2014 MLB Thread

[AENeuman]

Great to see Panda get the big hits, right handed too, obvious key to their success. Irony is all this is doing is increasing the offseason bidding war between the Yankees and dodgers.

[MrBug708]

Unless he can play SS, MR, or Catcher. ..not sure the Dodgers are a player for him

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by MrBug708

Unless he can play SS, MR, or Catcher. ..not sure the Dodgers are a player for him

The Dodgers have options at SS. Nobody who hits like Sandoval does, to be sure, but they could sign Sandoval and make him the everyday 3B in lieu of finding a SS bat to replace Ramirez.

That said, depends on how correct the "sources" are that the Dodgers are trying to get their payroll under $200 million this year. They aren't gonna SUCCEED in doing that, but if they're trying, it could keep them out of the hunt for any major signings.

[SackAttack]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Goin to Game 5 tonight! Bleachers in left center, sec 141, row 1, seats 7 and 8. Look for me I'll have bushy hair and be wearing a Giants hat with orange brim. I called in sick, though, so if I get on TV I'm screwed.

Should maybe have bought tickets that weren't front row, then?

[Karlifornia]

Originally Posted by SackAttack

Should maybe have bought tickets that weren't front row, then?

Playoffs Kershaw isn't pitching, so I don't think any bombs are getting hit to me

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Goin to Game 5 tonight! Bleachers in left center, sec 141, row 1, seats 7 and 8. Look for me I'll have bushy hair and be wearing a Giants hat with orange brim. I called in sick, though, so if I get on TV I'm screwed.

Awesome

SI

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Funny to read back the comments from last night's game. It was a whirlwind to be sure. Royals were literally one out away at 4-3 from getting into our bullpen and likely winning the game from that point on. Instead, they gave up that tying run and then it quickly went to 7-4 where the bullpen became a non-factor. That was the key point of the game.

Still very optimistic about the Royals chances. We face their ace at their place where he has a much higher ERA and then get two games at home against pitchers with losing records. Bullpen also got a full day of rest. Couldn't convert last night, but still really like the setup.

The seeds to this game were sewn the previous two nights. And these graphs say it all to me:





I would not have brought in Herrera last night. I don't think Ned would have unless the game had gone extras. He would have been right to do so. On Friday night, Herrera was having to overthrow just to get to 98 and most stuff was just a ball. Look at that second inning, he was mostly throwing balls when he went 98/99 and had to drop down to 96/97 to get swings. If he had gone last night, that would have been 95/96 without much movement. There was no Herrera to pitch last night.

You had to cobble together something to get through the 5th, 6th, and 7th. Not just the 5th and 6th. Or extend Davis out to 2 IP. In which case, you would have had Herrera go 2 IP

Last night, I would have pulled Vargas right when Ned did. Frankly, I would have gone Finnegan and Frasor in the 5th for righty/lefty matchups, knowing I was going to pinch hit in the top of the 6th. Ned was 100% right when he mentioned early in the series that he wanted to limit Finnegan and risk overexposure and said so at the time (tho to some folks who thought I was being paranoid out at a bar). It's one thing to have a guy with ice water in his veins who brings it at 98 to give you another weapon. But that's not Finnegan- he has good stuff but not lights out stuff.

Then I give Duffy the 6th and 7th as clean innings, just as he sees them as a starter. Then I don't have to worry about pinch hitting for him for 2 innings and I can turn it over to Davis and Holland in the 8th/9th.

I heard last night "well, just push them into the red- there are only a few games left". If you push them into the red, how much do they have for those last few games? I think if Herrera goes in last night, he gets knocked around. Obviously that happened anyway with the other three. However, there is a cost with always going to the same guys but it makes good fodder to bash the manager. However, to me, it just looks like thinking short term tactically but overlooking longer term strategy. Using Herrera in games 2 and 3 for as long as he did probably saved both of those games but cost game 4. I think it was a reasonable trade.

Also, I think there's this perception that Shields is going to get knocked around tonight like he has all postseason while Bumgarner is going to completely shut down the Royals. This time of year, those sort of scripts never seem to get followed as expected, just as Game 1 was not the pitchers duel that was expected.

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Karlifornia

Goin to Game 5 tonight! Bleachers in left center, sec 141, row 1, seats 7 and 8. Look for me I'll have bushy hair and be wearing a Giants hat with orange brim. I called in sick, though, so if I get on TV I'm screwed.

Have fun! Should be a great game!

[Sun Tzu]

If the Giants win tonight, and this thing goes 7, I hope to Allah that Bochy starts Petit in place of Hudson.

[Grover]

Way to screw up The Star-Spangled Banner, Aaron Lewis.

[Recoil]

Dang. Oscar Taveras dead at 22 from car crash.

RIP

[markprior22]

Yeah my son just told me that. Tragic

[Vince, Pt. II]

That's nuts. Such a loss, and at such an early age

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Recoil

Dang. Oscar Taveras dead at 22 from car crash.

RIP

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by Vince, Pt. II

That's nuts. Such a loss, and at such an early age

oh no.

[panerd]

So sad. Too young.

[kingfc22]

And Crawford gets a hit that he's been looking for all series.

[MizzouRah]

Originally Posted by Recoil

Dang. Oscar Taveras dead at 22 from car crash.

RIP

Head this on the way home from soccer.. very tragic.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Just some embarrassing stuff from the Royals so far. Three lousy defensive plays and they cost us two runs. That's not acceptable.

[Scoobz0202]

So sad to hear about Oscar Taveras.

[kingfc22]

Yost doing Yost things. Down 2-0 to Bumgarner with a guy in scoring position and your pitcher on deck.

Get a guy up in your bullpen.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Yost doing Yost things. Down 2-0 to Bumgarner with a guy in scoring position and your pitcher on deck.

Get a guy up in your bullpen.

No way. Doesn't make sense at all to pull him now. He's pitching well.

[kingfc22]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

No way. Doesn't make sense at all to pull him now. He's pitching well.

And Bumgarner is pitching better. May not get another chance to put runs on the board and you're down 2-0.

Only reason to not PH, is KC burnt all of it's non-big 3 relievers last night.

[tarcone]

Originally Posted by Recoil

Dang. Oscar Taveras dead at 22 from car crash.

RIP

So Sad. I am wearing my Oscar Taveras shirt today. I am very saddened by this. I was so looking forward to his career.

Prayers to his family.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

And Bumgarner is pitching better. May not get another chance to put runs on the board and you're down 2-0.

Only reason to not PH, is KC burnt all of it's non-big 3 relievers last night.

If you can't get two runs, you don't deserve to win anyway. You keep the bullpen rested if you can for games 6 and 7. Knee-jerk reactions like that are a good way to bury your team for multiple games, not just one.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Fantastic play by Cain. That's the only really threatening ball hit all night and we run it down. The routine plays are the ones we've botched.

[kingfc22]

What a catch by Cain.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Won't be Shields issue if they lose. Good outing and should be 0-0 if the fielders make their plays.

[kingfc22]

Back to the bench Butler. What a beautiful curve that was.

[kingfc22]

Nice to score off these relievers.

[MrBug708]

Originally Posted by kingfc22

Nice to score off these relievers.

I thought that was impossible

[kingfc22]

Madison Bumgarner. That is all folks. What a stud!

[sterlingice]

Oof. Just masterful

SI

[cartman]

But I thought I was told that Bumgarner wasn't as good of a pitcher at home.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Kudos to Bumgarner on that performance. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to a pitcher. Much like the Royals and their speed can put pressure on a pitcher, a pitcher like Bumgarner can make the bats feel pressure to get a hit right away.

Glad that's behind us now. We have good numbers against Peavy and then anything can happen in a game 7. Both at home too.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by cartman

But I thought I was told that Bumgarner wasn't as good of a pitcher at home.

They looked better against him in Game 1. Very few real good swings tonight

SI

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

They looked better against him in Game 1. Very few real good swings tonight

SI

Agreed. Was odd as that's generally contrary to what we saw of him during the regular season.

[sterlingice]

I can't wait for Tuesday night. Tomorrow's going to be tough to wait through

SI

[Atocep]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Agreed. Was odd as that's generally contrary to what we saw of him during the regular season.

His 3 year splits have him as a better pitcher in San Francisco than elsewhere. Lower ERA, more strikeouts, and considerably lower homerun rate.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

I can't wait for Tuesday night. Tomorrow's going to be tough to wait through

SI

Here's the generally good news, which we somewhat already knew from our experience in 1985. Out of the last 10 teams that have headed home down 3-2, 8 of them have won the World Series (one of those teams being the 1985 Royals).

[Vince, Pt. II]

Unfortunately, the Giants have very real experience with that statistic.

[lungs]

Just heard the Terrible news about Oscar Taveras.

Looking to get home from Germany and see some World Series action

[Sun Tzu]

Royals starting pitching has been mediocre at best this series, but there was this massive psychological aspect to the KC boys, and that is "you have to get to the starters, because the 3 big relievers are unhittable."

Last night that psychological aspect was sodomized without lube. The Giants lit up Herrera and Davis, and they from the leadoff man to the #8 spot.

I would be very surprised if this series goes 7 games.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

Royals starting pitching has been mediocre at best this series, but there was this massive psychological aspect to the KC boys, and that is "you have to get to the starters, because the 3 big relievers are unhittable."

Last night that psychological aspect was sodomized without lube. The Giants lit up Herrera and Davis, and they from the leadoff man to the #8 spot.

I would be very surprised if this series goes 7 games.

Actually, it was more Ned than the pitchers. All Royals fans know about the difference between Davis with inherited runners and with a clean slate. Nearly all his runs given up (which are very few to begin with) are when he's brought in mid-inning. He made a big mistake and paid for it.

As for the starters, they've actually all been very good EXCEPT Shields, but even he was good last night. On the other hand, the Giants starters have been all terrible except for Bumgarner.

[Sun Tzu]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Actually, it was more Ned than the pitchers. All Royals fans know about the difference between Davis with inherited runners and with a clean slate. Nearly all his runs given up (which are very few to begin with) are when he's brought in mid-inning. He made a big mistake and paid for it.

As for the starters, they've actually all been very good EXCEPT Shields, but even he was good last night. On the other hand, the Giants starters have been all terrible except for Bumgarner.

Oh, I won't argue that Giants starters have been terrible, but you're looking at this through a heavy filter if you think Royals starters have been good this series. The Giants bats completely fell asleep in games 2 and 3. The Royals were lofting up grapefruits on nearly every at bat in each of those games, and the Giants just couldn't get out of their own way.

Again, the one thing the Royals have had to hang their hat on is the psychological aspect of the big 3 in the pen. That's gone now. Gone, all gone. No Turkey sandwiches. No Turkey salad. No Turkey gravy. Turkey hash. Turkey a la King. Or gallons of Turkey soup.

Gone. All Gone.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Sun Tzu

Oh, I won't argue that Giants starters have been terrible, but you're looking at this through a heavy filter if you think Royals starters have been good this series. The Giants bats completely fell asleep in games 2 and 3. The Royals were lofting up grapefruits on nearly every at bat in each of those games, and the Giants just couldn't get out of their own way.

Ah yes. When the Giants hit, the other team sucks. When the Giants don't hit, the other team sucked but the Giants didn't hit their suck.

Well played.

[BillJasper]

Wouldn't be surprised to see the Giants wrap this up Tuesday night.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Just released by the Cardinals.....

“I was asked last night to give some words regarding the tragic death of Oscar Taveras, but I just simply couldn't.

First of all, it felt like a bad dream that could not be real, and when reality kicked in, my words didn't even seem to make sense. To say this is a horrible loss of a life ended too soon would be an understatement. To talk about the potential of his abilities seemed to be untimely. All I wanted to do was get the guys together and be with our baseball family. I know the hurt that comes along with buying into the brotherhood of a baseball team. That hurt is just as powerful as the joys that come with this life. Not to say it is even close to the depth of pain his true family is going through, but the pain itself is just as real. The ache is deep because the relationships were deep, and forged through time and trials.

To the many fans who have already reached out with condolences, and to the many more who are in mourning, thank you for taking these players in, like they are one of your own. This level of care is what sets our fans apart.

In my opinion, the word "love" is the most misused, and misunderstood word in the English language. It is not popular for men to use this word, and even less popular for athletes. But, there is not a more accurate word for how a group of men share a deep and genuine concern for each other. We loved Oscar, and he loved us. That is what a team does, that is what a family does. You will be missed, Oscar.” - Mike Matheny

[Sun Tzu]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Ah yes. When the Giants hit, the other team sucks. When the Giants don't hit, the other team sucked but the Giants didn't hit their suck.

Well played.

[kingfc22]

Can we get Sun and MBBF their own room...