h2oface

Margot keeps getting the call to pinch hit against lefties. yet he is 0-28 as a pinch hitter, and some 130 or so games is significant. When does that override the "odds" and become the "odds", and you just keep the left handed batter in the game to get an AB and let him get an opportunity improve his line? I don't think any of the batters Margot pinch hits for is 0-28 against the same sided pitchers.

Do they even have a winning record if you take the White Sox's games out?

What a sad game. If Festa has players that actually can play average defense, he probably gets out of the 4th. Martin can't really play defense well at any position. Amazing that when they traded for him he was a SS. Errors that don't get scored errors. And Santana has to make that play at first. Gold glover, as he is being hyped as? Then he really has to make the play. I remember quite a few plays like this this season, where there is no error, but he could have picked the throw at first, or made the play in the field, and it wasn't scored an error. Yes, he has made some fine plays, too. But really, professional baseball players are supposed to be great in the field if you ask me, like Lee's catch and throw home for the out. Great play. That is all they have done all their life. Play baseball. Helman's throw was comical. Even if you are not playing in the Show, defensive responsibility is the same at all levels. Hero complex is not a good look first game ever. The Twin's love the guy that never made it up. Even if they might have someone better for the call up. I really hope these guys start acting like they want to be a playoff team, and that means scoring more than 1 or 2 or 3 runs a game, and making the plays that are there to make in the field. This was a really boring baseball game to watch again. At least Thielbar didn't blow it up. And new/old guy, Tonkin. As unreliable as the top tier of relief was for the recent home stand, when you have Festa only allowing 2 in 5 (and that was really on the defense to a large degree), and Thielbar and Tonkin and Castillo putting up zeros and totally shutting the Rays down, you can't waste it.

When you just forget and move on, history repeats itself. I hope they don't ever forget. So many are normalized to play like this and "just forget" or "shower and flush". And so are too many fans. Aw shucks, move on. No No No. Think about it all night. And never forget it. People pay to see this, and it should never be aw shucks normalized. They didn't even compete. They should never forget this kind of performance, and never accept it again.

Decent? Our fans and posters gush that Lopez is an ace............... that makes Berrios, who's season is better than any pitcher we have by a good deal, a super ace. Decent? I guess. By the time I could get the game on, it was over at 10-0. I guess Baldelli likes to give the new guy confidence by leaving him it to get totally humiliated. Nice. These games do all matter, especially now, right? It's not a secret Baldelli isn't in on, right?

OK. I give you that. (But then, Margot might be the most trusted pinch hitter on the team, and how is that going) Lots of staff aces in the show then, I guess (30 is a lot), and with that caveat, every team has one, and some couldn't be even a #2 starter on some teams. An MLB ace is what fans really want.... or at least that is what I consider an "ace" in the show. But to each their own. I think I remember you writing that you have the yellow jersey. Do your have both colors, now? Great marketing, to change the color - $$$$$. PT Barnum would be proud.

Speaking of ace's, Sale is leading MLB in Ks, ERA, and wins, currently (albeit tied in all three categories at the time I write this). Who is the last pitcher to win the MLB triple crown, and lead the majors in all three categories for a full season (60 game 2020 does not count), and what year?

Or just 4 and 9 starts ago. I don't know how it is considered ace stuff when you can only K 3 batters in 7.2 innings. But I understand wanting a ace so bad a fan will create one in their mind......

Really? Now he is an ace? With that season ERA? OK..........

Burn more arms. Bullpen management.

relief.

This has to be Rocco thinking that Duran needs a game to get confidence. Not a good start. Duran cannot miss bats these days. Lots of contact, in every at bat.

Lewis just jogged the whole way to first on that double play. Is he hurt? I thought he was Mr. Speed. It looked like if he was trying, he could have beat it out there.

He knows what he expects for himself, and it is expressed well with his own words, and I think that explains it all.

I thinks the thumbs down is misinterpreted. It is defined on TD as, I think but can't find where I read it - the info was on this site - a disagreement. To express that you disagree. One can disagree without explaining why. Sometimes it is very evident. I think people sometimes take it as an affront, and personal, but by definition, perhaps, it really isn't.

Well, he could have said the same thing without the Rivera reference. He didn't use Thielbar, for instance 😇 Unfortunately, it is happening pretty often lately for Duran. And giving himself the whole year is...... well..... kind of depressing. Aw shucks. The amount of contact batters get is even more depressing. Even if he gets the out, the hitters and making great contact throughout the at bats. At Jeffers and Vazquez keep calling the breaking stuff that is getting tattooed. Very unfortunate.

Good discussion.

Well, we disagree that innings is more important than pitch count. But we will never know how he would have done. We do know that Thielbar offered absolutely no relief, gave the kid an earned run gift, as well as a loss. The perfect teammate. His old tired arm can throw every day. And worse results.

That should be on the jersey. too. For all the players in the pen. And one for Nick and all the articles .........

Exactly. But these are professional baseball players. Kershaw was coming back from an injury. Tender. Old. Brittle. And he hadn't pitched as many innings is his rehab. And he stretched out more in the Show. Sure, a vet. He has stretched out before. But more innings/pitches is a progression, I generally might agree with you, but in this case, this is the time to get at least one more batter. Lots of pitchers have a rough battling inning, and can find it the next, and late in his outing. It really doesn't make a lot of sense to me, to think that a young person can't pitch a few more pitches like the old guys. Steady progression, no matter when it is. It is still the same game and mound.

Young. Strong. Has to get stretched out sometime. Steady progression. Ozuna was one to be careful with, too. It's Showtime. Baby players in the minors. Become a MLB player in the Show. Or not. One more batter...... we will never know......

Is that Delmon Young in leftfield? We are playing position players at every position that are not very good defensively right now. Except Santana. But hey.... they are versatile. Just the way the FO likes it.

Festa blowing it was uncertain. Thielbar blowing it was certain. 😇

Why not? One pitch can be a double play! Not great, but..... Thielbar to wreck the game. Baldelli's Nick Punto. Or is that Farmer. Theilbar to potentially give the loss to Festa. He earned at least the next batter with the game pitched and only 88 pitches.

I can't say that I got to see his whole advance from start to finish on all the video I could see. You had to kinda but together the play from different camera angles without a complete uninterrupted sequence. But I thought Watkins should have been removed from base coaching 2 years ago. Sooooooo many horrible decisions. Ron Washington was great last year(s) for Texas, but he wasn't available this year........ damn managing job with the Angels.