2020-2021 Hot Stove League (2 Viewers)

[Combat]

Lost among the hoopla over the "check swing" that ended the Dodgers-Giants series was one of the most puzzling managerial decisions that I've seen in a long while. No one bunts anymore in baseball. Even when the shift is on and there is no one playing third base. Surely any major league player could lay down a bunt or tap the baseball toward third when there is no infielder playing third for an easy hit. But it never happens. Instead they swing away and hit the ball into the shift for an easy out. Time and again. But in the ninth inning with runners on first and third with one out the Giants move their infield up to protect a run from scoring on a ground ball. Every infielder is on the grass breathing down the neck of Taylor who is batting. And what do the Dodgers do in that situation? They bunt! Unbelievable. Of course the first baseman standing about ten feet from Taylor makes an easy play. If the Dodgers had lost that game, they would talking about that for years. I could not believe the stupidity of that call. The Dodgers almost deserved to lose that game for that kind of idiocy.

 

[Warrior]

Lost among the hoopla over the "check swing" that ended the Dodgers-Giants series was one of the most puzzling managerial decisions that I've seen in a long while. No one bunts anymore in baseball. Even when the shift is on and there is no one playing third base. Surely any major league player could lay down a bunt or tap the baseball toward third when there is no infielder playing third for an easy hit. But it never happens. Instead they swing away and hit the ball into the shift for an easy out. Time and again. But in the ninth inning with runners on first and third with one out the Giants move their infield up to protect a run from scoring on a ground ball. Every infielder is on the grass breathing down the neck of Taylor who is batting. And what do the Dodgers do in that situation? They bunt! Unbelievable. Of course the first baseman standing about ten feet from Taylor makes an easy play. If the Dodgers had lost that game, they would talking about that for years. I could not believe the stupidity of that call. The Dodgers almost deserved to lose that game for that kind of idiocy.

One of the MLB beat writers said almost this exact thing; batters would rather hit a rocket into the shift for an out than lay down a bunt.

Remember the classic drag bunts.................99% of the time it was a speedy lefty who would drop one down and race safely to first, steal second, advance on a ground out and score on a sacrifice fly, manufactured run works just fine.

Bunting is a lost art, no one does it well anymore.

The shift need to be banned, I think they are planning on doing so.

Good riddance.

 

[Warrior]

Good post George...
your shining example of good sportsmanship and absence of jealousy...
shines through like a beacon in the dark...
you're a role model for all of us on here...
good luck in the series...

So you "liked" my post, "thanked" my post, then **** on me with sarcasm over the post?

The old saying is true; "It's happy hour somewhere."

Hey and best of luck to you too there Mike.

Oh and good luck tomorrow as well vs the Patriots, I'm thinking something like 35-17 Cowboys.

 

[Warrior]

The Dodgers finished almost 20 games ahead of the Braves this year but Atlanta has the home field advantage. There are some bad signs for LA heading into this series. It reminds me a lot of the series they lost a couple years ago to the Nats. On paper LA should steamroll Atlanta but I think this goes either way. LA-Houston is the media dream matchup.

I can't see any scenario where the Dodgers lose this series.

The Dodgers are loaded, the Braves are not.

The only way they lose if if Roberts pulls some boneheaded decisions out of his hat, which he's entirely capable of, he's a bad manager that has had a loaded team for five years.

The funny thing is HFA with the home team batting last should be an advantage, but HFA in baseball is highly overrated.

The Dodgers thanks to two great trades off the top of my head are a wagon, what a boneheaded decision by the RS to trade Betts, complete morons for that move, he's a lock HOF player, his bust is going to look great with LA on his cap.

Good job Red Sox.

 

[mikemiller1955]

So you "liked" my post, "thanked" my post, then **** on me with sarcasm over the post?

The old saying is true; "It's happy hour somewhere."

Hey and best of luck to you too there Mike.

Oh and good luck tomorrow as well vs the Patriots, I'm thinking something like 35-17 Cowboys.

"M'eh"...
speaking of Happy Hour somewhere...
you might find a Capt. & Tennillle cover band somewhere...
as you're older now and don't watch the games anyway...
yea right...didn't you mention you went to Fenway last week?
"M'eh"

 

[Warrior]

"M'eh"...
speaking of Happy Hour somewhere...
you might find a Capt. & Tennillle cover band somewhere...
as you're older now and don't watch the games anyway...
yea right...didn't you mention you went to Fenway last week?
"M'eh"

Yeah; no........what I said was I did not watch the WS, NBA finals, NHL finals or the SB last year, specifically during COVID.

No dog in the fight, so I did not care who won Dodgers/Rays, Bucks/Suns (it was the Suns in the finals, right?), Montreal/Tampa or Tampa/KC, not a fan of any of those 8 teams, so I did not watch.

I've gotten to the point where with sports, if it's not my team or a team I like involved, I don't give a rats ***.

We decided to go out last night with five other couples vs watching a baseball game that took 4 and a half hours to play; we made the right call.

A balance of watching sports and socializing is one of the keys to life.

At least for me.

So there you have it.

 

[lancer]

I can't see any scenario where the Dodgers lose this series.

The Dodgers are loaded, the Braves are not.

The only way they lose if if Roberts pulls some boneheaded decisions out of his hat, which he's entirely capable of, he's a bad manager that has had a loaded team for five years.

The funny thing is HFA with the home team batting last should be an advantage, but HFA in baseball is highly overrated.

The Dodgers thanks to two great trades off the top of my head are a wagon, what a boneheaded decision by the RS to trade Betts, complete morons for that move, he's a lock HOF player, his bust is going to look great with LA on his cap.

Good job Red Sox.

I would think the whole HTA myth was killed dead and buried during the 2019 WS when the home team LOST every game of the 7 game series. HFA means zip. -- Al

 

[mikemiller1955]

I don't know if you think everyone on this forum is 10 years old...
but it's really pretty simple to read between the lines on your posts...it always has been...

they are so disingenuous and snarky...
why can't you just be a good sport and take a loss instead of having to be combative?
why do you feel the need to insult your opponent's fans...calling his teams players..."midgets...cocky *** clowns...cheaters"...

"cheaters" are appropriate...cause the Astros did cheat...3 years ago...I can admit that...
but to have a Boston Red Sox fan call out a team for a cheating scandal...
and for that Red Sox fan to be a New England Pat's fan and call out someone for cheating...
with the history of your favorite teams found guilty in multiple upon multiple cheating scandals...
you can't admit that...
NE fans should never ever call anyone a cheater...
"rocks and glass houses"...

say what you want...you'll get no more replies from me...I'm finished on this thread...
this is my final post on Hot Stove League...
I'm finished with this thread and finished replying to you on this forum...
good luck in all the New England sports you claim you don't care about...

and scratch my name off that personal email conversation list...
I no longer want to participate...

 

[Warrior]

So in game two of the ALCS, the Astros pitcher gives up a grand slam in the first inning, then a lead off hit in the second, then he gets "injured" and pulled.

And his replacement gets about an hour and a half to get ready; stretching, long tossing in the outfield, then a whole **** ton of warm up pitches.

Meanwhile, Eovaldi sits forever.

So what gives? There should be a time limit, this is total BS.

Similar to when a goalie gets hurt hockey, they don't give his replacement an hour and a half to get ready.

 

[Warrior]

So in game two of the ALCS, the Astros pitcher gives up a grand slam in the first inning, then a lead off hit in the second, then he gets "injured" and pulled.

And his replacement gets about an hour and a half to get ready; stretching, long tossing in the outfield, then a whole **** ton of warm up pitches.

Meanwhile, Eovaldi sits forever.

So what gives? There should be a time limit, this is total BS.

Similar to when a goalie gets hurt hockey, they don't give his replacement an hour and a half to get ready.

This tomato can just gave up a grand slam.

8-0.

So nevermind.

 

[Combat]

The Dodgers have now lost five straight game ones and have scored two or less runs in four out of the last six playoff games. It's a miracle they are hanging around. The offense is really struggling without Muncy. The pitching is the only thing keeping them competitive.

 

[Warrior]

The Dodgers have now lost five straight game ones and have scored two or less runs in four out of the last six playoff games. It's a miracle they are hanging around. The offense is really struggling without Muncy. The pitching is the only thing keeping them competitive.

Tough break for the runner in the top of the 9th, got hung up no man's land, sometimes it's better to just go, once you hesitate, you're doomed, felt bad for the guy.

It's only one game, win tonight and go home tied 1-1, which is the goal.

Like what the Red Sox did, up 9-0, held on to win 9-5, series tied 1-1.

Those Astors never quit, no lead is safe.

The Red Sox bullpen is shaky at best, outside of Whitlock, it's an adventure. Starters these days go 5 or 6 innings, the bullpens now have to carry the load.

 

[Warrior]

Not to bring personal issues on to this forum, but it's been a rough week, been trying to be there for a friend of mine who's Dad was very ill, a lot of long conversations and trying to comfort him at this time.

Late last night I got the email I've been dreading.............

"People downplay the purpose of sports, but I can attest first hand for the last week that the Red Sox have brought joy and comfort to my father and family. My father passed tonight shortly after the Red Sox game - mostly he was unware of anything at this point but mom had the game on in the hospital and we both believe he waited till the end of the game tonight.

He loved the Red Sox (and all Boston sports) - and when he was still aware earlier this week the biggest smiles were when I came to visit him and when I told him all about the Red Sox beating the Rays. And my mom, who tirelessly spent every day at the hospital, was so excited when the Sox walked off the win against the Rays the other night. It was a brief moment of respite from a difficult time.

So thank you Red Sox. Miss you Dad."

What a kick in the ***.

This is the beauty of sports, specifically baseball, Al can probably speak better to this than I can, but it ties generations together, Grandfathers pass the love of the game to their children and grandchildren, who then pass it down to their children, like my Mom's Father, my Greek Grandfather. He LOVED the Red Sox............and baseball. He gave that love of the sport to me and also my Uncle Peter, my Mom's brother, he was a peach of a man, he came here in the Summer of 1975 and spent two months here, he took me to about 6 Red Sox games, I grew to love the Red Sox that year and was heartbroken when they lost the WS to the Reds.

My Grandfather died in 1976, 6 months after that WS, my uncle Peter called me after game 7 of the 2003 ALCS and how they blew that game and the series, he went on a comical rant over it................he died in December of 2003.

When the Red Sox won it all in 2004, they were the first two people I thought of, me and my Mom had a good cry over them both being gone and not being able to see them win it all, I'm getting choked up now just thinking about it.

I know some of you fellas feel the same way about the sport and how it ties families and generations together.

At the end of the day, it's just sports and anyone who takes sports ultra seriously needs to get a ****ing life; that said, it does give us joy and entertainment, but again, most of all, it's one of the ties that bind.

Sorry for the long post, but even though I knew this was coming, it still sucks.

 

[Combat]

The Dodgers continue to shoot themselves in the foot. This is the classic trap series after the wild card game and the matchup with the Giants. The Dodgers then have to fly across the country to play on the road on one day rest despite ending the season with the best record among the remaining playoff teams (almost 20 games ahead of Atlanta). The starting pitchers are tired, the offense is in a funk, injuries are mounting, and Roberts is blowing it as usual. The Dodgers were lucky to escape game 5 with the Giants after putting a tired Max in as the closer. The Giants ripped several pitches off him and narrowly missed the game winning HR that went just foul. Not looking good. Hopefully the Braves choke up like they often do but otherwise the Dodgers might be toast.

 

[lancer]

The Dodgers continue to shoot themselves in the foot. This is the classic trap series after the wild card game and the matchup with the Giants. The Dodgers then have to fly across the country to play on the road on one day rest despite ending the season with the best record among the remaining playoff teams (almost 20 games ahead of Atlanta). The starting pitchers are tired, the offense is in a funk, injuries are mounting, and Roberts is blowing it as usual. The Dodgers were lucky to escape game 5 with the Giants after putting a tired Max in as the closer. The Giants ripped several pitches off him and narrowly missed the game winning HR that went just foul. Not looking good. Hopefully the Braves choke up like they often do but otherwise the Dodgers might be toast.

Roberts continues to confound me with his pitching moves. Why was Urias used? What was wrong with allowing Treinen another inning? Dodger starting pitching staff now in shambles with Scherzer and Urias both tired, if not misused. -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

The way he’s using Urias reminds me of the way Davey Johnson used Sid Fernandez in 86. I had no problems with the move, except that it didn’t work. The move that may be hurting him is using Scherzer in the 9th inning against SF. Unnecessary. Also, why Treinen after Jansen?

The Braves were lucky last night. Washington shouldn’t have sent Rosario. The result worked but the logic and thinking behind it was flawed. It was a risky move and had he been out he would have been looking for a new job like the Yankees 3B coach.

 

[Warrior]

The Braves were lucky last night. Washington shouldn’t have sent Rosario. The result worked but the logic and thinking behind it was flawed. It was a risky move and had he been out he would have been looking for a new job like the Yankees 3B coach.

He had two risky sends, both of which worked out, the first one where the ball bounced twice from right field, one bounce there and he's out by 10 feet.

It's amazing what the Braves are doing without Acuna, he's a generational talent.

I was never a fan of using a starter as a closer/in relief, they are a different animal, have a pregame routine on the day they pitch, to just throw them out there in relief makes no sense to me.

Morton goes for Atlanta on Tuesday, we'll see what happens.

It's do or die for the Dodgers, can't go down 0-3, no team has ever come back from 0-3 in a league championship ser...............oh wait.

 

[Al Fisher]

Sox came from three down to beat the Yankees in the ALCS . . . can't remember the year.

Bosun Al

 

[sammy719]

Sox came from three down to beat the Yankees in the ALCS . . . can't remember the year.

Bosun Al

I think George was being facetious

 

[Warrior]

I think George was being facetious

Oh no Sammy, that is not true, I was merely pointing out that there has been a team that came back from down 0-3.

I feel truly sorry for all the Yankee fans that had to witness that defeat, I hope they are all ok and doing well.