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MLB 2022: The Long and Winding Thread

Discussion in 'Sports and News' started by Starman, Mar 18, 2022.

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  1. micropolitan guy

    micropolitan guy Well-Known Member

    Can't wait for the pitch clock next year. And for the reactions of some who will get all bent out of shape - when the ump starts calling automatic balls and strikes - about a rule change that should have happened 20 years ago.
     
    Hermes likes this.
  2. Songbird

    Songbird Well-Known Member

    Anyone here ever watch this doc called The Cuban Dream?

    You have to watch it on Vimeo's page.

     
  3. outofplace

    outofplace Well-Known Member



    Maybe Pirates' fans have finally wised up.
     
  4. Baron Scicluna

    Baron Scicluna Well-Known Member

    Reports out there that both the Yankees and Red Sox were fine with ending the game because they had late travel for Monday’s games. But ESPN supposedly was pushing for the game to continue because of Judge. So the Yankees apparently threatened to bench Judge and some other guys because of fear of injury on the wet field and ESPN relented.
     
    I Should Coco and 2muchcoffeeman like this.
  5. Twirling Time

    Twirling Time Well-Known Member

    How many more jacks would Pujols have had if he'd stayed and played in New Busch?
     
  6. JC

    JC Well-Known Member

    I am sure people around here will fully agree with this.

     
  7. Michael_ Gee

    Michael_ Gee Well-Known Member

    What can I say? The National League home run leader, Schwarber, bats leadoff for the Phillies, too, despite a batting average under .220. They've had a pretty good year, too. Clearly there's a data point inside baseball that escapes me, but must have come validity to it.
     
  8. CD Boogie

    CD Boogie Well-Known Member

    Well if you're up first you have the best chance of getting the most at-bats. I don't think it's more complicated than that: give your best hitter the most opportunities to hit.
     
    bigpern23 likes this.
  9. bigpern23

    bigpern23 Well-Known Member

    He also leads the league in OBP at .422, which happens to be about 100 points higher than any Yankee not named Rizzo. So in the 600 ABs when he doesn't hit a home run, he's putting pressure on the other team by getting on base.

    Rizzo (OBP .340) is the only other Yankee regular with an OBP north of about .320, so it makes some sense to try to give yourself a chance to put someone on base right away. The counter point, of course, is that maybe if Judge were looming behind Rizzo or Torres, or whomever, they'd get some better pitches to hit because pitchers won't want to walk them ahead of Judge.

    Both approaches have merit.
     
    Hermes likes this.
  10. Hermes

    Hermes Well-Known Member

    I always prefer the power guy hitting second, just to avoid first inning power being wasted (sequencing matters!) and hitting your best OBP guy first, but in this case there’s no real candidate other than Rizzo to lead off.
     
  11. JC

    JC Well-Known Member

    Bonds would have been the best leadoff hitter of all time.
     
  12. outofplace

    outofplace Well-Known Member

    Maybe if he had gone the clean route, though Henderson was tough to beat. He didn't have as much power, but he was more disruptive on the basepaths.
     
    Fred siegle likes this.
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