BBTF's Sox Therapy Discussion :: What do we watch when we watch Opening Day?

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1. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 04, 2012 at 11:14 AM (#4096478)

**The other bit of minor fanboy optimism with regard to season projections is that Andrew Bailey wasn't projected to throw 50 IP anyway, so the loss is not as significant as it seems, compared to a statistical baseline.

**A "meh" defense observation translates to somewhere between average and -10, with a bit more variability on the bottom end than the top, and the caveat that I don't really know what I'm talking about.

2. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: April 04, 2012 at 11:31 AM (#4096499)

I think you hit some good points in there MCoA. As always thanks for keeping ST going during the off-season and I look forward to your regular updates as the season goes on.

Adding to your list I have a few others;

Franklin Morales - I think Morales has the stuff to be a true reliever rather than a LOOGY. More Okajima than Javier Lopez. If he can throw strikes I think he is a guy who can transform this bullpen the way Okie did in 2007.

Michael Bowden - Bowden is kind of the opposite of Morales in that he doesn't really look like a "stuff" guy. On the other hand he is a keep the ball down/throw strikes sort that can be very effective out of the bullpen.

Bobby Valentine - I want to see how Bobby V. manages this team. Are we going to see a lot more platooning/in game manuevering/etc...than we have seen in recent years and if so will it pay off or will he manage himself into a corner?

Clay Buchholz - Can he come back as the high end starter he was from the start of 2010 through the injury last year? For all the valid reasons to worry about the back of the rotation the Sox arguably have the best 1-2-3 punch in the AL if they are healthy.

Carl Crawford - Not an Opening Day thing but when he returns I want to see him play like he did in Tampa. What bothered me last year was not the poor offense it was the way the other phases of his game were so disappointing. Even if he is not on base much I want to see him running aggressively when he is and trying to make great defensive plays in the outfield. Last year he would be rooted to first base more often than not and in the field he looked hesitant.

3. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 04, 2012 at 12:45 PM (#4096592)

In a way, this team is more of a return to the Dan Duquette style of roster construction (scrap heap junk and reclamation projects), so it'll be a nice counterpoint to the Theo era. So I'll be watching for proof that this model can work.

I REALLY want this crap-ass bullpen to work. This set of guys seems like exactly the situation that Francona would manage poorly and BV can manage well. I don't know if he will or not, and Tito never got the chance, but we'll see if BV can make some gold out of this particular pile of straw.

I'm excited to see Sweeney as the everyday RF.

I want to see Buchholz emerge as a dominant #1. I want him to reach his ceiling this year. Not next year, this year.

I don't care much about shortstop. I care more that the rest of the team performs well enough that shortstop doesn't matter. I will care about shortstop if the Sox make the playoffs.

I will be watching for Lowrie and Reddick to play to their reputations. It would be nice for them to succeed as major leaguers but I don't think they will.

Edit: Also, I'm going to be watching the medical staff this year. I want to know when/how players were injured, how long it takes to diagnose the problem, how quickly the situation is resolved, and what the results are. This one is BIG. I started a spreadsheet to keep track.

4. Dan Posted: April 04, 2012 at 01:10 PM (#4096617)

This team reminds me more of the 2003 team than it does Dan Duquette's work.

5. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: April 04, 2012 at 01:12 PM (#4096620)

This team reminds me more of the 2003 team than it does Dan Duquette's work.

Thank God! I thought I was cracking up. I've been thinking the same thing for about a week now.

Though for some reason I don't think our switch-hitting infield acquisition is winning any batting titles this year.

And somewhere Karlmagnus is stirring from a slumber muttering "the 2003 team was the Duke's, the 2003 team was the Duke's"

6. Joel W Posted: April 04, 2012 at 01:46 PM (#4096680)

Aceves to close. http://www.overthemonster.com/2012/4/4/2925434/alfredo-aceves-to-close-says-bobby-valentine

7. Dan Posted: April 04, 2012 at 01:55 PM (#4096691)

Awesome. I was hoping to see him as the closer. I expect Valentine will use him for 4, 5, or 6 out saves pretty regularly, which should be fun and interesting.

8. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 04, 2012 at 01:59 PM (#4096697)

Morosi also says they will keep Atchison, Padilla, and Justin Thomas.

9. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:00 PM (#4096699)

Awesome. I was hoping to see him as the closer. I expect Valentine will use him for 4, 5, or 6 out saves pretty regularly, which should be fun and interesting.

This also means that Melancon will be used to put out fires when needed and won't be relegated to just innings 8/9.

10. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:03 PM (#4096702)

I can dig it.

He needs a suitably crazy theme. I propose Ghostface Killah, "The Champ."

11. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:04 PM (#4096704)

If they use him for 4+ out saves regularly I like it. If Bobby pigeonholes him as a 3 out save guy I'm going to hate this move.

12. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:06 PM (#4096705)

If he's effective, I like it no matter what.

I do agree that I'd like to see Aceves pitching more than an inning, but I think our baseline for being happy with the bullpen should be "he got the outs".

13. Nasty Nate Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:06 PM (#4096707)

Sox therapy is really helping my fantasy teams' closer hunt with this news and the farnsworth injury yesterday.

14. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:08 PM (#4096711)

So, I thought Bowden was not a lock for the bullpen, but so far the media is treating him like he is a lock. I thought he was pitching for his life yesterday, but I guess not. I can't find any official confirmation that he's definitely on the team, but rosters have to be turned in by 5PM today, so we'll know in a few hours.

15. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:09 PM (#4096712)

Sox therapy is really helping my fantasy teams' closer hunt with this news and the farnsworth injury yesterday.

Pick up Melancon then too. He'll be going on the days when Aceves isn't available, per Bobby V. I'm guessing that "isn't available" will be left up to the manager's in-game decisions and strategy.

16. Joel W Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:10 PM (#4096715)

Armando Benitez averaged 8 1.1+ IP appearances from 2000-2002 as the closer for the Mets, and during Bobby V's tenure averaged 74 IPs per season.

17. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:10 PM (#4096717)

Bowden is out of options. He may not be a star or anything but he is simply too good for a team with the pitching issues to try and pass through waivers.

18. Lassus Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:11 PM (#4096722)

Concur, Nate.

19. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:14 PM (#4096730)

I knew he was out of options, but I wasn't sure if they'd just decided to cut bait. As I posted in the GM thread, he's listed as on the 25 man roster on both ESPN and MLB.com.

20. jmurph Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:17 PM (#4096736)

Sox therapy is really helping my fantasy teams' closer hunt with this news and the farnsworth injury yesterday.

Ditto. Took a cheap flier on Bailey, then replaced him with Melancon yesterday, then dumped Melancon for Aceves just now. Not Last Place here I come!

21. Nasty Nate Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:47 PM (#4096772)

I was able to get Peralta in my deeper league but someone had and dropped Aceves a couple of days ago so my only hope is for my #6 waiver priority to be good enough.

22. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:49 PM (#4096778)

I swear you should keep Melancon too. I doubt Bobby V is showing his whole hand. I wouldn't be surprised if Melancon gets a good number of save opps.

23. Nasty Nate Posted: April 04, 2012 at 02:54 PM (#4096783)

You might be right but Melancon is already owned by someone else in my league.

24. Lassus Posted: April 04, 2012 at 03:43 PM (#4096849)

I had to drop Parnell to grab Aceves, which I'm hoping not to regret with how screwy things are in NY.

25. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 04, 2012 at 03:43 PM (#4096851)

Bowden does make the team, per Alex Speier. Carrying 13 pitchers, but

"Obviously what we’re doing here without Andrew Bailey has not been totally planned for, so we’re going to try to protect the other members of the bullpen as we iron out this entire situation," said Valentine. "I don’t expect to be 13 the entire season, or possibly not even for the homestand, but it could be."

26. Darren

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 07:37 AM (#4097600)

Enjoy the start of the season, everyone!

I'll be excited to see whether the team is better prepared to start the year. Not starting out 2-10 or whatever would have made a big difference last year. If they can tread water for a bit until some of their injured players return, I'll be happy.

27. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 07:57 AM (#4097607)

Agreed. I am interested to see if the club looks different coming out of the gate, after Valentine's new spring regimen of actually practicing baseball things that you might do in baseball games. And, as Jose mentioned, I'm just generally interested to see how Bobby V manages a baseball game tactically. I'm not expecting brilliance, but I'm expecting a lot of managing.

This is one of the reasons I'm a little bothered about the 25th man thing. Not because I think it should have been Repko or Ciriaco - there's no need for a second Darnell McDonald or a worse-hitting Nicky Punto on the bench. But because this club does have a bunch of guys I don't want to see getting leveraged at-bats in certain situations. A list:

vs RHP
Aviles
Shoppach
Punto
McDonald

vs LHP
Sweeney
Salty
Punto

With a platoon expected between Salty/Shoppy and Sweeney/McDonald, in theory each of those guys can pinch-hit for their platoon mates. That's not optimal, but the outfield situation will improve when Crawford comes back. The club still needs a lefty bat on the bench to hit for Aviles, and to be a better option that Salty in pinch-hitting for Shoppach.

I don't really get why Cherington didn't have one of these ready to go for the start of the season. Or perhaps they thought Kroeger could be the guy, and he disappointed in some way in spring?

28. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 08:26 AM (#4097617)

Another question is what sort of platoons Bobby V will run.

The Sox are scheduled to face right-handers in each of their first five games. I'd like to see LNP get two starts in there. If he doesn't, we'll know the Sox are committed to Aviles as a true full-time SS. My dream platoon is for LNP to start against RHP with groundball pitchers on the mound, and Aviles in all other games - that would have Punto in the field on Sunday for Buchholz and perhaps also Tuesday for Bard. (Is Doubront a groundballer? I was thinking that Wednesday is a day game after a night game, so it makes particular sense to play Punto on Tuesday.)

It's possible that Valentine won't want Shoppach and McDonald sitting on the bench and getting rusty in advance of their first scheduled starts next Wednesday, so he might get them (particularly Shoppach) a start against the platoon advantage before Wednesday. I'm not going to panic if Shoppach catches Beckett on Saturday - it could be a sign of the dread personal catcher, but it could also just be Valentine getting Shoppach his reps and Salty his rest.

29. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: April 05, 2012 at 09:30 AM (#4097662)

You'll be watching Verlander mow down your lineup, I hope!

Seriously, this is probably the best time to face Verlander - his Opening Day #s are terrible.

And I think Cody Ross is going to have a nice year for you. Enjoy the game!

30. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 09:50 AM (#4097679)

Yeah, the other thing to remember is that if the Red Sox show up and get blown out of the park by Verlander, that probably just means Verlander is great.

31. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: April 05, 2012 at 09:53 AM (#4097683)

32. Nasty Nate Posted: April 05, 2012 at 10:16 AM (#4097722)

Their opponents in April are the on-paper contenders in the AL (minus LAAA), so it would be doubly great to get a good start. The Sox usually fatten up on the long homestand around marathon monday, but this year they play Tampa-Texas-NY so it shouldn't be as easy as usual.

33. Mattbert Posted: April 05, 2012 at 10:21 AM (#4097734)

I can't remember going into a season more conflicted with how I feel about the team than this year. Some days I wake up and think "they're going to shut up the haters, prove what talent they have and win 98 games and coast to a division title" and other days I wake up and think "it's already coming apart, the pitching is a mess and they're going to win 82 games and finish 4th."

Agree completely. The projections of 90-92 wins seem about right to me; however, my gut just feels like the Sox are a lot more likely to finish closer to +/- 10 games off that projection than they are to nail it. There will be greatness or there will be mediocrity, but there's very little chance for merely good.

34. veer bender Posted: April 05, 2012 at 10:23 AM (#4097735)

MCoA -- I had intended to post something like #27 yesterday and just never got the time. It just seems like a huge missed opportunity that if Valentine really is more open to pinch-hitting, he won't have the parts to do it with. Beyond lacking quality in the bench bats themselves, he would also have to be willing to risk playing a guy out of position in the event of injury, post-PH. Can anyone move to the middle infield following an injury if Aviles or Punto are already out of the game? Youkilis to 2B, with Shop, Sweeney, or Ross to 3B? I think worrying about that is silly (as is fear of PH for the catcher), but most managers disagree.

Also, years ago, you strenuously objected to the use of WMP*, but are now chief promulgator of LNP . . . is there anything in the CFBPS that explains the acronymial discrepancy?

* I believe you softened your stance a little when it was explained that this was to be read as the sound of a large book falling on a table from a good height, but still.

35. dirk

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 10:26 AM (#4097741)

happy holiday everyone! it's the best day of the year.

36. Nasty Nate Posted: April 05, 2012 at 11:14 AM (#4097811)

Lineup:

Jacoby Ellsbury CF
Dustin Pedroia 2B
Adrian Gonzalez 1B
David Ortiz DH
Kevin Youkilis 3B
Ryan Sweeney RF
Cody Ross LF
Jarrod Saltalamacchia C
Mike Aviles SS

37. Nasty Nate Posted: April 05, 2012 at 11:30 AM (#4097834)

I would guess that Ortiz and Youk, and Sweeney and Ross, would flip-flop when the SP is a Lefty.

38. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 11:33 AM (#4097836)

Agree completely. The projections of 90-92 wins seem about right to me; however, my gut just feels like the Sox are a lot more likely to finish closer to +/- 10 games off that projection than they are to nail it. There will be greatness or there will be mediocrity, but there's very little chance for merely good.

This +/- 10 wins reminds me of the Ellipse of Uncertainty in Gravity's Rainbow: "The airburst, if it happens, will be in visual range. Abstractions, math, models are fine, but when you're down to it and everybody's hollering for a fix, this is what you do: you go and sit exactly on the target with indifferent shallow trenches for shelter, and you watch it in the silent firebloom of its last few seconds, and see what you will see. Chances are astronomically against a perfect hit, of course, that is why one is safest at the center of the target area. Rockets are supposed to be like artillery shells, they disperse about the aiming point in a giant ellipse--the Ellipse of Uncertainty. But Pökler, though trusting as much as any scientist in uncertainty, is not feeling too secure here."

Edit: This is a great day for sports. The Masters begins today as well.

39. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 11:37 AM (#4097844)

Also, will we be having a game thread? Can someone with the keys create them?

40. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: April 05, 2012 at 11:45 AM (#4097856)

Also, will we be having a game thread? Can someone with the keys create them?

If the monkey is too busy tossing poop, we shall chatter here instead.

This is a great day for sports. The Masters begins today as well.

What does the Masters have to do with sports? *ducks*

41. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: April 05, 2012 at 11:47 AM (#4097861)

What does the Masters have to do with sports? *ducks*

The Masters is a golf tournament. I do not believe ducks play golf.

42. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: April 05, 2012 at 11:47 AM (#4097863)

Over/under on Phil Coorey being nannied for the first time? I say a second inning K with a runner at third and less than two outs by Saltalamacchia triggers it.

43. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: April 05, 2012 at 12:00 PM (#4097879)

I do not believe ducks play golf.

And I so not believe athletes play golf.

44. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 12:02 PM (#4097883)

I would guess that Ortiz and Youk, and Sweeney and Ross, would flip-flop when the SP is a Lefty.

That and McDonald will be in LF with Ross shifting from LF to RF, and Shoppach will be in for Salty. The lineup agaisnt LHP should expected to be:

Ellsbury CF
Pedroia 2B
Gonzalez 1B
Youkilis 3B
Ortiz DH
Ross RF
McDonald LF
Shoppach C
Aviles SS

I could also see McDonald and Shoppach switching spots there but we'll see.

45. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 12:04 PM (#4097885)

And I so not believe athletes play golf.

That's clearly untrue.

Many baseball players play golf during their downtime.

46. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: April 05, 2012 at 12:07 PM (#4097892)

And I so not believe athletes play golf.

That's clearly untrue.

Many baseball players play golf during their downtime.

How does that affect what I said?

Heh, you walked right into that one...

47. villageidiom Posted: April 05, 2012 at 12:35 PM (#4097927)

Detroit lineup:

Jackson CF
Boesch RF
Cabrera 3B
Fielder, 1B
Young LF
Raburn DH
Peralta SS
Avila C
Santiago 2B

48. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 12:50 PM (#4097936)

Glad they have the better defensive LF DHing while Delmon patrols the spacious LF at Comerica. God bless opening day ego stroking.

49. tfbg9 Posted: April 05, 2012 at 12:52 PM (#4097939)

Go Sox. I'm going to start out the year with Padilla as my binky, because he needs me. We're 6.5-5 'dogs today.

50. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 12:55 PM (#4097942)

Also, years ago, you strenuously objected to the use of WMP*, but are now chief promulgator of LNP . . . is there anything in the CFBPS that explains the acronymial discrepancy?

Important questions that demand extensive responses!

1) I objected to the nickname "WMP" because the actual name Wily Mo Pena is far too great to be hidden behind an abbreviation.
2) I'm stealing the "LNP" thing from Batgirl. I can't find her archives online, but she had this incredible run of posts about "Little Nicky Punto, Tiny Superhero".

51. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:02 PM (#4097949)

Where's the game chatter!?

edit: I miss Batgirl's blog. Her lego reconstructions of key Twins moments were top flight.

52. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:02 PM (#4097950)

There's a general game chatter thread on the main board.

53. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:04 PM (#4097953)

And here's the intro on MLB.tv

54. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:09 PM (#4097966)

I'd rather chatter here than in a thread with concurrent chatter about several different games. Trying to follow the thread of conversation while people are talking about 3-4 different games is pointless and just increases post velocity while decreasing signal to noise for anyone watching a particular game.

55. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:11 PM (#4097970)

91 MPH fastball from Verlander to start the game? Jesus, Ellsbury you should've been hacking.

56. Joel W Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:13 PM (#4097977)

"He has a permanent smile on his face and an iPad on his desk. There is a stack of unopened mail on a round table. There are several books next to the letters: People Smart by Tony Alessandra and Michael J. O'Connor, The Leader Within: Learning Enough About Yourself to Lead Others, by Drea Zigarmi and Ken Blanchard, and Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman.

"Kahneman," Bobby Valentine notes. "He was awarded the Nobel Prize.""

From the Grantland article on Bobby V. That he reads Kahneman makes me very happy.

57. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:17 PM (#4097989)

91 MPH fastball from Verlander to start the game? Jesus, Ellsbury you should've been hacking.

Verlander, beginning last year, will start the game low 90s and then be throwing 97-100 by the 6th or 7th. He credits it with solving his Achilles heel pre-2011; poor first innings leading to too many pitches early in games.

58. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:17 PM (#4097990)

That was not a bad pitch.

59. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:18 PM (#4097994)

Verlander, beginning last year, will start the game low 90s and then be throwing 97-100 by the 6th or 7th. He credits it with solving his Achilles heel pre-2011; poor first innings leading to too many pitches early in games.

Oh, I know. I was just saying he should've been hacking at that cause it was going to be his best shot at hitting a pitch solidly since Verlander took so much off of it.

60. Jose Can Still Seabiscuit Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:19 PM (#4097996)

Verlander, beginning last year, will start the game low 90s and then be throwing 97-100 by the 6th or 7th. He credits it with solving his Achilles heel pre-2011; poor first innings leading to too many pitches early in games.

That seems odd to me. I would think he'd want to come out gunning to offset the bad innings. Was control in early innings an issue for him?

61. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:20 PM (#4098003)

Was control in early innings an issue for him?

Yep. He'd come out too pumped and overthrow. In 2011 he gained speed as the game went on and got gradually more dominant. It was pretty cool to watch.

62. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:21 PM (#4098004)

That fastball has sneaky movement on it, especially when Verlander throws in the low 90s. If the three consecutive pop-ups wasn't evidence enough.

63. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:23 PM (#4098015)

Holy ####, Young is slow. Young in LF instead of Raburn may be the difference in this game.

64. Joel W Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:25 PM (#4098021)

Have decided that Papi needs to come out to Tupacs Back by Meek Mill and Rick Ross. It's too perfect, and because when he gets a hit I think "Papi back, Papi back..."

65. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:25 PM (#4098022)

Yeah, Verlander throwing 91 is not exactly a Josh Towers fastball.

Delmon Young is the worst outfielder in the majors.

66. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:28 PM (#4098033)

Good at bat here by Sweeney.

67. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:29 PM (#4098036)

Let's hope Ross's hot ST continues here.

68. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:29 PM (#4098038)

Strike that. He swung at a ball.

69. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:30 PM (#4098042)

Surprised the umpire called that curve a strike. It definitely was, but you rarely see a ball caught that low called a strike. Good on whoever is umpiring the plate.

70. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:30 PM (#4098043)

Cody Ross is the guy I've gotten irrationally high on due to spring training stats.

Plus he has a great Fenway swing, man.

71. Textbook Editor Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:30 PM (#4098044)

Happy Opening Day fellow Therapudians!

This year, I'm hoping the birth of Little Miss TE (due mid-September) will have a talismanic effect and ward off any possible September collapse...

72. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:31 PM (#4098046)

Dan - I've seen that call more and more in the last year or two. I think umpires are learning from the pitch/fx monitoring.

73. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:32 PM (#4098047)

Verlander dialed it up to 98 to try and K Ross there.

74. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:32 PM (#4098048)

God that's nasty.

75. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:32 PM (#4098049)

Is Ross a good FB hitter?

76. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:32 PM (#4098050)

Hit that.

77. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:32 PM (#4098051)

pwned.

78. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:33 PM (#4098054)

Cody Ross is the guy I've gotten irrationally high on due to spring training stats.

I fished him outta the FA pool in my keeper league. Expecting a good year.

For the Tigers, I'm irrationally high on Drew Smyly. I love the kid. I'd get sucked into Raburn's home run binge but I've seen that movie before.

79. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:34 PM (#4098058)

Prince wears that Tiger uniform well.

80. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:36 PM (#4098061)

No shift for Prince?

81. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:37 PM (#4098062)

They weren't playing the overshift on Prince?

82. The Clarence Thomas of BBTF (scott) Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:37 PM (#4098065)

I adore pitchers who rack up double plays.

83. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:38 PM (#4098071)

I adore pitchers who rack up double plays.

Good news, Lester's on pace for about 200!

84. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:40 PM (#4098073)

That cutter is such a fun pitch.

It's a one-of-a-kind pitch in MLB, I think. Does anyone else throw a cutter that has such insane horizontal bite?

85. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:41 PM (#4098077)

It's a one-of-a-kind pitch in MLB, I think. Does anyone else throw a cutter that has such insane horizontal bite?

Mariano Rivera.

86. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:41 PM (#4098079)

I wish this Cardinals memorbilila ad wasn't so damn loud. The volume on it is like twice the volume of the actual game stream.

87. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:41 PM (#4098082)

I wish this Cardinals memorbilila ad wasn't so damn loud.

Ahhh. MLB.tv. So quiet between innings.

88. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:42 PM (#4098084)

Mariano Rivera.

It's totally different from Rivera's cutter. It moves maybe twice as much, but comes it 5-7 mph slower.

89. FancyPantsHandle glistening with foreign substance Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:42 PM (#4098085)

So, I am having some streaming difficulties atm, and decided to go to gameday for now. They have a new "scout" feature. this is what it had to say about the Sweeney AB:

Verlander is trying to saw Sweeney off inside with fastballs, where he is hitting .000, as opposed to .000 overall.

Note, none of the 5 pitches Verlander had thrown at the time looked very much inside... this is going to provide some awesome comedy this year, isn't it?

90. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:44 PM (#4098088)

Ahhh. MLB.tv. So quiet between innings.

I am watching MLB.tv (via iPad)

91. Smyly Smile (Walewander) Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:44 PM (#4098089)

Man, Salty's OBP is terrible. I had no idea it was that poor.

92. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:44 PM (#4098090)

If it weren't for driving up Verlander's pitch count, it would probably be more economical to just spot Verlander a K instead of having Salty hit against him.

93. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:44 PM (#4098091)

It's totally different from Rivera's cutter. It moves maybe twice as much, but comes it 5-7 mph slower.

It has that frisbee quality at times.

94. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:45 PM (#4098093)

I am watching MLB.tv (via iPad)

You have ads?

95. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:45 PM (#4098094)

Man, Salty's OBP is terrible. I had no idea it was that poor.

It's better against RHP - up to perfectly competent, for a catcher. He should never, ever hit right-handed.

96. Dan Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:46 PM (#4098098)

You have ads?

It's just one ad for the MLB.com shop that talks about buying World Champion Cardinals gear that plays between every half inning, at a very high volume.

97. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:47 PM (#4098099)

And against a guy like Verlander, Salty's basically just going to shut his eyes, wail at the ball, and hope. He's not, shall we say, a scientific hitter.

98. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:48 PM (#4098103)

It's just one ad for the MLB.com shop that talks about buying World Champion Cardinals gear that plays between every half inning, at a very high volume.

Did you get the Premium package or basic? I just realized that I haven't seen an ad since spring training began.

99. The Mohole* of David Wells (* - Piehole)

Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:50 PM (#4098108)

And Stenson at 6 under through 12 at the Masters. That's a ridiculous score. Woods is tied with 4 others in 3rd at -2.

100. Matt Clement of Alexandria Posted: April 05, 2012 at 01:51 PM (#4098109)

I've got premium, and I'm watching ads between innings.

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