Happy Opening Day
- Thread starter adp98
- Start date
Wouldn't surprise me if he gets his ass kicked in the senior circuit. Hoping the Mets can give him a warm welcome today -- same as Lester last night.
No matter how much your favorite team is projected to suck (looking your way, phanatics), opening day always should bring a smile to the face of baseball fans.
I was at Strasburg Harvey at Citi on April 19, 2013. Unbelievable game. Harvey's stuff was electric. Crowd was chanting "Harvey's better" basically every inning. I'm not even a mets fan but it was a cool atmosphere. And then I saw that they finally had located and captured the Boston Marathon Bomber and USA chants started breaking out.
Headed down to the Ol Ballpark today. A six month Bataan Death March to triple digit losses starts now.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
Posted from Rivals Mobile
I've gone to Opening Day at Shea/Citi every year since 1998. More enjoyable than first 2 days of the tournament for me.
Hamels got knocked around a bit in five innings. Phillies are being 1-hit by Clay Buchholz. Phils offense: 1-for-20, 1 BB, 8 K's. Red Sox up 4-0 in the 7th.
Bartolo the fattest Mets Opening Day starter in history by 45 pounds is mowing em down. 8 k's in 6 and I have no clue how he's still striking these people out.
Got a Bryce Harper moon shot at least and Trout HR in first at bat. Hope those guys both have great seasons.
Phils look G8. But hey, Howard got their 1 hit. KEEPER!!!!
Got a Bryce Harper moon shot at least and Trout HR in first at bat. Hope those guys both have great seasons.
Phils look G8. But hey, Howard got their 1 hit. KEEPER!!!!
I am counting down the days for Ryne Sandberg to be fired. He has shit to work with, but he is a terrible manager.
he is a terrible manager.
Couldn't agree more - I honestly think that he is a very stupid individual. IQ in double digits.
Couldn't agree more - I honestly think that he is a very stupid individual. IQ in double digits.
Sandberg is a huge dud as a manager, but what can he possibly do with this roster? And what will the new manager do differently?
There is nothing he can do with this roster. Until you move or release most of the veterans, you have no chance to improve. When you are obviously rebuilding it would help your fans if they had some real young talent to root for. You can then look forward to the future. But, since veterans make up most of your lineup, then you have nothing to get remotely excited about.
play Ruf. you can't ever start an outfield of Revere, Herrera and Sizemore. you need some power in the lineup especially from the outfield.
other than that though not much to be done with this team. if/when Hamels gets hurt or traded this very well could be the worst starting pitching staff I've ever seen...and I saw years when Robert Person was their ace.
other than that though not much to be done with this team. if/when Hamels gets hurt or traded this very well could be the worst starting pitching staff I've ever seen...and I saw years when Robert Person was their ace.
Agree about Ruf but I am almost certain I heard Amaro say he will not play the outfield especially right field. Downright depressing.
In a related note, kudos to the Braves for busting up that team and realizing they were going no where. Will they stink this season and next? YES, but they at least have a plan before they open that new park. They did not wait at all. The fact that they got San Diego to absorb that God awful contract of Upton is the best move of the off season.
Baseball's salary structure is so screwed up it's unreal. Whoever negotiated the deal the players have should be retroactively stoned. I don't understand how there isn't more of an uproar. Corey Kluber just won the Cy Young and signed a 5 year $38 million deal for the sole reason that he was a pre-arbitration. And that's the most a pre-arb player has gotten. I know, "who cares, they're all millionaires", but it still doesn't seem right for these teams to take advantage of their young players so much. I guess the players union doesn't change because the older players make so much money off this because all the money saved on cheap all star talent goes to overbloated contracts for former good players. I can't understand how any player coming up goes along with how baseball does salaries.
Disagree. Game is better than ever. I love that Mets have so much pitching -- but as noted -- everyone has pitching now. Gotta get down to fundamentals and stop whiffing so much while putting the bat on the ball.
I think it's only a matter of time before lefties begin to figure out the shift and start going the other way. Right now, 88% of balls lefties hit go to RF or CF. If they can drop that to 75%, they would probably pick up 60-70 points on their average.
I think it's only a matter of time before lefties begin to figure out the shift and start going the other way. Right now, 88% of balls lefties hit go to RF or CF. If they can drop that to 75%, they would probably pick up 60-70 points on their average.
It's a lot easier for pitchers to study batters than for batters to study hitters. There's tons of data on hitters and their weaknesses, virtually none on pitchers. Advanced scouting has taken the game to another level.
Agree with NN1188 here - way too many hitters nowadays lack (or seem like they lack) the fundamentals to just get the bat on the ball. Too many K's because hitters are pull happy, looking for extra base hits. Just keep a short, compact swing and hit the ball where it is pitched.
Eventually the offense has to catch up again, right? Like adp says, the pitchers are usually ahead of hitters in April, but I think you will see a continuing season long trend of lack of offense.
No matter what though, the loser for opening day has got to be the Marlins. How the hell does a stadium with a retractable roof end up with a rain delay!?
Eventually the offense has to catch up again, right? Like adp says, the pitchers are usually ahead of hitters in April, but I think you will see a continuing season long trend of lack of offense.
No matter what though, the loser for opening day has got to be the Marlins. How the hell does a stadium with a retractable roof end up with a rain delay!?
In lieu of the juice and the demand for power at almost ever position, the league is shifting back to producing baseball players. Guys who do multiple things well, but less things off the chart. Better to be a decent hitter and very good fielder than be a spectacular fielder with no bat. Ok to play a GG CF and not hit 25 HRs. What catches up to players and teams is the truly one dimensional player who basically pops long balls or K's and cant play the field. More about putting the ball in play now. And you gotta make plays in the field. That's far more values now than the juicer days where you just mashed away your mistakes.
Also, relievers have really changed the game in the last decade plus. Teams are throwing like 5 or 6 pitchers a game at the problem it seems. Throw in the shift (which I think is temporary), semi decent drug testing, a lot of good pitchers and we're likely in a lower scoring moment here. The runs will come as teh weather warms up and guys settle in at the plate - but the league is fairly well off with quality arms here.
Also, relievers have really changed the game in the last decade plus. Teams are throwing like 5 or 6 pitchers a game at the problem it seems. Throw in the shift (which I think is temporary), semi decent drug testing, a lot of good pitchers and we're likely in a lower scoring moment here. The runs will come as teh weather warms up and guys settle in at the plate - but the league is fairly well off with quality arms here.
Good point on relievers. Teams have multiple guys that can come in and throw 95+ and mow guys down. Look at the Royals last year. They were last in the majors with only 95 HRs and rode the waves of an elite bullpen (and fantastic fundamental baseball) to Game 7 of the World Series.
Absolutely a valid point about relief pitchers. Definitely one of the factors.
ADP, I've noticed this trend before this year, it's just not an April thing. And I did like the juice era. I'd prefer to see more runs, HRs, hard hit balls, etc. it's almost like the ball seems dead and doesn't go anywhere.
ADP, I've noticed this trend before this year, it's just not an April thing. And I did like the juice era. I'd prefer to see more runs, HRs, hard hit balls, etc. it's almost like the ball seems dead and doesn't go anywhere.
I don't mean to sound like a jerk but yes obviously it's a trend. It's been well documented for a few years now. Offense has been way down for the reasons cited here. This isn't anything new. Less juice, better pitchers, better bullpens, more specialists etc....all of the above. However, also look at the players. You see very few guys who look like Mark McGwuire out there. This is why I never understood the fake outrage over ped use. Everyone was in on the joke and benefited along the way. Edit, I also think it makes the game cool because every AB matters. DMIL and I don't always agree but he did a great job of summing it up. The skills matter. You have to move runners, catch the ball, and play fundamental baseball. It makes the games more like we see in the post-season. You don't just wait to get a few guys on and hit a 3 run bomb. I liked the offense as well but appreciate this game more.
This post was edited on 4/7 11:36 AM by adp98
This post was edited on 4/7 11:36 AM by adp98
The Yankees entire offensive strategy for 15 years was the 3 run homer it seemed. Hence the insane dollars to Arod, Giambi, Texiera, Sheffield, Matsui, or even Damon. That is why I was pretty shocked to see them let Cano go, as he was their best hope for any sustainable attack for the next 5 years.
I am happy to see the game get back to 'normal' myself. There is nothing like a well played game and I enjoy pitching a lot. There is no difference to me in seeing some guy hit 50 homers and watching Kershaw or Harvey or whoever. I like that it's a pretty big deal to hit 35 or 40 homers again. I like only a handful of guuys can hit .300 now. (40 guys in 2003, 16 last season ) It feels more real to me. 16 is probably too few, but it will even out soon enough.
Thought last year's World Series was extremely well played. And it was great.
I am happy to see the game get back to 'normal' myself. There is nothing like a well played game and I enjoy pitching a lot. There is no difference to me in seeing some guy hit 50 homers and watching Kershaw or Harvey or whoever. I like that it's a pretty big deal to hit 35 or 40 homers again. I like only a handful of guuys can hit .300 now. (40 guys in 2003, 16 last season ) It feels more real to me. 16 is probably too few, but it will even out soon enough.
Thought last year's World Series was extremely well played. And it was great.