MLB 2019 thread

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by thehef

In The Age of Kardashia, I think you know the answer

The camera's not in the shower, but in the showerhead?

No, thx.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by thehef

Agreed. Stupid. Borrowed from the NBA's between-quarters interviews, I suppose...

In Between quarters is overkill. FOx didn't have the decency to interview in between innings. They were asking questions while Houston was scoring runs. That should be unthinkable!

Though I don't like the mid-game interview, I actually credit the managers & coaches (that I have seen) for being cool about the intrusion. Unlike Phil Jackson and Greg Popovich, who would be absolute a-holes about the between-quarter interviews... Most coaches/managers politely state the obvious, and move on.

I'm for the Pop method. They want to talk to you before game, after game, mid game. What more do they need to know? I would be as uncooperative as possible w/o getting fined.

[Westheim]

Bregman has awoken!

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Westheim

Bregman has awoken!

And I can go to sleep!

[Westheim]

The Gnats' pen - the gift that keeps on giving.

[monkeyman576]

well, the Nationals were the last ranked bullpen in the league during the regular season, it's pretty amazing that they made it to the world series with that statistic.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

well, the Nationals were the last ranked bullpen in the league during the regular season, it's pretty amazing that they made it to the world series with that statistic.

Well, akshually...

What were they last in? Not WAR. Not ERA. Not FIP, Not xFIP,. Not ERA-. Not FIP-. Not xFIP-


If you're going to be bad at something, be bad at the bullpen. The difference between the best bullpen (Rays) and worst (Marlins) was 9.8 fWAR. The difference between the best starting staff (Nationals) and worst (Angels) was 18.1 fWAR. The best position players (Astros) and worst (Tigers) was 43.4 fWAR. The difference between the best and the worst bullpen just isn't THAT big


The Nats' overall bullpen stats were trashed by performances like:

• Matt Grace - 6.65 ERA in 45 innings
• Kyle Barraclaugh - 6.66 ERA in 26 innings
• Trevor Rosenthal - 22.75 ERA in 6 innings

Guys who didn't make any playoff rosters.


The bullpen certainly wasn't a strength for the team, but the narrative is somewhat overblown.

[monkeyman576]

Last in ERA.

[thehef]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

In Between quarters is overkill. FOx didn't have the decency to interview in between innings. They were asking questions while Houston was scoring runs. That should be unthinkable!

Agree.

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I'm for the Pop method. They want to talk to you before game, after game, mid game. What more do they need to know? I would be as uncooperative as possible w/o getting fined.

I prefer athletes and coaches, etc., act with class whenever possible. I used to sort of like Pop despite his Belichek-like cantakerousness, but once he got political, he lost me. (While I generally prefer they keep their mouths shut, I particularly dislike it not so much when they express their opinions, but when they do so in a manner that is - rather than for something or someone - very much against something or someone. Regardless of which way they go...)

[thehef]

Originally Posted by CBeisbol

What were they last in? Not WAR. Not ERA. Not FIP, Not xFIP,. Not ERA-. Not FIP-. Not xFIP-

What is this gibberish? ERA, I get. The rest of it is Greek to me.

I yearn for the days when a batter came to the plate and the bottom of the screen showed his average, HR's, and RBI, and maybe stolen bases; and for the pitcher it was W-L, ERA, IP, and K's and BB's.

Yes, I'm old.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by thehef

I prefer athletes and coaches, etc., act with class whenever possible. I used to sort of like Pop despite his Belichek-like cantakerousness, but once he got political, he lost me. (While I generally prefer they keep their mouths shut, I particularly dislike it not so much when they express their opinions, but when they do so in a manner that is - rather than for something or someone - very much against something or someone. Regardless of which way they go...)

I understand the point of view. But I also know why civil disobedience works.

[thehef]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

I understand the point of view. But I also know why civil disobedience works.

Well, this sort of civil disobedience hasn't worked in the NBA or MLB, as the mid-game interviews don't seem to be on the downtrend. Rather, in the case of Pop (and Jackson, when he was coaching), he just reveals himself to be an arse.

[monkeyman576]

If you allow players to play for 60+ innnings with a 6+ ERA doesn't that say something about your franchise? Weather or not they are currently on the roster?

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by thehef

Well, this sort of civil disobedience hasn't worked in the NBA or MLB, as the mid-game interviews don't seem to be on the downtrend. Rather, in the case of Pop (and Jackson, when he was coaching), he just reveals himself to be an arse.

One, those don't happen while play is going on. They only have to answer 2 questions. And it goes on all season. Not to mention there wasn't a league wide rebellion.

Joe Butt asked about 4 or 5 questions while the ball was live. They don't do this all year. And it takes only the 2 mgrs in the WS to rebel to make a stand.

In your eye Pop is an arse, but in mine he is a man of principle.

[thehef]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

One, those don't happen while play is going on. They only have to answer 2 questions. And it goes on all season. Not to mention there wasn't a league wide rebellion.

Joe Butt asked about 4 or 5 questions while the ball was live. They don't do this all year. And it takes only the 2 mgrs in the WS to rebel to make a stand.

Sure. I'm was talking about the mid-game interview in general. Not just the ones while play is going on, which I agree is ridiculous.

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

In your eye Pop is an arse, but in mine he is a man of principle.

It's possible to be a man of principle, and also act with class. They are not mutually exclusive.

[CBeisbol]

Originally Posted by thehef

What is this gibberish? ERA, I get. The rest of it is Greek to me.

I yearn for the days when a batter came to the plate and the bottom of the screen showed his average, HR's, and RBI, and maybe stolen bases; and for the pitcher it was W-L, ERA, IP, and K's and BB's.

Yes, I'm old.

That you don't speak Greek doesn't render Plato's teachings irrelevant.

We know more about measuring baseball performance that we used to. That's simply a fact.

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

If you allow players to play for 60+ innnings with a 6+ ERA doesn't that say something about your franchise? Weather or not they are currently on the roster?

It certainly says something.

It could say that some guys that the team expected to perform didn't perform

It could say the team thought it could turn some guys around that it couldn't

It certainly doesn't say that, absolutely, the replacements are bad.

[monkeyman576]

The replacements do appear to be slightly better. But it's still not a strength. And in the playoffs mediocrity is magnified.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by thehef

It's possible to be a man of principle, and also act with class. They are not mutually exclusive.

Like I said, that is your opinion that he hasn't handled it w/class. To my knowledge he has never insulted anyone in doing it. He's given short answers that the media hates, but that isn't his problem. If he doesn't like something, if he doesn't think something he is right, he doesn't have to do a phony show just to appease other people's feelings.

[low]

Scherzer not starting is huge. I think whoever wins this game wins the series.

[monkeyman576]

Houston is good enough to overcome mediocre pitching, Washington isn't.