Inside Pitch

Always this...

Astros record in 1 run games -- 4-12. Mariners 20-9 Astros BP ERA - 3.03, Mariners 3.66 (Angels 3.64) Astros BP WHIP - 1.11, Mariners 1.20 Astros Save% 64.64, Mariners 67.65% That record in 1 run games is what it is..

This in a nutshell. The 2016 Rangers rode a significantly worse offense and mediocre pitching staff to a 95 win season on the strength of a 36-11 record in one run games. Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good -- winning teams often catch breaks. JD's Ms doing well this year doesn't change what he did in Anaheim, success or failure elsewhere won't validate his tenure here. If they end up pulling it out -- props to him and the Ms.

Lets play a game -- you list all the young guys that were relegated to the bench since 2000, and Ill show you all the young guys that were played over veterans.. Here's a list 2000 - 2 everyday starters age 25 or younger Bengie Molina was handed C job over incumbent Matt Wallbeck Adam Kennedy given 2B over Kevin Stocker, Justin Baughman was around too -- he had been the starter in 1998. Scott Schoenewise, Jarrod Washburn and Ramon Ortiz were all inserted into the rotation. Seth Ehterton age 23 and Brian Cooper age 25 were also given at least 10 starts - Tim Belcher was still around, as was Kent Bottenfield. Both were cast aside for the younger pitchers. 2001 - 2 everyday starters age 25 or younger David Eckstein was given the everyday SS job over Benji Gil who was the incumbent. Gil put up an OPS of .809 that year -- almost 100 points higher than Eck -- but Eck never lost the spot. Scott Speizio a career 2B through that point of his career was installed at 1B over Wally Joyner. 2002 - 1 everyday starter 25 or younger Lackey ousts Schoenewise from the rotation, Krod, Donkey, Scot Shields all given critical roles in the pen. 2003 - 0 everyday starters 25 or younger Jeff DaVanon handed LF starting job over veteran FA signing Eric Owens. Robb Quinlann given at bats over the older more experienced former Dodgers farm hand Adam Riggs. Scot Shields inserted as a starter over Kevin Appier -- who gets released. 2005 - 1 everyday starters 25 or under Troy Glaus allowed to leave in FA to make room for Dallas McPhereson (who would break down physically) Aaron Sele send packing to make room for Ervin Santana 2006 - 2 everyday starters 25 or younger Mike Napoli given top catching duties over Jose Molina and Jeff Mathis Chone Figgings given starts over Curtis Pride in CF Kendrys Morales and Casey Kotchman given priority over Robb Quinlann who was putting up an OPS over .800 Maicer Izturis given priority over Edgardo Alfonzo after Dmac breaks again. Jered Weaver supplants Jeff in rotation. 2007 - 3 everyday starters 25 or younger Adam Kennedy sent packing to make room for Howie Kendrick Casey Kotchman's turn to try to win 1B over Shea Hillenbrand (FA signing) Figgins takes over 3B (again over Hillenbrand who can play the two corner spots) 2008 - 4 everyday starters age 25 or younger Orlando Cabrera traded to make room for Erick Aybar Jeff Mathis starts eating away at Napoli's games at C Kendrys Morales back at 1B 2011 - 2 everyday starters age 25 or younger Peter Bourjos forces Torri Hunter to RF (Abreu moved to DH) Mark Trumbo given 1B Tyler Chatwood installed in rotation over Jerome Williams and Matt Palmer JD era starts Chatwood traded away for Ianetta, Jordan Walden traded for Hanson. AP signed (displacing Trumbo), CJ Wilson signed. 2012 - 1 everyday player 25 or younger Mike Trout displaces Peter Bourjos in CF Kendrys Morales displaces Abreu at DH (not really a case of a young guy over a vet but people like to pretend Abreu was keeping Trout from starting) Segura traded for Grienke. Ervin Santana traded away replaced by Blanton. 2013 - 1 everyday player 25 or younger JB Shuck takes over LF in place of Wells (Bourjos, Cowgill and Brad Hawpe all on roster) 2014 - 2 everyday players 25 or younger Kole Calhoun replaces Hamilton in RF -- Hamilton moved to LF CJ Cron gets the most at bats at DH Okay -- your turn.

Because they used that spot on JMF.

I hate when they Dipoto the spelling of Dipoto

http://www.espn.com/college-baseball/boxscore?gameId=381591096

Karate man panic on the inside....

The boring definitely got upped....

Richards, Skaggs, Heaney, Barria, Tropeano..... Still not shitty.

So..... Will they stick with the 6 man or just call up Barria and give him a regular turn. If they go five man, they can carry an extra arm... There are options at least.

I certainly wouldn't trade for him. But, he's a surer bet than most options that could be had via DFA.

Well... not to get technical but pretty much every study ever done has shown that run PREVENTION has a bigger impact on wins than run PRODUCTION. But run prevention tends to bore the living shit out of most fans...

I know Ettin is a fan of his . He checks a lot of the boxes for the Angels.. He bats left, he can play the OF, 1B, and 2B still... so, he has the positional flexibility this team needs. He would be under club control through 2020, so there is some value in that.. He's more of a three outcome hitter than I like but, he's not allergic to walks, his career OPS+ is 102, currently sitting at 109 and in 25 games (97 PAs), in Angel Stadium he's hit .304/.333/.478. People will point to his batting average but his career OPS is .724. His batting line this year is slightly better than Mike Moustakas career triple slash numbers. He's not great, but he could fill the corner OF spots fill in at 2B and IMO makes Young expendable.... assuming they would allow Herm to play CF

A team that can pitch stays in games and can get lucky... If I had to pick one, I think the team that struggles to hit is the lesser evil.

Joakim Soria is having a better season than his ERA shows -- he may be the easiest (cheapest get) among the "closers" that will be made available. Personally, I'd try landing him first.

Well, when they send them down they typically recall a RP that they can burn through for a bit.. Also, they can better regulate when and how he throws as opposed to the situation dictating if he gets to pitch.

Always remember that show .... Mel Allen's voice, my Dad, my brother and me watching it together .... that was such a ritual at our house. Back in those days TWiB might be the only time I'd get to see some guys other than going to see games given I was in bed by then time the news came on. I can still remember going to bed anticipating who would be on TWiB. My brother and I will often talk about how much our Dad would have loved the MLBNetwork.... And how much our Mom would have hated it... Lol

This was my favorite draft in a long time.. Not because of who we got or the players available but because the system was finally healthy enough where they could gamble with picks if they wanted to.... It was the first time since the late 00s where there wasn't an underlying feeling for me that they absolutely had to hit on a pick or the organization would be set back for a few years... If Adams or Jackson come close to living up to their billing then the team is stacked, if they fall short of that, it's not the end of the world......and now the team has a shit ton of pitchers to throw into RP roles in hopes of finding a gem or two. Good place to be again...

Tyler Stevens has a really nice 12/6 curve Clark used to throw low 90s as a starter -- Not sure if his stuff is playing up now that he's out of the pen -- but he's been a much better as a RP than at any point as a SP (professionally). Jewell, Rhoades and the two guys above (+ maybe Mahle), are likely our best best for help from within assuming they want to keep the SPs as starters.

A guy can get recalled within 10 days in the case of an injury... So, that's why Fletcher is saying he thinks Simmons is on the DL...

Heyman is reporting Kyler Murray and the A's have a deal that guarantees him close to $5M and allows him to play football (he's a QB and could be Baker Mayfield's replacement) at Oklahoma for 1 year.

Lets hope you're right!

I believe he's slated to go to USC..... this late in the draft -- that's more of a "Hey, we like you and we will be watching you" sort of pick than an real attempt to sign him IMO.

Ettin saw our jokes and thought to himself.... "Hold my beer"