Baseball 2018

Fitba' crazy, fitba' mad. But mostly mad. And angry
User avatar
toomanyhatz
Power-mad king of the WCC
Posts: 29992
Joined: 07 Apr 2005, 00:01
Location: Just east of where Charlie Parker went to do some relaxin'

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby toomanyhatz » 06 Apr 2018, 18:33

Dodged a bullet indeed - I think he'll be fired in the next week or two.

It must be said, though, that Doc is still learning how to manage a bullpen. He makes some odd decisions at times. Great motivator, though, and works well with the players, FO and his coaches. He's flawed, but definitely a Major League Manager. I'd not only rather have him than Kapler, but I'm glad we have him instead of Mattingly. Or Maddeningly, as our Dodger chat group calls him.
Footy wrote:
The Who / Jimi Hendrix Experience Saville Theatre, London Jan '67
. Got Jimi's autograph after the show and went on to see him several times that year


1959 1963 1965 1966 1974 1977 1978 1981 1988 2017* 2018 2020!! 2023?

sloopjohnc
Posts: 63924
Joined: 03 Jun 2004, 20:12

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby sloopjohnc » 06 Apr 2018, 21:27

toomanyhatz wrote:Dodged a bullet indeed - I think he'll be fired in the next week or two.

It must be said, though, that Doc is still learning how to manage a bullpen. He makes some odd decisions at times. Great motivator, though, and works well with the players, FO and his coaches. He's flawed, but definitely a Major League Manager. I'd not only rather have him than Kapler, but I'm glad we have him instead of Mattingly. Or Maddeningly, as our Dodger chat group calls him.


As a Giants fan, I was kinda miffed when you hired him. I thought he was going to be a good manager for a youngish bunch like the Dodgers. He's a positive guy and a good baseball man in the Dusty Baker sense. Which is probably where you get the weird bullpen moves. Dusty used to frustrate me keeping guys in longer than he might have simply because they were vets.
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk!

User avatar
fange
100% fangetastic
Posts: 14171
Joined: 20 Jan 2010, 11:30
Location: 香港

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby fange » 09 Apr 2018, 12:48

Ohtani has had a hell of a good start to this season, hasn't he. I caught the first handful of innings in the Angels vs Athletics in a replay today, and man he was looking in total control. Just wish he'd batted too, would have loved to see if he could homer again.
Jonny Spencer wrote:
fange wrote:I've got my quad pants on and i'm ready for some Cock.


By CHRIST you're a man after my own sideways sausage, Ange!

sloopjohnc
Posts: 63924
Joined: 03 Jun 2004, 20:12

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby sloopjohnc » 09 Apr 2018, 17:04

fange wrote:Ohtani has had a hell of a good start to this season, hasn't he. I caught the first handful of innings in the Angels vs Athletics in a replay today, and man he was looking in total control. Just wish he'd batted too, would have loved to see if he could homer again.


One hit in seven or eight innings (I forget) with a perfect game into the sixth. Yeah, I'd say he's doing okay. I think he has three homers too.

I was listening to an interview with a national baseball writer and he gave an example about how much he's already respected. Last week against the A's, in a run producing situation, the A's pitcher threw Ohtani a breaking ball. What was notable about this is usually a pitcher will throw a fastball to a rookie pitcher to see how he handles major league heat. The A's not doing that said a lot according to the writer.
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk!

User avatar
fange
100% fangetastic
Posts: 14171
Joined: 20 Jan 2010, 11:30
Location: 香港

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby fange » 09 Apr 2018, 17:13

Yeah, for sure. He's a pitcher for God's sake, and a rookie at that - he's not supposed to look as comfortable and dangerous at the plate as he does on the mound.
Will be fascinating to see how things pan out for him thiis season, seems like he has enough talent to be whatver he wants.
Jonny Spencer wrote:
fange wrote:I've got my quad pants on and i'm ready for some Cock.


By CHRIST you're a man after my own sideways sausage, Ange!

User avatar
toomanyhatz
Power-mad king of the WCC
Posts: 29992
Joined: 07 Apr 2005, 00:01
Location: Just east of where Charlie Parker went to do some relaxin'

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby toomanyhatz » 09 Apr 2018, 17:40

He's a true two-way player. Already. He might struggle some at both/either role(s), but he's clearly established he's a Major League talent - maybe even a true star - at both.
Footy wrote:
The Who / Jimi Hendrix Experience Saville Theatre, London Jan '67
. Got Jimi's autograph after the show and went on to see him several times that year


1959 1963 1965 1966 1974 1977 1978 1981 1988 2017* 2018 2020!! 2023?

User avatar
never/ever
Posts: 26478
Joined: 27 Jun 2008, 14:21
Location: Journeying through a burning brain

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby never/ever » 15 Apr 2018, 06:18

How the hell did the Braves lose that game?
kath wrote:i do not wanna buy the world a fucquin gotdamn coke.

User avatar
toomanyhatz
Power-mad king of the WCC
Posts: 29992
Joined: 07 Apr 2005, 00:01
Location: Just east of where Charlie Parker went to do some relaxin'

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby toomanyhatz » 30 Apr 2018, 07:11

OK, I'm finally seeing the Dodgers for what they are- a good team that could be a great team if the stupid Front Office wasn't trying to run them like they're on a budget.

When they made it to the WS last year, I though that was just the beginning of a run of greatness where they'd win at least one WS and hopefully several. Unless they do something to right the ship - and I'm not holding my breath - we better enjoy that 2017 WS appearance. That looks to be as good as it's gonna get.

EVERY OTHER TEAM in the Post-season last year - with the possible exception of the Nationals - has gotten better. Except for the Dodgers, who decided they needed to get under the tax threshold more than they needed to improve a team that came so close last year. Took me a while to be able to admit it, but I have to face the facts.
Footy wrote:
The Who / Jimi Hendrix Experience Saville Theatre, London Jan '67
. Got Jimi's autograph after the show and went on to see him several times that year


1959 1963 1965 1966 1974 1977 1978 1981 1988 2017* 2018 2020!! 2023?

sloopjohnc
Posts: 63924
Joined: 03 Jun 2004, 20:12

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby sloopjohnc » 30 Apr 2018, 17:03

toomanyhatz wrote:OK, I'm finally seeing the Dodgers for what they are- a good team that could be a great team if the stupid Front Office wasn't trying to run them like they're on a budget.

When they made it to the WS last year, I though that was just the beginning of a run of greatness where they'd win at least one WS and hopefully several. Unless they do something to right the ship - and I'm not holding my breath - we better enjoy that 2017 WS appearance. That looks to be as good as it's gonna get.

EVERY OTHER TEAM in the Post-season last year - with the possible exception of the Nationals - has gotten better. Except for the Dodgers, who decided they needed to get under the tax threshold more than they needed to improve a team that came so close last year. Took me a while to be able to admit it, but I have to face the facts.


Image
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk!

User avatar
toomanyhatz
Power-mad king of the WCC
Posts: 29992
Joined: 07 Apr 2005, 00:01
Location: Just east of where Charlie Parker went to do some relaxin'

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby toomanyhatz » 30 Apr 2018, 17:09

However, I do take SOME solace in the fact that the Giants - the best team in baseball for the first half of the decade - is now floundering a lot worse. We'll at least probably win the division again. The Giants are a terrible mess. (And for good measure, the Angels are in a hell of a lot better shape than the A's.)
Footy wrote:
The Who / Jimi Hendrix Experience Saville Theatre, London Jan '67
. Got Jimi's autograph after the show and went on to see him several times that year


1959 1963 1965 1966 1974 1977 1978 1981 1988 2017* 2018 2020!! 2023?

sloopjohnc
Posts: 63924
Joined: 03 Jun 2004, 20:12

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby sloopjohnc » 30 Apr 2018, 17:21

toomanyhatz wrote:However, I do take SOME solace in the fact that the Giants - the best team in baseball for the first half of the decade - is now floundering a lot worse. We'll at least probably win the division again. The Giants are a terrible mess. (And for good measure, the Angels are in a hell of a lot better shape than the A's.)


Man, that was quick.
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk!

User avatar
Hightea
Posts: 4364
Joined: 16 Apr 2015, 02:18
Location: NY state

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby Hightea » 30 Apr 2018, 17:46

Been a strange year already for the american league east. The Red Sox start off 17-2 before cooling by going 2-5 after that. The Yankees start 9-9 but now win 9 in a row. Going to be an interesting year. Lets see if the Houston Astros can now cool off the Yankees as the teams will play 4 games this week.
Image

User avatar
toomanyhatz
Power-mad king of the WCC
Posts: 29992
Joined: 07 Apr 2005, 00:01
Location: Just east of where Charlie Parker went to do some relaxin'

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby toomanyhatz » 30 Apr 2018, 17:48

sloopjohnc wrote:
toomanyhatz wrote:However, I do take SOME solace in the fact that the Giants - the best team in baseball for the first half of the decade - is now floundering a lot worse. We'll at least probably win the division again. The Giants are a terrible mess. (And for good measure, the Angels are in a hell of a lot better shape than the A's.)


Man, that was quick.


So was their fall.
Footy wrote:
The Who / Jimi Hendrix Experience Saville Theatre, London Jan '67
. Got Jimi's autograph after the show and went on to see him several times that year


1959 1963 1965 1966 1974 1977 1978 1981 1988 2017* 2018 2020!! 2023?

sloopjohnc
Posts: 63924
Joined: 03 Jun 2004, 20:12

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby sloopjohnc » 30 Apr 2018, 17:49

The Giants are in a weird situation. Ownership feels like the Giants' fanbase won't tolerate another losing year and won't allow them to completely retool - San Francisco fans are notoriously fair weather. It's kinda why they redid a lot of their operations last offseason and made Sabean the GM again and made David Bell head of the farm system. Sabean started out as a Yankees scout and became the head of their farm system. The Giants farm system ranks 25th to 28th, out of 30 teams, depending on who's doing the rankings.

I think the Giants look at the Dodgers, with Bellinger, Seager, Taylor, Pederson, etc., and use that as their benchmark. Plus, the Padres have a highly touted farm system that's just now starting to yield results and the Rockies' farm system is pretty good.

But as I wrote, that's why they got Longoria and McCutcheon to fill in the spots for a few years - some big names so they can at least hope to be competitive. Posey, Belt, Panik and Crawford are all homegrown, but they haven't had an impactful rookie - field player or pitcher, in a number of years.
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk!

User avatar
toomanyhatz
Power-mad king of the WCC
Posts: 29992
Joined: 07 Apr 2005, 00:01
Location: Just east of where Charlie Parker went to do some relaxin'

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby toomanyhatz » 30 Apr 2018, 18:16

Taylor came from another organization, but yeah - it's the one thing the Dodgers have always done well, and the current FO, even in all their folly, is continuing that. The bad side of that is they think they can find that magic fairy dust every year without spending either money or prospects on folks like Longoria or McCuthcheon to hold down the fort until the youngsters are ready. That's where they're wrong.
Footy wrote:
The Who / Jimi Hendrix Experience Saville Theatre, London Jan '67
. Got Jimi's autograph after the show and went on to see him several times that year


1959 1963 1965 1966 1974 1977 1978 1981 1988 2017* 2018 2020!! 2023?

sloopjohnc
Posts: 63924
Joined: 03 Jun 2004, 20:12

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby sloopjohnc » 30 Apr 2018, 18:54

toomanyhatz wrote:Taylor came from another organization, but yeah - it's the one thing the Dodgers have always done well, and the current FO, even in all their folly, is continuing that. The bad side of that is they think they can find that magic fairy dust every year without spending either money or prospects on folks like Longoria or McCuthcheon to hold down the fort until the youngsters are ready. That's where they're wrong.


Winning hides lots of problems. The Giants had their run - and a better run than most teams had. I don't know why Giants' fans just can't appreciate it.

They do have the second largest payroll, just ahead of the Dodgers, and some of their players are due for increases next year. Any kind of turnaround is going to take awhile.

The Giants love to reward players who have helped the organization with large contracts. I think that's a mistake that continually bites them in the butt.
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk!

sloopjohnc
Posts: 63924
Joined: 03 Jun 2004, 20:12

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby sloopjohnc » 02 May 2018, 22:17

I read AP story today that in April, players struck out more than they got hits. First time in over 100 years that that has happened.
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk!

User avatar
Diamond Dog
"Self Quoter" Extraordinaire.
Posts: 69577
Joined: 16 Jul 2003, 21:04
Location: High On Poachers Hill

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby Diamond Dog » 08 May 2018, 22:20

Red Sox & Yankees playing two games in London next June!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/baseball/44038752
Nicotine, valium, vicadin, marijuana, ecstasy, and alcohol -
Cocaine

User avatar
Hightea
Posts: 4364
Joined: 16 Apr 2015, 02:18
Location: NY state

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby Hightea » 09 May 2018, 14:36

Diamond Dog wrote:Red Sox & Yankees playing two games in London next June!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/baseball/44038752

MLB must be paying the teams a ton for this. Yankees -Red Sox are big revenue for both teams home stadiums.
As a fan of the Yankees not happy about this but get why baseball is trying it.

On side note the Yankees have been on fire 16-1 in their last 17 beating all the top clubs in the American League.
However, its a long season and lets see how it plays out. Like all teams you need to win a world series or two before we call the team great.

sloopjohnc
Posts: 63924
Joined: 03 Jun 2004, 20:12

Re: Baseball 2018

Postby sloopjohnc » 09 May 2018, 19:28

funny Ichiro story. . .

One morning in spring training, 2017, he was in the coaches’ room looking at his cell phone text messages. Ichiro told the coaches about one message he had just received from a number he didn’t recognize. The guy said he’d gotten Ichiro’s number from Alex Rodriguez, and that he wanted to come meet him and study his stretching system.

“What’s the guy’s name?” asked one of the coaches.

Ichiro strolled to the end of the text. “Some guy named Tom Brady. Who the f— is Tom Brady?”
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk!


Return to “Sporting Life”