please!!!!!
"The Seattle Game"
Haha, that's not what they mean, pretty sure that the "mindless bullpens" are pitcher throwing sessions in preseason or between games, where usually they just throw a bunch of pitches in the bullpen without thinking too much about it.
Yeah, I interpreted it as even more specific to the preseason but I’m also hoping it continues into the season.
Are you really blaming last year's collapse on one game in which the bullpen imploded?
No. Lots of things went wrong down the stretch last year that contributed to the collapse.
The starting pitchers for the first few games:
Most of the lineup won't play until Sunday:
Duran "has been a full go" but will still be pushed back, until "later".
This is Cora. It's who he was, who he is, and who he will always be. But, hey, he managed the bullpen perfectly this game....Just ask him.
I also remember that game. But I don't really remember who "the rest of the (rested) bullpen" was that week, as the cast of expendable crew members changed pretty regularly.
Opening Day is also a week to 10 days earlier than it used to be. They're not starting any earlier this year than last (first game was 2/24). The two most significant reasons are the expanded post-season and more mandated days off during the season per the current CBA.
Also, the next day was an off day.
It was pretty emblematic of the problems from last year.
I dunno.... there were a few games that just gutted the team. After the middle of August, the team F'in quit. Lots of injuries, players exhausted but I think you could see the air just get let out of the balloon. Again... I think this shit was on Cora as much as Bloom. Coach's responsibility is to keep the team focused and playing every out like it means something. The guy doesn't do that.... why should the players.
Because they're professionals who want to be pad their personal stats and get paid? If they're in the batters box, they might as well try their best instead of quitting and letting the pitcher make them look outclassed. I don't care how sad losing a bullpen game made them, there's no excuse to give up with the bat in your hands for an entire month.
Not only that, but all the short starts and bullpen games caught up to the bullpen. Cora had to strike a balance between trying to win games and trying to keep his relievers' arms intact.
I thought the straw that broke the camel's back was going to TWO bullpen games in every rotation.
The Mata news is interesting because that may give them some flexibility to start him on the IL/slow play his rehab to open up a bullpen spot of the 26-man.
Honestly was kinda hoping he would have a minor injury so he could rehab in AAA to see what they have. He’s likely to face more reality AB’s than any spring training game at all.
Great stuff! What struck you about Anthony's approach? Seems a little early to be getting excited with ABs as you are working against pitchers who are working through their own goals instead of planning ABs against you. Was he able to catch a tricky secondary pitch in an odd place in an account?
I agree - but to clarify, they're all brothers.
What I was watching on Sunday was how he was calm at the plate and seemed to watch the pitch all the way to the catchers mitt. Some guys just look like they belong at an early age. Teel on the other hand was not as impressive looking in his debut. He seemed to be swinging out of his shoes even though he was early on pitches.
Clearly I know it's not going to happen, but how much more fun / optimistic would this season be if line up was:
Can't decide if playing both Grissom and Story at 2B will help or hurt Devers' zone rating.
Can't we just combine their WAR into one uber 2b. That's the way it works, right?
Yeah, I know.
I am interested in Teel for his receiving skills which are suppose to be really good.
Context matters. I'm guessing he was asked how he's dealing with all of the trade rumors. He gave an honest answer. FWIW, from where I'm sitting it reads like he's trying to keep a positive outlook.
The same article has the Mariners weak in left field AND right field. And now their reliever Brash is out for the season. Can Duran and Jansen bring back a starting pitcher?This article from FanGraphs has Red Sox catchers among the weakest positional groups in the AL: Weakest Positions of American League Contenders
So you're saying we're contenders
The door is wide, wide open for Teel if he is ready to take that next step.
Yup. Trade rumors + the guy who signed you is gone = not such a fun time. And that's regardless of what the overall direction and prospects for the coming season are. I imagine it's a new place for a guy like Jansen. He probably never faced trade rumors while he was a Dodger. He signed a one-year deal with the Braves so he entered that spring comfortable. Now there's uncertainty for him. I can see how that would suck to deal with.
I'm laughing to myself thinking of Bill Fischer, John Farrell or any other "good baseball man" pitching coach of days gone by saying this while the tobacco juice dribbles down their chin. (It's a great read overall. He's a pretty interesting guy)
