Baseball 2015 (2 Viewers)

[maddadicus]

Mets, as currently configured, will never have great hitting

What they have which the Yankees don't have -- and won't for a very long time -- is great starting pitching and they have more pitchers in the minors that your bleepin' Yankees would love to have. One team is on the rise another on the decline.

YEH, I am watching Cy Young get lit up as we speak. Maybe Sandy Kofax will have a better start tomorrow...Michael

 

[jazzeum]

You can't win them all and good luck against Harvey tomorrow. What overpaid underperforming meatball are you driving to the mound tomorrow.

 

[sammy719]

haven't had much to add to the discussion as my O's are playing some of the worse ball since the good 'ol days pitching sucks all around, can't beat a team when they are scoring 7-8 runs a game I figured after that terrible stretch in Toronto would be washed away with some home cookn at the Yard but nope Red Sox killed them, now 5 losses in a row only 3 out but getting ugly quick...Sammy

 

[lancer]

haven't had much to add to the discussion as my O's are playing some of the worse ball since the good 'ol days pitching sucks all around, can't beat a team when they are scoring 7-8 runs a game I figured after that terrible stretch in Toronto would be washed away with some home cookn at the Yard but nope Red Sox killed them, now 5 losses in a row only 3 out but getting ugly quick...Sammy

It is getting ugly, in an unexpected way. The usually stellar O's defense has sprung a big leak as of late, having now allowed 9 unearned runs this season, including the 3 that cost them the game tonight. I expect defensive problems from the slow starting Nat's defense, but not the O's. Still, it is very early and I don't intend to panic until June at the earliest. -- Al

 

[maddadicus]

It is getting ugly, in an unexpected way. The usually stellar O's defense has sprung a big leak as of late, having now allowed 9 unearned runs this season, including the 3 that cost them the game tonight. I expect defensive problems from the slow starting Nat's defense, but not the O's. Still, it is very early and I don't intend to panic until June at the earliest. -- Al

No one in the East seems to be far and away the best team of the group. The Yanks and Rays were expected to be doormats, but the Sox, O,s, and Jays early on, have shown a number of weaknesses that should keep the Division tightly bunched..Michael

 

[lancer]

No one in the East seems to be far and away the best team of the group. The Yanks and Rays were expected to be doormats, but the Sox, O,s, and Jays early on, have shown a number of weaknesses that should keep the Division tightly bunched..Michael

It truly does look to be wide open, but that is entirely appropriate for the AL East.:wink2: -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

I think the East was always considered wide open but it's much too early to make any judgments about any team. By the end of May, the picture may get a bit clearer.

 

[maddadicus]

I think the East was always considered wide open but it's much too early to make any judgments about any team. By the end of May, the picture may get a bit clearer.

By the way, paybacks heck..We are even. Michael

 

[lancer]

If I was the NYY's, I would be really concerned about CC Sabathia. He hasn't pitched well for a while. Obviously, age, wear and tear are catching up with him. It is important that the old vet find a way to compensate or the NYY rotation needs to be adjusted. -- Al

 

[maddadicus]

If I was the NYY's, I would be really concerned about CC Sabathia. He hasn't pitched well for a while. Obviously, age, wear and tear are catching up with him. It is important that the old vet find a way to compensate or the NYY rotation needs to be adjusted. -- Al

Funny thing, his last start was great against a tough Tiger lineup ( 2-1 loss). Hey, if Price can get lit up for 10 runs, then this early, I will still hope for some contribution. Beltran is the guy, who may be done, though. Michael

 

[lancer]

Funny thing, his last start was great against a tough Tiger lineup ( 2-1 loss). Hey, if Price can get lit up for 10 runs, then this early, I will still hope for some contribution. Beltran is the guy, who may be done, though. Michael

Actually, I agree. Too early to write the big guy off as there are plenty of pitchers struggling to get consistency this early, regardless of their age/experience. If CC has anything left in the tank, he will come around and be a winner. If nothing else, he can be an innings eater and keep the team in games through guile and guts. It's been done many times before. After all the dire predictions of disaster it is good to see the NYY's exceeding expectations, even if they are in the same division as the Orioles.:wink2: -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

I don't really think he has much left in the tank. His ERA is a whopping 5.96. Aside from his Tiger loss, he's given 4 runs in his start against the Jays (5.2 innings), 4 against Orioles (7 innings) and 7 against Mets (5 innings).

He's overweight and on the down side; out most of last year because of injuries. In 2013, basically a .500 pitcher, 14-13, 4.78 ERA.

 

[lancer]

I don't really think he has much left in the tank. His ERA is a whopping 5.96. Aside from his Tiger loss, he's given 4 runs in his start against the Jays (5.2 innings), 4 against Orioles (7 innings) and 7 against Mets (5 innings).

He's overweight and on the down side; out most of last year because of injuries. In 2013, basically a .500 pitcher, 14-13, 4.78 ERA.

That's why I said an innings eater, if nothing else. Most staffs, most years, need someone like that whether because of neccesity, contract, or lack of options. Everyone eventually reaches the end, except guys like Colon and Ryan and even Ryan had to retire before he was Social Security eligible.^&grin -- Al

 

[lancer]

Nats continue their death spiral having now lost 5 in a row and dropping into a tie for last place. They just look lost, leaderless, and sort of disinterestrd right now. All this talk about being the favorite to go to the WS and win it is nothing but a dream at this point. I was happy to buy into the dream in the off-season until the Nats let Adam LaRoche walk and then blew up what had been a very good bullpen by trading Clippard, Detwiler, Blivens, and letting Soriano go. That's 4 of the key pitchers gone and with the loss of LaRoche went their leading Hr and RBI man. Perhaps fatal tinkering, at the least creating bad Karma that hasn't been dealt with. Their SLOW start is attributable to these factors. As the season started, Werth, Rendon, and Span were on the DL, and with LaRoche gone, over 60% of last years offense was gone, leaving, basically, the offense in the hands of Zimmerman and Harper until the others returned. It wasn't working and only recently have Werth and Span returned, having just started playing theirselves into game shape after missing most of spring training. Rendon, their best hitter, is close to coming back but will require the same adjustment to playing himself into game shape. All of this, no hitting/scoring, sloppy fielding, and an ineffective bullpen, is rapidly unraveling the season. The upside is that the starting pitching is good and will remain so, awaiting the 'return' of the offense and defense and most importantly, there are still 143 games to play which means lots of time to recover and still be a dominating factor, assuming, of course, that they don't check out mentally and throw in the towel. That is what Williams has to prevent while he figures out how to get this underperforming team to start winning. -- Al

 

[Panzer ace]

Nats continue their death spiral having now lost 5 in a row and dropping into a tie for last place. They just look lost, leaderless, and sort of disinterestrd right now. All this talk about being the favorite to go to the WS and win it is nothing but a dream at this point. I was happy to buy into the dream in the off-season until the Nats let Adam LaRoche walk and then blew up what had been a very good bullpen by trading Clippard, Detwiler, Blivens, and letting Soriano go. That's 4 of the key pitchers gone and with the loss of LaRoche went their leading Hr and RBI man. Perhaps fatal tinkering, at the least creating bad Karma that hasn't been dealt with. Their SLOW start is attributable to these factors. As the season started, Werth, Rendon, and Span were on the DL, and with LaRoche gone, over 60% of last years offense was gone, leaving, basically, the offense in the hands of Zimmerman and Harper until the others returned. It wasn't working and only recently have Werth and Span returned, having just started playing theirselves into game shape after missing most of spring training. Rendon, their best hitter, is close to coming back but will require the same adjustment to playing himself into game shape. All of this, no hitting/scoring, sloppy fielding, and an ineffective bullpen, is rapidly unraveling the season. The upside is that the starting pitching is good and will remain so, awaiting the 'return' of the offense and defense and most importantly, there are still 143 games to play which means lots of time to recover and still be a dominating factor, assuming, of course, that they don't check out mentally and throw in the towel. That is what Williams has to prevent while he figures out how to get this underperforming team to start winning. -- Al

Al:

That rotation is still among the best in baseball.

No no need to give up hope yet.

-Jason

 

[lancer]

Al:

That rotation is still among the best in baseball.

No no need to give up hope yet.

-Jason

Jason, it's because of the rotation that I am holding my temper. The Nats are slow starters as a team so no panic yet. It did take them a couple of months to get going the last couple of years, so... It's just frustrating to see a team with this kind of personal playing like they have no clue. -- Al

 

[lancer]

You can't win pennants in April but you can lose them.

The Nats are doing all thay can to prove the truth of this statement. 4 more errors tonight (that's 22 in 20 games for those counting, and I am), another loss, a grip on last place 8 games behind the Mets, and April ain't even done yet! They are really starting to tick me off.:rolleyes2: -- Al

 

[jazzeum]

I really can't believe that they're 8 games out. If this was a strong division, they'd be in huge trouble. As it is, they're in real dangerous territory. Maybe they need to change managers.

 

[lancer]

I really can't believe that they're 8 games out. If this was a strong division, they'd be in huge trouble. As it is, they're in real dangerous territory. Maybe they need to change managers.

Williams won that MoY award last year, but the same thought started running through my head when Williams made that huge error by pulling Zimmermann out of the playoff game against SF when he had the lead in the 9th. That one mistake turned the whole series. Whatever else is going on, Williams seems to have no answers right now. -- Al

 

[Warrior]

Whatever else is going on, Williams seems to have no answers right now. -- Al

Maybe he should buy a toupe with some brains in it......