(04-06-2018 03:59 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(04-06-2018 03:45 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(04-06-2018 01:09 PM)stever20 Wrote:  yeah. I love how advanced metric folks are defending him right now. They desperately need him to succeed. Dumb **** like pulling your starter 68 pitches in the game up 5-0 with 1 runner on in the 6th just because its 20 batters in isn't helping at all.

I don't believe it's necessarily dumb. And I'm absolutely willing to give him time before analyzing his moves. It's extremely early and he's trying to manage in a way that basically no one has. Naturally there's going to be a ton of blind skepticism.

I don't think it's the metrics, per se. It sounds like he is already losing his players - which says to me he's not communicating well with his team. Reports are that lots of Dodgers players who worked with him loathed the guy, and there was much lobbying by players for Roberts.

The thing is, the way he's doing it is going to make it a referendum on advanced metrics taking things way too far. I think why AJ Hinch got such praise last year was he did use advanced metrics, but wasn't afraid to ditch them at times.

Also, I think it being in Philly is interesting given they're just a few years removed from Chip Kelly and the Eagles.

(04-06-2018 11:08 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(04-06-2018 03:59 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(04-06-2018 03:45 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(04-06-2018 01:09 PM)stever20 Wrote:  yeah. I love how advanced metric folks are defending him right now. They desperately need him to succeed. Dumb **** like pulling your starter 68 pitches in the game up 5-0 with 1 runner on in the 6th just because its 20 batters in isn't helping at all.

I don't believe it's necessarily dumb. And I'm absolutely willing to give him time before analyzing his moves. It's extremely early and he's trying to manage in a way that basically no one has. Naturally there's going to be a ton of blind skepticism.

I don't think it's the metrics, per se. It sounds like he is already losing his players - which says to me he's not communicating well with his team. Reports are that lots of Dodgers players who worked with him loathed the guy, and there was much lobbying by players for Roberts.

The thing is, the way he's doing it is going to make it a referendum on advanced metrics taking things way too far. I think why AJ Hinch got such praise last year was he did use advanced metrics, but wasn't afraid to ditch them at times.

Also, I think it being in Philly is interesting given they're just a few years removed from Chip Kelly and the Eagles.

Philly makes it interesting because the fans are insane. They booed him at the home opener.

(04-06-2018 10:29 PM)stever20 Wrote:  the Dodgers in 2 of the 5 years they've won the division have been able to coast.... with a 3rd not quite coast mode but not real close either.....
2013- entered September 10.5 games up
2014- entered September 2 games up
2015- entered September 4.5 games up(and up to 8.5 games up 1 week later).
2016- entered September 1.5 games up
2017- entered September 16 games up

To me the problem just the same for the Dodgers is the starters have a lot of tread on their arms or injury past. Kershaw is 53 innings away from 2000. Rich Hill is 38. Alex Wood has a career high of 190 innings and made all of 25 starts last year because they could protect him. Kershaw has a major health question mark. If the Dodgers have to go full out for 162, there is a MAJOR question if those guys can stay healthy.

The standings data are silly but your last point is correct. Health is absolutely a concern - it's why they were treating the pitchers with kid gloves this spring. But there is no way in hell ANYONE (except maybe Steinbrenner ca 1980) looks at a season in April and plans for a big lead in September. It is ABSOLUTELY a luxury.

(04-06-2018 10:53 PM)stever20 Wrote:  Ohtani with another blast tonight. Makes you wonder if with him scheduled to start on Sunday- what will happen with him next few days. Does he DH again tomorrow? Do the Angels let him bat for himself on Sunday? With how hot he is- tough to take that out of the lineup.

vs Cleveland the other night (Tomlin for the first two at least):
112.8 MPH single
100.6 MPH single
104.5 MPH HR

That's serious power - sample size doesn't matter. Definitely early for most other offensive stats but love that my bold prediction is on shaky ground.

Mets are hot. Some guys really hitting the cover off the ball and pitching looks tough too, even with Thor getting knocked around a little. How do you sit Nimmo at this point? NL East could be fun.

4-3 Giants lead going into the 7th and that slob Dyson (who should not even be on a major league roster) immediately gives up a HR to Utley and a line drive single to Grandal.

Welp, turned out right for y’all. We put our own guy who doesn’t belong on the major league roster out there. I think the only reason Font is with the big league club is that he’s out of options.

(04-07-2018 08:46 AM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(04-06-2018 11:08 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(04-06-2018 03:59 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(04-06-2018 03:45 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  

(04-06-2018 01:09 PM)stever20 Wrote:  yeah. I love how advanced metric folks are defending him right now. They desperately need him to succeed. Dumb **** like pulling your starter 68 pitches in the game up 5-0 with 1 runner on in the 6th just because its 20 batters in isn't helping at all.

I don't believe it's necessarily dumb. And I'm absolutely willing to give him time before analyzing his moves. It's extremely early and he's trying to manage in a way that basically no one has. Naturally there's going to be a ton of blind skepticism.

I don't think it's the metrics, per se. It sounds like he is already losing his players - which says to me he's not communicating well with his team. Reports are that lots of Dodgers players who worked with him loathed the guy, and there was much lobbying by players for Roberts.

The thing is, the way he's doing it is going to make it a referendum on advanced metrics taking things way too far. I think why AJ Hinch got such praise last year was he did use advanced metrics, but wasn't afraid to ditch them at times.

Also, I think it being in Philly is interesting given they're just a few years removed from Chip Kelly and the Eagles.

Philly makes it interesting because the fans are insane. They booed him at the home opener.

Philly saw what a guy thinking outside the box did with Chip Kelly and didn't like it. So they're already very skeptical about that kind of thinking.

(04-07-2018 02:33 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  Mets are hot. Some guys really hitting the cover off the ball and pitching looks tough too, even with Thor getting knocked around a little. How do you sit Nimmo at this point? NL East could be fun.

they actually look healthy finally.

Speaking of the Phillies, they'd be smart top throw a ton of money at Harper. Put him in the middle of the order with Hoskins (who's destroying the ball) and you'd have one of the most dangerous 1-2 punches in the league. And outside of Arrieta they don't really have any money committed.

Watching Ohtani vs the A's. He's Kd 4 of the first 6, topping out at 97 with a splitter that's so nasty it could give you nightmares. So far I'm unimpressed by his slider, but let's see what happens he has a better feel for the baseball that MLB uses.

Meanwhile the Giants look totally punchless against Kershaw. It's about time they start considering finding a replacement for Pence. His 14 wRC+ and -.3 fWAR are not doing us any favors

Ohtani rolls through them in the 3rd - 2 K's and a pop out. Hit 98 and 99 and threw a couple changeups (forkballs?) at 80mph. Both K's were on the splitter, which is basically unhittable. He's quite a talent

12 up, 12 down. He K'd Semien on 100 mph paint. So far i've seen a fastball top out at 100, a splitter at 88, slider at 83 (threw only one really good one), changeup at 80 and curve at 68

Strikes out the side in the 5th. 99 past Davis, 99 past Olsen, splitter past whoever the third victim was

1-2-3 in the sixth, the last a swinging K on an 87 mph splitter

gave up a hit in the 7th and then a walk. Wasn't used to being in the stretch (it's a different leg kick for him), but K'd Olson on a nasty split to end the inning. Maintained his velocity, hitting 98 on his last fastball thrown. What a performance.

Kid looks like the real deal. If he can keep this up (ie the league doesn’t figure him out), the Angels are pretty dangerous.

Most exciting thing to happen to baseball in my lifetime. Shohei is definitely having the best week ever!

(04-08-2018 06:23 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  Kid looks like the real deal. If he can keep this up (ie the league doesn’t figure him out), the Angels are pretty dangerous.

I just pray the Angels injury bug doesn't rub off on the kid. Baseball needs this!

(04-08-2018 03:45 PM)flyingswoosh Wrote:  Meanwhile the Giants look totally punchless against Kershaw. It's about time they start considering finding a replacement for Pence. His 14 wRC+ and -.3 fWAR are not doing us any favors

Glad for the win but Dodgers offense still looking putrid. 10 hits and 4 walks yields 2 runs? Ugh.