tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post1733136703920353064..comments2024-03-28T10:50:33.234-07:00Comments on Nationals Baseball: Monday Quickie - Phillies stink.Harperhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-77083711682714530902015-04-22T07:50:38.407-07:002015-04-22T07:50:38.407-07:00The Desmond situation last night reminded me of JV...The Desmond situation last night reminded me of JV baseball. I was a lousy hitter... and I can remember facing a particular pitcher who would stifle a smile while watching me dig in. You know he's thinking, "this'll be quick."<br /><br />Desmond is *not* a lousy hitter, but all the world knew he was going to get a steady diet of balls down and away, even with the bases loaded, because he has no patience and plate discipline, rarely goes the other way with a pitch, and because the Cardinals are well coached . <br /><br />Desmond has elite talent... but someone please tell him to stop trying to impersonate Dave Kingman.<br /><br />@anon - great point. "Players' coach" MW probably took the "my guy can beat your guy" macho/stupid approach, as opposed to using, y'know, rational thought.JE34noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-27593702472219430622015-04-22T07:12:23.150-07:002015-04-22T07:12:23.150-07:00Better question, why in the hell is Matt Williams ...Better question, why in the hell is Matt Williams pitching to Holliday with a man on third and one out? That's stupid managing. Put him on, pitch to Peralta, hope for the game ending double play... or a strikeout and then a pinch hitter for the pitchers spot.<br /><br />Pitching to Holliday has got to be the lowest EV option in that scenario.<br /><br />And Desmond. Jesus. All I could do was laugh from my seat as I watched him try to hit the ball 800 feet. Typical E'in Desmond approach.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-91296828043641335032015-04-22T07:05:20.237-07:002015-04-22T07:05:20.237-07:00Oops. Must have been looking at spring training st...Oops. Must have been looking at spring training stats. Anyway, correct link is: <br /><br />http://tampabay.rays.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp?c_id=tb#elem=[object+Object]&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Player+hitting&game_type=%27R%27&season=2015&season_type=ANY&league_code=%27MLB%27&sectionType=sp&statType=hitting&page=1&ts=1429711182091Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-35205820291279084202015-04-22T06:58:10.361-07:002015-04-22T06:58:10.361-07:00JE34, I was yelling at the tv that Desmond didn...JE34, I was yelling at the tv that Desmond didn't have a situational bone in his body, too!<br /><br />I think Ramos called a bad game last night, honestly. With the darting, reasonably good fastball Storen had, and a base open, why would you feature anything but inside heat to Holliday. Change up? Sure, he probably would have hit a broken-bat quail over the infield, but c'mon.blovy8https://www.blogger.com/profile/06888192019412533415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-21023370921841474302015-04-22T06:52:24.292-07:002015-04-22T06:52:24.292-07:00Watching Storen last night made me yearn to see on...Watching Storen last night made me yearn to see one of the Fingers/Lyle/Gossage olde tyme 3-inning saves. Roark looked like his aggressive old strikey self that could have blown through that team with the extra couple of mph on the fastball he was featuring. Bullpen roles, matchups, bah!<br /><br />whoops, wrong blog...blovy8https://www.blogger.com/profile/06888192019412533415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-82057091226836665212015-04-22T05:37:48.095-07:002015-04-22T05:37:48.095-07:00Hey, it's entirely possible the trade works ou...Hey, it's entirely possible the trade works out for everyone: Turner turns out to be the next Ian (or the next Jose Reyes), Ross develops into a mid-rotation starter, Myers lives up to his potential, and Souza ends up being an all-star outfielder, and everybody's happy because they received value at positions of need in return for value at positions of a lack of need.DezoPenguinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-45970687344664688832015-04-22T03:42:00.322-07:002015-04-22T03:42:00.322-07:00Sudden recoiling relapse--Yunel heads for home and...Sudden recoiling relapse--Yunel heads for home and there's Span.....untucking. Nooooo!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-872395190752222062015-04-21T19:35:40.805-07:002015-04-21T19:35:40.805-07:00In other news... Ian Desmond makes me want to scre...In other news... Ian Desmond makes me want to scream. Just horrendous situational hitting. His current average is smoke and mirrors. Swinging wildly with one out and bases loaded. My kingdom for a hitting instructor. GAAAAH.JE34noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-53447759790653840132015-04-21T18:19:39.136-07:002015-04-21T18:19:39.136-07:00I credit JW for not pulling up the first couple of...I credit JW for not pulling up the first couple of weeks worth of stats and blaring "I TOLD YOU SO" on the Souza trade. <br /><br />I was sorry to see Souza go. I beleive he would have been a valuable bench piece this year and injury fill-in who probably would have received significant ABs.<br /><br />But I also beleive in Rizzo, so I'm banking on many years of contributions from Turner and Ross.Zimmerman11https://www.blogger.com/profile/14524103974207323535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-6081925708317614622015-04-21T13:35:07.560-07:002015-04-21T13:35:07.560-07:00I was ok with the Souza trade. But you pull up TB...I was ok with the Souza trade. But you pull up TB espn team page and Souza leads all categories at the top - avg (.289), hr (3), obp (.373), rbi (10), and hits (13). Anyway, looks like TB is doing ok with that trade. We'll see how the end of the year is going. Also, I think Rizzo deserves benefit of the doubt on any trade (not that they all work out). But who said - ah we got Roark from Texas back when Guzman was traded. I figured it was the equivalent of get what you can. Everyone could tell Fister was a steal, but most trades take time. Turner and Ross are both highly regarded - let's see how they develop and the impact they make in the long term. If Ross is a #3 starter and Turner is the SS of the future then that trade is a no brainer every time, but we won't know for a while.Jaynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-23064810085551588382015-04-21T13:25:30.078-07:002015-04-21T13:25:30.078-07:00Things I think I know: 1) I don't think it wou...Things I think I know: 1) I don't think it would be very fun to discuss athletes and sports with Bxjaycobb (due to my own lack of credentials); 2) This sort of discussion happens on every sports blog and online community everywhere (and the guy with Bx's position rarely comes out looking well); 3) It's hard to resist "taking the bait" when a poster posts something like Bx did.<br /><br />Carry on!WiredHKnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-51324920443477793072015-04-21T12:20:53.494-07:002015-04-21T12:20:53.494-07:00let me try that again - https://twitter.com/Nation...let me try that again - https://twitter.com/Nationals/status/589841935612928000Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-91580250241085581302015-04-21T12:20:04.800-07:002015-04-21T12:20:04.800-07:00Harper it's your worst nightmare (the 2nd name...Harper it's your worst nightmare (the 2nd name from top):<br /><br />https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CC-J_oUWYAAFAgo.jpgAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-66421557708027436652015-04-21T12:03:54.881-07:002015-04-21T12:03:54.881-07:00I have no great insight to offer, but just wanted ...I have no great insight to offer, but just wanted to say that I love this blog and I come here to discuss my favorite team with other baseball nerds. There's not too many of us left nowadays. I'm also not a scout or a robot. Peace!Rob Dogg 29484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-40760611751595273792015-04-21T11:26:40.558-07:002015-04-21T11:26:40.558-07:00@Anon (last one) - Where you getting that OPS numb...@Anon (last one) - Where you getting that OPS number for SOuza? I'm reading about... .906 for him for the Rays so far this year. He's been hitting well for themBjd1207https://www.blogger.com/profile/08595153543505790679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-22957670828095346282015-04-21T10:35:26.100-07:002015-04-21T10:35:26.100-07:00So what if someone played college / Asian ball or ...So what if someone played college / Asian ball or just goes to 30 games a year like I do, this is an opinion blog and people should feel safe enough to make comments even if they don't have man-crushes on Bryce Harper or Stephen Souza. <br /><br />I come to Harper's blog because I get to hear a wonky sabermetric-ish take on things and I usually learn something and often find myself changing my opinion after reading other's take on things. <br /><br />One thing for sure, it's no fun to get belittled or called names by someone who feels compelled to dominate the conversation. Froggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05425616684415704428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-66360850356687822832015-04-21T08:46:38.200-07:002015-04-21T08:46:38.200-07:00Yikes. Do we have to go there?
And what's all...Yikes. Do we have to go there?<br /><br />And what's all this talk about Souza (OPS .463) being better than Taylor (OPS 814)? If Harper didn't say it, it probably ain't so.<br /><br />I'm not a scout/robot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-62353075465060007412015-04-21T08:27:41.214-07:002015-04-21T08:27:41.214-07:00obv not Kenny B's q.obv not Kenny B's q. Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-86127407240773823932015-04-21T08:27:11.544-07:002015-04-21T08:27:11.544-07:00The point is that many fans make proclamations abo...The point is that many fans make proclamations about prospects with much higher certainty than is appropriate.<br /><br />That being said, everyone is allowed to have their own opinion, whether they're a scout or not. The pursuit of knowledge and understanding is worthwhile and should not be restricted to professionals (or baseball would not be fun to follow)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-80598430438619247802015-04-21T08:25:01.975-07:002015-04-21T08:25:01.975-07:00Hey hey hey! Snip it! Hey hey hey! Snip it! Harperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738813756060133236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-52497413349422447992015-04-21T08:22:03.687-07:002015-04-21T08:22:03.687-07:00It is indeed kind of silly to show up in the comme...It is indeed kind of silly to show up in the comments section of a blog and start accusing commenters of lacking professional experience when they are openly and unambiguously stating that these are just their opinions (on top of the fact that it is the comment section of a blog, so that should be obvious).<br /><br />Would you walk into a sports bar and accuse every fan there of lacking the requisite qualifications to discuss their favorite players? Maybe you would, but I wouldn't recommend it.<br /><br />On a related note, I learned a lot about JWLumley today. Curious where you played, if you feel like discussing it.Kenny B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/01104648417209196641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-937924763455267372015-04-21T07:53:36.380-07:002015-04-21T07:53:36.380-07:00Oh, one other thing BxSummer'sEve, Just like K...Oh, one other thing BxSummer'sEve, Just like KLaw and other pro scouts, I am often wrong. Happens, and just because someone else may not have played baseball at a higher level or know anyone in the game doesn't somehow make their opinion less valid. JWLumleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359661418378496780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-19935862977066606872015-04-21T07:45:41.965-07:002015-04-21T07:45:41.965-07:00Well Bxwhatever. I actually played baseball in col...Well Bxwhatever. I actually played baseball in college, got paid to play baseball in Asia, know a number of scouts, as well as several past and present big leaguers. I have seen Ross play in person as well as Souza and Taylor. I've seen enough video of Turner to have a good idea of the player as well as read people like KLaw, Sickels etc. All that being said, you got me, I am not in fact a pro scout. Mostly because I like seeing my kids and making a living wage. Congratulations to you! Do you feel so much smarter than everyone else now? You've identified the obvious! Yay. Let me go ahead and break the next big case for you, none of us have ever worked in a big league front office either. Perhaps you might want to consider that the guy who discovered the theory of relativity, wasn't a paid physicist and the guy who revolutionized baseball through statistics was working as a night Security Guard. Also, consider this: Ruben Amarro Jr. is paid a large sum of money to run a major league baseball team. The 49ers, a billion dollar company, are run by somebody's kid. Professional scouts thought so little of Mike Piazza that he nearly went undrafted. They thought so highly of Todd Van Popple that he skipped the minor leagues and was given a huge bonus (for the time). Professional scouts have given you Lastings Milledge, Willie Mo Pena and a host of other "prospects" we've all forgotten. Point being, just because someone pays you to do something doesn't mean you're good at it. And scouting is anything, but an exact science. <br /><br />P.S. Keith Law is a smart guy, but I don't worship at the temple of KLaw and would dare say there are a number of people out there even better than him, he just happens to write for ESPN. JWLumleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13359661418378496780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-76530349017167941622015-04-20T19:06:59.366-07:002015-04-20T19:06:59.366-07:00The number of people on this blog who think they a...The number of people on this blog who think they are pro scouts is hilarious. Nobody and that includes Keith Law knows if Trea Turner will end up being good. Taylor and Souza I suppose you can have an opinion on, but it's not going to be a good opinion. And Ross....ur kidding. That guy could be anything from a 2nd starter to a bust. If u think you know or are "high on him" or "low on him" you're literally full of it. Unless you have training as a scout and have seen him play in person. BxJaycobbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15841583667789907324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9207681.post-36616151854498397322015-04-20T13:48:05.719-07:002015-04-20T13:48:05.719-07:00Though I like Taylor and would like to see him up ...Though I like Taylor and would like to see him up here for good, it won't happen with Span still here. The notion of giving Span and Werth "off every 4th game or so" doesn't bode well for the consistency of Werth, Span, or Taylor. Sitting Werth of Span that often is about as a good an idea of a football team going with 2 quarterbacks every other game...it hardly ever works.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com