Dokken

I think because there was a speedster at 1B who would be running on contact with 2 outs, so he had his mind made up to go to 1st. I am watching this on TBS with former shortstop Jimmie Rollins on the broadcast. He agreed with going to 1st but correctly pointed out Bichette had time to get set to make a good throw, but instead rushed to unload it and threw up a dying quail.

I am thinking more about why having Biggio at 3B ( with a -13.4 UZR/150 in 81 innings). Meanwhile Shaw (2.3 UZR/150 in 3780 innings at 3B) plays 1B. It's almost like playing 1st is actually hard and they don't want Vlad to f*** it up in a must win game

Yeah with most of the talk around starting pitching advantage to the Rays, the bullpen is likely the bigger advantage they have. If we had Giles (healthy) and Romano (and Merryweather), it would be pretty even.

yep, defense coming up huge on those two snags with a runner at 2nd both times. In, contrast, the run that scored on the WP was off Jansen's glove so could have been blocked and then the way the inning went after that, the runner would have been stranded at 3rd. Not saying it's Jansen's fault but elite catchers (Molina, Pudge Rodriguez) usually stop that ball. So those 3 plays go the other way, and Jays could have won 3-2. Then again a good throw would have nailed Tellez on the Sac Fly play.

Seems a lot of hostility for the Red Sox in these parts, Personally, I much more loath the Yankees (but I might be biased since I lived/worked in the Boston area for 3 years). But forever bleed BLUE!!!!!!

f*** off Tampa Bay Devil Rays!! Go back to hell (LOL - j/k)!!

Also , Jays were 1 win away from the #5 seed (of course in an abbreviated/bastardized season, but still). Like I posted, if Jays win game 1 today, the Rays will be on the ropes. But finishing them off is MUCH easier said than done!

Good way to bring in new members brainwave. By the way, that pic of Rosco still sucks balls, so how about that big boy?!

I thought there was an initiative to make this forum more cordial. For a 'moderator' to tell someone off like that because you don't like what he posted,... seriously!?. Grow up!!!

Pete Rose did nothing wrong compared to what these guys did especially in Houston (no evidence he bet against his own team to lose, of which I am aware). That they continue to freeze him out of Cooperstown is a national disgrace! Speaking of which, apparently Votto just passed Rose for most walks in Reds franchise history (Rose was more of a hitter than a walker).

Rumor has been for awhile that they want to bring back Cora. Red Sox don't think he was more than a pliable participant in the sign-stealing scandal.

If the Jays win game 1, and then have their ace, Ryu, starting in game 2, they are in the driver's seat. It seems like a good way to go for a team that is big underdogs (literally none of the 'experts' on MLB Network are picking them to win). If only we had my boy Ken Giles to close those bastards out (given the opportunity).

I do not like that picture of Rosco - please change avatar ETA : but not back to Kay.

This is actually a really interesting (although somewhat pedantic topic area). Brownie is right that the current generation of maple wood bats are more dense than white ash bats. I went back and looked up some info online to see if I was just misremembering (aka up my ass), but it seems I was actually in line with what has been at times touted in the past for maple. Here is a 2016 article: https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2016/08/15/mlb-broken-bats-fan-safety-maple-bats/88733714/ In which the great (ROTFLMAO) Bob Costas is quoted as saying "Maple bats “are easier to wield,’’ said Bob Costas, host and announcer for MLB Network. “You’re getting greater bat speed and great impact upon contact. It’s going to be a hard sell to give that up.’’ I had found another article where the (not) great Costas said something similar but can't find it now. Here is another article that states: "Maple bats are harder and lighter, making them a popular choice among big leaguers" https://www.pressreader.com/usa/usa-today-us-edition/20160815/282123520909869 But the situation (from what I have looked up) is a lot more complicated. The wood used almost exclusively between 1950 and 2000 for bats was white ash (which supplanted the significantly heavier/denser hickory). Some types of maple have similar density as white ash (low density maple) while others (specifically sugar maple) have higher density. But it seems all maple tends to be 'stiffer than white ash and so there is less handle flex along with the issue about it not compressing upon impact. Although it is thought the compression of the ash bat leads to the so-called 'trampoline effect' that may offset the apparent advantage of maple. Apparently MLB commissioned a study (I think results were released in 2005 or 2008) that concluded no obvious advantage of maple over ash. Of course the issue leading to this study was the tendency of the maple bats to 'explode' into multiple sharp fragments that were dangerous projectiles. Anyways, MLB outlawed 'low density maple' starting in 2011, but 'grandfathered in' existing players using those bats. So the current maple bat (used by most all players) is indeed using a more dense wood that is harder and stiffer than white ash. Also it seems they tweaked the required dimensions lowering the maximum barrel diameter from 2.7 to 2.6 inches and increasing the minimum handle width slightly. As far as 'lighter', the rule is that the bat can not be more than a drop 3.5 (weight in ounces must be not more than 3.5 less than the length in inches). So you can't really come up with an 'ultralight bat' under those rules anyways. I think the one thing the stiffer maple was (at least at one time) an advantage for was to narrow out the handle and put more mass in the barrel (expanding the sweet-spot), while still maintaining a relatively strong and rigid handle portion (but when they break all hell breaks loose). Imagine what could be done with modern composite technology to make the ultimate baseball bat - 600 + ft ??

yeah if I was right 36% of the time, I could probably be a pretty successful GM! Anyways, I'm out for now. Talk to you later.

I guess he is kind of comparable to F Liriano, circa 2016: nasty stuff but epically bad control issues. He is only 28 (turns 29 on Oct 1st) and is making $9.4 M this year. I am thinking an offer of 2 yr / $20M guaranteed, with an opt out after 1st year (preempt him going on the open market), might be enticing enough.

Like Olerud in what way ?

Yeah this is why a heavier bat will not necessarily lead to more 'power'. Bat speed is improved by lightening and thus the era of the maple wood bats. That write-up you quoted describes things well but leaves out the concept of torque. This can best we described as forced derived from a circular motion (like when a baseball player rotates his body during his hitting motion). The torque will translate to force at contact with the ball and is dependent on lever arm length (better for a taller lankier player) and force (mass and angular acceleration). If nothing else, the small strike zone is definitely a benefit for the hitter.

More like carrying too much extra weight is going to wear out his knees (and possibly other parts like lower back) prematurely. Particularly for a catcher, whose body takes a lot more wear and tear, this is a real concern!

right now the scrubs are obviously Chase Anderson and Tanner Diesel Roark. Shoemaker, like Merryweather and Tulo, is made of wet tissue paper. I really wish the guy could stay off the DL long enough to show what he can still do. But, I think another good outing this weekend guarantees him a role in game 3, and hopefully beyond. Also, we can hope the (currently) very inconsistent Stripling and Ray can also rise to occasion if it is presented to them. I know hope is not a strategy, but that is all we have beyond Ryu...... WOW, what a difference a week can make. The Jays have already guaranteed a split of this 4 game set, and Ryu is going on Thursday. Them city slickers keep comin' up here to Upstate NY and getting their nose bloodied - man that is so sweet, you have no idea!!

but what explains the apparent relative 'success' against left-handed batters? It's not like he is blowing them away with a high 90s fastball with good command.

I would guess true height is 5' 6.5" and 5' 7.5" with shoes (cleats) which they then round up to 5'8". He looks absolutely tiny up there at the plate, (height wise), but then again he also seems to crouch down a lot. The weight doesn't seem too far off to me, and they never underreport. I think he is naturally 'thick' (legitimately big-boned) and also carrying a pretty big belly, so 265 lb would not surprise me. If he gets it down to 230 lb, he should be OK. Speaking of which Vlad is looking better in that department on a weekly basis lately, so that's something...

Like Montoyo said, this guy just needs to hit 'enough' because his defense could be Kiermaier level (not sure about the arm strength). So I wonder what enough would be offensively to warrant playing him regularly. I guess it depends on the other alternatives for CF (currently all suck big time) and how potent the rest of the lineup is (could be pretty good, especially without a black hole at C and depending what happens at 3B). ETA: not that I trust Charlie's judgement but even a stopped clock ......

Specifically a jackknife with 1.5 inch blade versus a 12 gauge shotgun.

I don't think that is possible although not all their hits off him tonight were lasers. Seems a number of timely sinking liners and seeing eye singles with men on base. I was about to think if he could have got though 5 ip with just the 3 runs that wouldn't be 'so bad' for Roark against the NYY. But here we are 4.1 ip 6 ER. YUCK!!