339 replies to this topic

[Meff Nelton]

Fuck you, Maddon. This is obnoxious.

[jon abbey]

4 pitchers to get through 2 pretty easy innings for TB.

[SpruceTrap]

He's like Bobby Valentine with hipster glasses.

[Foulkey Reese]

Bad call. But Gardner is still the man.

Don't be that guy with the fuzzy avatar that nobody can read.

[Meff Nelton]

Don't be that guy with the fuzzy avatar that nobody can read.

It's a metaphor for Joe Girardi's indecipherable IBB doctrine.

[SpruceTrap]

This is a typical Joe Mad Scientist move. Jeter's a .336 hitter against lefties.

[Foulkey Reese]

It's a metaphor for Joe Girardi's indecipherable IBB doctrine.

It's barely a step down from being a murder on the list of worst things to be.

[SpruceTrap]

Wow, Zobrist got robbed on that AB. All three of those strikes were balls/a checked swing.

[Foulkey Reese]

I was just going to post that. Three bad calls by two separate umpires. Wow.

[derekson]

Terrible call on the first one to Scott too.

[SpruceTrap]

I was just going to post that. Three bad calls by two separate umpires. Wow.

It's not often a hitter sees 5 balls on 5 pitches and the umpire calls it strikeout.

[nvalvo]

Luke Scott has some heinous facial hair.

[derekson]

Kinda surprised Longoria wasn't off with the pitch there.

[SpruceTrap]

Ouch, tag to the nuts.

[jon abbey]

Baseball games are long.

[NoMaRRaMoN]

Luke Scott has some heinous facial hair.

it matches what goes on inside his head

[SpruceTrap]

Lou Pinella just admitted to drinking in the clubhouse during games while he was managing. Get on that Shaughnessy!

[SpruceTrap]

it matches what goes on inside his head

In the words of Luke Scott, Luke Scott's facial hair is ruthless, arrogant and vulgar.

[Sprowl]

Baseball games are long.

Game-threading helps occupy the interminable time between pitches.

[jon abbey]

Maddon thinks this is Little League and everyone has to get in the game.

[Meff Nelton]

What's up, SOSH? I've been waiting for some good Joba/Rear Window parody photoshops already.

[Foulkey Reese]

I'd bet good money that the Red Sox finish with a better record than the Rays.

[jon abbey]

Time for A-Rod to go deep.

[SpruceTrap]

I'd bet good money that the Red Sox finish with a better record than the Rays.

I know people say this every year, but the Rays really are overrated based on what they did last year. Everyone talks about how great their rotation is but the difference between the ERA and FIP of Shields and Hellickson last year is astounding and they were by far their best pitchers last year.

[jon abbey]

NY has left the bases loaded three times today. That never comes back to haunt a team.

[nvalvo]

I know people say this every year, but the Rays really are overrated based on what they did last year. Everyone talks about how great their rotation is but the difference between the ERA and FIP of Shields and Hellickson last year is astounding and they were by far their best pitchers last year.

Moore will take some of innings, which should offset some of that regression. I agree, though.

[Meff Nelton]

I know people say this every year, but the Rays really are overrated based on what they did last year. Everyone talks about how great their rotation is but the difference between the ERA and FIP of Shields and Hellickson last year is astounding and they were by far their best pitchers last year.

But they are the best team in baseball at turning balls on play into outs. Their pitchers' overperformance is indicative of a team skill.

[SpruceTrap]

Is it just me, or are the 29 other fan bases in desperate need for a word other than "suck" to describe the Yankees?

[SpruceTrap]

Moore will take some of innings, which should offset some of that regression. I agree, though.

Best case scenario for the Rays is that Moore pitches well in his rookie season. I know he's a highly touted prospect and everything, but he's started one major league game in his career.

[nvalvo]

But they are the best team in baseball at turning balls on play into outs. Their pitchers' overperformance is indicative of a team skill.

Sure, that happened. But is *that* predictive?

edit for clarity: Saying that they turned a bunch of BIP into Outs is basically the same as saying their pitching staff outperformed their FIP. We don't know how repeatable that is, either.

Edited by nvalvo, 06 April 2012 - 05:04 PM.

[Wingack]

I'd bet good money that the Red Sox finish with a better record than the Rays.

I think it really is close. I like the Rays pitching better than the Sox, and the back half of that Sox batting order is very shaky.

[derekson]

I think it really is close. I like the Rays pitching better than the Sox, and the back half of that Sox batting order is very shaky.

The back half of the Sox order could bat in the top 5 for the Rays.

[SpruceTrap]

But they are the best team in baseball at turning balls on play into outs. Their pitchers' overperformance is indicative of a team skill.

I don't think ballpark and defense is enough to explain a 1.49 run difference between ERA and FIP or a pitchers like Shields going from a 5+ ERA to an ERA under 3.

[FenwayFrenzy]

EXHALE.

[Meff Nelton]

Sure, that happened. But is *that* predictive?

I'm down with skepticism for defensive stats, but to whatever extent they are accurate, they have the Rays' back. Also, it was an abitrage strategy for Friedman, so it's not like it came out of nowhere.

[nvalvo]

I think it really is close. I like the Rays pitching better than the Sox, and the back half of that Sox batting order is very shaky.

I think there are plenty of concerns to have about Boston, but I see most of them having to do with pitching. What do you see?

[SpruceTrap]

I think it really is close. I like the Rays pitching better than the Sox, and the back half of that Sox batting order is very shaky.

It's an improvement over the bottom half of the lineup they had last year when they lead he majors in offense.

[rembrat]

IT IS HIGH
IT IS FAR
IT IS...
/dead air
/5 minutes later
...foul.

[SpruceTrap]

Also, how many years in a row can the Rays possible pull together a great bullpen out of re-treads? I don't care how good their scouts are, there's no way they pull a rabbit out of the hat every year.

[SpruceTrap]

Yikes, nothing like a changeup up in the zone to piss off a hitter.

[jon abbey]

IT IS HIGH
IT IS FAR
IT IS...
/dead air
/5 minutes later
...foul.

I am not exaggerating when I say that he is the worst professional sports announcer I have ever heard.

[SpruceTrap]

I am not exaggerating when I say that he is the worst professional sports announcer I have ever heard.

I would totally agree if he didn't share the booth with Suzyn "Oh my goodness gracious!" Waldman.

[rembrat]

Also, how many years in a row can the Rays possible pull together a great bullpen out of re-treads? I don't care how good their scouts are, there's no way they pull a rabbit out of the hat every year.

I think its easier for teams like the Rays and Padres to put together good pens because of the park factors of their home park, or so I told myself as I watched Padilla, Melancon, and Aceves shit their pants yesterday.

[derekson]

Yankees have left a small village on base today.

[Meff Nelton]

Where did hundred walk Nick go?

[jon abbey]

I said professional.

ARGH, squander after squander after squander since the third.

[Foulkey Reese]

http://isjoshluekearapist.com/

[Wingack]

I think there are plenty of concerns to have about Boston, but I see most of them having to do with pitching. What do you see?

Six through nine in the Sox lineup yesterday (Sweeney, Ross, Salty, Aviles). It isn't very scary at all. But neither is Tampa's.

[nvalvo]

I think its easier for teams like the Rays and Padres to put together good pens because of the park factors of their home park, or so I told myself as I watched Padilla, Melancon, and Aceves shit their pants yesterday.

Also, good bullpens can be a byproduct of good rotations. With fewer innings to cover, the manager can better optimize usage and avoid overwork.

[rembrat]

Where did hundred walk Nick go?

.300 BA Nick killed him.