4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

[TripleCrown9]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Heard on the radio today that for the first time ever, there were more strikeouts than hits in the month of April

And 75% of those were from Giancarlo Stanton.

[Majingir]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

I think the M's will fade at one point and either or both the Jays and Angels falter as well. Realistically speaking it's more likely to be Toronto but then again the starting rotation hasn't been great so far this year (with the exception of Happ) so maybe they turn it around and the Jays can sustain what they're doing.

Jays are a few games above .500 despite Donaldson not being around for so many games and Tulo not playing either.

Wonder what Atkins might do if he actually had money to play with. 2019 and beyond will be real interesting for the team. Martin expires after 2019, and Tulo can be gone after 2020(though I wouldn't be opposed to dealing him and retaining half his contract,or simply just his entire 2019 salary).

Tulo being only big contract committed beyond 2019(and even then,it's 14M in 2019), so lots of options going forward. Even if Jays are in playoff picture this year, might not be worst thing to sell. If you're a bad team, everyone expects you to give up guys. If you're a team who could make playoffs, teams might have to offer abit more to get guys.

[Sportsforever]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Jays are a few games above .500 despite Donaldson not being around for so many games and Tulo not playing either.

Wonder what Atkins might do if he actually had money to play with. 2019 and beyond will be real interesting for the team. Martin expires after 2019, and Tulo can be gone after 2020(though I wouldn't be opposed to dealing him and retaining half his contract,or simply just his entire 2019 salary).

Tulo being only big contract committed beyond 2019(and even then,it's 14M in 2019), so lots of options going forward. Even if Jays are in playoff picture this year, might not be worst thing to sell. If you're a bad team, everyone expects you to give up guys. If you're a team who could make playoffs, teams might have to offer abit more to get guys.

Tulo? I think he's retired and just doesn't know it yet...I wouldn't be banking playoff aspirations on him at all.

[SPTO]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Heard on the radio today that for the first time ever, there were more strikeouts than hits in the month of April

It's not even close either. Last I heard (a few days ago) it was something like 400 more strikeouts to hits. That's just INSANE. I know people say strikeouts don't matter as much anymore but at some point it's got to be something that needs to be addressed in how organizations scout and train players.

[Jr.]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Disagree. Getting on base is all that matters, doesn’t matter how you got there. If every guy gets a single, you’ll still score a bunch of runs.

True, but every guy won't be able to bunt against a shift. Yeah it works out to get someone on base, but in your theory everyone behind that guy also does.

If I have Chris Davis up with no one on, I want him trying to put himself in scoring position rather than giving up the opportunity just to get on base.

I think people are also underestimating the psychological impact of telling a power hitter that he's better off bunting than doing what got him to the highest level.

Just different philosophies, that's all.

[Majingir]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Tulo? I think he's retired and just doesn't know it yet...I wouldn't be banking playoff aspirations on him at all.

Wonder if he can at least still DH. Sure, he's struggled with injuries for years now, but doesn't help that he's playing in Toronto on a field which I can never understand how management doesn't realize their field only makes things worse for guys (million dollar team with $1 insurance essentially).

Could be a good August pickup if some AL team wants to try him out at DH, especially if Jays retain money. Lets say it's $10M next year and $7M the following year after Jays retain. For a DH who could get you 20+HR and hit even .250, that pricetag isn't so bad.

[SPTO]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Wonder if he can at least still DH. Sure, he's struggled with injuries for years now, but doesn't help that he's playing in Toronto on a field which I can never understand how management doesn't realize their field only makes things worse for guys (million dollar team with $1 insurance essentially).

Could be a good August pickup if some AL team wants to try him out at DH.

Maj let's face it, Tulo is done like dinner. Diaz is no great shakes either but at least he's not as bad defensively as we heard about before he came along. Personally we're going to see Bichette roaming SS in a year or two. As for your assertion that Tulo would be a good August pickup....Yeah, I don't think so.


As for the field, at least it's a LOT better than it was 5 years ago. I'd say it's on a par or very close with Tampa Bay which ugh, isn't saying much.

[My993C2]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Tulo is done like dinner.

As a Rockies fan, I always liked how Tulo was able to play when he was healthy. But he's made of a fine crystal. He's able to shine bright in the spot light, but he has always been uber fragile. He could never make it through a season in Colorado without spending significant time on the DL and this was when he was younger. His fragility has followed him to Toronto.

[KSUowls]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

True, but every guy won't be able to bunt against a shift. Yeah it works out to get someone on base, but in your theory everyone behind that guy also does.

If I have Chris Davis up with no one on, I want him trying to put himself in scoring position rather than giving up the opportunity just to get on base.

I think people are also underestimating the psychological impact of telling a power hitter that he's better off bunting than doing what got him to the highest level.

Just different philosophies, that's all.

In general I'd say it's best to keep the lineup moving, imo. If the first better bunts himself on against the shift then the subsequent batters probably won't be facing the shift. This means the defense has to alter their positioning and the way the pitcher goes after the next batter changes. It should equate to a better situation for the hitters.

The only problem with this scenario is the person doing the bunting himself. You have to exceed a certain likelihood that your bunt will be successful for a single in order for it to be worth it, and there probably aren't a lot of really good bunters who are also good power hitters.

[Blzer]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

I think people are also underestimating the psychological impact of telling a power hitter that he's better off bunting than doing what got him to the highest level.

Just different philosophies, that's all.

As much as I understand this, for every hit that is taken away because of the shift that they're frustrated about, they should understand that there is a remedy to this that can be had.

I also have one more unpopular opinion on what the MLB could do: Require that there are at least three position players in fair territory on any one side of the field before the release of the pitch.

I think the appearance of shifts are making a mockery of the game, strategically advantageous as they are. I like the mentality and numbers behind it, really I do... but it actually is just inviting to have players take my suggestion and bunt. Someday, there will be that one lefty who heeds my advice and is 75% successful on bunts to beat the shift, which will make even more of a mockery of the game.

The wishbone defense the Colorado Rockies started putting on for Barry Bonds in the early 2000s was the beginning of this extreme shift business, then the AL started to employ it with Jason Giambi. Now we're looking at ridiculous shifts for players like Joey Gallo where they're just standing there like: "Herp derp this is where his balls most frequently land, lemme get my card out for the next batter now." Trust me, I love the strategy behind it... but this will evolve into something that people won't like someday. Just wait for it; it will happen.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Mookie Betts, man.

[countryboy]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Carlos Martinez doing it all!

Pitching shutout thru 7 innings and has the only RBI on the day with a solo homerun.

First HR of his career.

[areobee401]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

3 HR afternoon for Mookie Betts.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Mookie Betts, man.

Allow me to reiterate.

Looking for confirmation, but I'm pretty sure Mookie now has the most 3-HR games in Red Sox history.

EDIT: Yep.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">MOOKIE AGAIN!<br><br>With his 3rd HR today, Mookie Betts has now passed Ted Williams for the most 3-HR games in Red Sox history. (4) <a href="https://t.co/HO7OPLwCjN">pic.twitter.com/HO7OPLwCjN</a></p>&mdash; FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLBONFOX/status/991757950292115456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
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EDIT 2: Mookie is the youngest player in MLB history to reach four 3-homer games.

[Majingir]

Re: 4/23 - 5/6 Game Discussion Thread

Jays get caught in a rather weird double play. Mostly runners fault, but ump at end was just being power mad.

-Runner on 1st, 1 out, 3-2 count
-Batter check swung, ump doesn't call strike 3
-Home plate umpire checks with 1B to see if he swung
-Runner believes it's ball 4
-Runner heads to 2nd, but the ump called strike 3 so runner is now live and gets tagged out

Gibbons then comes out of dugout to question that.
Gibbons: Hey um..
Ump: YOU'RE OUT!
*Gibbons gets tossed*

And umps wonder why people hate them. Not even allowed to ask ump about this play before he just ejects the manager...Sure, 3-2 count, you obviously make sure it's ball 4 before you leave, but ump ejecting manager before manager even makes it up the steps to get on the field to talk?