Around Baseball 2015

[Praxis]

Incredible to think that a few weeks ago we were barely treading water at .500; now we lead the American League.

 

I've waited 22 years for this and I'm lovin' every minute of it.

 

http://i.imgur.com/1R3mPPe.jpg

[L54]

Robs Montero of a homerun to keep the game at 2-1 SEA.

[Swervin81]

Lol Mike Trout

 

Good god, that was a fap-worthy grab.

[37stieb]

Anyone here thinking the best playoff scenario for the Jays?

My choice would be...

NY win WC

KC vs NY (NY wins)

TO vs TX (TO wins)

TO vs NY (TO wins)

[Maahfaace]

my gawd, what a catch by trout

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/gotta-see-it-trouts-amazing-wall-climbing-skills/

[Trouba95]

What I want to happen:

 

Yanks/Astros in the WC = Houston wins with Keuchel

Astros/Jays = Jays

Royals/Texas = Texas

Rangers/Jays in the ALCS

[MunenoriKawasakiMVP]

Washington got mathematically from the playoffs today. Seriously what a shitshow the whole team was this year. Almost everybody were calling a 100+ win season for the Nats and that's without knowing that Bryce Harper would put up the best offensive numbers since steroids era.

[thatoneguy]

my gawd, what a catch by trout

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/gotta-see-it-trouts-amazing-wall-climbing-skills/

 

Gonna snatch that MVP away from Donaldson. Incredible grab.

[Maahfaace]

What I want to happen:

 

Yanks/Astros in the WC = Houston wins with Keuchel

Astros/Jays = Jays

Royals/Texas = Texas

Rangers/Jays in the ALCS

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIX0ZDqDljA

[G-Snarls]

my gawd, what a catch by trout

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/gotta-see-it-trouts-amazing-wall-climbing-skills/

 

Jaw still on floor

[G-Snarls]

Washington got mathematically from the playoffs today. Seriously what a shitshow the whole team was this year. Almost everybody were calling a 100+ win season for the Nats and that's without knowing that Bryce Harper would put up the best offensive numbers since steroids era.

 

Yep

 

Not just this year either

 

This is now two or three seasons in a row that they get picked as the best team in the NL to start the season and have failed miserably. One measly playoff series in 3 years.

 

Heads are gonna roll

 

There's something wrong there. Too much talent to be this mediocre.

[intentional wok]

Matt Williams seems to be the most routinely lampooned manager, but it really seems as if the Washington FO has enough confidence in him.

 

But for actual reasons why they suck? I don't think they can really hit or get on base efficiently enough. Outside of Bryce Harper of course.

[BigCecil]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIX0ZDqDljA

 

THAT was incredible. He was WAY up and over for that. What an athlete.

[jaysfan2014]

Yep

 

Not just this year either

 

This is now two or three seasons in a row that they get picked as the best team in the NL to start the season and have failed miserably. One measly playoff series in 3 years.

 

Heads are gonna roll

 

There's something wrong there. Too much talent to be this mediocre.

 

A few reasons:

 

1. Injuries to many regulars--Span, Rendon, Zimmerman, Strasburg

2. Fister imploding, unreliable bullpen.

3. Nobody other than Harper providing anything (Yunel Escobar was 2nd in batter WAR with 2.4 WAR. There was HUGE regression with many of the same players who helped the Nats make the playoffs)

4. Ian Desmond being a defensive nightmare at SS (27 errors). And you thought Reyes was bad..

5. Ugly bench.. outside of Taylor and Robinson, who were forced into everyday duty due to injury, they got basically nothing from their bench players.

6. Way too many strikeouts..Taylor and Desmond being major offenders.

 

Expect huge changes in Washington.. including Williams getting fired, unless the Nats front office is as clueless as the Tigers (who are bringing Ausmus back next season).

[BigCecil]

Washington got mathematically from the playoffs today. Seriously what a shitshow the whole team was this year. Almost everybody were calling a 100+ win season for the Nats and that's without knowing that Bryce Harper would put up the best offensive numbers since steroids era.

 

That's what I love about baseball. After the MIA deal a lot of people picked us to win.

 

On paper means little. You have to win on the field - usually a result of talent, big years, health and luck.

 

Every year we see front runners and deadline deals flop with surprises ascending. Love this game.

[jaysfan2014]

That's what I love about baseball. After the MIA deal a lot of people picked us to win.

 

On paper means little. You have to win on the field - usually a result of talent, big years, health and luck.

 

Every year we see front runners and deadline deals flop with surprises ascending. Love this game.

 

What those people forgot was in 2013 is that we had JP Arencibia as catcher and 2B/SS defense was terrible.. look how much better it is now with Tulo/Goins/Pennington/Barney and when healthy, Travis.

[Jimcanuck]

What those people forgot was in 2013 is that we had JP Arencibia as catcher and 2B/SS defense was terrible.. look how much better it is now with Tulo/Goins/Pennington/Barney and when healthy, Travis.

 

that wasn't the issue though. morrow, johnson, and romero was the issue

[nextyear]

that wasn't the issue though. morrow, johnson, and romero was the issue

 

 

Infield defense and all around defense is a big issue with the pitching. Once the Blue Jays improved their defense with Tulowitzki and Revere (plus Price and Stroman), the team ERA dropped dramatically after the All Star break. The Blue Jays had several good defensive players but until they had good defense at all positions the team couldn't crack 0.500.

 

Pitching and positional defense go together. However, pitching is a big part of it, as we have seen with Hutchison; often he needs a lot of runs scored to win.

 

Just a couple of interesting facts: (source: http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/index.jsp#20150729 )

 

Up to and including July 28th

Blue Jays were 50 wins - 51 losses (101 games)

total runs scored = 530 (5.25/game); total runs allowed =436 (4.32/game)

 

July 29th and after, once Tulowitzki started and soon after Revere, Price and recently getting Stroman back

Blue Jays were 39 wins - 14 losses (53 games)

total runs scored = 318 (6.00/game); total runs allowed = 191 (3.60/game)

Edited September 27, 2015 by nextyear

[G-Snarls]

 

LOL

 

I presume Gibby will do the same after we clinch our division?

[G-Snarls]

Kelly Johnson has never played shortstop in the majors lol

 

How nice of Collins to finally give him a chance. LOL

[Hipfan]

my gawd, what a catch by trout

 

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/gotta-see-it-trouts-amazing-wall-climbing-skills/

 

That wasn't very nice of Trout; Montero could really use a home run, poor guy! LOL!!

[G-Snarls]

Hopefully the Jays post clinch lineup looks something like:

 

CF - Pompey

2B - Kawasaki

1B - Colabello

DH - Hague

LF - Carrera

3B - Pennington

SS - Barney

C - Thole

 

RF - Whichever sucker among Revere Pillar Bautista Gibby to decides to play cause he has no one else to put out there. Probably Revere.

[G-Snarls]

That wasn't very nice of Trout; Montero could really use a home run, poor guy! LOL!!

 

He looked completely devastated in the dugout. Damn.

[37stieb]

Hopefully the Jays post clinch lineup looks something like:

 

CF - Pompey

2B - Kawasaki

1B - Colabello

DH - Hague

LF - Carrera

3B - Pennington

SS - Barney

C - Thole

 

RF - Whichever sucker among Revere Pillar Bautista Gibby to decides to play cause he has no one else to put out there. Probably Revere.

Is this the Dream Team?

Probably wont happen as they are still in a dog fight with KC. Unless the Royals fold like a house of cards. Bautista still looking for 40HR and possible outside chance for EE to hit 40. Though you forgot the starting pitching with Hutch leading the pack and Shultz and Loup to close.

[G-Snarls]

Is this the Dream Team?

Probably wont happen as they are still in a dog fight with KC. Unless the Royals fold like a house of cards. Bautista still looking for 40HR and possible outside chance for EE to hit 40. Though you forgot the starting pitching with Hutch leading the pack and Shultz and Loup to close.

 

With no more off days Gibby will do something like this or cycle the AAAA guys in and out more likely. And yeah f*** it, give Hutch a start why not.

[burlingtonbandit]

Hopefully the Jays post clinch lineup looks something like:

 

CF - Pompey

2B - Kawasaki

1B - Colabello

DH - Hague

LF - Carrera

3B - Pennington

SS - Barney

C - Thole

 

RF - Whichever sucker among Revere Pillar Bautista Gibby to decides to play cause he has no one else to put out there. Probably Revere.

 

Im all for giving the regulars a day off but I think they should play until the end. You don't want to lose your momentum and there is already going to be a big layoff between the last game and the first game of the postseason.

[thatoneguy]

Jaw still on floor

 

Joey Bats offering his praise.

 

[King]

Harper and Papelbon got in a fight in the Nats dugout. Twitter blowing up

[MunenoriKawasakiMVP]

Harper and Papelbon got in a fight in the Nats dugout. Twitter blowing up

When you thought it couldn't get any worse...

[Atothe]

Harper and Papelbon got in a fight in the Nats dugout. Twitter blowing up

 

Harper doesn't like him, makes me like Harper that much more. f*** you Pigf***er