Well I'm glad my Cubs picked up a 60 year old washed-up Cole Hamels and yet another mediocre reliever in Brandon Kinztler. Meanwhile every other contender in the NL went and got All-Stars. And Jacob deGrom is still in a Mets uniform. Good job, Jed.
With Yu Darvish being a complete $180million headcase (who didn't see that disaster coming?!), Byrant & Rizzo not doing jack shit all season, Brandon Morrow not being able to stay off the DL (who didn't see that coming?!), and Maddon's completely baffling, almost-daily preference for Ian "0-5 w/ 4K" Happ over Albert Almora Jr... this team may as well book their vacations in October because the playoffs aren't happening. If they do, it will be an early exit.
They fall behind EVERY game and fall behind EVERY series and have to play catch up. 60% of their wins are of the "come-from-behind" fashion. And while that's great they've been able to pull it off up 'til now, you can't expect to do it that consistently against playoff caliber teams. Law of averages is bound to set in at some point and we're starting to see that now. You can't give up runs in the first inning every game, never have your bats come alive until the 6th or 7th, lose game 1 of every series, and expect to accomplish much.
It seems like many of these guys' heads blew up after winning it all and just don't feel the need to perform at the levels they're well capable of. If anyone, I would've thought Baez would be the biggest culprit of inflated ego, but it turns out he is one of the few that have elevated their level of play to MVP status (I'm talking team MVP, not league, although he certainly could be in that discussion). He, Almora, Heyward (!!), & Lester are the only ones who seem to go out there and perform at their absolute best every day. When a 37 y/o Ben Zobrist who doesn't even play daily is your 4th best offensive output player of the season, you've got problems that need to be addressed with urgency.
How about that performance by Jake Arrieta last night?! Fuck you, Scott Boras! That man would still be in a Cubs uniform if not for his greedy, arrogant ass!
uhh emm ... didn't looked washed up last night
Hope he can keep it up! If the Cubs hadn't made so many errors he probably could've gone another inning or two.
Len & JD were talking during the game about how he historically does well when Joe Maddon is in the ballpark. World Series MVP against the Rays, no-hitter at Wrigley against the Cubs. Maybe it's just one of those things.
Scioscia stepping down as manager after this season
long overdue.
If I had known then what I know now...
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
Why should a batter fear getting hit? Do you say the same thing about other sports? Players don't fear cheap shots and injuries and that makes the sport?
Know what else was part of the game? Rampant racism, drugs, steroids and tons of other shit. Sports evolve.
Why would it be a good thing for a player to fear getting a cheap shot?
I am all about pitching inside but intentionally hitting someone, fuck outta here.
Why should a batter fear getting hit? Do you say the same thing about other sports? Players don't fear cheap shots and injuries and that makes the sport?
Know what else was part of the game? Rampant racism, drugs, steroids and tons of other shit. Sports evolve.
Why would it be a good thing for a player to fear getting a cheap shot?
I am all about pitching inside but intentionally hitting someone, fuck outta here.
Agreed.. it's like.... barreling into the catcher for no reason.
On another rant, I hate those amplified mics that ESPN uses on the plate or wherever. I've never heard a bat crack as loudly in person, as they sound on TV. It's obnoxious.
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The Juggler
Behind that bush over there. Posts: 47,242
Maybe "fear" isn't the best word but for lack of a better term:
Some receivers fear going over the middle against some secondaries/safeties (or at least they used to).
Some players in basketball fear driving to the basket against certain teams and big men (at least they used to).
I think these are similar to what Tempo’s talking about.
A hard foul or hit is equivalent to pitching inside and potentially hitting someone to own the inside portion of the plate.
Intentionally hitting someone is equivalent of an intentional head shot across the middle or an elbow to the head.
One has a place in the game, the other doesn't.
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The Juggler
Behind that bush over there. Posts: 47,242
I wasn't referring to intentional shots to the head or elbows to the head. You can certainly lay out a receiver over the middle without going after his head just like you can foul a player hard whose driving the lane without launching an elbow to the head. Both of those scenarios absolutely have places in their games (or al least they used to).
I wasn't referring to intentional shots to the head or elbows to the head. You can certainly lay out a receiver over the middle without going after his head just like you can foul a player hard whose driving the lane without launching an elbow to the head. Both of those scenarios absolutely have places in their games (or al least they used to).
Agreed...and you can throw inside without intentionally hitting someone. My original comment was in reference to this...
I have no problem with chin music or moving someone off your plate (as a pitcher, you have to believe it's yours). Growing up in Cleveland, we were taught to pitch inside until May, because the weather was so cold that kids would get sawed off and be hesitant to hold the bat firmly. But hitting intentionally is shit ball.
I wasn't referring to intentional shots to the head or elbows to the head. You can certainly lay out a receiver over the middle without going after his head just like you can foul a player hard whose driving the lane without launching an elbow to the head. Both of those scenarios absolutely have places in their games (or al least they used to).
Agreed...and you can throw inside without intentionally hitting someone. My original comment was in reference to this...
I say hit em in the back or the thigh.
Back or thigh should be fine and the best players in the game know that they are targets when baseball politics are involved. Aiming at anyones head is uncalled for and doesn't have any place in the game.
I wasn't referring to intentional shots to the head or elbows to the head. You can certainly lay out a receiver over the middle without going after his head just like you can foul a player hard whose driving the lane without launching an elbow to the head. Both of those scenarios absolutely have places in their games (or al least they used to).
Agreed...and you can throw inside without intentionally hitting someone. My original comment was in reference to this...
I say hit em in the back or the thigh.
Back or thigh should be fine and the best players in the game know that they are targets when baseball politics are involved. Aiming at anyones head is uncalled for and doesn't have any place in the game.
Nah, bush league. As good as pitchers are, they miss enough that it's too dangerous. Give me an equivalent in another sport that is acceptable.
I wasn't referring to intentional shots to the head or elbows to the head. You can certainly lay out a receiver over the middle without going after his head just like you can foul a player hard whose driving the lane without launching an elbow to the head. Both of those scenarios absolutely have places in their games (or al least they used to).
Agreed...and you can throw inside without intentionally hitting someone. My original comment was in reference to this...
I say hit em in the back or the thigh.
Back or thigh should be fine and the best players in the game know that they are targets when baseball politics are involved. Aiming at anyones head is uncalled for and doesn't have any place in the game.
Nah, bush league. As good as pitchers are, they miss enough that it's too dangerous. Give me an equivalent in another sport that is acceptable.
In Football they make a point to hit a person harder. It happens. Pile-ons can garner some interesting scuffles.
In Hockey they hit a person a little harder. Sometimes a slash to the leg when the ref isn't watching.
In Basketball they can set a pick. No more hard fouls, if you do u get T'd up quickly.
In soccer everyone just flops so i guess you can pretend to hit someone?
I wasn't referring to intentional shots to the head or elbows to the head. You can certainly lay out a receiver over the middle without going after his head just like you can foul a player hard whose driving the lane without launching an elbow to the head. Both of those scenarios absolutely have places in their games (or al least they used to).
Agreed...and you can throw inside without intentionally hitting someone. My original comment was in reference to this...
I say hit em in the back or the thigh.
Back or thigh should be fine and the best players in the game know that they are targets when baseball politics are involved. Aiming at anyones head is uncalled for and doesn't have any place in the game.
Nah, bush league. As good as pitchers are, they miss enough that it's too dangerous. Give me an equivalent in another sport that is acceptable.
In Football they make a point to hit a person harder. It happens. Pile-ons can garner some interesting scuffles.
In Hockey they hit a person a little harder. Sometimes a slash to the leg when the ref isn't watching.
In Basketball they can set a pick. No more hard fouls, if you do u get T'd up quickly.
In soccer everyone just flops so i guess you can pretend to hit someone?
All poor examples, in my opinion. Throwing a 90 something mile an hour pitch at an unsuspecting person is much more akin to a head shot in football, which is also not acceptable.
A slash to the leg, hard fouls...come on. Throwing heat at an unsuspecting person is crap and and you know it.
I wasn't referring to intentional shots to the head or elbows to the head. You can certainly lay out a receiver over the middle without going after his head just like you can foul a player hard whose driving the lane without launching an elbow to the head. Both of those scenarios absolutely have places in their games (or al least they used to).
Agreed...and you can throw inside without intentionally hitting someone. My original comment was in reference to this...
I say hit em in the back or the thigh.
Back or thigh should be fine and the best players in the game know that they are targets when baseball politics are involved. Aiming at anyones head is uncalled for and doesn't have any place in the game.
Nah, bush league. As good as pitchers are, they miss enough that it's too dangerous. Give me an equivalent in another sport that is acceptable.
In Football they make a point to hit a person harder. It happens. Pile-ons can garner some interesting scuffles.
In Hockey they hit a person a little harder. Sometimes a slash to the leg when the ref isn't watching.
In Basketball they can set a pick. No more hard fouls, if you do u get T'd up quickly.
In soccer everyone just flops so i guess you can pretend to hit someone?
All poor examples, in my opinion. Throwing a 90 something mile an hour pitch at an unsuspecting person is much more akin to a head shot in football, which is also not acceptable.
A slash to the leg, hard fouls...come on. Throwing heat at an unsuspecting person is crap and and you know it.
Nope. I believe it should be part of the game. I actually hate when the dugouts get warnings.
I am also a big fan of old school baseball and to watch and hear the stories of Gibson or Drysdale brushing back batters is awesome.
Hell, I loved the ongoing feud w Randy Johnson and Kenny Lofton. Liked watching Pedro and Clemens work batters too.
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F Me In The Brain
this knows everybody from other commets Posts: 30,617
I think there is a time and a place to blow someone off the plate with a purpose pitch.
I do think there is a time and a place to hit someone -- although it is pretty rare and should be done in the way least likely to cause any lasting damage.
I think to bean Acuna because he is on a hot streak to open the game is total garbage. Hitting him in the elbow is even more of a garbage play.
Comments
long overdue.
Vegas 93, Vegas 98, Vegas 00 (10 year show), Vegas 03, Vegas 06
VIC 07
EV LA1 08
Seattle1 09, Seattle2 09, Salt Lake 09, LA4 09
Columbus 10
EV LA 11
Vancouver 11
Missoula 12
Portland 13, Spokane 13
St. Paul 14, Denver 14
So, my take is that batters do not fear about getting hit anymore. They dig in every time before every pitch.
If a batter gets brushed back then the ump gives the pitcher a warning and then the batter owns the box pretty much.
Brushing back the batter and hitting the batter are part of the game but when you have an idiot that throws at someones head then it ruins it.
I say hit em in the back or the thigh.
ALL part of the game!!
Know what else was part of the game? Rampant racism, drugs, steroids and tons of other shit. Sports evolve.
Why would it be a good thing for a player to fear getting a cheap shot?
I am all about pitching inside but intentionally hitting someone, fuck outta here.
On another rant, I hate those amplified mics that ESPN uses on the plate or wherever. I've never heard a bat crack as loudly in person, as they sound on TV. It's obnoxious.
Some receivers fear going over the middle against some secondaries/safeties (or at least they used to).
Some players in basketball fear driving to the basket against certain teams and big men (at least they used to).
I think these are similar to what Tempo’s talking about.
Intentionally hitting someone is equivalent of an intentional head shot across the middle or an elbow to the head.
One has a place in the game, the other doesn't.
I say hit em in the back or the thigh.
In Hockey they hit a person a little harder. Sometimes a slash to the leg when the ref isn't watching.
In Basketball they can set a pick. No more hard fouls, if you do u get T'd up quickly.
In soccer everyone just flops so i guess you can pretend to hit someone?
A slash to the leg, hard fouls...come on. Throwing heat at an unsuspecting person is crap and and you know it.
Let's agree to disagree.
I am also a big fan of old school baseball and to watch and hear the stories of Gibson or Drysdale brushing back batters is awesome.
Hell, I loved the ongoing feud w Randy Johnson and Kenny Lofton. Liked watching Pedro and Clemens work batters too.
You want to fight someone, fight someone, but don't take a cheap shot.
Next topic!!!
Say what?!?
I love the Angels and Trout but the team stinks.
JD Martinez or Betts are more deserving.
Thoughts?