GDT - Game #10 - April 07 1:35 ET - Jays @ Yankees

[Spanky99]

Results matter. The fact is we are in last place in the division. The Yankees went into Houston as we did sin Cole, and they kicked butt.

 

Saying if we would have come out .500 would be a success is looking at things in a vacuum. There is no guarantee the 3rd WC will come out of the East this year. I would most likely wager it will NOT.

 

So, just floating around at .500 when our direct competition is not playing .500 is not going to be an acceptable recipe for success.

 

This team, this year, needs to play way above .500 with the improved competition. I just don't see anything different from last year and NO consistency to show this team can go on a long winning streak.

 

Key word and key defect is inconsistency.

 

[Kordesi]

Just had a Dave's single combo. LOL. Their fries are really good now too. Damn.

 

But yesterday was slow smoked leg of lamb on the pellet grill at home. Yummmmm

 

That sounds amazing! I love lamb!

[Sorrow]

Fast Eddie's?

 

I'd rather support local *dime* restaurants. Good food and smiles tend to get my love. I mostly cook at home, too.

 

Fast Eddies is a small fast food chain in KW and Cambridge. I’ve always liked their burgers and they do chili cheese fries so it’s a solid win lol.

[Stangstag]

People go on and on about the offense but they gave up 17 runs in 2,games

 

Yep the pitching is not very strong right now.

 

- Bullpen weakened with Romano and Swanson out

 

- G Cabrera looks like dogshit this year

 

- All the young guys that looked good in spring look awful

 

- Francis is not an MLB caliber starter

 

- Gausman was awful but not really concerned about him

[Brownie19]

Everyone should be somewhat concerned about Gausman. I did hear today he had a similar start last year (oddly enough, it was also his 2nd start) where his velo was way down in KC, but velo was his issue in spring training. He couldn't hit 90.

 

Genesis was non-tendered for a reason last year.

[BigCecil]

Yep the pitching is not very strong right now.

 

- Bullpen weakened with Romano and Swanson out

 

- G Cabrera looks like dogshit this year

 

- Francis is not an MLB caliber starter

 

Genesis Cabrera was crap for STL all of '22 and in '23 with a 5 FIP. He was better for us but its asking a lot of him in leverage Hopefully Mayza gets his game back at '23 levels. He has looked a bit better last couple outings.

 

Francis just hasn't yet made the pitch he needs to in critical times. Its hard to pass any judgement after 2 starts, but the team may be forced to give Yariel a shot sooner than they wanted to, depending on how the next 2-3 go. They may also run Mitch White out. Manoah looks cooked at this point, so he is no option now.

[Laika]

Yeah I would give Francis more rope. He looked really good tonight... until that inning.

[hanton]

Why are they forcing Francis to throw the FB up in the zone? Stanton destroyed that pitch. STUPID.

[Laika]

Why are they forcing Francis to throw the FB up in the zone? Stanton destroyed that pitch. STUPID.

 

It was middle-in

 

He doesn't throw his fastball high enough sometimes tbh

[Terminator]

Why are they forcing Francis to throw the FB up in the zone? Stanton destroyed that pitch. STUPID.

 

Someone can probably explain this better than I, but I believe in Driveline terminology he throws a "rider". He has an over the top arm angle with good extension and good spin.

 

If he gets the ball up I think it all works and it creates the appearance of a "rising fastball" and will induce a lot of whiffs and pop-ups.

 

But if he doesn't get the ball up, he's not getting the rising effect that he wants and hitters can punish him for it.

 

The results haven't been there for Francis yet but I think he will look a lot better against the Rockies in his next start.

 

If you look at his "Similar Pitchers" on statcast they list Tyler Wells, Tyler Alexander, Bailey Ober, Eury Perez and Emmet Sheehan. That's some pretty solid company to be in when one is hoping for backend starter material.

[Terminator]

 

Finally a game against the Yankees where we come out on top on the Ump Scorecard.

[BigCecil]

 

Finally a game against the Yankees where we come out on top on the Ump Scorecard.

 

The eternal enigma...also known as Angel Hernandez.

[Abomination]

 

Finally a game against the Yankees where we come out on top on the Ump Scorecard.

 

Yeah, it doesn't account for the other incompetence of the crew though. The strikeout in the first (which favored us) and probably should have been no pitch (and probably wasn't a strike anyway) and the phantom balk in the 8th that erased a caught stealing and came around to score were particularly bad.

[hanton]

It was middle-in

 

He doesn't throw his fastball high enough sometimes tbh

 

to me that's up in the zone