Astros (Burrows) vs Blue Jays (Yesavage): 6/24/26, 7:07pm

[Olerud363.354]

8 hours ago, Jonn said:

They should be attempting to steal 4-5 bases a night minimum.

They are second last in on base percentage.  Last in walks.   Last year they were first in on base percentage.

Stealing 4-5 bases a night will do s*** all because they will also be caught 1-2 times.

Exactly how they going to stead 4-5 bases anyway?   Like they get on base maybe 9 times in a game.  Kirk, Valenzuela, Okamota are probably 4 or 5 of those and....

And like the greatest base stealing team of all-time, the 1985 St. Louise Cardinals stole 2 bases a game.  The best base stealing team in the AL this year is the Yankees with 1 a game.  And that is doing s***-all anyway.  They score runs because they hit a lot of homers and get on base.   Like they are on pace to hit 240 homers and walk 700 times and score a little runs then you'd expect (820 maybe) because they lost 25 baserunners stealing bases they didn't need. 

They need 4-5 walks a night and 4-5 balls hit over 105 mph including at least one by Vlad.   If they don't get that they are screwed, even stealing like the 85 St. Louise Cardinals. 

[Olerud363.354]

Here are the options.

1.  Team walks more and hits the ball harder.  Vlad hits the ball at 110+ 5 times a week, 100+ 20 times a week.

2.  Season over.

Those are the options.  If 1. can't happen season is over. 

[Olerud363.354]

2 minutes ago, Olerud363.354 said:

1.  Team walks more and hits the ball harder.  Vlad hits the ball at 110+ 5 times a week, 100+ 20 times a week.

2.  Season over.

Those are the options.  If 1. can't happen season is over. 

Counterpoint:  They suck with runners in scoring position.  That is random and will regress.

I think it will only 'regress' if they stop chasing and walk more.  Walk more.  Hit ball hard.  That's it.  Nothing else.  If this group of players can't do that, season over.  

Don't trade Sean Keys as well.  Walks and hits ball hard.  Release Springer, put Guerrero on waivers, to open a spot for him, before trading Keys. 

[hanton]

4 hours ago, Spanky__99 said:

Why not go after the batter at the plate, too cute these dorks?

Yep.

[Olerud363.354]

wrong thead

[Laika]

I don't think Vlad has hit a baseball correctly all season long

Even his homers have been sort of weird. Well, some of them. 

[Governator]

24 minutes ago, Laika said:

I don't think Vlad has hit a baseball correctly all season long

Even his homers have been sort of weird. Well, some of them. 

170 Qualified batters in June.  Mr. Vlad is sitting 163rd with a wRC+ of 54.

and somehow Jarren Duran has a wRC+ of 7 in June lol.  

[Olerud363.354]

29 minutes ago, Laika said:

Even his homers have been sort of weird. Well, some of them. 

There are so few we don't even have to check the exit velocity box scores.   We just can remember them.  26 degrees 109 mph, 430 feet, the crack at the bat, the thrill of a long high drive deep into the night sky.  If these happen regularly they blend together, but if it only happens once or twice we remember. 

Vlad homers the 2026 collection

1.  In Chicago early April - 108 25 degrees 437 feet - normal homer that happened twice a week in 2021

2. In LA mid April - 107 28 degrees 430 feet - a high majestic drive that a 500 million dollar slugger is suppose to provide regularly.

3. in Detroit May - 100 25 degrees 370 or so - even Vlad complained that this was a Mickey mouse homer and did not indicate his slump was over.

4.  In Boston June - 100 mph 25 degrees 400 feet or so - WIND AIDED.  Not really even a homer just a ball up in the air that got in the wind and went 30 extra feet.

Vlad has not hit the ball properly in 2 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

[Laika]

Holy crap.

[Olerud363.354]

Tonight, when a Texas ranger hits a long high drive, deep into the night, a loud crack of the bat, an outfielder hardly moves, a run on the board!

You can say congratulations.  You have now hit more homers at Rogers Center in 2026 then Vladimir Guerrero Jr.!!!! 

[leaffie]

It is not just vladdy.  This is the most boring team I can ever remember.   Leadoff batter that cant hit, big bat that cant get the ball out of the infield, no one that can run and steal a base, a manager that doesnt know how to manufacture a run, players that cant bunt being put in a position they are incapable of being successful at.

And worst of all a manager that insists he is right with his bullpen usage.  Lets use Hoffman again and again, or little.  How many games have those two alone lost.

lets send down the young guys that are providing offense, when this team is desperate for it.

Normally, I just read and keep my opinions to myself, but this last homestand  has proven this management team does not know what they are doing.  This team  has had problems  with moving runners for the past  3 years and done nothing about it.

Okamoto  and Clements are the only two reasons to even watch anymore.  Sorry not a doomer, but this is such a disappointing season.

[Laika]

10 minutes ago, leaffie said:

It is not just vladdy.  This is the most boring team I can ever remember.   Leadoff batter that cant hit, big bat that cant get the ball out of the infield, no one that can run and steal a base, a manager that doesnt know how to manufacture a run, players that cant bunt being put in a position they are incapable of being successful at.

And worst of all a manager that insists he is right with his bullpen usage.  Lets use Hoffman again and again, or little.  How many games have those two alone lost.

lets send down the young guys that are providing offense, when this team is desperate for it.

Normally, I just read and keep my opinions to myself, but this last homestand  has proven this management team does not know what they are doing.  This team  has had problems  with moving runners for the past  3 years and done nothing about it.

Okamoto  and Clements are the only two reasons to even watch anymore.  Sorry not a doomer, but this is such a disappointing season.

agree with most of this

the offense is bottom 5 in ALL OF:  stolen bases, isolated power (.ISO), and BB% 

the only thing they are good at as a group is making contact but that is only leading to a measly .249 BA which is good but not even great (tied for 8th out of 30 teams)

their expected wOBA is actually dead last in baseball 

even the good position players are not that good or fundamentally flawed:

1. Springer - ancient, and cooked
2. Lukes - 32 year old low power low walk dude
3. Vlad - broken
4. Okamoto - 32% K rate
5. Varsho - swiss cheese swing and his elite D is gone
6. Kirk - fat and hurt 
7. Clement - D evaporated, speed is useless on offense, just a hacker up there
8. Sanchez - idiot 
9. Gimenez - no bat, speed is gone

Very real possibility they have zero 3 WAR players at the end of the year, other than the pitching side where there are of course a few actual stars and bright spots. 

[G-Snarls]

3 hours ago, Governator said:

170 Qualified batters in June.  Mr. Vlad is sitting 163rd with a wRC+ of 54.

and somehow Jarren Duran has a wRC+ of 7 in June lol.  

Red Sox selloff incoming

[Spanky__99]

17 hours ago, Eat My Shatkins said:

This is the weirdest season i can remember. There are only three teams in the AL with positive run differential, one with +2, one with +8 and then the goddamn Yankees with +113

It almost feels like we should throw in the towel, this team cant seem to get their sheeit together, but somehow we are currently in a wild card spot lmao.

 

Like WTF?? 

A great thing, considering all our injuries, we'll get on a roll, hell we're on a roll.

 

[Spanky__99]

5 hours ago, leaffie said:

It is not just vladdy.  This is the most boring team I can ever remember.   Leadoff batter that cant hit, big bat that cant get the ball out of the infield, no one that can run and steal a base, a manager that doesnt know how to manufacture a run, players that cant bunt being put in a position they are incapable of being successful at.

And worst of all a manager that insists he is right with his bullpen usage.  Lets use Hoffman again and again, or little.  How many games have those two alone lost.

lets send down the young guys that are providing offense, when this team is desperate for it.

Normally, I just read and keep my opinions to myself, but this last homestand  has proven this management team does not know what they are doing.  This team  has had problems  with moving runners for the past  3 years and done nothing about it. 

Okamoto  and Clements are the only two reasons to even watch anymore.  Sorry not a doomer, but this is such a disappointing season.

A tough watch no doubt, so far leaffie.