Official Spring Training 2021 GDT/discussion thread

[Ex Player]

Still couldn't help him locate the strike zone lol

He has good stuff, actually

[Spanky99]

Thornton to finish the game?

[Ryu In My House]

Espinal and Wall...my picks for the bench.

[Spanky99]

Espinal and Wall...my picks for the bench.

 

Panik and Davis, say hello. Wall might be around while Springer is out.

[Ryu In My House]

Panik and Davis, say hello.

 

Davis yes, an extra pitcher no. #justsayin

 

I am not a Panik fan.

[Spanky99]

Davis yes, an extra pitcher no. #justsayin

 

I am not a Panik fan.

 

Blue Jays are, they already announced it.

[Deadpool]

Panik and Davis, say hello. Wall might be around while Springer is out.

 

Yeah, I was a bit disappointed that Panik got the spot over Espinal, but Espinal has options...

[Spanky99]

Yeah, I was a bit disappointed that Panik got the spot over Espinal, but Espinal has options...

 

Same.

[Ray]

Well that was a very enjoyable spring barring the injuries, especially when we played the Phillies (7-0 record against them lol)

[Spanky99]

Shut er down, ST is over! Bring on Opening day!

[Stangstag]

Situational hitting my friend. Not everyone should change their swing but this was 2 outs and no one on while up 3 runs... screw changing your swing. Try to smash.

 

I cant be the only one who understands this stuff. Has anyone here ever played baseball at all? Lol

 

You’re just so much smarter than everyone else here. But you don’t need to make all of us feel so stupid just because we couldn’t figure out what Harper was doing.

[Jays24]

You’re just so much smarter than everyone else here. But you don’t need to make all of us feel so stupid just because we couldn’t figure out what Harper was doing.

 

I really wasn't trying to come off that way so My bad if I came off as an ass. There are many aspects that I come to this board to understand better. The fact I felt like I was on an island on this topic made me feel like I wasn't being understood here.

 

Also, my comments weren't only pertaining to Harper. There were many other examples today where the hitter beat our shift by directing the ball the other way. I was just trying to have a debate between luck vs skill as it can be a Grey area.

[Brownie19]

But the data gathered for the spray charts are usually when the defense plays straight up. It becomes on the hitters to begin adjust to how they're being played. I've seen enough hitters with good enough bat control able to do so while some are stubborn by refusing to change their approach.

 

Just aiming the ball to areas of the field where there are less defenders automatically increases your chance of a hit. I would argue that's not luck and more so strategy by the hitter. Agreed about the hits that go through small cracks between the fielders though.

 

I'm pretty sure the first quote in 'bold' isn't true. Shifts have been pretty mainstream since about 2017. We aren't using a spray chart of Bryce Harper from 2016.

 

If the second quote in 'bold' were true - then teams wouldn't shift that batter anymore. You sound like so many casual fans "this is stupid, just hit the ball over there" or "why doesn't he just bunt it?" or "I could hit in the MLB if they shifted me like that".

 

I'm not 100% sure on the % of batters who face a shift, but I'd guess it's 50%+. There simply can't be that many 'stubborn' hitters. And as noted, your experience v. guys throwing 70 MPH doesn't really apply (source - I've played in a men's competitive league for the past 25 years).

[Angrioter]

Unexpected tie game!

 

Also, Espinal having a great spring.

 

He was traded today for Amed Rosario.

 

f*** my team Estrellas Orientales. Espinal is a better player than Amed.

[Spanky99]

He was traded today for Amed Rosario.

 

f*** my team Estrellas Orientales. Espinal is a better player than Amed.

 

Really? Interesting. Ang where'd you hear this, I can't find s***?

[Jimcanuck]

MLB players have enough trouble laying down a bunt. Whatever would make one think they can aim grounders to the gaps?

[Angrioter]

Really? Interesting.

 

Today. Really bad trade for my team. I hate Amed

[BTS]

He was traded today for Amed Rosario.

 

f*** my team Estrellas Orientales. Espinal is a better player than Amed.

 

I legit had no idea that Dominic teams maintained player rights over the course of multiple seasons.

[Jays24]

I'm pretty sure the first quote in 'bold' isn't true. Shifts have been pretty mainstream since about 2017. We aren't using a spray chart of Bryce Harper from 2016.

 

If the second quote in 'bold' were true - then teams wouldn't shift that batter anymore. You sound like so many casual fans "this is stupid, just hit the ball over there" or "why doesn't he just bunt it?" or "I could hit in the MLB if they shifted me like that".

 

I'm not 100% sure on the % of batters who face a shift, but I'd guess it's 50%+. There simply can't be that many 'stubborn' hitters. And as noted, your experience v. guys throwing 70 MPH doesn't really apply (source - I've played in a men's competitive league for the past 25 years).

 

Unsure if you watched today but I was speaking of how particular at bats went. Not that players can or should utilize that approach every single time regardless of who they're going up against, score, timing, etc.

 

Someone pointed out that a particular hit was lucky because it was a ground ball single through the infield. I said it was skill because the batter aimed the ball where there were no defenders as a result of the shift. This happened at least 4/5 times today. That is all I was trying to say in a non know it all way lol.

[Deadpool]

Unsure if you watched today but I was speaking of how particular at bats went. Not that players can or should utilize that approach every single time regardless of who they're going up against, score, timing, etc.

 

Someone pointed out that a particular hit was lucky because it was a ground ball single through the infield. I said it was skill because the batter aimed the ball where there were no defenders as a result of the shift. This happened at least 4/5 times today. That is all I was trying to say in a non know it all way lol.

 

But the point was "if the batter had that skill, why don't they always do it?"

[Brownie19]

Unsure if you watched today but I was speaking of how particular at bats went. Not that players can or should utilize that approach every single time regardless of who they're going up against, score, timing, etc.

 

Someone pointed out that a particular hit was lucky because it was a ground ball single through the infield. I said it was skill because the batter aimed the ball where there were no defenders as a result of the shift. This happened at least 4/5 times today. That is all I was trying to say in a non know it all way lol.

 

How on earth do you know the batter aimed the ball? I assume you'll say because you watched the at bat and it was clear he did - but we both know that's just a massive assumption.

 

I have no problem with suggesting batters should adjust their approach in certain situations of the game - especially to make contact and avoid the strikeout. That might mean staying back on the offspeed pitch and shooting the fastball the other way. The whole premise of this discussion was todays game illustrates why missing bats is so valuable because balls put in play inevitably find holes. Sometimes those balls put in play find fielders more often then the stats suggest they should and other times, those balls find holes more than the stats suggest they should. Even if someone does have to "skill" to place the ball - there's still a luck factor involved in that outcome. If the other team can't put the ball in play, you eliminate that variable.

[Spanky99]

I legit had no idea that Dominic teams maintained player rights over the course of multiple seasons.

 

Oh, is that what it is, I'm confused, lol.

[Spanky99]

Unsure if you watched today but I was speaking of how particular at bats went. Not that players can or should utilize that approach every single time regardless of who they're going up against, score, timing, etc.

 

Someone pointed out that a particular hit was lucky because it was a ground ball single through the infield. I said it was skill because the batter aimed the ball where there were no defenders as a result of the shift. This happened at least 4/5 times today. That is all I was trying to say in a non know it all way lol.

 

It's extremely hard to aim the ball never mind hit it, those were seeing eye singles, nothing more.

[Jays24]

How on earth do you know the batter aimed the ball? I assume you'll say because you watched the at bat and it was clear he did - but we both know that's just a massive assumption.

 

I have no problem with suggesting batters should adjust their approach in certain situations of the game - especially to make contact and avoid the strikeout. That might mean staying back on the offspeed pitch and shooting the fastball the other way. The whole premise of this discussion was todays game illustrates why missing bats is so valuable because balls put in play inevitably find holes. Sometimes those balls put in play find fielders more often then the stats suggest they should and other times, those balls find holes more than the stats suggest they should. Even if someone does have to "skill" to place the ball - there's still a luck factor involved in that outcome. If the other team can't put the ball in play, you eliminate that variable.

 

I judged based on the type of swing the batter takes. It's pretty easy to see when the batter has an inside out swing and is looking to go the other way. This doesn't mean there will always be a successful outcome with this approach but you can determine the batters intentions pretty easily.

 

Watch the video and you will see the batters bring their hands in. Kind of hard to explain this on a message board but hope it makes sense. This is what happened a lot today.

 

https://youtu.be/NDo7b53oP_A

[Angrioter]

I legit had no idea that Dominic teams maintained player rights over the course of multiple seasons.

 

The league is debating the free agency for 2023

[Angrioter]

Really? Interesting. Ang where'd you hear this, I can't find s***?

 

Estrellas Orientales (@estrellasbc) • Instagram photo

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

---

1,345 likes, 120 comments - estrellasbc on March 29, 2021: "Damos la bienvenida al IF/OF Amed Rosario quien llega a nuestro equipo vía cambio con las Aguilas Cibaeñas. Las Aguilas reciben a Santiago Espinal. ¡Bienvenido Amed! Mas detalles en www.estrellasbc.com #somosestrellistas #somosdesanpedro".

 

 

Aguilas Cibaeñas (@aguilasbbc) • Instagram photo

WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM

---

3,794 likes, 144 comments - aguilasbbc on March 29, 2021: "Anunciamos la adquisición del IF Santiago Espinal desde las Estrellas Orientales por el utility Amed Rosario. ¡Bienvenido a los Campeones Nacionales y del Caribe! Más detalles en aguilas.com.do.".

[Jays24]

It's extremely hard to aim the ball never mind hit it, those were seeing eye singles, nothing more.

 

For sure it is. More people would do it if it were that easy but I felt the hits against the shift today were more skill than luck and also probably due to it being Zeuch pitching.

 

Now I think bunting should be a lot easier but that's a different discussion for another day lol.

[Eat My Shatkins]

Thornton with another strong outing. Any chance he can be for real now that his elbow is all cleaned up? Generating a lot of swing and miss so far.

[saskjayfan]

Thornton with another strong outing. Any chance he can be for real now that his elbow is all cleaned up? Generating a lot of swing and miss so far.

 

I'd rather see Thornton starting than TJ Zeuch.

[Spanky99]

For sure it is. More people would do it if it were that easy but I felt the hits against the shift today were more skill than luck and also probably due to it being Zeuch pitching.

 

Now I think bunting should be a lot easier but that's a different discussion for another day lol.

 

No matter how many times you say it, doesn't mean it's right, lol