Putting my undefeated 4-0 record on the Line GDT game 2 vs. Twins

[EdwinsParrot]

Zeke magic making an appearance this inning

[Spanky99]

Can't stand watching him in OF but he really has put up a nice offensive season. Been one of our best with the stick.

 

Yeah, pleasant surprise, no doubt.

[BigCecil]

Free double.

 

Now a free run.

[Maahfaace]

Put up your hand if you thought Bats would be sporting a sub .700 OPS nearing the end of August. What steep slope of decline he has slid down.

[Spanky99]

Put up your hand if you thought Bats would be sporting a sub .700 OPS nearing the end of August. What steep slope of decline he has slid down.

 

I wonder if he retires, unlikely but you never know.

[Spanky99]

Duck snort!

[BigCecil]

I wonder if he retires, unlikely but you never know.

 

It's possible. Any offer he gets will be an insult to him I'm sure. He will have to be a lot more pragmatic than I expect he is. He is a shadow of the hitter he was and he has no mitt.

[Spanky99]

lulz... never easy. You don't see Smoak do that often.

[EdwinsParrot]

Yes panic

[THANOS]

Ughhh...

[Spanky99]

Nice play Osuna.

[Spanky99]

Osuna Matata!

[FIAF]

Is this the first time they managed 10+ runs?

[Omar]

TheHurl moves to 5-0 on GDT started............wish he started all the gdt in April:(

[Spanky99]

Is this the first time they managed 10+ runs?

 

No.

[Maahfaace]

I wonder if he retires, unlikely but you never know.

 

If he does, it will be because of lack of interest from teams. I do hope he latches on somewhere and puts up a few semi decent years before he does call it quits. He was such a beast for the Jays, would suck to see him go out with such a whimper at 37.

[Spanky99]

It's possible. Any offer he gets will be an insult to him I'm sure. He will have to be a lot more pragmatic than I expect he is. He is a shadow of the hitter he was and he has no mitt.

 

Yeah, the former is the reason why I think he might walk away.

[Abomination]

If he does, it will be because of lack of interest from teams. I do hope he latches on somewhere and puts up a few semi decent years before he does call it quits. He was such a beast for the Jays, would suck to see him go out with such a whimper at 37.

 

His defense has improved quite a bit this year (still negative, but not quite so embarrassingly so). I still feel like he's changed his approach at the plate this year, and it just isn't working for him. He's hitting a lot more balls up the middle and opposite field, and he's never hit for good average to right field.

[Spanky99]

If he does, it will be because of lack of interest from teams. I do hope he latches on somewhere and puts up a few semi decent years before he does call it quits. He was such a beast for the Jays, would suck to see him go out with such a whimper at 37.

 

Meh, he has nothing to hang his head about, he was a beast and that HR will forever be etched in baseball fans minds.

[Maahfaace]

His defense has improved quite a bit this year (still negative, but not quite so embarrassingly so). I still feel like he's changed his approach at the plate this year, and it just isn't working for him. He's hitting a lot more balls up the middle and opposite field, and he's never hit for good average to right field.

 

I honestly think his hitting woes are all about his bat speed, he's not a big guy by any stretch, so he can't rely on brute force to hit balls hard. With his k rate hovering nearly 10% above his career norms it would seem like he just can't get around on the ball like he used to in his heyday.

 

Edit: does statscast measure bat speed from hitters? If so is there a good site to analyze it?

[Abomination]

I honestly think his hitting woes are all about his bat speed, he's not a big guy by any stretch, so he can't rely on brute force to hit balls hard. With his k rate hovering nearly 10% above his career norms it would seem like he just can't get around on the ball like he used to in his heyday.

 

Edit: does statscast measure bat speed from hitters? If so is there a good site to analyze it?

 

I think there are measurements for it, but it's not available to the general public. I agree that his bat speed seems slower, but I think it has to do with approach more than age. I think he isn't getting around on the balls as well because he's trying to go up the middle more.

[FIAF]

By the way, ma boy zeik looking good in that lead-off spot

[Spanky99]

The Beeg getting hit around today.

[Abomination]

By the way, ma boy zeik looking good in that lead-off spot

 

And as horrible as usual, misplaying balls in the outfield.

 

At least we're not playing defense like Seattle is today.

[Spanky99]

That pick-off looms now JD, after that rip by Smoak.

[Spanky99]

Aoki got burned, played that bad.

[Spanky99]

Man... Biagini hasn't pitched well at all, as a starter.

[EdwinsParrot]

Can't help but laugh. All that work to prevent the runner from scoring only to give up a hr.

[Spanky99]

Nori makes up for that fielding gaf, with a lazer!

[Abomination]

Biagini might need to tighten up the curve a little. It looks like there's very little margin for error in actually throwing a strike with it. You can get away with that as a reliever where guys don't see much of you, but much tougher as a starter. Halladay had the same problem when he came up with the knuckle curve, which he later abandoned for a more traditional one. The knuckle curve broke so much he couldn't throw strikes with it.