2018 Installment of MLB Bitchin' & Moanin'

AUJarhead · « **Reply #220 on:** May 16, 2018, 10:14:10 AM »

Hitting coach John Mabry may be shown the door very, very soon... please God, I'll refrain from making fun of the nutless wonder if you make this happen.

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #221 on:** May 16, 2018, 10:26:16 AM »

Quote from: AUJarhead on May 16, 2018, 10:14:10 AM

Hitting coach John Mabry may be shown the door very, very soon... please God, I'll refrain from making fun of the nutless wonder if you make this happen.

So, are the Cardinals not hitting the.....saayyy, wait just a damn minute.

AUJarhead · « **Reply #222 on:** May 16, 2018, 06:28:25 PM »

Quote from: Snaggletiger on May 16, 2018, 10:26:16 AM

So, are the Cardinals not hitting the.....saayyy, wait just a damn minute.

I meant Buzz.

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #223 on:** May 16, 2018, 10:51:26 PM »

The Cards finally get one from the Twinkies, hanging 7 on them in Minnesota. Braves earned at least a split in the 4 game series with the Cubbies with a 4-1 win. All these games have been down to the last inning. Just an observation here, which may be way off. Despite 6 HR and 23 RBI's, I think Rizzo is part of the problem. He's hitting .202. Think about his production if the guy is just hitting a respectable .275-.280. This guy has 14 HR and 40 RBI's. Suddenly, all the close games go the Cubs way. Also, the guys around him get better pitches to hit. What say you, Buzz? Am I full of shitake...like always?

Pirates and Brewers sitting atop the Central, but as I seem to say each and every year, they'll hang around for a while, but no way they have the staying power to put it together for a full season. Still a Cubs/Cards division.

One thing I heard on the Braves telecast tonight was them saying the Marlins beat the Dodgers again tonight....which means those two clubs have the same record. Wow! Doesn't hurt my feelings in the least.

Buzz Killington · « **Reply #224 on:** May 17, 2018, 12:10:29 AM »

Quote from: Snaggletiger on May 16, 2018, 10:51:26 PM

The Cards finally get one from the Twinkies, hanging 7 on them in Minnesota. Braves earned at least a split in the 4 game series with the Cubbies with a 4-1 win. All these games have been down to the last inning. Just an observation here, which may be way off. Despite 6 HR and 23 RBI's, I think Rizzo is part of the problem. He's hitting .202. Think about his production if the guy is just hitting a respectable .275-.280. This guy has 14 HR and 40 RBI's. Suddenly, all the close games go the Cubs way. Also, the guys around him get better pitches to hit. What say you, Buzz? Am I full of shootake...like always?

Pirates and Brewers sitting atop the Central, but as I seem to say each and every year, they'll hang around for a while, but no way they have the staying power to put it together for a full season. Still a Cubs/Cards division.

One thing I heard on the Braves telecast tonight was them saying the Marlins beat the Dodgers again tonight....which means those two clubs have the same record. Wow! Doesn't hurt my feelings in the least.

No doubt, Rizzo is not a part of the solution...so he has to be a part of the problem. Their biggest issue to my untrained eye though is the same issue they had last season. The lack of a true leadoff guy. You know, that guy that could bunt for a hit then steal 2nd and 3rd, then score on a sac fly. Instead, they have the guy that hacks at every piece of junk he sees and strikes out more than GF at a strip club.

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #225 on:** May 17, 2018, 12:50:16 AM »

Quote from: Buzz Killington on May 17, 2018, 12:10:29 AM

No doubt, Rizzo is not a part of the solution...so he has to be a part of the problem. Their biggest issue to my untrained eye though is the same issue they had last season. The lack of a true leadoff guy. You know, that guy that could bunt for a hit then steal 2nd and 3rd, then score on a sac fly. Instead, they have the guy that hacks at every piece of junk he sees and strikes out more than GF at a strip club.

That's cold, brother. Cold! To your point, I miss the "old days" when most teams had a true lead off hitter. Otis Nixon. Rickey Henderson. Brett Butler. etc. #1 was someone who could get on any way possible. Threat to steal every time. Number 2 was a slap hitter who could bunt, sacrifice...always put the ball in play. Someone always on base for the 3-4-5 big boppers. Lost art.
Cubbies are loaded. Just a matter of putting it together. If Rizzo gets hot, I promise you the rest of the line up, which has been fine, will take off. It's obvious their pitching will have them in every game. Just get those bats going consistently.

CCTAU · « **Reply #226 on:** May 17, 2018, 10:15:06 AM »

Quote from: Snaggletiger on May 16, 2018, 10:51:26 PM

Braves earned at least a split in the 4 game series with the Cubbies with a 4-1 win. All these games have been down to the last inning.

These kids are starting to draw me back in...slowly.
They will peter out down the stretch (as youth does), but its nice to see a decent product on the field again.

AUJarhead · « **Reply #227 on:** May 17, 2018, 10:15:23 AM »

Quote from: Buzz Killington on May 17, 2018, 12:10:29 AM

The lack of a true leadoff guy.

That's because you guys let him walk to STL.

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #228 on:** May 17, 2018, 10:47:28 AM »

Quote from: AUJarhead on May 17, 2018, 10:15:23 AM

That's because you guys let him walk to STL.

Feel the Bern.

Buzz Killington · « **Reply #229 on:** May 17, 2018, 11:46:13 AM »

Quote from: AUJarhead on May 17, 2018, 10:15:23 AM

That's because you guys let him walk to STL.

Ouch

AUJarhead · « **Reply #230 on:** May 17, 2018, 12:51:50 PM »

Quote from: Buzz Killington on May 17, 2018, 11:46:13 AM

Ouch

I thought the only correct response was "we didn't want him anyway."

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #231 on:** May 17, 2018, 11:26:30 PM »

Phillies have been quietly playing solid ball all season. Took down the Cards 6-2 on the road. Hey Birds, we need you to get off your ass and bitch slap our closest competitors. Do some of that Cardinal shit that you do out there.

Braves/Cubs rained out. Red Sox handle the Orioles to go 30-14.

AUJarhead · « **Reply #232 on:** May 18, 2018, 10:55:20 AM »

We're tanking quicker than Gene Chizik in 2012. Not hitting + not scoring runs + mediocre bullpen + dysfunctional starting pitchers = Cubs 3rd straight division title.

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #233 on:** May 18, 2018, 10:58:41 AM »

Quote from: AUJarhead on May 18, 2018, 10:55:20 AM

We're tanking quicker than Gene Chizik in 2012. Not hitting + not scoring runs + mediocre bullpen + dysfunctional starting pitchers = Cubs 3rd straight division title.

This is a given. The regular season is just an afterthought. A chance for the Cubs to get loose for the playoffs.

AUJarhead · « **Reply #234 on:** May 18, 2018, 07:35:14 PM »

Cards put Paul DeJong (2B) and Matt Bowman (P) on the DL today.

Our DL could beat your DL, as joining DeJong and Bowman are:
Gregerson, Luke (P)
Kelly, Carson (C)
Leone, Dominic (P)
Lyons, Tyler (P)
Martinez, Carlos (P)
Molina, Yadier (C)
Reyes, Alex (P)
Wainwright, Adam (P)

AUJarhead · « **Reply #235 on:** May 20, 2018, 11:03:13 PM »

I hope this guy hits a batter, and we start calling him Wild Thing...

ESPN

Quote

Jordan Hicks throws two pitches clocked at 105 mph on Sunday

St. Louis Cardinals rookie right-hander Jordan Hicks hit 105 mph on the radar gun twice Sunday, becoming the first pitcher to throw multiple pitches at that speed in the same game in the past 10 seasons.

Current New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman is the only other pitcher to hit 105 mph on the radar gun during that time frame, the only span in which verifiable pitch-speed data has been kept, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Hicks threw the two pitches to Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera. In the five-pitch at-bat, in which Herrera struck out but reached first base on a wild pitch, Hicks threw sinkers clocked at 104, 105, 104, 105 and 103. According to Statcast, those were the five fastest pitches thrown this season.

In 1â…“ scoreless innings to finish out the Cardinals' 5-1 victory, Hicks threw 13 pitches that were clocked at least at 100 mph.

Hicks' velocity hasn't equaled big strikeout totals this season and he has walked more batters than he has fanned. In 22 innings he has nine strikeouts and 16 walks. He is 2-1 with a 2.05 ERA.

Buzz Killington · « **Reply #236 on:** May 21, 2018, 11:47:12 AM »

We wear caps and sleeves at this level, son.

AUJarhead · « **Reply #237 on:** May 21, 2018, 11:59:01 AM »

Better teach him some control before he kills somebody.

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #238 on:** May 22, 2018, 11:07:07 PM »

Didn't post over the weekend as I was tanning my fat in sunny Destin, Florida. A win tonight in Philly puts the Bravos at 29-18 and leading the division. But, everyone from the Braves to the Phillies, Nationals and Mets are playing well above .500 ball so it's anybody's division to take.

Cubbies got ass raped by the Indians tonight and last I saw, the Cards were down 3-1 at home to the Royals. Same situation in the Central. The Brew Crew, Cards, Pirates and Cubs are all well over .500 and only 3 games separate them all. The season is just a little over 30% or 372/950th of the way through. Still so early but like I've been saying, I'm having a blast with all our teams right there in the mix. I would have been totally happy with .500 ball right now with my expectations coming in.

Snaggletiger · « **Reply #239 on:** May 27, 2018, 11:40:15 PM »

The Bravos salvaged a game in Boston but may have lost their young stud, Ronald Acuna Jr. Twisted his knee horribly after beating out a ground ball. He did walk off but won't know the results of an MRI til tomorrow.

The 7-1 win puts them back in first with a 30-21 record. Cards handled the Buccos again and the Cubs have things well in hand against SF. The damn Brew Crew have built a 4 game cushion in the Central. I say it every year and I've already said it 3 times this year. They always start fast but will fade as the season wears on. Cubs/Cards.

The AL looks like the Red Sox, Yankees and Astros will be the boy dogs all season. Everyone else is struggling to stay at .500.