Gotta admit, on that game at the end of prior season I thought Parsons was dog meat and should be opened up to protect just about anyone. He looked a whole lot different in this game.
My point was more that his fastball sucks, his curve is all over the place and he doesn't have much else. In the old days he would be trying to be a LOOGY on the 26th best team.
I kind of figured that he was just working on making the pitch happen as opposed to working the hitters. But I also thought maybe the analytics guys hadn't had a proper chance to work with him because of his arm soreness.
His individual pitches are all incredible but I don't think he works them well in a sequencial way. He needs somebody to really analyze his pitches, movement and delivery to set up hitters better. Each hit off him were off good looking pitches but they almost seemed predictable.
The hitters could be a bit improved except 3b. The pitching was outstanding last year (in terms of health) so I think that could decline a touch. So I will say 4 wins less than last year. 84-85 wins.
I'm starting to wonder if Schneider starts off in AAA and Clement effectively platoons with LF. IKF could pick up some at bats in the outfield, Clement to 3b. Schneider hasn't looked that great in LF, maybe needs some better time there. Devon White could help him a bit.
I wouldn't debate that at all: but if he thinks he was hitting better because he was away then it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. He might have thought he was hitting better on the road.
I remember the team saying Biggio didn't feel comfortable in LF so he would get his outfield time in RF. The best way to split time at 2b (the preferred position for each of Biggio and Whit) was for one to be 2b-LF and the other 2b-RF. It works I guess.
NM, I found something. He hit about 30 points better on the road. SO I guess he was somewhat correct. I always liked the Crash Davis view of streaks and such. Basically if you think you can't hit well in Toronto then you won't.