve been fighting my whole life through…
A girl would giggle & my face would turn red…
A guy’d laugh & I’m bust him in the head…
I tell ya, life ain’t easy for a boy named Sue” ~ Johnny Cash.
Boxing?
So, having the name Francis was a bit of a problem at one time. As soon as I could join wrestling & boxing programs I did. I never got good at either one. I did – however – get better than someone who’d had no training.
By middle school no one said, “Francis is a girls name!”, anymore. So there’s that.
Snow geese are another one. We get 4 months out here where we can bring down as many as we can in any way possible. The population of these birds has exploded. To the point where there feces is destroying a pretty delicate ecosystem. Hunters help to keep things in balance.
At least that’s the idea & intent.
I spent a couple years in the Bay Area. A’s & Raiders fans are (were?) just simply some of the best fans out there, man. Don’t like the Raiders in Vegas. But I understand if.
Far too many stories like yours & Dominika’s (beautiful name, btw) lately. So many small businesses were just crushed. I’m not a doctor. Or a scientist. Just a fella on the internet. But I do go places. I do see things & talk to people.
From what I see, the fear of Covid is much more destructive than the actual disease itself. Which has been no joke & zero good times.
As always (Part II) good to hear from you fellas.
Quick aside Duckster…
Is the bike the 500 or the Tiger Daytona?
Made at Triumph (either way) in my home town (Coventry) – a late Uncle worked there when the Daytona was being produced….
The Tiger Daytona. The bike that ruled the Isle of Mann for a few years.
She’s rebuilt (i.e. electric start, no more Lucas Electric, doesn’t leak oil, etc) & “semi-restored”.
Bless Coventry!
Earlier this year I traded my Street Triple (I’m in my 50’s…I have no need for a street fighter, man) for a new 2019 Bonneville t100. That’ll be my highway bike.
The imported motorcycle market is like the reliever market. It’s definitely a saturated buyer’s marketplace & great deals abound.
Just be safe out there. My entire family has dropped riding motorcycles because of several deaths that have happened to people close to us because of riding. Lots of stupid people out there thinking that texting and driving is a skill that ages well through practice.
As to what you said the other day Ducky, I can’t play in any other league this year. I guess that’s just one of the cons of small town life, but I haven’t been able to play in LL in two years now. I’d love to play this year, but my best bet is to just keep doing what I’m doing at home.
It’s crazy how much hate is spreading throughout America right now. The thing that happened at the Capitol yesterday is probably the biggest event I’ve ever seen in modern history. I was glued to the TV as the videos and photos came in of people breaking windows and doors down. The guards weren’t ready. Of course people are going to try to blame it on the president (if I say his name my comment gets awaited moderation), but it wasn’t his fault. People in the crowd just incited violence and it all happened so quick it’s pathetic.
I am kind of curious what people in the UK are hearing and thinking about America right now though. I’ve always wanted to know how we’re perceived to foreign countries, so I think in this polarizing time, it would be interesting to ask. I’ve always thought that the rest of that world thinks of us as “Crazy Americans” which just amuses me.
Great talking to both of you as is always.
Just about to leave work but I’ll reply quickly Dan/Duckster…..
This might be drivel, because it’s gotta be quick….
Thing is that over here people don’t see the US as 50 different countries under an umbrella as I do. My perception might be wrong but – to me – theirs is more wrong. One of the things that first attracted me to baseball was that it is like an American social history. Again, this is simplistic, but the near apartheid that existed (or to me seemed to exist) has been slowly slowly righted.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s still ongoing but I know what I see and I know we’re trying to go in the right direction. The same is true for my own country. Which recently voted out of a union. Dan – you made a passionate coherent constructive comment (way back) about (amongst other things) diversity within law enforcement and your family’s involvement therein, and the same is true now. Sadly the GOP has been hijacked by the popularist.
I don’t have a problem with which way people vote – I’m a believer (especially in the US) in voting for the statesman, regardless of which political party they represent. So I can see why Reagan beat Carter, (charisma, human touch, actor) I liked George Bush senior (again a man I’d describe as a statesman of integrity) whereas I’d lose Clinton, George Bush jnr, I was pro Obama but disappointed because he was so conservative.
The thing about the current orange haired gentleman is that he has contrived to empower & embolden the (lunatic) fringe. The world looks towards that bloody beautiful statue of liberty (and I wept when I walked around it) because that it what it was meant to be – liberation – however misguided – as a beacon of the free world. That’s a hell of burden. It’s been misused/misguided (Vietnam) but it’s effing difficult to play world policeman. Just as hard to be small town cop.
I’m much closer to Sean Doolittle than to the orange haired gentleman. My one final point would be that it’s a whole lot easier to label basket cases as such when you haven’t got a basket case as king of the castle.
And that’s a massive shame, because without the US support 1942 onwards my country could look a whole lot different.
Apologies because I had to rattle this out in 5 minutes flat. Point was – we’re feeling your pain. We yearn to see you as brothers, not idiots…
Lads,
Apologies if the quickly rattled message was a bit strong. I really didn’t have time to edit & censure my typing fingers. Idiots was wrong (and looking in the mirror!!!!) both wrong and inaccurate.
But the line about feeling your pain was true.
We all need friends not enemies right now.
So for giggles
youtube.com/watch?v=-fUL75TeNrI
The greatest Australian film ever,,,,
✎ Edit –
It’s ok about what you said, it was hardly offensive versus some of the stuff you’d hear either side call each other right now.
Despite what the news might say though, a lot is changing, and a lot is changing quick. This week might be the biggest week in American history this century, and that’s not an understatement nor a good statement. Censorship was the theme of today, and you can call me officially scared. When you start censoring one side, and only one side, bad things happen. Really bad things. (I’m not just referring to the T-man’s Twitter situation. There are other things going on too.) And it’s gonna get worse before it gets better. That’s the bad part.
T-man actually reminds me of y’alls Boris guy. Paves his own path, doesn’t take crap from anybody, and gets stuff done (no matter what people think). I’m probably ignorant in saying that, but just from his actions (Boris’), they seem alike.
I don’t want to make this discussion political, so unless you have something else you’d like to add, I’ll return to our regularly scheduled baseball/cricket programming. I have just been wanting to talk to other viewpoints lately because I feel like people are too stubborn to even talk about anything going on in the world now, and I’m trying to prove myself wrong about that matter.
Great talking, Peter.
Good morning, fellas.
I’ve been spending as much time as I am able to in the woods or on the water. At least I understand those places. Well…about as well as I can, anyway.
I will echo Danny’s sentiment in regards to what you posted, Peter. I’d love if what you posted was some kind of hallmark of offensive. Mostly because it wasn’t. My goodness but does America need some decent dialogue. Heavens.
I feel terrible about the country you (Danny) & my son are inheriting. You guys have a much harder path than what I had. My generation didn’t go out of our way to screw everything up? But we’ve done you no favors.
I loathe actions born from anger &/or fear. Sadly, those emotions are rampant currently. I also detest censorship in any form.
As someone who voted for the current (soon to be former) president I am really disappointed in recent events. We all really need to move on.
I’m just not seeing much desire to.
Ya know?
This extreme polarization is untenable. I don’t see many efforts being lent to finding common ground. The frustrating thing is that common ground does exist. It’s there!
Now, it may take some work to uncover? This thread is a great example.
& now look where we’ve landed. Censorship? Man. I legitimately fear an armed uprising. That is not America. So rather than contemplate all this I’ve been choosing to just get away from it all as best I’m able.
I spent a couple years in Bosnia as part of the UN Peacekeeping force. (Ironically termed as there was simply no peace to be kept.) I’ve seen my share of violence, man. I’d say more than my share, but I don’t want to come off as whiney.
@Danny
On bikes, yeah I hear ya, man. Been to more than one funeral due to them. Couple things: first I put a little over 3K miles on my Speed Triple in 5 years. & of even more importance I’m 53. Not 23.
😉
Also, I guess I’m pretty surprised that you’ve no access to LL. Since my son plays tennis for his spring sport I really don’t have much idea about the current state little league baseball. My son abandoned the sport at the T-ball level.
Thanks for showing that level headed dialogue can exist. I appreciate you fellas. Very much so.
Morning Ducky – you’re either up very early or very late Or both.
Dan – I’ve got a degree (not much used!!!) in politics & economics. Specialties – avoiding environmental catastrophe and narco-economies in Latin America (basically drop the debt as a conclusion) and the opening up of post communist eastern Europe & Russia to capitalism. (By the way I’m hoping this week isn’t the worst (or most significant) this century because of 9/11. Hoping…)
But before majoring – constitutional law. It’s why the film (The Castle) strikes just a personal chord, but if you can get to watch that film (as linked earlier) I promise somewhere it’ll bring a smile.
Which is what our conversation has done for me throughout.
Ducky – I hate censorship in any way shape or form because it suppresses debate. We might not agree but I want your voice heard as much as mine. Censorship is futile because it adds fuel to the fire rather than extinguishing it.
Dan – Boris (over here) reminds me more of Bill Clinton than the current incumbent. (Trouser antics, let’s say)….
Ducky I was at the end of my degree when the break up of Yugoslavia was occurring. The united slavic state was a “reward” for WW1 loyalties. No irony there. I cannot imagine what that was like. I’ve heard stories (from UK servicemen) of peacekeepers having to exhume mass graves. I’ll leave it there. Thank you for your service just doesn’t and will never cover it.
Which US General was it whose instructions about the liberation of Nazi concentration camps (kind of invented by we British in South Africa) – instructions to record everything because some day someone will deny everything….
Anyway, I agree Dan – let’s head back to BB and wish profound peace and happiness for this still shiny new year. And some pitching for you.
Saddened to hear of Tommy Lasordas passing but the stories put a smile on. The video of him vs the Phanatic is Muppet Show funny. He wasn’t in any way perfect but a few of the things I’ve read made me laugh.
The off season (apart from a few obvious anomalies) seems like a scratched record at a tea dance. I can understand why most teams are loathe to commit when attendance (at least in spring) is unlikely.
The current MLBTR debate (other than quality merchandise) seems to be about pine tar. Now you blokes are better versed in grip (especially as my workplace curveball narrowly avoided both the unprotected lighting and an unprotected colleague) but I don’t actually have that big a problem with it. (Like the video and the analogy Dan of the Rangers prospect going to his belt more often than a fellow after four servings on thanksgiving)… I can understand why batters would use pine tar – George Brett’s outrage as a smiling sideline – because you don’t want to inadvertently let go of the bat and kill someone along the 3B line. I think that so long as the substance doesn’t alter the action on the ball (it’s a fine line I know) and avoids accidental beanings (I once broke a batsman’s arm when I was a quick bowler before graduating to the cricketing equivalent of a knuckler and separately had my own cheekbone broken) I honestly think it’s fine. But you’d know more about spin rates – but it’s intriguing to me because the RPM spin rates (size matters darling!) achievable on a cricket ball (with a diametric seam) are pretty much exactly the same on a baseball. The human wrist and fingers can only impart a certain amount of action.
Oh and apart from all this, I’m peeved Robbie Grossman is headed for Detroit.
Great weekends guys and slightly more editing than previous….
Peter
PS – Ducky – If you youtube Fred Bibnah (& maybe demolition) you’ll find a colleague’s kindred spirit. A very special British lunatic….) And finally Francis – are you of Irish origin?
Oops – typo – Fred Dibnah….
Blimey – a final reply to myself.
You mentioned tennis – it’s the closest you’ll get to cricket in a lot of ways – except the hardness of the ball, when you’re receiving. Roughly same height, same kind of angle off the deck, similar pace.
When I was trying to be a serious cricketer, I had a friend who was a serious tennis player – I’d be his practice bunny with obvious benefits to us both. We’d play three sets for £10. I had to win six games in three sets to win the £10. Seems like a fair handicap, it wasn’t. I won about twice in twenty matches and believe me, that tenner was hard earned. I certainly never won a set off him.
It helped us both – I’d go “all in” on the ones I could actually reach and weren’t blown past me – and he bought the refreshments afterwards. Well the winner bought – and I don’t remember buying that often! And when he served/volleyed my entire game plan was to hammer the ball as hard as I could at his body. Especially the vulnerable bits.
When you’re 6-0, 6-1, 5-1 down, smashing your mate in the trouser region is remarkably good for the soul.
Good evening*, fellas.
Oh gosh.
Up early. I’m a morning person that really only needs about 6 hours of sleep/night. Needed even less when I was younger.
I’m just not that guy anymore. Since I became a single parent I think I’ve been “up” that late twice. Once was last April when my partner, his wife, a couple of our field reps, & myself put a 30 hour day in converting our entire sales operation to being completely paperless. A Covid thing.
I’m not much of a tech guy? But I can do busywork, make espresso, & sit on hold with tech support at All Star levels.
You’re educational background is of particular interest to me. My son right now is planning to study Econ, Math, Global Business, & Spanish. I’m wondering if I could give him your email address, please? I think he’d be interested in asking you some questions. He’s a good kid. He & Danny have a lot of similar traits.
I remember thinking how beautiful the Balkans were. & how you could tell it had been a civilized land for a very long time.
A few years ago, my son was thinking about a military career. He was talking about Annapolis or the Citadel for college. That’s the only time in my life I’ve ever really talked about what happened, what I saw, how it effected me. Took a few hours & a bit too much bourbon. But I wanted him to really understand. If it was going to be his path then so be it. I’d support it & be proud as hell. I also wanted him to have a thorough understanding of what the word “service” actually entails.
What really sticks with me is how truly awful we can be to one another. When I enlisted I’d graduated college & pretty much had; All The Answers To Everything Ever.
Ya know?
Turned out I was quite mistaken.
Wherever this thread goes I’ll probably continue to participate. I feel I benefit from the perspectives you guys are providing. & let’s face it. There’s not much actual baseball news to discuss. But I’ll follow where you guys lead.
To me, Tommy Lasorda *is* the Dodgers, man. Certainly remember him in the dugout in the World Series. We got him twice. He got us in ’81 though. In the end he was a passionate baseball lifer. You hear stories about him as a very old man chastising Angels fans.
Awesome.
If I live that long one of my requests will be to retain that level of fire & intensity.
Baseball lost a real character, man.
So when I was learning to pitch Gaylord Perry was winning Cy Young’s, pitching in All Star games, & in general being an ace.
& it was common knowledge he threw spit balls.
I set out to learn more.
It just wasn’t really viewed as “cheating”. Rather, it was more viewed as guile & gamesmanship.
Ya know?
First.
A “spit ball” is not an actual pitch. Here’s how I learned to use it. You add a little Vaseline to 3-5 seams on only one side of the ball. Then you throw your breaking pitch. As pitchers & bowlers I’m sure you guys intuitively understand what that would do.
It changes the center of rotation.
So your slider or curve or whatever has more bite. I’ve no problem with pitchers using a substance for grip. If – however – they start applying it directly to the ball then you are giving them an unfair advantage.
I’ve told you guys about how awful my control was. So I never actually threw a spitter in-game. Extra break was just that much harder to control. But…if my control had been better?
Yeah.
Probably would’ve.
Grossman was a pretty nice player out here for the Twins. Guy gets on base.
So when are we going to get a deluge of deals? Pitchers and catchers report in about 5 weeks. I wonder if we’ll see a slow thaw or a sudden hot flash.
I’m actually adopted, Peter.
So I’m really not sure? I was raised by French Catholics.
When my son was doing his family tree as a school project I noticed that there was only one branch for me. I asked him why. He said, “You’re adopted, dad. You’re a genetic dead end”. Well… yeah. But how ’bout a little tact, bro?
So when my son was younger & I was growing my company the YMCA & Park Boards saved me. Luckily, my son always liked to do stuff. But, honestly, the Y & the local parks were essentially good, safe, & very inexpensive baby sitting.
That’s how he got into tennis. It’s all at once his least favorite sport yet his best.
I had a roommate who had a similar arrangement with me & chess. Never thought of throwing my king into his nether region, however. There is a lost opportunity. To this day I despise chess, man.
I recall when I used to take my son to the park and volley with him. The last time we did that he volleyed with me. Ya know?
He also beats me at one on one basketball now, too. No matter how much I cheat & ugly up the game.
“Winner buys” is a great policy.
Stay up, fellas. Catch you next time.
*I should probably learn** what time it actually is in London
**Yikes! It’s almost 4:00 AM!
I guess it’s my turn to share… (Not that my story will equate to anywhere’s near the magnitude of either of y’alls, nor should it. But I’ll share my side nonetheless.
I don’t know where to start… Maybe that I’ve had more surgeries in my life than I have fingers. Breaking the growth plate in my knee, and several skull surgeries when I was an infant. Those surgeries have now caused me to have ridges down the middle of the top of my head (not noticeable since my hair is covering it).
I think what has effected me most though is when I moved to online homeschool. All the friends I had up and to 5th grade were gone, and I went from being around people my age everyday to not seeing them for months at a time. The times I did go out, it was into the city to bowling alleys etc. That’s where I made my new friends… adults. All of them. The only time I ever saw any of my friends my age was during…
Baseball season. Hence my love for the game. I am not bragging when I say this, but I cared more about being out there than anybody else on that team. Every step was took with effort, and every word was said with purpose.
The main reason I had to go to homeschool was because of my little brother’s who had just been born a year prior to that. My mom couldn’t handle them by herself at home while my dad was gone at work. She has a very bad back from an injury she sustained while working the Sherriff’s department plus M.S which she has been diagnosed with two years ago. She needs help, so that was the main reason I got pulled.
About my future… Once I get my signing bonus from the Rangers, I’m wanting to fly both of y’all down to Austin lmao. I still got a ways yet until that lol. But Peter, on one of your trips to the US, you need to come to Austin. The greatest city in America (I’m not biased at all…). Great food, great people, great culture, great scenery, great nightlife, a great college. That reminds me, if you want a fun sports experience, go to a Longhorns football game. Even if you don’t know much about football, or even don’t care about it, that’s one of the best sports watching experiences you can have. One of the greatest things I’ve seen live.
About my real future though, I want to get a Sports Management major and a minor in Business economics. The GM dream is real. But I also have a fascination with Politics. I’m really good at debates with anybody. I just want to be in the unique position of trying to persuade people’s opinions for a purpose, not just for BS sports arguments on a public forum. I feel like I’m going to end up getting into politics somehow, but I just don’t want to be some scummy lobbyist funded d**khead. I’d hate if I let money sway my opinion that much. I live in a family that has learned to live off of crunched salaries comfortably without lavish buys. I’ve learned from that too.
Great keeping the conversation going guys. Btw, I agree with Francis, baseball news is slow right now, and I really like the outside conversations we’re having despite that.
Lastly, I know I said it before Francis, but thank you for your service. I just feel like saying thank you for your service isn’t enough. Some stuff is just more than words.
Sunday morning and I wake to read two incredibly profound poignant messages.
(I can’t add much other than to say I’m genuinely in awe of both of you. Brave just doesn’t describe it. To either of you. Dan – the paragraph – which finished – every step with effort, every word with purpose – was brilliant. Hold that, keep that and use that.)
Myself and the Duckster can have a game of chess to decide who pays for the flights to watch your debut .
In comparison to you both I’ve had it easy.
So lets go with chess, for a moment. My grandfather (ex-boxer) loved chess. Didn’t want me to box. He got his wish I swung rather than boxed. Played chess against him for like – for ever. Never beat him til I was about 14. And the moment I beat him for the first time – sea change – was a moment I won’t forget. He knew and I knew.
Duckster – Peter_Myton@hotmail.com or myton@ppg.com. Hopefully I won’t get moderated on these. Yes, I sell paint for PPG (based in Pittsburgh.) I’m trying to get them to renovate all the negro league murals across your country. There’s a beauty in Pittsburgh (5th Avenue) and a pretty good one in Boston. My God did I love Pittsburgh. Xavier is welcome to e-mail me – I can point him towards my niece who has a Spanish degree, and me for the economics/business part of the equation.
Re: the murals – I might need your help to do this – PPG as a company are incredibly conservative – whereas I just want to do a “good thing” so the global power of baseball – well – simply put, let’s try and do a good thing.
Genetic dead end – thanks, son!!!! I might have been tempted to enquire where that leaves the next branch, but I guess that’s where tact intervened.
Take care remarkable people
Peter
Dan,
I’ve tried and failed to reply communally but believe me, you are a remarkable young man. If you’re caring for your Mother, building your own mound, working your own programme, overcoming surgeries, avoiding your neighbour’s pyromania. I doubt I’d have been able to fight against those odds.
Apologies for the pyromania reference, again….
Back along in one of the previous messages I mentioned that given an opportunity, you will thrive. No reason to change that comment.
Where’s your pitching programme at now?
*Chess?!*
Aww, man.
Can we play tennis or one on one hoops instead?
If it’s chess I’ll just knock my king over now.
Danny –
Your story has remarkable power. It pales not in the least in comparison, serious.
We’ve had a few of these pieces to work with? But now you’ve provided enough to complete the entire picture.
Did you happen to watch Liam Hendricks close out the White Sox in games 2 & 3 of their series this year?
It was amazing, man.
Statcast will tell you that he threw the two hardest fastballs of his season during his game 3 outting. Indeed, he threw the two hardest pitches of his *entire career* that day. What statcast does not tell you is that he threw 59(!) pitches the day before.
There is no Fangraph for the way between pitches he stormed around the mound, growling, snarling, muttering, cursing, indeed even screaming as he got his exhausted arm & body ready to set, rock, fire: Just One More Time.
So…why am I bringing this up, uh?
Because what Hendricks showed that day is that thing we call “heart”. And you can’t chart or graph that. It is something inside of someone. It’s something that you are either born with or not.
“I’m not bragging when I say this but I cared more about being out there than anyone else on that team.”
I bet you did.
Because you have heart, man.
I rarely ever read a post more than once. I’ve read yours 3 times, man. It is inspirational. Anyone who wants to talk crap about your generation should be forced to read this.
I cannot tell you how impressed I am by your comportment. How impressed I am by your values. & – the biggest one – by your *actions*. I can’t help but tip my hat to your parents, as well.
They’ve obviously done things right with you, man.
Like Peter, I too believe in the end your perseverance will pay off. You’ll climb that mound.
On that note, I appreciate your input on that, London. It got me thinking the right way. I was contemplating throwing an unhelpful tantrum.
Danny speaks the truth about Austin. It’s definitely a Great American City.
Peter (thanks for the email address, for real) –
My grandfather (WWII vet) was probably the biggest single influence on my life. Even though I was the adopted grandkid I happened to also be the only one who shared his interests; baseball, football, hunting, fishing. The older I get the more I slowly morph into him. Interesting nature vs nurture case perhaps.
Regardless, I bet we could swap grandfather stories for hours, uh?
I studied architecture in college. Then the Marine Corp taught me engineering (their version). Anyway, I love building, buildings, & structures. Bridges restore my faith in humanity. & Pittsburgh is the city to check out bridges.
Thank you, Danny. I’ll accept that on behalf of all the great men and women I served with.
Sunday, fellas.
Got the dogs out for a…rabbit walk – if you will – this morning. Football is on. My son, his friend, their girlfriends, & my girlfriend are all here. I’ll be watching a little? (No Giants = Not Much Fun) But mostly I’ll be putting together a big family meal starring black duck, grey grouse, & sturgeon. Love cooking a big Sunday dinner. I tend towards French recipes.
Always good.
“No, dad. There’s nothing weird about making friends on the internet.” ~ Xavier
He’s not wrong. Ya know?
Later, fellas.
Peter – You asked about the progress of my program the other day, and I figured that I’d answer it now, along with other things.
My throwing hasn’t been halted whatsoever. But the SNOW that we got yesterday stopped it nevertheless. Yes, we got two inches of snow yesterday! Two! That might not seen crazy to a northerners, but that is like a blizzard here. Schools close, things are canceled, and unless you are an essential worker, you stay home. I only did band stuff today because I want to slowly introduce myself again rather than rushing back after a couple days off. Tomorrow I will throw again.
I want to buy Jaegar’s 25 dollar year round throwing program book soon. Not only does it detail year round throwing and training, but it also details some of the specifics of their training. Very detailed. Jaeger has been the advancement of the sport for a while, so reading into their work is some of the best training I can do.
Francis – I’m not sure what it is, but Grandfathers are some of the best influences anybody can have. Maybe it’s how casual it is to be a Grandfather or maybe it’s the flexibility there is to be able to see your grandchildren whenever you want.
Some speak of old war stories while others just pass on life experiences in other ways. Weird how they always seem to be cornerstones in the raising of youth.
Good evening, Danny & good night, Peter.
I like when Peter uses spellings like “programme”. It makes me feel kinda classy.
Good to hear that you’re continuing to throw. A lesser man may have chosen to sulk.
I just don’t really know how to react to 2″ of snow facilitating a slow down of any type. Generally up here we’d refer to that as something like “Tuesday morning”.
😉
Kidding aside, it seemed like you really ramped up in a hurry last time. Are pitchers still encouraged to run, Danny? That was definitely a part of how they tried to prepare us.
But training methods – particularly for pitchers – have gotten so much better.
Googled that book.
Yeah, that seems like a young pitchers Bible, man.
Once again, I’m going to recommend checking out all the great pitching articles on Fangraphs. Loads of stuff. The pitch development series is really cool.
It’s interviews with different MLB pitchers about how they developed a certain pitch. I’d’ve loved to have something like that available in the olden days.
But obviously I was too busy walking 10 miles to school. Everyday. Uphill. Both ways. 😉
Sounds like you have a grandfather in your life, as well.
Also…dear lord. I hadn’t thought about the possibility of actually *being* one lol!
Got some things happening in baseball, fellas. I think Hendricks signing will start the reliever market – at least – moving. Hope the Yanks get in on some of that action. So many quality arms available. Doubt we’ll ever see this sheer volume again.
Alright, fellas.
See ya when I see ya.
Be good & do good in the meantime, uh.
There’s quite a few points to cover in that comment, but I’ll hit on all of them lol.
The snow was really cool (literally), and that was only the 2nd time in my life that I have experienced that much snow before. Great every time.
As for running… There’s a lot I could cover on that front, but right now I don’t. I do aerobic stuff like jogging and sprints, but rarely will I ever run after throwing. I find it to be a good pre-throwing warmup, but as for doing it afterwards, I don’t.
It’s interesting because coaches will say that it helps to flush the lactic acid from your arms, but it really doesn’t help too much? It is essentially just cardio work while your body is already sore. Trevor Bauer explained it well here: youtube.com/watch?v=KMvdWv0wwno
I have realized that I get most of my information from Youtube, but that’s because that’s where I spend most my time when watching guys like Bauer or stat guys like Foolish Baseball. This year I want to spend more time reading information along with watching videos on what I want to learn.
That leads into your recommendation of the fangraphs pitching development articles. I will have to check those out very soon. I love the mix of pitches that I have now, but there’s a big difference between “good” and “elite”, and I want to be elite. The first thing I want to cover is consistency. Consistent deliveries, release points, motions, arm actions, and pitch consistency. My accuracy is already pretty good, but that’s something I can hone in on as well. Though after consistency, that’s when I’ll hit on the velo and break along with things like pitch axis. Getting really in-depth – I hope – will provide me with a lot of “followers” once I get into HS pitching (not social media followers, but philosophy followers and people who understand what I’m trying to accomplish).
I have a really good grandfather in my life. In fact, he lives just a mile down the road from us and I go over there quite often. He’s been my role model from a really young age, and he respects the way I work more than anybody as do I towards him. That is a shared feeling between us.
There’s several other topics I’d like to hit on in this already long reply, so I’ll get to them since I have the time:
Mental reps: This is one of the main contributors to success that you can have, and what’s funny is that it can’t be tracked. It’s like the Yips or having heart, it’s an un-trackable variable to attribute to somebody’s play. The best example of this that I’ve seen is in ex… (sadness) Longhorn’s quarterback, Sam Ehlinger. Ever since he was 4 he wanted to be the quarterback of the Longhorns, and one of the main things he did growing up was just picturing himself in that position. A title game, the national championship, throwing completions, touchdowns, the whole ordeal. He did this his entire life until he became a Longhorn and started actually doing those things. Mental reps are a large contributor to success although it gets forgotten in the fold.
I also want to wake-up earlier… I’ve said this for a while, but I really want to start waking up at around 8:00 and getting my day started hot… though typically 11:00 is the start of my “hot” morning lol. I’d want to get my workout stuff accomplished earlier in the day if I got that opportunity too, but I just never start it. That’s one thing that I am not steadfast on… sleep. I have a weird schedule, and that’s gonna have to change soon if I want to get more done.
This was a long reply, but I hope it came out well. It wasn’t edited either, so if I said too instead of to somewhere don’t harp on it lol.
Great talking with both of y’all as is always.
I’m not a grammar cop. I try to make an effort to proofread/edit, but I see times when I’ll post “your” as opposed to “you’re”.
I was going to post the entire quote but it’s too long. Check out what Marcus Aurelius has to say in regards to correcting others grammar.
No reason not to take advantage of what’s available on YouTube, man. Bro. I wasn’t expecting to become a parent. Ever. Therefore I was woefully under- prepared.
True story; I learned to change diapers from YouTube videos. Great resource. Take advantage of it. Mercy. So very glad changing diapers is in the rearview.
Anyway.
I missed snow & cold when I lived in California. Just can’t imagine not seeing it.
The thought process behind jogging for us was that it helped build lower leg strength & helped build endurance. When you’re ball starts sailing high pitch after pitch that’s *not* your *arm* that’s tiring. It’s your legs. Counterintuitive I know. But that is one thing that remains as true today as it did 40 years ago.
I was taught that there’s no such thing as running too much as a pitcher. To be honest I’ve never cared for it overly much. But I did it. Seemed to have helped.
I’m going for a two for one here:
My grandfather had a million stories. He told me one when I was really young that parts of have stayed with me forever. It was about some old Pirates pitcher. Apparently he was a county boy. He had no access to actually play baseball but he had a huge love for the game.
He hung frying pans(!) from tree branches(!) & would practice pitching to those. He could even do it in the dark(!) as he could hear(!) his pitches hitting the cast iron.
I don’t know exactly why? But I’ll never be able to rid myself of that image.
Makes me happy you’ve got a good grandfather in your life, as well. I bet you’re good company for *him*, too. Sounds like you two have a great relationship.
The term I’ve used for that is “positive visualization”. Flakey Phil Jackson was a huge proponent of it. Jordan speaks about how it really helped him elevate his game. Steph Curry swears by it also. There is definitely some meat on that bone.
I’ve been wondering when it would begin to surface in other sports.
I definitely knew how to sleep in when I was younger. Don’t forget, you may actually still be growing. Need your rest really bad during those times.
Always a pleasure, fellas.
Real quick…
I wanted to ask if you had a grandfather in your life, too. I was worried that might somehow be out of line.
I just want to say that sometimes I’m about as socially graceful as Trevor Bauer.
If I ever actually offend either of you two, please realize I absolutely had no intention of doing that & that I’m good with you y’all letting me know I did.
As far as not offending anybody goes, you are doing fine. If I compared you to some others on this site you’d seem like a poet. That’s definatley not something to worry about on your part.
Btw, I love some of the stuff I’ve seen over at Fangraphs about pitch development so far. My (oddly) favorite pitcher also has a segment on there talking about his changeup: blogs.fangraphs.com/dylan-bundy-cory-gearrin-and-d…
So much stuff to look over and apply to my own game. Thanks for telling me.
(Hey, and my favorite pitcher is Cory Gearrin… weird, I know.)
I love that series. Tons of first hand accounts/info.
Of course!
That is a weird one. I remember being marginally excited when the Yanks picked him up. Gotta ask…why?
The reason I like Gearrin is because whenever we traded for him, that’s when I started becoming a deeper baseball fan in general. I think it was about two years into me watching baseball that he got traded from SF to TEX, and I just loved the thought of seeing a new player on the Rangers. That’s also about the time that I started trying to pitch, and I just loved his funky style. The weird arm slot, the hard break, everything. I loved watching him. It felt like that “new toy” type of player.
I have also been reading over a lot of changeup stuff, and I have gotten some really good ideas. There was one asking Degrom where he learned his changeup and he said it was from Johan Santana. Santana told him that the way you know that you have a good changeup is when you can throw long toss with it, and it doesn’t reach your partner because of the spin. That’s a really interesting cue that I will definatley use. I also saw that Gearrin’s changeup grip is really close to mine, so I’ll try throwing his in long toss and seeing what happens.
So much more stuff to try.
Danny Bigheart –
What’s going on?
Gearrin pitched decently for the Yanks in ’19. I was kind of excited when we picked him up. He’s another of those spin rate darlings.
I think he was with the Twins last year.
The first trade I recall is when the Yanks sent Micky Rivers & Sparky Lyle to…the Texas Rangers! Ugh. I was 10 & pretty devastated as those were my two favorite players at that time. I can neither confirm nor deny that – contrary to the popular saying – there may have actually been some crying in baseball that day.
My first encounter with the “baseball is a business” thing.
Santana had one of the most devastating change ups I’ve ever seen. I saw him throw out here a few times. Dude could sling it, serious. & that change just floated & disappeared up there. I cannot think of a better change up to emulate.
And when you run out of things to try you can hang your mother’s frying pans from tree branches & throw at them in the dark.
😉
Is it disheartening to you that I have no idea who those two guys are? lol
I think my first “baseball is a business” feeling was the diminishing of Prince Fielder. I loved Prince Fielder, and seeing him hit upper deck tanks at the old Globe Life Park is what made me fall in love with the game. So majestic, so powerful. Then this happened: youtube.com/watch?v=cMKwULpTbUg
I will still say to this day that, that moment was the saddest moment in baseball history. I hope to see one of those two boys next to him be in the big leagues one day though.
Santana had a brilliant changeup. He needs to be a HOF, it just sucks that injuries shot him down. He wasn’t bad when he had to leave the game, he was just injury riddled. The veterans committee should let him into the hall though. Another HOFer – in my eyes – is Cole Hamels. He had a really long, solid peak, and he has always been a consistent performer outside of that too. He’s just so underrated that I think he’ll have to get on by the vet’s committee as well.
Btw, the cast iron idea is a no by me chief. lol
I do have some innovative ideas floating around in my head right now outside of my training. The main thing I want to do this summer is to get my name floating around the baseball community a little bit more, and not just as Rangers29. I might create a Youtube channel, start writing fangraphs stuff, a lot of things. Something I am wanting to study though is WAR. I want to – and I know this sounds ambitious – fix WAR. WAR is such a polarizing stat that there are more than one version of what should be the same thing. I want to fix whats wrong with it, and really pinpoint a player’s value with that stat.
Really big ideas, but I’ll need help on some of them too.
Go easy on me lol.
I actually had a couple hours of work to do today, man.
Nah.
But that was the team I grew up with. The Bronx Zoo clubs. Chemistry? How bout fist fights in the dugout. That team was wild, man. 4 pennants 2 World Series victories, though.
Chemistry is called “winning”.
Don’t know if you are much of a reader? But there’s a great book about that team called ‘The Bronx is Burning’. It’s actually pretty relevant today on a social level.
I’m not going to assign homework? But I will strongly recommend it.
I remember Prince’s father. I was actually at the game when he recorded his first & only stolen base. Real shame how Prince Fielder’s career ended. Seemed so sudden.
I just don’t know about Santana as a HOFer. Maybe? Honestly, I’ve lost complete respect for the hall since Selig was voted in while the greatest ballplayers of my generation are ostracized & vilannized. Absolute joke. & the reason I’m pretty impatient with baseball writers in general. I’ve a theory. It’s rather unflattering towards the BBWA.
CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! lol Yeah…I get it.
WAR will always be an estimate though, won’t it? Ya know?
Anyway, we’re getting your life’s supply of snow up here today. I’m going to try & slip a couple hours of some hunting in this afternoon.
Later, bro.
Stay up.
Lads I’m really sorry to be so reticent in replying but I appear to be dealing with something untoward at work.
I’m responsible for 5 territories and have just inherited a 6th. Let’s say I’m dealing with Jackson Rose territory. Next to Bonds pin cushion point.
You’re intelligent. Apols, want to talk about pitch mirroring
Lads I’m really sorry to be so reticent in replying but I appear to be dealing with something untoward at work.
I’m responsible for 5 territories and have just inherited a 6th. Let’s say I’m dealing with Jackson Rose territory. Next to Bonds pin cushion point.
You’re intelligent. Apols, want to talk about pitch mirroring
Will respond eloquently on Sunday when I have time to make a response worthy of your constructive comments.
Apologies again lads but it’s really difficult right now
Peter
Man.
& here I was grumbling because I actually had to suit up for a couple hours this week.
That’s a significant increase, Peter. From a volume viewpoint that’s an increase ~ 16.5%. Which would simply have to create some kind of strain. I actually don’t even need to meet the fella who could shrug that off.
So I get it.
& – of course – it’s not only a matter of volume either. Right? Gotta sprinkle in a little Murphy’s Law every so often.
Thanks for checking in.
Haven’t seen you on any of the boards so I was hoping all was well.
I still am.
Sounds like you’re working really hard these days. Looking forward to hearing from you again.
Mirroring is a pretty fascinating topic.
I have real mixed feelings on it. It seems to be a furtherance of the the Tampa Bay Ray’s-ing of all MLB pitcher development.
Stay good.
Peter – I have finals this week and I thought that was strenuous. Don’t burst a blood vessel doing what you’re doing. Luckily you get Sunday off, and hopefully you get time to rest up then.
Btw, me and Francis were talking earlier about who our all-time favorite pitchers were, and I figured I’d say my all-time favorite players – at each position – here.
Starters:
Lynn
Kluber
Verlander
Bauer
Woodruff
Relievers:
Cory Gearrin
Johnathan Hernandez
Aroldis Chapman
Jason Grilli
Liam Hendriks
1B:
Prince Fielder
2b:
Jose…Altuve
3b:
BELTRE!!!
SS:
Tulo
LF:
Yelich
CF:
Trout
RF:
Bonds
C:
Napoli (though Sam Huff might dethrone him soon)
Very recent, but I like all of those guys. Btw, imagine just how good this team would be… nasty!
A little early then.
Dan – good luck in your finals – I think you should (mostly) stay off here – other than for soundbites (Mum jokes) so you can get your head down & study. I was up at 5am to get out and study the forensics. Territories is a big big word, but it’s really paint shops/stores. Honestly, it’s not a biggie.
If I can choose my list: And it’ll be heavily A’s centric. Weird eh?
Starters – Sonny Gray, Zach Greinke, Tommy Milone (known to A’s fans as Chilled to the bone/the fraudster) RA Dickey (the devil threw an 89 pitch CG shut out against my lot) Dennis Eckersley….
Relievers – I’ll see your Aussie and add Grant Balfour, Rollie Fingers, my fellow longhair Hader in Milwaukee (without the tweets) Jerry Blevins (personal) and I agree – Aroldis….
Infield – I’ve gotta have my Matts (Chapman & Olson) on my corners – I tell you what Matt Chapman (a ludicrous gamer) is going to get an equally ludicrous contract in a couple of years. I’ve got to have Jeter at SS. I know, I know, not the greatest defender but I’ll take his intuition in hitting, brains, heart all day long. 2B is so difficult, but I’ll have Roberto Alomar over Biggio Snr….
Outfield…. I’m a bit spoiled – I’m gonna stick with players I’ve watched live or online. In left Cespedes (healthy) centre I agree Trout, and I want the much maligned Judge on the right. That one’s for you Duckster…
Catcher – wowsers – I want Thurman Munson’s moustache. Actually I’ll have a 6 man rotation so Wainwright & Molina. Because it’s BB heaven to watch those two guys. You can’t steal signs because they’re aren’t any. Nod, set-up pitch.
DH – DAN YOU MISSED DH!!!! I’ll go Papi…. narrowly over Khris Davis.
Take care. catch up later.
“Honestly, it’s not a biggie.”
Stiff upper lip & all that, aye?
It’s almost cheating doing this as a Yankee fan.
Starting staff:
Guidry
Pettite
El Duque
El Tiante’
Tanaka-san
Bullpen:
Rivera to close. Sparky & Goose as multi inning firemen. Jeff Nelson & Britton to set up. Mike Stanton second lefty. Dick Tidrowe as long guy. Ramiro Mendoza Swiss army knife.
C – Munson
1b – Mattingly
2b – Willie Randolph
SS – in a surprise development: Didi
3b – Nettles
UTIL – Brian Doyle
Outfield was really hard to narrow down.
I’d have HOF corners in Reggie (love Judge…but; Reggie, ya know?) & Winfield. Gardy in CF (another really tough call. Loved Rivers & Bernie so much, man). Roy White 4th outfielder.
DH:
Giancarlo Stanton
Bro.
That club would win 120+ games, serious.
My DH? Nellie Cruz all day long.
Francis, I really liked you including Bernie Williams on the list. He is – Hot take – the most underrated player in baseball history.
I’ll post a longer reply later, but I just wanted to say that right quick.
Just swinging through to wish you fellas a happy Sunday.
Jeez – I missed Rickey Henderson, but other than Eckersley, Thurman Munson, Biggio, Alomar and Rollie Fingers I either saw (live) personally or watched on TV/On line – live – all of the others.
And Rickey vs Trout is a difficult one. Rickey could steal a rabbit off a mink without the mink noticing or at least being able to react…
I’ll take Yusmeiro Petit as the long man. I watched rapt in a bar in SF in 2014 (after my A’s had let me down – and to be fair there was something small ball special about the 2014-15 Royals) as Petit worked about 7 innings in relief in that 16/17 frame lunacy against the Nationals. His strike out of Harper (& Harper’s tizzy fit & subsequent ejection – to be suckered with two identical “high” curves remains the ballsiest bit of pitching…. One of the bar guys (on a split shift) served us a couple of beers & was astounded we were still there and lucid four hours later.
“You’re not from round here, are you?”
It was too engaging to be able to drink too much.
There was a bar lady with a magnificent pair of accessories (I think they’d been paid for) but nevertheless best stiff upper lip
Just looked it up. Petit pitched six with one hit – three walks – one intentional. It went 18 innings (I remember 6hrs 37mins as a game time)
Will post more sensibly later.
Happy Mondays
Peter
Got to see Ricky bein Ricky when he played for the Yanks.
You ain’t kidding. Mercy what an unrepentant thief.
Those Yanks teams get hammered by a lot of our fans. They were really good squads, though. Yanks had the second most wins in baseball in the 80’s. Alas, no Wild Card games back then so they stayed home.
My retriever got into a scuffle over a mallard with a mink once. She brought the duck back…sans head & neck.
I really like Petit as an addition to the Yankees pen. He’s one of the guys I’ve zeroed in on.
I bet you are a blast in the pub when the game is on the telly.
Back at you. Have a great Monday, fellas.
I’ve had to take several spastic breaks from my program lately, but I’ve still been able to work around it quite often and find time to get outside.
I think I fixed something though! If my command wasn’t already good before, well then now it is almost pin-point. I introduced a Max Scherzer-esque arm swing into my motion as I lift my leg… well… see for yourself here: youtube.com/watch?v=GosjPR6ZXeA
That makes my arms stay in a fluid motion with my legs as I go through my delivery causing me to be more consistent each pitch. Before my arms would be inconsistent as I went through my delivery (that might’ve even caused some kind of pitch tipping that I didn’t know about). But this way I have to consistently have those arms moving in a fluid pattern each time. I love it.
That has also caused my leg lift to be higher (something I’ve wanted, but haven’t ever been able to figure out how to do comfortably). It has also ticked up my velo 1-2 mph. I don’t have a radar-gun, but I can just tell. Some things are almost sensed.
I’m going to be out of town this weekend where there’s no internet or phone connection, so I’ll not be able to get on then, but I won’t be hurt or anything.
Nice talking.
It’s amazing how much can be done by just a simple little mechanical tweak. We see it in MLB all the time.
Rich Hill changed his grip, messed with his delivery & rode that to tens of millions of dollars. Adam Ottavino is another one. Sonny Gray reunites with his old pitching coach & he’s a Cy Young Caliber pitcher, again.
Look how many times JA Happ has reinvented himself. Nathon Eovaldi…the list is enormous.
Do everything you can to emulate Scherzer, man. He’s a HOFer, serious.
Hope finals went well for you, Danny. Didn’t see you here much. Thanks for the heads up on the trip.
Somehow, my “worried mother” gene got activated by parenthood, man. I’d’ve noticed you were gone.
Enjoy being away from electronics. I’ve invested a bit into staying “connected” via some nautical equipment. Man, when all is said and done, I have faster service in the middle of nowhere than I do in the city.
Which is a…mixed bag, shall we say.
Good to hear from you.
See ya when I see ya.
Ah bollox – Henry Aaron.
It’s actually my birthday today and for some stupid reason I took the day off. Which of course happens to coincide with a covid outbreak at one of my stores, which meant I had to join a 40 minute conference call involving the organisation of a deep cleanse of a store, warehouse etc.
And then Henry Aaron. Whose eulogy (on here) dissolves into a discussion about Bonds & PEDS. I don’t often think a comments off is appropriate but reading it has depressed me a tad.
My best evers are still Henry Aaron and the clean guys. Having taken amphetamines (I was a very naughty youth) I can’t imagine greenies – regardless of whether he took them or not – helped anyone other than as a pain reliever, and they’d have had to be very mild. Double espresso mild.. If you’ve tried to play 7 hours cricket on a hot day with an amphetamine hangover (I’d been to a dance club all night the night before, so no sleep) – let me tell you it’s not pretty.
Anyway,
Ducky, you mentioned Rich Hill. If you guys can access his story on the Players Tribune it is well worth a read. Khris Davis and his throwing yips is pretty good too.
Ducky was I right about the bronx is burning book?
Dan, there’s a really good article on the athletic about seam shifted wake which makes sense to a cricketer, Can cut & paste if you like? Dan Straily comes across as particularly intelligent in the reasoning…
And by the way – Dan – you mentioned Max Scherzer – he’s for me – continually refined his motion. If you go back to 2013 play offs vs A/s/Sox his body of motion was all acceleration. He is so much more fluid now.
And I like the idea of frying pans hanging from a tree in the dark. Perfect for muscle memory….
Yeah, that’s a drag. 20 consecutive seasons of 25+ home runs. Just a machine, man.
“Honestly, it’s no biggie.”
Until you have your birthday interrupted, uh.
Gotta say happiest of birthdays to you, Peter. From the first time we started posting back & forth I’ve absolutely enjoyed it. Hope you are having a great day man, serious. Besides the unwelcome intrusion of work & life.
Sometimes we – & I include myself here – at MLBTR just…man, we suck a lot of the time. I can’t say it any other way lol. Haven’t been here all day. 3° but I went in search of grouse anyway. With the border to Ontario being closed grouse season ends for me this month.
The birds are pretty savvy or lucky or both this time of year. We (dogs & I) didn’t even flush one. Brought back a fat little cottontail though. He’s destined for a cassoulet.
Anyway.
I’m actually one of those pro-peds guys. Let’s actually do some research on the long term effects. Have these guys set up their cycles directly with a doctor’s & trainers help, & clean up & standardize the manufacturing process.
Look.
I played football & baseball in the 80’s. If you weren’t running gear you weren’t doing it right. I don’t really know how else to say it. I discovered that the side effects were things like; looking my best, feeling great, & being able to play my hardest every day.
Those are pretty strong temptations.
I’ve never actually been able to resist them. & I look at some of benefits all of the new non-steroids PEDs bring.
Peptides & SARMS not only for muscle growth but recovery, & healing, as well. Nootropics which aid mental focus, memory, attention span, spatial awareness, etc. At the Rio Olympics, everyone was taking Noopept (since banned).
Where is the line drawn with PEDs?
Cortisone is a corticosteroid. Literally in the steroid family. How about injections of B-12 on game day? Massive amounts of antiinflammatories. Heck, couldn’t oxygen on the sideline be considered a PED?
It’s interesting where people draw their moral “lines in the sand”, uh? I would consider amphetamines to be “drugs” & therefore something to be avoided. Primbolan or Test-prop or HGH? Not at all.
Ya know?
Danny –
You live your own life, but I’m going to discourage you if I can in regards to PEDs. Seeing as I’m a single parent – I made peace a long time ago that I’m just going to be a complete & total hypocrite sometimes. There’s really no getting around it, man.
The best I can say is that at least I’m aware when I’m taking a “do as I say not as I do” position.
Rich Hill is such a great story. Almost out of baseball. Hanging on the fringes in independent leagues. Kept working, working, working…& then he’s signing $50+ mil contracts.
Sweeet.
Peter, help me. I can’t find what you were talking about in re “The Bronx is Burning”.
Wish I could remember the name of that pitcher my grandfather told that story about. Just goes to show that innovation & desire go a long way.
As always, good to hear from you fellas.
Well, I’m about to make off to our wifi and phone connection-less ranch in North Texas. About a 3 hour drive, and we’re leaving at 8:30. Gonna be a long night. When we get up there it’ll be time to start working on the new cabin we’re building. Y’all be safe, I know I will be. It’s nice getting away from the internet for a while – especially during these trying times. Stay safe.
Enjoy it, man.
I’m maybe weird but that all sounds like a great time, man.
Catch you soon, then.
Dan,
That sounds like a great weekend. – we’re still locked down at the minute, so I’m missing not being able to escape into the country. Any building consultancy needed – I recommend the duckster.
Frank,
I’ll kick off by suggesting there’s a difference between being hypocritical and experience. Me wanting my nephew not to make the same mistakes that I made isn’t (for me) hypocritical. It’s nurture.
On the PED thing I couldn’t be more diametrically opposed. Would like to chat this one over a few cold ones, but it’s just anathema to me.
This is where I’m likely to contribute as a hypocrite.
I was massively into athletics as a kid. But you knew what was going on. The East German “women” were in a category of their own.
Mate – I’ll try to distil this down really quickly without saying “I’m right, you’re wrong…”
To me mate, it’s like saying, you’re a better player than me but because I can afford a better “conditioning” program than you, I’ll get the contract.
So you have to go down the cheap route of (say) pig steroids – with untold side effects in order to match your better talent against mine.
Taking the legalised route further….
At what point does a team’s chemistry department become more important than it’s scouting?
Are you willing to say to your grandson – kid you’re brilliant – but you’re already 12/14/16 years old – time to roll your sleeve up?
I can’t do that. I know that’s not what you’re describing but it’s what it extends to with kids in the Dom Rep as an example. Juice or all that talent you’ve worked since birth will be wasted.
I just can’t say that……
Apologies, that might have been all a bit over emotive, but my real point is that once one person is doing it, everyone has to do it. Which is where it caused problems in the first place.
And I’m not comfortable with it being one step from “You’re letting yourself & your team-mates down if you don’t….”
You clearly know a lot more about this than I do – so apologies for my – aaaaargh – help me zombies! – phobia – and it is an interesting or challenging philosophical discussion. Especially by the very nature that detection will always be one step behind “crime.” Especially where you draw the line.
All a bit cops & robbers – but I’m wanting Kojak to win. With a bit of Hill St Blues.
No apologies necessary.
It’s one of those slippery slopes, man. So I get it.
There are just so many inconsistencies, though. Creatine is banned in the NFL… but not NBA or MLB. Maria Sharapova (be still my beating heart) banned for mildonium (which I wholeheartedly endorse – harder to stay sharp the older I get, man). But LeBron could use it.
Anyway, the real benefit is in recovery. Check out some of the new peptides & SARMS such as BPC 157, TB 500, LGD, etc. Used in conjunction w/ HGH & maybe a really mild steroid like proviron & perhaps the timeframe for TJS recovery becomes 8-10 months instead of 14-16.
That would be a big deal. Ya know?
For players, teams, & yeah fans.
I dunno.
I realize that this isn’t my Most Popular Take Ever, or whatever. I just see the usefulness of them & don’t buy into many of the counterarguments. Of course I don’t think kids should do them.
But when they’re done growing? I think there should at the very least be an an open fact based dialogue. As of now there’s nothing like that.
Happy Tuesday.
Hey guys, I’m back from the ranch (as I have been for a few days now), but I just wanted to hop back on.
It was nice getting away from it all, but I have came back to a crowd of people (really just one poster with 15 accounts) who thinks I am a 40 year old acting as a highschooler, and he just keep screwing with me. Here’s the link to it: mlbtraderumors.com/2021/01/brewers-among-teams-sho…
Really pathetic and stupid, but at least I know who I am.
That dude sucks, man.
He’s here more than any other poster yet he contributes less than any other poster.
In a way, it’s kind of amazing. All that quantity yet absolutely no content. Not only that, but if anything is there at all it’s a smoldering mess of insecure poop.
Really the best way to get rid of him is to outimmature him. I – obviously – had no problem getting well beneath his “level”. As you’re the mature one around here that may be difficult for you to pull off.
Welcome back.
I don’t want to leave this thread out to dry, so I decided to swing by again.
I thought that the beginning of a semester would bring a breath of fresh air to my busy schedule, but it instead brought a breath of fire. 8 or 9 assignments a day all week with each of them ranging from 30 minutes to an hour long. Then on occasion I’ll have a two hour long project or something that makes me neglect my other work… tiresome.
I have been spending the last week in the Houston area because I went back to my grandparents house from North Texas. So, I’m away from home for the week (I’ll get back home Sunday), but I wasn’t able to bring my baseball stuff, so all I have are my bands are some cardio work. Right when I was just about to start throwing true bullpens… But I’ll get back next Sunday anyhow.
I’m going to get back to my tedious work, talk to you guys later.
Morning Dan, Duckster
I think I’m finally back to normality after a pretty hectic month work wise. My good lady wife is currently looking for work so I’ve been busy writing cover letters – trying to be supportive – and dealing with a few tomfooleries of my own. A cover letter is an absolute art form and my word do I feel your pain. You have to angle a cover letter to say “I’m perfect for this job” without it looking too obvious. So I feel your “irked-ness” assignment wise, because after a day at work the last thing I want to do is start wrestling with these things! I’m guessing the online day at school followed by 8 further assignments isn’t barrel of giggles either.
But surely you can hang your grandmothers frying pans from tree branches and throw rocks at them? I’m sure she would understand if you explained it was the Duckster’s idea! My one more practical piece of advice is to do the hardest bits first and break it up – 30 minutes assignment, 10 minutes outside “shadow” pitching, or with the bands followed by another assignment. But do the hardest bits first when you’ve got the most energy..,..
Mediocre advice from a mediocre student…. over.
From a couple of your posts earlier in the thread I feel your pain with some of the crustier members of our site. The grammar police – well – I want them encased in a coffin of their own vomit – and the “crusties” well I despair. The Daniel Murphy retirement section is a beauty of an example – because everyone commenting hasn’t read the (SNY) article. So they’re all lauding Murphy as a) Christian Saint in the Good Fight, or b) A bigotted gay basher. Whereas if you read the article (Billy Bean LGBTQ advisor) and Murphy actually come out of the article with a working friendship and enhanced status. I could leave a comment “if you click on the article and actually read it you will realise that ALL of your comments are misplaced.” But what’s the point?
I think – especially towards the weekends and in “lockdown” people might have had a drop too much of the tiddly juice. And idle fingers cause irritation.
Right scroll back up a bit and get to more positive stuff
Nutty week trade wise. I barely get over Liam Hendriks departure than see Semien to the Jays having been offered some kind of Bobby Bonilla contract to stay in Oakland. What surprised me most about Semien’s deal was the one year. Does he really want to be on the market in next year’s class? So I’m hoping he has a 2019 year in Toronto against the 11 AL teams other than ours. And an extension mid season. His pre game routine is apparently renowned for being the epitome of professionalism – so I’ll look into that further…. Also a bit concerning for the A’s that they’d even consider that type of contract as an offer. Who knows what the truth is there?
Duckster – I watched the Bucky Dent game on youtube as part of my baseball educational cycle. It’s energising. Click. Watch. Repeat. I’ve a right arm like Schwarzenegger. Stunning stuff, but people seem to remember it as if it was a walk off (shot heard around the world) type thing. They added on!! (insult to injury) Well worth the watch though. The green monster has been re-modelled so much – there weren’t people sitting on it – I was at a game when Prince Fielder smashed a line drive against it so hard that I thought the ball would bounce back to the pitcher. Would that be an infield double? As a slight aside – in the NYY commentary they mentioned Yastrzemski had signed a new 5 year deal with the Red Sox. Iconic player, doesn’t sound that mad. Except he was 39 at the time. And played all five years.
Duckster – with the PED thing – I was looking at it through 1980s eyes (Flo-Jo – her 1988 records still stand, she died in her late thirties) – and through the kind of worst case scenarios I saw around the Mitchell report and the “great enlightenment”. From a medicinal point of view – I’d philosophically agree – but I look at the medical exemption certificates abused in cycling. (Rule Britannia!!!). I think if it’s for something like TJ surgery (any (???) surgery) AND say a pitcher/player had to test negative a month before hitting an MLB roster (so allowing for a rehab stint in AA, AAA) I wouldn’t have much of a problem. I just wonder whether the above further blurs or clarifies? And I’m very much the chin stroker on this one, because chemically I don’t what I’m talking about. I remember peptides from late 80’s chemistry A level but would struggle to separate them from a banana.
Ah yeah – back to trades. Nolan Arenado. Amazed Colorado are getting anything back if the opt-outs are to remain. Always had a lot of time for storied franchises so am chuffed for the Cardinals but know what it’s like to be a Rockies fan (the A’s 2014-5 tear down)
Oooh – leave this with me – I’ve rabbit holed to the Empire Builder train and considering the possibiltites. That particular rabbit hole was a series of quantum leaps but I’ll explain by replying to myself later.
In the meantime please be quiet…
Splendid…..
OK the Amtrak from Chicago (to ultimately Seattle/Portland) tootles through a fair few places including Milwaukee & the twin cities plus Fargo (Roger Maris museum) and then – not exactly a whole lot other than lots of beauty) before Seattle. Had I have known how close Milwaukee is to Chicago (ignorance displayed like a badge here) I’d have gone there in 2012.
The lady wife (unless she knows something I don’t) hasn’t been to Chicago, and I visited Wrigley but not the south side. Saw Kerry Wood pitch in relief in one of his last appearances, plus Rafael Dolis plus Tony Gwynn, son of Tony Gwynn.
A semblance of a plan….
Fellas.
Man, I’m going to be straight up.
This thread is kinda the highlight of – – for me anyway – of my experience on MLBTR & Pro Football Rumors.
Makes me want to cut the internet a break.
I just got back from a swing down to Nebraska. Was pretty cold up here. So I added about 20° (that’s Fahrenheit, @Peter). Lots of catching up to do. Lotta stories broke.
I’m paying particular attention to the LHRP market. Seems to be in the range of a little over 1 mil (Claudio) & a little under 3 mil (Loup). So it would appear that there is plenty of room under the first threshold to add a lefty to the Yanks pen.
A boy can dream, uh?
Now I’ve caught you up, let me get some responsing (I know, I know – sticking with it anyway).
That sounds like a pretty full load, @Danny. I’m wondering what grade you are in? Xavier is a junior (good Lord, man…time…I still can’t help but recall the little boy correcting me that “they’re called *coca* dots, Dad” & stuff like that, uh?) For some reason I think you are a year younger than Xavier?
Anyway, gunna go parental. School *is* your job right now. Good that you are still getting some work in. Sadly, when you are young there is never enough time, man. & when you finally do have all the time you want…well, good chance you’ll not be able to enjoy it like you’d hoped.
Edit: that sounds kind of grim. Life is fantastic. Sometimes the experience can be a bit limited is what I’m trying to say.
Thanks for the check in. You remain one of my two fav posters.
Catch ya, bro.
Here to interrupt quiet time.
🙂
Nice post. Lots of good stuff & lots of baseball stuff to unpack here. I’m down!
“I’m finally getting back to normality after a pretty hectic month work wise.”
“Honestly, it’s no biggie.”
I fully believe the first statement. I’m a tad hesitant over the second, however. “No biggie” or not – & a fella that says that is my kinda fella, serious) it’s good to see your getting ahold of the new tail. I have a hard time figuring it was easy. Just happy that you’re making it through.
Cover letters.
Man.
So…i mean, I know what they are? Of course? But – true confession – I’ve never written one. I’ve just always had difficulties working “for” “someone else”.
They do – however – seem quite tedious. Helping out Dominaka (apologies if I misspelled…great name that got caught in my head. Scrolled up trying to find proper spelling. No luck…hoping I didn’t imagine it.)
Your fancy for her comes out in your posts. It’s really cool to see. I’m a bit of a romantic. Part of the reason I’ve a few marriages behind me. Hey – just because marriage didn’t really work out for me, doesn’t mean I don’t wish others well in their efforts with it.
I just wasn’t very good at it, man.
Peter, what is the economy like in England? As of now, we’re doing ok. But we’ve a double barrelled (inflationary & credit based) recession headed our way. I can’t help but think this will probably be the worst financial recession of my lifetime at the very least.
& I’m generally optimistic to a fault (yeah…you can add that one to the Top 10 List of Things Francis’ Ex-Wives Hated About Him) & I’m no economist but it seems to be pretty clear.
“Just print more money” is never a feasible solution. Nor is “just give out more loans”. Ya know?
We’ll see. The vast majority of my work is paid for by insurance companies. But I can see some issues with that even.
I can see a lot of scenarios where the homeowner will have a choice: new roof through insurance or catch up on the mortgage. I know what I’d do.
That stuff happens once in awhile.
But I have a hunch we’ll be experiencing it a lot more the next few seasons. & we’ll see what happens with the new construction market. These are really crummy contracts. Low $ low profits. They do serve a purpose in so far as keeping my tradesman busy. & the at least the jobs are never upside down.
Insurance company checks are always good. It can take forever to collect from them, however. New con builds we get paid on right away. But, f I had to live on them I’d starve, serious.
They’re an almost decent little side hustle, though.
Why is the image of frying pans hanging from trees in the dark to throw at such an amazing image? For me, it’s the ingenuity, the determination, & the heart.
Love it.
I like that you actually gave some advice, Peter. Lord. It’s totally happened to me. I’m a mom. I straight up went with a “do your homework, Danny, it’s your job.”
Sigh.
Know idea when this happened to me lol.
Danny. What Peter said. (&…well, school*is* your job right now…no. No. Need to stop…let’s go back to “what Peter said”.)
Trolls suck.
When that’s all someone is here to do it does detract. But I can’t lie about this one. I throw a line in the water once in awhile myself. It’s like waterfowl hunting, man. An old timer got me throwing a line in the water & trolling back to the landing. Ya know, I pick up 5-10 pike or crappie a season doing that. Mostly I’m there for ducks or geese. Just like here. I’m mostly here for baseball & football.
That’s a pretty decent idea for dealing with the grammar gestapo. Man. I’m pretty much done with homework. I have to take 2 continuing education classes for my contractor license every year. Thus far “winging it” has worked out. & if it ain’t broke don’t fix it”, uh.
Missed the Murphy thread.
I can just imagine it though.
Man.
My normally unshakable optimism is being thoroughly put to the test, man.
A’s are really taking it on the chin this off-season. LaStella is a nice player. I’ve always liked Semien. You know how I absolutely love that nutty Aussie Hendricks. Dude stole my heart against the White Sox this past October. Looks like Petit & Soria are gone, too. I feel like I’m even forgetting one or two players.
And that contract “offer” is indeed accurate.
Ooof.
That’s just terrible. This is way worse than the Bonilla deal. At least Bobby Bo got tens of millions up front. Semien was “offered” a couple mil up front.
How did Beane even keep a straight face. Mercy. I hope they all had a good relationship. If not, I’m not sure how they avoided a fist fight, man.
Semien had to’ve been steamed. 6 mil less & almost all of it deferred? Over a decade? Man.
PEDs really need a lot more rationale thought & study.
Leave you with this as a 300 mile drive & this third ale seem to be catching up to me.
PEDs are the reason that the greatest ball players of my generation are “banned” from the Hall. Ok. Maybe.
However.
Bud Selig the actual ring master of the whole thing is a shoo in? Why? Because the BBWA told us he’s not a bad dude, or whatever. Screw that.
Sports writers weren’t good ball players. Fact. They all readily admit to this. In fact, I think a number of them were that kid you’re team got “stuck with”.
Ya know?
I think a large amount of those writers have an ax to grind. & I believe they’ve found the perfect vehicle in PEDs. This is why I no longer have respect for the HOF. It’s why I refuse to pay money to any blog that has writers activily in the BBWA or aspiring to get in.
Bonds. Arod. The Rocket. Palmeiro. McGuire. Sosa. C’mon man. Those are all fantastic ball players. I was privileged to see them play, serious.
So.
Don’t think Rockies will trade him. They have different priorities as a club to their fan base. They’d rather hang on to their home grown players & rely on their fans cheering for players not laundry.
Interesting approach.
One that’s led to lots of mediocrity. But they draw at the gate & on TV. So bottom line, maybe it’s not all bad.
Alright.
Drove over 300 miles today.
Third ale catching up.
You’ll have great Sundays, fellas.
Plan addition.
Target Field.
Decent tickets. On me. If the timing works out. I’ve followed that rail line on a motorcycle trip. (Kawasaki GPZ 750 turbo – she flew)
Some of the best scenery our country can offer. Excellent choice.
Now.
Off to bed.
So yeah.
Kinda missed the whole “Arenado got traded” thing whilst I was away.
I’m pretty surprised CO dealt him. Be interesting to see if they actually embark upon a true rebuild.
K.
Later.
Evenings
Dan – apologies – this mostly aimed at the duckster….
Unusual tangent as usual – been laughing at vice grip garage on you tube. Just nuts. Accidental algorithm, but the 1968 Buick looks so similar to my 1971 Vauxhall Ventora… (GM car so I can see why it would)….
Will get back to you re the economics side of things. I think it’s grim but not that grim. There’s a lot of pent up demand, which as you point out is inflationary, but over here there’s a lot of home improvement going on because you can’t spend that money on vacations. I don’t think it’ll be a bad as the 1980s recession I saw in an industrial city as a kid.
Actually I won’t get back to you later, because I now find myself reasonably fluid. Or lucid, or something.
In London there’ll be a “freeze” on property prices which frankly is a good thing. Rather than upgrading by moving, people will aim to improve on what they’ve got. I know (you as a builder/me as paint salesman) domestic work can be an absolute ball ache – there’s very little secondary work other than word of mouth referrals – and even then you’re starting from square one. Insurance work can also be a bloody nightmare (are you working on fires or water damage?) because there’s a hell of a lot of box ticking….
At present we’re still dealing with the aftermath of the Grenfell fire in London (I don’t know whether you saw this but a couple of years ago about 90 people died in a tower block fire due to crappy cladding.) A lot of my more complex work is down to intumescent coatings and in public areas/communal buildings there has been chaos because the same inappropriate cladding has been added to all manner of blocks all over London. It’s a bit like asbestos in negative. Asbestos is a brilliant product if you never have to touch it, see it, amend it. Properly lagged the cladding would be the same. But if there’s a gap, it creates a chimney effect and a giant torch. Tragically fire and rescue advised people to remain in the building because the internal measures should provide 120 minutes of safety. But the cladding effectively funnelled flame upwards – think 1970s film Towering Inferno…. So we’re dealing with creating “rock solid” internal intumesence because it’ll take years to remove the crap cladding.
Way off topic.
So I’m going to join you in the mindless optimism stakes. It’ll be bad, don’t get me wrong, but I hope it can be used as an opportunity.
Little update: School sucks. I’d normally say “lol” after that, but I’ll leave it empty because that’s about where I’m at with it. They tell us to come on back from the end of last semester and then they absolutely smother us with work. I’ve even dropped my throwing even though I’m back home. It’s school school school right now. And yes Peter, I have been doing the harder stuff first lately. It makes me have an odd urge for caffeine though lol.
When we went down (up, I guess) to our house project in North Texas, I learned some very valuable stuff from my grandfather and his friend about taping and floating walls. I’m going to use that on my room here at home, and who knows… maybe this summer I might start up a Youtube channel?
Btw Francis, on that last comment you posted, you passed the 1000 word mark! Congrats! I read through that whole thing and after I was done I copied and pasted it into a word counter site lol. 1,100 something.
Oh and something else I wanted to bring up, I stopped trying to work on my write-ups. With school the way it is right now I decided that maybe it isn’t in my best interest to write 15 articles in my free time lol. So instead I was going to sporadically make some different kinds of write-ups (one is a trade proposal that I am currently planning), and I’ll drop those randomly.
Before I go, I wanted to link you an article that my friend over at LSB made. He’s a part time student/political worker, but in his free time recently he has been doing really high quality write-ups. Here’s one that isn’t Rangers’-centric, so it might appeal to y’all more: lonestarball.com/2021/1/31/22251451/what-i-learned…
He does really good work, and is an ultimately nice person in general.
Oh, and lastly, I changed my username over there from Rangers29 to HufftheMagicDragon because Sam Huff is one of our best prospects, and maybe that would play a part in giving him that great nickname.
Talk to y’all later. Gotta get back to my… studies…
Hey, Peter –
Thanks for the assessment.
I’m economist, or whatever. But I do like to try & keep track of fiscal news. Was curious what it’s like in England.
Yeah, we saw a spike in people who were stuck at home & realized their homes needed some work.
Hopefully both our countries can get through this. I’ve gotten pretty content over the last few years. Was hoping to take a step back from the company this year (in the form of an added full time salaried employee).
That’s still my tentative plan?
Lot of moving parts though.
One thing that Covid accomplished was pointing out how poorly a lot of our construction practices are/have been. We were discussing “sick building syndrome” in the late 80’s early 90’s when I was studying architecture.
So many of our buildings are breeding grounds for mold & mildew. Poor ventilation/circulation definitely played a huge part in the spread of the virus.
I deal with a project a year that has an asbestos abatement element to it. You are correct. Was a good product. Just don’t do anything to it.
Sorry for the super disjointed response, London. I don’t think I ever really quite got my thoughts properly reigned in.
Please forgive.
Till next time.
Good evening, Danny.
Man.
My guess is you know I’m merely an extension of your mother when it comes to school & homework.
I’m cool with you venting. My son does the same.
But, bro, school is the most important thing in your life right now. I’ll never not stress that.
Good you got some working advice. Better than my brow beating you, uh?
😉
Taping & floating is an art, man.
When I was a building tradesman, I worked very, very hard at it to become merely passable at it. I love building. It’s so pure. You create something. So awesome.
Learn as many of those skills as you can. I worked a myriad of construction type jobs when I was in college. The work was interesting & not repetitive. By the time I graduated, I was making significantly more money with a nail gun or a trowel in my hand than the jobs I was eligible for with a BA in Architecture.
I wound up getting drunk on tequila & enlisting in the Marines. Went to Officer Candidate School then Combat Engineer school. Never really wound up doing much with my degree.
Though, I too have some property “up north”. Meaning, by the Canadian border lol. But I’m putting together a nice little “shack” up there.
I like doing stuff like that.
Wow.
That’s…a long post. It was like 3 AM & I’d had a few Summits.
Congrats on making it through it.
I caught one of your trade proposals here.
I have one:
Heller & Medina from the Yankees to PIT for Richard Rodriguez.
I like when posters put together realistic trade props. That’s a big part of MLBTR. Ya know?
I’ll check it.
That’s a good screen name. Rangers fans are pretty high on Huff. MLB needs more quality catchers, man.
Another disjointed response.
Alright, fellas.
Catch ya.
I’m not going to fully reply right now because I too am tired, but I want to just quote this: “I wound up getting drunk on tequila & enlisting in the Marines.”. That might be the most interesting thing I’ve heard here, and I just wanted to point it out lol.
Just swinging through to wish you fellas a happy Super Bowl Sunday.
Hope you are both well & having great weekend’s.
It was a good Super Bowl if you were a Bucs’ fan, but that was a bad game. Too many bad calls killed the Chiefs…
Anywho, I have wrote my first write-up ever, and I wanted to share it here: lonestarball.com/2021/2/7/22270662/the-rangers-nee…
It’s not perfect, and the trade proposal itself was criticized, but I’ll get better with practice. I know what to change on the next one I make, so I’ll definatley be better, but this is a good first step imo. Hope y’all like it!
(BTW, you will love Andrus, Peter. Good trade.)
Morning Dan,
Really enjoyed the read. The thought process behind the “trade” itself is a cogent one and I can see Curtis Terry as an intriguing lottery ticket. At 24 is he going to be available soon as minor league rule 5? Anyway – having read your write up twice, I think it’s quality. It’s thought provoking, it’s reasonably paced, it’s concise – it’s really really good. I’m interested in where you think it could be improved and who your favourite writers are?
Another point I’ve thought about is that you haven’t over-pitched – it’s aimed at an audience, it’s not statistical – and there maybe is the only relatively valid point I’ve made – know your audience. They can do (in this instance) the stats themselves….
((Interesting use of a moniker too – Huff the Magic Dragon… the original song was criticised (much to Peter Yarrow’s dismay) for allegedly citing smoking marijuana. All of this throws us to the Duckster’s NYC roots – Peter Yarrow’s father was a lawyer who worked in NY with (amongst others) Thomas Dewey (did he reach vice pres? – the only reason I remember this was down to his support for Pres Nixon both as a VP & a Pres and I think I researched this during Wicked Willie’s impeachment!) & I think one of the sons of the original Lehman Brothers but I might have to investigate that further….))
I’m right royally miffed about the Khris Davis trade. I can see the pragmatism from both teams point of view but Davis just comes across as an all round top bloke. Check out his interaction with Anthony Slocumb – the best write up is on CBS… If Davis is DFA’ed or released I’d be utterly stunned because there was certainly juice in the tank at the (play-off) end of last season. He also wrote or co wrote a piece on The Players Tribune highlighting having the throwing yips from left field. I will try and find proper links for both of those… But when we were clearly losing the wild card game in NY two/three years ago and were 6-0 down in the 8th it was KD who lifted a middle finger up with a 2 run homer to at least remind the Yankees we existed. We lost 7-2 but hey. And just to illustrate how nutty life is – Liam Hendriks STARTED that game as an opener. The only time I’ve really vehemently disagreed with the A’s brains trust. Fiers was brilliant that season and sat polishing the bench.
Anyway – he (KD) was a big big part of our clubhouse – wore his uniform immaculately like a soldier on parade (no tequila) and was my favourite A since Cespedes. I’m transferring to Laureano because there is the Aussie attack dog in him.
Anyway – I get the trade – really I do – it certainly solves the A’s SS problem in the short term and frees up the DH role for Canha, Pinder, It’s pretty much cash neutral (when you account for the pitching lottery ticket) but the exchange of catchers baffles me. I liked Jonah Heim (I like Austin Allen even more) but I can’t fathom this out and wonder whether this was a Rangers part of the deal because we seem to have about 15 catchers on our 60 man. Slight but not overt exaggeration. Just to cover ourselves about 2 days later we signed 2 more on invited MILB-majors deals.
Ah well. By the way – didn’t think the Chiefs necessarily got bad calls, but thought all the subjective calls that could have gone against them went against them. Thought the Buccs were a step or steps ahead in all areas. Not a huge fan of NFL. There’s too much clock waving down – professional game management (I’d prefer 4 x 10 minutes of actual play – in what game can you mess around for 29.9 seconds and call a time out? – how do you explain that to a child – it’s “good” play/game management but 1/120th of the playing time you’ve paid hard earned for is gone whilst they’ve actually done nothing other than to play statues, chat, swap knitting patterns/end zone celebrations) Ask yourself this – have you ever bought a jumper (what do you guys call them – sweater, pullover, roll neck, pantyhose) knitted in inclement conditions by a linebacker? If you have can you find out if they do a sapphire blue?
Will talk more drivel later – guaranteed.
Take care
Peter
Well, less drivel…
Have seen the news on the weather reports – stay warm out there – saw the horrendous footage of the RTA and the -18 celsius (sic? really?) in Texas. Can imagine more northern climes are equally challenging.
Whereas we hit about minus 6 – which was bitter enough.
Dan:
Stolen from another publication, this is Leith Kaw’s take on the top 20 in your farm
Although the Rangers don’t have many top-end, high-ceiling prospects, landing just one guy on my top 100 and another on my list of dozen guys who just missed, they have substantial depth in their low minors in pitching, middle infielders and corner bats, enough that a year of health and actual games for development could see the whole system improve its value substantially. The Rangers aren’t afraid to experiment, and while that hasn’t always worked — viz. their rash of Tommy John surgeries in 2019 — it’s good to see a team try new methods or ideas to help players develop more fully or more quickly.
To be eligible for these rankings, a player must still be eligible for the Rookie of the Year award in 2021, which means they may not have more than 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on an active roster heading into this season.
1. Leody Taveras, OF (Top 100 rank: No. 44)
From the Top 100: Taveras played 33 games in the majors last year and just barely sneaks under the wire to retain his rookie eligibility for one more year. He showed flashes of how good a defender he is in center, making more out-of-zone plays in center than many highly regarded defenders who played more innings there in 2020, including Kevin Kiermaier, Harrison Bader and George Springer, thanks to his top-end sprint speed in the 96th percentile. At the plate, he struck out far more often than he ever has in the minors, with breaking stuff his bugbear, but did make harder contact than expected when he did put the ball in play. He’ll play all of 2021 at age 22, and in a non-pandemic year probably wouldn’t have seen the majors last season. Right now the Rangers should just hand him the everyday center field job, where he’s going to be a 70 defender, and hope that his longstanding ability to put the ball in play, with strikeout rates down around 20 percent in the minors, comes back as he gets used to major-league curveballs and sliders.
2. Josh Jung, 3B (Just Missed)
From the Just Missed: Jung is a perfect example of a prospect I do like despite his omission from the Top 100. There are more than 100 prospects in the minors right now, and a player missing the main list could still be a good prospect and someone I’d want in my system if I were a GM or President of Baseball Operations or Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas or whatever the decision-makers are calling themselves these days. The Rangers have tried Jung at second base at their alternate site, and even had him fill in at short, but ultimately Jung’s value is going to come down to how much power he has, since it seems very likely he’s going to hit for average, and, once again, we need to see him show some thump in games since he didn’t in a brief run after signing in 2019.
3. Dane Dunning, RHP
I’ve liked Dunning as a back-end starter since college, and he has the command and two major-league pitches in the sinker and slider, but either he’s not using his changeup enough against lefties (only about 10 percent of his pitches) or he needs a better weapon against them. He does everything else you’d want in a fourth starter and otherwise seems completely recovered from his Tommy John surgery, so I’d expect him to go right into their rotation.
4. Sam Huff, C
Huff is a power-over-hit catcher with enough receiving skills to stay back there and end up a potential regular. He has 70 raw power and showed it in his brief trial in the majors, but he struggles with breaking stuff and struck out in 30 percent of his at-bats in A-ball in 2019. If he’s not a catcher, he’s probably not a big leaguer, but he is a catcher and the Rangers think highly of his progress behind the plate. He could be a .280 OBP, 25 homer guy, and with average defense that’s probably a regular.
5. Cole Winn, RHP
Winn was the Rangers’ first-round pick in 2018, a high school right-hander with average velocity and excellent command for his age. He then walked more than a man every other inning in 2019, but gained consistency as the season went on, and in 2020 he was more 93-95 mph with a plus slider and impressed the Rangers with his strike-throwing ability at the alternate site. Call it confirmation bias if you wish, but that is the pitcher Winn was supposed to become when he was drafted, and now — say it with me — we need to see him do it in games.
6. Maximo Acosta, SS
Acosta earned comparisons to Gleyber Torres as an amateur in Venezuela, because that’s what we do, but also because Acosta had similar all-around tools and an advanced feel for the game, especially at the plate. Acosta came to instructs last year and looked a little raw compared to the older kids there, but he’s a natural hitter with a short stroke and impressive plate coverage, strong enough to get to power eventually but with a swing now that is geared toward contact. He’s more likely than not to stay at shortstop but depending on how he fills out he could easily end up at second base, where his bat would profile too.
7. Ricky Vanasco, RHP
Vanasco blew up right before he blew out: He was touching the upper 90s and showing multiple plus pitches in short outings at the alternate site when his elbow screamed and he had Tommy John surgery, probably knocking him out until 2022. He’s been beset by injuries since he was drafted in 2017, with just 83 innings total in pro ball, but what he flashed this year would have made him the Rangers’ No. 1 pitching prospect if he were still healthy.
8. Davis Wendzel, 3B
Wendzel was the Rangers’ second-round pick in 2019, but barely played after signing due to a thumb injury so we haven’t seen him much in pro ball. He’s looked very good at third base, to the point where he might be able to play second or even short in a pinch, while at the plate he’s shown an advanced approach and looks like a high-OBP, high-doubles guy who should at least get to 15 homers.
9. Jonathan Ornelas, SS
The Rangers played Ornelas, their second-round pick in 2018, at short, second, third, center and left in 2019 in Low A — OK, he played center for four innings, but still, that’s impressive versatility. He’s not a shortstop in the long run but is athletic enough for second or third, and showed a good approach as a 19-year-old in 2019, with hints of above-average power to come.
10. Hans Crouse, RHP
Crouse didn’t pitch at the alternate site or instructs last year while recovering from elbow surgery (not Tommy John). Prior to that, he’d shown two plus pitches and an aggressive approach on the mound, but his control had been erratic and he lacked the third pitch to get lefties out. We’ll see where he is physically this spring but it might be time to move him to the bullpen.
11. Justin Foscue, 2B
The Rangers’ first-rounder in 2020, Foscue posted strong exit velocities at Mississippi State and rarely struck out, but he was a dead-pull hitter whose power only played out to left field, and he was a below-average defender at second base. There’s something here with his contact skills and ability to hit the ball hard, but the Rangers have to tweak his swing and/or approach while also either working hard to improve his defense or moving him to another position.
12. Luisangel Acuña, SS/2B
Acuña is Ronald’s younger and shorter brother, 5-foot-8 and a shortstop, with good control of the zone and strong hands for harder contact than you might expect. He’s an above-average runner who may be better suited to center or second than shortstop.
13. David García, C
The lost development year has meant a lot of teams had to add players like García, who signed at age 16 in 2016 but has yet to play in full-season ball, to their 40-man rosters, which will probably lead to teams pushing some of those prospects once games resume to try to get them to the majors while they still have options remaining. García is a catch-and-throw guy with a good swing and a solid idea of the strike zone for his age, but he’s vulnerable to breaking stuff and needs more reps to see if he can tighten that up. He has at least everyday upside if he does because of his defense and the hint of patience he’s shown so far.
14. Kyle Cody, RHP
Cody’s had a long path to the majors, drafted by the Twins in the second round in 2015 but declining to sign with them after they tried to reduce his bonus due to a medical issue, then signing with the Rangers in the sixth round in 2016, and then undergoing Tommy John surgery that cost him most of 2018 and all of 2019. He debuted in the majors last year and showed a plus slider that he threw more often than his four-seamer. The slider has good spin and a hard downward break; he can really throw it for strikes in addition to using it as a chase pitch. His fastball is hard but true and the slider focus makes him a reliever in the long run, but he has a good enough changeup to be a multi-inning or high-leverage guy out of the pen.
15. Jonah Heim, C
Heim’s become a quality defender and game-caller, yet another anecdote to support the old scouting maxim that catchers develop later, while at the plate he’s power over hit, with a swing that has good leverage but just adequate bat speed. That might make him a good backup, or a soft regular on another team.
16. Joe Palumbo, LHP
Palumbo was homer-prone in his 2019 debut, lost some weight for 2020, and saw his fastball back up when he pitched last year, leaving him with a still-plus curveball up to 82-83 mph with a sharp two-plane break, a pitch that hitters don’t pick up well out of his hand. He was a strong prospect as a starter but if his fastball is just average — and hitters do hit it hard — he’s going to have to go to the bullpen.
17. Sherten Apostel, 3B
Apostel — who wears number 11, but should wear number 13 if you really think about it — was only in the majors last year because it was 2020 and everything was upside down, but he’s still an intriguing, high-risk/high-reward prospect with power and a huge arm. Apostel is big, 6-foot-4, 235 pounds already at age 21, and has a decent idea at the plate for his age, but his strike zone is big and he has to learn to cover it all. He’s adequate at third now and could become an average defender there if his size doesn’t push him to first. He hadn’t played above High A before 2020 and needs to go to Double A this year to work on the strike zone and on his defense. If he can get to enough contact, he has 25-30 homer upside.
18. Anderson Tejeda, SS
Tejeda has power, he has a plus arm, he can play above-average or better defense at short, but he just hasn’t hit yet above short-season ball, and he certainly wasn’t ready for the majors last year (with 30 Ks in 77 plate appearances). Tejeda was repeating High A in 2019 when he dislocated his non-throwing shoulder, ending his season, costing him critical at-bats in general but especially in his effort to become a switch-hitter, as he was hopeless against left-handed pitching before the experiment. He just has so far to go with the bat and lost probably 700 at-bats to the shoulder injury and the pandemic, and because he’ll play this year at 23 his odds of getting to even an average hit tool are diminishing quickly.
19. Ronny Henriquez, RHP
Listed at 5-foot-10, Henriquez has the stuff to start but the lack of plane on his fastball might limit him to shorter outings in the long run. He’s 92-96 mph with a solid changeup and tight spin on an average slider, with both secondary pitches potentially ending up as 55s or better, and he throws strikes. I don’t think lack of height is automatically a sign a pitcher has to go to the bullpen, but Henriquez’s fastball comes in flat and he did get hit harder than you’d expect in Low A in 2019.
20. Owen White, RHP
The Rangers had a horrible run of pitchers needing Tommy John surgery in 2019, including White, their second-round pick the year before. White looked the best of the returning arms last year, back up into the mid-90s with the same promising curveball he’d had in high school, with mid-rotation upside if he stays healthy.
Others of note
Right-hander A.J. Alexy has been up to 98-99 mph in short bursts but has had trouble staying healthy — he was badly overworked in high school — and throwing strikes. He’ll turn 23 in April and we’re not waiting on any development in his stuff, so you might see him come quickly as a reliever/long man if that’s the best way to keep him healthy. … Outfielder Steele Walker has bat-to-ball skills but probably not the power for a corner, and scouts have long questioned whether he can hit good pitching or just feasts on lesser opponents. I’d just like to see more now power from a guy who’s limited to right field and already 24. … Tekoah Roby was their third-round pick in 2020; the Florida high school righty is already 90-96 mph with a chance for two average to 55 secondary pitches in his changeup and slider. He’s a good athlete and showed feel to pitch in high school. … Avery Weems, acquired from Chicago in the Lance Lynn trade, went from a nondescript senior sign throwing 87-89 mph in the 2019 draft to throwing 91-95 mph by instructs in 2020 with an above-average if slurvy breaking ball, and he should move quickly as a reliever. … Bayron Lora signed for a whopping $3.9 million bonus in 2019 on the basis of his raw power, already plus and trending up toward 70 or even 80, although his bat is way behind that and he might not see full-season ball until 2022 or beyond. He’s a corner outfielder, so he’ll have to hit, but it’s 35-40 homer power if he gets to it. … The Rangers’ second-round pick out of a Tennessee high school in 2020, Evan Carter was the talk of instructs with his power/speed combination. He’s really well put together at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, but swung-and-missed a lot in high school and his bat seems like it’s five years away. … Right-hander Cole Ragans was healthy enough to throw in instructs after two Tommy John surgeries; I was a big fan of his before the first operation and we’ll see how his stuff is when he tries to pitch on a regular schedule this year. … Right-hander Justin Slaten, their third-round pick in 2019 out of the very difficult pitcher’s environment at the University of New Mexico, has seen his stuff tick up in pro ball to where his fastball and slider are both pluses. He’s built like a workhorse starter and could be one if he develops his changeup to even a fringe-average offering so he can get lefties out. … The Rangers acquired Jose Corniell from Seattle in a trade this offseason for Rafael Montero. Corniell won’t turn 18 until June and hasn’t pitched yet in pro ball; he was up to 92 mph with a ton of projection to his body when the Mariners first signed him for $630,000 in July 2019.
2021 impact
Taveras should be their center fielder in 2021. Dunning should start in the rotation, while Cody could break camp in the bullpen. Huff debuted last year but I think at least a half-season in the minors makes more sense for his development as a hitter than just keeping him on the big-league club.
Sleeper
Last year’s was Ornelas, and I’m fine sticking with that, but if I’m ranking sleepers in this system for 2021 breakouts I’d go Wendzel, Acosta, Ornelas, Roby, Slaten.
Thanks for the entire Athletic article lol. I don’t have a subscription to it, but it’s nice to see the Rangers’ farm getting some love. We have a really good system. It doesn’t have the “sexy” prospects, but it is really deep. Jonah Heim actually went from 8th in the A’s pipeline rankings to 24th on the Rangers’ pipeline ranking. (Might not be exactly 24th, but it’s around there)
Oh… and Hell is freezing over in Texas today. We will have the lowest temperature EVER seen in Central Texas tonight, and man are people going crazy. The ENTIRE electric grid crashed in Central Texas after they tried the “rolling blackouts” idea that failed miserably. So I am typing this on my phone while the electricity is out in our house, and it won’t be up for another day or two. Oh… and we got the most a snow we’ve gotten in… ever? I think it’s the most snow we’ve ever gotten, but I’m not positive.
Gonna try to stay busy with peddling, and see what happens. I’m trying some new hip flexor exercises out today to try and increase my lower body’s mobility when pitching, so that’ll be good.
Thanks for the article, and have a good… winter.
Dan.
Might be being overtly dramatic but I’m between hoping & praying for the elderly out there. I’m sending on line money home to get my parents path & “driveway” cleared at the moment because they’re not very good at the online thing.
Me: “Mum, can you send me a picture?”
Mum: “Probably not – don’t really want to visit the chemist.”
Me: “Why do you need to visit the Chemist?”
Mum: “To get the film developed…..”
If I was lying…..
Anyway Duckster – will cut across the Yanks top 20 as according to Leith Kaw with my own punctuation thrown in to avoid any aspects of plagiarism. God forbid.
Take care lads
Peter
The “other publications” take on the NYYs farm system Top 20:
The Yankees have arms galore, in no small part because they seem to coax more velocity out of young pitchers than any other organization. They also have a wave of Latin American prospects coming, which is slightly ironic given their $17 million spending spree on the international free-agent market in 2014 yielded no prospects at all, with most of those players failing to reach Double A. They’ve done more with less and hit on a few high draft picks, too. One potential area of weakness is power bats, as they’ve focused on guys who play up the middle and are more focused on the hit tool than power.
To qualify for these rankings, a player must still be eligible for the rookie of the year award in 2021, which means they may not have more than 130 at-bats, 50 innings pitched or 45 days on an active roster heading into the season.
1. Clarke Schmidt, RHP (Top 100 rank: No. 48)
From the Top 100: Schmidt made three appearances for the Yankees in 2020, two in relief and one as a starter, where he was uncharacteristically wild, but his pitch mix in short stints isn’t a good reflection of how he’s going to pitch as a starter. Schmidt’s slider is plus, with huge tilt and an average spin rate in the majors of over 3,000 rpm, and he gets whiffs on it out of the zone, but in his major-league time he didn’t miss any bats with his four-seamer or sinker in the zone. The four-seamer is 92-95 with a high spin rate, but Schmidt didn’t command the pitch in the majors, missing middle-middle or above the zone too much. That was less of an issue in the minors, where he worked as a starter on a regular schedule. With a changeup and sinker, he has a legit four-pitch mix and a couple of weapons that should miss bats, and has a delivery that is far cleaner than it was in college before he blew out his elbow. I think he just needs a regular routine and pitching schedule to be a mid-rotation or better starter.
2. Jasson Dominguez, OF (Top 100 rank: No. 66)
From the Top 100: Dominguez was the top prospect in the 2019 international free agent class and received a $5 million bonus from the Yankees, who seemed ready to move him aggressively until the pandemic hit. Dominguez had an extremely mature body for a 16-year-old when he signed, and even though he won’t turn 18 until early February, he already is more filled out than many players two or three years his senior. He’s big, but still retains explosiveness in his movements, including plus running speed and great hand acceleration at the plate, leading to elite exit velocities. We haven’t seen Dominguez in games yet, so any take on his readiness to hit pro pitching (and work the count, pick up spin, and so on) is just a guess, but his physical tools point to an elite bat who right now can stay in center field.
3. Deivi García, RHP (Top 100 rank: No. 81)
From the Top 100: The little right-hander who could, García brought his four-pitch mix and very deceptive delivery to the majors last year and continued to miss bats with all three of his secondary pitches, even though it just doesn’t look like he should be as good as he is. García will pitch at 90-95 with his four-seamer, which doesn’t have great spin but does drop less than the typical four-seamer does, and hitters cut right through it like he’s throwing 100. They don’t pick up the ball well out of his hand; his fastball, changeup and slider all come from about the same slot, but go to different parts of the zone in addition to being different pitches entirely, and he gets a lot of swings and misses on all three secondary offerings (he does raise his arm slot just slightly to get on top of the curveball). He is on the small side for a starter, listed at 163 pounds, and when hitters do connect with his four-seamer they tend to hit it hard, but maybe he’s just a great twice-through-the-order starter or a “five and dive” guy who can regularly strike out seven or eight batters in those five innings of work.
4. Luis Medina, RHP (Just missed)
From the just-missed list: Medina is a great athlete with an incredible arm and a delivery he should be able to repeat, but his problem has always been throwing strikes. I’ve seen him hit 99 in the same start where he couldn’t get out of the second inning because he was so wild, and he has two plus or better secondary pitches too. In 2018, he walked 46 batters and threw 12 wild pitches in 36 innings for short-season Pulaski. In 2019, he improved but still walked 70 guys with 27 wild pitches in 103.2 innings, hitting nine batters for good measure, although he looked like he might have turned a corner late in the season, walking only six guys in his last four starts, covering 22.2 innings, with only two wild pitches. And now we have a little more cause for optimism, as Medina was the pitcher of the year in the Puerto Rican Winter League after he made four starts for Mayaguez, throwing 16.2 innings, walking six batters and striking out 32, more than half of the batters he faced. Four starts here, four starts there, none of this is a big sample, but it’s better than he’s pitched anywhere else in pro ball, and if he can build on this and put together a full season, or even most of one, with this level of control, he’s a top 50 prospect at worst.
5. Oswald Peraza, SS
Peraza signed in 2016 for just $175,000 but has surpassed the bigger-bonus guys the Yankees signed during their splurge in the international free-agent market in 2014. He’s a very athletic shortstop with plus speed and a solid approach so far despite being young for his levels. He’s growing into his frame and could get to average or slightly above-average power, which would certainly make him a top 100 prospect if he gets to show that in games at some point.
6. Luis Gil, RHP
Gil is probably a reliever in the end but will continue to develop as a starter for now, with a dominant fastball in the upper 90s that could miss bats the way Chad Green’s does. He has the body to start and could end up in that role if his secondary pitches come along.
7. Austin Wells, C
The Yankees’ first-round pick in 2020 was a bat-first college guy with the potential for a plus hit tool. He’s a pull-oriented guy, but there’s nothing in the swing that says he can’t use the whole field. He’s probably not a catcher in the long run; if scouts thought he had even a 20 percent chance to catch, I would have put him in the top 100.
8. Yoendrys Gomez, RHP
Gomez sat at 94-95 mph as a starter for most of 2019, touching 98 mph with high spin, before wearing down in August, showing an average curveball and the potential for an average changeup as well. His delivery works well, and I like him as a potential three-pitch starter with no worse than average command.
9. Alexander Vizcaino, RHP
Vizcaino has been up to 99 mph with a plus-plus changeup, and the Yankees added him to the 40-man roster this winter. He’s a starter for now but could probably pitch in the big-league pen right now if need be. To remain a starter, he needs to find or develop a better breaking ball than his present slurvy slider.
10. T.J. Sikkema, LHP
Sikkema has barely pitched since the Yankees made him their competitive balance round selection in 2019, as they limited his work after he signed that summer, then had him pitch only a little in spring training last year, so he spent some time in the spring as a DoorDash driver while waiting to see if there’d be a season. He did work on his conditioning, at least, but we have to see him in games. Before the draft he showed three pitches, up to 96 mph with a slider and changeup, showing excellent feel to pitch, working to both sides of the plate and changing speeds and even sometimes his arm slot to get hitters out.
11. Ezequiel Duran, 2B
Duran is listed at just 5-foot-11, but the Dominican infielder, who signed for only $10,000 in 2017, produces very high exit velocities and legitimate line-drive power in games. There are swing-and-miss issues here, and his fringy arm might limit him to second base despite speed and hands that would play at short. The Yankees praise his work ethic, and he should get the most out of his tools, so he’s one to watch once we get these guys back on the field. A modest cut to his strikeout rate would mean a substantial boost to his long-term projections, making him a potential regular at second or above-average regular at short.
12. Estevan Florial, OF
Florial has been all sizzle and no steak — he has tools to rival guys in the global top 50, but he doesn’t recognize pitches and has had huge swing-and-miss issues, exacerbated by some unfortunate injuries to his hand and wrist in 2018-19. He has plus-plus power, can run and defend and has bat speed, but he’s going to have to at least show better pitch identification to get to any of those tools.
13. Kevin Alcantara, OF
Alcantara is still just 18 years old — he won’t turn 19 until July — but has been in the system for two and a half years, debuting in pro ball in 2019 and playing in the Yankees’ Dominican instructs last fall. He’s 6-foot-5 and has long strides to give him plus speed once underway, with good reads in center field to project as an above-average to plus defender there in time. His bat is behind, although his swing is reasonably short for someone with levers this long.
14. Albert Abreu, RHP
Abreu threw about 20 innings in 2020 between two major-league appearances and five starts in winter ball. He averaged 96.4 mph on his four-seamer in the big leagues but threw so many of them in the heart of the zone that hitters hammered the pitch, and he barely even used the curveball that at least used to be his best off-speed pitch.
15. Antonio Gomez, C
Gomez is a very good catch-and-throw prospect who impressed the Yankees in their Dominican instructs program this fall. He has strong hands and good rotation in his swing for future power as well, but the 19-year-old has just 57 pro at-bats, all in 2019, in his career because of the shutdown.
16. Ken Waldichuk, LHP
The Yankees’ fifth-round pick in 2019, Waldichuk went from 90-91 mph that year to touching 98 mph in workouts this past summer, and he already had a solid-average curveball and above-average control. His delivery had effort to it in college, but with the velocity spike he should at least go out as a starter and see if he can sustain that.
17. Anthony Seigler, C
Seigler has been snakebitten since the Yanks took him in the first round in 2018, suffering a concussion, a fractured kneecap and strains to a hamstring and a quad muscle in just two-plus years in pro ball. He’s a switch-hitter and was a switch-pitcher in high school, with a strong arm and above-average receiving skills, but he hasn’t hit at all in pro ball and needs at-bats if he’s going to develop as a hitter.
18. Anthony Volpe, SS
Volpe was the Yankees’ first-round pick in 2019, despite a relative lack of tools on either side of the ball, based on their belief that he will end up with a plus hit tool because of his intelligence and instincts. He’s not a shortstop and doesn’t project to power or plus speed, so he has to hit, but like so many other prospects drafted or signed in the last year or two, he needs at-bats.
19. Josh Smith, SS
Smith was the Yanks’ second-round pick in 2019, with solid-average tools all around but nothing plus, although he did hit well as a junior at LSU and in Staten Island after the draft. If he stays at shortstop, he probably has a utility infielder floor.
20. Beck Way, RHP
Way is a projectable, athletic right-handed starter who was heading to LSU from junior college had the Yankees not signed him as their fourth-round pick. He has good deception in his delivery and projects to have several solid-average offerings as he fills out. Given the Yankees’ history of helping pitchers add velocity, he’s a name to watch.
Others of note
Right-handers Hayden Wesneski and Daniel Bies (who clocks in at a giant 6-foot-9, 245 pounds) have hit 100 mph in shorter outings, with Wesneski doing so in short-season after he was the Yankees’ sixth-round pick in 2019. … Trevor Hauver was their third-round pick in 2020, and the Yankees plan to convert the Arizona State outfielder to second base. His bat would profile there, but he’s a long shot to be able to play the keystone regularly. … Everson Pereira, their $1.5 million bonus baby in 2017, is still here and tooled up, but between injuries and the shutdown he has just 257 pro plate appearances and not much production to show for it.
2021 impact
García is already in the rotation right now, although there is competition for those last two spots depending on the health of various other candidates, and Schmidt is a rotation candidate for later in the season if the need arises. Abreu could appear in the bullpen, but I doubt he makes any starts for the Yankees after their offseason acquisitions.
I figured if I was getting up after 6 hours of sleep to publish this, I might as well share it with y’all as well lol.
This is my 2nd write-up, and I feel that it is miles better than the first one, focusing on one player rather than a trade proposal. It’s fairly long, but it’s good quality. It’s about newly signed Ranger, Hyeon-Jong Yang, and why I think he will make the majors.
Here: lonestarball.com/2021/2/21/22281789/hyeon-jong-yan…
I have a fun one planned for in a few weeks, so watch out.
Haven’t been getting these notifications.
Wow.
Lots to catch up on!
First: very well written. Engaging, good use of technology, well edited. Get that out of the way.
The trade?
Lol…but I like Odor! I guess the big thing is I don’t have to try & root for him every night. So.
The man can throw a hook, though.
Really, really good for a SB Nation fanpost, Danny.
Tough for me to not see Davis on the A’s, man. & yeah, I recall him single handedly raging against the coming of the night.
Jeeez…I liked that over the top drama there…
Sup, London?
Ah, the NFL. I like my wool Irish fishermen’s sweaters. The big, thick, corded ones.
There is a lot to cover here. You fellas have been busy.
Alright…on to read some more
Wouldn’t be so sure about what the Yanks’ll do with Abreu. This is one area where the Yankees pitching development really diverges with Tampa Bay.
Abreu should absolutely be in the pen. Yanks hold hold hold try try try hold hold…try to make these guys starters. The Ray’s would have had him in their pen last year if not sooner & would trade him next winter for his replacement. I get it. If they hit it’s a jackpot.
My goodness.
The Yanks are still stuck on the Jonathan Loaisiga Starting Pitcher project. Ya know? & that will just simply never happen.
Anyway. Thanks for the list. I’ll be checking back on this regularly.
Bet.
Danny –
I am a SB Nation veteran.
I still post on Big Blue View (Giants) & Bad Left Hook (boxing).
But I’ve posted on probably a half dozen SB sites over the years.
So.
I am very familiar with the “quality” of most fanposts. Maybe Lone Star Ball is different. But – man – from what I’m used to seeing the quality of yours was tremendous.
You’re killin it over there, man!
Really liked the Lance Lynn graphics. I definitely picked up some things. You are really becoming knowledgeable about pitching. You’ve some pretty nuanced & subtle insights.
It definitely shows that you’ve been studying.
Alright.
I’m caught up.
That was awesome. Thanks, fellas.
Francis
I think it might be time to make our way to another thread lol. Manifest destiny. The notifications haven’t been working for you, and I have to scroll for a day to get down to the bottom of this lol. It’ll be fun to read over this like a book when I look back on this though. An oddly long book for the premise.
Anyways, I have another fanpost lined up for the end of next week. It’s the 5 storylines to follow in the upcoming Rangers’ season. Gonna be good. I didn’t like the first fanpost I made, but I loved the Yang one. I have a good writing ability, it’s all just about making it look good.
I’ve thrown a few bullpens recently, and in doing so I’m starting to get the urge to be gunned. I’m gonna look at going up to the local HS and making it happen sometime soon. I’d like to just know where I’m at, I feel very advanced for my age.
Oh and pro tip: Don’t go bowling and throw a bullpen in the span of 24 hours after not doing the former for 6 months prior. I ache lol.
This thread is like the old neighborhood tree house, though. I thought you guys abandoned it.
I have to “find” the article & then scroll through it. It’s…a lot lol.
Those were really good. I’m not BSing either. That’s not really my style. But – yeah – I saw more polish on the Yang write up. Make sure you some how let me know when you are publishing them.
I’ll continue to read them, serious.
Yeah, but you’re still very young. You’ll be completely fine by tomorrow morning, or whatever.
Glad you are still throwing.
Makes me happy.
This thread will be fun to look back on in the future; I imagine I will eventually read back on it like a book in the future. I kind of have to… I was a co-author lol.
I haven’t thrown in a few days. The aftermath of the freezing has lead to busted pipes underneath our (mobile) home. Luckily the house is on a concrete slab, so creepers were gratuitously used. Nevertheless, I still put in a 10 hour shift yesterday cutting out drain lines… I got face-paint on me… you don’t want to know what kind of face-paint comes out of drain lines…
Anywho, I’m trying to cram throwing into my already crammed schedule now, but I think I can manage it.
Thanks for reading the fanposts; people really seemed to enjoy the Yang one. By the end of next week the next one should be out as well, and that’ll be good as well.
Just curious how everyone is doing. This has been a fuster cluck of a week for me, so say goodbye to another one of my write-ups for at least another week. Idk, just very busy lately for some reason.
Good morning, fellas.
Obviously – in Peter’s case – morning for me anyway.
Danny, those were really polished. I’ve a feeling you – ya know – sweated the details contrary to popular advice.
Bet.
Tell ya. I’ve been around construction my entire life & I’ve a hard & fast rule; Never Be Your Own Plumber. You bring up one of the major things that has steered me away from all of that. I don’t even want to think about what all that black gooey stuff is, man.
You’re a bigger man than I am.
I love living vicariously through your pitching. You’ll never tell me “too much” about it. I find your “new school” approach to be endlessly fascinating. But I’m an absolute baseball/pitching nerd.
So there’s that.
🙂
My company starting to wake up. The weather has been pretty sweet after that nasty cold snap. It’s slow & I don’t have much to do. But the manic effort it will require on my part looms on the horizon like a big hungry monster. I always wonder if this is the year I can no longer handle it. Week after week of 80+ hour work weeks for ~ 15-20 straight week is…challenging.
Gets tougher to do as I get older man, serious.
The best player on my son’s basketball team tore his ACL. His team was competitor for the state tournament. That’s probably over now. He’s a pretty good kid – if a touch arrogant – so I feel for him. Put Xavier in a pretty dark mood for a few days. This was really his best chance of making state he was going to have in his high school sports “career”. He’d probably have a pretty good chance at tennis but he doesn’t really put much effort into that sport any more. In fact, if his girlfriend wasn’t on the team I wonder if he’d continue playing. Hey, whatever it takes, I guess.
Spring goose season. Gotta drive 2 or 3 hundred miles to get into the good stuff so I take a little weekly road trip. The crazy weather fluctuations have been getting them moving around more than usual for this time of year. I’ve been having better success than usual. & geese are pretty good table fare.
Keep throwing.
You’re my guy. @London as are you.
Catch you fellas here or on the board.
Stay up.
Hey, fellas.
Just checking in. Hope you guys are doing well.
Bathroom remodeling.
Last night we stayed up till 2:30 sheetrocking and doing electrical work. The old vanity got crapped out by water damage during the storm (granted it was crapped out before; it just hadn’t been replaced).
I’ve been cleaning out trash underneath the house for the last two weeks as well. Earning that $$$.
Lots of projects right now, and hardly any time for baseball though I am going to throw a bullpen today. I saw a video of Yu Darvish talking about his pitch grips the other day, and since I’ve always wanted a pitch on a horizontal plane, I am going to try using his two-seamer today. I think it would be a nice addition to the repertoire of 4-seamer, splitter, and changeup. Here’s the video: youtube.com/watch?v=850Ju8-JxZU
I also haven’t gotten time to write my next “article” yet, but I have the idea.
Morning D&D
Been a little quiet – apologies – found out a childhood friend had died recently and have been a bit consumed by that. The letter I wrote to his parents – bless them – wonderful lovely proper people – was as hard a letter as I’ve ever had to write. I got there on about attempt number 23. The result was woeful but a lot better than attempts 1-22.
Moving on – Dan – liked your second article, intrigued as to how Yang will work out.
And now work intervenes.
Will catch you in a little bit later…
Peter
OK – morning fellas – my time.- London 0730 hours. Have just walked the lady wife to a tube station saw all the little birds up and about and tweeting and enjoyed a monumentally strong Turkish coffee blend – a “gift” from a client.
My eyes are on stalks.
Finally got to watch Yang pitch 3 innings against the mostly first string Dodgers last night. Dan – I think you’re right – he won’t set the world on fire but he’s got enough street smarts to more than get by as – say – a number 4, especially where the Rangers are at right now. His release point feels really really late. This sounds silly but it did seem to mean batters were kind of waiting almost on pause which induced bad contact on modified swings…. Nice curveball as well and all of it as you pointed out – controlled and repeatable
All in all I liked his stuff – he got into and mostly out of – trouble in the 2nd inning he pitched (he gave up one run with runners on 2nd & 3rd with one out – no disgrace there) and I was pleased they then brought him back to pitch a (clean) 3rd inning. I’ve only just realised he’s on a spring training invite (probably should have re-read your article prior to posting) so this isn’t so much low risk as no risk.
The thought now strikes me that you too probably watched that. A liittle late.
I have to thank God for spring training and the start of baseball right now – it’s a very welcome distraction. By the sounds of things I’m not the only one needing a distraction. The damage to your home sounds horrendous Dan – if – as I understand it – you’re having to dryline everything – that’s a big ball ache. There are lots of PPG or Sherwin Williams coatings out there that will give you a little more protection and Wallrock do some wicked internal stuff that will further protect (thermal liners) inside.
As for drainage – oh my word.
I’ve enjoyed your contributions on other posts. Ryan Braun was indeed lying. I was asked at work (in relation to a price) “What’s the bare minimum?” My response “One bear” fell on stony ground.
Ducky your comments on unionisation & the US postal service were a rare delight on a baseball forum. Agree about unionisation – though your unions and ours in a different legal system are radically different. Disagreed about the US postal service. Danger is in such a vast country that competitors will only compete in the more profitable urban areas. No-one wants to take a letter from rural Nebraska to rural New Mexico for two dollars fifty. The very same argument exists over here and it’s ultimately resulted in a two billion pension hole against the Royal Mail’s rank and file.
Which obviously & seamlessly brings me onto one of my fave times of year – the bounceback or surprising addition candidate.
For the MFYs – it’s Derek Dietrich (entirely for his sense of humour, I tell you what he might be a massive addition so they loosen a bit) – and Lucas Luetge.
For the Rangers – too easy – I’ve gotta go with Khris Davis first. Again with an A’s twist – Eli White.
For my own lot – Lowrie, Kozma and the 17 potential 2nd basemen brings it’s own intrigue.
Have brilliant weekends.
Peter
I currently feel like that time I was running a route looked down & the football was somehow bouncing into my hands: “hey! Look what I found!”.
Just swung by to say, “you’re my guys” & found all this. I’m still not getting the notifications for this thread. So this was pretty fun to run across.
I’m going to encourage you to learn as much of that stuff as you can, Danny. No one knows how to do this stuff anymore. I used fieldstone to build my hunting shack/cabin. Had to find some really old school guys to do it. Same with Cedar Shake roofing. Not easy to find a crew that knows how to do that.
School on it, please.
Hoping you trust me a little on this one.
Baseball:
I had enormous issues with control when I threw. We’ve discussed this.
I could get a two-seamer to run all over hell on the way to the plate. Couldn’t throw the damn thing for a strike if you’d given me a million bucks to do so. So frustrating. It was unusable.
Great pitch to “change eye level” as we used to term it. Best wishes with corraling that sucker.
Thanks for the link.
No curve or slider?
Be good & do good.
Always great to hear from you.
I’ve written letters like that myself a time or two.
Yes.
They really are never adequate. You have my condolences, Peter.
It’s not cool these days (but I’m really not very cool: so) but I put “Peter’s friend & his parents” in a little prayer.
I can’t imagine the horror of burying my son. I just can’t. My heart goes out for them, man. Not much more I can really say about it.
Turkish coffee?
Did you make it with one of those little copper things?
Gotta know. I’m almost as ritualistic as an Italian guy with my espresso. Key word: almost.
But, *I* didn’t watch it. 🙂
& I’ve no qualms about copying your homework on this. For the record, I’m looking forward to seeing him throw as well.
Nice breakdown, Peter.
For a Cricket guy, you have a very nuanced understanding of pitching.
& gotta love the use of the term “street smarts” when breaking down a pitcher. That actually paints a pretty good picture. I knew what you meant immediately.
Merci.
My son plays chess.
We’ve talked about that.
He learns all these openings. I can’t remember the names? Queen’s something & some Russian things…
But I understand that they are mechanical processes that elicit certain specific responses.
I’m not a Union guy. Say that word on one of my job sites & you will be paid up to the minute & summarily bounced, uh? Happened twice. I’ll not have that. I treat my tradesman extremely well. Many companies have tried to steal my guys over the years.
Hasn’t happened yet. I think that says something.
Which gets back to chess openings. I feel I pretty much have certain specific responses that are just automatic reflexes. If that makes sense.
I’ll Google what your telling me about. But I’m only operating from philosophic arguments on all things political these days.
I’m not sure if I’m explaining this very well. It was a cool analogy (perhaps) but I took a break to talk some hoops with Xavier & lost the magic of it. Maybe.
Perhaps it was never there.
BTW, I was chastised for referring to you as “London”, Peter. People. Everyone is just so darn uptight.
Lutege looks good! He’s a good back story, too. Ya know both dynasties I’ve seen from the Yankees have been so different from each other. The Bronx Zoo club & the Corporate Yankees.
We could use a Micky Rivers, man.
Dietrich always seems like so much smoke & mirrors offensively to me, however.
I’m not sure whether or not getting hit by pitches* is an actual skill.
If it is…man, God love those guys, man.
That’d be a crummy skill in my opinion.
Wanna see Krush hit .247 with 41 bombs, yes please. Love that guy.
So hoping Lowrie has a big year because: lolMets. The meme not the horrible poster.
You fellas are the best.
Don’t forget that.
Francis.
*When calculating OPS+ an HBP is counted as a greater contribution than a BB. It’s attributed to sequencing. But I think it’s a faulty premise.
Up late.
Drinking & thinking, man.
My partner tested positive for Covid this evening. We were together just yesterday. Be getting tested myself tomorrow.
Been putting out a variety of “fires” all evening. Don’t mean to sound whiney. But I just kinda wanted to tell someone, “hey, man, I’m sorta freaking out” lol.
So…man, I’m sorta freaking out, fellas. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.
I feel a little better.
Stay up.
Thanks for the cheap therapy.
🙂
Hello Frank,
Reckoning work partner not lady partner.
Mate, weird coincidence but a bit of a freakout day yesterday too. Systems melt down with various big boots expecting an answer whilst pounding my sidewalk….
My friend’s Dad (thank you for your prayers – aargh – I missed a call from him) sent a kind response to the letter. Grace personified, made the letter look twice as inadequate as it already was.
Frank – what are the fires? Sure you’ve done Red Adair before – so bigger or smaller? Don’t know whether it’s you, but it’s certainly me – it’s the straw that breaks my back. I can carry all the s*** until a butterfly wing beats in the wrong direction – and at that point, I can go nuclear. Not sure whether I’ll ever learn to rein that in.
What was the choice of beverage.? In times of trouble I revert to rum. Scotch & Tequila make me a bit of a loon (not in a bad way – just utterly incoherent – ) but a dark and dirty sailors rum kinda makes me muddle through the path.
Anyway – as a mediocre salesperson – I’m sure you need a mediocre salesperson. So pop the green card in the post and we can meet about a week next Tuesday – uptown Pauls as we turn the aging market into the indoor ski jump the area has always screamed for…
Take care
London!!!!!
Hey, they happen, right?
I’ve just really tried to cultivate the “never rattled” image. Ya know?
Xavier knew I was stressing. But I’d never admit it.
Of course.
& don’t be too hard on your writing. As an officer, I had to write two letters like that. They will never, ever be adequate as long as we are forced to rely upon nouns & verbs.
I know this may sound hollow, but the effort is really the important thing. I know that is a trite notion. But I swear it’s true.
Numerous fires.
Legal. What is our culpability? Damn near $600/hr to hear, “maybe”. Lawyers, man.
Met with a couple of our sales guys the day before. Gotta get tests for them, their families, etc.
We were just setting our spring building schedule. Now we have to figure out other stuff.
My partner’s wife has one of those conditions that makes Covid deadlier.
Sales guys that had things set up. Do they go forward with the meetings? I’m still working though that.
I prefer ale & scotch these days.
Some type of brandy in the hunting flask.
I’m always looking for sales guys.
You’d do well at we do. I have a feeling. If you’ve a British accent that’d play.
Bet.
Thank you.
Francis
(I don’t know which I prefer – scotch or rum – though I’d hate to learn which one. )
I feel that I lack the life experience to contribute to this conversation, but I’ll try…
I’ve had struggles in my life, but I honestly can’t say it amounts to anything close to what 30 more years of experience could give me. Though I find that when serious struggles do come my way I fall into the same, lifeless hole: no emotion, just a numb feeling. Whether it be divorce, a miscarriage, disease, or death, I always fall into a lost state. Lost for words, emotions…
With that being said, when anything like the former does come up I try to be the anchor of the family. I may be fairly young, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be supportive. If that means hurting me a little than so be it.
Your partner will get through her bout though Francis; it’s all about mental power. Covid is on everyone’s mind, but it can be stopped with medicine and mental strength.
As for your friend Peter, sorry for your loss. S**t happens, and sometimes way to much of it comes all at one time. Here’s to hoping he’s doing well. RIP
Hey, Danny.
Good to hear from you.
I’d like to see the funny face you’d make when figuring it out. 😉
“If that means hurting me a little then so be it.”
Yup. & “they” say your generation doesn’t get it. Seems like you do.
It’s my business partner. So “he”. Heh. But he was a hockey player so I’ve made similar accusations myself.
Thanks for checking in, Danny.
Keep throwing, young man. The mound is a great place to forget about everything else in the world for a few hours.
Peace.
At the usual risk of replying to myself….
I’m hoping your partner has a mild dose of the virus and hasn’t inadvertently passed it to you. I’m also hoping you won’t need to self isolate – largely – and in the nicest possible way – I don’t think you’d be very good at it. I’d be infuriated after about four minutes.
Chess openings. Made up a couple of my own – they worked occasionally – twice possibly? – but my main tactic (and as a counter puncher I prefer to play black) was to castle as late as possible and usually on the queen side. That was it. Never learned an opening – well ok I tried a couple of times – but they usually went awry after about five moves. And I kind of think learning openings kind of railroads the game into a memory challenge not an adventure. And as you’ll agree Duckster if you’re playing chess you need all the adventure you can get.
My A’s are bubbling along nicely. Enjoyed last nights game – we had a 6 run 6th inning where Tim Anderson (out of the game) was interviewed by the Sox guys. Because of the inning – what could have been a 5 minute interview turned into a 35 minute chat. Covered a few topics, he answered very responsibly & positively about TLR. Tim Anderson came across brilliantly & was really funny.
On the White Sox front – they’ll be a compelling watch.
Your lot are bit more erratic. Stanton seems in really good shape. There are a few question marks – 1B – but lots of competition.
Got to head off – take care…
Well, I’m positive but asymptomatic.
Depends.
I’m hitting the road. Heading to South Dakota. I’ll live in a tent. I’ve great gear. 72 hours. No one around except the dogs. Goose hunting & walleye fishing.
Now, that I can do. & it’s safe. & like I’ve been saying, I was social distancing before it was cool, man. Not for everyone, but I’m happy as a clam.
Hope I come back & test negative.
I believe in the A’s. They’re my preseason pick out west.
I’ve got an iSat hub & a Falcon signal boosting antenna. So I’ll be connected.
We missed this one, Peter. I’m a boxing guy, too. Rip Marvin Hagler. Best middle weight I’ve seen.
Catch you later, fellas.
Evenings lads,
I’ll reply one by one in a timely manner. Replied to myself slowly this morning and you guys had both sent messages. Note to self – stick to the program.
Totally know about the “never rattled” thing. Especially in front of your son. How old is he? Sounds like a well adjusted well brought up kid from your description – a bit like another fellow in this conversation. I’m sure he’d understand. Don’t overload those broad shoulders – a friends grandfather tried way back in the day. World’s one man band champion. 27 different instruments. Has to add a piano. Crushed to death in a hurricane.
The bit up to the broad shoulders is true – the rest mere hearsay…
Thank you for the kind words with regards to the letter. Mine pales into insignificance in comparison to that of a commanding officer. So many “what ifs”….
S*** – I’ve just sneezed and accidentally pressed the send button – which means I’ve four minutes to edit.
I’ll break all the rules and reply to self again…
Coherence – it’s over-rated
2nd effort on this one…
Lawyers. Always pondering the collective. It’s a murder of crows, A school of dolphins. An extortion of lawyers? A fleecing?
F*** me with a prize winning leek, $600 notes for a maybe? Culpability? Give me a maybe and they’ll get a culpable something.
Mate – the only thing I can suggest as a mediocre middle manager and salesperson is to keep on keeping on. You’ve got a tight loyal team – this might do you a favour. You can delegate a bit more – because you’re going to have to – and I don’t know how many different projects you have at any one point – but an on site project manager per project? Let them run wild and run free and it’ll help you and them long term.
You’re the primary sales guy (or at least you & your business partner are) so – Frank – it’s an opportunity.
And it’s a great opportunity to have a bit of R and R with the doggies and get fully recharged in advance of your 70-80 hour week summer.
Dan – you’re next for the blind optimism therapy, so brace yourself.
Sincerely
London
PS – Have you noticed on the message boards “A’sfaninUK”?
I’m outraged. Not only are there two of us – as the joke goes – this idiot has to take half my moniker and stalk me in the UK.
Hello Dan,
Need updates on your throwing program. If – as mediocre sales guy – I’m going to be your agent nailing the $8 million signing fee – this is a bit Jerry Maguire – I’m gonna need some serious info. Don’t stress $8 million is bottom line, Negotiations start around $12 – $14 million.
The only call I’ve taken thus far is from the Rockies.
Interrupted now by the lady wife demanding attention.
My word I’m ruining this thread….
Well, I got bit by a stranger’s dog last week, and I got handed two weeks of antibiotics because of it (still don’t know if the dog was rabid or not, but we’ll fine out soon enough). Anywho, the antibiotics I’m on make me very fatigued after about 10 pitches into a bullpen (if that), but trust me… I tried. I’m still staying loose, but I’ll have to halt throwing until I’m off these devil drugs.
I bought a diamond kinetics ball as well. My first “big” analytical purchase. It tracks speed (fairly well), spin rate, and spin direction. Definitely going to use it and then report back my number. I imagine my fastball sits in the low-80’s right now which would be very above average for my age. (Video on the diamond kinetics ball: youtube.com/watch?v=4GwNAvq-0UM )
Nevertheless, it’s dinner time here in Texas, and there’s some fish dying to be ate (quite literally).
Morning Dan,
Watched the you tube video – that’s a wicked piece of kit. I genuinely wish that had been around when I was a kid bowling leg spin. You can get about 2400 RPM out of a cricket ball but that extra info would be priceless.
I’m sorry to hear about the incident with the dog. I’m sure you don’t want to get into details but I hope it isn’t too serious. Similarly I hope the dog isn’t rabid. I’m not into litigation but I’d be considering it given injury. That is if you can actually find out who the dog belongs to. And I believe there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.
And they might be devil drugs but they saved Mickey Mantle’s left leg when he was kid – otherwise no Mick. Or not all of him anyway….
Prayers all round at the minute lads. Dan, many thanks for your kind words previously. You’re a fine fellow. And I’ve kept “every word with purpose, every step with effort.” Because it’s bloody great.
It’s a bucket list item to watch you pitch. I don’t care what level. But I guess your frying pans are safe with the new gadget.
Take care
Peter in London
Slight tangent before I head back to the usual tomfoolery.
How much stock do you guys put into spring training? In terms of results and as a pointer towards what’ll happen in the forthcoming season?
In reply to positive but asymptomatic:
Dominika’s response was pricelessly along the lines of – “Are you sure? Is he sure? How can you tell? Is he ok?”
“Sweetness, he’s not locked up at home like we’d fear – he’s going to live in a tent in South Dakota….”
A quizzical look and no initial comment followed. “Is that the wilderness – like Pittsburgh?” I’ll regale you with the Pittsburgh trek at a later date…
It’s cool – she’s sweet – and bought into the conversation about the hunter gatherer, the teenage leader, and the mediocre paint salesman….
There might be a sitcom there – taken to an illogical conclusion…
Frank – as lockdowns go – yours sounds idyllic. It’s a bit bull elephant – but I’m actually quite envious. I don’t have the patience for fishing but I’d more than happily take a scattergun approach to an over population of geese. I’d know wild garlic – so with a few veggies along for the ride – mate – stuffed wild goose over a fire – kind of rotisserie style….
I love the A’s Frank – they’re me as a team. Underpaid (!) scrappy and irritating.
Marvin Hagler. Such a great era. Duran, Hearns, Leonard, Mugabi, Benitez.
Junior Jackson, McCallum, and one of my favourites, Herol Graham. Sadly Herol – just a beautiful boxer really did have the cliched glass jaw.
I’ve watched the Hagler/Leonard fight about 20 times and still can’t work it out. I thought it really ballsy of Leonard to agree to the fight in the first place – I thought Hagler was unbeatable – but I suppose 6 years in such a competitive division is a really long time. I still can’t agree with the decision but from Leonards point of view it was a great defensive performance and by that time Hagler had been ground down. The Hagler/Mugabi fight was – for me – better than the Hearns fight. I also wonder whether the 15 to 12 rounds – the championship rounds – change saved Leonard from rust.
I thought Gerald McClennan might get close.
We’ll never know.
Five days till opening day……
Stay safe – hope the tent doesn’t leak!
Peter
“Is that the wilderness – like Pittsburgh?” lol
I was never a boxing fan, but my Dad and I used to watch UFC and then “horse around”… well, that “horsing around” resulted in his thumb tearing. Needless to say that the “horsing around” has since stopped.
Anyways, I am excited for opening day, and it can’t come soon enough. I also have a birthday coming up next month as well, so it’ll be a busy couple of weeks coming soon.
My optimism for the Rangers (not the current roster, of course), and my overall optimistic outlook in general gets down-talked by the grown men of SB Nation. I find it funny that others can criticize people for being optimistic, but I honestly don’t care. I just create the mental image of a grown man sitting behind a pc after work and b*tching on the internet. That mental image puts me at ease.
Anywho, I have another fanpost in the making, and it should be out soon as well. It’s a fun little throw together before the season, and a nice break from my hideous school routine.
On that note, gotta get back to my hideous school routine now. Talk later.
Majored in Architecture in college. It was a major that required a minor. Weird sentence. Anyway, I minored in studio art.
I liked the classes. & I also liked those arty girls. Still do.
Anyway, we used to play this game where you folded a piece of drawing paper into as many sections as people. Then it would get passed around. You’d draw on your section unaware of the previous ones.
Then the entire thing was opened. It was a surrealist game called “exquisite corpse”.
“My word I’m ruining this thread.”
This is no longer a thread, Peter.
It’s art.
The Jesuits taught me that “antibiotics” translates to “no life”. Those always make me feel terrible, too.
Anyway.
Man, now that looks so cool.
Have you used it? How hard you throwing? I’m like Peter. I gotta know.
Man, isn’t that amazing?
So jealous.
Generally, I foster the notion that dogs >> people.
Or as Mark Twain said, “if heaven was a meritocracy your dog would get in…& you wouldn’t”.
Heal up, Danny.
Good bucket list item.
Lol…we’d be so proud! Ya know? “That’s my guy!”
Clang, clang.
Frying pans in the trees.
See? Its art, fellas.
She sounds fantastic.
& very patient.
Big sky out here. So many stars I feel every bit of my insignificance.
Here’s mine.
Me: “well, hon, the test came back positive. I’m symptom free but I’m supposed to stay away from people…so…I’m going to South Dakota.”
Linda: “of course you are.”
Had a pretty good evening shooting yesterday. Today I wasn’t fooling them. Matter of fact I swear they were flipping me little feathery goose middle fingers as they passed by out of range. Using a cajun dry coffee rub. With apples & pears.
So savage.
Such a great era. Don’t forget the Hitman Tommy Hearns. Benitez, too. Livingstone Bramble. I can watch Bramble Vs Carr over & over.
Mercy.
What a fight.
I still think Hagler beat Leonard.
Great fight.
I’m getting excited for opening day. Much more so than usual.
Rain coming tomorrow. So…me too!
Francis (out on the prairie)
Hey, Danny.
Yeah…thats pretty priceless, uh?
Reminds me…ya know, no matter how much I cheat I can’t beat my son in one on one anymore. Our driveway games have gotten…ugly. We’re both competitive to a fault. A little blood is not uncommon.
Oh, hey.
It’s my birthday tomorrow. Totally forgot.
The thing a lot of people struggle with is that optimists get let down. A lot. I.e. “I can’t believe that little guy took Chapman yard!”
I’d rather be that way though.
Optimism has served me well. Anyway – sadly enough – your image is probably spot effin on.
Definitely looking forward to talking later.
Stay up, fellas.
I’m guessing it’s about 5am your time Frank so Happy Birthday, despite the circumstances. In spite of Linda’s comment – which made me laugh out loud – I think you’ve made the best of a bad beat.
So I hope the rain holds off and you get to enjoy the great outdoors to it’s full potential. The cajun rub & baked apples & pears sounds blindingly good. How are you cooking – have you got a stove or are you building a fire?
I’m full of the joys of spring (training) today after the A’s gave a monster 11-0 clonking to the Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw. I’ve a lot of time for Mr Kershaw so no raspberry blowing there – but Cole Irvin (lightning in a bottle please!!!!) did a passable impression of Kershaw- one hit two walks ten strike outs no runs over six.
I’m also looking forward to this evening’s tussle with the Rangers. We’ve got AJ Puk starting against Kyle Gibson. Puk has been – to say the least – a little erratic. Hopefully we’ll get to see Yang pitch later in the game. I’m not up with roster moves as yet, so I don’t know if he’s still around but 37 batters faced, no walks, says quite a lot….
Dan – I don’t think you’re Rangers optimism is misplaced. The top of the order seem to be hitting well, so they’ll be fun to watch offensively – and similarly – if you can’t be optimistic in late March?
I giggled at the image of grumpy old b*st*rds, moaning on line. There are occasions when I fit into that category.
I’ll sneeze & press send and explain why Dominika thinks Pittsburgh is the wilderness in a bit.
Happy Birthday again Frank and have great weekends….
London
It’s hard not to be optimistic about this Rangers team whenever there have been some really good developments all around. (This comment is just full on Rangers’ homer themed, so watch out).
First off: Joey Gallo. The dude was so incredibly hot for the first two weeks of ST that even though he has been like 2 for 20 recently, he still has an ops hovering around 1.200. The dude was insane.
All of Solak, IKF, Dahl, and Guzman have had some dang good STs as well. Guzman is kind of the outlier there because he hasn’t lived up to his prospect potential just yet, but hear me out. The dude COMPLETELY revamped his swing this off-season. Not only did that lead to him winning the Dominican Winter League MVP, but he’s also had a good ST on top of that.
That’s it for hitting though, because my pitching department has been very promising this ST…
FIRST OFF: Sir. Mike Foltynewicz is king. I have the dude finishing in the top ten of Cy Young balloting come the end of the season. Why? Because his work ethic is back. During Covid he had no place to workout, and he got into a terrible rut in his life. The Braves let him go soon thereafter because they thought he was lazy, but low and behold he was able to get on a great training regimen this off-season, and he has now regained all of his lost weight. That has caused his velo to skyrocket back into the mid 90’s where it was when he was putting up great numbers two years ago. I expect huge things from him.
Kohei Arihara has presently surprised me as well. It took him a few outings to get a feel for our smooth, U.S balls, but now that he has he seems great. Mid 90’s fastball with a metric butt-ton f other pitches as well. Could be a decent little pickup.
And Kyle Gibson… He might have a bounce back season. The results in ST have been very good, and his newly added cutter seems to be to blame. He’s been consistent throughout his career, and that’s honestly all that this team is looking for.
I could go on and on, but just to sum it up I can say our rotation will look something like this:
Gibson
Folty
Dunning/Benjamin
Arihara
Lyles/Hearn
Lots to look for this season, and even more good stuff to look for come draft time. Jack Leiter here we come!
Here we go – the cream of the AL West – already sending shivers down the trousers of the rest of the division.
The 14-9 A’s vs the 13-9 Rangers…
1-0 A’s thanks to a bit of a booby from De Shields in left….
Umm Delino has had better half hours….
Luckily Delino isn’t going to make the team. Your guy Eli White is going to be the backup instead.
Dan – really enjoyed your Rangers-centric post. Agree about Folty – big bounce back candidate.
Outraged that A’s fan in UK – not only has stolen half my moniker, but seems like a miserable git (see your comment yesterday about frustrated people and keyboards) – and Jed Lowrie is now 2 for 2 with two doubles…
Will come back to it in more detail….
I’ve big hopes for Eli – not least because there aren’t enough Eli’s in sport….
I’ll be happy if Gibby can get through this 6th inning without allowing another run. I’m currently just looking at the ER column when determining how a certain pitcher is doing for a game because at this point we don’t have our opening day defense out there and Gibby is an extreme ground-ball pitcher. That’s gonna affect him greatly.
But only giving up 3 ER’s over 6 innings for his last ST appearance would make me happy indeed.
Well what do I know… he was pulled in the 5th lol.
My stream is lagging a little bit but he did well to get out of the 5th unscathed….
Well that was a forgettable matchup. Nevertheless, I’m glad to see Gibson had another fairly successful outing, and I’m fine with him being the opening day starter. He may not be the best starter on the team, but we suck so who cares.
I am excited for the times the Rangers play the A’s and Yankees throughout the season because I’d love to see y’all’s reactions to mid-game outcomes. I’m excited for this season. 4 MORE DAYS!!!
Hey, fellas.
Man.
Had actually kinda forgot about my birthday. Didn’t think of it til I read Danny’s post about his. As I get older I’d rather avoid them all together.
Peter: around the fire. That’s much more True Savage. I’ve invested in some good kit for it. I like to challenge myself. If I don’t acquire my protein fair & square it’s SPAM for dinner.
I love to cook & don’t care for SPAM. Motivation is tantamount to success, uh?
I generally have ~ a dozen sales guys. “Managing” them is one of my duties. I’ve noticed something; self depreciating sales guys (i.e. ” mediocre”) are always my total grinders. Those are my “deal-a-day” guys.
So I’m on to you.
Also:
I see it as more of a Tom Robbins novel than a sitcom. Accentuate certain character traits…now we have a plot! We go see Danny throw. Hey…I’m just the idea guy.
But it’s there.
Listened to the last couple Yankees spring games. You can tell the season is getting close.
I raise a bottle of Lambrusco in the directions of Texas & England.
Love Gallo.
I so covet him.
One thing I believe about modern baseball (it’s sorta two things): if your squad can put up 5 runs/night & has a pen that goes 5-6 deep…well you can win a lot of games that way.
I can see the Rangers checking those boxes. They could have a winning record. That’s not outlandishness.
Be good & do good.
Dan,
You’re not wrong there… I was hoping for 5-4 or 6-5 either way. I was struggling to stay awake towards the end. Gibson was OK – harsher scorers might have given De Shields a 2nd error, and one less run charged. AJ Puk all of a sudden looked loads better – the unsightly ERA halved by 4 scoreless.
I’m a bit disappointed for Jharel Cotton – prior to TJ – his action looked silky but he’s really struggling now.
Nuttily – we don’t play either of the Rangers or the Yankees until June 18th. Three away in NY followed by four in Arlington. May 17th – the Rangers host the Yankees. Let me polish my stones ready for throwing!!!!
Arihara vs Arrieta this evening (my time) – I’ll pay special attention to one of all times favourites Eric Sogard… Looking forward to that one – we’ve got the Giants & Daulton Jeffries vs Johnny Cueto. Proper David & Goliath stuff….
See you in a bit…
Morning Duckster,
I raised a small glass of paraffino westwards (it was actually rum & coke) but a nice fruity lambrusco is a fine choice.
I know what you mean about birthdays – but it is a chance for friends and family to celebrate YOU – rather than a random day in the calendar – which is what I think of it too.
Bit different when too there are rights of passage… which I dustily remember….
SPAM. Oh my word. I see your incentive loud and clear. It’s about 14 storeys high with flashing signs on the roof. I love things like potatoes at the base of a camp fire – wrapped veggies – Dominika is pescatarian – I’m an avowed carnivore. We agree on fresh tuna. Hers is cooked approximately 17 times longer than mine….
Trying to think my own equivalent of spam. It’s still probably spam…I can only hope you avoided that curse yesterday. I take it the dogs avoid the curse of spam? I’m imagining the conversation between the dogs…
Rover: Woof woof – equals – “He’s missed it.”
Bonzo – Grr – howl – woof – “What do you mean, missed?”
Rover: Woof woof grrr – “The goose is still flying, Sherlock…”
Bonzo: Grrr – mild howl – “I’ll get the tin opener….”
(I had a scenario where they’re tossing a coin to see who goes into the alligator infested lake (rare I guess in South Dakota) to procure the downed goose but I don’t think any of us have time for that….)
(Mild hint – older dog to younger dog….”You see these scars Sonny. That’s when Bossman ordered a canine charge in the Floridian swamp jungle. I fought off four mink and seven burmese pythons to get that duck. Time to cut your teeth Sonny….”)
I like the idea. Some sort of trains planes and automobiles to try to get to watch Danny pitch in Texas. Are we three hours late but saved by a rain delay?
Do we court controversy by asking an indigenous American to perform a rain dance – the admittedly unlikely target just outside of Austin?
We need a scriptwriters meeting…..
Finding myself in the unusual scenario of supporting NYY vs Phillies.
I was brought to baseball by a Red Sox fan – and my my – they can be salty.
We’ve got Kluber vs Wheeler….
Threw me together a quick MLB tv account (no payment). But at least now I can watch free game of the days lol.
Let’s go Klubot!
I don’t know what the cost is in the US – but I pay $140 per season for international rights which – obviously works out about 80c an A’s game throughout the season. I’m imagining they want about 10 times that in the US. When I first started my fandom I paid $15 a season for the radio stream and picked up the free game of the day every now and then too….
It’s all of sudden gone a bit gnarly for Kluber….
Moving on to Rangers vs Cubs now. The ex A’s diminished by Sogard’s absence. So the A’s watch is Martini vs Heim…. both in the 9 spot!
There’s your Joey Jack! 6-0!
Perfect example of scrappy hits, HBP, walks, and one big hit….
Two walks later I was beginning to feel sorry for the reliever!
Have to suggest that teasing the Cubs like that was a bit unusual….
Man…as a single parent I gave up on the notion of any days being about me a long time ago.
The dogs meal quality suffers when I get blanked.
My last spaniel came from Ridley Farms Kennel in the UK. She was literally a world class gun dog.
Cool in some ways?
But she had no idea how to have fun if she wasn’t in the field. Bro. She slept in front of the gun case.
But.
Her & my Golden would oftentimes share a look that I swear meant, “jeeeez….I coulda hit that shot…”
I avoided SPAM the entire time.
Tuna should be consumed raw. Well, that’s my preference any way.
Actually, my Golden has gotten into tussles with mink & other creatures before. Brought back a headless duck.
& yes. They’re hearts are amazing. More than once I’ve super glued them back together. Hey, I do it to myself. Old football trick.
See?
You’re on to it.
Madcap zaniness. Not heart warming.
I listened to it.
Sounds like his velocity was pretty good? Was hitting 92. Which is his norm.
Sounded like control/command was his problem. The announcers were raving about his curve.
Did it look good?
Oh.
Yeah.
You’re imposter sucks. He totally led me to believe he was you with a new name.
I’ll go with “git”.
Also ran a course of chloro quinine when i was away. Covid free.
🙂
Rougned Odor has been fired into the sun! It is a great day!
The man does throw a nice hook though.
Hello Frank,
Glad you’re ok and avoided spam. There can be no greater birthday. And it’s still – in normal circumstances a chance to celebrate you.
Springer spaniel? Remarkably loyal disciplined creatures – but ‘i guess you want a dog to be a dog too, not a machine. I’d still like to see the doggy look of distain.
Mink are just ridiculous in terms of prey drive. They’ve caused all manner of trouble over here with accidental or deliberate release from fur farms. They’re not on a bounty yet – but I don’t think it’ll be long….
Remember you mentioned the golden winning the headless duck….
Largely I’d agree about tuna but the mercury content is an issue – if you give it a little hot tickle and drain the juices you can get a lot of the mercury out of them.
But marinate for a day it’s cooked anyway – you ever caught any?
Is in an urban myth that superglue was developed for use “in the field?”
– As Danny tunes in –
Rougned Odor – certainly the sweetest right cross in baseball…..
I don’t know – he’s not Chris Davis – but I’ve always been a bit surprised that he’s regressed so much. I’m surprised the Rangers FO got that so wrong.
Dan, you’d know more than me but does he have holes he’s not worked on? Looking forward to your next article & the gadget update.
Re: Kluber – did you have the NYY feed? I didn’t get that impression from watching but this is London calling. I can pick a curve but slider/change up can fool me.
Every time….
Frank – by the way – you run a serious operation if you run a dozen in a sales team. You’d given the impression it was you & your business partner and a lot of guys on site. Wowsers.
Really sorry about the other A’s fan – missed that thread – but I’m a bit freaking annoyed too… He/she seems miserable – suggesting Jed Lowrie won’t play 20 games – whereas I think he’s worth $20 as comeback player of the year. Certainly looked healthy the other night – and was back as the doubles machine….
LONDON!
Makes me laugh we thought the same thing about Odor – that wasn’t a closing time roundhouse right.
Thank you.
If I could have chosen how to spend my birthday it would have been pretty much the way I did.
English Cocker. I now have an Irish Water Spaniel. Perfect for what I hunt with a dog. Machine-like is a fitting descriptor. She had no interest in anything that was not hunting. I don’t mind that? But I prefer my friends to be a bit more well rounded.
Mink are ferocious hunters. As such, I view them as kindred spirits. Your mileage may vary.
It was. So you never know. Just wondering how he looked. Kluber is pretty important when it comes to the Yanks season. No idea what we’ll get out of him.
Know what I’m hoping for…
It’s commission only. About half my guys treat it as a career. Some guys do it “on the side”. But. They’re sales guys. So part cowboy part prima donna, uh?
When I joined my partner he did everything himself. Built ~ 20 jobs/year.
We now average 400/year (!).
What a trip, man. Pinch myself sometimes because it doesn’t seem real.
Imitation is the highest form of flattery.
But. Yeah. You are my guy. He is not.
Francis
Right?
He’s obviously had some training. That was a real punch, man.
Morning fellas…
I wrote a witty and amusing post (as always) last night which seems to have disappeared into the ether.
Something about the domestic bliss trophy as (me) England beat Poland (Dominika) in a FIFA World Cup qualifier 2-1*.
Far more pressing question – did Yang make the cut?
Seemed a no risk option to my enlightened eyes…
Frank I hope your business partner has recovered too – and that his – at risk – good lady – has avoided the virus.
The evil empire strikes off at a sociable 6pm or so my time. The Rangers, a reasonably sensible 9pm. The A’s of course open with a night game at 3am. So it’s a 430am start for middle innings onwards…
We’ve made it an A’s tradition to both have a random opening day starter – Chris Bassett is the 15th different one in 17 years & to lose on opening day….
Nevertheless – if tickle came to push – push came to shove – and shove came to clonk over the noggin with a fire extinguisher…
I’ll predict opening day wins for all three of us…
* I once took Dominika to a football game. She lasted 23 minutes and went to TK Maxx…
Opening day, fellas!
I can’t remember being this excited for the start of baseball season since I was just a wild little thing in the 70’s. My goodness do we all deserve this. Even the fake A’sfanintheUK.
I’m feeling quite magnanimous today.
It’ll pass.
I’m not sure exactly how to say this. I’m a plain speaking fella for the most part. So: man, when I was in Europe the most beautiful women were Polish. Good heavens.
Well done, sir!
Soccer just doesn’t appeal to me. It’s hard to argue with billions of people. But I simply can’t find any excitement there.
I live in a 3 football team household: Giants, Seahawks (Xavier), Vikings (Linda) so I do understand bragging rites. It’s been…well look, I haven’t gotten to be the bragger for awhile. This year, man.
I distributed chloroquinine to them as well.
He was sick. Seems better now. That was all a little scary. Still is. She is pregnant (with twins!) so she’s staying with her parents.
Man.
“Hate” is a strong & overused word. But I hate covid, man.
Really looking forward to watching Cole. The man is a true stud muffin. & boy do we need him to have a big year. He is the one guy we need to play well. All year.
Basset is a good pitcher, man. The A’s have enviable young pitching. You guys gotta take care of Houston, man. What a despicable organization.
To be fair, she might have opted for that option no matter what sport.
Play Ball!
I’m giddy today. I’m a “chapter” away from finishing my next fanpost which I will post here later., and it’s opening day. It’s a baseball fan’s dream today. Too bad I have to be a pirate in order to watch it… Screw Manfred.
Anywho, Yang didn’t make the cut, BUT he had an option so he was able to be sent down to the minor league camp. He’ll be back up soon enough.
Luckily it was Kolby Allard who got brought in to fill out the 26th spot on the roster. I really do love that guy; I believe that he can harness his inner top prospect this season (finally).
Good day to y’all! I’ll be back.
Cole labored through his outing.
The initial returns on 5 months of defending Gary Sanchez look very promising. He looks really good.
Looking forward to the article.
Go Baseball!
Go Life!
Evening Dan,& Frank,
We’re needing the Yankees to scratch one across here. Pleased for Sanchez to get an early dinger – and now a sneaky infield hit….
Big moment – bases loaded one out – all rise for the Judge…..
Feelin good about it!
Edit: & now i am not
More edit: always liked Phelpsie. But Judge needed to knock one in there.
Mercy.
Loaisiga looked dominant.
Fangraphs loves this kid. They’ve pegged him as the “next possible Hader”.
Those are some wicked hard two seamers, man.
Sorry.
I’m pretty excited, fellas.
Not trying to turn this into a Yankee thread.
Ahh Rafael Dolis…. saw him pitch in 2012 at Wrigley in a game Kerry Wood pitched in…
I’ll be quiet if they load em up again….
Loaisiga looked nasty. Late movement
Scratch out a run or two.
Get Chappy.
C’mon guys!
I saw Bonds hit numbers…mmmm 70-something & 70-something at Wrigley the only game I’ve ever seen there.
Wowsers – first time in MLB history – on opening day – that both teams have scored four plus in the 1st inning. #Rangers vs Royals snoozefest eh Pirate Dan?
Hate the runner on 2nd in extras. Could see the point in 2020….can’t now.
The Judge GIDP killed you Frank
Didn’t deserve to win that game anyway.
Better luck to the A’s & Rangers.
More history breaking… This is the first time in MLB history that both starters didn’t make it through 2 innings on opening day. Well…
Frankly Dan, I can’t see how they’re going to fit in 162 at this rate. This one could finish 17-16!
Ironically I’ve just noticed that two messages down – a comment to bring in Kim…. & lose Odor. One out of two!
This is exactly where they could have used Yang….
That was an exciting yet sad opening day… nevertheless, I finished the fanpost tonight, and here it is: lonestarball.com/2021/4/1/22351456/5-bold-predicti…
It was an opening day though!
That is good good good good. So good. It felt…ya know, regular.
Don’t care for the extra innings rule.
Tough way to win or lose.
Some stray thoughts on your article:
– really good, man. As your last two this one was equally as polished. You’re a good writer!
– loved the intro. An “old bickering couple” is perhaps the best analogy I’ve heard for last summer’s….machinations(?). Nailed it.
– jeeez I want Gallo in pinstripes. I can’t think of a LH bat who more seamlessly fits our roster.
– Huff is exciting. Young catchers are – in my opinion – the hardest to predict how they’ll take to MLB. They have so much responsibility. Talent wins out. But it’s a process. There is a catcher for the Yanks who is a good example of how growth for these guys is oftentimes rugged & uneven
– Gibson was pretty good out here. Seems like a really good dude, as well. Easy to root for.
– I never knew this much about the Rangers before
I read the comments.
Man.
Some Grumpy Gus’s over there!
Now I’m a brusque no BS kinda fella. I aspire to curmudgeonhood. Thus far, I’m not very good at it. The damn kids on my block all seem to like me.
I probably need to stop flashing my big gap toothed (yup…me & Judge, baby) grin & laughing so often.
Some of those dudes need an enema.
Just making sure that the comments are closed on this thread…
Meaning you can find me here.
You’re my guy. If I can help in any way I’d be a little let down if you didn’t hit me up.
Happy Easter & stay true to yourself.
Morning Frank,
Has this one gone to the right page?
Currently keeping my predictions to my self – the A’s 0-3 matches my opening day guesses. Not-stradamus…
Currently watching the Blue Jays vs NYY on playback…
Need to re-read Danny’s latest article too
Have a great long? weekend….
Hey, fellas.
Just checking in. Nutty past few days on the board. I even received a personnel email from Mr Dierkes!
He wasn’t entirely happy that after a year of trying to be the bigger man, I decided to stoop to the name calling, etc a poster has been showering me with.
Sorta had a little too much fun with it perhaps. But I pretty much reached my limit. Felt kinda good to be honest. Immature for sure. Not one of my better moments on the board. But I’d be lying if I claimed it didn’t feel damn good.
I have slowed down my commenting here a ton. I feel like a lot of the good commenters sailed off while all we’re left with is either yes men or trolls. I don’t like the constant deletion of comments or entire threads nowadays either, and I bet that’s what Dierkes talked to you about.
Anyways, I’m doing fine. I’m stressed, but I’m fine. My school threw me off the deep end recently, and that’s why I’ve been having a hard time. Imagine being right in the middle of HS algebra classes – which I’m fine in – and then all of the sudden halting the course to do a college algebra section with no practice yet still being graded on it…. Even the teacher says she doesn’t like it, but that’s what the school is making her do.
Nothing y’all can do to help it besides be an escape. Anywho, the season is going a LOT better than I thought it would for the Rangers. You know why? We. Have. Offense. Yes, we lost the first two games due to not having a bullpen anymore, but the offense is scoring a LOT of runs. Gallo, Dahl, and Lowe are providing a stark middle of the order that is demolishing baseballs.
We would be 3-0 right now if we had – get this – Leclerc, Hernandez, Evans, Martin, and Joely back from injury. Yes, those are our 5 best bullpen guys. All injured. Couldn’t get worse luck than that to start a season lol.
Anyways, gotta keep on keeping on.
I posted a rather long post in regards to all the deleted comments. Look, overly political stuff, name calling, “crossing the line”, man I get that.
But now they are just deleting stuff they don’t “like”.
Ya know?
It’s insulting.
Any poster with a personality is being followed around & their posts are being excised.
In the end, Mr Dierkes basically said, “I didn’t give af”.
So.
I’m like you guys, man. I’m not a yes man, I’m not a troll.
But: I’m in the mods cross hairs.
I’ve been looking around for a new blog to be honest.
Ouch.
That doesn’t sound like much fun. Is there a reason being given for this gear shift? Bet you’re frustrated.
That, I can do Danny. & you provide the same for me. You kinda stole my heart this winter, so my offer to help is sincere. I’m a fan of yours. I want to see you do well.
You’re a helluva kid, man.
I thought they might put up some runs.
Super unfortunate about all those injuries to the ‘pen. A deep relief core is a cheat code for assembling a good pitching staff. This is a huge part of the Yankees success.
Yeah, man.
Really crummy luck. I hate when injuries dictate a team’s success. Or lack of. Maddening.
Yes.
That’s always the answer, partner. Only thing to do is do it.
Stay up. Thanks for all the sanity & good will you offer.
Good morning USA.
Got to be a bit speedy because I’m on a dirty smoke break. Amongst my many other sins I’m an occasional dirty smoker
Danny – I enjoyed your article. I agree with your take on Joey Gallo (Boras client) because I think he will test free agency. He may well be a marquee signing for the “new” regime and the new stadium. (Appreciate it’ll be three years old by the time of free agency but you get what I mean.)
I don’t know that Sam Huff will get enough big league time to hit the 10HR mark. Given 40 games – I’d agree with you – but I don’t see the point in them trading for the more advanced Jonah Heim. I see Huff – and I know you rightly have high expectations for him – spending the season in AA/AAA and maybe a September call up? It would keep his rookie status in tact.
I did watch Hans Crouse a couple of times in ST. He didn’t exactly come across as lights out – again a September call up? He’s also only played A ball with the magic dragon. I appreciate these are unusual times though.
And the one I’m on the fence about – too early – any return for Gibson/Folty….
Finally – Nick Solak as an All-Star? Yeah possibly… There has to be one from the Rangers but I’m not sure I see him outvoting the obvious Gallo. Nate Lowe seems transformed by Texas and your guys are certainly hitting. The A’s & the Rangers pitching is a mirror image at the moment – in all aspects – but at least your guys are hitting a bit…. But for Solak to overtake the other keystone rocks you mentioned – Altuve, Le Mahieu – I think he’d need to be hitting about .330.
Frank I might have missed the thread – or at least I think I did – because I haven’t noticed anything you’ve written being particularly eye opening.
So if I missed it – I hope you got a few clean shots off. And a few more dirty ones…
If it’s AS game related – I’m surprised at the withdrawal from Atlanta. Regardless of the rights or wrongs of that law – I fail to see what the baseball club has to do with it. Interestingly Rob Manfred has a membership at – Augusta National Golf Club. It’d be intrigued as to the whole provenance of this withdrawal. Did players threaten to boycott? Did ownership of all MLB clubs get a vote (no irony here)? This seems far too ballsy for Manfred to dream up on his own.
The thought of the All Star game at Coors field? Interesting too. A HR derby there might never actually end. Ever.
Right will catch up later on
London
It’s kind of been going on all weekend.
There’s a poster who stalks me & accuses me of “racism” incessantly. He goes by Cey hey & I finally snapped on him. I find it particularly irksome as I fought ethnic cleansing. Ya know…the exact opposite of bigotry?
I landed both clean & dirty.
I once had a boxing coach that always said, “always step on the guys foot & hit him at least once. Hey…ya get at least one every fight.”
Back of the neck? Same thing.
The guy really bugs me because by his own admission he could return to work but is “afraid”. I intimated that he is not worthy of even addressing me. Amongst other things.
I think Manfred did it because he thought he “had” to. It is costing him fans. But I get it. I live in Minneapolis & the trial is going on. The entire city is holding it’s breath. Guilty or innocent does not matter to me. Send him to prison so a bunch more of our city doesn’t get burned down.
He is nothing more than a pawn.
Sacrifice him as such.
Will be one helluva home run derby won’t it!
Odor to the Yanks?
I have thoughts.
Also. Peter. My friend. Stop smoking now!
You Brits, man.
Looking forward to your next installment from overseas.
Stay up, fellas. I remain honored to have made both of your acquaintances.
Hey, dropping by to say… it’s my birthday! Yay.
Not much going on today, but it’s yet another flip of the calendar… My calendar.
1730pm UK time….
Must admit to enjoying a few of last nights games – Tigers/Twins was great – then flitted to Yanks vs Orioles – which was fun in the early innings. Early this morning got to enjoy the Rockies D/Backs end game, which was brilliant. I hate the runner at 2nd in extras, but the way it played out was fun if you’re an A’s (Stephen Vogt) fan – he did what he does.
Wondering if this is the year the underfunding comes home to roost .
A’s losses (personnel wise) are huge. In no way does Marcus Semien + Khris Davis equal Moreland & Andrus. The Olsen’s, Chapmans & Laureanos of this world won’t put up with mediocrity at minimum arb. This could quickly become a 2015 fire sale & the brains trust fleeing the coop.
And in actual fact it might do the franchise a favour. They can’t keep getting away with it & hiding behind the money ball myth.
Knowing we had a 10 game stretch opening up against the Astros & Dodgers, I’d have taken 5-5. I am very angry right now!
I’ll comment in a more controlled manner later – hope you guys are thriving!
London
Danny – Happy Birthday !!!!!!
Hope you have a great day and get an hour to throw that crazy pitching orb at maximum velocity.
Would be really interested to see that in use.
Take care and have a wonderful day…
Peter in London
Danny
This went wrong – I’ve managed to reply to myself and my reply to you disappeared. Sure it’s my bad but Happy Birthday & congratulations. I hope you have a great day and get the chance to fling the gadget towards a wall at 90 mph.
Hope you get the chance to be surrounded by all those that are rightly proud of you and have a wonderful time today.
Take care
London
Happy birthday, my young friend!
I want to talk about the Odor trade, man.
Drop back around when you’ve a couple. Or…what is up with the Rangers thinking Cabello can catch?
Any idea what that about?
Curious.
Yeah, yeah.
Peter & I would like a pitching update, because we shamelessly live vicariously through you. I know you’re busy with school but I’d love to hear where you’re at.
& Peter.
Ouch. A’s not looking very good. Still early still early still early.
“It got late early out there.” ~ Yogi Berra.
Brutal news about Rosenthal, man.
Totally sucks.
Hold fast, fellas.
Clear skies on the horizon. I can see ’em. I swear I can.
The early hours….
Odor trade is fascinating – pleased for the Rangers they’ve got something…
Watching Orioles vs Yankees… tied game! 3-3 after 10. And the stupid rule applies…
Stupid rule.
But – hey – we get to see the Tyler Wade designated hitter era begin.
Which is neat.
Pitches are up. Legs are starting to go.
Crap…
I could understand it last year, I hope it’s gone next year.
Great run and slide from the Yankees Herb Washington….
Think it’s probably here to stay unfortunately.
Should have pulled Greene. Everything was up. That’s a sure sign of a fatigued pitcher.
Mancini is impossible to root against, man.
Interesting strike 3 call – but Cessa did well there….
Bring on the Judge!
By the way – those Rangers have improved to a sneaky 3-3. HR from the all-star and Trevino is raking!!!
Can’t believe what I just saw.
Well…didn’t deserve to win that game anyway.
13 hits to 4? The RISPy numbers will be a bit ugly.
I’m all for trying to make the game “kool for kids” but if they’ve reached the end of nine after 3 plus hours & are still watching?
You don’t end a full meal with an instant coffee. Or am I old!!!????
Yeah.
Like I said, we didn’t deserve to win that game anyway.
Is this for the kids, though? Danny gave me permission to call him a kid & I bet he doesn’t like it either.
It seems like a softball rule.
No.
One doesn’t. I don’t even do that when I’m living in the bush. It’s cowboy coffee for this…um, cowboy.
I don’t think it’s about being “old”. Rather, I think it’s about having class…
Well the thread looks active tonight.
Anyways, tomorrow morning I have a STAAR test in Austin, so I’m going to have to wake up at 5:30 a.m to get there on time (whoopie). But besides that I think – think – I’ll start throwing again tomorrow as well. School and work is finally fading, so I think I can add that into my schedule again.
Of course, the antibiotics I got for my dog bite made me weak, so I haven’t thrown for two weeks because of that, and an additional week because everything else piled up. Luckily I have free time again and I can ease into throwing as I please now.
No radar reading for another few days because I need to ramp up to bullpen ability again, but you bet it’s coming. Soon.
The Odor trade? I loved it.
We still have to pay the remainder of his contract, but we get two free prospects for it? Great! Throw them into the pool.
No, they’re both not “good” by any means, but they’re something, and as evident by a tweet earlier, JD got another offer that had better financials, but he wanted the prospects more. Both of the prospects aren’t special by any means, but Cabello is intriguing as a super non-consequential lotto.
Right handed OFer (something this club lacks), just had a great season in 2018, and has a 5-10, 160 pound frame that can probably be added on to. Just curious little pieces, and ultimately, it’s better than nothing. That’s why the trade happened.
Good day and good night… 5:30… ugh
I guess that game is one to chuck in the April “forget-ables” folder, to be shredded May 1st.
What amazes me is the amount of debate (the immoveable monolith) that is DH in the NL but barely a mention of the extras rule. To me – a relative newby – the magnitude of the extras rule blows the DH nonsense to Timbuktu.
That’s because I hate everyone else.
Sorta.
I would have to use a cro-bar to get Xavier out of bed by 5:30 AM, serious.
Busy is good.
Except when it interferes with what I – ya kmow – want to do. Then it sucks.
Can’t wait to hear where your 4 seamer is sitting. That ball is so amazing. I had a ball just like that when I was a kid but it only worked up hill in the snow.
Ok. Didn’t have anything like it & yeah, I’m jealous.
Yeah, that’s good then.
Better to get some guys then save a few bucks. Good GMing. These guys are both the proverbial lottery tickets.
Cabello was actually pretty well regarded a few years ago. I can actually see him turning into something. Stowers? Never got a feel for him. Super curious about this whole catcher thing though.
Sleep well.
Good luck on your test.
Catch ya, Danny.
Danny – good luck but I’m confident you’ll grind through successfully. Just googled staar testing – is it five hours long? Can you bring your own barbeque?
I hope you had a great birthday which wasn’t compromised by tomorrow….
Chuffed the Rangers went for prospects not financials. The right thing to do with where they’re at.
Weirdly (A’s centric) I’m not that upset by Rosenthal – I wanted Jake Diekman in the closer role anyway. I would have liked the money spent on a QO for Semien. But I sell paint! So what would I know??!!!
I didn’t even know it was a rule again until it happened during the Blue Jays game.
Surprise!
I don’t get it.
What’s the rationale? To “protect” the pitchers? Seemed like it put more stress on them tonight than it would have if it was played by the regular rules.
Games changing a lot, man.
Too much for my delicate sensibilities I guess.
Really interesting piece in the Athletic about the AS game & the route Manfred apparently took arbitrarily. Dave Roberts (and I have a lot of time for him as a person) would have resigned the NL manager’s role. At which point the flow would have begun downhill….
At which point I have to recognise Manfred for being dynamic & stemming the flow immediately.
We live in a weird world….
But the extras rule is still…erm… execrable…
Well now, that’s interesting.
Thanks for that. Was wondering where the pressure was coming from.
Huh.
This whole thing…year…time…man, it’s nuts over here, man. I am kinda concerned about what’s going to happen with this trial out here, man. This city is so tense. I was downghosttown the other day.
Man.
You can feel the tension. No matter what it’s going to be hell for this place again.
Yeah.
If that’s how it went, gotta give Manfred a hat tip.
Doesn’t it seem like a bar league softball rule?
Does to me.
Yeah – your neck of the woods is in my prayers right now.
And nobody is going to be happy with the inevitable 2nd degree “fudge.”
I don’t believe Derek Chauvin wanted to end George Floyds life. I do believe his actions ended George Floyds life. Is that too simplistic?
I use the analogy of trying to kick a dead horse up a hill, but a snowball works better because it rolls back bigger….
But as you stated earlier – I agree – this game is much bigger than the players – the sacrificial pawns.
Take care, be safe, & good luck Dan!!!
Your name doppelganger is going to make it difficult for you.
He’s….not popular. & doing whatever he can to ensure that.
Thanks for the prayers. We need them.
Hope the test went well, Danny.
See ya when I see ya….
This is ok – no problem – I’ll be able to take advantage of the joke that there are two of us (A’s fans) but he’s the humourless idiot cousin raised on petrol fumes and banished to the east.
In order to further differentiate – much to your satisfaction – I’ll have to sign off as London AND include favourite one-liners….
Least likely to say on a ballfield no 913 – Randy Johnson – “Ooh look – a Swiss submarine!”
Women walks into a bar and asks for a double entendre so the barman gives her one.
Don’t the Padres look nice in their camouflage uni – I used to have all that stuff, can’t find it anywhere now….
Etc etc
LONDON!
mlbtraderumors.com/2020/07/rockies-to-sign-matt-ke…
4th comment down….
I posted a warning to the board that there’s two-ish of you & to be wary of making a mistake (like I did!) & “muting” the wrong one.
Jeeez, that dude really sucks, Peter. Besides the time I mistook him for The Real Thing I’ve not interacted with him.
But he leaves a trail of pissed off posters in his wake.
Busted Saturday.
Yanks got smoked. Went goose hunting & didn’t even see one. Did bring back a couple nice walleye so you can’t entirely keep me down.
I don’t think we’re going to be a good defensive ballclub. I’m hoping for mediocre? Might be a stretch.
A priest checks into a hotel. He asks the attendant, “Is the p*rn*r*phy disabled?” The attendent replies, “No. It’s just regular p*rn*g*aphy you sick f***”.
I’m crying laughing right now, so surprised I’ve never heard that.
Anyways, this is going to be quick…. Rangers got no-hit tonight, and it might be the least coverage I’ve ever seen a no-hitter get. I imagine there’s some players in the league that don’t even know it happened.
I like Joe Musgrove, so the combination of that and the fact that we’re tanking made it much more enjoyable. Good game, and I hope he starts getting the recognition he deserves, the dude’s a beast.
Mornings (somewhere!)
I don’t I’ll get away with the priest joke on the regular threads but I giggled at that one….
I watched the Yankees game – I thought they’d get to Hill but frankly didn’t – the four run rally all started with a naughty squibber – but the Yankeers seemed strangely flat…
Just picked Danny’s comment – cut, pasted, re-started…- agree – you’d think there would be a bit more fuss given it’s taken 52 years for the Padres – roll on 2073 when they’re due another. Perhaps they pay more attention then!
I know the Rangers aren’t in play off contention this year but I do think .500 is a realistic – it’ll be tough – but a realistic aim. And silver lining wise – you’ll win more games than you lose when you only concede three runs. Just IMHO.
Just watched the last knocking of Reds/D Backs ruined by the extras rule. I don’t want the equivalent of a soccer penalty shoot out. I sincerely hope that isn’t here to stay….
Spent three days alone learning escapology. I need to get out more….
A lifetime of hanging around construction sites has lead me to acquiring far too many raunchy jokes.
I could go on for hours.
Right?
Came home cracked a few ales & found out about it on the board! Dude…that’s not right. Checking out the highlights. Looks like he had everything working for him. First one in Padres history.
Proving – yet again – that every dog *will* have his day…
Good morning.
Made kouing patatez (Breton potato cakes) this morning which is a household favorite. Some fried eggs, some black bear bacon…it’s a typical gloomy April day, but at least the savages are fed.
Anyway.
Yeah, probably not. I’m sure it would offend someone in some way.
“I don’t want the equivalent of a soccer penalty shoot out.”
Aww, man.
You could have gone all season without posting that, Peter. Jeeez. That’s what it is, isn’t it?
Seems poorly thought out to this simple builder.
Look.
It’s supposed to protect pitchers, right? So…now they are placed in immediate high leverage situations which are more physically demanding? Huh.
Seems counterproductive to this knucklehead.
One more.
What’s the one thing you don’t want to hear after screwing Tom Brady?
“I’m not Tom Brady.”
Morning Frank
Magnificent effort to be up at the crack of dawn pounding your potatoes.
Ahem….
Penalty shoot out – yeah – that’s what it is. I hated them when I played – even at beer league level. God alone knows what it is like when you play properly. (Incidentally I played one and a half seasons in the 2nd team for a club in north London called Boreham Wood where it cost £1.50 to watch us. Had we have made to it to the 1st team we’d have “earned” £35 a week. On one occasion – in front of about 30 paying customers we won 3-2 – a bitterly cold miserable afternoon – and offered the 30 or so a free drink in the bar as a thank you. Only four of them took us up on the offer.)
Even the referee and linesman usually joined us even if it was for a tea of a coffee….
Hang on – there was a point here…..
Keeping ’em fed lowers the chances of insurrection.
Thought you were a rugby, cricket, boxing guy.
But I guess soccer is more or less ubiquitous.
I can wait…
Bro, he thinks you’re the other one.
Bet.
I don’t know if you really have any idea how poorly his (A’sfaninUK) anti-American sentiments sit with a number (read: all) of us.
It’s really bad & you’re – sadly enough – going to be paying for a number of his sins via mistaken identity.
Played rugby at school (“posh” school – no soccer) cricket throughout summer – pick up games – home for food back out til dinner – boxed badly largely for the same reasons you did – soccer when I was old enough to do what I wanted.
“Keeping them fed lowers the chance of insurrection” – the French cuisine paints you an unlikely Marie Antoinette…
Pollen counter – now there’s a tough job…
Oh yeah – the point – thanks for waiting. To me – as a cr*p footballer, the penalty shoot out degrades the effort – however misguided – you’ve put into the 90 minutes – plus on occasions 30 minutes of extra time. Three hours of graft and you’re rewarded with a clown on 2nd. It’s so false……
“Let them eat cake!”
In ~ month the building season starts out here for real. So my time in the kitchen gets reduced from hot breakfast & big dinner – more or less daily – to Sunday dinner & they fend (quite poorly at times) for themselves the rest of the week.
Lots of Capn Crunch & lots of pizza delivery.
I fear for their health.
I don’t think many of us Americans really understand the difference in schools over there. For example, our accents are regional & not a giveaway to where we attended school.
I get it.
Football in the Autumn/winter baseball in the summer/spring. Come home when the streetlights come on. Skiing for a bit between the two. Boxed & wrestled poorly because my name is a “girls name” & I fought over it daily & I figured I’d best get better at it.
It does seem to belittle the effort of the entire game. Tough way to win or lose. Doesn’t seem like the commissioner cares about our opinion on this or anything else for that matter.
Hello Frank,
Daft as it sounds – the way he writes – I took him as ex-pat American .living here.
If I pay for said multitude of sins – I’ve been out foraging and FINALLY we caught up with friends for a couple of beers – bring it on! I’ll be funnier than he is.
The Priest joke is safe.
Did a Priest tell you that one?
Peter
Hello Frank,
Daft as it sounds – the way he writes – I took him as ex-pat American .living here.
If I pay for said multitude of sins – I’ve been out foraging and FINALLY we caught up with friends for a couple of beers – bring it on! I’ll be funnier than he is.
The Priest joke is safe.
Did a Priest tell you that one?
Peter
“I took him as an ex-pat…”
Well, London, that’s another thing I could have gone without hearing.
I don’t read his posts.
But, I do read some responses oftentimes from generally good natured, even tempered posters.
German is a hard guy to root for.
Have a Bass for me.
Whoooooaaaaa
“German is a hard guy to root for”
Ain’t that the effin truth
I’m watching the Mets game right now, and Degrom is straight up filthy. He’s allowed 1 run, but it looks like he’s gonna get through the 8th easily. Too bad the Mets refuse to give him run support…
“I took him as an ex pat”
Sorry – reason for that was a comment about the national anthem being sung before games. Whether I’d agree or disagree with the anthem, I wouldn’t as an English person have the right to describe that as political. It’s not. But I don’t have that right.
And 99% of us English would stay well away from that regardless of opinion. Because on that one, our (English) opinion doesn’t matter.
I heard a teenager sing the anthem on a freezing cold night in late Sept in Pittsburgh – just beautifully. I wept. I really did. And Dale Earnhart jnr jnr did a great job in Detroit.
I’ve found a Portland Maine Shipyard IPA – I’m gonna promise it won’t turn me into a Sox fan….
Though I do have a “Closing time is Koji time” T-Shirt….
Danny – thanks for bringing it back to sensible baseball….
How did the test go? Was it really 4 or 5 hours long?
And did you get anything gadget related for your birthday?
Dan,
That’s nuts. Gutted I was out and missed that. DeGrom is snake bitten. It is insane how he – for me – best starter in baseball – needs maybe 2 runs of support and never gets it.
Just loaded it up now. Line drive – sorta – to short….
Makes it even worse.
German…mmm…aw, forget it.
You guys know. & he can’t keep the damn ball in the damn yard. He’s not helping things.
deGrom.
So good. Like to see him go 8-18 but win the Cy. Because I can be ill spirited like that sometimes.
Yes, Danny.
Test. FB velo.
Wotcha fellas,
Two tight games going on tonight.
It’s nice actually – can root for your guys – and mine are on an off day so I can enjoy it for what it is…..
Runners at 1st & 2nd for both you guys right now…..
I’m gunna flip if we lose another one of these damn penalty shootouts I am going to flip out..
Pretty good AB’s by both the much maligned duo of Gary Sanchez & Odor.
Odor’s baby face brings me back to 2016. He looks so much younger. I really hope he can do well in NY.
I certainly never saw the Yanks acquiring him. Felt like it came out of nowhere. As soon as he put the pinstripes on, I became a fan.
Cash has a really good track record with these type of players; Voit, Urshela, Tauchman, Didi, Hicks, etc. I’d – by this point – be surprised if he isn’t productive. Should be pretty interesting to see if/how he works out.
Just feel I should mention: the national media is vastly underselling the levels of looting & violence in Minneapolis last night.
It was significantly worse, unfortunately.
Currently having a really surreal conversation over at SB Nation right now about policing: lonestarball.com/2021/4/12/22379401/texas-rangers-…
It’s near the bottom and it occupies a good bit of the thread, so you won’t miss it.
Ooof. Pretty ugly.
All I know is that I am once again getting my heart together for the very real possibility of having another human being in my sites.
Which sucks.
I was promised I would never have to think like that again after they gave me some little pieces of metal & pills for bad dreams. Feeling a little betrayed on all this.
That’s horrible. That city has seen hell the past year, and I hope there’s an end to it coming soon, but I honestly doubt that. Hope you’re doing well regardless.
Tis.
Just had to drive across town to pick up a check for final payment. Cars with no license plates, gangs of dudes in packs, gun fire in the distance, National Guard rolling around….
Blech.
Home & in “protect my block” mode as there was quite a bit of looting just a few blocks away last night.
Ugly stuff.
I’m doing fairly well in the end.
Btw, there are some incredibly douchey posters over there. Are there any other fellas on that board that are young &/or not bitter?
Zounds.
Yes, YasielManBearPuig is actually a really good dude over there, and by far the nicest commentor. He’s actually a liberal political student who’s running for office in an Austin election, and while I disagree with him politically, we have a lot of engaging conversations about politics and other things that never get harsh or rude. Good dude.
Anyways, stay safe. You’ll need to.
Good.
I was less than impressed by their overall comportment. Glad you have at least one guy.
I intend to.
But I don’t have much interest in being bullied either.
Beat the Ray’s.
Mercy.
Did you catch any of Chapman’s outing?
Hitting triple digits.
The 3 pitch K of that Gurriel kid made me feel a little sorry for him.
The early hours have been kind to me this morning.
Got a bit nervous at 6-5, but we scratched a few across – watching the condensed games now.- feel a bit for the Rangers this evening. The Yankees – yeah enjoyed the penalty shoot out last night – all about Odor’s gritty AB, and well placed/blooped (delete as applicable) RBI. Kudos to the Yankees for storming through the breach with 4 two out runs…
Dunno what to say about the Rangers. The one thing we were all fairly sure about was the offence. So to get shut out three of four (and to really pitch well in all three) must be mega-frustrating for you Danny. And I find the Rays irksome. Admirable but irksome.
Stay safe Frank – I was hoping the bad weather would calm it down last evening.
PS – never realised what a good defensive SS Nick Ahmed is. I’m too AL-centric…..
Baseball (& perhaps paranoia) got me through the night. At dawn, took the little guy out hunting on his own for the first time (he did a great job of “man’s best friend” through the night) & he played a good game.
Just rabbits but he found, flushed, & “retrieved” one – more or less to hand.
I could see he was having some little thoughts about his role in all this, so I immediately gave him some rabbit bits. I bet his next retrieve will be a tad more enthusiastic.
Saw that A’s game!
I have no idea what to expect of them because they always seem to find a way. I’m an AL guy too but there are some pretty good ballplayers in the NL.
Really liking how the Yanks ‘pen is looking.
Cole was fine & remains the one player we absolutely cannot afford to lose. He’s fun to watch work.
I still think the Rangers will hit.
Early, right?
In MN we call 37° & sleet, “April”. Would have been a tough night for baseball. Feels like football weather out here. Anyway, seems last night was a little quieter overall.
Small steps.
Later, fellas…
Don’t mind me.
Just responding to myself.
Taillon got lit the eff up there. Oof. Hoping he can get on track here. He sure hasn’t looked very good.
Urgh – walk walk, wild pitch, sac fly…Big 9th needed to say the least…
Oh dear GIDP. Just as the Rangers cruise home…
Abreu has Big Stuff.
But control – not even command – has been an issue the whole time with him.
& Luetge – though a nice story – is showing who he really is.
Chisek & Watson signed for $1MM thus setting the “oh crap, I just better sign anywhere” reliever market. Sign Shane Greene. We’d then have the deepest bullpen of this core which is really saying something.
& Cash will be double doubling down on “a team can just bash & bullpen their way to a pennant” premise which he seems to be taking out for a very thorough test drive.
Mornings your time lads.
Enjoyed last nights games especially the hour or so when Bieber was grinding through 8 & 9 – Giolito was obviously brilliant too, until the shoot out rule. The old school guy in me wanted Bieber out for the save (a CG shut out with a save in extras) but appreciate it was April 13th. It might happen in October!? It probably won’t happen all year. And lets face it – we all love the fella that can pick it up, carry it on their back and throw the b****** over the line.
Then KC somehow held off the Angels. A sort of pick off at 3rd with the bases loaded to finish it. Quality – all is right in the world when the Angels & the Astros lose on the same day. And the next day is pretty good too.
Which led me to thinking about divisions and thus thinking about the Rangers. Figured Danny that if the Rangers had a winning record against two of teams in our division you’d be on the right track? I think that’s possible – Mariners plus one other. After yesterday’s crucial 3 RBI performance I’ve promoted Nick Solak from possible all star to probable MVP. And the last couple of SPs are a sigh of relief for all concerned. No happy medium as the pitching hotted up the bats froze.
And then those tomfoolerous Yankee fellows. Small sample size and it’s wonderful to see over reactions across the threads. If they need SP it’ll be done & done mid season in trades. The pieces are there. Much though I like Sanchez, this is a ruth-less (haha – bet that’s never been done before) organisation and as such – well think of a premier or in form catcher approaching FA and I bet there’ll be rum(o)urs from late June onwards. That’s as an example.
Frank – glad the puppy got to enjoy the fruits of labo(u)r. Rabbit “bits” made me giggle. Great meat. BTW is Black Bear Bacon exactly what it is? Always been intrigued by that one. Rabbits – are they not a difficult shot – lots of zigzagging, brakes on – full tilt again?
Forgot the one liner as usual – next time I promise.
London
Gotta have your horses that can pull a lot of weight.
Can’t win a pennant without a couple of those guys. & players/performances like that are inspiring & a Big Reason why we (well…”I” for sure…) watch sports.
Solak is going to be an on base factory.
Bet.
He put up absurd OBP’s in the minors. Now his glove…mmmm, hate to admit this but he seems to be a typical Yankees prospect.
Which is me gently implying that we really seem to suck at teaching guys how to field.
Yankee fans are not known for their patience. & New Yorkers are no longer known for our mental toughness.
It’s the Panic Brigade & the Pessimistic Posse. The more outraged you become online the more obviously passionate you are.
Ahem.
But: I proffer we will be fine. Could certainly use another starter as I pine for Tanaka.
Rabbits pretty easy especially with a 16ga semi-auto.
It is. I’ve taken up crossbow hunting for black bear, bison, & antelope because I can bring home fairly large amounts of the healthiest protein you can get but it doesn’t interfere with my dual passions of grouse/woodcock/hare/European rough shooting & all forms of waterfowling.
Bear are omnivorous. I have them butchered exactly as you would a hog (also omnivorous) which is fairly common.
“Bits” = heart & liver = bribery
Dogs.
Beautifully simple.
A’sFaninUK just reported me for trolling!
Too funny.
Check the A’s thread.
Btw, crickets from the mods or Mr Dierkes.
Oh FFS. Frank you’re a million miles from a troll. There’s stuff I agree with, stuff I disagree with but we’re both capable of agreeing to disagree. I’d like to feed Elon Musk face first into a cement mixer. You pointed out a system which I researched and realised was valid. I’m cool with being ignorant and having my eyes opened…..
I’m super happy with the Rangers right now. Kyle Gibson, Dane Dunning, and Folty are all looking really good right now (despite what some of their stats might say. Actually, my next fanpost is going to be Kyle Gibson-centric. A full post about why Ky is a good starter again, and maybe even a valuable 2 or 3 starter. Yes, that extreme. From one of the worse last year to yet another free agent pitching success story for this team.
Anyways, I’d love to talk more, but I have lots to do today. Tearing an entire exterior wall of our house apart today. Peace.
Btw, that was the 400th comment on this post… dang. Somebody is going to come look at this post in 4 years and read essentially a series of letters to three people all across the world. That’s kinda trippy to think about.
I think he’s crazy.
Straight up.
Anyway.
Had some work stuff to do so I only listened/streamed peripherally. Good one to miss
Greene & Loaisiga both got touched. We are relying far too much. Those guys are going to be smoked by August at this rate.
Sign Shane Geene. Came from our system & I think his 5 pitch mix would be a sweet counterpoint. Can’t get length from anyone but Cole right now.
Think I’ll toss some flies at some carp.
Stay up, London.
Gibson looked really good out here.
His stuff plays.
Injuries crushing what should have been a very good Rangers bullpen. Too many guys hurt all over the league right now.
That seems to be a very extensive project. Demolition can be fun.
Just swinging through, and I wanted to ask a question to y’all that hasn’t been brought up at all throughout our months long discussion… What kind of music do y’all like? We have a northerner, a southerner, and an Englishman, so I’d imagine there will be some stark differences in opinion, but I’m very curious of it.
Man.
Danny, I listen to all kinds of music.
Just today: Ravel, RL Grimes, Mud Honey, Joe Hill…probably missing a few. Not huge on country but I can do outlaw country for a minute.
I know, “I listen to everything” is a pretty weak take. But I almost always have something on (Thelonius Monk right now) & it’s a really varied.
& I actually listen to music during ball games as opposed to the commentators. It was a concession to a girlfriend years ago but I found I actually prefer it.
So.
But: yourself?
&…where is your fastball sitting?
Signed,
A Good Bloke
😉
The fastball is sitting… in my baseball bag at the moment. I’m starting to loosen up for baseball activity again, though. I kinda blinked and a month went by without any baseball activity. So, trust me, I’m not going to go throw a pen tomorrow and blow out my shoulder. Give me a week (a little over a week), and then I will throw my first pen back and have some readings for y’all. I imagine I’m sitting in the low-80’s which would be VERY above average for my age. That’s like 5 mph lower than Ryan Yarbrough lol. I’m shooting for Ryan Yarbrough by the end of the year (maybe reach back and hit 87?) Idk, but it’s happening again, stuff just kept piling up recently and now I’m finally getting back to it.
As for my taste in music… for starters I don’t know a single one of the artists you named above… I can feel your disappointment radiating though the monitor as I type lol.
But I can honestly say that I listen to a little bit of everything. I’m trying to delve deeper into rap and hip hop, as I just heard probably the most underappreciated rap song of the past ten years the other day (Dysfunctional by Tech N9ne). It’s making me go down a rabbit hole of underappreciated rap and hip hop which has been fun.
Other than that it’s a lot of country, odds and ends pop, and classic rock. Zac Brown Band is my favorite group ever; they have some really good stuff. A lot of it is “tear-in-your-beer” stuff, but I don’t listen to it to cry, I just really like their stuff. It’s a very country sound. Listen to “Highway 20 Ride” and “As She’s Walking Away”. Lots of violin/fiddle/whatever it’s called.
Eminem is clear and away the best rapper (and my favorite rapper) of all time imo. The single best lyricists who’s ever lived.
But some of my favorite songs don’t come from either of them. Some of my favorites are: Ms. Jackson by Outkast, Mr. Brightside by The Killers, and… just insert a Zac Brown Band song… I broke the rules.
Hope y’all are doing well.
Hello Danny – great question & thanks – both – for sharing.
I’ll join the mix of all things. If you had one last tune before croaking in a freak camel vaulting accident? I might take a proggy punk band called The Stranglers – Down in the Sewer. You’ve got to listen to all 7 minutes of it – skip to 330 in if you have to – but the keyboard solo is up there with some JS Bach stuff.
One of favourite games with a few friends round is the you tube game – you choose a track – play it – and explain why it’s a favourite. The usual six minute time limit per track can kill off some of the classics.
I’m a sucker for a keyboard so everything from a Johnny Cash cover, (Hurt) through ELPs more nutty stuff, all the late 70s/80s synth stuff. Gary Numan – that’ll take some research!
Frank I get where you’re coming from with Mud Honey – the grungsters grunge band. The most compelling live performance remains – for me – Nirvana unplugged. Danny – I get you with Eminem – lyrically he’s brilliant. I don’t know enough about rap to give him GOAT status….
I love some weird old folk stuff – Woody Guthrie – a top bloke & proper geezer called Roy Bailey – storytellers with a guitar – Seasick Steve. Am a sucker for lots of celtic stuff – anything in a minor key, so Cranberries, Cerys Matthews, Bryde – they’re all sirens.
Anger through sunshine, Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers. The disco ladies of the late 70’s.
I was a dirty raver in the late 90’s so Leftfields Leftism, and lots of DJs – a lot of them disturbingly no longer around.
I tell you what – the you tube game is a possibility – we need 3 afternoon games, three of us online & some reasonable snacks….
Will zap back to a couple of the other bits of the thread….
London
“Oh my boys, my boys, we are at the end of an age! We live in a land of weather forecasts and breakfasts that set in, shat on by Tories, shovelled up by Labour, and here we are, we three; perhaps the last island of beauty… in the world”
Let it commence.
Danny Boy –
Maurice Ravel: French classical composer (best known for “Bolero”.)
RL Grimes: excellent DJ (who hasn’t yet died). Go to soundcloud & check out his Halloween mixes in particular 2013 & ’14. So dope (old school term meaning aesthetically appealing).
Mudhoney; the original Grunge band. Started the Sub Pop label. Without them, Nirvana, Sound Garden, Screaming Trees, Alice In Chains, etc don’t exist. (well…they exist but we probably don’t know them) Check “Touch me I’m sick”.
Joe Hill old, old (as in dead) school Blues guy, believe he wrote “Hey Joe”. Which leads to Jimi Hendrix (my fav hippie music guy; must listen; “Highway Child”)
I’d have to take an ironic approach with the camel accident thing. “5 to 1” by the Doors.
I prefer just regular Johnny Cash. As opposed to covers. Your mileage may vary.
Hip hop.
Fellas.
I am an ancient Beastie Boy. “Licensed to Ill” came out my senior year of high school.
Suddenly, my homeboys & I had a damn anthem.
As such, I’ve been into hip hop & rap the entire time.
Now.
Aside from Wu Tang I’ve never been into gangsta rap. Also: I have been to raves in the 90’s myself. It was after my tours. Spent about a decade trying to destroy myself. Just pointing out the timeline not casting any blame.
But I did have a penchant for waking up in a jail cell.
To be 100, Xavier saved me, fellas.
Suddenly, I had this 8 month old thing that *I* was entirety responsible for.
Had to get my sh-…uh, stuff together.
It hasn’t always been easy. But it’s been the greatest thing that ever happened to me, serious.
He & I have come So Far, man.
We started in a 350 sq foot studio apartment in a sketchy neighborhood.
We’ve now ~ 10 times that space in a fairly fashionable neighborhood 4 minutes from downtown.
Hard work + resourcefulness + luck*.
Back to music.
Can do the story tellers with a guitar.
I know Dylan’s voice can be…grating, uh?
But: a friend gave me a book of the lyrics to his first dozen albums. Brilliant stuff. True poetry.
Woody Guthrie = Very Good, too.
Not sure if I know Roy Baily?
Will check out. Thanks.
No Billy Bragg? No Pogues? No Scottish bagpipe music? (well…I get the last one…but I like it on occasion)
& disco with no mention of the Bee Gee’s?
Sir Peter…*how*?
Bonuses:
Walk up music: “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys.
From the bullpen: “Hells Bells” by AC/DV.
I do post here during Yankee games often (certainly some times it is: just me)
But; good idea, @ London.
“…no one here gets out alive…”- Jim Morrison.
Stay up, my fellas.
*coach Wooden defined luck as; “when opportunity meets preparation”.
Oh. Yeah.
Danny. No disappointment over not knowing those musicians. I will – however – be disappointed if you do not know Coach John Wooden.
I completely understand how you may not.
Won’t change it though.
Jeeez.
One more.
80 for “your age” is damn good. I know you are younger than Xavier. But I have never been clear on exactly how much younger. As such, I have been assuming 15 or 16. (Either age would – indeed – be an excellent & exciting reading on the gun.)
I topped out at 86 in (Junior) college. & that was me reaching all the way back. I was 20.
Nelson looked pretty bad.
15 or 16 is a correct assumption. Not having my age out on the internet is something I like. All people need to know is the “high school” notion. Anyways, yes, I would absolutely love that reading and it feels like it’s around there.
I get it.
Lotta sketchy people in the world. Many of whom show up on the internet. You told me once that you were younger than Xavier.
Your posts are pretty mature & your spelling & grammar made me rule out middle school.
I am not exactly Sherlock Holmes, or whatever.
But I feel like I have a decent understanding of deductive reasoning. Something I can thank the Jesuits for.
I know everyone seems to throw harder these days. But in the mid 80’s a 4 seamer in the low 80’s was actually (usually) fairly overpowering in high school. If only I could have found the plate more often
Keep us in the loop, please.
Outside of your family members I kinda doubt that you have two bigger fans than Peter & Francis. Could be wrong of course.
But you’re definitely our guy, man.
Another post during a Yankee game that’s just me.
But I gotta say the Yanks really are playing some bad bseball right now.
Two things people have been beating my club up over: outside of Cole our rotation is pretty suspect. & our style of offense is not good.
The first; yeah, pretty much.
The second; don’t buy this one. 17-19 Yanks were first or second in scoring. Even last year we finished fourth. As it’s pretty much the same guys I thoroughly expect a top 3 scoring offense again.
Need to break out of the doldrums though.
I watch over this thread like the holy ghost. I see you.
Mornings,
Fair bit to digest at 0420 on a Saturday – I’m up early for a night game, and Montas has just finished (it’d seem) scoreless through six. We’re going Petit, Diekman & I guess Lou Trivino.
Marvellous Petit burgles a clean inning, we last about 6 pitches in the bottom of the 7th – Diekman powers through a 3 strike out 8th.
Need a bit more from the middle of the order. I’m never comfortable until we’re 5 runs ahead. I’m – thus – not very often comfortable…..
The Dodgers/Padres game has been epic. Machado – not everyone’s favourite brew – walked with two outs, no one on, stole 2nd, then 3rd and a worm burner saw him home…..
So it’s silly shoot out time….
Afternoons (London time)
Frank – yours was an incredible message which I was quite incapable of responding to with the gravitas it deserved.
Danny the Ghost. Yours was very funny. And I think “The Ghost” is a great baseball nickname for a pitcher.
You guys are the knowledgeable ones – have there been any “ghost” nicknames? On a few A’s threads – years ago – I tried calling Kendall Graveman “The Embalmer” which fell on stony ground I can tell you.
Nice of the Yankee fans to offer late inning fielding practice yesterday BTW. Seems they chose the wrong team to offer it to though….
At the risk…
Having watched the A’s in cruise mode against the Tigers – I think we’re 21/22 against them since 2015. Inevitably the streak will catch the baseball Gods attention – especially on a Sunday. It’ll be Boyd vs Bassitt…
Now watching the Rangers hosting the Orioles. Dean Kramer – excellent hair – vs Dane Dunning. Dunning doesn’t have a boat-load but what he does have he seems to use well, and time is on his side. I’d be happy with the trade – six years of Dunning for one of Lance Lynn.
Super slick double play keeps it down to one for the Rangers in the 4th…It’s a good tight game…. sadly the O’s don’t want Kremer to see the line-up a 3rd time so he’s hooked after 4 & 2/3. Silliness.
Dunning through six – 75 pitches. I wonder…
Few unconnected thoughts on a bright English springtime afternoon…
1) Why do I want a ham & mustard sandwich when I’m obliged to eat salmon in puff pastry prior to the lady wife’s return from bullying people other than me. (She is at work)..
2) The Dodgers/Padres games are going to be insane. So many talking points from two games that I’ll ignore all of them. Except – you guys are pitchers – WT blue blazes was Darvish playing at in the Kershaw at bat?
3) When was the last time a Yankee team had a regular season record under .500? Not suggesting it’s about to happen in 2021, more suggesting it’s unlikely, I don’t think it’s happened this century.
4) Joey Gallo’s a top bloke. Young fan drops foul back onto the field deep right. Top of the 9th – they’ve blown the game and he must be right riled. Anyone Joey ran 20 or 30 yards collected it and lobbed it the right kid.
5) Is it time to limit the number of pitchers on a roster?
The Yankees are making it tough for themselves, as usual. (2-2 in the 6th)..
Was in North Dakota last night & earlier today for some goose hunting.
3 for 3 last night & 3-7 this morning. Unfortunately, poor games occur for all of us.
Cooked a big Sunday dinner (always do) starring lots of meat. Did make a French salad which had some smoked carp (actually prepared following a Polish recipe. Those folks know carp, man) in it.
So…you could have eaten that. 3 vegetable sides, as well: Normandy roast carrots & leeks, sautéed asparagus (with a simple bechamel sauce) & French Caribbean lightly fried plantain (which is actually a fruit).
Fresh mangos & baked pears covered in chocolate…didn’t look like the picture (hey…drizzling is hard!) but was sill good, for desert.
So you guys wouldn’t have starved. But. You would have missed some of the good stuff.
Would’ve had to pass on the morel mushroom soup (broth was a duck boullion). & the entrées of course: a “modern” duck l’orange made with cherries & lemon & a French Provincial recipe for peppered chops made with black bear chops as opposed to swine.
1.) because if animals weren’t made out of meat we would not eat them. Get it in while the wife isn’t monitoring you. I encourage this. I also encourage not getting caught.
2.) Missed Darvish’s start. Bummer. He & Cueto are my favorite pitchers to watch. Both really unique. I just don’t watch many NL games. But I try to watch those 2 whenever I can.
3.) 24 years (25 after this season).
4.) Love Gallo. I so covet him. More reasons to like him.
5.) Well, originally teams were supposed to have only 13. But this year are allowed 14 because: Covid.
Catching up.
It was only about music, Peter. Plus my usual free associative wanderings.
Was an old football player nicknamed “the galloping ghost” but can’t think of anyone in baseball.
As usual, you fellas provided my internet highlight of the day.
Stay up. Later, fellas.
Man, it’s awfully hard to add another installment to this Kim series… because it should’ve ended at 420. I spoiled it. I’m sorry.
Alas, it’s probably better for us all that I stray away from the cheesiness.
Anyways, I just made it to Houston earlier today. “What are you doing in Houston?” you may ask…. visiting grandparents. They’re not the good grandparent that I have mentioned in an earlier installment… let me rephrase that… they’re still good and I love them, but they’re just not like the other grandparent of mine. The ones I am currently visiting are uber-religious. Church on Wednesday nights, Sunday mornings, and Sunday nights. No cursing or watching any television above a PG rating.
I’ll spend a week down here and then it’s back to the (as Eminem says in the best pump-up song ever: Lose Yourself) “when he goes back to this mobile home, that’s when it’s Back to the lab again”… the pitching lab… of course. What other labs might there be?
Besides that, the predictions I’ve made over at my other home site, SB Nation, have all been true to some extent (except for Yang… oof). I was telling everybody before the season that Kyle Gibson was going to be very good with the introduction of a cutter into his arsenal, and I also laid out what he needed to do to be good in 2021 in my last fanpost…. guess what… it all came true. He has reinvented himself this season after he got blown up on opening day for 5 runs in 0.1 innings. He is now on a stretch of 21 innings of 1 run ball (against the Blue Jays, Rays, and Orioles).
I also said that with what Kolby Allard has worked on this off-season, I think he’d be really good this year. Guess what? Out of the pen thus far, Kolby Allard has a 1.50 ERA with 0 walks. Granted, it’s over 5 innings of work, but it looks like he’s going to move into a starting spot this week. Hopeful to see how he does.
Btw, the Rangers have had – I kid you not – the BEST starting rotation since April 7. Stunning Dunning has been fantastical. He is one of the best pitchers in baseball right now. Throw Gibson and Arihara’s filthiness in there and you’ve got a great 1,2,3 for the time being, along with some goof performances from Foltynewicz and Lyles.
Liking baseball right now, and I hope we keep it up. We’re not good, but we’re entertaining.
(Btw, reading back over this, it sounds like I’m referring to myself when I say “no cursing”, but I meant that it is said by nobody nor the TV. I don’t cuss like a sailor lol.)
Whew.
I too am a ghost
Covered a lot of ground, lad.
But, as usual, you compelled me to think about all of it.
& full speed ahead…
I had a one year stretch in college where I never turned down a bong rip. Hey. I was in architecture & art programs. It was sort of a requirement. (The disappointment those folks had in me when I *enlisted* in the Marines upon graduation. Mercy)
But I have found over time that I prefer my drugs in liquid form. So know I’m wondering if we’ll break a thousand.
Have been to HOU. Well, drove through it. I didn’t spend any time there but I do preclude it from my list of: Great American Cities. Have fun? Uh?
Understand exactly about the grandparent thing.
I had 2: my French grandfather & my Dutch side grandmother. But: I am adopted (“genetic dread end”). Which poses an interesting case study of nature vs nurture as I turn more into my grandfather by the year.
My grandmother was crazy. In the literal sense. As in; always carry an umbrella, talk to the sky & pigeons in the park (don’t hunt/ eat those!), believing she knew the exact day of Armageddon would occur & that she was psychically connected to her parrot & Walter Cronkite crazy.
None of that is inaccurate nor hyperbole.
Which certainly did make visiting her a trip as a “kid”,
But not impact on who I am. I hear what you are saying.
Many different kinds of labs. I encourage you to stick to the science & pitching versions. Can’t wait to hear the pitching lab* updates as I – with no shame – live vicariously through you pitcher to pitcher. (& we have Peter’s perspective as a bowler. So awesome.)
I am so jealous of the tools you have at your disposal. For outside help I had books. Did learn a bunch of grips, pitches, & conditioning from them but not much else.
I believe in Gibson.
Yang…ooofs happens.
Macro view; the ( baseball) Rangers have been severely hampered by the rash of injuries to their bullpen. Sucks. I thought they had a puncher’s chance of hanging around the WC2 race.
Alas.
I am whooped. This ghost out.
*(Remind me of the pitches you throw please)
I throw a 4-seam, sinker/slider/ I don’t know what I’m calling it, Changeup, and Splitter. I’m experimenting with two types of 4-seamers, and I’m excited about how that might go.
“Two types of 4-seamers”?
Do tell. In the olden days we only had one.
Never heard of a sinker/slider hybrid. 2-seam grip with that wrist roll at the end?
Finally: what type of change? I used a palm ball grip for my CU. Would have loved to experiment with that circle change.
Damn.
This city is coming apart. Sirens wailing, helicopters overhead. National Guard obviously present.
Yuck.
No Yankee game tonight. So I am going to take a nap. Rest up for the night as I plan to – once again – look out for my loved ones, home, & block until dawn.
Catch ya.
Nap didn’t really work out for me.
Lots to think about.
Excited to see Arihara work.
Love a pitcher a pitcher with a 7 pitch repertoire even if it is unAmerican.
I swear.
I will single handedly put up enough “responses” to myself to break a thousand.
But: Kohei did not disappoint. 5 maybe 6 pitches in the first. Man. For the first time since they were in the Series, “Go Rangers!”.
Ghost is back.
Kohei does look very good early on. I still don’t like his stuff as much as Gibson and Dunning, but it’s probably the pure unfamiliarity. It’s weird to say that we have three guys that I have faith in to pitch good games now. Gibson, Dunning, and Arihara all look very good. We need to flip Gibson to your Yanks at the deadline, though. Get another young starter up in here (Schmidt still any good?).
Btw, here’s what I mean by two 4-seamers. So, hold your hand out in front of you. Hold up your index and middle finger together with all of your other fingers down. It’s the “prostate exam” or “boy scouts” hand gesture (not that those two have any correlation… dear lord). That’s how I would grip my higher spin rate 4-seamer. I’d locate that one higher in the zone for more swings and misses.
Now make the peace sign. That’s how I’d hold my lower spin rate 4-seamer that I would locate low in the zone for soft contact.
As for my sinker/slider, I’m just gonna call it a slider. No weird wrist roll, it just breaks down hard and it’s fast. Kinda mixes the qualities of both a sinker and slider.
I just grip a regular changeup lol. I saw it on fangraphs, and I tried it. When it’s on it has terrific “tumble” down and in to righties.
Anyways, I’m gonna keep listening to this game. Let’s go Rangers!
Man.
Really wanted to see him face Ohtani. He was only at 77 pitches. Ya know? If something Really Bad happened let him face the next guy too. I have to think he can throw 90-95 pitches by now. & he was on. Great modern day line: 5.2 no earned 2 singles & 2 BB’s, I guess. But let him throw. Wanted to see him clean up his mess. Or at least get the chance.
I don’t think that’s a Grumpy Old Man take.
Is it?
Saw all 7 pitches. They are pretty much all average MLB offerings. Except.
His 4-seamer topped out at 92 & was straight as a nail. It got tagged a few times. So. Fringe average at best.
However. His split finger FB was a little flat – though not a cement mixer – but broke 94 & crawled towards 95. Much different than Hiro’s but a good pitch all the same. Looked a little above average.
Huh.
I threw the first one. Never considered the second.
So.
A 2-seamer with some run?
A circle change? Long running internet debate- I’ve had it here even (with Mohlors) over “is the circle change what used to be called the screw ball”. I was pretty good at gripping the ball a number of ways. So I like to think I could have thrown one. Like to think, uh?
Game kind of boring now.
*6 K’$.
Interesting again.
Sorry lads, just back from the best celebration of life I’ve ever been to.
Mildly squizzled. Very happy that friends and family could all meet.
Bless him, if all we’re led to believe is true, he’ll be having a cigar with Gustav Mahler & applying for a role as gatekeeper.
Helps when he was also called Peter…
Sorry lads, just back from the best celebration of life I’ve ever been to.
Mildly squizzled. Very happy that friends and family could all meet.
Bless him, if all we’re led to believe is true, he’ll be having a cigar with Gustav Mahler & applying for a role as gatekeeper.
Helps when he was also called Peter…
You have my condolences, Peter.
Good heavens.
The Yanks are playing some Ugly Baseball right now. That was a terrible game to watch, serious.
But, hey.
I did load up a batch of turkey shells. So not a total loss.
Quick update before bed:
1. Found a Trevor Bauer technique for shoulder soreness that really helped me today. My shoulder was sore before I threw, but when I used a flexible pipe like a “shoulder tube” it really loosened it up (look up shoulder tube, it’s a great idea for pitchers).
2. That “sinker/slider” thing I was throwing the other day has a name now: it’s a slider. I was just throwing today, but that thing got some beautiful movement. It acted like a sweeping slider with hard break at the end. Think, Adam Ottavino-lite.
My lower back is so painful right now I can hardly even stand up on my own. Hoping I feel better come morning. G’night patrons.
1.) You mean there is something other than ice?
Damn. That is cool! What a great tool.
2.) Here is my nomenclature/explanation:
Curveball: “holding a glass of water” grip.
Two fingers along the outer seam. Thumb below fingers.
Slider: Similar grip to curve but no space between fingers. Thumb perpendicular (or nearly so) to fingers.
Big difference is in the supination. Both use a clockwise roll, but the CU has a hard “yank” at the end.
Overhand curve: (now called “12-6” but we called it a “drop ball”) is the same grip, roll, & hard twist as the curve.
However, as opposed to those being on the horizontal axis of the ball, they occur along the vertical axis. If you will. (“pulling down the shade” is how it was explained to me.) Stay on top of the ball not along the side.
Slurve: (what we called a “power curve) slider grip thrown like a curve.
If you can snap them off like Otto I want to be your agent, bro. It’s like watching a frisbee at the beach.
_______________________________________________
Went to the range & sighted in my turkey gun this morning.
I always forget that she kicks like a pissed off thoroughbred. Mercy.Should be good to go though.
Last August 15th I was looking at 9 consecutive months of waterfowling. Down to the last 3 weeks (went so fast again!) & preparing to get my spring gobbler.
Which are my two personal yearly markers that mean baseball season is ramping up…
(& the Yanks are playing abysmally)
The early hours…..
No A’s game today so I caught the Yankees comeback win which featured that rare Yankees plate discipline thing. You know – when they only swing at the close ones, not the far away ones….
Thank you by the way for your condolences – whilst it is sad… my friend was told he’d be lucky to see 2000 (as in year 2000) due to a heart condition so to finally blow his boots in 2021 represents a win for all concerned. Twenty plus years of gallows humour served him well.
Catching the latest instalment of SD vs the Dodgers – hold fire – a nutty nutty double play and the Padres hold the lead in spite of runners at 2 & 3 with no outs two plays ago. Darvish vs Kershaw rematch tomorrow which – if mlb has any noodle – they’ll make the free game of the day online… Just checked & it’s the Mets (de Grom) vs the Nats, so at least Danny gets one half of a pitching tutorial.
Bottom of the 9th, Padres trying to save with Melancon…. Three Ks later & the season series is 2-2. I’m loving every bit of this rivalry.
More disconnected thoughts later – I have to go to work for the daily bread…
Mornings, now evenings my time….
Giggling that the best hitter in baseball for the last ten years (and quite possibly most of the next ten) is being accused of using his elbow to impale the ball for a HBP.
I’m seriously wondering it he can hit .400 this year. Early days obviously.
Thinking that Adolis Garcia (he’s had a bit of coverage) might force pitchers not to walk Gallo. Lots of pop, but TTO. But do you want to face him with a runner on(s) on?
Wondering about Chris Gittens making the big team if Mike Ford has – what – three or four more games like last night? Might have to go back and watch his ABs a tad more closely but he didn’t exactly inspire? Not sure how far away Voit is, so it might be a roster wrangle too far.
I won’t gloat about my lot. The BGs (baseball Gods not BeeGees)* were mentioned after Wednesday night. What they giveth they quite often taketh away pretty sharpish. We’ve had a number of narrow squeaks but Wednesday took the biscuit. Even Donaldson got one glued into the webbing of his glove. Yet to see a 3rd baseman throw the whole glove to 1st. They need to practice that.
Anyway any more squeaks and the cat will develop a nervous twitch.*
So I expect the streak to end in Baltimore but am certain it’ll have ended after 4 in Tampa Bay on the silly surface. And it’s a bit of a flight too.
That wasn’t gloating.
Frank – practicing & lining the site back up with your turkey gun is serious Day of the Jackal stuff. Had visions of you being knocked back ass over bits by the kickback. How do you flush those out? And they’re vicious too, no? The turkeys that is…. And the idea of mixing a potent projectile in your own shells is fisherman-like – making your own flies – with more spectacular results. You’d have made a splendid English gentleman.
Must run back for tea and tiffin.
Peter
* I’ll get back to the music round in a bit.
* We don’t have a cat.
I actually know what a tiffin is!
Yeah, that was a silly debate. I stayed away. Halo11 had it under control. I like that guy. With the devaluation of batting average, don’t think we’ll see a .400 average.
I thoroughly understand OPS & “empty” batting averages. Miss my more innocent understanding of the game.
Ford has always been a fringe prospect. He has this weird cult following with Yankee fans. Probably the whole Princeton thing. Gittens would need to be added to the 40 man. That’s an impediment.
I’d like to try Odor at first.
We could definitely use Voit back. Our offense – the one thing I’m not worried about (should I be?) has looked atrocious.
Voit will help.
&, “LUUUUUUUUUUUUUKE”.
I actually like seeing the A’s & Rangers win now. Getting excited is just fine, man.
You hunt them like waterfowl: shotgun, decoys, dog, calls…I even use one of my pontoon boats or kayaks, too.
Essentially, you try to convince a jake or tom that he’s stumbled into a full on turkey p 0 rn 0. But you don’t wing shoot them. You snipe them with incredibly modern, tricked out shotguns. Mine packs a wallop. Far more then my 10ga I use for ducks, geese, cranes, swans, etc.
But it works really well.
Tie my own flies too. I actually post on a forum of British nontraditional fly fisherman sometimes. Don’t always get their meaning right? Good blokes though, nonetheless.
We have a cat.
He is so weird. So just a typical feline.
Catch ya…
Watching the Yanks.
Clase? Mercy. He is throwing cut fastballs at close to 100 mph. That…man, that doesn’t even seem possible, man.
Lots to giggle about there:
What’s the cat called? Usually?
“I actually post on a forum of British nontraditional fly fisherman sometimes”
I never realised there was such a schism between traditional vs non-traditionals. It’s a divided world.
Whilst I appreciate the need to persuade the turkey of imminent sexual nirvana, I’m struggling to think how you’d impersonate those “needy” calls. Or for that matter practice. Even practicing could have unintended consequences.
Early hours here, so I’ll coffee & digest the results over more Padres vs Dodgers…
“Antecook”.
Not even sure how it spelled. Xavier named him when he was 3.
You have no idea. It’s the “coarse fly fishing” movement (non trout & salmon) which really took off in the UK. But, as I use Japanese Tenkara (fixed line) rods I am considered a scofflaw.
Two hen decoys. Sometimes 3(!).
How = Youtube videos & I am serious.
Didn’t run Yu back out (threw a real nice game) so I’m off to bed.
So the cat has spent it’s entire life wondering how to spell it’s name. This will explain a few things….
Was nearly late for a Sat am site visit – these are my favourite site visits (this wouldn’t happen on your sites Frank) because most of the time they’re willing to talk about anything rather than actually work at 8am on a Saturday – catching up or getting a bit extra – with a mild hangover. We’re not “supposed” to do site visits on a Saturday but I get more of an idea of requirements, future projects, problem solve in 20 minutes on a Saturday than I could get in two hours of constant interruptions on a weekday.
Anyway, I was nearly late because I was admiring the work of Chris Parrish on you tube. I’m sure you’re aware of Chris’s work, and Danny if you’re not – this is well worth 10 minutes of your time when you’ve got more important things to do. Like be at site visits.
Chris is 14 times national turkey calling champion.
14 times. I am in freaking awe of this dude. This isn’t 14 times all star, this is 14 times MVP. Perhaps it’s sporting excellence like this that motivates the Mike Trouts or de Groms – Danny – hope you caught the tutorial last night – but this excellence can only motivate blokes in other sporting fields.
And the thing is – Chris – who looks younger than me – could stay at the top of his field for DECADES – because the physical limitations aren’t quite the same.
“Mike – congratulations on your 4th MVP award. It’s quite an achievement. How do you stay motivated to still improve further, and who would you like to thank?”
“Thank you. I have to thank Arte for signing the cheques and forgetting about pitching as usual. I thank my family and team-mates but most of all I have to thank Chris Parrish.”
“Mike, I’ve not heard of Chris, is he part of the coaching team or a special advisor?”
“No, he’s 14 time national turkey calling champion…. and all the inspiration I need.”
I – personally – or impersonally for that matter – have never written to or fan mailed a sporting person – but aged 49 am tempted to break this particular zero by writing to both Mike Trout & De Grom and asking them whether they find Mr Parrish’s work inspirational.
Furthermore – Chris Parrish must have potential work in motivational speaking. So I’m going to try and get hold of Chris and get him into the boardrooms of major corps across the world. Taken to it’s illogical conclusion I could persuade Arte Moreno to use Chris as a motivational speaker and thus unite Chris & Mike in mutual admiration making the conversation truly take place.
Finally I want to see this work in action (on the turkeys) and eat the evidence. (Not eat either Chris or Mike. That’d be wrong)
The temptation – 2nd site visit postponed – not by me – hence this nonsense – is to draft a missive or two forthwith.
Lighting Studio next…. still hoping to bring them and a builder together for their next project…
Final thought – no wonder he looks so tired. Imagine the women that come with the role. Party Situation: “I’m in IT.” “I sell paint”. “I call turkeys.” I mean – how is anyone going to beat that?
Yours in thought
London
See?
This is *exactly* what I mean by; Art.
Good heavens, man, but I bet you are one helluva sales guy.
Did you just…
Man, you welded Mike Trout & Chris Parrish (yes! – lol – he’s the one!) somehow into a coherent take.
Salesman with the gift of words. Not too often I actually lol at a post. But that was a multi-lol.
So.
About to head up to my turkey lodge. Furthest north in MN. Doing my part to keep them out of the Northwoods as they are devastating to grouse populations.
Tomight will be too much whiskey, cards, baseball & hunting stories. Have Monday morning too if need be. Haven’t had a two day outing in the 3 yrs I’ve gone there. Going with Linda who will do her artist, 420, hippie, fisherman thing.
Catch ya.
Sweep Cleveland.
May check in.
I am ashamed to be speaking to an ignorant, cis-gender, male on this board. Frank, you know that the terminology is FISHERWOMAN!!! Not “fisherman”!!! I am ashamed.
(That was a joke. I feel I have to actually say that since some people unironically talk like that now.)
Anyways, I think today is finally the day. I’m gonna go get setup and get some velo readings! Also gonna get to watch my first Rangers’ game of the season when I come back in! Let’s go.
Wish me luck…
But…look, wouldn’t “fisherwoman” actually…aww, forget it…
At the lodge. 35° up here. Get down to ~ 25° tonight. Minnesota, man. It’s a well known deer lodge trying to make a few bucks (no pun intended but willingly taken) during the spring.
Got to watch the game while my artist, fisher/hippieperson, personfriend drove up.
So: Rougie! &…Cole! &…4 game sweep!*
In the midst of beginning a project to drink too much Kentucky bourbon because that is essential to the American turkey hunting tradition.
& who am I to fight that?
Awesome.
Can’t wait to hear where you’re at.
Cribbage board calls but I’ll stream some baseball. It might be cold but it is connected.
Best of luck, Danny. Let a good one rip for me.
*Hopefully. May have my gobbler by first pitch.
So.
Good news and bad news… Good news first.
The good news is that that was by FAR the best pen I’ve ever thrown. I was comfortable, I was letting fastballs rip, and I was getting great drop with my changeup.
Bad news: That radar balls sucks a**. It gunned me at a high speed of… 62mph, it read all of my fastballs as changeups, and it averaged me out at a speed of 57. Just lol. I spent 100 dollars on a paperweight. Hope I can return it.
Luckily, I hit my cousin up and we talked for a little bit. He said he has an actual radar gun, so I’m hoping to meet up with him and get some readings in that way. It really just pisses me off how that worked out, though.
I’m not B.Sing right now. If I can play HS baseball next year, I honestly think I can be one of the better pitchers in Texas at my grade level. I’m feeling myself today. I’m healthy, pitching great, and making big strides. That’s all I can ask for.
Gonna watch some Chris Parrish videos when I get out of the shower too. Talk later guys.
Well…hell.
That is good/bad news. Total drag about the ball. I was so enamored with it.
Cribbage by a roaring fire accomplished.
Too much bourbon very much so as well. Typing so carefully.
Caught some Padres Dodgers. Gotta hate when your loogy gives it up.
Later fellas. Up at 5;30
Well, that’s that.
(Til fall…sorta. But that is often more wing shooting in the “traditional” sense. Though appaling to many turkey hunting traditionalists. Yes. Those kinds are *everywhere*.)
A medium sized hangover & a medium sized tom.
Gonna nap in the truck. Linda likes driving.
Anyway.
Danny: what did you think of my list of curves & sliders? Do you define them differently?
Peter: I will think of you tonight while I consume things you cannot.
Go Yanks!
Sweep gets us to .500.
Need some length from Taillon, serious.
Best of Sundays, fellas.
Hiya Guys,
Dozed off about 1am my time with the Yankees just having won and my lot having declared on 7 in the rain. So I missed the latest Padres Dodgers installment and missed also the White Sox Rangers game which looked great from the highlights.
I’m now imagining Frank preparing for the day’s turkey shooting warming up (after coffee of course) with some Chris Parrish work. Danny – I’m sure you’ve done your research by now but I find Chris’s most compelling work was the 2013 NWTF GNCC senior finals. The hand actions, the sounds themselves, but the Sheakespearian stalking of the stage, made the “Aggressive & Excited Yelps” his finest moment.*
Wouldn’t you agree?
I’m a bit irked – not as much as you are Danny – by the “clever” ball tracking you at 62 mph. I can’t imagine you’d switched it to eephus mode, and it’s hard to propel anything at less than 50 mph (cricket)
My laptop has just refreshed itself and lost more “witticisms”. It’ll be random thoughts from now on..
– Thought Bumgarner was on for a no hitter until I realised 7 innings doubleheader.
– Hope Houston was as much fun as possible Danny.
– De Grom has an ERA+ of 1245 right now
– For fisherwoman, I’d be angling towards “Lady of the lake” or “Angelic Angler”
– When is Khris Davis back? Not liking the whole deal at the moment!
– Glad in some ways the streak is over. A’s were outplayed today. Means or Boyd as preferred trade chip? Can’t see Orioles or Tigers appearing above .400…
– I’m an avowed carnivore Frank, Dominika is the pesky-tarian. I’ve enjoyed your solace though on a couple of messages!
– Lodge sounds idyllic, how far north is it? Isn’t Canada next? Please forgive my US Geography which consists of east-coast, west-coast, and the middle.
– Time for SDP at LAD. A plunking, a clearance or two should keep it cooking till next time.
Take care
London
Yo.
Didn’t catch much either. What I did see was a tad bit fuzzy. Due – of course – to watching on a tablet.
Catching a bit of it now. But I am actually a little more interested in this book. Good teams though. If SD can reign in the injury bug they can play with the Dodgers.
I always choose the “semi-guided” option. $125/day. Get meals. Super inexpensive. But – anyway – semi-guided = drive my hungover behind to where the “turkeys are” kick me outta the truck before dawn & “I will be back by noon or just walk back…only a “‘coupla miles'”.
It’s by Duluth. On Lake Superior. ~ 150 miles north. Or roughly halfway to my place “up north”. Which is – indeed – close to Ontario.
Well, we all agree.
The orb was a major letdown.
I think I could still break 62. God I hope so. Still. It would definitely hurt. Is bowling (cricket) hard on your arm too?
deGrom.
Lord.
“‘Lady of the Lakes'” is so stolen, bro.
.247
Never be glad a win streak is over! Though being in Europe it was probably taxing to watch due to the times.
Foi gras on the salad. Grouse & hare.
Poor lass. Dessert was good?
Have great night.
I’m getting to watch Rangers’ games again because of a certain app that leads to a certain website… it’s free.
Anyways, I’m actually watching Yang’s debut today! He’s looking great too. Bad luck has caused him to give up two ERs (otherwise he’d only have given up 1 ER on a Jose Iglesias homer). Despite that he’s looking great. I think he’s pitched 4 and 1/3 in long relief thus far.
“Certain app”
“Certain website”
“It’s free”
Now, I tend to put Xavier in the “good kids” category (really lucky with that. I tended towards wildness at his age). But he does think it’s…mmmm, quaint – shall we say – that I pay subscriptions for NFL & MLB.
Didn’t watch Yang as the Yanks destroyed my love of baseball – indeed sports – yesterday.
It passed overnight. So.
Whoo.
Glad this day is into the baseball watching phase. Mid forties & rainy out (better be able to run the ball…), & climbed 5 different roofs toady.
Gunna put the rowing machine to use during the first inning. Then on to a well desrved ale or two.
Go Yanks.
Oak-town beat the A’s.
Danny: let me know when Arihara is throwing next if you think of it please.
Told ya I could probably get to a thousand comments just responding to myself.
Kluber looked pretty good. A couple of the Indian fans on the board told me he’s a notoriously slow starter.
6.2 & one earned is a good night.
Wondering though…
So. Baseball Savant lists his repertoire as; 4-seam, 2-seam, & cut fastballs. He mixes in a change & throws that (physics defying) curve. But, I swear I’m seeing an occasional slider too.
Just a slower cut FB? New pitch? Is he throwing a slutter (slider/cut hybrid & a fun word to type)?
Caught the 9th of the A’s game. Saw Murphy go yard. Got my hopes up. Been hearing his name for what seems like years now.
Good to see he’s having some success.
Did catch some of the Rangers. But I was rapidly approaching my baseball watching limit.
Anyway: Solak! Kid looks really good. Can’t even remember what we got for him. Love seeing that it’s working out for him & Texas.
Catch ya.
& if not I’ll just keep posting to myself.
Mornings…
The early hours so I’ve got the Reds in LA. Two out rally & a Votto double puts the Reds one up..
Re – Solak – not surprised re the minutiae of the deal…
Arizona Diamondbacks Traded 3B Brandon Drury to New York Yankees; New York Yankees Traded Taylor Widener to Arizona Diamondbacks; New York Yankees Traded Nick Solak to Tampa Bay Rays; Tampa Bay Rays Traded RF Steven Souza Jr. to Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Diamondbacks Traded LHP Anthony Banda and Player To Be Named Later to Tampa Bay Rays.
It seems the save will come down to Sean Doolittle – an old A’s favourite.
Need to ask some questions about Sunday lunch, but I’ll save those until I need 10 minutes at work.
Tidy wins for your teams, Folty seems to have walked a bit of a tight-rope,but no steals or even attempts, so he kept his eyes firmly on any naughtiness.
That’s rather a short summary, but hey, need to run.
Have wonderful Wednesdays.
London… .
Holy…yeah!
Yessir, that was the deal & it’s attendant moving parts. If you pulled that straight from memory I am floored.
In a strange name doppleganger twist, I just finished a book by Sean Doolittle. Sadly, it’s not the same guy.
Man.
I love preparing what I bring back almost as much as I do acquiring it (French with bits & pieces from l’empire, a little Cajun & Creole too). But, don’t get me started. It would probably bore poor Danny to death.
Yanks just need to keep grindin’. Too many good players to be playing this poorly. Bats are finally showing some life. Loaisiga is really impressing me, too. The entire pen is actually.
Gotta run myself. Trying to get done with work obligations so I can make a run to North Dakota. 18 measly days left (of which the last week isn’t very good at all) of what started as 9 consecutive months of various waterfowl seasons.
Time, man.
Stay up.
Catch ya later, fellas.
Right going back a few messages….
Danny – the orb… Can you hit it? Sounds stupid but I figure if you can throw it full tilt – can you hit it? Off a tee you’d still be able to whack it and see that reading? It would confirm wonky-ness. A technical term in the orb industry.
Is bowling hard on your arm? It’s hard on everything. Go from floor to ceiling on all the joints so ankles & knees especially, hips – a lot of guys end up with replacements in their late 40s – through the spine. Lots of stress fractures. You do hear of career ending shoulder/elbow problems but they’re fewer – all the effort is expended getting that far prior to using the arm – I suppose it’s similar in a lot of ways though – a few guys have the ability, fewer have the durability.
And I didn’t get much time.
There is more to come on Chris Parrish though….
London
Well…I wasn’t shut out.
& that’s about all I can say. After being shot at for months & months the snow geese are a tad paranoid by now. Can’t say I blame them. But shooting occured at distance. The guy who invented 10 gauge shotguns should definitely get into heaven. Even if he’s not a Yankee fan.
& now we are discussing taking a bat to: The Orb of Letdown. That sure changed quickly.
Yeah.
That makes sense now that I think about it. Was wondering if you guys have Tommy John, rotator cuff, thoracic outlet, etc surgeries too. Pitching hurts. Spent my Friday & Saturday nights with a case of beer & bags of ice on my arm my first couple years in college.
During football season it was the same routine except it was Sat & Sun night’s. & the ice went a bunch of places.
Man.
Just think if you guys discover calling geese, cranes, ducks, & bear. It’d get really wild then, man.
NFL draft today. So a hopeful day. Plus Yanks have the Orioles (*gotta* win. Every time I think we’re about to pull out of it we start sucking again. Need to go on a little run here)
About an hour outside of town yet. Gotta swing by a job site then I’m going to plunk down & watch TV like it’s my job.
& get a little practice in with my black bear call.
Life in the fast lane, bro. Life in the fast lane…
Catch ya.
P.S. Gary Sanchez = </3
Why do I still continue to love him? He doesn't seem to care about me. At all.
NFL draft day 1, fellas.
Xavier has a few of his buddies over for a…I dunno…”party” seems a bit strong.
Made them a mountain of Cajun rub goose wings & a mess of spring rolls. Linda (huge Viking fan) made a big pot of chilli.
Hoping Giants go interior offensive line in the first & second rounds.
Anyway.
Yanks keep stringing me along, man.
Just gave another game away this afternoon. At least the starting pitching has been better.
My grandfather always said to wait until the end of May to judge a club. That’s a little past the 40 game mark which – according to fangraphs – is when things begin to stabilize.
So.
Patience. Which I can do.
Hoping the Saints take the best player available lol.
Just swinging through to read the new posts, though I don’t have much to say myself. Doing some work at the moment.
Though I can say I have some writing in the making…
Hey, Danny.
Your ambivalence towards football always strikes me as…anomalous for a high school kid in Texas.
When it’s done link us.
Peter: do you still follow cricket &/or rugby?
The best part about baseball is that there is always tomorrow. (Or today, but you know what I mean.) Got the Tigers. Time to beat up on a bad club.
Field stripping & cleaning the bear gun this morning. Gotta get to the range this week. Unlike sighting in my turkey shotgun this will actually be some ‘The Day of the Jackal’ type stuff.
Be good & do good, fellas.
Have a splendid last day of April.
CALL ME GANDHI IF YOU WILL BECAUSE I AM SAVING THE WORLD ONE MLBTR COMMENT AT A TIME!!!
Seriously, I remember a while back you (Frank) were asking about the “pitcher extension” stat, and you said you could never find it, and neither could I. But today I have found it!
So it’s in Baseball Savant,under the subtopic of “Pitch Tracking” when you scroll down. It’s to the right of that little chart there, and it’s shown in its initials “ext.”. Here’s Tanner Roark’s Savant page: baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/tanner-roark-…
Go down past the colorful “Pitch% by season” graph, and you will see the “Pitch Tracking” chart.
It’s located at the same place for any player when you search them in savant.
Btw, I watched a lot of stuff on Chris Parrish, and it is absolutely astounding what he does. His jaw muscles must be able to bite through steel with how much he uses that little device. (He also made me go into a hypnosis of sorts by watching him, so I guess his calls have more than one effect lol)
Until next time…
Right… marvellous, good evenings…
Scattergun approach – lots occurring in North London.
Thank the blue blazes, but Gandhi first, the A’s don’t have to face John Means again. Controlled through 2024 = lots of chips. The A’s will shock the world by picking up Mad Max in late July.
Three true outcomes in Detroit. Five strikeouts, five walks, five homers. Voit about to start rehab assignment.
Chris Parrish has indeed thought about everything. There are even subtitles on his you tube films presumably for turkeys that are hard of hearing. How considerate.
Got to contrast Arihara’s lack of control followed by Fireman Yang. Where’s the hole in the rotation right now? Loved further work from the Fireman much as I’d enjoyed his spring training outing.
What on earth are you supposed to do when in some good kitchen management (specifically the fridge area) you eat some mushrooms that had been there long enough to claim asylum. “I was saving them!” “From being eaten?”
Win the big battles Peter. Save the radishes.
Watched the first 30 minutes of the 2018 NWTF – disappointed to see Chris was NOT in the line up. I’m wondering if he’s been ostracised for his success by the rest of the community. Mike Waddell was compere and did a reasonable job but without Chris it was soulless.
Nick Solak as an all star gets closer.
Mike Trout hitting .400 gets closer. Only 150 days to go. He can go 4 for 4 with no runs scored, no RBIs against my lot anytime.
I don’t follow rugby any more. As a kid it was a game where every kid of a shape and size had a position – so if you were a bit chunky there was a role, a bit little, tall, fast… It’s turned into a parallel lines game with both teams strung out defensively across the field.
I still occasionally play cricket. Teaching the youth the ways of righteousness. Whilst tripping over. I play for a local London team occasionally and go home to the place I grew up playing at about half a dozen times a year. Bless them, my parents will pootle along to watch a bit, I’ve played and paid yearly fees at my original club since I was 12 and it is a really cliched cricket experience.
On another sporting front I’m watching the World Snooker Championship. For a bit of defiance to the laws of physics have a look at Alex Higgins vs Jimmy White in 1982. Or not…
Great weekends
Peter
My man.
Thanks, D.
We used to talk about pitchers who threw fastballs that “played up”. We all understood that it was a real thing. But, until extension was defined we didn’t know the how of it. The longer your stride the later you release the ball. It’s crazy how an inch or two the either way changes the equations final outcome so much.
Examples:
Tanaka releases the ball early. His “perceived velocity” is notably lower than his readings. D-Rob is the exact opposite.
Rabbit hole I: Danny is there some way you younger fellas are working on this (extension)? Seems like – more or less – it’s genetics.
Rabbit hole II: you can find videos of this 18-19 year old kid calling swans just using his mouth. He works as a guide in North Carolina. I will try & remember his name.
Gobble gobble.
It certainly would be shocking to see the Mad One end up in Bump City. That hasn’t been the A’s style of late.
Then: the $$.
I know there were numerous debates here in re to, “did teams lose actual money, or did they ‘merely’* lose profits”. A few teams (Reds & A’s come to mind) sure seem like clubs that in actuality were in the latter category.
Also; Means a good pitcher.
Yee-up.
It’s who we are. Lotta runs. Lotta K’s too. Fundamentally we are just simply not as good as we were under Joe G. Give a lot of outs away with the gloves & on the bases (wtf, Gleyber?). But we do still reach home plate a lot.
I’ve always known that turkeys have amazing vision. & they can certainly be wily. Hadn’t considered their ability to read.
Aww, man.
I missed Arihara’s start. I caught him against the Angels & he absolutely throttled them. I immediately became a Big Fan of his & his 7 pitch repertoire.
Ahh, domestic bliss.
If I get divorced another time I will have earned a golden sombrero of failed marriages. I may avoid that particular ignominy as Linda – God love her – is opposed to marriage. Here’s to hoping I remain 0-3 as that is somewhat easier to explain away. Sounds like you have a great wife though.**
I think one of the biggest things marriage tests is how well two people can be roommates.
Save the Radishes!
What have I started!? Danny zoning out, Peter trying to line up Chris Parrish, Mike Trout meetings…
So impressed by Solak. When he was with us, it was thought the power would develop. The knock(s) on him were that he was achieving his high OBP/BB% more though passivity than selectivity (& his glove which is so Yankee).
Blew that one, man.
Hitting .400 is one of the few things he has yet to do. I saw him play out here once. Nothing eye popping in CF.
At the dish he went 0-4. He drew a walk but got thrown out trying to steal 2nd. Takeaway: baseball is hard, man.
Yeah, that’s like football here, man. Anyone with any modicum of athleticism can find a spot.
You still play!
That’s awesome!
When I was in the Balkans, I met a number of Brits. To be honest, mostly your Marines. So that is the sample pool I have to work with.
But they were sports mad (& – of course – pride makes me add, “although not quite as tough or bright as the American version”). Soccer, cricket, rugby…& yeah. Snooker too. Also steeplechasing which is incredible.
Alright.
Beef (using bison) Bourguignon in crock pot.
Headed to range to sight in my Sako.
Stay up, fellas.
Francis.
* Yes. I am an unabashed capitalist.
** Not that mine weren’t. Hell. I’d’ve divorved me too at one point if given the chance.
Good morning & happy Sunday, fellas.
Heading out to West Dakota. Spring black bear. Will hit the rapidly dwindling snow geese migration in North Dakota on the way there & back.
I will work like a slave this summer, but I’m going to take a 3 or 4 day trip every month. This is May’s.
Alright.
Linda is packed & ready.
I will try to check in evenings.
Be good & do good.
Watched the Yankees utterly snuff out Detroit.
Have spent the last three hours swearing at the A’s as they do their utmost to blow another game against the Orioles.
Ramon Laureano picked the damn thing up – great defensive play – then a two run homer – and threw it over the line.
And finally all three of us have won on the same day!
I told you another write-up was in the works… and it’s out now: lonestarball.com/2021/5/4/22410843/mr-clean-a-look…
Me and Mr. Bear Puig talked over email, and he asked me if I could throw together a few words about Dylan MacLean’s mechanics so that he could include them in an upcoming article. I said yes, and after I finished, he said it would be turned into a stand alone article because of it’s length. Anywho, it’s a collaboration between me and him (he’s a hitting “expert” and I’m a pitching “expert”).
Hope y’all like it. I have another more in-depth “essay” coming soon…
Hey, fellas.
“Sometimes you eat the bear. Sometimes the bear eats you.”
Avoided the latter one more time. Feel refreshed & focused.
Got back around noon.
Hit the ground running.
Yanks looking better. Tough loss today. Thought we had that one.
Alas.
Lots of work stuff to do.
Catch you hep cats on the flippity flop…
Alright!
That was really good (again), Danny.
Loved the comments too. Seems like you are garnering some well deserved respect.
Mariano Rivera is an incredible example of the torque a pitcher can develop with the shoulder/hip separation. That is precisely why he was able to run that Cut FB up in the high 90’s with just that little tiny “windup”.
Also: of course I am interested in his repertoire.
Really cool stuff. Thanks for posting it here.
Just checking in.
Hope you fellas are doing well.
I was thinking about checking in as well. It’s been pretty quiet in these parts recently.
Not much going on in my place, mowing season is here, testing is over, but besides that it’s just watching grass grow that entertains me day in and day out (along with my tedious amounts of school).
Still throwing, and in two days I plan on throwing another bullpen. Maybe I can get up to the HS soon and get gunned (which is the hope), but I don’t know how that will play out.
Not much else… oh, the Rangers are on an absolute tear right now. We’re back to .500 after an utterly depressing stretch, and it finally looks like we’re breaking out of our years-long rebuild. Adolis Garcia may very well be handed the ROY award today because he’s been amazing. Along with my Kyle Gibson and Nick Solak predictions holding true, this team is just great right now.
Get to face your Yanks here next week, so I imagine there’s some tears in your future, Frank (lol).
Gotta go yet again.
“Give my umbrella to the rain dogs
For I am a rain dog too…” – Tom Waits
Yeah.
It has.
But you fellas are my favorite posters here. So I keep coming back to it, like my pup & a tennis ball.
We are still getting down to the mid 30’s overnight up here. So summer is yet merely a rumor.
Always makes me smile when I hear you’re still throwing. Looking forward to hear where the ole #1 is sitting. Hope that works out. Coaches might be interested in getting a look at you for next spring.
Rangers hanging tough. If their bullpen hadn’t been absolutely hammered with injuries they may have been modest buyers at the deadline. I don’t think they have the horses to hang around the WC2 race.
Could certainly be wrong, however.
50 game mark is in sight. That’s when I’ll make my first real judgements on teams/players.
Catching Rangers at a bad time. Plus on the road. I’m hoping for a series win, but that’s not a given.
Stay up.
Catch ya.
Evenings fellas,
Strange day in the metropolis – and apologies for recent radio silence. It’ll be a bit of a random thoughts message. As usual…
Currently watching the Rangers at the Giants and wondering how Jordan Lyles is getting the start. Yang hasn’t pitched in the last six days.
You guys were so surprised by Uncle Albert Pujols DFA that you didn’t comment. Overcome by shock?
Was hoping our three teams would combine for a 6 out of 6 weekend. I have to plead forgiveness for my lot blowing a 3-0 lead against the Rays.
OK – so that wasn’t the usual Lyles meltdown. ,
Ended up awake – or something close to it for the A’s. Hoping to tighten up the AL East for all involved…
London
“London calling at the top of the dial
& after all this won’t you give me a smile?” – The Clash (of course)
Was just considering putting out an APB.
Good to see a post from you. Hope you’re well.
I’d just retuned from out west that day. It was just too much internet for me at the moment. One of the most ferocious RH hitters I’ve ever seen. His decline was…ragged. I get that.
But there were a lot of posters trashing him & that wasn’t my lemonade party that afternoon.
Eich bein A’s fan or whatever it is.
Catch ya
A little more upbeat than yesterday.
Largely because I was invited to a site visit at a hostelry, where in advance of the unfettered enlightenment (end of lockdown) the landlord wants his pub repainted. In 5 days. Logistically you might as well hire a helicopter and drop giant buckets from overhead (think the Japanese approach to over-heated nuclear power stations) – except that it’s the interior.
All I could do was make phone calls to guys that work for major contractors in the hope that I could assemble a team of miscreants on a weekend “day” rate to use the paint that I’m selling to Gerry the surprisingly Irish landlord.
Light fuse, stand back, don’t answer your phone after high noon on Saturday.
Irked the Rangers aren’t playing today. I feel with the lack of fans, that our three schedules should be more than enough of a focus group.
Vacuum cleaner sucks up budgie – the magnificent seven….
Sorry for that line Danny…
Danny – really enjoyed the latest lone star piece. Again – cricket wise – there’s a lot of similarities – the suppleness of the torso – or tensile strength – in terms of controlled acceleration. I’ve always thought both games could learn a lot from each other. I can’t explain the rabbit holes it threw me into now – cooking – but for me pitching is control. England have a “quick” bowler called James Anderson who has made about 65000 “pitches” without serious injury. It’s the equivalent of 32, 110 pitch starts for 17 seasons.
He’s not quick… averages 85 mph and can be unhittable in Colorado.
Must admit I enjoy a lot of the lone star stuff because it’s generally an engaging read and it’s fun to read about a team I now care a little about.
Right – I think I’ve sent an engaging nothing of a message, but I’ll finish with my take on Uncle Albert,,,
I won’t throw stones, but my first baseball trip was 2012 and a whole lot was being made about his 10 year deal. My best baseball mate (Red Sox fan) was salty about the deal citing a decline (admittedly from Everest to K2) even back then.
So weirdly I think Pujols was as much a very rich victim of Arte Moreno’s (over/foolish) ambition as a failure. Show me someone who doesn’t sign that dotted line!
But sadly sadly sadly – he should have been cut years ago. There’s a silly truth about baseball that is epitomised by that contract. And it is anything but Albert Pujols fault.
Go Portland A’s!!!!
(I really am joking!)
“I been gettin money where the f*** you been?” – 2 Chainz
I’ve been a building contractor in some fashion for ~ quarter century. Everyone wants it done last week for at least 2k less.
So: I get it.
My crews are essentially my crews. One of my foremen (Ukrainian, siding) has been with for…jeeez…12 years I guess. But putting a crew together rapidly – even with all of my & my partner’s connections – is always taxing.
Sounds like a pretty good (financial) deal.
The Yankee way is: straight cash bribery, homie. Sweeten it up.
Don’t know how volume reliant you are? But we are (less so than we were) & if it comes down to it we are prepared to make less in order to build a good job.
Hey. If you are going to build 400 jobs/year, you’re going to cut some deals, uh?
I’ve mentioned this before, but I lived in Oakland for a couple years. Pretty close to the Coliseum. Saw numerous A’s (& Raiders) games there. Great fans, serious. As such, ever since I’ve paid attention to them. With all due respect, the Rangers have never really been on my radar.
They certainly are now! I’ve caught more of them this year than I probably have my entire life combined. Well…regular season games anyway.
So.
Yes. The schedule makers should have done a better job with this.
Man.
That’s a lot of innings. Wonder how much it hurts to…I dunno, say brush his teeth for example.
I sign that contract so fast I set it on fire.
Cole dealing.
2021 league average OPS: 702
Your dude,
Francis in Minneapolis (reluctantly transitioning from autumn, winter, spring waterfowling & grouse shooting to summer pigeon fly fishing)
Morning, fellas.
What was once a 9 month long waterfowl season is now done to a few days. I did some rearranging of my schedule. Heading for the border (N Dakota) & then another one (Saskatchewan) to try & put one last little dent in the destructive snow geese population.
Just doing my part for the environment.
Hoping for a sweep of the damn Ray’s. I do get greedy.
Stay up.
See ya when I see ya…
I threw a bullpen this morning, and I’d say it was very successful. Changed a few things in my delivery that I learned, and I changed my grip on my splitter, so I’ll go over those things here…
First off, I started my hands off higher from when I got set. My hands were pretty close to my right shoulder when I got set, so that my arm path would be longer and I could get more hip/shoulder separation.
Secondly, I changed how my foot was set up against the rubber. Instead of staying flush with the mound like I normally am, I angled my right foot diagonally to the rubber with only my right toes touching the rubber. It sounds weird, but doing so allows me to load my hips more and rotate harder near the end of my delivery.
I also moved my hand grip on my splitter so that I could get better and more consistent break on it. It also – surprisingly – shot up the velocity on that pitch by a good 5-10 mph and made it shoot into the ground like a slider when thrown. I love it, and I hope he develops further.
Good stuff, I also threw about 38 pitches which is my high number for any bullpen within the past year. Feeling good.
Hey, fellas.
Well, we have about hit high gear in the building season. Been pretty caught up in getting these jobs built, man.
Glad I have some baseball to see me through.
Really interesting post, Danny.
I’ve muddled through reading it twice now.
I actually had to step in front of a mirror to test out that different arm path.
You’re right!
Now I did go slo-mo with it but I noticed my arm does travel further.
Huh.
Having a hard time envisioning that.
It seems really uncomfortable. Can you get a good push that way?
You must be a pretty big strong kid. I’m a pretty big guy & throwing a split finger FB just seems to be something I can’t do. I find just the grip to be madly uncomfortable. I did throw an old school forked ball. The grip isn’t nearly as extreme. That would be a pretty significant velo jump.
Keep throwing.
& the elephant in the room: Yanks/Rangers tonight.
Stay up, fellas.
Evenings fellas,
Danny – thanks for update. Let me get this relatively straight – does this mean your right foot is pointing towards – or behind 3rd base? And does this mean you’re pitching from the extreme left of the rubber. Obviously explaining the mechanics of pitching to me is like explaining the mechanics of an aircraft to a jellyfish. But doesn’t the further angle not put a lot of twist on your right knee?
What’s the news on pitching “live?” Would the HS let you pitch live practice at any stage?
My one very serious question – they come along occasionally – what’s the way to make baseball cooler to your age group, Dan? I stream mlb.com, so the A’s feed has Ray Fosse, Glen Kuiper & Dallas Braden. They are 74, 58 0n Friday & 37 respectively, which averages something in the middle. Erm, Around 56. I really enjoy their commentary – but – to a teenager – average age in the box of mid to late 50’s?
I pick up other feeds and they’re pretty bland. This isn’t A’s bias by the way. But additionally the bloody 1930s organs, silly noises when there’s a strikeout…
I have no problem with the national anthem – I really rather enjoy it, but God Bless America – well Woody Guthrie had the right idea writing “This land is your land” because he supposedly despised God Bless America so much….
I’m not suggesting landmines in the outfield (I’d save that for Golf, alongside man traps in bunkers, obligatory alligators in the lakes) but is it a combination of things? .
What would – either of you prioritise?
And finally predictions for this series? I’ve got the Yankees for tonight for two obvious pitching reasons!!!!
London
Dozing off after catching the first couple. Expect Yang to get some work tonight…..
Came here to say a quick HA to Frank, lol.
I’ll say more later, but just had to get that in… Oh, and welcome to Adolis Garcia. He’s leading the way in all rookie categories and nobody knows it…
Blech.
That’s the most squared up I’ve seen a team be against Cole since he’s thrown for us.
Mercy. Rangers tagged him.
Garcia is good.
Hoping we can put it together today.
I’ll answer some of the things y’all asked yesterday…
First off – to Peter- I’m right-handed, so my foot faces 3rd base when I pitch… But, I imagine you’re asking about me changing how I point my foot diagonally, in which case, just picture a right-hander trying to point their right foot towards the left fielder while the right side of their toes touch the rubber. It sounds confusing in the written medium, but I hope that made sense.
As for where on the rubber I place my foot, I stand very far to the right. So the right side… of my right foot’s toes…. is touching the right side…. of the rubber. That is very confusing, but I will try to find the video that I watched explaining it. The person who put the video out owns a baseball training facility like driveline, and they put videos on youtube that go over all sorts of nerdy pitching mechanics things.
I can get a good push that way too, Frank. It really isn’t as awkward as it sounds once you get out on a mound. It’s all about closing off your top half of your torso till the last second so that all of the rotational energy in your torso gets unleashed when you release the ball. Essentially it just aids in loading your top half.
Peter, making the game exciting is being done, but at the same time it isn’t being done right now. MLB needs to un-deaden the balls again. They really screwed that up, and now the offensive numbers across the league are the lowest they’ve been in a long time. So that’s the first step.
MLB has really upped their advertising this year, and I enjoy where they’ve gone with it, so that’s making more new and exciting branding a priority.
As for MLB announcers…. most of them just flat out suck. I think a team’s broadcast crew should be able to announce that team’s postseason games on FOX, FS1, and TBS too, but they make Joe MFing Buck do every game. It’d be way more personal and exciting with the home team’s broadcast crew doing postseason games on national television… but I guess contracts stand in the way of that.
Anyways, I’ve been rambling, and I probably have more errors than you can count in this comment, but I’m rushing mightily. Sorry if I didn’t get to anything, but I’ll talk soon.
I actually may have to see the video. Just struggling to make the words be an image. I’m not always the fastest boat in the fleet, man.
I understand the result but not necessarily the mechanics.
I keep coming back to banishing defensive shifting. Otherwise, teams will continue to stack their lineups with TTO guys.
I actually think Joe Buck does a decent job.
Evidence: every fan base thinks he is against their squad.
Alright.
Game time.
Evenings,
Briefly going back to yesterday – egg and custard pies in my face too. Didn’t give Lyles a hope against Cole – had watched three of his previous starts and two were awful. So I stand corrected there.
I’ve just tried to “throw” off a bottom step at home holding on to – not throwing – a cricket ball with my foot at the angle suggested Dan. I nearly fell over backwards. I could kind of get it from the left side of the rubber but from the right – I think I’d struggle to open enough to avoid throwing behind a right handed batter!
By the way it’s only confusing mechanics wise it was a nice clear explanation – any you tube link or name check would be intriguing.
I’ll come back to the improvements comments but thanks – and agree – MLB are trying…
London
.
Ok.
Used a stair myself. Good work around, London.
2 things (if I am indeed doing it correctly):
– Yeah. I can see how it causes you to twist your torso more & generates more torque/force
– But I couldn’t keep my balance like that. I feel like I would “fly apart” as we used to call an uneven delivery
Welp, ‘ere we go, lads.
Pretty interesting series, uh?
– love Solak
– 7 runs & no homers? Doesn’t happen to the Yanks much
– Gallo really scuffling
– Kluber tonight
– really love Solak
Got a bit more interesting….
I didn’t even realize what he was doing until the 7th. Then it was a lot of standing up &, “c’mon! c’mon!” type stuff.
Hopefully we can scratch out a win today & get the hell outta Texas.
Day game.
Building season.
Ergo: I saw not enough of it. Listened/glanced at it on my phone. But missed big chunks of it too.
That’s what I get for lollygagging 7 months of the year. Ah well…nothing’s perfect, uh?
Anyway;
Rangers are a competitive squad. Stoked we somehow won a 4 game series on the road against them. If their pen wasn’t hammered with injury this would definitely be a Wild Card contender.
Bet.
Yanks had a nice road trip. 7-3.
I’ll take it.
Closing in on the end of May. That’s when I really start paying attention to MLB. Pretty whacky year thus far.
Ergo + lollygagging = geese with PTSD….
Enjoying Cole’s cruise through 7 – they’ll save a few bullets here I guess…
Big thanks to the Rangers for showing the Astros to the door last night….
The Yankees seem settled all of a sudden, good at bats and not reliant on the long ball…
Trying to find what I wrote about Adolis Garcia – in I think – spring training. Wowsers – if the Rangers could get a reliable rotation piece or two….
Replying to myself already. Jordan Lyles….
Just why? Career ERA over 5. 46-69 career record. John King is a converted reliever (appreciate they all are) from starting right the way up the chain in the minors…..
London!
What’s good, man?
Yanks have looked so much better since the Cleveland series. Pitching carrying us. Losing Stanton & Hicks doesn’t help.
But every team is banged up right now.
A’s not going away.
Rangers are a lot better than I thought. They have something going on down there. Spend some money this winter & they’ll be in the hunt.
Morning Frank, Morning Danny…
Mercifully I’m now over the rude shock of another Jordan Lyles start, my deferential prayers to the baseball Gods answered in celestial style.
Lance McCullers jr – good looking lad – great hair – delivered a first inning of such ineptitude (against Lyles FFS) 40 pitches, two walks & four strikeouts that the baseball Gods weren’t merely irked but utterly livid. Following God bless America, the Gods poured their scorn upon the Astros infield at the bottom of the 7th. Pinball followed. If you haven’t seen the bottom of the 7th it’s well worth a look.
The A’s followed with a rudimentary win over the Angels and our teams are 6 for 6 over the weekend.
I’m not a greedy fellow.
However I’m praying to said Gods that our three teams should produce a perfect nine for nine weekend.
And the Gods have already seen through Dallas Keuchel’s poor Moses impression. Clearly they’ve no need to wait till the later innings – a large Sunday luncheon planned perhaps – a little duck on your scorecards
I’m considering skipping out into the London gloom for flesh of lamb.
7/9 thanks to a literal walk off…
Nervous for the Rangers…
Really naughty of Bob Melvin, or clever, to lead off with Tony Kemp – he’s something like 0.600 vs Bundy
Getting late in London.
After 6 months I’ve finally learned the time difference.
Better late than never?
Missed a lot of baseball today. Work stuff.
Caught the last six innings of Yanks, white sox.
I had a “I jinxed it moment”. Just confirmed that Chapman had a 0.00 ERA & the very next instant Vaughn took him yard.
Had to happen sometime.
Bullpen has been so good for us.
Just watched the Rangers win on a penalty shoot out.
Pretty good collective weekend for our little crew.
I see the A’s are still rolling along.
“I’m not greedy”. Going to be hard to make an American outta you with an attitude like that.
Cooking a big Sunday night dinner.
My son’s girlfriend & my girlfriend will both be over. Man. Is that ever a weird sentence to type.
Alright.
You fellas remain my fav posters on the board.
Be good & do good.
Yours,
Francis
Sorry I’m late. Anywho, it feels like a good time to comment.
The Rangers just finished off the Astros on the back of El Bombi. It’s weird to have a player this good pop up out of nowhere, I swear. And it’s not just a one-month sort of affair either, he’s made some serious changes to his swing, and he’s laying down the law to these no-good pitchers right now.
The Rangers are five games below .500 right now, but after that weekend they feel right in the midst of it. It’s been hilarious to see LSB’s reaction to the Rangers recently, though. First it was super-excitement about getting back to .500 and then it was pure depression and anguish once we lost 7 or 9 or however many games we lost in a row. It’s back to excitement because…well…. the Astros.
The weather has been terrible down here for the past few weeks now. Ever since my last pen that I made all I my changes in, I haven’t been able to throw any… Still working out, but no throwing at all (I also sustained a small shoulder soreness, so there’s a silver-lining).
School is a half-week away from being over, and after that it’s a few more small projects and then smooth-sailing. Gonna have tons of time to cram in new pitching advancements this summer.
Oh, and speaking of pitching, here’s the video I watched regarding the diagonal foot o the rubber. It’s not as extreme of angle as it may sound in my prior comment, but it’s still an angle nonetheless, and the video is a great description of it.
Here (go to 3:55 in the video): youtube.com/watch?v=S8ebNkjS_B8
Tread’s channel is where I get a lot of my mechanical info from, they have some great independent stuff regarding pitching. Along with another channel called “Robby Rowland”, those are the two channels I mainly watch on YouTube regarding pitching mechanics and training. Both are great and provide a wide variety of content.
That’s about it… I’ll try to start throwing again this week after the storms clear out and it all dries up (going into a Texas summer off of a spring of harsh rain is typically an indicator of drought, anyhow).
Talk later.
Man.
I talk about the height of the building season but until it’s my reality I always kind of forget what that really means. & entails.
One of those evenings where I grab 2 ales from the fridge because one will be gone by the moment I sit down.
Sadly enough, it’s not all driving around the Midwest in a truck with my dogs, shooting stuff with a shotgun, bringing it home & eating it around here.
Always comes the settling up the bill.
Anyway.
Stories like that are great.
&, in the fly ball era seem to happen more than in the past. Urshela for the Yanks is one.
We are to the point in the season where we have some sense of the League. Rangers are far from a bad club. We’ve talked about this, but the injuries to their pen severely hampered that club.
Injuries way up this year.
It’s sapping some of the fun of the season.
Yeah.
Xavier still has a few weeks left but finals are coming up. He takes school pretty seriously. But…{ whispers } he’s really grumpy about it.
Congrats on making it through another year. An odd one at that.
Plans for sumner? Little league? We called it Senior league.
Merci.
I think we were doing it as described. I didn’t like it. But aside from learning how to throw different pitches, I really didn’t do much different after I was…man…10?,12?
Dig a trench in front of the rubber.
Line back foot up with plate.
Raise hands.
Deep breath.
Set. Rock. Kick. Fire.
Watching that made me realize that some good, specific coaching would have helped me immeasurably.
Thanks for the info.
I’m looking at some different things…well part of that is I’m looking for them & now have terms for them is really it – when pitchers throw.
Old dog. New trick. Every so often.
One last thought. Madison Bumgarner is a pitcher who uses his placement on the rubber to create some very unique angles. I’ve seen some Cuban pitchers really use this concept: Tiant, El Duque’. Cueto does some of it too. Some guys slide around for LH RH purposes but I’ve seen a handful of pitchers weaponize it in an unpredictable fashion.
Catch ya.
Just swinging through to kinda check in & say I hope you fellas are having a great week.
Catch ya.
Ooof.
This is getting out of hand.
Was home by the second inning. Almost wish I’d had more to do, serious.
But.
I did meet 3 time Super Bowl champion Jim Fahnhorst today. Built his roof. Really great guy.
I guess I’ll keep watching this wretchedness. I am typically too stubborn/stupid to concede.
Xavier going out with his girlfriend tonight. Linda is working on a new series of paintings so even if we are sharing a meal, a room, hell even a bed she’s not really present.
Artists, man.
Guess I’ll catch some twilight rock dove shooting which means I’m on a two ale limit for the game as I will be driving later. So getting through this game relatively dry.
Used to seeing you guys – London in particular – post here Sat/Sun. So I’m getting ahead of the curve perhaps.
Catch ya…
I finished with school yesterday, so I guess it’s officially “summer”, but I still have some tests to take here in two weeks so it really isn’t summer quite yet.
But what does make it feel like summer is the unbearable amount of mowing I’ve been doing. I’ve probably spent ten hours the past two days on a mower. I dont hate it, it just takes a while to get done. Especially when the heat slows you down half a mph lol.
Though I did manage to get another bullpen in yesterday. Saw a video from the great Tom House about curveballs, and after I utilized what he talked about… I’m now throwing a curve lol. It feels great too.
So now my allotment of pitches includes a 4-seam, Changeup, Split-FB, and curve. I’m not looking to add anymore pitches now, but I had really wanted to figure out that curve. It’s a nice differ I’m speed from my other pitches.
Anyways, I have more mowing to do now, so I gotta go. Wanted to swing in real quick though. See y’all.
Just swung in to say a quick – late – Happy Memorial Day to y’all. I hope you both got to enjoy it though I’m unaware of how y’all celebrate it across the pond. It’s something I’d like to learn more of though. Talk later.
Y’all are gonna like this one… I have another write-up out.
This one is quite long – it amassed 2000 words – but I feel it showcases my writing ability better than any of my past write-ups could. Hope y’all like it: lonestarball.com/2021/6/1/22417540/history-lesson-…
Well…I realize everything is bigger in Texas. But how big is your yard anyway, bro?
10 hours would probably be close to an entire year’s worth on my yard.
Yanks looking terrible at the plate again.
Yuck.
I’ll check it.
Swamped with work stuff again today.
Catch ya
Apologies – English – haven’t mastered the apology of swinging through with a pleasant “howdy.”
Ludicrously busy too. Will endeavour to add & ignorance in equal measure imminently.
London
Excellent fan post, Danny.
I’m truly a fan of your writing style, especially the more polished examples.
I have the barest memories of Johnson. Wayne I cannot seem to recall at all.
Slammed with builds. Sorry for such short feedback. I will compose more later.
Just wanted you to know I read & enjoyed it.
*to add comedy & ignorance in equal measure….
Which is a bit late now…
I started this message probably prior to Danny taking 2000 words to sledge the 2000 draft.
I really enjoyed the piece Danny. Appreciate it was a jigsaw piece in the annual draft err jigsaw puzzle, but it does beg the question, are you better off as a “hot property” high school arm taking the draft offer aged 18 or so than getting your arm shredded in college?
Normally I’d encourage college, winsome young things to chase, but in this instance I’d be inclined to take the money & invest. Not a problem I’m likely to have, admittedly.
Which brings me to injuries. Joe Poznanski – who I like as a writer in spite of the ludicrous rosy Red Sox glasses – is even suggesting cutting the season by (say) 20%. Same duration but many more off days – especially week days. As a person who tries to think the unthinkable because that’s where solutions lurk like naughty flashers – I’m inclined to think 8,000 fans for the Orioles vs Rays on a Tuesday afternoon isn’t going to sell anything.
I’d be intrigued by your thoughts, but my wish is to see the best players healthy as much of the time as is possible. Would a 130 game season aid that? Or would you not be able to fully stretch your 3/4/5 starter?
Apologies again that I’ve been so quiet – I haven’t had time to add anything and feel I’m slighting this discussion by coming to the party with four cigarette papers no tobacco and grandpa’s stolen poteen (moonshine….) which has an octane count. It happened a lot.
The other suggestion to improve balls in play and base path action was no out on a two strike foul bunt. Which did tickle my fancy. Infield drawn in, lots of fakery and so on.
Danny – you’re right – I like Elvis. I took a while to work out what a clever clever player he is. I’m hoping Khris Davis is about to turn the corner for you guys because he just needs regular ABs and healthiness. And watching a couple of the non hitting ABs – he’s close.
Where to start on the Yankees? I’m going to be mildly alternative – they’re not that bad. All right – half the line up is sub Mendoza – but so is half the league. The colder Spring months there, and the deadened spinny ball, the injuries. I don’t think the Red Sox are “for real” so if I was going to bet on what the AL wild card looks like – it’s the Green & Gold vs the Pinstripes.
Hopefully in Oakland.
Catch you in a bit….
London
925pm UK time – really enjoying the Blue Jays hosting the Astros. Some really slick on the hoof (fly?) defence has saved the Blue Jays probably two runs. And tidy 4 run 4th tootles merrily long afterwards…..
Guess which team I want to win….
I am certainly no stranger to poteen.
& various other back forty distilled concoctions.
Things are not so usurious in the college game anymore. Need to rid the NCAA of aluminum bats. But that would require finding endorsement money elsewhere.
Anyway, hat tip again on the article Danny.
I had no problems with it’s depth or length.
You have an engaging conversational writing style.
Easy to read.
& you keep adding polish.
Good stuff.
________________________________________________
There was some stuff here about the modern game & how to appeal to younger fans.
Ya know, about a hundred years ago, Polo was more popular here than football & hoops. *Combined*.
Indeed, if you are ever forced to be in Florida, there is a Polo HOF.
I take a Darwinian approach to it. Baseball will survive or it won’t.
Perhaps in a 100 years we will be watching…mmm…RocketBall. A…uh, Jai Alai type game…played…on jet packs! Against…martians (Mars sucks!)!
Scrolling up and down over the week or so…
Danny – we have Remembrance Day aka Memorial Day on 11th November, specifically at 11am. The armistice was signed to end the “Great” War (WW1) at 11am on 11th November 1918. We share the poppy emblem, because the disturbed French fields flourished with poppies at the conclusion of that war.
The problem remains that we weren’t planning on having another one 20 or so years later.
To me it (WW1) remains mankind’s greatest folly and the root of so many further conflicts to this day. Pretty much all of them involving our countries anyway….
I’ve been to the Remembrance Parade in London a few times, with great pride. Apologies if that was all a bit serious. I like the better balance of your Memorial Day more. Poignant but not as sombre.
In other news:
I can’t believe a 3 times Super Bowl winner only has about 9 sentences on wikipedia. I was expecting Jim Fahnhorst’s weight at birth, (31 lbs incidentally) a blow by blow account from high school to NFL… All it says is he won everywhere and fairly incoherently. The description, not Jim. I have to ask Ducky, does he wear any of the rings?
Good Lord Auntie Marjorie I’ve just read about Khris Davis being DFA’ed…..
Then wasted 20 mins throwing a stone at the other A’s fan….
1216am…. will send this and possibly post further drivel whilst reluctantly supporting the Red Sox!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
More stuff….
A sweltering Thursday afternoon in N7, so…
In terms of baseball and it’s life expectancy, Ducky you mentioned the one time popularity of polo in the ?early? 20th Century. Weirdly I was one told – this maybe apocryphal – that the oldest still contested international fixture in all sport is the US vs Canada. From @1860 or so.
At cricket.
I was also told cricket outshone baseball until around about 1900. Again how true this is, is conjecture….
I don’t want to take a Darwinian approach to it all. I don’t want it to be seen as a middle aged fat man’s game (in the US at least) yet this frenetic wonder of Latin America. I might as well be describing cricket in the UK & Asia. And that’s a real warning.
So I’m favour of a pitch clock, I’m in favour of the batter being “contained” in the box. Calling time? Forget it – in the cricket if the “pitcher” is ready the batter HAS to be ready. Where it gets iffy is – say – pick offs? How many goes? Is Dave Roberts great “at run” the same with a max of 3 pick off attempts?
Three batter minimum is a good start to me – but the micro-managers probably object a little too… And I can see why.
More nonsense in a minnie-mo….
The phrase rhymes with clucking bell….
One of my least favourite 0430 wake ups. I watch the A’s lose a narrow lead thanks to some defensive tomfoolery and on the other screen watch Aroldis Chapman make it look like I’m pitching…..
Bit irked that Bob Melvin put Montas out for the 7th, I am a bit of a Captain Hook when it comes to pitching. Problem for the A’s is our bullpen. After Petit, Diekman & Trivino there aren’t a lot of reliable options.
Dan – what’s your take on Khris Davis being DFA’ed?
My take on the Davis DFA? You’re not gonna like it….
It had to be done.
Davis was a downright worthless player for us, and even though that sounds harsh, it’s true.
He only hit like 2 homers, and I think they were both in the Colorado series if I’m not mistaken. He couldn’t hit, and you’d know better than I that he was a horrible defensive outfielder as well. He brought us no value, and we had plenty of options in AAA that could fill his spot with youth just as easily.
And the person who filled his spot – Eli White – has gone hog wild since he’s came up. He had terrific AAA stats this season, and right now he looks like Stephen Piscotty (the good version of Stephen Piscotty, that is). Eli brings a terrific glove to the OF, and if he keeps hitting like this then we may have another Adolis Garcia-like find.
Speaking of Adolis, he’s still getting tons of singles, but the power has dropped off a good bit recently. He hasn’t hit a homer in weeks. Hopefully he rebounds soon, but we’ll be facing Kershaw, Bauer, and Buehler the next three games, so I highly doubt it. Bleh.
See y’all later, it’s mowing season again lol.
Just checking in to say hi. My schedule has opened up recently, and I’m starting some new and exciting baseball stuff up again. Hope y’all are doing well too.
Of course I’m watching.
Been reading your posts, fellas. Slammed with work.
Will write more another time.
Yanks lineup is so weak right now.
See if we can win the battle of the bullpens here. We’ve a good one. So do the A’s….
Good Sunday evening UK time.
Also Happy Fathers Day (UK) which is aimed at Frank, unless you’re not telling us something, Danny!
With regard to the Khris Davis DFA – Danny – I can’t disagree. I’ve revisited the trade a few times – in essence the Rangers are paying $13m for Elvis not to block anyone – they get a higher ceiling upgrade in Jonah Heim for Garcia & the wild card that is Dane Acker (injury not-withstanding)….
And I’ve sent that because I’m so annoyed at losing that series….
Hey thanks, London.
Got some presents but still a work day.
Triple plays, man?
A’s been playing so well. Yanks…man. The offense has been so bad. There are NL clubs scoring more than us. Disconcerting, as this was supposed to have been an elite offense.
Far from that, we are actually bad. Not sub par or whatever. Just bad. 24th in scoring. & aside from Voit returning & perhaps an external CF addition…well…what we have is going to be it.
Either these guys start hitting (home runs in particular) or we will simply not be all that formidable of a club.
Bats didn’t produce today.
I’m on board with making a change at batting coach. Nearly all of our hitters are not hitting to the back of their baseball cards or projections. We have 4 guys with an OPS above .700.
That simply won’t play.
A’s are a good team.
I see why they are in first.
Happy Sunday, fellas
I’d had a couple of ales so thought it wise to pretty much keep counsel yesterday, but I felt the A’s were snake bitten from the 4th inning on Saturday through to the end of Sundays game.
Runners in 1st & 3rd, no outs and the chance to put real distance between the two teams. From then on it went a bit awry, but the problem we have is in the bullpen. After Petit, Diekman & Trivino there are not a lot of other options.
I thought we had two good chances to really get to Chapman and we took neither of them – the triple play (on his 2nd strike in 11 pitches) really took the biscuit.
Added to all of that we had about 5 well hit balls caught on the warning track – I’ll have to chalk it down as being a baseball Gods game.
I’m nearly over it.
Oh yeah – two chances to get Chapman home from 3rd in the 8th…
I see where you’re coming from hitting coach wise, but I feel that the Yanks 1-6 is still formidable but there’s not a lot coming from Frazier, Andujar and the like at the bottom of the order. Voit will make a difference (though I really want Chris Gittens to do well too)
Anyway – we’re off to sunny Texas – for a four game series – and have to initially crack the nut that is Kyle Gibson. Weirdly Chapman and Canha are a combined 0-23 against Gibson, yet Olsen & Laureano are 14-27 with 5HR. Some conversation needed on the flight from JFK me thinks!
555am here and I need to be a bit early today so I’ll drivel on a bit more later. Still need to put the Davis DFA to sleep too. Obviously he’ll have cleared waivers by now – I’m just wondering where he’ll land, or indeed if….
Have marvellous Mondays….
Peter
No smiles from Texas, Danny?
Appreciate it’s only game 1 of 4. Nice touch from the fans with their welcome for Elvis.
Good first game of the series, but I expected a blow-up game when they announced Hearn as the starter. He may very well be the most pitcher we have right now, even ahead of Lyles. I think Lyles is gone soon anyways. The last time he was taken out in Houston, he threw the ball away from Woodward when he went to take him out of the game. He’s been a complete “arse” in the clubhouse and honestly just a guy that nobody wants around.
Same goes for Folty. He’ll be gone soon as well, and some of the beat guys are saying that tonight may be his last start with Texas. Good riddance. I don’t mean to sound rude in saying that, but he’s been toxic in the clubhouse as well. Tons of pouting and stomping, etc.
As for the offense the past two games… woah. Gallo has absolutely gone off recently, and it looks like he’s heating up at the right time to get that trade value up. Same goes for the former A’s prospect, Eli White. He won’t be traded like Gallo, but he too has been on fire recently (ever since coming back from AAA).
Ibanez is a new guy on the club, and I think he’s only played like 3 games or so before this in the majors. He had over a 1.000 OPS in AAA before his recall, so hopefully it translates but there’s been a huge disparity between AAA and MLB offensive numbers this season so it probably won’t.
Another guy looking to come up soon – hopefully after the AS break- is Curtis Terry. He has been MASHING in AAA all season, and it doesn’t look flukey. Over a 1.000 OPS all season and tons of power to all fields. He’s a big boy with a big bat. Hope he finds a call-up soon.
Anyways, that’s the state of the Rangers right now… oh… and y’all are gonna hate facing Kolby Allard on Thursday. The man is finally having his breakout season, and it’s amazing.
Hey, fellas.
Just swinging through. Been reading your posts.
Pretty slammed with work. Was hoping to get 2 or 3 days to myself.
Alas: no dice.
Have a great rest of the weekend.
Catch y’all later, lads.
It got better Frank.
I had a kind of sporting super Sunday with the A’s playing ridiculously early on Sunday morning, followed by various other sporting tomfooleries interspersed with domestic duties (not a euphemism – my lady wife was at work) finished at the very end with a win in the afternoon game. I was a bit woozy by the end of it.
So a 4-6 road trip where we’d started 18-9 on the road, and frankly blew a game in each series. I do think we’ll struggle to win the division which means a probable one game crapshoot in or hosting Tampa/Boston/NY… I’m not sure the Red Sox are “for real” in spite of that 6-0 start to the division series against your guys…. We’ll get to find out again for ourselves in the next week or so.
Will chat more this evening….
Hey, London.
Hey, Danny.
First: Wimbledon.
Tennis is Xavier’s spring sport. We don’t have any father son baseball traditions. But Wimbledon is a big deal here.
It’ll be on constantly over the next weeks. His girlfriend plays tennis too. So she’ll be around.
Next.
Brutal series for the Yanks, man.
A sweep capped off by an absolute drubbing. They are definitely taking it to us in ’21.
Hasn’t been a whole lot of fun, fellas. Well…at least as a Yankee fan.
I know most baseball fans loathe us. So I don’t expect much sympathy.
Got the Angels tonight. They’ve turned their season around, uh?
By now, I believe in the red sox. Baseball Giants too. & Sale returns in a month or so.
Yanks handcuffing themselves with this CBT stuff.
Until ’17 we paid a tax Every Single Year. It’s crazy how many Yankee fans have bought the company line.
Anxiously; “But we have to reset the tax this year!!!!!”. Nonsense.
We need help. A CF & a starter at the minimum.
Not sure we’ll see either. Setbacks for both Sevy & Kluber. We may not get anything out of either.
A’s are a good ballclub. Astros will cool off. Bet.
I wouldn’t write the division off yet.
Yup.
I initially interpreted “domestic duties” as…well something else.
Lots of sticky stuff stuff lately.
I’ve mixed feelings on it. I certainly feel the timing is whack. Hector Santiago? Huh.
Rainy day. So the alder swamps were cool & the bugs were knocked down, albeit a soupy mess. Anyway got some hare shooting in this morning.
Got ahead of some work stuff too. Hopefully, I will be able to get a couple work free days soon. Even one. I could use it.
Alright.
Going to do some grilling tonight. Off to do some prep.
Catch ya…
Happy Independence Day, colonial types!
This is the day each and every year when we look across as huddled masses and wonder what might have been had you not got a bit cross about tea of all things.
And had we not shot a few people. As usual.
Lord North – an indolent drunkard – wished to retain the right to tax Americans – and with surprising forethought chose tea on the grounds that taxing alcohol, large hats, or dentures might be too inflammatory.
Unfortunately, and it’s rather unlikely, the Philadelphia & New York markets were saturated with smuggled Dutch tea so Boston became the focal point. For the only time ever (M.I.T still has smuggling degrees though it’s called International Trade & Finance now) 29 Puritans were found thirsty for afternoon tea somewhere near Richmond and all hell broke loose.
Ironies abound – we’d just seen the Spanish off the Falkland Islands and needed to pay the bill for the escapade. The tea tax seemed just the tincture.
It would be 140 years before the great comic & diplomat Charlie Chaplin could bring the two great nations together again. And we threw in Bob Hope – generously – as the PTBNL.
In more recent news….
Danny – throwing or mowing? Updates please! The Rangers are proving more than a little bit pesky towards the A’s as we were forced to weather the quite ridiculous perfect storms of a decent Folty start and a decent Lyles start. Not just in the same decade, but the same week. We both know the Duckster has a soft spot for Gallo but the quietly excellent John King tickles my bullpen fancy. He’d have an even better record if your infield didn’t insist on some sort of faux soccer routine at 34% of his grounders….
Tennis & Wimbledon….
For decades the idea of Britain and summer sport was as likely as pickled eggs and ice cream. For forty years post Fred Perry, we’d import any hopeful from the colonies (see how you missed out there) eventually culminating in the South African Virginia Wade winning the ladies title in 1977. Other than John Lloyd getting jiggy jiggy with Chris Evert success was not so much fleeting as unfathomable. Then eventually came Tim Henman. Who would reach the last 16/quarters even the odd semi and then make a complete arse of it. Honestly summer after summer we’d grab the rosewood and cat gut and plink the india rubber into the onion bag. And after two weeks of futility pack it all in until the next fiasco.
Then came Andy Murray – who is brilliant – and yet still Federer, Nadal and Djokovic all land at the same time.
The European Nations Cup (Soccer) is going on at the moment and because England have reached the semi finals (with a 4-0 win over Ukraine (well most of Ukraine) last night – it’s rather overshadowing the tennis. We play Denmark in the semis – the winner of that game plays either Italy or Spain. We’ve actually played quite well, not conceding a goal in 5 games so far.
The Yankees are – a bit of a conundrum. I can’t agree more about the CBT – especially when the agreement is up for renegotiation at the end of the season. I think ownership – certain owners – are more than capable of asking for a retrospective reset – the union won’t object. I’m in favour of a salary floor (weird as an A’s fan) there has to be an end to the tanking.
By the way am I the only one of us that thinks the all star game is a complete waste of time?
London
What a great post. Thank you!
I’ll take awhile to wade through some of it. Pardon me if it seems disjointed as I will be addressing it in a piecemeal fashion.
Big wild game & fish cookout tonight. I am surrounded by smoke. Goose wings, whole rock doves (because Americans eschew pigeon but compliment “dove”). A few bear sausages. Linda goes to the reservation every year to deer hunt with her family & brought venison burgers. I added some walleye & catfish, she brought some crappies & pike.
Neighbors, our kids, their friends, some of my sales guys, a couple of Linda’s “artist”(?) friends…
Veggie kebabs.
Going to be a minute….
{Returns}
Don’t gloss over the impressment of American seamen. Which…yeah, lot’s of jokes in high school.
Wonder if some of this will wind up in a history term paper of Danny’s some time…
{Returns}
Shared meals, tipped drinks with a number of British Marine officers & combat engineers. Great fellas.
But I see how a fledgling America threw off the chains of oppression because: oo-ra.
If you are assuming there is plenty of cold beer you would be correct. Always brings out the “oo-ra”…
{Returns}
Woops.
Hit “publish”. So a multi- post response.
Did I mention there is a lot of cold beer? & it’s 95 & humid. & smokey. Thirsty work.
Umm…oo-ra?
“Taxes”.
I can’t even….
Oh, boy.
Xavier going to Northwestern. He’s going to be in a dual Econ/Mathematics degree program. & pursue a couple business certificates from…man…I should know this. Their well known business school. Yikes! Can’t remember the name…Kellogg! (Kellogg school of business) & he plans on doing a (ahem) study abroad program for Spanish.
He plans to ultimately attend grad school for: International business. Yes. As far as I can tell it’s modern piracy. But it does seem like it would be interesting. He vaguely recalls when we were sorta poor. Shaped part of him. I’ve always been a bit cavalier financially. He is not.
What am I getting at…
Need a min…
The Yanks.
I can’t recall ever disliking a Yankee team.
It’s…hard to do right now.
I want to drag Chapman out to my garage by his throat. I know, I know. Probably a lot easier said than done.
But I’d not turn down the chance to try…
Pitching lab update required.
All Star game was a big deal when I was a kid. Haven’t watched one in years.
Lotta rambling.
Wimbledon could be entire post.
Have a great night, fellas.
Signed,
Just a ghost
Ooof.
Little bit too much of the suds last night.
Sorry for the tough guy stuff, but otherwise nothing too bad.
Morning Frank,
I found it really really funny. Sounded like a great July 4th party too…..
Hey, good morning!
Yesterday in the truck, the pup got sick from all the food & bones he “found”. I joined him due to all the ale & bourbon I “found”.
Best party here in over a year. Had over 20 folks at it’s zenith & about twice that over the course of the day.
Happy Tuesday.
Oh Damm, it’s been nearly 3 weeks since I’ve posted… yeeesh.
For some reason it’s managed to be both busy and boring over in our parts. Lots of stuff to do, but little time to do it. We’ve been chugging along, though.
I’m still throwing, and in a few weeks I will FINALLY get radar’d. There’s a place about an hour away from us that is in the middle of nowhere, but it’s a really nice facility with cages, mounds, and most importantly, radar guns.
I’ve been making more small tweaks to my delivery recently too, and the few tweaks I’ve made have allowed me to find the strike zone a lot easier than before. I know I said I had great control, but for a few months there I kinda lost it. So I found a new cue to use with my glove-side arm that allows me to avoid that.
As for other stuff… oh, the Rangers have somehow began fathering the A’s. I guess you could say that the Rangers are the A’s daddy. (Sry Peter, but the years of abuse that the A’s have given my god-forsaken franchise has taken it’s toll. Time for some welcome change.)
And the draft is in… tomorrow. Leiter is the popular pick amongst Rangers’ faithful, but some national reporters are linking the Rangers to Lawlar purely because he lives in Dallas. It could very well happen, but there is absolutely no effort in saying that purely because of vicinity we’ll take Lawlar.
The one strong case to make for us taking Lawlar is the fact that we’ve sent Michael MFing Young to watch Lawlar play every one of his HS games. Yes, that Michael Young. We have interest in him, but not just because he’s a Dallas native.
Anyways, I got stuff to do once again, but i wanted to swing in and say that I’m still surviving. Talk later.
We’ve slipped seamlessly onto a Saturday, and the Rangers are proving to be a complete pain in the err – scorebox.
After a Thursday evening where the A’s held on for eight and a half horrible innings, the Yankees then were just dreadful with the bat against Seattle. Fast forward 24 hours, we have a mystery re-union, a frisson, between the Yankee line up and that elusive mistress, situational hitting.
And of course my lot have a mid game meltdown and then couldn’t hit the skin off a rice pudding.
Nevertheless as a mild insomniac, I’m looking forward to the all star break and the opportunity to revert back to “normal” hours.
The rather nice Yankee story is Nestor Cortes. I’d admired a previous relief appearance but was ignorant of his new moustache. It’s an incredibly neat arrangement, almost slick, and I can’t help thinking it might aid his whole “stream-line-ness” upon the mound. From his signing by the Yankees as a youthful stripling he’s bounced around baseball backwaters (Baltimore, Seattle) before returning to his spiritual baseball home
A 7.71 ERA in 2018, 5.67 in 2019 (with a 5-1 W/L record) a marginally inelegant 15.26 ERA in 2020, followed by the attachment of a moustache and a 1.05 ERA in 2021. This can’t be a coincidence. Perhaps it’s sticky substances masquerading as moustache balm, but I think it’s merely the moustache.
Mercifully we’ve ghost runnered our way past the Rangers in 11.
Wimbledon has been a little prosaic & shock free.
Now time to pin the eyeballs open and enjoy the Yanks in Houston….
Wotcha Dan,
I’m going to mildly object to being “owned” by the Rangers given the season series is 5-4 in your favour as we speak….
Cue home run Matt Olsen…..
But I’m giggling with worth not mirth. I’d prefer to be beaten by the Rangers rather than the Angels any day of the week.
Cue 2nd home run Matt Olsen….
Just swinging through.
Read your posts. Been pretty busy with work stuff. “Have to” mmmmm…perform a domestic duty. As such. Or I’m not going to have a girlfriend much longer.
Don’t fret for ole Francis though, fellas. I’m sure I’ll get through it.
Will hopefully formulate a worthwhile response to your excellent posts in the near future.
As you were, men.
Ok Peter, the series may be 5-4 or 5-5 now, but that – in my mind – means the Rangers own the A’s when we’re 20 games under .500 lol.
Morning Gentlemen,
Dan, I accept ownership…. IN THE SHORT TERM ONLY!
I think the season series for what I’m calling the Andrus/Davis Cashdrop Trophy stands at 5-5. The next installment is Aug 7th, but 6 of the remaining 9 games are in Oakland….
I suppose given records and percentages and all those inconvenient number things we’d need to win 12-7 or 11-8 to be about “even”….
Meanwhile the Giambi (Dive you b****** else it’ll be on highlights reels for next quarter century) trophy between NYY & Oakland is poised at 2-1.
More drivel later
London
Mornings your time….
Can’t decide what the season trophy between the Rangers & Yankees should be called. Needs to be a player who’s played for both teams….
Joe Pepitone just let me down…
Fantastic – It’s the Mickey Rivers trophy. All Star in 76 with NYY, won a ring in both 77 & 78. Traded in the most complicated* trade ever to the Rangers on deadline day 1979. 210 hits – .333 average & MVP votes in one of three years he hit .300 for Rangers. Obscure enough to irritate Danny. Alive. Sounds like a gin cocktail.
Perfect.
London
*The trade was in fact so complex that several players went amiss, arriving at the wrong destinations. Mark Softy (the NYY 18th round pick traded to the Rangers) believed he’d been commissioned by THE Texas Rangers and reported for active service armed with a rifle. In Kuala Lumpur.
Good morning, fellas.
Mickey Rivers was my favorite player at that time. Learned that baton twirl with the bat & everything, serious.
It’s from before my affair with pitching. Can’t lie. A ten year old Francis had to fight back tears when he learned “baseball is a business” that summer.
Yanks in trouble. I felt we had at least one more run in us. But the timing on this covid outbreak is terrible.
Most (all?) of my Yankee confederates – if you will – want to turn back & head for safe harbor & address repairs. Me? Keep the sails unfurled & make repairs under duress. But I don’t daunt easily.
Rangers have something going on down in Texas. Your ballclub is close, D.
& the A’s…well, all that young pitching means they won’t be going away any time soon.
Should be a good rivalry.
Dreaming of September & starting to reclaim my life a bit.
Always your guy –
Francis
Wotcha lads,
Low moment as Jeff Bezos safely returned to earth to continue to ruin the planet – lets hope he can continue to use boreal rainforest products so there’s no Amazon left and he’ll have to think of another name and we’ll get a parcel on time.
There are stories about people wearing diapers at work (in the UK) to avoid leaving the production line. Thanks Jeff, you’ve added so much.
Regardless…
We’ve got an interesting time – baseball wise – because so many teams are on the verge of .500. Danny I’d be interested to see who you guys would be willing to trade – Gallo & Gibson & who else?
Frank – you mentioned earlier in your previous post – Yanks in trouble? I’m still not so sure – obviously everything isn’t rosy – but I still see the Yanks as w/c contenders, minimum. The Rays minus Glasnow, the Red Sox for real? I actually think the White Sox are little better than average and would love a ALDS against them…
So in essence we all want to avoid the Astros….
Danny – you’ve probably got the most level headed idea about this….
I’ll be predictably irked if it’s NYY vs OAK in the wild card.
Delighted the Mickey Rivers trophy is worthy of the rivalry. I’ll come back with a further “good” idea about this, but I’m sorry about the “divorce”. Bless you Mickey.
Lefty London
Fellas.
Been 90° or higher for something like 30 of the last 32 days. No end in sight, either. Wearing down my crews, sales guys, partner, & – sadly – myself.
The job sites have been a tad snappish.
Early season Canada Goose begins in North Dakota 8/15. Followed by WI (which runs a concurrent early Teal season) on 9/1. MN opens up shore birds then too.
Autumn is coming?
Caught a nice channel catfish very early this morning. He is headed for the grill.
Olympics?
Linda seems addicted. I don’t have an intervention or whatever planned. But I’m keeping my eye on the situation.
DANNY: velo?
This Yankee team is so maddening.
Gimme Gallo.
So.
Yeah. All that.
Spit balls from Minneapolis
Wotcha Danny, Frank,
Guessing Danny you are throwing, mowing or chasing young fillies. Possibly all at once. Not a fun time to be a Rangers fan. Other interests apply. Haven’t been on lone star ball recently, so not sure whether you’re taking a break from lunacy. I’d be DFA’ing Folty & bringing up anyone. That last start was simply unprofessional.
Missed none but the crucial innings of NYY @ RS last night – the Yanks looked awful for six innings, I fell asleep and they won. I guess yesterday was the same as today in reverse. Kind of begs the question about the no out steal attempt of 3rd with runners on 1 & 2 at the top of the eighth. Hindsight but another run or two there? That’s me reading the box though having not seen highlights.
Did you ever throw a spitter Frank? In a game?
Don’t know whether you agree Danny but I can’t see Gallo getting moved. For a lot of salesman & marketing type reasons. The Rangers need his “team face” of the franchise – the Rangers will need to start paying for the plush new plot post covid. As the kids adapt further they’ll be – what 15 or so games better next year? The 2022 AL West could be absolute carnage – we won’t be worse off, the Astros will be a step or two back and the other three will improve.
Clucking Bell – just had a 30 minute power cut (very 70’s old skool) and the A’s have lost a 2-0 lead & trail 4-2… Streaming goes but the laptop stays alive. Go back and it’s the most unlikely series of nonsense. A two out hit bouncing off the pitcher to start it all… Typing in the dark is surprisingly difficult after a couple of ales .
The bloody Mariners. The 116-46 year was well before my baseball time. Was that 2001? Regardless for ten years they’ve been an irritant, nothing more. The shine was beginning to rub off King Felix But it seems like a great fanbase. The train run through the north will finish in Seattle. Is it a “big” sports town? They’ve got a good sniff of the play offs and it seems to have been packed all four games….
Please bag a truckload of Canada Geese, Frank. Unlike most things Canadian they’re dirty annoying bar stewards. But what’s the meat like?
Olympics. Umm – unlike the Japanese to screw anything up. I don’t know – I went to a couple of events during London 2012 and it’s all very nice but very few of them are that well known. Old enough to remember Ed Moses in 1984 and was supporting him & Carl Lewis and the 17 British middle distance runners plus Zola Budd. But it doesn’t capture my imagination like it used to….And it now full of sports that just shouldn’t be there…..
Just been robbed 4-3….
Happy Mondays.
Peter
Fellas –
Man.
I loathe all that dumb spit we do on the bases. We didn’t do that stuff under Joe G. Played much better defense, too.
This is why I am so down on Booner. We play a sloppy game. We used to capitalize on other team’s miscues.
Now the cleat is on the other foot & I don’t care for it.
Cannot throw a split fingered pitch. Pitching hurts (like bowling) in general. But that pitch was it’s own brand of pain which I was never able to overcome. I’m awed by guys like Clemons that can sling that pitch over & over.
Aww, man.
After Marte went to your A’s (thoughts on the trade? I like it) the Yanks need for Gallo became Very Real. Yanks need help, especially in CF.
See?
That’s one of the things I like about baseball & hunting. No matter what, it is always a different experience. Every time.
Yee-up. Mariners are another team that has something going on. Seattle makes my list of: Great American Cities.
Geese (Canada, Snow, Ross, Speckled, etc) are all very good eating. I use (results can be mixed) French recipes/cooking techniques. Lots of waterfowl recipes, particularly from the Perigord. I have so much foi gras it’s criminal.
I’m pro-Olympics. But…yeah. Kinda dull.
Catch ya.
Afternoon Lads,
Well, I have to confess to knowing nothing about your great game, but I didn’t think Gallo would get traded and I certainly didn’t think we’d look to improve the outfield. Lots of A’s specific bits follow in the short term…
The seeming sitting duck for an upgrade was/is Mitch Moreland.
Much less so Elvis – Elvis is very “A’s” and bigger than the sum of his parts.
OF – I’m a sentimental booby and still inclined to give Piscotty some leash, but now we’re looking at a combo of Laureano (wobbly) Canha (safe as houses) and obviously this new bloke. So a 4th/5th/6th of Pinder (super utility) Kemp (reasonable utility but a noodle arm) and Piscotty – no utility….
Seems one too many. Also begs the question whether the club even think Pinder will get healthy again in 2021….
As for Luzardo – yeah – a bit gutted – but kind of see why he’d be in the crosshairs. He’s spent a long time unavailable and for two years (this isn’t sticky stuff related) seems to have lost movement. Se he’s a reclaimation project for the Marlins or a probable chip.
To the main course:
Just wow – you couldn’t have made this up. I’m a bit gutted for the Rangers, I appreciate it’s a terrible time right now (the .500 or so start to the season – six weeks or so was a horrible tease) but their recent form is appalling – I want to throttle Folty & Lyles.
We all really like Gallo. So whether he fills in at 1B until Voit is back and then heads into the long grass? LF is an obvious spot, nice this time of year, lovely views of CF and most of the ballpark. I wasn’t surprised John King was mentioned in the initial deal. For me he’s got quiet no4 starter potential. Danny might disagree but a bit more ringcraft and he’ll be tidy.
Got an awful feeling I’m going to have to disappear and come back to this later. The pieces going back to Texas are nice and tidy – I think Texas can add a W with Rodriguez instead of King (Rodriguez is mystifying – well to me at least) I suppose in 18 months time the RAngers could bring Gallo back….
More in a bit
London
Am I a Yankees’ fan now? I mean, they took Odor, Gallo, and Rodriguez from us (Joely, not Alex).
This trade frustrates me and brings me a sigh of relief at the same time. For starters, it came out today that the reason we didn’t extend Gallo was because he wanted more years than the ownership wanted him for. Rangers wanted him for 5 years, Gallo wanted 8-10 years. In reality, 8 years wouldn’t be all that much as he’d only be 35 by the time his contract would expire. It’s stupid they couldn’t agree to something around that 8 year mark, but I digress…
The pieces we got back are fine, I guess. Otto might be called up tomorrow, and hopefully some more room is made on the 40 man with the trades of Lyles, Gibson, Culberson, Kennedy, and whoever else we don’t want anymore.
This is depressing. I’m sad. I want Gallo back. Please take care of him, Frank.
As for Rodriguez, he’s having a great year – in fact – but his surface stats are god-awful. He’s a really solid lefty out of the pen, and he’ll be terrific on a different team. He’s just been quite unlucky this season.
Well, we would welcome you gladly.
If you choose to jump ship.
Yanks gave up some pretty interesting prospects. But I am a spender. I do this trade Every Time. I figured Cash would make some moves, but boy howdy, was this a fun deadline for us.
I know.
I know, Danny. The only fly in the ointment when I found out was dreading your reaction. I promise he is in a…umm, better place(?). I have coveted Joey Gallo for years. When yourself, the illustrious mlb1225, & Rangers13 presented him as a “glove first player”…man.
So excited for this guy. My fellow Yankee fans will – sadly yet predictably – turn vicious towards him at points.
But I rest on my record here. Look at the fervency with which I defend Stanton & Phat Sancho. I will *always* stand up for “my” guys.
Really curious about not-Alex Rodríguez. Checked him out over at Savant. I have begun looking at bullpens the same way I do position groups in football.
Through that lens, he is a nice add as he brings a different look than our other guys.
_______________________________________________
Fellas: this was a helluva deadline around MLB.
Glad this thread is still surviving.
Stay up, my guys.
I’m making a fanpost right now recapping the entire deadline because BOY HOWDY did I not catch everything. I didn’t know until a little bit ago that Josh Harrison and J.A Happ were moved. But, all moves will be covered in my recap along with tiny analysis of each move. Very tiny. This was the best deadline in a very, very long time.
It’s 3 in the morning, and I’m just learning that Michael Chavis is now a Pirate. Totally missed that one too lmao. This deadline was wild.
Danny I was about to say – what the devil are doing up?!
Must say I giggled (I was up at 430am UK time) when all of the Dodgers, Padres, White Sox – the big movers – all lost.
Bit irked the Giants fell to the Astros. – that seems the most likely WS match up right now. A Dodgers vs Padres wild card would be carnage….
I would like to have a link to it when you are finished.
Because…yes, me too!
Had a really busy day yesterday. Every time I looked at my phone 6 – or more – new trades had transpired. I don’t think I’m caught up yet, bro.
Examples:
Thought Soria would be a nice add for the Yanks. Wondered why Arizona didn’t trade him. Turns out they did. To the Jays. Who also landed Berrios. Another player I have coveted for years.
Was flabbergasted the mets did nothing. Posted as such. Sorta missed that entire Baez deal.
Ooops.
Just learned Chavis was traded. As in from your post, D.
Great deadline.
I haven’t scratched the surface on what it all means moving forward.
Oh. Yeah. Good morning, fellas.
Usual irreverence follows:
Must admit to being completely sleep deprived as I was hoping the A’s didn’t repeat 2014 (where we threw Cespedes, the farm, the machinery, the afternoon tea and Doris the tea-lady’s gold false teeth) at Jon Lester, Samardzija, Hammel….
Weird things followed as everyone then remembers the tear down and the Donaldson trade (JB Wendelken remains as the sole son of that trade) but forgets we got back Semien, Bassitt & Phegley for the Shark.
The moral to the story…. some you win…
Afternoon game, so the A’s and the Angels have just tootled off. Apparently it’s 70’s night in Anaheim. The Angels commentary team (questionable) is throwing out various 1970s facts (some questionable) but with delightful relevance – Frank’s first fave – Mickey Rivers was the leading base stealer in the entire decade…..
Five innings in and it’s a bit urgh…………
In spite of the fact we’re losing 1-0 – there is a clue in the game – who is the most efficient SP in MLB in 2021 – in terms of pitches per inning?
Thanks for reading thus far…
Danny – if my rudimentary salesman maths is correct – there’s about 80 million off your books for 2022. So. Future all star pitcher & subsequent GM – who are you targeting with your $80 million bucks?
From a Rangers point of view – I’m looking at 6-10 pieces averaging $6-$10 million per year…
I’d start with Mark Canha by the way….
OMG can we lose Mitch Moreland and get Khris Davis back….
I don’t think I’ve said the f word quite so many times throughout a game. A few more in the 9th….
Oh lordy – another game where we’ve been caught 4 times on the track and hit about 4 marginally foul. In and amongst all of this Matt Olson fouled one out of the stadium.
So I now need the Giants to beat the Astros….And the Rays to beat the Red Sox as my saver. You get the reasons there.
Throwing one into the bleachers. The A’s aren’t going to have Chapman & Olson for very much longer. What would it take Frank? Yours is the obvious team to take them as a pair. There is no better 3B/1B combo in the game…..
“some you win…”
I’ve oftentimes felt all kinds of professions should have batting averages we can look up; lawyers, surgeons, plumbers, chefs, & yes baseball GM’s.
I had such a great time in the 70’s, fellas. Ah, man. I’ve had a – more or less – a great time all of them.
& – as the man said – I really did do it My Way.
Mickey was a maniacal & thoroughly unrepentant burglar. & he said all that crazy stuff. “The wind must have been blowing a hundred degrees an hour out there.”
Rivers heard that Bucky’s bat had a crack. Gave him his. Over that stupid green wall. Take that Mike Torres. Bucky & Mickey & Reggie, Nettles, Thurman, Willie, Chambliss…man, what a squad.
Wouldn’t it be awesome if he made it to the bigs. We could boast that “we knew him when”. Anyway: can do a lot with $80MM. Sales guys always know how much money is there. Well…mine do.
Canha sweet player.
Morela-…oh my God, we have Rizzo now! He looks great. Stanton been lining up in left. Voit will slide to DH. &…I guess try to bludgeon everyone to death. Bullpen should go at least 6 deep now, too.
Cash. Double doubling down.
“We” look so much better post deadline.
AL West guys: opinions on Heaney?
Can’t even imagine the cost for those two. Have to start with Dominguez. Honestly, I don’t think the Yanks have the prospects or stomach to make a deal like that.
Also: I want them to stay in Bump City.
________________________________________________
This thread is like the secret card game “in back”.
Stay up.
Went to a Round Rock Express game tonight and saw one of the main pieces of the Gallo trade – Glenn Otto – make his debut with the organization. I even caught the first glimpses of him throwing his initial bullpen with the club. I got it on video, posted it to YouTube (or YouChube for my British brothers), and definitely wanted to show y’all. I like him. He’s super disciplined in his regiment, and a very down-to-earth fellow. Nice add by the Rangers.
Video link: youtu.be/EYAP5f63W38
Lots of hand wringing amongst Yankee fans over losing that kid. TINSTAPP, etc but, yeah, he could be pretty good.
Thanks so much for the link.
Stay up.
Afternoons,
Am over yesterdays swear fest..
Danny – thanks for the chube link – I had a quick look at the Round Rock express write-up. – some quality players in both line-ups – and your man Nick Solak with the game winning three run homer.
It’s cool that you’re able to get up that close and film. I’ve never been to a AAA game (or any MiLB game for that matter) although the Toledo Mud Hens are on the wish list.
Was in depth watching the A’s so only just noticed the Rangers score with Jonah Heim achieving walk off homers on consecutive nights. Need to watch the highlights of those two and the Marlin meltdown.
With regard to Heaney, Frank – umm. You might want to load his starts & have him pitch in large spacious arenas. He’s the immediate 5th starter help that you needed.
Two further Rangers things – amazed Hans Crouse was part of the package, and Jonah Heim’s consecutive walk off HRs is a first for a Ranger.
All is right when the Astros lose too….
London
PS _ Binge watched the Bronx is burning about the ’77 team. Well worth it and a good adaptation of the book….
Always nice to have a team night off. The 162 is totally exhausting for the fans and apart from a brief stint on the DL in 2015 with a ruptured clavicle and mould on the wooden bladder.my availability has been top notch.
Enjoying the Blue Jays hosting Cleveland. As usual the Blue Jays are forgetting one of the three essentials. Today it’s hitting…Oh, and fielding. Make that two. They’re tripping over the Yankees to become the Angels of the AL East.
Miaow….
N.D Loon Esq
Just to let you know:
1) The Miaow comment was made prior to the extreme reluctance of the NYY grounds crew to tackle a wee kitty.
2) The Andrew Heaney comment (PITCH HIM AWAY FROM HOME, LARGE SPACIOUS BALLPARKS ETC) was made prior to him conceding four (very at) home runs.
3) I didn’t realise I was watching “The Bronx is Burning” on the anniversary of Thurman Munson’s death. It remains really sad. However – a guy on the Bally Sports D’Backs vs Giants presentation said (roughly the following)……
“So you know, I’m a Yankees fan, I’m 15 and Munson is my favourite player. Never had a favourite since. I’m playing catch with my best friend in the back yard. It’s early August, we’re doing what we do.
My Mum starts shrieking from the porch, waving, imploring me to come in. My Mum doesn’t do this. Don’t scream don’t shout….
I run towards her.
And my Mum, tears down her face, says “Son, it’s terrible news, I’m sorry….”
“Son, Herman Munster is dead….”
And he basically went on to say his Mum (with her gift for malapropisms and spoonerisms) helped him through baseball heartbreak and it was the only way he could smile and think of Munson (as a journalist) without too much emotion…
Surprised me at 525am on a Tuesday morning.
Is it an apocryphal story?
Yours
Rev DL Noon
Yeah.
Heaney. See what you mean. *Not* a good fit for The Stadium. But we are desperate for innings. The Angels fellas on the board had – more or less – positive things to say about him.
But: gives up a lot of jacks (yee-up) & he is supposedly maddeningly inconsistent.
MiLB & the former Independent Leagues are fantastic slices of Americana. The St Paul Saints used to have greased pig catching during the 7th inning stretch.
Why Toledo?
Good book. I think I recommended it to Danny a few hundred posts ago…
162 games is crazy.
The other sports I follow are football & boxing. 162 games/fights a year would kill those guys, serious.
I am extremely wary of the Jays, Peter.
You probably should be too. I have firmly believed (even during the winter) that both Wild Card teams would come out of the East.
Do us all a favor & run the Astros down, uh?
“N.D”?
Well, early Season Canada goose opener in N.D. in 9 days. Haven’t – despite my plans to – had a day off since late May. But the good people of North Dakota need help thinning the local goose population.
See?
I just wanna be helpful…
Reverend –
1.) My favorite part was the “let’s go cat!” chant. New York, man.
2.) Prescient.
That seems like something that will be: A Problem. Hal could’ve paid less in prospects but a little fine & he could have brought Pineda back. Ah, well. It’s his money, uh?
The rest:
Munson’s death is the reason I started pitching. Went to The Stadium with my grandpere the day after.
Luis Tiant threw. He had 11(!) pitches in his repertoire. Could add & subtract from them all. Multiple arm slots & windups.
Pitched his guts out. Gave up a solo jack early (Lowenstein, I believe) & that was it.
The whole thing was just enormous as an 11 year old. Overwhelmingly.
But. Due to El Tiante, I made a commitment to trying to pitch.
Damn.
Haven’t thought about that in a minute.
The Honorable Dr Francis in MN.
Wild pitches –
When my squad wins I hate overtime shootouts much less.
Yanks threw a bullpen game tonight.
Mercy they are *deep*. This may turn out to be the deepest ‘pen we’ve seen in the AL since that ’18 Oakland team.
On that note: I firmly believe that the Yankees’ll be playing postseason ball. That bullpen is going to be a Real Weapon.
Bet.
Didn’t take long for Gallo to get booed, uh?
The Yanks were one of the first teams to hit the 85% vaccinated mark. But, man, are we losing a lot of guys to Covid-19.
I am thoroughly unfamiliar with Ridings. But the kid throws 100 mph. So…we got anymore of those down there?
Yanks much easier on the eyes post deadline.
Gaylord Perry won a Cy Young & was revered. He also was known for throwing illegal spitballs. But when “everyone” is doing it, it becomes disdained.
Moral: America loves a maverick.
As of now (12:04 AM): 8 days to go.
Stay up my guys.
Holy sh-…my comment is “awaiting moderation”.
Lord knows what the mods are going to make of all this!
Mornings,
Up early for the Andrus/Davis cashdrop trophy, which the A’s now lead 6-5 in games after the Marte walk off homer.
I doubt any moderator will have the required 8 months to read this far….
Nice win for NYY – the Mariners are awkward….
I’m pretty sure that using the name of the 1978 Cy Young winner automatically triggered something. That happened over at River Ave Blues, too. It is still “awaiting moderation”.
Yanks just need to keep winning series right now.
Awkward is a good descriptor.
But I see some real parallels with what Preller did in S.D. & what Dipito is doing in Seattle.
Mornings fellas…
The 1978 Cy Young award winner must be the bane of a good many moderators….
Frank – Very funny put down towards Sam re “curmudgeonliness”. I don’t think you have a chance of catching up with him….
Danny. I’ll be quiet. And revenge could be just a few days away….
More nonsense later…
London
Well I missed quite a bit, I see. Straightlord Perry – as cancel culture wants us to call him – could easily be confused with some other ideas if you use his outdated name, but with the new name nothing can go wrong!
Admittedly, I haven’t watched an entire Rangers’ game in nearly 3 weeks. It’s depressing watching this team play now, and I have found myself watching more innings of Yankees and Phillies baseball recently than I have my beloved Rangers. At least our farm system is good?
Oh, and I have just posted another write-up, this time about the 2021 trade deadline (which I had to split in half because it oozed with content). There’s some good stuff in there about your teams, and especially one move by the Yankees that I loved. Hope y’all like it:
lonestarball.com/2021/8/9/22602985/what-just-happe…
Oh, and I was going to get radar-gunned last week…. but I got Covid. I forget if I told y’all that yet, but it had be sidelined for the entirety of last week, so now I’ll have to revamp my throwing if I want to get gunned soon. My goal was to completely stop throwing for two months starting August 1st, but that didn’t go as planned… We’ll see.
Morning Danny, Morning Frank,
Danny – firstly – I hope you’ve recovered quickly or better still been asymptomatic as Frank appeared to have been. (Frank, could you shoot straight on your covid retreat?)
Danny – enjoyed the article (part one) and look forward to part two. With the exception of “fuster cluck” & and the Rich Hill nether regions comment I’d have thought I was reading paid writing.
As cliches go – it’s all darkest just before the dawn, for Rangers fans that’s especially true right now. I think you’ve got to compare & contrast your rebuild with where (say) Detroit & Seattle are at, and try and plot a path (or watch your team plot a path) similarly.
So it’ll be a year more of signing bounceback veteran projects to be flipped and trying to give the youth movement enough game time without them being premature in the process. But you know this already. And there are some bright building blocks.
I was there with the A’s from 2015-2017 (admittedly this isn’t the decade long fall from grace the Rangers have endured) but I do feel your pain when you realise that YOUR team simply isn’t good enough. But don’t be a Yankees convert, I wouldn’t wish that on anyone ;0)
I’d love a go either in a batting cage or with a radar gun….
(Says the 49 year old English Ohtani)
Frank – loved the story about Luis Tiant. That was a big piece of little Frank there and it must have been incredible (even as a relatively little one) to be part of that raw emotion in 1979. Danny – if you haven’t watched – the Ewe-Choob has the Bronx is burning as a series. It’s wicked. Billy Martin’s ESPN documentary is linked too. That’s a wild ride as well….
Silly game between the Yanks & KCR last night. Most irksome.
Regardless – that’s all folks on a sunny English afternoon – the last of the swifts shrieking in the skies as they prepare to migrate south…..
(Think your lovely purple Marlins)
ND O’Lon
C’mon, Peter… with a nickname like Dick Mountain, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to crack a joke.
I wanted my last article to be my most serious one, this one was more of a recap just for the sake of getting through everything. Some fun things had to be sprinkled in lol.
As for the Covid, it has passed… luckily. Still cough a few times a day, but nothing bad at all. In fact, today was the first day I began throwing again, and I feel great. The Texas sun is a pest this time of year, but it’s only low-100’s. I’ve felt worse.
Oh, and today was the first day of school for us online folk. It started nearly 3 weeks earlier than it normally does which sucks, but maybe that means it’ll end sooner? I don’t know.
With more online time comes more articles, though, so that’ll be nice. I really enjoy putting those out.
Hoping that this weekend I can finally get gunned. I haven’t the slightest if that will actually occur, but it’s what I want.
And on a more personal note: I’m taking dual-credit courses this year to jump start my track to getting a… teaching degree. I’m great with younger children, and I love teaching, so I think it’ll be a fitting path for me (if the pitching career goes kaput, of course).
Btw, I’m sorry I haven’t answer the question you asked a while back about how I’d spend 80 mil on the Rangers this off-season, but I will answer that in a detailed manner once I can sit down and open a few tabs on the matter (browser taps, not bar tabs).
Talk at y’all later, and hopefully I can give y’all a really great YouTube link here soon….
Morning Danny, Frank,
Danny – nice message – nice choice of career. Slightly envious that I had no idea whatsoever what i wanted to do (still don’t) but I probably should have taken Frank’s tequila based approach.
Reminds me too slightly of Jesus because had the messiah thing not worked out (pitching is your holy grail) he had carpentry (teaching) to fall back on – thus pleasing one set of grandparents, no?
The Rangers close the difference against the error strewn A.s in the Andrus/Davis Cashdrop Series. That makes it 8-6 and I’m considering 11.5/7.5 as the series line for ownership. In other words we need to win 4-1 to claim the percentage adjusted title.
What did you guys think of the game (excluding the result) at the Field of Dreams? I actually took Friday off to be able to watch it caffeine addled in full. I thought it was brilliant. The young lady from American Idol 16 nailed the national anthem (always a good sign but still only 3rd on my list after a girl on a freezing night in Pittsburgh & Earnhardt Earnhardt Jnr in Detroit) – nevertheless I really enjoyed it – the walk from the (perfectly manicured) corn, the crowd seemed a bit reluctant early on but I thought as a player that must have been so much fun. And good of our favourite Aussie – Liam Hendricks – to make a game of it. And – as a hopelessly nostalgic booby – you could kind of watch it through sepia tinted eyes and imagine games in the middle of nowhere in 1920’s or 1930’s.
Which begged the question on other forums. How about a game in one of the few remaining Negro league stadia?
Keep your $80 million close to your chest Danny – it’ll probably be wiser spent at the end of September….
Frank – Jim Bowden this week made the prediction that the Yankees & the Blue Jays would finish in the wild card spots with the A’s & the Red Sox missing out.
Thus, QED, I think your prediction is doomed!
London (running out of anagrams) N Ndolo
& we have come full circle.
Early Season Canada goose opener in North Dakota tomorrow. Taking care of some work stuff here. Then it’s off to the Red River.
Which – as one of the 4 rivers in the world that flows north to south – reminds me of the Rays. Meaning everything I am used to/think I understand is…a bit off.
Lots of waiting’-in-the-truck-time for me this morning.
Will attempt decent replies.
To be fair, his name did the same thing years ago over at the now defunct River Ave Blues.
On watching the Yanks –
Two things I love about Iowa: a grouse season that runs through January. A good place for snow geese come February.
What I don’t care for about IA; Thursday night.
Gotta get Britton back on track.
That was horrible, serious. My word. I would have done merely slightly worse.
Rangers do have a good farm, & a little something going on down there.
Bet.
Will check it out! Merci.
Oh no.
Bro, that sucks. I recommend running a course of HCQ. But…probably too late.
Kinda mentally scattered right now. Haven’t had a day off since late May.
I believe that game can be found on Youtube.
Tiant was a combo of Darvish & Cueto.
I know that sounds kind of impossible. Check him out. You’ll see what I mean.
Yeah, that’s a pretty cool career choice.
I will go on the record here with advising to keep tequila well away from any/all major (minor) life decisions. Matter of fact, I can’t recall a single instance when it has been helpful.
Well…”helped” me get tossed out of a pub & into jail a time or two.
So.
Bout all I’ve time for lads.
Stay up.
Sometimes opening days don’t seem quite fair.
Man.
Talk about gullible. & the absolute shock in those beady, little waterfowl eyes.
New “pup” performed very well. Got his first taste of a burly, pissed off goose fighting for it’s life on rough water.
The kid did his job. Swimmingly.
Man. Won’t be home in time for the start of the game. But, jeeez I want this one, & the series win. I seem to have somehow discovered a solid dislike of the white sox.
Catch ya…
Afternoons:
Grim Sunday as the Rangers moved within one game of the Andrus/Davis cashdrop trophy. With three games remaining the A’s need to win all three to claim the percentage adjusted title. For the 3rd straight start Manaea looked well off. And we had a fair few chances to get back into it. Nevertheless, I’m not displeased we’re off to Chicago. The line up has really good numbers against Keuchel for this evening. We’re in a really cool stretch (White Sox, Giants, Mariners, some New York team) which should illustrate where we “really” stand.
Plus I don’t think the White Sox are that good. They’re in a really mediocre division (see also Mets, Brewers)….
Going back a bit – why the Toledo Mud Hens? Corporal Klinger M*A*S*H.
Danny – did you get gunned this weekend?
I’ve never thought about north to south rivers before. Always left them to do their own thing, figuring they knew what’s best. Intriguing they have such an aversion to due south. I’m thinking the Nile, but I can’t think of the other two. Rebels both of them anyway….
Danny I hope your covid is in the rear view mirror and you’re back to tip top shape.
More nonsense later
London
Ok, I saw a joke I just had to come here and share:
How many Yankees’ fans does it take to change a light bulb?
None. They’ll just stand in the dark talking about how good the old one was.
I’ll make my way out…
Man.
I would love to reply. Can’t see a damn thing in here though. Used to have this incredible light bulb that always came through in the clutch…
miss that ole bulb, serious…
Yes Billy “Bulbous” Bulberson. The on off switch hitter. Brightest filament in the firmament.
How did you do that?
Sales guys.
You guys are both such good writers, man. Just this thread was worth 30 bucks, serious.
Where do you guys stand on robot umpires – with regard to balls & strikes. I’m f****** furious for a 2nd day in a row we’ve been shafted. Utter utter bull****. We should have swept the best team in baseball and we’re going to lose a series 2-1.
Not sure.
It’ll cost a human element of the game.
As Xavier is not a baseball guy, I have very few feelings on the future of baseball.
Oh?
Were the A’s playing the Yanks? Hottest team in MLB…
Light fuse, stand back, Frank!
You’re right, I like the Atlanta Braves chances, I must agree….
Mate, I agree about the human element, but here’s the skinny over the weekend. Canha gets wrongly called out looking on a full count (1st out) Marte hits a long double, Olsen HBP. So instead of bases loaded no outs (or more likely Canha scores from 1st on the long double) – well ultimately we didn’t score that inning.
That followed a BS full count two out walk, followed by a Bryant HR earlier in the game. So those two calls cost us three runs on Saturday.
Action replay in the 8th Sunday – which again cost us two runs, the game, the series….
I couldn’t believe the A’s didn’t make more of the calls until I found out we’ve got the same crew three more times this season.
Frank, you can talk about the human element but I’m sick of the rookies of this world being struck out on two strikes and a ball and the Trouts of this world (as an example and you know I have tremendous admiration for the Fishmonger) getting four strikes in an at bat.
.
It’s bollocks. It changes an at bat and it reaches a point where it’s too important to be at the whimsy of the Angel Hernandez of this world.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr – I;m over it now
I’m waiting for a dig back about the Atlanta Braves.
I was halfway through congratulating the Rangers on beating the Sox again…
Urrgh….
London
Meanwhile in the London household… youtu.be/neZZfPfAdsk
LOL – Danny I’m trying to work out where they’re from. It’s north of London – to say the least – but it’s not (50 or so miles, I can tell by the accent) far from where I was brought up. There’s some lovely old school terraced housing. I’m trying to pick up the road sign at the start because I’d be able to work it out from there….
But yeah. I wasn’t very happy either….
We’re not usually as sophisticated as that either….
I get it.
My grandpere was for technology in the game. Not just the strike zone but sensors on the bags for example.
What’s to say?
Swept ’em outta their own damn park.
Of course in that truly ugly fashion that the Yanks seem so fond of.
If you are looking for aesthetically pure baseball: DEAR LORD, DO NOT WATCH THE YANKEES!
So very ugly.
But they play their guts out every damn night. They pretty much have to as this club seems hell bent on making things hard on themselves.
Even farts are classier in a British accent.
D – good post on the Manfred tacky balls thread.
Elephant in the room time…
Peter.
You are absolutely one of my favorite posters on the board. You’ve brought me hours of fun. If you are ever in Minneapolis you (& the lady wife) are welcome in my home. (All this applies to you too, D. Well…not the “lady wife” part…unless?)
I hope that is all clear as gin.
Acknowledging that; man, I hope we punch the A’s right in the face like we recently did to both sox & Los Bravos.
I will be here tomorrow evening.
Two good teams squaring off in an important 4 game set in late August.
Delicious.
No elephants in London N7.
Frank I’d expect nothing less except perhaps suggestions that it should be called something other than the Giambi (dive you b******) Trophy.
The Mickey Rivers trophy seems great so maybe Danny can come up with something better than my idea..
We’ll win the series 3-1, We always cause all manner of naughties against NYY.
I’ll see you about 440am, the alarm set for 430am about 2 hours after start time….
I prefer Reggie Award.
No last name needed.
Awful things happen to us in The Coliseum. True story.
See you then, London.
It’s happening….. I think next season I’ll finally be able to play HS ball……
The Texas house passed that bill that allows homeschoolers to play public school sports, and my city didn’t deny the notion, so… it looks like I can finally play next season! We’ve got 4 months till tryouts, I’m excited!
Now there’s some good news, Danny!
I can sense how excited you are just from your post.
Good stuff. Thanks for letting us know, man.
Well, if you really got up you have excellent timing.
Reasonable timing, yes.
Great news Danny!
Reggie Trophy is indeed most appropriate….
Poor S3 call against Elvis…
D’accord.
But Gio got royally screwed his AB too. Umps been all over the place. Booner got bounced in the first over it.
My stream is behaving badly so I won’t go back in time to find that, but it must have been poor for him to get tossed in the 1st!!
Mine too.
Big storm tonight. Good for business but not helpful to watching this game.
Been listening since the second.
Lousy call on Gallo there.
Looks like my internet is back.
Holy crap lol.
Didn’t realize y’all were talking live right now. I was just checking in, but if y’all are here I’ll stay a lil bit.
Hey, it’s the Man of the Hour.
What’s good, Danny.
Yeah. I am up a little late, Peter pretty early.
Been a wild game, man.
Andrus & Gallo with the nights big knocks
I’m pulling the game up right now…
Do you see the irony? The A’s have players going off tonight, the Yankees have players going off tonight, and the Rangers supplied the players that are going off tonight. It’s the circle of life (i.e the circle of depression and sadness as a Rangers’ fan).
Yanks coughed up a 6-0 lead.
Was hoping the irony wouldn’t be too painful. Like the top of the 8th.
Rangers going to spend this winter. Bout all I have for encouragement.
Mornings,
Danny – seriously great news about being able to play.
Sergio Romo is great when he’s on, but taking 20 pitches to make a reunion with the strike zone is a tad nerve racking….
And, in being the intermediary in this viewing party, I had a choice between choosing the Yankees broadcast or the A’s broadcast… I chose Yanks… sry Peter.
I’m actually very happy with the Rangers right now. We suck bad, but there is a loaded draft class in 2022 and we’ll spend decently this off-season. I’m happy.
He got through it. Petit too. Ageless dudes.
Loaisiga with 99+ mph 2-seamers. Mercy.
Nice AB.
Loaisiga has about 30 bullets in his clip.
As for being able to play, thanks for the words of encouragement. It means a lot. I’ve had some ultimately stupid stuff come up today, but I feel… high? I’ve never been high (honestly), but I guess that’s the feeling. I’ve even been thinking about walkup songs lol.
We’re excited about it.
Man, we’ve been talking with each other since November. Lord. I’ve had marriages that didn’t last as long, serious.
On to the 9th.
“Sabotage” ~ Beastie Boys
Need some naughty small ball now…
Big pressure on Lou Trivino now after a bad couple of outings…
Dawn breaking – very clear crisp late summer morning.
Just after midnight here. Getting pounded by a storm. Going to be an early start/long day for me, man.
1. Frank, that’s the slightly depressing honestly that I’ve come to lov…….. GO TO THIRDD GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Wade can move, uh?
Just no overtime shootout just no overtime shootout just no overtime shootout
Anyways…
1. Francis… Frank, that’s the slightly depressing honesty that I’ve come to love about you. It’s totally believable too…. not in a bad way though.
2.. Peter, I know there’s a completely different side to this world that we’re on, but that’s still so weird to me…
There’s a bit of me not understanding why Murphy even made the throw – I don’t think he’d have scored from 2nd….
Think he might have come off the bad there….
There’s a bit of me not understanding why Murphy even made the throw – I don’t think he’d have scored from 2nd….
Think he might have come off the bag there….
You can say that again
Oops delete & edit failed. It’s spelled “bag”.
Just need Elvis to get on somehow & we can have some basepath naughtiness….
Gol darnit
Loving my new Go-Go Yankees. Though Judge got nabbed there.
It sounds worse than it is. One I was with for over 5 years. But we were actually married for a relatively short time. The other was a lass that I’d been friends, etc with for over a decade. We were a bit tipsy & decided to get hitched. Two days later we realized we were better friends. Still are actually.
Oh, Lord. Here is Chapman.
Of course. Can’t have a clean 9th.
This is the Chapman drama I came to see…
Ya know, the way you spoke of both of those marriages, at least it doesn’t sound like it was malicious. It may have very well been, but it just sounds like it wasn’t based on the way you phrased it.
And now I’ve switched sides…. go A’s. All I want is drama, sry Frank.
Edit: GG
Maddening. Got away with a middle middle FB.
It wasn’t. I suck at being married.
Got out of it, man. This is going to be a tough series to win. Gotta crash fellas. Thanks for hanging out.
Admitting is the first step… it can be the only step as well.
Tootle tootle…
Congrats – Frank – I blame Danny’s choice of commentary.
I need to be out of the door fairly soon, so (great story above!) same ungodly-ish hour tomorrow…
Take care both and enjoy that “high” Danny – it’s really really good news, and worthy of your (im)patience! You been timed yet?
I’m actually playing cricket on Monday. Creaking bones….
London
Sorry Peter, I do that sometimes…
I won’t be live tomorrow, but… I’ll be here in spirit? Yeah, something like that.
I’ll stay high for a while too, gotta love it.
Edit: As for getting radar’d, after getting Covid and my brother totaling our car, it was too busy to get that done. I wanted to take my break from all baseball activity Aug. 1, but I was waiting till I got radar’d…. that obviously never happened, so I just halted all baseball activity without getting radar’d first. Life, I guess.
I’ll be “off” from baseball activity for 2 more months, until Nov. 1 and then I’ll start it back up again. Doing weight training until then though, got a nice regiment to keep up.
Good evening Sleeping Peter & Spirit Of Danny.
Long day.
Need Cole to carry us through this one…
Glenn Otto is really, really good. He went 5 scoreless tonight.
Being an A.L East fan you’ll love this (or hate this) comp, Frank…. Glenn Otto looked just like Alek Manoah… yeah, that Alek Manoah. I’m excited. We need this kind of prize to get us through the hard times.
Love hearing that.
The Yanks take a bad rap about “not being able to develop pitching” but I disagree. Mildly at least. We are not Cleveland – who is ?- but we have developed our fair share.
A touch more even.
Do love/hate the comp.
I believe he added a pitch to his repertoire over the winter/spring & his K rate shot up. Pretty sure I am thinking of the right guy?
Glad he pitched well.
I am ecstatic with Gallo. You guys were right. Helluva glove.
Just gotta win one more of these two. This was the only game I felt pretty confident in. Wiped out.
Catch ya
Morning Frank
Caught literally the last inning, as Burch Smith extinguished any hope of a comeback.
Almost as if they don’t understand the significance of the Reggie trophy….
Until then, I was fully prepared to see Oakland – at the very least – bring the tying run to the plate in the 9th.
Yanks starting to hit more home runs.
This is not good news for all of MLB. I just want to get the hell out of there with a series win.
Smoke & Mirrors Cortes today. Hoping to finish up work stuff by first pitch. Going to be close.
Catch ya
Alright!
Got through everything (mostly). Have a mess of cajun dry rub goose wings on the grill, making an egg & chive vinaigrette for raw veggies, & plenty of Summit Ale (local suds).
Let the battle for the Reggie Trophy resume.
Evenings,
I am sick as a dog today, and of course as soon as you have a decent snuffle and a cough, people look at you as if you’re a covid zombie.
Alas we’re 4-1 down (I think) in the Reggie trophy so I think I’ll just pop round for dinner and show polite indifference to the game.
40 minutes to first pitch so I’ll nip to the nearest emporium and buy some dog food for the fox cubblies that live somewhere in the garden. Dominika has named them Touptuche (bad translation but it means stomping baby steps in Polish) and Pumpernickle which means absolutely nothing.
I might partake in an ale and start denying everything….
Peter
What the blue blazes is this umpiring crew on?
Denying everything – how the hell is Marte not called out on the steal? The 2nd wrong “rights it” and Melvin gets tossed. When A’s comms describe it as the worst call this season (and we’ve had a hell of a collection costing us two games in the SF series) but that was nonsense.
How’s the goose wings?
That baby’s gone ;0)
This may be the poorest umpired series I have seen all season. Mercy. So awful.
Wings are pretty good. Easy to make.
Yeah. Got all of that one.
Typically, an ale is a solid choice.
Foxes? In London proper?
Yeah Frank. Urban fox population is huge. Sign of a wasteful society. Brilliant garden “pets” because they predate rats and mice. Because of traffic they have about half the life expectancy of rural foxes. I’m a bit nuts about them and give minor support to charities looking out for them. I need to get some treatment for sarcoptic mange as a vax for the ones in the garden.
There’s still plenty of room for drama in this game….
Oh yeah – need to renew my MLBTR subscription and write to Mr Dierkes at the same time. I’ll bore you with that later…..
Take me through the vinaigrette. I take it the raw egg helps it cling??
Great Montas vs Rizzo battle.
Todays ale is hobgoblin btw – a choice between that and one of your IPAS. You guys have nailed IPA by the way. Drifter is a rainbow of taste IMHO…
Sorry, D.
1 tablespoon of fresh, finely chopped chives
1 tablespoon of capers
1.5 tablespoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon dijon mustard
1 teaspoon champagne vinegar
4 hard boiled eggs chopped
1/4 teaspoon fleur de sal
3/4 teaspoon black pepper
Add first 5 ingredients in mixing bowl. Mix well.
Drizzle over vegetables.
Add crumbled egg.
Can use as more of a dip too
Crazy.
Here in AAmerica we’ve a problem with coyotes.
I love animals. Always a soft spot for all canines.
Won’t be any drama if we don’t start hitting.
I usually go local with my ale choice. Summit does a good IPA, too.
Whilst D’s not looking we can spend his $80 million on next years Rangers line up. My first spend would be 3/24 for Mark Canha…
Whoa – thought the egg would be raw. Satanic English people.
Urgh – stranded the killer runs there….
Surely it’s about time we faced home run Heaney in this series…
Of the current A’s, I would like Marte. Bump Hicksy to a 4th OF role. Petit too. Just as a stabilizer in the pen.
You guys make good scotch & gin.
But…yeah. I cook recipes from across the “chunnel(?)”.
Montgomery throws tomorrow.
Angels get Homer Heaney.
Man.
That overhand curve must look like it’s falling out of the sky.
Well. Can we make some noise here, finally?
Yeah, we can’t afford Marte – I would like us to try to keep Josh Harrison. That might cause a bit of an infield mash though….
The burglar Romo for the 9th.
The Indians are doing my nut in – just score and see the Red Sox off the premises, please…
Yeah, we can’t afford Marte – I would like us to try to keep Josh Harrison. That might cause a bit of an infield mash though….
The burglar Romo for the 9th.
The Indians are doing my nut in – just score and see the Red Sox off the premises, please…
Well well well…
Edit: damn. Too little too late. A’s played a good game. Get ’em tomorrow, etc, etc…
Sergio is a naughty tease
That slider though.
Kills RH bats. & he got through it. Damn. Hate seeing our little steak come to an end. But Oakland a good ballclub.
Hat tip
Thanks Frank, but the right team is 2-1 ahead in this series….
Great outing from Montas today. Can only wonder what Danny will make of this. What’s the name of your company? Need to drop you a line at an info@…
Take care
London
.
Wasn’t the easiest team to keep the faith with. Or even watch. Cash had a great deadline. Flipped the season around. Well…he is used to us. & he *must* at least sort of like us…
Re New Construction.
Have a great weekend.
Hopefully start a new streak today.
Uh…winning streak that is.
I would be more than happy with a series win before venturing to LaLa Land.
So, I got up this morning & found Linda in the living room. (She reminds me of my cat; I know I will eventually see her, but at any given time I have absolutely no clue as to where she actually is.)
She’s been working on a new series of paintings which always brings out her most…randomness. Hadn’t seen her in a few days.
Anyway:
Sunday morning. 7:00 AM, & she is drinking champagne straight from the bottle! & she has this black & white Sherlock Holmes movie from the 60’s on.
Francis: Why are you watching this?
Linda: For the soundtrack.
Artists, man.
She does have a propensity for making things interesting. So there’s that.
I’m back again.
Rangers murdered the Astros of Houston today (I mean, it’s the top of the 9th, so they haven’t placed them in the ground quite yet…). Still want the tank, but I enjoy a good Astros’ beating.
Hearn is turning into quite the starter, and if you remember back to how we acquired Hearn, it was via the (retrospectively lopsided) Keone Kela trade with Pittsburgh in… 2018? Over his last 7 starts he has a 2.87 ERA. I’ll have to read more into it, but he seems very good in his new role.
As for the 80 million shtick, I don’t want Cahna now… Yes, yes, yes, he’s a solid hitter, but after a down year in his age 33 season I don’t think he’d be a smart piece to build around going forward. But there is a player from the A’s who I want. (prepare for confusion):
Matt Chapman.
How do you acquire Chapman, Danny? Are you sniffing glue, Danny? How many fingers am I holding up, Danny? HEAR ME OUT!!!
Last night I saw a very cryptic Tweet from Rangers’ beat writer, Jamey Newberg. Paraphrasing, he said ‘It seems likely that a Leody Taveras trade is going to happen this off-season’. What? I thought he was the CF of the future for us? A light-hitting guy with great defense and baserunning that’s only 22 years old… why trade him, and if we would trade him, what would the price be?
That’s where the A’s come in… Y’all are losing Marte and Cahna this off-season, and with Chapman going through his second bout of arbitration he’ll see a pay-raise that the A’s may look to get off their payroll if a hardy enough package gets offered.
Taveras would be y’all’s CF of the future, moving Laureano to RF, and some random A’s player to LF.
Obviously it would have to be a huge package to acquire Chapman, but it would also have to be a huge name to even consider moving on from Taveras so…
Maybe we’ll see yet another A’s/Rangers trade this off-season, that’s all I’m saying. A Taveras package could do it.
Mornings,
225am here – and a silly midnight start time throws this poorly individual sideways. I feel a whole lot better than yesterday.
And we’ve just made an absolute **** of that…..
Double steal? Irked by the bunt….
That’s a good post, Danny.
I think Chapman gets traded this winter, too. I wonder about the whole intra-division trade thing.
Fine player, that recent unfortunate play notwithstanding.
Typically, when a GM announces they are going to spend, they do. I’d be excited too.
You are one helluva dedicated fan, London.
Melvin is managing like he really wants this game.
Loaisiga is Fire.
I think Chapman is a Boras client. So it’s likely you’d be trading for only two years.
Oooh – that’s got a chance….
Oh no.
Damn. I didn’t think he looked on. Gotta go with him though. This park, man. Just not good to us.
Alright.
Buck up, soldiers
Well – that was huge.
I checked in with Petit on the mound, so missed Paul Blackburn entirely. But that’s massive on a night when the Red Sox lost. The Red Sox also have six of their next nine (I think) against the Rays. We’re in improving Detroit.
Danny – thanks for showing the Astros the ways of righteousness too.
Since the flip play, the Coliseum has been death by paper cut for us, man. In ’17 – for example – our trip there essentially cost us HFA. & the home team won every game in the LCS.
Really liked what I saw from Melvin. Excellent manager.
Ah, well.
Early season teal, & early season Canada goose open on the first in WI. On the second, snipe opens here.
See? I don’t need baseball.
Have a good cricket game tomorrow, London.
Were you guys streaming mlb or watching on TV? We saw the Giambi (dive you *******) play – this years triple play in the 9th during the ads.
Anyway congratulations on winning the Reggie Trophy, Frank.
Take care
London
I’m a pirate, who needs MLB tv?
Just wanted to pop in and link a YouTube video I made today of me hitting off of a tee for the first time I’m almost two years. Gonna be doing this regularly as the tee just arrived last night, so I hope y’all like this. I’m trying to re-learn how to hit before the tryouts, so gotta get the work in. Let’s see how it goes…
youtu.be/tkd4MNrmAO4
Good heavens…
Look at the size of that yard!
Nice level swing, Danny.
Pop & glide, pop & glide. See the ball before you stride. Fyi: I was “like” #5. Looks fun. I went to a batting cage in Iowa last spring. Linda has video. Hopeful she does *not* post it, serious.
Are you doing core work? Stretching? Running? Lifting? Using the benefit of hindsight, I would strongly encourage the first 3.
You remain my favorite H.S. baseball player.
I can proudly say that I am doing all of the above. I am NOT doing running per se, but I am doing cardio work on the treadmill. We have a treadmill that has incline settings, and I’ve been using that daily (it helps my fat, chainsmoker lungs moreso than 1 minute of running can… asthma sucks).
I’m also lifting nightly now as well. After I get done with hitting off the tee, I go inside and lift. Got a nice little routine going with stuff that I can possess at home.
And obviously I’m stretching as well. I’d be dead if I didn’t stretch.
Btw, that’s the small side of our yard lol.
Sport, man.
From high highs to…uh, not highs.
One day you are riding a 13 game winning streak. The most feared team in the game. You figure it out every night.
Or
You splash 5 fat, Canadian honkers on 8 shells. & a couple of those were follow up shots.
{ficks imaginary lint from…uh, imaginary lapel}
Then.
You lose back to back series to the Angels & *Orioles*. Brutal. You seem intent on finding ways to lose.
Or
The very next day, you get into a flock of snipe. The smallest game bird I can imagine. Really erratic fliers. The knuckle ball of shooting. Indeed, the term “sniper” comes from snipe hunting.
Whatever, whatever. You go 6 for 29(!).
________________________________________________
Yanks scuffling again.
Really tough game to watch today. I just really have no idea what to make of these guys, man. So bipolar.
My, man.
Good stuff, D! You should feel good about that, serious. Core work? Bands or pilattes or something? All these oblique & ab strains. Especially with you hitting now too. 10-20 min/day will go a looooong ways, man.
We used to run. Hated it. But it kept my legs under me. I don’t think it matters how you get it in. But I do believe it is very important for pitching.
Sounds like a great routine/habit.
“the small side of the yard” he says.
345am – We have our most professional at bat inning – or at least the most locked in I’ve seen this season – and promptly give three back. I was in a bit of trepidation about Blackburn vs Otto. I was right!
425am – KD vs Hyeon Jong Kang. The world has moved full circle.
430am – Dominika (there’s artist in her) wants to go for a beer.
Oh dagnamit – my further reflections post beer seem to have been deleted by an erroneous refresh.
Just to say then that I’m thinking of you guys today and thinking of twenty years ago.
On a positive note my eldest nephew is 18 today. He’s adorably wonderfully sensible.
Much love and many kind thoughts.
London
Oh dagnamit – my further reflections post beer seem to have been deleted by an erroneous refresh.
Just to say then that I’m thinking of you guys today and thinking of twenty years ago.
On a positive note my eldest nephew is 18 today. He’s adorably wonderfully sensible.
Much love and many kind thoughts.
London
Emma Raducanu – oh Lordy
Part. 2. youtube.com/watch?v=8mqdiTQL-0s
Sry about your A’s btw. Heh.
Yeah – I’m struggling with the A’s way of thinking at the moment.
Will witter later, but BoMel is hooking too quickly. Bassett’s loss to injury has been massive & equally massively under reported.
Was that the season series 10-9 to your guys Danny?
London
You’re welcome for Joey Gallo, Frank.
Morning Danny,
On the early wake up – so missed Gallo’s fireworks.
Fingers twitching a bit (did you watch A’s/Angels on you tube?) – really pleased they won that for Irvin who’s been the gift that keeps on giving..
Enjoyed the hitting tutorials. It’s weird (to a cricketer) because you’re playing golf without looking at the ball. But I realise it’s about having a controlled compact accelerating swing.
Got to demonstrate a sprayer in about an hour and a half – so need to pootle. Have a wonderful weekend.
Does Gallo have another year of control?
London
Answering my own question after a reasonably rewarding demo – Gallo has another year of control. Which begs the question…. what do you think he’ll get in free agency?
Going a LONG WAY back to the suggestion of the Chapman/Taveras trade – I get it but I don’t get it. Are the Rangers going to fully be competing in 2023 when Chapman will reach FA (and as a Boras client etc. etc. etc.) I see the logic if you guys are 75-70 right now.
Then again I see the logic from a purely A’s point of view that it doesn’t matter about who the trade partner is – or where they’re at – if the haul is right.
But the one thing I’d do – if money were no object – and there were holes – is trade for both Chapman and Olson. They are by a long way (IMHO) the best 5 & 3 in the game. There’s only one club with the holes, the money to pay them, but probably not the haul. But it’d put the Yankees over the top….again in my humble opinion. You can argue about being a club without prospects, but it doesn’t seem to affect the Brewers that much…
The A’s would want fully six year controlled high draft/high ceiling types in return. MLB regulars (ie Voit) wouldn’t cut it. If you look at the (flawed) Sonny Gray trade we got Capers Kaprelian, Fowler & Mateo. At the time they had one MLB appearance between all of them. But were all close….
I know we’ve got an untold number of FAs at the end of 2021 – but there’s a few you can discount – we’re not going to keep Marte, or Harrison. We got Petit for half what we would have paid in 2020, I would love to keep Chafin. We’ll be staring at a smaller box than the Rangers in 2022 – that’s for sure.
Loved the you tube coverage & call – the pitch sequencing – the intelligence.
Frank – send some of your own foie gras in the post to myself (international advisor) and Danny (Hitting Instructor/Yard Surveyor) and we’ll ask you some questions. Your radio silence including lacking Linda stories betrays you. Do you think you can silently sneak the Yankees into the play offs.
I so want a Yankees & A’s W/C…..
Lacking incoherence after a few too many paint fumes, but the A’s best chance probably remains a 2012 style overhaul of the Astros. We play them six times… So 5-1 and a couple elsewhere? I can see there maybe being 2 games 163 across the MLB.
Have great weekends
London
Please don’t take those videos as being hitting instructional videos, rather I’m learning right alongside anybody who watches lol. This is all about me finding my swing again before tryouts (and might I say that I’ve had tons of improvements 3 weeks in). I lowered my hands, took some pressure off my front foot and now I see the ball a lot better, and I’m hitting the living Christ out of the ball now. Fully warm I can hit it nearly 200 feet off the tee atm.
I’ll post another video tomorrow (Sundays have seemingly become my release date for these), and you’ll see how I’ve been able to elevate my swing per se. My stance is starting to mirror that of the aforementioned Joey Gallo.
But I have to give tons of credit to a guy over at LSB who used to coach and scout, and he’s been giving me training tips and nuggets that have helped me improve a lot (I got the one-armed swing thing from him).
As for the Chapman/Leody trade, I’m starting to hope we don’t trade Leody lol. A lot can change in two weeks. The reason being is because his big issue was not hitting for power and being this loopy little hitter that never put up above a .700 OPS. Now, even though he’s not lighting the world on fire, he’s hitting the ball extremely hard ever since coming back from AAA. I’ll take that over two year of Chapman any day.
Evening Danny,
Currently enjoying the Tigers hanging on against the Rays. The Rays remain utterly nuts. I’d never heard of Joey Krehbial – yet here’s Joey striking out Miguel Cabrera – the first batter he’s faced for 3 years in MLB.
Must confess to enjoying watching this Detroit team too. I’ll make a not particularly bold prediction that Detroit will finish over .500 in 2022.
Apologies about the hitting instructor thing. Assume yard surveyor remains reasonable.
Now onto KC vs Seattle. Which has a got a bit quiet, so flitting to the D backs/Astros…I have better hair than Lance McCullers.
Again – going back to Leody – six years of control. Keep ’em.
I’m intrigued as to what the Rangers will do with $80m. Because I don’t want them to blow half of it on an ace – I know we disagree on Canha – for example – but for me it’s about bringing the youth movement along. Canha – would be – for me – a Grossman style signing in Detroit.
It’ll be a fun watch one way or the other.
London
Ooops – well here’s the season on the line….
Gallo is a stud.
Fantastic player. If we can get a decent defensive CF next year, our outfield D will be sublime. I have coveted him for years.
Obviously, he is not perfect. So a number of Yankee fans are down on him on principle. Give a team 9 gold glovers that hit 40 jacks & OPS over .800 & you will win a pennant.
I get dizzy contemplating Olson & Chapman on the Yanks. Good heavens. Hold me…
Sadly, I question whether we have the goods. Also if Cash has the nuts for making a deal of that magnitude.
At a complete tangent Frank (good afternoon by the way) – here’s a true and strange fact.
When the Yankees start Odor they are 54 – 32.
When Odor is on the bench they’re 29 – 35….
Is that too big a sample size to be coincidence?
WRT Gallo – is he just a bit too TTO?? Given everyone else in the line up (with the exception of Le Mahieu) is also TTO – is the perception – wrongly – that Gallo is just more of the same?
Can you imagine Olson with the smaller right field porch??
There are obvious holes at 1st & 3rd – they’d be both relatively cheap (salary wise) – you could keep Le Mahieu safely at 2nd – I’ve not seen enough of Urshela to know whether he can stick at short.
Back at ya…
I really think that overall, Odor has been our best second baseman. He’s hit 15 jacks & leads all AL second baseman with 8 OAA. He hasn’t been running but he has more speed than DJ.
LeMahieu has been a huge disappointment. I lobbied for Wong, LaStella, or Hernandez & more pithing instead of signing DJ over the winter. I am wrong a lot. But not that time.
&…I don’t know. That is how the Yanks are built. I’d like to see SS or CF (or both!) maybe have different skill sets next season. Gallo does enough other stuff that I don’t sweat his offensive profile.
Not sure if the Yanks see much of an obvious need at the corners.
Urshela is an above average hitter who plays an above average 3rd base. Not the sexiest profile. But a decent player nonetheless.
& Voit can hit. That’s never been an issue. Staying healthy has been the problem. & the man knows how to make a Yankee jersey look good, serious.
But. The Yanks have a real need at short. & probably CF in some fashion too. Either a starter or a dependable 4th outfielder that can play center at the least. My guess is they kick the can down the road at first & third.
Olson with the short porch though?
Oh, yeah.
That’d play.
Ah, a Yankees v Rangers series. We have the chance to knock y’all most-the-way out of the playoffs, and y’all have the chance to push us further ahead of the Pirates for pick 1.3 next draft.
And you’ll finally get to see the legend of Sexy Alexy live. The man has arguably the best stuff on our farm…. but the command is what’s been his big bugaboo.
Yessir.
Here we are.
Yanks are really scuffling. Feel like I’ve posted that a lot this summer. But we desperately need these games.
Phat Sancho gets us on the board…
Whew!
I will gladly take the W.
Tanks… I mean… thanks. Lol
All round ugly evening if you ask me..
I think that means the Yanks have an unassailable advantage in the Mickey Rivers trophy.
Danny – did your guys take the season series against us?
Exactly.
Although having seen the Yanks play all over the country, I believe opposing players, managers, & fans always give us their best shot. A July series in KC – for example – can be the only time those guys play in front of a packed stadium.
I have always felt that this is one of the weird keys to their success.
D –
Pretty interesting stuff. I have heard of the one armed swing before. I want to say it was a drill first popularized by Charlie Lau.
Evenings my time,
Was exhausted yesterday so only got to enjoy the Cleveland KC afternoon game. Figure to be awake at midnight to add some salty comment to the TEX/NYY showdown.
Holy crap.
“ripped down the line” indeed. That was ridiculous.
Didn’t watch the game tonight, but I saw Gallo’s monster dong (the HR). Mesmerizing stuff.
And I think we might have taken the season series from y’all, Peter. I honestly don’t feel like looking right now, but I’m pretty sure we won more series than y’all did. I’ll check later on. What’s that award called though?
Gallo certainly has some majestic looking home runs. He might hit 50 playing in The Stadium all next season. True moon shots.
Peep Stanton’s too. Right down the line. 400+ feet in 4 seconds.
Needed that. Hearn can sling it though.
And the reason I find the Mariners irksome is fast becoming apparent.
Sad to say I think our goose is cooked.
Again, I’d fallen asleep by kick-off for you guys (I did make it to the bottom of the 4th on Tuesday night, Long enough to see Stanton’s bullet.) Not long enough for flickering mind to produce caustic wit…
Last night I didn’t make it to kick off.
Mercifully we’ve got an afternoon game (I think 935pm my time) with Phoenix Bassitt on the mound.
As I remember Danny I facetiously named the TEX/A’s thing the Andrus/Davis Cashdrop Trophy. But I think you should choose this one. The A’s actually (according to my rudimentary maths) won the season series 10-9 but given your statistical nuance of expected wins
The results (all statistics correct to end of season series)
Texas 53-89 therefore 19(53/142) = 7.09 wins
A’s 77-66 therefore 19(77/143) = 10.23 wins
(with 1.68 games lost to pestilence/plagues of frogs etc)
Therefore – I think you guys win with 1.91 wins above expected….
All that wittering – nearly A’s time….
Remember; the key to cooking early season goose is prep prep prep. Right now a lot of them are swamp critters. Their diet is rather unsavory. Later,when they are gorging on grain is when they are good (get the foil gras then too).
But as for right now, I am going to recommend harvesting the breast only. Tenderize it very well then; rinse, soak, rinse to remove the blood. Even then I would recommend brining them. I am partial to overnight in a lightly sea salted few gallons of water with some citrus. Or buttermilk for 20 min with thyme & lavender.
Gotta tip your cap to Basset. Tough dude.
To Peter – How about the Khris Davis Cup? Davis played for both the A’s and Rangers in 2021, so it’s a fitting g title for a series between the two.
Btw, speaking of past Rangers/A’s trades… the seemingly inconsequential Mike Minor trade last season… well, for your sake, I wouldn’t look up how the players acquired did for us this season. But I’ll tell you anyways.
Marcus Smith was supposed to be the headliner, but he went down early this season with injury. Disappointing seeing as how he has decently regarded and a seemingly high-riser candidate.
But my lord, Dustin Harris. Remember the name. He might very well be a 50 FV prospect by so.e publications after this season… as a 1B prospect. Being a first baseman drives down your prospect value immensely, but his bat has broken out so big it’s silly. Think current day CJ Cron. Amazingly good.
Love this time of year, fellas.
Was out on the river this morning. Got into some Goldeneyes & Ringnecks (diver ducks), some Canada’s & Coots. Hooked into a volunteer walleye to top off the bounty. Vosegus provides.
Football season. We are a house divided on Sunday, man. I’m Giants, Xavier Seahawks(???), Linda Vikings, Brit the Bears.
Rarely works out for me.
Huge game for the Yanks tonight.
Sweep would be enormous. A win tonight would virtually guarantee a wild card.
Danny; Not sure if you have ever seen Montgomery throw. Pretty interesting style. Throws half dozen pitches for strikes. Nothing overpowering. All viable MLB offerings though. Hides the ball pretty well.
“Pitchablity” or whatever.
Catch ya.
Looking forward to the NYY BOS game…
Hanging Around – The Stranglers….
“Walking home in her wrapped up world…
She survived but she’s feeling old…
‘Cause she found all things cold…”
Brutal loss/decision making for the NY Giants.
Just so….
Anyway.
Big, big game, London. Good matchup. I’m grillin’ & drinkin’ ale. I will be around here though.
Strange Little Girl is a great tune….
Of course – we’ve got the irksome devils tonight – in particular Chris Flexen. Against the cursed gift that keeps on giving – Cole Irvin.
I don’t think it’ll happen (Elvis, Harrison, Lowrie, done for the season) but it would be fun to be involved at the end of the week….
Chuffed for NYY – last night was an object lesson of how to stay in a game and wait…. The Sniper/Prowler mentality.
Danny – I’d rather it be the Elvis trophy.
There ya go, I like the sound if the Elvis… Award? That has a sort of ring to it.
Update: Got a brand-new wood bat today. It’s 34″, and the UK translation to that is… some really long number.
Hit off the tee with it, and it felt really good. I’ve lowered into more of a Juan Soto stance recently, and it’s really working. Hitting for power now, and it’s smooth as well. Hoping I can get up to the batting cages soon cause the tee has really made my swing feel competitive again.
J-band work starts in two weeks. Then throwing begins two weeks after that. It’s almost pitching season…
Morning Danny,
(We’re getting Marin-ated as usual. I think the last bullets may have been aimed at Houston)
Anyway congrats on being the holders of the first Elvis award. I think (no-ones fault) that A’s fans will remember Elvis more fondly than Rangers fans will remember Khris Davis. Elvis is so – clever – opportunistic? – on the paths – something I’d never really appreciated. I hope the injury isn’t career ending.
The UK went “decimal” in 1971. A year or so before I burst upon this planet and we still (the planet & I) are unsure of what to make of each other. Nevertheless, I’m very familiar with imperial measurements. So I’m intrigued to know what the 2′ 10″ bat weighs in ounces. By weird coincidence I use a 2 pound 10 ounce cricket bat (slender arms!). Use is perhaps a strong word now. Wave….
Mark Canha – 7 minute – 12 pitch walk.
Oh dear…
(Weirdly Frank’s early season goose recipes didn’t salve the wounds)
I’m intrigued – as usual – if hitting off a tee can be transferred into cricket. In terms of getting into position (even in a 360 degree game).
Which all brings me back to Ted Williams, the art of hitting, an 11-4 deficit and the need to leave for work in 45 minutes (6am UK time now)….
Have wonderful Tuesdays…
London
My grandpere had land in Maine which he used for hunting. A few hundred acres. He also had a litlle slice of coastline.
I would spend hours with an old broom stick hitting rocks into the Atlantic when I was up there. I had a bunch of games or whatever. Some were home run derby-esque. Others more complicated.
I could go through the entire Yankee lineup imitating their stances. Something else: after hitting those little rocks with a stick ball bat, the real ball & bat looked enormous. Seemed hitting was “easier”.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Ted Williams.
He was basically the first TTO guy. Despite the high averages. He advocates taking a walk if you don’t get a pitch to drive. Way back in the 50’s teams were shifting against him.
________________________________________________
Manfred has to love this WC race. Yanks, sox, Blue Jay’s. Big market East coast teams & a couple clubs out West still in it.
I know that as a Yankee fan, I am supposed to scoff at being a Wild Card as it is somehow “beneath” us.
Screw that. This is fun!
Time may very well have run out on the A’s. As a baseball fan, that sucks.
I wish there was some way they could hold on to their guys.
Have great days, fellas.
Greed is making me not savor this one.
Already looking at Cole going tomorrow for our 8th straight.
Catch ya
Hey, fellas.
Just wondering if either of you are watching Kluber throw.
We – (the Mariners) – need y’all to win out, Frank. The Yankees can be WC1 for all I care, heck I’d like to see Gallo in the playoffs, but I need to see the Mariners as the WC2. They are my bandwagon team, and I love them right now. A rare team that just does everything right at the right times. A true player’s team.
I watched the entire game of them sweeping your A’s yesterday, Peter, and I have to admit that gave me all the playoff feels. I loved it all. Sry I had to root against your A’s again though…
It’s crunch time. Buckle up.
Win out!?
Good heavens, lad. I’m just trying to get through today! Got Smoke & Mirrors Nasty Nestor on the hill. An absolute throwback to a good ol’ fashioned “crafty* lefty”.
Mixed thoughts on Seattle.
I don’t care for their negative run differential. I feel they are just simply not on parr (yet!) with the clubs out of the East.
But: that does make them an enticing play-in game opponent, uh?
Yet…man, I would rather face The Best & let the chips fall as they may.
Unbelievable weekend. Manfred must be ecstatic.
Oooh, they’ve been strapped on & buckled up for a month now!
I’ll snoop around here later.
Have to work my ass off for awhile (day’s getting easier, season winding down though) to make up for watching dawn break on the river.
Catch ya…
*cue Beastie Boys
Splendid – you both seem to be flitting about the coop right now so I can display umbrage.
Danny – in the strongest possible terms – jumping on a division rivals bandwagon is akin to rogering the Duke of Peckham with a prize winning leek.
Please National League it & follow my own magnificent 2014 example (SF Giants) – the Cards in 2021 or maybe Atlanta. Personally BTW I’ll be rooting for the Cards. Watching the no sign Wainwright/Molina duet is bliss.
Irked bigly that an approximate split with the Mariners would have seen us home, and the 14 blown saves resulting in 12 losses since the ASB. Bit of a wasted season. I don’t expect a tear down I expect one last punt for the F/O prior to retirement.
Enough about my team.
So lets extrapolate a 3 person poll….
Yanks have the toughest test but a series win guarantees them a WC slot…
Red Sox away at the Nats (NL rules)
Blue Jays hosting the Orioles as the most likely sweep?
Mariners host the Angels – 2nd most likely sweep….
I go Yankees finish 92 wins, Sox 91, Tor 91, Sea 91.
And chaos….
Your go….
London
Wowsers – monster moments in the Bronx…..
Crap.
Tough one, man.
Thought we may have stolen that one. Came up short. But: 3 runs ain’t enough. Same problem all year. Hit 5 home runs & the next day go silent for 8 innings. How poorly (& kind of unexpectedly) we have hit this year has been so troubling.
Pretty exciting. Even for a jaded Yankee fan. Hell, I’m watching Seattle right now.
The A’s are going to be one of the keys to this offseason. I really wish there some way to keep their ballclub together. & – ya know – add to it.
Did you see the article on MLB breaking down all the scenarios? Made my head spin. Your prediction is the one I want!
Mariners fans so excited. Cool to see.
I would have been tempted to pinch hit Le Mahieu for Odor.. Appreciate (only) a tying run then causes problems in the 10th
Wander Franco’s plate discipline is something to behold….
I don’t know Frank – too often when I’ve been watching the Yankees bat – I feel they’re all looking for a big hit whereas they should be looking for a base hit. And base hits gave them a punchers chance in the 9th…..
Sorry Danny but I’m unashamedly supporting the Angels vs Mariners this evening.
I’ll be across for the Mariners once the A’s/Astros is done.
We’re busy allowing the Astros back into it….
I think LeMahieu is hurt.
That’s the Yanks, I guess. I go with Rougy & Gary too. I was looking for a big fly myself there. Honestly, I didn’t want to get into an overtime shootout with them. They seem better built for that than are we.
Rooting Angels too. I am basically against everyone right now.
Half an eye on the NL. A Giants win & a Dodgers loss pretty much guarantees Scherzer vs Wainwright in the NLWC…
Two out grand slam ties it 5-5 Dodgers/Brewers & Kershaw left in the 2nd with an arm injury which is a bit ominous…
Looking forward to an afternoon game….
Need to nip out out for a few bits and pieces, but should be around from the 3rd onwards….
So.
The Brandon Lowe Game, uh? Brutal. Monty has been pretty good for us this year. Everyone has bad days, man. Matter of fact, I don’t even want to meet the guy who doesn’t.
Got out for some marsh birds this morning.
Didn’t get shut out but wasn’t very good out there myself. Looks like that may be the highlight of my day.
Lord.
About 45 minutes til kickoff for Notre Dame. House to myself & too much ale already to do much besides watch sports.
But this game isn’t very much fun, bro.
This is horrible for NYY. Is it position player time on the mound? (top of 7th)
Yeah, this ain’t much fun to watch, Peter.
Have no idea how Le Booner is going to navigate this mess.
What’s today’s ale Frank|?
Reasonable God Bless America even though he looked looked a Tommy Hilfiger advert.
Summit. Extra pale. Local suds. Lots of Germans out here. They do make good beer.
Gleyber Torres has just added his own mess there………..
We just look so Гμ©|<ing bad sometimes.
OK – true – Nats fans for a bit. Enjoy the Summit – the US IPAs are very very good….
OK – true – Nats fans for a bit. Enjoy the Summit – the US IPAs are very very good….
Yeah, have that game on myself.
When you are in the upper Midwest (Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, & the Dakotas), I strongly recommend going local with your beer choices.
Oh.
Yeah. & in North Dakota they will typically add tomato juice. Looks weird. But just roll with it.
Sorry mate- they’ll add tomato juice to beer?
Yeah, bro. Just a splash of it.
More of the bars I’ve been to in N.D. pretty much assume that is how you prefer it as opposed to do not having that particular notion.
People call for their beer & then typically add a qualifier: “extra red” “light red” “just red”, etc. Bit of an acquired taste.
Still trying to get over the tomato juice thing.
Spirits with pickle juice was the 1990s thing to get over minor muscle strains. Electrolytes I suppose…I didn’t complain.
Seems the Nationals aren’t exactly playing ball by promoting a guy (AJ Anonymous) who has pitched about 6 AAA innings.
Nevertheless I remain confident in carnage (the maths (plural thank you)) makes a non 163 game rather unlikely.
Is my plural maths right with a 12% chance of a 3 way tie and about a 70% chance of a 163?
Ah well – it’s been fun.
Spending Danny’s Texas money again – apparently you’d get Marte for 4/50? You buying?
London (excited)
It has kind of a swamp water look to it. & it’s actually not bad. & – ya know – when in Rome…
I remember one of my grandpere’s friends would crack eggs into his beer. Pickle juice is an essential Bloody Mary ingredient.
Yankee fans have complained forever about how we frequently get shut down by kids with little/no MLB track record. Since I started coming here I have heard pretty much every fan base say the same about their teams.
So. Could turn out to be an excellent choice.
Yee-up.
Looks like we will be seeing an “extra” game this week. I really want to see the Yanks avoid all that.
Props on “maths”.
MN (excited too!)
Huge moments top of the 3rd…The Jays 3-0 up but the Sox down….
This’ll change every 10 minutes or so….
Angels crunching the Mariners?
Surely not a weird anti climax….
That was a wet fart of a day. I wanted chaos and I got Yanks v Sox. Bleh.
Must be crushing to the Jays after sweeping and absolutely bombing the O’s today… just to not end up making the playoffs. Man.
At least the A.L WC will be exciting , can’t ask for a better match-up views-wise. Looking forward to it in that sense.
And my Rangers pick 1.3 now. I’ll definitely take it, next year’s draft is stacked.
Good luck to the Yanks, but still… bleh.
Yeah.
Low on the mayhem factor.
Manfred’s really gotta love these Wild Card matchups.
Just want to take a second to note how incredibly strong the AL East is. Ray’s with the best record in the AL & the 2 wild cards & the wild card runner up. Even Baltimore, man. If they played in the Central they could very well have been a .500 team.
This is the best division top to bottom I have ever seen.
Yeah, supposed to be a good draft.
Really want to beat Boston. But that is probably not a surprise. Thanks for the luck.
Actually Danny the “wet fart” description is admirable. I was hoping for ensuing chaos, a series of rain outs and baseball lasting to early December or at least late November….
As it is Seattle let you down, the Nats let me down and the Blue Jays were great fun to watch but ultimately let everyone down. They’d have been a fun line up to watch in 163s or the play offs…..
Given how competitive the AL East was (first time since 2016 when the AL West HASN’T combined for the most wins in the AL) I remain surprised that two ALE teams got through to the WC. It is deserved. A final thought here – I think a one game WC is an abomination. My Red Sox mate and I have always referred to the 4th vs 5th game as the Yanks/Red Sox place to keep large media markets interested. I’m hoping the Dodgers/Cards Sox/Yankees combo forces a 2 from 3. This has NOTGING to do with the A’s being 0-3 in WC play offs.
What is hugely disappointing to me as an A’s fan is that usually we’re very good at adding the right pieces at the deadline. This year we added some great pieces – Marte, Harrison, Gomes – but the only right pieces were perhaps Marte (because of Laureano’s suspension) and Chafin. The bullpen cost us the post season & the only addition (Chafin – who was great and I’d re-sign) wasn’t enough of an add to sway the balance.
Marte will be available for 4/50m and if I’m the Rangers….
Tonight is a horror show – a 1am start for me when I have to have boots polished and rifle jauntily swung for departure at 645am. If it were my team of course… Dangerous streets in north London!
I’m particularly nervy for the Yankees for their infield defense.
Laters – time to run home….
More drivel in a bit….
London
Best typo in my personal locker. Notging, marginally less than nothing. Almost makes up for the play offs….
Yeah, ” notging” is a good word.
I am so ready. Had a great morning/afternoon, man. During the week I usually have the woods to myself (big reason why I hunt waterfowl on weekends). No exception today & man, what a beautiful mixed bag: brace of ruffed grouse, a fat little cottontail, & a sweet 15″ brown trout.
I shall feast tonight.
Pup (not much of a “pup” anymore) is definitely a rookie but he is putting up pretty good numbers. Could be: a Really Good One. Hopeful.
Now.
Time for baseball! & yeah. One game is BRUTAL. I like the KBO two game system. Seems marginally more fair than this. Later today I may have significantly stronger feelings about this.
I would like to see the Yanks add Marte. Re-sign Rizzo, trade for DeJong, & sign Starling Marte. That would fix our offense/lineup. We’d play very good defense, have a guy who can run wild on the bases, keep the lineup balance we have been missing, & add contact hitting too.
On paper, that is an AL pennant winning lineup. Pen goes 6 deep. Add a solid starter & that would be a good ballclub.
Bet.
Tonight.
Need Cole to earn us more games. At 1-3 the Giants season is already in trouble. & getting bounced by the sox…man…please no.
& let’s not lose track of poor Hal in all this. If we lose, Hal will miss out on his precious playoff loot generated by *home* playoff games.
Catch ya…
This is an awful admission Frank…
I’ve had a brilliant time in Boston, been really generously treated by Bostonians, enjoyed that great city and it’s people.
But today I want you lot to win. It’s been fun.
In the words of Jack Karnehm – good luck mate.
Nah.
I get it. Boston is a great city. I’ve had good times these myself.
Should be a good one. There are both playoff worthy teams. Good, lucky, or whatever…in the words of Al Davis – Just win, baby.
Woah woah woah, I’m posting this during the bottom of the 6th right after the Verdugo double.
Such an amazing showing from the Sox thus far, great pitching and some very energetic offense. We at Rangers nation want to see Gallo do well, but it ain’t looking like it so far…
Still a lot of game left.
Damn.
Needed more from Cole. Apparently a lot more.
0455am and up too late to see any of it….
I can only empathise – having been on the wrong end of a WC defeat three times. Many analogies spring to mind – none are fit for typing.
Silver lining: All three of our teams are once again… back at home.
Agreed Danny – only 5 months of hot stove till spring training.
Either back at home or out at home….
My guys.
Yeah. Thought we could get on one more little run. Alas.
Too much ale.
Damn. Hot stove. Crap.
Genuinely Ducky – prior to our near year long conversation – I’d have wanted the Red Sox, but yesterday I was all NYY.
I speed watched the game this morning prior to work but that 6th. Really felt for Stanton – in some parks that’s a 3 HR game – though interestingly not at Yankee Stadium.
The call to send Judge home – yeah – but the plate approach got me – it became two true outcomes. Whereas Boston walked you to death – 7 free passes, 4 of which scored.
But it’s effing brutal to go out at this stage. Been there, bought the t-shirt and the follow up gout bandage.
5 out of 6 experts (Athletic) picked the Yanks, 6 of 6 picked the Dodgers tonight. I of course want the Cards for my bro-mance with the Wainwright Molina partnership.
And some proper debate over whether one and done is right after 162.
I’ll catch you – on the other side – after some concentrated sleeping. I’m aiming for 2am seeing last night was a catastrophe…
This from a NYY fan on another forum….IMHO cogent to the point of excellence….
All of the problems with the Yankees are systemic and organizational. They have not drafted an above average every day player since Aaron Judge in 2013. They have not signed an impact international player since Gary Sanchez in 2009. Luis Severino was signed in 2011, but has really only been moderately impactful due to injuries.
There is no Soto, Acuna, Franco, Tatis or Guerrero. They could have signed any of these players for next to nothing, yet signed none. Perhaps Volpe and Dominguez will be stars, but they are at least two years away. Their payroll is roughly the same as it was in 2006. For the richest team in baseball to stick to an artificial salary cap with little penalty for exceediing it has never made any sense.
They will point to the Rays as an example of what a team can do on limited resources. The Rays happen to be really good at this and the Yankees are really not. They actually traded Kevin Alcantara to the Cubs to avoid going over the salary cap with Rizzo by having the Cubs pick up his salary. I am a firm believer in the development and use of data but as there are good lawyers and bad lawyers, good doctors and bad doctors there are good data people and bad data people. Mike Fishman has been with the Yankees for fifteen years and there is no real evidence of success, particularly in drafting and signing players.
They won a title in 2009 by spending hundreds of millions of dollars on players, since the title dipped dramatically until 2016 and since that time had only moderate playoff success. One cannot assume that a math degree from Yale makes one good at generating and applying data for a baseball team. The Rays are incredible at identifying exactly the right players and never giving up too much or paying too much for them. I have incredible respect for them.
Aaron Boone is the unfortunate public face of this mess. He did what he could over the last four years with a deeply flawed team that has developed only three above average starting pitchers in 57 years (Stottlemyre, Guidry and Pettitte) over multiple administrations and one star (Judge) since developing the core five in the nineties. Boone’s bullpen management was not great, but otherwise I think he did a good job with the handcuffs that were likely placed on him. Also his communication skills cannot be minimized given the poor public presentations we often see from other managers and the associated negative impacts.
Luckily they have the resources to fix this pretty quickly, but it will take a really good look in the mirror to see where they have gone wrong, how they got here and what they have to do to fix it. Thank you for all your work this year. I enjoyed reading all of the coverage. Their quick elimination was no surprise at all.
The phrase rhymes with clucking bell….
Well – we’ve all got a one game headstart – but I’d like your predictions for the ALDS and NLDS.
I have Rays to beat Red Sox
White Sox to beat Astros
Giants to beat Dodgers
Brewers to beat Braves…..
Last night was rubbish….
I know I’m late to it.
But:
Ray’s & Astros in the AL
Dodgers & Braves NL
Fury over Wilder
It’s weird, man. I thought the Sox would kinda tear up the Astros, but it’s really not looking like that’s the case. Tbh, I think it’s a testament to how strong the West was this season and how weak the Central was. You had two WC contenders in the West (A’s and M’s), and two pests in the Rangers and Angels who (I personally know) were able to give the Astros some tough matches (i.e Jordan Lyles randomly going 7 scoreless against Houston).
All that while the Central remains very poor outside of Chicago. The 2nd place team – Cleveland – was 13 GB of 1st. It’s essentially the Sox and then a division chock-full of the Angels. All were sub-.500 and rebuilding in some form.
In conclusion, Houston is better than people expected and the Sox are worse than people expected… and they’re facing each other. Houston’s offense is one of the best I’ve ever seen. Even prime Dodger’s lineups haven’t looked this fluent before. And that is without Springer. What.
Think of it this way: The lowest OPS+ of any hitter in the Astros’ 1-7 is 117 for Alex Bregman, and that’s only because he had an injury-riddled campaign.
Their SEVEN-HOLE hitter had almost a 6-WAR season. That would be Kyle Tucker. He’ll get MVP votes.
Not to mention, the rotation of McCormick, Siri, and Mayers in CF has produced IMMENSE production from a position that people just wrote off as worthless when Springer left.
The only hole in their offense is Maldonado, but he makes up for it with his amazing catching ability. He still has maybe the best arm in the league as well.
This team is scary.
Hello Danny,
4-4 bottom of the 8th, Will reply properly later but La Russa took it easy from August onwards. There was lots of talk from White Sox fans that they were winning enough to win the division and protecting themselves from injuries.
So they kind of played for the 3 seeding, and had a division where they could do that.
Nevertheless this doesn’t deny that what you’ve written about the Astros is absolutely true. I’m heart not head with the White Sox because it’s the Astro’s. And they got off lightly.
But they’re a very very good team regardless.
London
(Ah you mention the strength of the AL West – I went back a few seasons – 2015-2019 and in 4 of those 5 seasons the AL West won more games collectively than the others but I have to say the East was brutal this year. The West (just) very tough.)
Wicked – extras….
As a wild prediction – an Arozerena 2 out RBI
Oooh – here’s a reply the size of Everest
*replay lol
Thus far I’ve chosen:
NYY over Bos
STL over LAD
Brewers over Braves
Rays over Red Sox
White Sox over the Astros
So it doesn’t augur well for the Giants tomorrow.
But I do get a normal nights sleep this evening.
Went to watch the Bond film followed by a retro screening of the Poltergeist yesterday. The Bond film is great (if a little topically inspired) the Poltergeist – some the effects are just so 1970s nuts.
Time for some work….
Gutted about Ray Fosse today. Yet another one goes without me having the chance to buy them a beer.
He never ever brought up the Pete Rose incident himself – but when asked – and it happened frequently – he stated something along the lines of “we both wanted to win” and left it at that. I genuinely think he was happy to have been involved in what became an iconic play.
I was chatting with an A’s friend literally last week and wishing him well, having not heard any news in a little while. We had the Pete Rose argument – it’s an A’s thing – but which of them gave more to the game? I’ll let you answer that.
You’ll have to look a few of these guys up – but it takes a genius to be a sports commentator and become part of the family. Ray achieved that and for an English cricket fan – ahhh – Tony Greig, Richie Benaud, Brian Johnston, Tony Cozier.
Voices of Summer – Autumn is a b****.
Yeah.
Rip Fosse.
Still avoiding baseball a bit. That one game thing…so drastic. Been keeping track of things here. I will post respectable responses in near future…
To riff on your Houston take:
Here is how I saw the AL. (Fent’s power ranking)
1.) TB. The deepest team in the AL both sides of the ball.
2.) Hou: Very Good rotation. Best lineup in MLB.
3.) NYY/red sox/Jay’s. All talented yet flawed teams capable of getting red hot.
4.) Chicago. No team in the Central had a winning record. They essentially just didn’t lose it.
5.) Tough call. Going with another tie; Oakland & Seattle.
White Sox were the weakest AL representative. Perhaps weakest postseason team.
Wotcha Danny, Frank.
Having completed a WC/DS clean sweep of losses I’m still going for the Red Sox over the Astros, and the Braves over the Dodgers. The Astros pitching looks from afar to be a wreck right now.
Heart over head as usual….
Frank – I can’t really disagree with your listing above – the A’s were 30-51 against teams above .500 (a stat I hold a lot of stock with) and we were the 7th/8th best team in the AL.
Have either of you been to Atlanta and/or watched a game there? The atmosphere – I know it’s play-offs – seems great. Appreciate the tomahawk chop can be divisive but the noise is great – like proper football over here…
Danny – where’s your programme at in your Ohtani attempts?
Gotta crack on – more sleep deprivation this evening….
London
Your dedication is impressive, London.
I have watched less than an inning of AL playoff baseball since the play-in game. Just can’t do the Astros & sox, man.
I just can’t.
I have watched a few innings of the Braves. Their offense is what the Yanks was supposed to have been. Meaning: power hitting/hitters spiked up & down the lineup with more on the bench.
Alas.
Wasn’t to be.
I have been to Atlanta once, but I was pretty young. Been to Georgia since but not Atl. Never caught a game of any type.
Have to note that The Stadium gets rocking during October Yankee games. Opposing teams have commented on it’s influence.
Be good, fellas. & – of more import – be good at it.
Frank
You all right? You sound a little – uncertain – that is never usual….
Danny
Trust you’re well too. Program(me) – Oh-Dan-i – information…. puh-lease
Yeah – I’ve always enjoyed the atmos at a few places – Detroit rocked – so did my one visit to NYY in 2015, Fenway always – Wrigley was a bit mediocre (but so were they at the time) but the left field stoners in Oakland is the place to be….
At this point I could get ALL post season series predictions wrong – which is an incredible achievement. Obviously I’ve got to back myself on this one….
Oh, for sure!
Haven’t had a “bad day” in a really long time, Peter. The concern is really nice though! Merci.
But. I am just not getting much enjoyment out of sports right now. That Wild Card game…the Giants being 1-5 & heading into the “tough” part of their schedule…
Even worse than all that?
Xavier’s football team may not win a game all year. & they’ve been getting blown out, man. Last week they got beat 52-9.
Ooof.
’20 was the season they were building towards. Covid, etc…& now they are a really young team.
Would you rather be a minor piece on a contender or a major part of a crummy team? He is answering that question for himself. Life. Growth. Lessons.
Wondering how you fellas see it.
It’s embarrassing that my guy from London has been to YSIII while I have not. Been to the Coliseum a bunch of times when I lived in Oakland (A’s & Raiders).
Great fans, serious. I fear Bump City will lose the A’s to Las Vegas (barf) too.
Been to the old White Sox & Tigers stadiums but not their “new” parks. Oh…add the Brewers to that same old/”new” list. Saw Bonds hit numbers…70-something & 70-something in Wrigley.
I’m pulling for the Braves followed by a cancellation of the World Series.
Stay up.
Ah – this might be a Yanks thing/A’s thing.
If the A’s get kicked into the long grass in a WC (by the way in polite company in the UK – WC used to be a water closet) it’s all to be expected. As a NYY fan I understand the difference. There are a few teams that expect/demand to be involved on Oct 22nd, and the NYY is one of them.
Have never really got US football – though admire the toughness.
From cricket experience – it’s really easy to be a major player on a crummy team – than having the bollox to being a minor piece but a difference maker on a good team. In the former you’re blameless. In the latter you’ve got the plums to be a minor piece having the cojones to carry major pieces over the line. And carrying the blame if it goes wrong.
It’ll be good life experience one way or the other.
But ultimately – difficult conclusion but got there eventually – it isn’t about good or bad is it? Did you have your mates backs and did you give it everything? If you can answer yes to both of those, then no further questions your honour. Reminded of Danny’s comment – no step without effort – no word without purpose.
Phil O’Sophicalfriday….
Yeah,certainly could be, uh?
But we lost the play-in game in ’15 & it didn’t seem like a big deal. But I think the difference – for me anyway – was that 2015 club left an impression of some over achievement will this year felt the opposite. For real. We are just as good as the sox. We were just as capable as they to go on a run.
& even though it no longer has any geographic meaning for me…man, it *was* the damn sox who booted us.
So.
On toughness & football
Allowing him to continue playing has been one of my most difficult parental decisions for me. All the CTE stuff came out after he had already been playing a few years.
To refresh your memory: 115/116 of the players brains – tested posthumously – had CTE. May as well say “all of them”. Linda is 100% convinced I have it too. She presents a rather compelling argument. One thing I was ok at was returning kickoffs. Which is probably the most violent play in a very violent sport. So she probably right.
My rule became: “if you have one concussion you are done playing”. The fear there is – he just covered them up.
As far as the rest goes, I will read him that word for word. In my house, you guys are known as “the international baseball thread guys”.
But you’re killin Phil O’Sophicalfriday, man.
Welp, fell to 0-7 last night. Final score was 18-14. & honestly they simply ran out of time. Had the ball on the 6, 2nd & goal when the last of the clock dripped onto the field.
I’m back…. well… I never really left, but you get the point.
My program is going good, the arm is loosening up in preparation for Nov 1 when I start throwing again. Training people suggest that two weeks before you begin throwing, you should use a J-band program to get your arm back in the swing of things mobility-wise. They definitely help, starting to feel pretty good.
But that’s about it when it comes to pitching. As for hitting, I just took a week off from it as I’ve been sidelined by sinus infections and sickness recently. In fact, yesterday was the first day I hit off the tee since then. It was a great tee session as well. I’ve made more tweaks, lowering my hands and opening up my front foot some. If you want a mental picture, think Luis Robert or Adolis Garcia. I have a cleaner bat path than when I started and I can generate WAY more power. Feels great.
That’s about it me-wise. Just really miserable recently. I’m still working out though, so that’s big, but Texas allergies and sickness is trying to knock me around right now.
As for MLB, I expected the Braves to upset the Brewers, but NOT the Dodgers. That caught me way off guard, but thats why I love baseball. Give me Braves in 7 this WS… that’s about the extent of my playoffs discussion.
And my Saints just now… at least we get Michael Thomas back this week.
Got another video up tonight: youtu.be/YdKGj_bh9oA
Huge improvements from last time, but I’ll have another longer video out later this week or next week.
Good to hear you are still putting in work, Ghost. Checked your video. Left an upvote as a fingerprint.
Wondering if you guys are around & watching the series.
I’m watching. Braves trying their best to put up a crooked number, but that Astros’ offense isn’t gonna let them.
What’s up, D?
Terrible about Morton. Like yourself, I thought he would have a big series against his former team. One of those dudes who rises to the occasion.
Home runs continue to be the offensive story of this postseason. Look how hard HOU had to work for that single run.
& checking in from London…
It’s appalling how good this Astros’ bullpen has been though. It’s still 5-1, but they’ve thrown almost 5 scoreless so far. Silver linings for Houston, I guess.
But no matter the outcome of this game, this game still ends up hurting the Braves more than the Astros in retrospect imo. Obviously because they lost Morton, but also because their bullpen hasn’t seen a strain like this in the postseason yet unless it was a scheduled bullpen game. The Astros have done this before, they know they can throw the kitchen sink at the Braves and still be fine in the coming games. Not so much for the Braves, especially losing Minter for the next game. That could be a big blow to their pen tomorrow night alone.
Yeah, it’s a totally remade group from when we played them. I wanted the Yanks to sign Garcia when the Dodgers DFA’d him.
Sometimes I’m right.
Huge, man.
The trickle down effect will be a Real Challenge to overcome. Absolutely shreds the Braves plans.
How about getting the K on a broken leg!?
Charlie Morton can play on my squad any day, man.
Morton is amazing, and he was terribly slept on this season as well. A 132 ERA+ will definitely play: baseball-reference.com/players/m/mortoch02.shtml
Btw, I bet the Astros are really happy with how the Straw – Maton trade has worked out thus far. It’s like they almost improved CF with that move. They’re just such a good organization (baseball-wise). You’d think they’re bound to fall off pretty soon, but even if Correa leaves, they have a young stud waiting in the wings in Jeremy Pena…. he put up almost a .950 OPS in the minors this season and he’s on their big league taxi squad now. Knowing how the Astros develop guys, it would not shock me to see him become the next big thing.
Lose a big time postseason performer too. Sucks.
I got a little sidetracked so I actually missed it.
Astros have young starting pitching. Which can be a fickle building block (2015 mets, uh?). But it is also the most valuable commodity in the game. So , no. I don’t think they are going away any time soon either, man.
At least the Rangers are improving their player development now too. I just know it’ll be a tough couple of years with the Mariners and the Astros being great corresponding with our emergence as a contender. At a certain point it just comes down to being lucky with some developmental and external hits while also being consistently good at producing talent. Your Adolis Garcias, Gio Urshelas, and even Yordans are the guys that push your team over the top. The non-starter guys that somehow establish themselves as core pieces is what puts the bow on a contender.
Chris Taylor, Max Munchy…yeah, gotta hit on some of those long shots.
Once again, the winning team hit more home runs.
I wonder about Seattle. Teams that severely outperform their Pythagorean record are a foundation laid in the sand. The A’s are always competitive. The Angels…well, yeah. West Coast mets. Great fans. Great posters on the board. But.
West going to be good. Deep division.
The AL is emerging from the tankfest of a few years ago. Good to see. Makes it harder for all 3 of our teams though, man.
I have and will continue to love this Mariners team until they give me a reason not to. Their big league core of Crawford, Haniger, France, and the emerging Kelenic was enough to get them 90 wins this season, just imagine what they can do with Kyle Lewis coming back along with Julio Rodriguez and Kelenic being up for good next season. They’ll make some infield upgrades via free agency or trade this winter, I’m sure, and with how they’re sounding early on I bet it will either be Bryant or Taylor. Maybe – here’s my longshot – Jose Ramirez can head on over… they have the prospect capital to do it.
Any way their upgrades happen, they’re still a problem for us regardless. They’re a smart org, and I have a feeling that they’ll be the next team to take the A.L by storm here in the coming years. Along with the Red Stockings… sorry.
I’m just rambling now, but those are my thoughts.
And that game was rouuuugh for the Astros, if those two non-homers sneak over (maybe a foot each) and if Albies misses the ball in the first inning then the game is probably tied in the 9th. But baseball is a game of “If”s. Funny how it plays out sometimes.
Afternoon lads.
I was watching from about 4am UK (6th inning your time) onwards but wasn’t aware you guys were chipping in. Disappointed I missed most of the conversation, except the bit about the Mariners – who – Oh-Dan-I – are a giant pain in the ass.
Quite how we managed to lose a season series 15-4 will remain a lifelong mystery. A 10-9 gets us into the play offs. The one thing I will say about the Mariners – they’re well led, well constructed and have a bit of a mid decade KC Royals feel about them. It’s a dirty bullpen – so if you get that far it’ll win you a lot of close games, which explains their negative runs for/against stat but 86? 86/76 record or whatever it was….
Which leads me to mojo. This is a weird emotional non-stat, but the Braves (for me) have the mojo factor. The Giants had it 2014, KC Royals had it 2014-15, the Red Sox definitely had it 2013 (I was at the ALCS), the Nationals 2019. The Cubs umm – yeah maybe – the Mets never – the Yanks got very very close (was it 2017 or 2018 when they lost a game 7 after beating us in the Wild Card?
Whereas even with Arozerena – I’ve never felt a full on Rays mojo.
Lots of online chat about it being the end of the NYY line for Sanchez & Voit.
Similarly reading lots of Rangers chat about having money to spend to which areas to prioritise. I’d always start with a rotation – which makes me an old skool geek howling at the moon.
What was amusing (in a strange no disrespect to Charlie Morton way) was that the commentators last night were suggesting a hamstring injury! Forget the line drive off the shin, or maybe it’s groin?
More drivel at 4am – possibly…
London
Hey, fellas
Been having some luck bringing back food for my poor, little, hillbilly family. Or…something like that. Stocking the fridge, freezer, & smoker. Long time until May…
I will be checking in…see if y’all around.
We went through the entire season, man! Crazy.
Last night was the first non Yankee postseason game watched in years. Perhaps I am becoming a better baseball fan.
I think you are overselling SEA though. Let’s see what they do this winter.
Voit:
So torn. The man hits. He rocks the hell outta a Yankee jersey. He grinds. He has carried us for stretches (“Luke Voit? Luke Voit!!” when he first came over).
Yet: balky left knee, man. He’s worked so hard but he is still kinda crappy over at first. & as a RH TTO guy he is a bit redundant.
I like bringing Rizzo back. I see him getting a LeMahieu/Donaldson type deal. Voit at $5+ mil makes it about a $10MM upgrade.
Phat Sancho:
I understand the frustration/disappointment. The reality is he isn’t going to be as easy to upgrade as it is made to sound. I think odds > 50/50 he stays.
Mojo is real. Braves have it.
I know I keep harping on it.
But look how hard HOU worked for their run vs the Braves.
It sounds so simplistic. But hit more home runs in a postseason game & you win it. Over & over, man.
Woke up for literally the last out. Similar sort of game to last night but in reverse. Reading the box score and trying to work out what happened in the 2nd. (RBI single to 2B???)…
Not looking forward to highlights….
I like Luke Voit for all the reasons you mentioned – he has done brilliantly for a 22nd round pick.
Right – time to speed watch that 2nd inning. I should be around more at the weekend.
Good morning.
I’m done for day.
Linda watched. But. Likes the commentary. So.
2nd inning = shenanigans.
Night.
Re: Bob Melvin
Must admit to the same sense of shock I felt the day I woke up & we’d traded Cespedes. I think it rather signals a tear down so we could be looking at the end of the road for – in order of likeliness – Olsen, Chapman, Manaea, Bassitt….
Quite what sort of product we’ll be able to put out as a consequence is open to question. I’m guessing Mark Kotsay is the replacement of choice. But hey, not easy to be an A’s fan today.
Will reply to ALL the other comments throughout the weekend – have gotta work tomorrow so in game participation unlikely tonight, more likely tomorrow. We’ll see how the sleep Gods bless me…
Enjoyed the you choob hitting Oh-Dan-i – are you utilising Red Sox style breathing exercises?
Won’t be here til later myself.
Wandering afield a bit…
I remember when Xavier was 3. He was in a Park Board program for really little kids (ages 3-5) playing flag football. I remember him crying actually. Can’t recall why? Friday nights, man. He was in that same parks basketball program for the wee one’s too.
This Friday, today, will be the last organized football game he plays. He made it through – Please, God, just one more game amen – mostly uninjured. My biggest concern.
They are trying to win their first (& only) game of the year. He & his guys ain’t talking about it. But. I know them. They do not care for 0-7. At all. They’ve never experienced a losing season. Let alone something like this.
Made a big breakfast. Wished him luck.
Man.
Friday night’s in America.
Edit: my bad. So self-centered. Yes. Does look like a teardown coming to the bay.
Frank – don’t worry about it. Bigger things tonight. You don’t expect him to walk on in college then?
I am joking…. Have fun tonight. Get a win. Go home safe.
London
Replying to myself – it was like an old skool 2nd team soccer manager used to preach on Saturday afternoons….
A brief pre match team talk would consist of.
“Let’s have a proper ******* Saturday ******* afternoon.”
“Beat these *****, **** off home and don’t be on the ******* treatment table on Tuesday. Now **** off.”
We weren’t very good and knew it. He was better as a coach than we were as players and he knew it.
Welcome to San Diego, Mr Melvin….
So Frank – how did Xavier’s team get on?
He goes to private school.
I figured that the Jesuits were good enough for me, so I entrusted them with his education. Last night they played their public school “rival”.
They won! 30-6! No real injuries either.
I have been a little maudlin about it all today, man. Actually, I’m a big enough man to admit that I may have even gotten a bit choked up. For 15 years, Saturday mornings & then Friday nights in Sept/October I have watched him play.
He chose #11 because it was the number I flew on the football field. (That thought was the one that got stuck in my throat.)
I am excited for who he is/is becoming.
& I’ll have more time for myself, I guess.
But, man. We had a pretty good run & I will miss so much of it very much.
Hello Frank,
Really pleased that they were able to win their last game. 0-7 can’t have been a lot of fun so for them to be able to walk off heads held high after seeing the rivals off the premises should be some consolation…
Should be awake for tonight’s game – the joys of an afternoon doze puts me in prime position!
Good evening, Peter!
If you are going to go 1-7 that is probably the “stylish” way of doing so. He’s played a lot of football games. Glad he got to win his last one.
Man.
I definitely get the restorative power of an afternoon doze. Part of my work offseason ritual.
Xavier out with his friends.
Linda is around. She’s oftentimes a bit of a challenge for me to locate.
Watching the Series. Go Braves.
Got him.
I feel like the Braves overthought stuff by starting Lee. Seems like something Cashman/Yankees would do.
Evening Frank
Yeah – the team that scores first and all that…
So walking on at college doesn’t seem likely?
This is all good gravy for Greinke – must admit I was amused by him putting the overcoat on to run the bases. Not sure how stretched out he can be – but – he is quality.
At 1-7 – you can only argue the season ended too early….
At a reasonable tangent – what’s your take on the Boone extension?
Greinke is a pretty swell arm to have hanging around the clubhouse, uh?
Ya know, that has never been one of his dreams or goals or whatever. I’m sure he’ll play some pickup or beach football. But he just isn’t good enough & he is cool with that.
Lengthy.
Cashman has too much influence. This reinforces it.
Boone averaged 98 wins/year. I believe ownership is fully committed to just that. 95-100 win seasons. That’s a lucrative place to be.
I wanted a real Baseball Guy on the bench.
The Machine has assimilated my Yanks.
“Boone averaged 98 wins/year. I believe ownership is fully committed to just that. 95-100 win seasons. That’s a lucrative place to be.”
This is moneyball mentality – I remember in the old one wild card team system they’d calculated 97 wins guaranteed post season. So yeah – I think that mentality has overtaken the entire game. Whether Boone sits on the bench – handcuffed – railroaded – call it what you will, well know of us will ever know the extent of that cuffing… But in a division where a tax payer is repeatedly looking at Tampa spending @33% of NYY and achieving more. There is bound to be an effect…..
There’s been a lot on other sites about the old skool manager vs the new and the fact that Dusty Baker & Brian Snitker are the WS managers is – apparently – an advocation (sic it appears) of the “baseball man” way. But pulling Ian Anderson on “gut instinct” after 5 innings of a no hitter? Not sure…. And Greinke after 4? Admittedly helped by two DPs but again, really?
BTW – fell asleep on Saturday night after Altuve’s HR – sorry for the silence – and didn’t even make it to the start line Sunday night. Our clocks have changed (dig this Danny) so we’ve reverted to Greenwich Mean Time from British Summer Time. Means that you can work outside in the light throughout most of winter. Also means 1am starts revert to midnight starts. Not that it made much difference on Sunday. It always absolutely ***** my body clock.
Hope to catch you both later on. Danny’s Astros have emerged from their funk….
I never knew they were “my” Astros, but y’know what? I’ll take it. I actually like this Astros team – shoot me – Tucker and Alvarez are quickly becoming some of my favorite hitters in the game and Altuve is incredibly over-hated now seeing as how he did nothing wrong *gasp*. Here’s a great video on his predicament, and I highly suggest checking out nearly everything in this guy’s channel, he has some of the best baseball content out there: youtube.com/watch?v=tQTdEKA-nyM
I’m just happy it’s off-season time…. not for me, of course. I just started throwing on the 1st. Arm feels fantastic, and I have finally found a good changeup grip which is something that I had on the docket for this winter, I’ll post a video of my first bullpen here in probably two weeks where I’ll describe my thought process with each of my pitches, and that’ll definitely be one I delve into. For the time being just image a not-quite circle-change.
And as for you time change, Peter, that sounds a lot cleaner than it is here in Texas. I’d love to have more daylight in the winter, but it normally gets dark here around 5:00 p.m in the winter because of our “Fall Back” and “Spring Forward” system we have here. It’s actually something that lots of people disagree with down here, and it might end up getting voted out here in this decade. It was originally meant to help the farmers a long while ago because of getting up early for that extra bit of morning sunshine, but… we have headlights now… It’s not needed anymore, and it just hurts more people than it helps.
I’ll be back with more updates, hoping to see some more trades here soon (Barnhart is one).
Morning Danny, Morning Frank.
This will be a pile of Wednesday drivel, but I’ve been quiet due to a moderation issue. One shouldn’t use the word that begins with a b and rhymes with witch. Alas I was responding to you Frank, on another thread about A’s fans “Witching” about the fire sale scenario.
Saw your comments (both) on the A’s fire sale thread… My A’s fan nemesis at least confirmed my theory that he’s an ex-pat. I’m assuming he was exiled, or came the UK for love. We still have a variety of farm animals across the country. (Frank you can’t shoot these ones. Well you can, but it’s rather frowned upon.)*
Danny – we too have the “Fall Back” & “Spring Forward” tomfoolery (clarity is not a strong suit of mine) and I’m assuming we’ve copied each other somewhere, but “British Daylight Saving Time” doesn’t quite have the same catchy moniker.
Well that didn’t last long….
Peter
It’s been a little bit, just hoping in for some semblance of updates.
Spent last week at our ranch on a hunting trip of my own, but unlike Frank I wasn’t hunting some sort of bird that emerges itself from the dark crevices of Minnesota once a year, mine was simply deer. Got two, though. Processed one then took the other to the processing plant in town (and “town” in this instance was 30 minutes away because our ranch is in Nowhereville, North Texas).
500 acres of hunting does make for a good experience, though. Beauuutiful land up in the hill countries of North/Central Texas and it’s definitely the area I’ll be moving to when the Rangers finally give me a 7 mil signing bonus (heh).
The arm is feeling good too. Just to the point where I can start throwing light bullpens again, and everything is moving great. Surprisingly, the curveball that I have never been able to really get a feel for has been maybe my favorite pitch since I’ve started throwing again. I’ll post a video of one of my bullpens here in a few weeks and in that video I’ll elaborate more as to my thoughts of my pitching.
As for MLB stuff… Syndergaard, E-Rod, and Berrios…. dang. Hoping the Rangers jump in on this early and lively pitching market and go grab a Kershaw, Rodon, or Verlander. We need to hop on the market early because who knows what it’s gonna look like later in the off-season with all of the CBA negotiations…
Talk at y’all later
Is this thing on?
Morning Danny, Frank,
Yes it’s been quieter than a chess tournament in a nunnery with a vow of silence. There are felt pads underneath the chess pieces. Frank (from a previous conversation) loves chess. Which begs the immediate thought – how could you attack a nun even in a game of chess?
Regardless I did expect the Rangers to be active – rather than dipping a big toe in the trade paddling pool – but I didn’t expect them to “all-in” at the deep end. (This doesn’t further relate to nuns just to clarify). .
Questions abound but they’ve created the best middle infield in baseball and have moveable (in many ways) pieces in IKF & eventually Josh Jung. You can have durability questions about Seager (muchos DH time?) but Semien is tough as teak. One badly broken wrist in about 2017/8 but other than that wants to play 162 and gets close. Some of his defensive improvement was down to Ron Washington but Wash was quoted as saying Semien was the easiest player he ever had to work with – peerless preparation, huge work ethic, left no stone unturned, worked on and improved upon whatever advice he was given.
So I’m a bit gutted he – Semien – is on a division rival but I’d have rather it be you guys than the three alternatives.
But you missed out on Mark Canha who beat my 3/$24M prediction handsomely. Mild overpay by the Mets. Recurrent comment.
Continuing the religious theme – the A’s & the Yankees have been church mice – skittering in the nether regions, hoping for a misplaced crumb of communion cracker (I think it’s a wafer but it doesn’t alliterate so….) Obviously the signing of Brent Honeywell Jr rocked the foundations of the sport
I seriously worry about a stoppage in April by the way and hope “negotiations” won’t take place via the “leak”. Optimism – unlike questions – doesn’t abound. It’s a bit nuts. The one thing I will say is that the average player wage has stalled at about $4.8 million for the last five years. I know that is crazy money to any of us – but we know to within a penny what each MLB player gets – we have no idea what revenue vs operating costs is anywhere but Atlanta. In terms of transparency, the owners, aren’t.
Which flings me all the way back to the Yankees. I’ve enjoyed articles on “Bleeding Yankee Blue” (apt) and a couple of other sites largely focussing on the entire mish mash of numbers 3-9. It’s a complete mess. No-one has any idea of the ideal infield (given the personnel) and 20 minutes of Spring Training is enough to put half the outfield on the IL. I’d throw the baby out with the bathwater and look into an entire reconfiguration of the NY stadium outfield in order to protect the outfielders. It seems insane that all of Ellsbury onwards have been hamstrung….
Anyway gotta run – more drivel later
Peter
Merry Christmas Danny & Frank
Danny – I’m hoping for a milder winter in your neck of the woods than this time last year and looking forward to watching a bull pen.
Frank – Hoping you get some R & R. Once your youth hits college do you not think of selling up & fishing from off a porch lakeside?
Have wonderful holidays.
PiL (80’s music reference)
Swinging through to wish my two favorite posters on the boars a Merry Christmas & Happing Boxing Day (which sounds a lot cooler than it is).
Wotcha Frank & Danny.
Happy New Year to you both and to your friends and families.
Looking forward to Kershaw in Arlington, IKF in NY and hopefully me & the lady wife on a baseball trip in 2022.
But – oh God – she really wants to go to LA. Sweet Lord!
Peter
I haven’t been here in a while – my apologies – but there’s just been a lot happening recently.
For starters, I actually can’t play this season because despite that one house bill passing that allows homeschoolers to play public school sports, my city was able to turn it down, and they did just that. So it’s been really crappy. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to play again simply because of my situation and that’s a horrible feeling.
So yeah… there’s my update.
Danny
Apologies, I’ve been trying to frame an appropriate response to your disappointment for a week or so.
I’ve failed. All I can suggest (and it’s probably horse manure) is that you play anywhere for any team, where practical. Beer league type stuff – start your own team – the “Home School Rebels” whatever.
But FFS don’t give up now. Your line not mine “No step without effort, no word without purpose.”
Alternatively I’m more than happy to write lobbying emails to the house.
Gutted for you but I know there’s more fight to come.
Peter
Aww, no man.
Aww, D. Judging by how sad reading your post made me…if you are somehow not devastated…
Damn. Really sucks. My heart goes out to you, man. I could drop a “everything happens for a reason” or whatever. But…
I like Peter here: “ffs don’t give up.” The measure of a good fighter is not that he gets knocked down. It’s that he gets back up. You’ve been knocked down, Danny. Sometimes getting up is just so hard. So, so hard. Hardest thing a man can do quite frequently.
I really wish I could actually do something.
I just can’t think of what that would be. It’s an absolute gut punch. I’ve no doubt about that.
But: pick yourself up young man. Ain’t no one else gonna.
Thanks y’all.
It’s been a tough month, and I just dropped all baseball activity whenever they denied me because I couldn’t look at all of my equipment without getting depressed. Yesterday was actually the first day that I did some baseball activity again, and I plan on ramping it up once again over the coming weeks.
We’ll see where my next opportunity lies.
Good to see a post from you, Danny.
There was a Rangers thread I kept checking for you.
I get it. When I could no longer put on a uniform I didn’t watch football or baseball for a few years. Wound up missing what was probably the lowest Yankee point in my lifetime & not missing any important Giants games either. Strangely enough, it was Patrick Ewing’s Knicks that brought me back to sports.
Makes me happy to hear you are getting back up. I assumed you would, btw.
Deep breath.
Set.
Rock.
Fire.
Right? Life is a lot simpler on the mound.
Time for some irreverence and irrelevance…
On Tuesday, for the first time since Feb 28th 2016, I got my hair cut. My charitable donation (my hair) was sent to a cancer charity to make wigs and hairpiece things for children suffering hair loss due to chemo or radiotherapy. Do I feel virtuous? Hell, yes. Does my head feel cold in February? See my previous answer. I won’t be doing it again – all told I’m turning grey & autumnal and thus my future hair will be of little worth.
I promised irrelevance and hope I delivered…..
What?
You don’t want to talk about the lockout?
I hear ya, London. I haven’t been to the barbershop myself since…uh, last Tuesday. Former marine. High & tight, bro.
But: good stuff! If you want to have self esteem do estimable things. Which you did. Currently -2° (Fahrenheit). So: goose or rabbit hunting weather. Lotta time in my waterfowling parka or my upland coat & the warm jones cap.
Cooking up a storm for Super Bowl.
I am just going to ignore the fact your hair went down to your butt. Nope. Not going to even comment on it…just moving along…
Some numbers –
The average American male has a T count (testosterone level) between 8 & 14. If your sample exceeds 15 at the doctor’s office they will ask you about it. Trust me. This I know.
In the NFL, you don’t get flagged until your sample exceeds 25. Twenty five!
How many people are watching this game? & no one gives af. 106 dudes running gear & not a damn peep about steroids. Or “cheating”.
Since my experience in the Balkans, I have serious reservations when it comes to the veracity of the 4th estate. Only in baseball are the writers launching an execution of the greatest ballplayers of my generation.
So: screw the BBWAA. A bunch of jealous pansies.
Surprised MLBTR allowed you to get away with “pansies”, Frank. That’s a cancelable offense nowadays, gotta watch yourself lol.
Watched the SB last night, and it was so ridiculously one-sided for the Rams just by pure chance. They had home field advantage, the halftime show was essentially paying homage to California hip-hop, and the Rams just went and bought themselves a winning team this year. I was hoping the Bengals would pull one of the tried and true American underdog stories, but alas.
Still a good game though, and I absolutely loved the halftime show (though big bias because I’m a hip-hop fan). 50 Cent wasn’t even supposed to be there, so his appearances was cool to see as well.
Today I’m going to throw for the first time in a month. Not a lot, just loosening up my arm some more. I don’t plan on throwing a bullpen for a while, just want to be healthy about it and try to set goals.
Weird times lads. I’ve got a Ukrainian mate (Taras) brought up in Canada – who couldn’t fight his way out of a paper bag – he’s an IT consultant – lives in a posh area of the UK – cutting it short – I’m trying to persuade him not to go home & fight.
But I’m scared for his people – they’ll fight to the last man. And I hate to think they’ll be picked off – cruelly – one by one. And these boys are seriously tough MFs.
This is going to get a lot worse before it gets better…..
Duty.
Honor.
Big words. Powerful concepts. For good or bad though, uh?
Anyway.
Those are just that: words. First time I put a human being in my sights, I pissed myself. This is not all that uncommon. The Corps even has a term for it. & a special version for officers. I will keep that in the family so to speak, however.
Oh hey, & here’s the big thing. Second time I did I stayed dry. Other things than bodies can be killed, uh?
Not much else for me to say, man.
It is just simply terrible. But about what I have come to expect.
So… the off-season. It’s been nice to the Rangers… I’m sorry though, Peter. Not a good time to be a seller right now, the returns have been so bad. I do like Ginn, Langeliers, and Cusick though, so that’s something, but I think they should’ve waited to trade Chapman.
But I’m happy. Kinda funny how IKF got us Garver (omg) and then he went straight to the Yanks lmao. Can’t kill that man’s confidence/cockiness, he’ll fit well in the Bronx.
But I’m so happy we have some semblance of offense this season and even a mini-murderer’s row in Semien, Seager, and Garver. That’s nasty. I mean, we have no pitching, but at least we can hit somewhat. It’ll be an interesting year, especially if we get a few more signings or trades before OD.
Evening good people….
Well it finally seems safe to turn the laptop/PC on and actually look. In order of likeliness to leave I had Bassitt & Olson followed by Manaea, Trivino, Montas Chapman, Laureano & Murphy. The first two they’ve traded at a combination of urgency and peak value but – like you Danny – I’m not so sure about the Chapman trade. Of the remainder I can now only see Trivino & Murphy staying.
I guess I should have seen the writing on the wall when Bob Melvin was allowed to leave with a smile and a wave. Enough “woe is me.”
Haven’t had the game on but was watching the scores come in – mildly amused by Rangers 25 – 12 Guardians.
Must admit I like all the moves the Rangers have made – the obvious ones and the bull pen makeover. There does seem to be a roster construction going on and I’m expecting more starting pitching too.
As for the Yankees I’m a bit bemused. Josh Donaldson just seems to add to the list of starters needing the DH spot on a regular basis and still no CF. Which would also add Stanton as an almost permanent DH. IFK already seems a popular addition though. Again – given the uncertainty – I’d expect a SP and a C. I can’t for the life of me see them running with Higashioka (probably sic – apologies to his parents) and Rortvedt – so Contreras because for one year the haul shouldn’t be too naughty but with Gomes there as well all the cards are with the Cubs.
Around the leagues – I like what the Rockies have done, weirdly, I think Detroit will compete in the central and with a 12 team play off field it will encourage the drought teams especially so in season moves from the M’s, Rangers,
Anyway – gotta run. Safe and happy hunting Franks, look forward to some updates BP wise Danny?
The lesser spotted short haired Peter
Wotcha lads –
Usually when I reply to myself it means I’ve left an average message previously & thus guilty as charged.
Anyway – briefly – wins (regular season – this year as a prediction.
A’s – 67.
Rangers – 80 – a particularly frustrating number
FUs (Frank I saw that post and enjoyed it) 93….
This has been a while!
Good luck in the ALCS Danny. I’d like a “new” team to win it all….
No! Rangers29, I think I speak for most of us when we say it’s like you’re cheating on us here at MLBTR!
Wait, come to think of it that may come across a bit strong. ….
Oh bollocks I’m double replying.
If they didn’t find it funny the first time….
Let’s bring him in. Get rid of Odor.
Let’s be honest, most teams are probably interested to some degree in Kim.
I’d like to see a GM say “I expect we will pay more for him than anyone else”.
Anything else, likely, won’t matter.
Closest you’ll get is “we’ll be there till the end”
These are negotiations after all
Rangers interested so they can avoid the full rebuild and firing of Daniels?
he is 25… could easily be part of a rebuild
DAAADDDDDYYYY!!!!!!! What’d I say!!! hmmm YES!
This is probably our shoot-for-the-moon transaction for this year!
I’d take it
Honest question as I don’t follow the Rangers much: do either Andrus or Odor have any trade value at this point? It would seem to make sense to me for the Rangers to try to move at least one of them, whether or not they can land Kim, but I know that both have trended downwards in recent years and have contracts that other teams might not want to take on.
Both have very little value, but Andrus is the better player. Odor should be the one to go, whether that be via release waivers or a trade. We’ll have to eat his contract either way, but I don’t think he has much trade value even if we do unless we eat another bad contract (Eovaldi). Andrus was SUPER unlucky last season. Every ball he hit deep into the gap was caught on amazing plays, he’ll be fine next season, so I’d keep him, but he doesn’t have hardly any trade value because of his contract… no matter what he does.
The Rangers would have to pay most, if not all, of the remains balance of the contract to get any prospects of value.
A team would have to be in a win-now scenario to gamble on Elvis or Odor.
Daniels should have been replaced long ago. It’s mind boggling that the Rangers have not moved on from this man.
It’d be great if when reporting stories, MLBTR could remind in the article what the prediction for said free agent (team/contract). Maybe it’s been done in some and I’ve missed it. Either way, thanks for the info/updates.
In fact, I think their prediction was Texas for Kim (mine as well).
Yeah, it was (mine, too), I didn’t remember what his predicted contract was, which is the meat and potatoes I’m looking for while maintaining the laziness of not having to click the link.
I might be a crazy-man, but I think the predicted contract was 5 year 40 mil. I think. Which seems awfully cheap, but good for us.
I would imagine that does not include the posting fee, right?
I don’t think it does, but alas, I’m to lazy to look.
why would he go to a re-building team if other teams are willing to offer similar contracts? he goes to the angels where he will play at ss in the best infield in the game.
Same reason anyone signs with a team: $$. It’s $$, playing time, and contention. The Angels aren’t really any better in those regards than any other middling team, except they have an undisciplined owner who can outbid just about anyone.
Angels are a bad example as they are always bad.
He’ll go to whoever pays him the most money. A rebuilding club who views him as a long-term play may very well be willing to pay more than a win-now club who considers it a risk to plug him into an everyday role when there are more proven MLB options available.
Money, team culture, city culture
Have other Asian players excelled on that team or floundered when they came over?
Ohtani could be a selling point, or a turn off. Maybe Kim wants to be his own star here
If they’re signing a 5-7+ year deal& money is similar, he’s signing where he’s happy
Both have negative trade value. Both owed ~$28 MM over the next two years. If they were FAs this offseason, Odor would be a camp invite guy and Andrus might get a $1 MM or 2. They are both bad-contract-swap candidates, but in actuality I’d just rather keep them for depth this season and move on next season. I’d cut Odor today but ownership will never do that.
Mariners dont have anything real solid on the horizon at third after seager departs, as far as i can remember…or second base really for that matter either.
Could imagine Dipoto making at least a pitch to him.
I really wish the Red Sox would get in on Kim. They have an obvious need for a starting 2B — unless they feel Chavis can actually take a big step forward next season. And any time you can sign a guy with as much talent as Kim seems to have when he’s just 26 years old means you could be acquiring a core player for 5+ years. In my opinion signing him would solidify their already strong offensive core and could be enough to really set themselves up for a dominant offensive unit going forward with a very solid young core. The only issue I guess is if they feel that Jeter Downs really will be their 2B of the future I suppose signing Kim would mean creating a roadblock to Downs future playing time. But to me, the opportunities to sign a 26 year old with as much potential as Kim has doesn’t come around often — so if I were the Sox I’d seriously consider it. They could always try Downs in the OF — or package him in a trade for young promising pitching which they desperately need.
Jays make a lot of sense if they are willing to pay what it costs. Fits the timeline, they currently dont have a 3rd baseman (Bo or Biggio could slot there if he wanted to stay SS or 2B) and the new found Korean connection of Ryu.
Judging the defensive numbers we have, Kim is the 2B, Biggio 3B.
He sounds like Kike Hernandez with a better batting eye and possibly better bat. I treat oversea numbers like AAA.
Wonder if lad is gonna take a long peak. Lindor and Arenado are sexy to get article clicks for writers. But Kim is the type of value Friedman actually prefers
@Rangers29
I like your the positive posts and thoughts you express on this site. Keep it up. It is invigorating to have someone post positive comments on the team you love even though times have been rough lately. As far as posting on Lone Star ball good luck. The other folks that post on that site like to tear into one another and generate lots of negativity. I’ve been reading posts on that site for several years and when I read the comments I just shake my head. Some of the commenters are just there for shock value. Anyway keep up the upbeat comments.
He checks all the boxes.
Not to be confused with Yugoslav pugilist who boxes all the Czechs.
I realize it’s in the KBO and not the ML but ANYONE who walks more than they strikeout at any level… is a very impressive toolset. Even if his power doesn’t quite translate in the US (30 in KBO last year might be higher than what he can do in the ML) — I still think that a guy with that kind of power potential who can also make enough contact to walk more than K — is someone who will be able to adapt and be successful in the majors. I think this kid Kim is a legit long-term core piece for whoever winds up signing him. As a Sox fan I obviously wish it will be them — but given their current roster construction and Jeter Downs in AAA as potential long-term 2B – it seems unlikely they’ll make a major play for him… but one can still hope right?
I’m obviously not a Sox fan but it isn’t impossible to imagine Deavors being the first baseman and Kim going to third downs at second
I do agree the walk to K ratio makes me more confident His offense of skillset will translate to MLB
Addison Russell is an interesting name in the article as he seemed to have supplanted Kim at SS over there. Russell too will be looking for a comeback though he would likely need to take a minor league invite to training camp.
Rangers could use the offense. Gallo is fun to watch but he can’t do it alone
Russell is little chance of coming back, I watched him play a lot and he seemed to struggle in the KBO with his bat. Of course his defence is still ok and he’s still only 26 years old.
This is an awful admission Frank…
I’ve had a brilliant time in Boston, been really generously treated by Bostonians, enjoyed that great city and it’s people.
But today I want you lot to win. It’s been fun.
In the words of Jack Karnehm – good luck mate.