[ALCS GM 4] Blue Jays (Scherzer) vs Mariners (Castillo): 10/16/26, 8:33pm

[Orgfiller]

5 minutes ago, Governator said:

 

I mean that big risk of using a catcher as DH if if Heneimann gets injured would suck. Kirk moves to C and pitcher has to take the DH spot I believe.

That said, it's almost a shame Henimann isn't used in the postseason when he's a legit bat.

Heineman had a big year, but offensively there was a lot of luck under the hood. Only a .277 xwOBA and a .342 BABIP did a lot of the carrying to his numbers. Aside from taking over Kirk if a crucial pinch running situation necessitates it, he shouldn't see the field outside a blowout game.

[glory]

No chance I'm starting Heineman over Kirk because of a small sample of catcher's ERA. If Max stinks tonight then it won't be because of who the catcher is. Go with your best lineup every game. They'll have all winter to rest up. 

[Angrioter]

 

[ComeTogether]

 

 

[Brownie19]

3 hours ago, Laika said:

I am prepared for the fans to be angry, lol

If he gets through the order once, or 3 IP clean, I would support the hook but it would definitely enrage the fanbase 

Max could be throwing a perfect game and we'd pull him after the 3rd inning - gotta follow that script 😁

[Brownie19]

Boys I have a statement to make.

Tonight, Max Scherzer is Billy Chapel.

He knows he's at the cross roads of a brilliant career, a sinch to wind up in the HOF.  Tonight, he isn't pitching against left handers, he isn't pitching against right handers, he isn't pitching against the Mariners - tonight he is pitching against time.  Tonight, I think he might be able to use that ackey old arm one more time to push the sun back up into the sky and give us one more day of summer. 

Tonight the game is in the hands of the baseball gods - it's an opportunity to witness something special - something we'll talk about for decades to come.  I wouldn't miss this game for the world and I know the rest of you won't either.

My heart says he absolutely shoves.

[Omar]

 

[G-Snarls]

1 hour ago, Orgfiller said:

No chance Heineman should start, even if I wanted to believe the ERA splits by catcher - I don't, Max sucked at the end of the season and obviously Kirk was out there often. Kirk is a big bat for us, and an even better defensive catcher. Scherzer is gonna need every close pitch near the corners to go his way and Kirk is the best guy for the job.

Yeah actually, you have to start Kirk.  Have to live and die with him. 

[G-Snarls]

13 minutes ago, Omar said:

 

Decent interview 

How does Mike Wilner still get in to these?

[infinitebook]

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/813060/play/35

 

This remains Vladdy's only postseason K. Caught looking in a 3-2 count on a pitch that technically was a ball. 

[Olerud363.354]

10 minutes ago, infinitebook said:

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/813060/play/35

 

This remains Vladdy's only postseason K. Caught looking in a 3-2 count on a pitch that technically was a ball. 

80 hit tool.  Vladimir Guerrero Jr, Luis Arraez, Ernie Clement. 

80 hit tool with 70 power and 65 plate discipline, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 

80 hit tool with 80 defense - Ernie Clement. 

[John_Havok]

19 minutes ago, infinitebook said:

https://www.mlb.com/gameday/813060/play/35

 

This remains Vladdy's only postseason K. Caught looking in a 3-2 count on a pitch that technically was a ball. 

I'm somewhat surprised more sinker/slider guys don't try backdooring hitters with that sinker more often in 2 strike counts. Hitters are programmed to be expecting/guarding against that slider so much that anything that starts off the plate outside, they'll give up on it really early anticipating the slider. You'll get that K looking a decent amount of time, they'll roll over it a lot of the time, and it forces to the next guys to keep the sinker in their mind for the 2 strike counts, which should make the slider even more effective. 

PLus, i think it was the perfect pitch. It was a strike according to Savant by the width of a c*nt-hair. 

[Orgfiller]

13 minutes ago, John_Havok said:

I'm somewhat surprised more sinker/slider guys don't try backdooring hitters with that sinker more often in 2 strike counts. Hitters are programmed to be expecting/guarding against that slider so much that anything that starts off the plate outside, they'll give up on it really early anticipating the slider. You'll get that K looking a decent amount of time, they'll roll over it a lot of the time, and it forces to the next guys to keep the sinker in their mind for the 2 strike counts, which should make the slider even more effective. 

PLus, i think it was the perfect pitch. It was a strike according to Savant by the width of a c*nt-hair. 

The short answer to it might just be that's it's a difficult pitch to execute? Tunneling approach as a pitcher would obviously tell you to do that, and I'm sure pitchers are trying. But with a sinker, you're running the risk that it comes back into the heart of the plate as a very hittable pitch, and a hitter like Vlad is pretty adept and taking an outside fastball and sending it the other way for a hit.

It's kind of like how backdoor breaking balls are usually a decent pitch, but if you miss with it it's either an noncompetitive ball or a hanging pitch. Maybe pitchers just don't have the confidence to execute those kinds of pitches, consistently.

[Jonn]

Blue Jays turned on MLB The Show in real life and anger smashed the Mariners. Lets hope for more of that tonight.

[Laika]

1 hour ago, Orgfiller said:

The short answer to it might just be that's it's a difficult pitch to execute? Tunneling approach as a pitcher would obviously tell you to do that, and I'm sure pitchers are trying. But with a sinker, you're running the risk that it comes back into the heart of the plate as a very hittable pitch, and a hitter like Vlad is pretty adept and taking an outside fastball and sending it the other way for a hit.

It's kind of like how backdoor breaking balls are usually a decent pitch, but if you miss with it it's either an noncompetitive ball or a hanging pitch. Maybe pitchers just don't have the confidence to execute those kinds of pitches, consistently.

Yes

Right on Right sinkers inside lead to "good misses" because they run in on the hands. R on R sinkers away more often result in a bad miss, running into the zone and thus into the barrel. That's all. 

[Terminator]

You guys are REALLY going to hate tonight's lineup

[Terminator]

 

[glory]

Term needs to explain why IKF is starting tonight. There has to be a positive slant to that decision. Just for my own sanity.

[Olerud363.354]

6 minutes ago, Terminator said:

You guys are REALLY going to hate tonight's lineup

IKF in. Santander out.  

Presumably Santander has back issues.   Other options

Disable him for Loperfido

Straw

Schneider

Disable him for Bo who may have made more progress since Saturday.

Disable Santander for France

Disable Santander for R.J. Schreck (on 40 man? if not put Santander on 60 day since he would be out for WS anyway).

Disable Santander for Classe 

Catch Heineman and Kirk DH

Who likes IKF better than any of the above? Are they keeping some options ready in case they have to disable Santander?

[glory]

Scherzer has the worst GB rate of his career, and the highest FB rate of his career. So he needs OF defense, not infield. 

Nathan Lukes is in LF tonight, but is a -2 OAA in LF this season and +4 in RF. 

Barger is in RF tonight, and he has a -4 OAA in RF.

IKF is a -1 OAA at 2B and +2 at 3B this season. So he's obviously at 2B tonight. 

IKF has hit Castillo well in his career (13 whole AB), so that's enough for JS apparently. Let's hope he doesn't buckle under the pressure defensively and bobble the first ball hit in his sight like last time he started a playoff game (and the team lost). 

 

[Stangstag]

So disappointing that Santander has done absolutely nothing for us this year. Thought he’d be able to make himself useful in the playoffs but now he’s got another injury.

Frustrating signing for sure.

[Stangstag]

4 minutes ago, glory said:

Scherzer has the worst GB rate of his career, and the highest FB rate of his career. So he needs OF defense, not infield. 

Nathan Lukes is in LF tonight, but is a -2 OAA in LF this season and +4 in RF. 

Barger is in RF tonight, and he has a -4 OAA in RF.

IKF is a -1 OAA at 2B and +2 at 3B this season. So he's obviously at 2B tonight. 

IKF has hit Castillo well in his career (13 whole AB), so that's enough for JS apparently. Let's hope he doesn't buckle under the pressure defensively and bobble the first ball hit in his sight like last time he started a playoff game (and the team lost). 

 

Im questioning why they keep rolling with IKF at 2B and Ernie at 3B instead of the other way around… they seem to be more comfortable with the latter.

[Stangstag]

Also again, not a big fan of starting IKF over Schneider. Lets hope it works out

[Masterbather]

27 minutes ago, Terminator said:

 

Interesting, they may be pushing it with Bryce Miller against this lineup again. 

[Terminator]

4 minutes ago, Masterbather said:

Interesting, they may be pushing it with Bryce Miller against this lineup again. 

Yeah that's what I was thinking.

We win tonight and I like our chances but we gotta win tonight.

[G-Snarls]

 

 

[G-Snarls]

No Santander might be OK but IKF.... Ug 

[Terminator]

 

[Omar]

Let's hope the Barger home run from last night gets him going. 

[SeranthonySantander]

Santander is a *****.

Just posting so I have a chance to win that promise of a jersey if Giminez got 11 bases over the yesterday and today game.

Count is at 6 I believe