BASEBALL 2019---LET'S DO IT!

[DCPatriot]

@DCPatriot
You've never heard of awakening the sleeping giant? 

I shutter at the thought that Ryan Zimmerman is rehabbing in Hagerstown, Maryland....and planning on returning. 

UGH...How in the hell are they going to sit Adams OR Kendricks...it will ruin the chemistry of the dugout.

[EasyAce]

I shutter at the thought that Ryan Zimmerman is rehabbing in Hagerstown, Maryland....and planning on returning. 

UGH...How in the hell are they going to sit Adams OR Kendricks...it will ruin the chemistry of the dugout.

Not necessarily. Both those guys have been Zimmerman teammates before, and I thought Zimmerman was considered one of the genuinely good guys in their clubhouse.

[GrouchoTex]

Is it me, or does it seem like Correa is fragile? I love having him healthy and playing, but in the two years I've been a baseball fan, he's spent a lot of time on the DL/IL.

(Please, no smart-a$$ answers. I truly want to learn.)

@AllThatJazzZ

I'm not sure, to be honest.

Rookie year is in 2015.
He seemed healthy in 2015 and 2016.

In 2017 had a ligament issue in his thumb, which what happened probably would have injured anyone.
First he slid into a catcher's shin guard, then hurt it further 2 weeks later on a swing.
The ligament required surgery.
He came back labor day weekend, and for 2017, the rest is history.

Last year 2018, he missed  8 weeks with back issues and never seemed the same until this year.

Of course, the broken ribs issue this year, which seems to be a fluke.
Now the back again.

I'd say he has one major concern (the back) and 2 flukes (the ligament and the broken rib).

Would I say he is fragile?
No, 2 of the 3 injuries were just weird, odd things.

Would I say his back is a concern?
Yes, 2nd time now.

Maybe this never happens again.
Maybe this never goes away.

I don't know.
Time will tell.

[AllThatJazzZ]

@AllThatJazzZ

I'm not sure, to be honest.

Rookie year is in 2015.
He seemed healthy in 2015 and 2016.

In 2017 had a ligament issue in his thumb, which what happened probably would have injured anyone.
First he slid into a catcher's shin guard, then hurt it further 2 weeks later on a swing.
The ligament required surgery.
He came back labor day weekend, and for 2017, the rest is history.

Last year 2018, he missed  8 weeks with back issues and never seemed the same until this year.

Of course, the broken ribs issue this year, which seems to be a fluke.
Now the back again.

I'd say he has one major concern (the back) and 2 flukes (the ligament and the broken rib).

Would I say he is fragile?
No, 2 of the 3 injuries were just weird, odd things.

Would I say his back is a concern?
Yes, 2nd time now.

Maybe this never happens again.
Maybe this never goes away.

I don't know.
Time will tell.

Thanks, @GrouchoTex. I appreciate the history and your take on it. My first awareness of him was WS 2017, so I knew nothing before that. I'm with you ... that back thing could prove concerning.

[GrouchoTex]

Thanks, @GrouchoTex. I appreciate the history and your take on it. My first awareness of him was WS 2017, so I knew nothing before that. I'm with you ... that back thing could prove concerning.

I had thought the back issues were gone this year.
However, do they ever really go away?
I do know that medical science improves all the time, and treatments get less evasive and heal faster.
Here's to hoping it was just a muscle strain.

To me, Correa, Altuve, Springer, and Bregman make up the nucleus of the team, as far as position players go.
Altuve is signed for 10 more years and Bregman 5.
I hope Springer and (a healthy) Correa can be signed for 5 or more each.
Add Alvarez to this, too.

I fear with the high price of pitching, some hard choices may be coming after 2020.

[catfish1957]

(Please, no smart-a$$ answers. I truly want to learn.)

 

[catfish1957]

I had thought the back issues were gone this year.
However, do they ever really go away?
I do know that medical science improves all the time, and treatments get less evasive and heal faster.
Here's to hoping it was just a muscle strain.

To me, Correa, Altuve, Springer, and Bregman make up the nucleus of the team, as far as position players go.
Altuve is signed for 10 more years and Bregman 5.
I hope Springer and (a healthy) Correa can be signed for 5 or more each.
Add Alvarez to this, too.

I fear with the high price of pitching, some hard choices may be coming after 2020.

I really expect Correa to be gone next year.  His prospective wife yearns for the big city LA or NY exposure.

[catfish1957]

I fear with the high price of pitching, some hard choices may be coming after 2020.

The board I follow had some lengthy discussion about the luxury tax, and  it is one very complicated matter.  Crane has done well in investing in talent, but doesn't have the fiancial resources to keep this talented roster long term.  I see Cole and Correa being jettiosned in 2020, hopefully being supplanted by Whitley, Tucker, and lower cost option at short.

[Bigun]

I really expect Correa to be gone next year.  His prospective wife yearns for the big city LA or NY exposure.

If the Astros win it all this year the will likely be several members of the team playing elsewhere next season as their price tags will exceed the avaliable resources.

[AllThatJazzZ]

It seems to me that if Correa has a propensity for injuries and for losing a lot of playing time, he would be less marketable. I don't know how things work in baseball, but that would be how things work in the "real world." Where am I wrong?

[GrouchoTex]

Although not MLB related, my wife and I went to a Sugar Land Skeeters game last night.

[Bigun]

It seems to me that if Correa has a propensity for injuries and for losing a lot of playing time, he would be less marketable. I don't know how things work in baseball, but that would be how things work in the "real world." Where am I wrong?

I don't think you are wrong @AllThatJazzZ.  Many things enter into these kid of decisions and the day to day reliability of players is definitely one of those things.

[catfish1957]

Although not MLB related, my wife and I went to a Sugar Land Skeeters game last night.

Maybe the apt team mascot ever.  They still sell Cutters there by the barrel?.   

[catfish1957]

I don't think you are wrong @AllThatJazzZ.  Many things enter into these kid of decisions and the day to day reliability of players is definitely one of those things.

Sadly in Correa's case, I don't think anyone really knows how much of his plight is being injury prone, or in his or his finacee's head.

I'll just leave it at that.

[GrouchoTex]

Maybe the apt team mascot ever.  They still sell Cutters there by the barrel?.   

LOL, yeah, and sunscreen.

They have a new deal called the Silver Skeeters club.
People age 55+ can sign up for 35.00 each.
It gets you 11 games, all tuesdays.
Brings the ticket price down to $3.11 per game.
My wife got a ticket from one of here friends, who went out of town.
( I had to buy a separate one at full price $ 14.00)
My wife and I are going to sign up for it next year.
You get a t-shirt, a soft drink voucher per game.
Pretty good deal.
The t-shirts are sponsored by a hearing aid company, which will be pretty appropriate for me soon, LOL.
Not a bad deal.

[Bigun]

Sadly in Correa's case, I don't think anyone really knows how much of his plight is being injury prone, or in his or his finacee's head.

I'll just leave it at that.

A player not wanting to be somewhere is also a big factor in how trades go down.

[DCPatriot]

The MLB is playing baseball, while the NATS are playing softball.

Last NINE games, they've had 90 hits to their opponents 37.

They are right now ahead of the CUBS in Chicago 9-0 in the ninth inning.

Anibal Sanchez has a one-hitter going.

Ends up 9-3!  Go NATS!   

[Polly Ticks]

... and now we can all breathe a sigh of relief that the Players Weekend uniform fiasco is finally over and done.

[AllThatJazzZ]

... and now we can all breathe a sigh of relief that the Players Weekend uniform fiasco is finally over and done.

 

They need to fire whoever thought that one up. I'm sure they'll hear about it for a long time.

[Bigun]

... and now we can all breathe a sigh of relief that the Players Weekend uniform fiasco is finally over and done.

   and  again!  I absolutely HATED those uniforms and hot to never ever be subjected to that again!

[GrouchoTex]

Goods news, the Astros are now tied with the Yankees for the best record in the American league.
No, I didn't like those Good Humor man uniforms, either.
I thought the bats were and shoes were fun.

[Polly Ticks]

No, I didn't like those Good Humor man uniforms, either.
I thought the bats were and shoes were fun.

Agreed. The bats and shoes were the parts where the players were actually able to express their individuality and their own interests, and that's what made them fun.

[Jazzhead]

The players looked like Spy vs. Spy.

[DCPatriot]

The players looked like Spy vs. Spy.

I'm convinced that the players were used as pawns....FREE pawns, in the quest to create a baseball video game.

With black and white uniforms and virtually no contrast to see names and numbers...in fact, 'nicknames' were used so that individual player has no recourse for compensation, it's easy to edit player numbers, etc..

Nothing else makes any sense in this entire BLACK/WHITE weekend of games.

[DCPatriot]

Agreed. The bats and shoes were the parts where the players were actually able to express their individuality and their own interests, and that's what made them fun.

HEY!!!

When in hell are the BRAVES ever going to lose another game?   WTH???     

[Polly Ticks]

HEY!!!

When in hell are the BRAVES ever going to lose another game?   WTH???     

@DCPatriot
LOL - I could ask the same question about your boys!
They're both on a tear, that's for sure.
 

[AllThatJazzZ]

@GrouchoTex

Goods news, the Astros are now tied with the Yankees for the best record in the American league.

I took this screen shot a few weeks ago to get me through some of the nail-biting times.

I thought the bats were and shoes were fun.

La Piña's bat was my fave.

[DCPatriot]

@DCPatriot
LOL - I could ask the same question about your boys!
They're both on a tear, that's for sure.
 

@Polly Ticks

 

[EasyAce]

Assuming the Nationals snatch the first National League wild card and win the wild card game, I suspect a postseason duel between the Nationals and the Braves is liable to be a duel to the death. Or, to suicide by bullpen. Whichever comes first. Though lately the Braves' bullpen seems to have ironed out their kinks. But still: If you were to start the postseason now with a Braves-Nationals set, each team's got to be thinking---get past their effective enough starters to abuse the bullpen, the earlier the better. Not to mention, putting muzzles on (for the Braves) Anthony Rendon and Juan Soto, or (for the Nationals) Ronald Acuna, Jr. and (the sleeper surprise for the Braves) Josh Donaldson.

[DCPatriot]

@Polly Ticks

LOL!  Spoke too soon!    They finally lost a game.

NATS are now 4 back in the lost column.   

[Polly Ticks]

@Polly Ticks

LOL!  Spoke too soon!    They finally lost a game.

NATS are now 4 back in the lost column.   

@DCPatriot
Darn it, you jinxed us!
 

[DCPatriot]

@DCPatriot
Darn it, you jinxed us!
 

 

[AllThatJazzZ]

FYI for Tuesday, August 27

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-tv-celebrates-17th-anniversary-with-free-baseball

STREAM EVERY GAME FREE TODAY (8-27-19)
By Matt Kelly @mattkellyMLB
12:01 AM EDT

MLB.TV will be completely FREE for today only -- so plan accordingly.

The renowned state-of-the-art service is celebrating the 17th anniversary of its first streamed game in 2002 by offering a one-day free trial, with all 15 Major League games streaming for free. Yes, you read that correctly -- it’s a full slate of big league baseball, from first pitch to last out, at your fingertips free of charge. Simply login and watch any available out-of-market game tonight (blackout and other restrictions apply).

Watch today's games

With the September postseason chase just around the corner, there’s no better time to jump in on the action. In Queens, the Cubs and Mets -- a pair of marquee clubs currently chasing the National League Wild Card -- begin a crucial three-game series. Another pair of NL Central contenders in the Cardinals and Brewers will battle in Milwaukee, while the Rays and Astros will stage a potential AL postseason preview in the Lone Star State -- with Cy Young Award contenders Charlie Morton and Justin Verlander dueling on the mound. Elsewhere, the Orioles and Nationals will write another chapter of their Beltway Series rivalry, and the Yankees will take on the Mariners in the Pacific Northwest.

An MLB.TV subscription provides fans with access to...

[AllThatJazzZ]

The Astros’ Secret Weapon: Tons of Strikeouts—and Never Striking Out
Houston could become the first team to have the most strikeouts from the mound and the fewest at the plate in the same season since strikeouts were first tracked MLB-wide in 1913

by Jared Diamond
Aug. 27, 2019 7:52 am ET

The Houston Astros are among the favorites to win the World Series, and the reason is shockingly simple: They are really, really good at hitting the ball and really, really good at preventing their opponents from hitting it.

This explanation might sound insultingly obvious. But in reality, what the Astros are doing right now is beyond remarkable—it’s on the verge of being unprecedented. The Astros entered Tuesday with the most strikeouts in the major leagues from the mound and the fewest strikeouts in the major leagues at the plate. No team has done that over a full season since batters’ strikeouts were first tracked MLB-wide in 1913.

That powerful combination isn’t a coincidence. Under the leadership of general manager Jeff Luhnow and his data-driven front office, the Astros have beaten all of their competitors in the race to weaponize perhaps the most important statistic in modern baseball: the strikeout. And it has made them a juggernaut.

“That’s an attribute that a lot of people building teams would like to have,” reliever Will Harris said. “I don’t think that’s by accident. They want guys who have bat-to-ball skills and pitchers that can put guys away.”

Scanning the Astros’ roster, it isn’t difficult to figure out...


https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-astros-secret-weapon-tons-of-strikeoutsand-never-striking-out-11566906733

[Polly Ticks]

@DCPatriot

[DCPatriot]

@DCPatriot

Come on, @Polly Ticks !    This is bullsh*t!!!!

I don't care how the BRAVES are playing...one does NOT lose to the ORIOLES!   One does not get SHUT OUT by the ORIOLES!

What.  The.   Hell.

 

[Polly Ticks]

Come on, @Polly Ticks !    This is bullsh*t!!!!

I don't care how the BRAVES are playing...one does NOT lose to the ORIOLES!   One does not get SHUT OUT by the ORIOLES!

What.  The.   Hell.

 

I know! Both our teams were doing well until we made the fatal error of talking about it out loud!
 
 

Hopefully they'll be able to right their respective ships tonight.

[catfish1957]

I know! Both our teams were doing well until we made the fatal error of talking about it out loud!
 
 

Hopefully they'll be able to right their respective ships tonight.

Y'all both just Dodger  snacks anyway.

See you later gotta run.......   

[DCPatriot]

Y'all both just Dodger  snacks anyway.

See you later gotta run.......   

@catfish1957

LOL!   I'm afraid, you're right!   

[DCPatriot]

Let's start a rumor.....   

Is Rush Limbaugh involved in the ongoing negotiations to buy the Kansas City Royals for $1Billion??

He's on 'vacation' this week...just announced last Thursday on air.   

[catfish1957]

Let's start a rumor.....   

Is Rush Limbaugh involved in the ongoing negotiations to buy the Kansas City Royals for $1Billion??

He's on 'vacation' this week...just announced last Thursday on air.   

Would be nice, but his interest in  NFL team ownership was squished at square 1 several years ago.  SJW laden professional sports would never allow it.

[EasyAce]

Would be nice, but his interest in  NFL team ownership was squished at square 1 several years ago.  SJW laden professional sports would never allow it.

Even without the SJW factor, forget it. From what I've seen, El Rushbo knows about as much about baseball as Connie Mack knew about quantum physics.

Besides, I can't help thinking about an exchange between Brooklyn Dodgers outfield legend Carl Furillo and The Boys of Summer author Roger Kahn, when Kahn bought and owned for awhile the minor league Utica Blue Sox. When Kahn called Furillo (while Kahn was writing the book, he and Furillo rekindled and kept for life a friendship that began when Kahn covered the Boys of Summer for the old New York Herald-Tribune) to tell him about the purchase, Furillo came back with, "You? An owner? You'll be lucky if you don't have two ulcers before Opening Day." If Limbaugh were crazy enough to buy the Royals, he'd be lucky if he didn't have two ulcers before Opening Day.

[EdJames]

I guess you Houston Astros fans are happy that your boys got lucky and squeaked by the Rays last night, 15-1.....


 

[Bigun]

Even without the SJW factor, forget it. From what I've seen, El Rushbo knows about as much about baseball as Connie Mack knew about quantum physics.

Besides, I can't help thinking about an exchange between Brooklyn Dodgers outfield legend Carl Furillo and The Boys of Summer author Roger Kahn, when Kahn bought and owned for awhile the minor league Utica Blue Sox. When Kahn called Furillo (while Kahn was writing the book, he and Furillo rekindled and kept for life a friendship that began when Kahn covered the Boys of Summer for the old New York Herald-Tribune) to tell him about the purchase, Furillo came back with, "You? An owner? You'll be lucky if you don't have two ulcers before Opening Day." If Limbaugh were crazy enough to buy the Royals, he'd be lucky if he didn't have two ulcers before Opening Day.

IF Limbaugh is involved in any negotiations to buy the Royals you can bet your @$$ that a guy who knows plenty about baseball is sitting right there beside him.  Fellow by the name of George Brett.

[Bigun]

I guess you Houston Astros fans are happy that your boys got lucky and squeaked by the Rays last night, 15-1.....


 

   Had me on the edge of my chair for two whole innings!

[EasyAce]

IF Limbaugh is involved in any negotiations to buy the Royals you can bet your @$$ that a guy who knows plenty about baseball is sitting right there beside him.  Fellow by the name of George Brett.

Doesn't mean he'd listen to Brett.

I can think of a considerable gathering of owners who had that kind of knowledge to call upon and ignored it like the proverbial plague anyway. George Steinbrenner had tons of it to call upon in the 1980s and his Yankees still went down the drain little by little over that decade. (Reality check, folks: the Yankees didn't return to greatness until Steinbrenner's early 1990s suspension over the Howard Spira/Dave Winfield shenanigans left room for the real baseball people in that front office, particularly GM Gene Michael, to re-tool the team completely without having to worry about Steinbrenner's usual King of Hearts crap every other minute.)

I can even think of owners who got rid of that kind of knowledge when they took over a team or decided it was time to break up a successful team. Or, who did little to nothing after bringing in the people who'd turn good teams into rubble. (The Frank Lane Indians, anyone? The Cam Bonifay-Dave Littlefield Pirates, anyone?)

Come to think of it, I wonder if George Brett might put together a group to buy the Royals. It'd be a rarity, and he'd sure do a better job of it than Derek Jeter seems to be doing with the Marlins so far. And if you can think of any more popular move in Kansas City than George Brett co-owning the Royals . . .

[GrouchoTex]

I guess you Houston Astros fans are happy that your boys got lucky and squeaked by the Rays last night, 15-1.....


 

Should have been a pitcher's duel.

Uncle Charlie, who I like a lot (aka "CFM") got rocked a bit.

Those most interesting thing was Verlander getting tossed.

The Astros won 11-2 against the Angels on Sunday.
Had an off day Monday, and then beat the Rays 15-1.

This team is scary when clicking.

Some people I have asked me why I am following them so closely,watching every game that I possibly can.
Well, I always have, but these last few years, 2015-2019, have been special to me.

I may be exaggerating, but not by much, when I say this is like watching the 1929 Yankees, or the Big Red Machine of the 70's.
These types of teams don't come around everyday.
To have a team in our city for a change is a blessing.

I don't want to miss it.

[catfish1957]

I don't want to miss it.

Fangraphs has us winning the WS, at right at 30% right now.  Can't remember a team having that good of odds at FG, pre-Septmember.

[EdJames]

Should have been a pitcher's duel.

Uncle Charlie, who I like a lot (aka "CFM") got rocked a bit.

Those most interesting thing was Verlander getting tossed.

The Astros won 11-2 against the Angels on Sunday.
Had an off day Monday, and then beat the Rays 15-1.

This team is scary when clicking.

Some people I have asked me why I am following them so closely,watching every game that I possibly can.
Well, I always have, but these last few years, 2015-2019, have been special to me.

I may be exaggerating, but not by much, when I say this is like watching the 1929 Yankees, or the Big Red Machine of the 70's.
These types of teams don't come around everyday.
To have a team in our city for a change is a blessing.

I don't want to miss it.

That was the one game that I thought the Rays might be able to win....  Uncle Charlie on the mound..... and yes, I expected a great pitcher's duel!!   oh well....

I don't blame you for following them as closely as you can....  you guys have a special team there!!

Enjoy them to the max!!


 

[catfish1957]

That was the one game that I thought the Rays might be able to win....  Uncle Charlie on the mound..... and yes, I expected a great pitcher's duel!!   oh well....

I don't blame you for following them as closely as you can....  you guys have a special team there!!

Enjoy them to the max!!


 

C(F'n)M will always hold a warm spot in Astros fan's hearts.  His gutsy (while exhausted) 4 last innings of relief in G7 of the '17 WS, is part of the reason why we won it that year.