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scroll to topBy Mark Polishuk | at
Click here to read the transcript of tonight’s live baseball chat
MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com
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Mark’s always playing it safe. Today is the official day for fans to proclaim their team’s World Series destiny or ultimate demise. If you can’t make wild assumptions about your team’s season based on one weekend of play, are you even a real fan?
Scream it from the rafters Mark. Join the club!
The baseballs look a bit juicy again this year.
Mark is the goat. Im rooting for your leafs just for you since the capitals aren’t making playoffs
I think Zaidi and Kapler don’t like Bart, because of his draft pedigree from the previous regime. Trying to clear the way for their own 1st round draft pick C, Bailey. I’ve been kinda feeling that, since last year, when Kapler refused to bat him above 8th or 9th and gave him days off, seemingly at perfect times to break any rhythm he began to get into.
#FireFarhan;
You may be onto something, although it might not be the personal thing we see in the NFL when a new GM and/or coach comes along and he wants his guys.
But I had an observation watching games this weekend that made me think of the Giants situation….
Successful teams that depend on pitching and often use all 13 position players in a game as opposed to a fairly stable starting 9, generally do it by emphasizing D – particularly up the middle, and most importantly, stressing strong fundamental play. On offense that means contact hitters that put the ball in play; smart and opportunistic baserunning; and situational hitting. All of which works to not only to find holes in the field, but also forces the opposing teams defense into making plays which often results in the defense giving up runs because they can’t make the plays. I saw a number of teams win games this weekend doing that.
Then I thought about the Giants. Their version of what might be called small ball is pretty much micromanaging their offense people – almost using data to program the players into being robots. The Giants have not been a strong fundamental team under Farhan, and Keppler managed both the Giants and Phillies where all his teams played sloppy baseball.
The winning Giants teams under Brian Sabean and Bruce Bochy were known for playing strong fundamental baseball – and it didn’t happen overnight. There has to be a commitment.
#Samuel
I’m not disagreeing with you at all. I think you said at least most of that pretty well imo.
Bart hits the ball HARD. I remember him hitting a 114 mph grounder last year. Right into a shift. He’s one player I think could benefit from the shift ban.
Longer, slower moving games for the sole purpose of concession sales (read beer sales) seems a little short sighted. Those slow moving games are one of the biggest complaints about the sport. Owners will make more money with more fans in the stands, even if there’s a half hour, or so, less time to drink beer.
Yes, Boras works for the client, but the reason you are paying him is that he’s more knowledgeable than you are in these areas.
The Tigers do appear to be worse than last year.
1. The offense is the same…at best….which is not good. Still striking out at an alarmingly
high rate. No walks. No power.
2. With Soto, Jimenez and Chafin gone the BP is worse. No one stepping up there.
3. The defense looks worse. Catching and 3B in particular. Carpenter is not good in the OF.
4. Starting pitching is no better either, even with ERod apparently back for a whole season.
I watched all 3 of their games this weekend. The Tigers look simply look lost and defeated…ALREADY. The looks on their faces tells me they know it.
The Bryan Reynolds situation reminds me of Jason Giambi, who everyone forgets got the exact same money and years from Oakland as the Yankees offered, only the Yankees gave him the option year that Oakland would not, and “moneyball” was born.