MLB Off-Topic

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Well for Braves fans that complain about Joe Simpson's cranky old man ways. You're getting your wish.

Simpson moving mostly to radio, Jeff Francoeur takes over on TV. Simpson won't be totally gone as he'll be doing 20-30 games on TV.

Awful Announcing link

[KSUowls]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Is this going to be an every year thing?

Can't we just go through the off season without talking about the DH and letting it stand how it is?

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

This man gets it.

If anything there shouldn't be a DH, but I actually like the different format of the 2 leagues. It does give the AL an advantage when it comes to filling out a lineup in interleague play, but pitching in the national league should also be more appealing for pitchers.

I like the different rules, and I'd hate to see the game go completely to a point where there is always a hitter who doesnt play defense and pitchers who doesn't hit.

Sent from my Pixel using Operation Sports mobile app

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Ben Lindbergh wrote about this I think yesterday. Pitchers are specializing in high school now. Pitchers don't hit in the minor leagues. You have announcers cracking jokes that the guy in the box hasn't swung a bat since he was 13.

[dubcity]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Madison Bumgarner
Zach Greinke
Michael Lorenzen
German Marquez
Hyun-Jin Ryu
Clayton Kershaw
Carlos Martinez
Max Scherzer

They would all like to say hi and that they play in the National League

I think coaches/scouts have seen enough of their hitting through the years to know how good they really are. And if they were actually good they would be getting more ABs outside of starts.

[fugazi]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Ben Lindbergh wrote about this I think yesterday. Pitchers are specializing in high school now. Pitchers don't hit in the minor leagues.

Those are easy problems to solve. Better coaching/team management...and make them hit in the minors.

*dusts hands*

[KSUowls]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I think coaches/scouts have seen enough of their hitting through the years to know how good they really are. And if they were actually good they would be getting more ABs outside of starts.

Or more likely, just as was the case with Ohtani (who DH's), they don't to risk a pitcher in the field.

I don't remember scouts coaches giving Rick Ankiel extra at-bats when he was coming up as a pitcher. He only hit .206 as a pitcher before making a return and having an 11 year career as a platoon outfielder. Madison Bumgarner was half serious/half jokingly considered for the home run derby a couple years ago. Carlos Zambrano had 3 or 4 seasons as a .300 hitter and hit 24 career home runs in the equivalent of 1 full season's worth of at-bats for a an every day hitter, and not once was he ever used as an option to play the field and give extra at-bats even while half of his career was spent on teams with 80+ losses that probably could have used his bat a few extra times.

I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a guy like Madbum have a productive career as a hitter if he was given 300-400 at-bats a to work his craft rather get 2-3 at-bats once every 5 days.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Yeah, Bumgarner actually is a good hitter, but I think his impatience gets the best of him. He knows he only gets so many plate appearances a year that he wants every trip to result in a home run. If he was a regular player, he would even out his max effort into something that would yield significantly more success. He would also learn the pitchers and pitches better than he currently works with.

[dubcity]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Or more likely, just as was the case with Ohtani (who DH's), they don't to risk a pitcher in the field.

Don't need to play in the field in the NL to get ABs. Plenty of pinch hitting and interleague opportunities. If those pitchers were good hitters they should be better than utility infielders and other bench players.

[TheMatrix31]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I didn't think Joe Simpson said any more dumb **** than any other announcer did, but all the whining about him ensured that this was the only result possible. Kinda sucks because all Braves fans heard Joe be a big part of the "glory days."

Luckily I think Frenchy does a pretty good job and has a good voice.

[Qdiddy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

There’s what 225 pitchers in NL, so yea 3 can somewhat hit once in awhile, is that really justification for keeping DH out of NL? I get the added strategy to the game and all but it’s time has past with not having DH in NL. Pitchers are way to expensive and way to in demand to be risking that one time they actually get a hit, especially when it’s not done in the minors anymore

Ohtani in a year or 2 will be one or the other full time, as he gets a bigger contract and/or more injuries


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

With all due respect, the only opinion that I unfortunately take into stock are people who are diehard fans of NL teams (meaning they would watch all 162 regular season games if possible). They are the ones that devote their viewing experience with pitchers hitting time in and out.

I mentioned this before in an old post, and my stance on the matter has not changed:

Fans of NL teams do not want the DH, and trust me they know what it means to have one. AL fans decide to push their agenda onto us and it's just really not needed. It's like if The Show converted all of its offline modes into online modes, or if a restaurant ditched its breakfast menu in favor of only lunch and dinner all day long. Don't take away a piece of us because you can't wrap your head around its glory, even if it's in distinction alone.

[steelerfan]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Asking a pitcher to hit is like asking a position player to pitch. They weren't hired for that ability and shouldn't be asked to do it unless it is an emergency.

That said, I have no agenda and could care less if the NL keeps things the way they are.

[Speedy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I didn't think Joe Simpson said any more dumb [crap] than any other announcer did, but all the whining about him ensured that this was the only result possible. Kinda sucks because all Braves fans heard Joe be a big part of the "glory days."

Luckily I think Frenchy does a pretty good job and has a good voice.

Well, Simpson definitely evolved into a "take the good with the bad" type of analyst. When he chooses, his analysis can be very insightful but the past couple of years, it seemed to be more of a rant of how today's baseball is bad and it's because of analytics derived from "men in their mother's basement."

I ain't stupid so I'm not buying that the decision wasn't in part due to Simpson's comments but I really do think it was more because FOX South/SE didn't want somebody else grabbing Frenchy.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I think coaches/scouts have seen enough of their hitting through the years to know how good they really are. And if they were actually good they would be getting more ABs outside of starts.

Or they don't want to risk injury since the NL doesn't have the DH and the pitcher would have to play the field and put more strain on his arm.

EDIT: My point made earlier wasn't to disregard the special talent that Ohtani possesses or even an argument about the DH being added/not added to the NL.

I was simply responding to Diehard's post about the only pitcher who can hit is in the American League, which I disagreed with, and still do. Just because NL pitchers aren't being used as pinch hitters on days off or as designated hitters during interleague games, doesn't automatically mean they are not good hitters who can handle the bat.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I do think it's Groundhog Day in here...and it's not even February yet.