KC runners vs. Angels catchers... Who ya got?

[yk9001]

I am comforted by having CJ on the mound for game two.  Won't be many base runners.

[WallyWorld]

 . . . because they'll all hit the ball over the fence??

[LBHalos17]

I'm afraid of the Royals running game; they stole 7 bases last night!  Our catchers will have a tough time keeping them in check.  I expect Scoscia to put-on a lot of pick-offs and pitch-outs to try and slow them down.

 

The key on defense will be holding them to fewer bases on hits and walks.

[Angel Oracle]

That is one area of Nibs' game that has been solid throughout 2014: only 6 successful steals off of him out of 13 attempts.

 

Weaver even holds runners on well.

[Slegnaac]

Over / Under number of pitch outs Scioscia calls in game 1.

3.5

[WallyWorld]

will be interesting to watch. not sure if it ends up being as big a factor as everyone thinks. I remember one of the playoff series' against Boston, the Angels led the league in SB and Boston had like the worst % throwing out runners, so everyone thought it would be this huge advantage and we'd run all over them. We got like 1 SB the entire series. You just never know how things are going to shake out.

[19HALO71]

Just limit the walks!!!

[bloodbrother]

Their 2 fastest guys, Dyson and Gore aren't even starting/can't hit...so they are reduced to pinch runners. Cain/Escobar will start but both have very poor OBP%. Just need to keep them off the bases more often than not and teams have done that most of this year. This entire team is aggressive, they were dead last in walks...just let them get themselves out by reaching for pitches out of the zone

[bloodbrother]

will be interesting to watch. not sure if it ends up being as big a factor as everyone thinks. I remember one of the playoff series' against Boston, the Angels led the league in SB and Boston had like the worst % throwing out runners, so everyone thought it would be this huge advantage and we'd run all over them. We got like 1 SB the entire series. You just never know how things are going to shake out.

 

Agreed. They had 7 SB....which tied a postseason record, and they needed all 7 of them to come back. Good luck doing that every game

[WallyWorld]

...just let them get themselves out by reaching for pitches out of the zone

 

which you would think would play into CJ's hands.

[tomsred]

Their 2 fastest guys, Dyson and Gore aren't even starting/can't hit...so they are reduced to pinch runners. Cain/Escobar will start but both have very poor OBP%. Just need to keep them off the bases more often than not and teams have done that most of this year. This entire team is aggressive, they were dead last in walks...just let them get themselves out by reaching for pitches out of the zone

CJ says, "I'm good with throwing out of the zone."

[fan_since79]

The title of this thread is a joke, right?

[floplag]

our catchers arent exactly Molinas, but they are a far cry better than Norris ranking between Soto and Norris in terms of CS%.
KC didnt run on soto, who threw out 45% of runners or thereabouts on the year...   Norris was about 17%.  Ianetta is about 30% even.
they will get a few, but I expect some of the slower ones wont run as much.

[yk9001]

The title of this thread is a joke, right?

 

It was not a joke.  Just a thread to promote baseball discussion.

[WallyWorld]

It was not a joke.  Just a thread to promote baseball discussion.

 

how dare you, sir.

[AngelStew43]

Can't steal first base.  Make them hit the ball, and have the defense get them out.

[QuinlansMinion]

They are exactly the type of lineup Weaver excels against.  Cant hit homers, cant get on base, cant walk.  They are perfect for CJ too.

[angelfan61]

The Royals running game will be very formidable.  That said, the Angels pitchers will give the catchers a chance as they will do much better holding on the runners.  A's pitchers do not  hold on runners as a general rule.

[Angel Oracle]

It was probably just a fluke game, but the game at KC was Shoemaker's one real bad MLB start in 2014.

It was so fluky in fact that Omar Infante hit a grand salami off of him.

Take away that one start, and his 3.04 ERA shrinks to under 2.60 (top 5 in AL if eligible, just ahead of GRich).

Edited October 1, 2014 by Angel Oracle

[Erstad Grit]

A Royals team who loves to hack and not take walks is perfect for CJ and Satiago. 

[T.G.]

The groundskeepers need to make sure the infield is good and wet....

[Jay]

In the WC game you had the A's power vs. KC's speed on the bases.  You let KC reach base and they will score on you.  Which is problematic for Angels pitchers, who gave up the most BB of any team in the playoffs.

[Inside Pitch]

which you would think would play into CJ's hands.

Another thing CJ has going for him is he may just throw a guy out at first base while trying to throw a strike to the catcher.  

[ukyah]

if the angels play their game, then they'll bury the royals. don't worry about what the royals can do, just play good angel baseball and it won't even be a competitive series. angels win in three, maaaaaaybe four.

Edited October 1, 2014 by ukyah

[HaloFan85]

Definitely giving the edge to the Royals in this department.

 

Angels pitchers really need to come out throwing more strikes, especially with Iannetta behind the plate.  Iannetta sucks at framing pitches, so nibbling should be out the window when he's behind the plate.  Conger would be much better for the nibble game, but Iannetta will be the primary catcher.