339 replies to this topic

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Get used to it. Jose Molina steals more calls from umps than any other catcher in MLB.

Oh I know. But that was the same pitch that was called a ball earlier in the count and most catchers are taught to frame very subtly. Molina is typically good at that but not on that one.

[derekson]

Walking Jose Molina has to be a new low for CC.

[rembrat]

Walking the #8 hitter is exactly what you want to do.

[derekson]

Joyce looks completely helpless against CC.

Edited by derekson, 06 April 2012 - 03:41 PM.

[Meff Nelton]

Gotta complete the dp there!

[jon abbey]

Nice catch by Swisher, he covered a lot of ground. He's underrated defensively, I think, definitely solid.

[derekson]

Nice catch by Swisher, he covered a lot of ground. He's underrated defensively, I think, definitely solid.

I think Swisher is underrated in the field because he just looks very awkward out there sometimes. He makes some great plays, but he also makes some really ugly misplays, which tend to leave a more lasting impression.

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Btw (and I will put this in the MLBtv thread) - I am watching my first game on MLBtv (premium) here and it is fantastic. The feed is fine, HD shows up well on my monitor and the other features are outstanding. A way better and more affordable investment in baseball than MLB EI.

[Wingack]

Btw (and I will put this in the MLBtv thread) - I am watching my first game on MLBtv (premium) here and it is fantastic. The feed is fine, HD shows up well on my monitor and the other features are outstanding. A way better and more affordable investment in baseball than MLB EI.

How much?

[derekson]

That's a ball Granderson should catch. Gardner catches that if he's in CF.

[rembrat]

And let's see if Longoria decides to hit more than .244 this year.

All signs point to yes.

[nvalvo]

That's a ball Granderson should catch. Gardner catches that if he's in CF.

Up one, I think I want my CF to avoid playing that liner into a triple, if in doubt.

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

How much?

So the cost is $125 ($124.99 actually) for the premium package that gives me free smart phone access. MLB EI is $215.94 and MLBtv gives you far more features. Much better deal for those looking.

[derekson]

How much?

It's $125 for the season for MLB.tv Premium ($120 if you pay by auto-renewal as a previous customer). And this year it even included the MLB AtBat app for iPhone/iPad/Android (usually $15 more).

If Gardner was in center there'd be 2 outs and nobody on.

[Meff Nelton]

Did Joe Maddon personally felate BABIP before gametime?

[derekson]

Terrible bunt for a safety squeeze.

[nvalvo]

Why the bunt?

[jon abbey]

Wonderfully executed bunt there.

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Terrible bunt for a safety squeeze.

Yep. Gave them an out.

[Meff Nelton]

Wow, no IBB?! I'm shocked.

[rembrat]

Why the bunt?

This shit is chess not checkers!

[jon abbey]

CALL STRIKES.

[jon abbey]

Whew.

[jon abbey]

Did Joe Maddon personally felate BABIP before gametime?

He should have swallowed, I guess.

[Meff Nelton]

Great escape.

[DeJesus Built My Hotrod]

Michael Kay just soiled himself!

[nvalvo]

Great work, Maddon.

[ngruz25]

Michael Kay just soiled himself!

You should have heard Sterling.

I'm glad the Rays didn't score. Stupid baseball shouldn't be rewarded. You've got a pitcher on the ropes, don't run a low percentage play that is almost certainly going to end up giving the opposition an out.

[derekson]

The Rays run that play all the time with runners on the corners, and it usually works. Rodriguez is generally a very good bunter. He just didn't execute. It happens.

[Meff Nelton]

Almost feels like bad karma to use Wade in the Trop ever again.

[derekson]

That being said, I didn't really like the safety squeeze in that situation simply because Peña was on deck, and if it failed, he's a high K guy who's not necessarily likely to bring in a runner from third with 1 out.

[SpruceTrap]

Got home just in time to see A-Rod bail Sabathia out of the last inning. On the radio on the way home it sounded like Girardi intentionally walked someone in front of Pena, is that true? That shift against Granderson is an interesting development. Any thoughts on that?

[nvalvo]

With those goofy beards, the Rays' pen are like the Ginger Giants.

[Meff Nelton]

Got home just in time to see A-Rod bail Sabathia out of the last inning. On the radio on the way home it sounded like Girardi intentionally walked someone in front of Pena, is that true? That shift against Granderson is an interesting development. Any thoughts on that?

It looks like the Rays would shift against Eddie Gaedel this season. Nothing specifically done for Granderson.

Edited by Meff Nelton, 06 April 2012 - 04:17 PM.

[SpruceTrap]

It looks like the Rays would shift against Eddie Gadele this season. Nothing specifically done for Granderson.

Are you saying that the Rays will shift on anyone or that they did not shift on Granderson? On the radio on the way home, it sounded like they stated there was a shift for Granderson.

[derekson]

It looks like the Rays would shift against Eddie Gadele this season. Nothing specifically done for Granderson.

The Rays are always agressive with IF shifts. They sometimes do an overshift with IFers stacked up on the left side against slow heavy pull right-handed hitters even, which I can't recall seeing any other team do.

[jon abbey]

Gardner, bitches.

[Meff Nelton]

Bad call. But Gardner is still the man.

[jon abbey]

Not bad for CC after that first inning silliness, he's probably done now.

[nvalvo]

I think he got in with the left hand, but that was a great play by Gardner.

[jon abbey]

Yeah, safe. Sweet throw, though.

[SpruceTrap]

The Rays are always agressive with IF shifts. They sometimes do an overshift with IFers stacked up on the left side against slow heavy pull right-handed hitters even, which I can't recall seeing any other team do.

I wouldn't consider this a case of being overaggressive with the shift though. Granderson has traditionally been a very heavy pull hitter.

[Meff Nelton]

Are you saying that the Rays will shift on anyone or that they did not shift on Granderson? On the radio on the way home, it sounded like they stated there was a shift for Granderson.

They shifted for A-Rod, Cano, Teixiera, etc. Just what they do, not a Curtis-centric strategy.

Edited by Meff Nelton, 06 April 2012 - 04:23 PM.

[nvalvo]

Impossible to make that call without the slow-mo. He was safe by like two frames of video.

[Brickowski]

Well, it wasn't a great throw, but it was good enough. The tag was better than the throw.

It has been an entertaining game so far, even though neither starting pitcher has been stellar. Sabathia has been sloppy (how can you walk Molina to lead off an inning?) and Shields has thrown too many fat piches.

Edited by Brickowski, 06 April 2012 - 04:23 PM.

[derekson]

I wouldn't consider this a case of being overaggressive with the shift though. Granderson has traditionally been a very heavy pull hitter.

Oh I don't think it's overagressive at all. I'd shift on Granderson too. And probably Swisher when he bats lefty as well.

[Wingack]

I am not going to be able to take Pinella mispronouncing every player's names.

[SpruceTrap]

They shifted for A-Rod, Cano, Teixiera, etc. Just what they do, not a Curtis-centric strategy.

I understand that, but I don't remember seeing them shift on Granderson in the past. It's not something they usually do, is it?

Edited by SpruceTrap, 06 April 2012 - 04:24 PM.

[jon abbey]

This is Wade Davis' first career relief appearance (regular season).

[jon abbey]

I am not going to be able to take Pinella mispronouncing every player's names.

Tek-share-a.