2020 MLB Spring Training (1 Viewer)

[Zegras11]

I want to hear more about The Sheik’s pitching career. 

AA Little League All-Star for the Astros

 

[falguy]

I pitched in LL and a little after that. Went to one of those radar things they had set up in the ballpark last year in Cleveland. The hardest I could muster  with all my strength and not even a legal windup was 61, I think. 84-85 is really way better than most could do, but yeah, not good enough to play in the show. 

I was mid 60s too. Pretty embarassed to see that R.A. Dickey's knuckleball got up into the 70s and that mofo was just floating. 

 

[TheIronSheik]

I will say, going into tonight's Game 7, there's a different feel than 2 years ago.  In 2017, I felt like it had to happen or my soul would be crushed.  When they won, it was an amazing feeling.  And a couple of months later, I got to see my Eagles win the SB.  I got to take my daughter to the parade in Philly and that was a great memory.  

Sure, I still want Houston to win tonight, but I don't NEED them to win, if that makes sense.  I used to feel like there were empty spots in my heart without the Eagles, Astros and Phillies winning.  But I've seen them all now.  And I've been able to share them with my family.  

I have a beautiful wife, a wonderful daughter, an amazing family...  It's just weird to me.  I remember 2 years ago, the day of Game 7 being so nervous and trying to think about how I'd handle a loss.  It consumed me.  But today, it's not that big of a deal.  Again, I want them to win.  I really hope they do.  But if they don't, tomorrow will just be a normal day.  And 2 years ago, I know that wouldn't have been the case.  

I actually started getting sick yesterday, so when I get home from work tonight, I'll probably end up just going to bed.  I think I've finally realized that while sports are great and I love them, I no longer have to let them consume me.  Get upset by them or feel depressed by them.  It's a freeing realization.  I feel like I've unlocked a level I've been trying to beat for decades.  

Go 'Stros!

 

[Da Guru]

I pitched in LL and a little after that. Went to one of those radar things they had set up in the ballpark last year in Cleveland. The hardest I could muster  with all my strength and not even a legal windup was 61, I think. 84-85 is really way better than most could do, but yeah, not good enough to play in the show. 

I was at Comerica Park in Detroit where they had the radar set up. You get 5 pitches for a couple bucks.  I was watching guys throw and they were in the 50s and 60s.  I thought I am pretty sure I can hit 80.    First pitch was 67, topped out at 71.  Getting old..

 

[TheIronSheik]

I was mid 60s too. Pretty embarassed to see that R.A. Dickey's knuckleball got up into the 70s and that mofo was just floating. 

It's even more soul crushing when you see those guys throwing BP and it looks like they're barely chucking them in and they're registering low to mid 80's.

 

[NREC34]

At my best, I was probably mid to just over mid 80's.  Seeing the other guys throwing in the 90's felt like they were throwing 80mph faster than me.  Again, my control and deception made up for my lack of speed.  Although, once in college, neither of those things could have kept me from getting shelled routinely.  I would have been great for a batter or two.  But that's about it.

Sounds kind of like Maddux. 

 

[TheIronSheik]

Sounds kind of like Maddux. 

I used to say that, albeit jokingly.  Again, I could pitch against a guy in practice and fool him the first at bat.  But after the second or third time, I was just throwing them BP.  It was a huge reality check.

 

[Rodrigo Duterte]

We've got game 7 of the World Series in a few hours and this had devolved into some glory days conversation.  Neat.

 

[Major]

I wouldn't rule out Stras or Verlander either.

I'd rule out Verlander.  He's been average at best this series.  

 

[AAABatteries]

Early indications from Vegas showing that more money is coming in on the Nationals than the Astros. Whether this is sharp money or public money, I am not sure.

Scherzer is truly the key to me. 

If he is totally healthy he could shut the Astros down. If not and they tee off him it could get ugly. 

I don't gamble because to me it's a losing proposition but if I did bet this is a game I would just pass on - nobody knows how healthy he is.  Dude could go out there and try to gut it out and pitch a gem, get shelled in the 1st or throw 3 pitches and has to come out.  Seems like a fool's errand to guess some guy's health.

 

[Don Quixote]

I'd rule out Verlander.  He's been average at best this series.  

Yeah, that's true.  And Astros have more bullpen to pull from than the Nats, so less of a need for him.

If Strasburg's arm isn't Jell-O today, I would not hate going to him like D'Backs did with Randy Johnson in 2001.

 

[NREC34]

They’re saying on Houston talk radio that this will be the first ever matchup of 2 Cy Young winners in a WS. 

Seems like that should’ve happened before. How in the world has Strasburg not won one?

 

[Major]

We've got game 7 of the World Series in a few hours and this had devolved into some glory days conversation.  Neat.

If coach woulda put me in fourth quarter, we would've been state champions.  How much you wanna bet I can throw a football clear over dem mountains?  

 

[Jayrok]

When I was in HS I could throw a football over that mountain. 

 

[Jayrok]

Wow.. timing

 

[Zegras11]

When I was in HS I could throw a football over that mountain. 

I hit 50% of my half court shots in HS.

 

[Jayrok]

I hit 50% of my half court shots in HS.

And they were fade aways, amirite?

 

[Zegras11]

And they were fade aways, amirite?

called bank on everyone 

 

[General Malaise]

We've got game 7 of the World Series in a few hours and this had devolved into some glory days conversation.  Neat.

I've got an Astros WS ticket at +200.  Nothing huge - $166 to win $322.  Hedging out kinda seems like a wussy move, but I'm not sold on the Astros right now.  What should I do?

 

[General Malaise]

They’re saying on Houston talk radio that this will be the first ever matchup of 2 Cy Young winners in a WS. 

Seems like that should’ve happened before. How in the world has Strasburg not won one?

Injuries, mostly.  He's topped 200 innings only twice.  200 Ks thrice.  He finished 3rd in 2017, behind Scherzer and Kershaw.  Scherzer topped him in ERA, WHIP, Ks, Innings and the dumbest metric considered, wins.  His competition in the NL has been fierce.  

All that said, he should win it this year.  

 

[E-Z Glider]

I've got an Astros WS ticket at +200.  Nothing huge - $166 to win $322.  Hedging out kinda seems like a wussy move, but I'm not sold on the Astros right now.  What should I do?

I had $20 to win $280 on the Nats at the start of the playoffs. I hedged $70 to win $40 on the Astros after they went up 3-1 on the Yankees because I thought they were gonna steamroll the Nats. No idea what to think about this game tonight, but I sure hope the Nats win. 

 

[falguy]

When I was in HS I could throw a football over that mountain. 

Ya, but How far can to toss a Ritz?

 

[matttyl]

They’re saying on Houston talk radio that this will be the first ever matchup of 2 Cy Young winners in a WS. 

Seems like that should’ve happened before. How in the world has Strasburg not won one?

First ever in a game 7. 

 

[Jayrok]

Ya, but How far can to toss a Ritz?

100 yards. Minimum. 

 

[parasaurolophus]

Guys on the radio just summed up that interference call pretty well, i think. 

Basically said it is a bad rule that is selectively enforced and pretty much only comes into play when there is a bad throw.

ETA: but all three agreed by letter of the law it was called correctly. 

 

[Capella]

I had a friend was a big baseball player
Back in high school
He could throw that speedball by you
Make you look like a fool boy
 

 

[Don Quixote]

Guys on the radio just summed up that interference call pretty well, i think. 

Basically said it is a bad rule that is selectively enforced and pretty much only comes into play when there is a bad throw.

ETA: but all three agreed by letter of the law it was called correctly. 

I thought Fangraphs posted a pretty detailed account of the rule this afternoon too.  Kind of interesting that Joe Torre was on the losing argument of a non-interference call in similar circumstances involving Travis Fryman -- report there said, "The Yankees blamed Hendry for not calling Fryman out for interference, but Jim Evans, the crew chief, explained that no matter what Fryman’s path to first was, the ball hit him as he stepped on or was about to step on the base and he was entitled to be in fair territory when he reached the base because the base was in fair territory."  Maybe Torre telling umps to call it in that situation now?

AJ Hinch said today that he sided with Turner.

 

[Gally]

Yeah, that's true.  And Astros have more bullpen to pull from than the Nats, so less of a need for him.

If Strasburg's arm isn't Jell-O today, I would not hate going to him like D'Backs did with Randy Johnson in 2001.

With how conservative the Nationals have been with Starsburg over the years there is no way in hell they are bringing him back today after throwing 100+ pitches yesterday.  if there was a couple days in between then maybe....but no way he is available today after throwing that much yesterday. 

 

[Don Quixote]

With how conservative the Nationals have been with Starsburg over the years there is no way in hell they are bringing him back today after throwing 100+ pitches yesterday.  if there was a couple days in between then maybe....but no way he is available today after throwing that much yesterday. 

Still TBD...

Chelsea Janes @chelsea_janes
Davey said he’s going to ask Strasburg if he thinks he can pitch tonight.
5:33 PM · Oct 30, 2019

 

[Gally]

Still TBD...

Chelsea Janes @chelsea_janes
Davey said he’s going to ask Strasburg if he thinks he can pitch tonight.
5:33 PM · Oct 30, 2019

It would be a big mistake.  (See Kershaw).  He did his job helping the bullpen yesterday by going 8+ innings...

Bringing in starters to relieve is a huge risk.  

 

[Eephus]

Bringing in starters to relieve is a huge risk. 

Roles are overrated but nobody should go the day after throwing 100 pitches.

 

[Eephus]

I'm prejudiced but game 7 of a World Series is better than a game 7 in other sports.  

Also of course better than any single knockout game.

 

[TheIronSheik]

I'm prejudiced but game 7 of a World Series is better than a game 7 in other sports.  

Also of course better than any single knockout game.

Hockey is by far the best. 

 

[Eephus]

I'm prejudiced but game 7 of a World Series is better than a game 7 in other sports.  

Also of course better than any single knockout game.

Hockey is by far the best. 

You're prejudiced

 

[Nigel]

Hockey is by far the best. 

The floor for a game 7 hockey game is definitely much higher than that of a game 7 baseball game.

 

[Zegras11]

Hockey is by far the best. 

I've been to:
2001 WS Gm 7
2002 WS GM 7
2003  Stanley Cup game 7

 

[Eephus]

The floor for a game 7 hockey game is definitely much higher than that of a game 7 baseball game.

I'll give you Stanley Cup overtime vs. World Series extra innings.

But all NHL playoffs are seven game series so game sevens are relatively common.  There's also not the intrigue of lineups and pitching matchups.  Shifts may get longer but lines don't change much from game 6 to 7.

 

[cosjobs]

I've got an Astros WS ticket at +200.  Nothing huge - $166 to win $322.  Hedging out kinda seems like a wussy move, but I'm not sold on the Astros right now.  What should I do?

stay the course. That's what I would be doing if Kevzilla hadn't played daddy to me.

 

[cosjobs]

You're prejudiced

now imagine that the hockey team was black

 

[Gally]

Roles are overrated but nobody should go the day after throwing 100 pitches.

I agree roles are overrated but pitchers are creatures of habit.  Starters get ready to go a lot differently than relievers and it is a transition and different mindset going in.  Not every starter can handle that change especially in a huge moment.  Just like closers that only pitch one inning an outing all year many times have difficulty pitching two innings because of the break between being on the mound.  They have to approach it differently and not everyone can.  I think Kenley Jansen has a problem with that.  He melted down every time he was called on to go more than one inning in last year's playoffs. 

But bottom line....nobody should throw the day after throwing 100+ pitches. 

 

[Don Quixote]

Roles are overrated but nobody should go the day after throwing 100 pitches.

I generally agree and don’t think Strasburg would be the ideal scenario. But if the Nats find themselves in a hole and need to decide between the Fernando Rodney Experience or Strasburg on no rest, I may take my chances.

 

[cosjobs]

I generally agree and don’t think Strasburg would be the ideal scenario. But if the Nats find themselves in a hole and need to decide between the Fernando Rodney Experience or Strasburg on no rest, I may take my chances.

Is he signed with the Nats for next year?

Cole as a FA inclines me toward using him however it helps win the series.

 

[Gally]

I'll give you Stanley Cup overtime vs. World Series extra innings.

But all NHL playoffs are seven game series so game sevens are relatively common.  There's also not the intrigue of lineups and pitching matchups.  Shifts may get longer but lines don't change much from game 6 to 7.

But you were basing this on game 7 of the world series so this would be compared to game 7 of the SC finals.  Not any of the other rounds of playoffs.  A game 7 for the trophy is the most exciting thing of that sport.  For a spectator SC Hockey is better than WS baseball (and I am a baseball guy).  The intensity and excitement of any goal being the game winner in non-stop action never lets you relax for a second.  Baseball has a different kind of stress but it gives you breaks to relax and recoup.  Hockey doesn't have that. 

 

[NREC34]

Is he signed with the Nats for next year?

Cole as a FA inclines me toward using him however it helps win the series.

He has opt out clause in his contract 

 

[Zow]

Craziest part of this series is:

The series itself has been amazing as a whole, but individually, the games themselves have been boring.  No drama in game.  

Yep. This has been my wife's complaint. 

 

[Zow]

I pitched and played OF in HS.   I thought I was a flame thrower but in reality I was only hitting 84-85 with my best fastball.  That is pretty good for HS but a scout won`t even look at anyone unless they are in the low 90s.  I don`t think people realize how hard it is to add MPH to a fastball. Plus toss in the fact I could not throw strikes with my curve and I was a one trick pony. I am left handed and I beaned many a left handed batter with a curve that did not break.

I once read a quote "Great pitchers are born not made"  Should be great "fastball" pitchers.

Yeah it's just all about being born with a live arm. I would my butt off in high school (throwing programs, working out, getting routine therapy done to my elbow, etc.) just to get my arm at the level where colleges would want it for right field and it just didn't happen. 

 

[belljr]

I thought Buzz Aldren was Kirk Douglass....

Not kidding

 

[Eephus]

I thought Buzz Aldren was Kirk Douglass....

Not kidding

Aldrin last pitched in game 3 so he's rested and ready if called upon tonight.

 

[whoknew]

Why in the world would he have bunted?

 

[dgreen]

Soto is an adventure out there. 

Need a shortish leash with Max tonight.