MLB 2013 season

M

Man0warr

Molten Core Raider
2,265
171
Pirates have scored 6 total runs in this 4 game losing streak. Pitchers have to hold a team to 1 run max to get a win right now. Elite pitching + Mediocre batting is a recipe for streakiness and disappointment.
Click to expand...
Pretty much what has been the issue with Texas all year, too. Yu Darvish went 7 starts without a win and had an ERA close to 2.00 in those games.

Their pitching is better than ever, but losing Napoli and Hamilton plus several stints on the DL for Kinsler, Moreland, etc have really caused the offense to suck for long periods of time. Looks like Adrian Beltre is finally heating up though - can't believe he didn't make the All-Star team hitting .320 with 20 HRs, and when he's fully healthy he's the best defensive 3B to boot. Machado might have taken that crown though since he's young.

It's all about the pitching though - Rangers have the 2nd lowest ERA in the AL, while playing in one of the best hitter's parks. The bullpen may be even better than the starters, and the starters include 3 rookies. They will easily have the best SP+Bullpen in the majors once everyone is healthy around September (Darvish/Holland/Harrison/Lewis/Perez + Robbie Ross/Neal Cotts/Ogando/Soria/Scheppers/Nathan), that's before assuming they may even pull off a deadline deal for Cliff Lee or Garza.
 
taebin

taebin

Same trailer, different park
973
450
They aren't getting Lee or Garza. If their recent boon has shown JD anything it's that a return of Harrison/Lewis/Ogando would be enough to get them over the hump. They don't want to deal Profar short of Price or Hernandez it seems, so I think they are rolling with what they got.
 
M

Man0warr

Molten Core Raider
2,265
171
Yeah but it's no guarantee Colby Lewis or Matt Harrison will be up their top form in time for the stretch run/postseason, and Ogando is a proven short term starter but I still think he's at his best in the bullpen.

If they don't want to have to use one of Tepesch/Grimm/Perez in the postseason, they may need to make a move. I'd rather them get someone to replace Berkman/Cruz like Alex Rios. JD isn't going to overpay for a rental like Garza though and it sounds like the Cubs want a ton for him.
 
Grimmlokk

Grimmlokk

Ahn'Qiraj Raider
12,190
135
Pirates just got their 5th run tonight, this game is over.

Also, Pedro Alvarez is not gonna be in the Home Run Derby. Bryce Harper and Michael Cuddyer(because he played in High school with David Wright...). I know for the season this is probably good, but it still annoys me since it's been so long since the Pirates had a player that actually deserved to be there.
=============================================

Was watching some ESPN this morning and they're talking about Fatrollo Colon. They ask Kurkjian if he thinks PED's might be part of his resurgence. His answer is along the lines of "Well, last time he came back like this we found out he was juicing, but this time when he's doing the same thing I think it's just because he has strong legs at 40 years old."


Seriously.
 
Alex

Alex

Still a Music Elitist
14,791
7,565
It's a travesty that Colon was the only A's player picked for the All Star game. Grant Balfour deserves to be in far more than him. Balfour is a shutdown closer. Over 40 consecutive saves!
 
Furry

Furry

Email Loading Please Wait
<Gold Donor>
23,473
31,400
Balfour's good, but I dont think you can reasonably argue hes been as good as nathan and crain. Maybe rivera, but hes got a big name for the popularity contest.
 
Agenor

Agenor

Ahn'Qiraj Raider
2,472
6,416
Alex_sl said:
It's a travesty that Colon was the only A's player picked for the All Star game. Grant Balfour deserves to be in far more than him. Balfour is a shutdown closer. Over 40 consecutive saves!
Click to expand...
Donaldson should have made it. Guy is having a great season.
 
Grimmlokk

Grimmlokk

Ahn'Qiraj Raider
12,190
135
i7ySvTzu8CDAg.gif
 
S

sl4ck3r_sl

shitlord
132
2
arkktheseaotter_sl said:
This Chris Davis thing seems legit.
Click to expand...
Has hit a HR in his past 4 games and today he cranked another 4 RBI's so now he's 37/93 at the break. It's strange to see him connect with a hit because if it was any other person it'd be a typical pop out in the outfield, but Davis is so damn strong it just sails right over. Totally pumped for this Home Run Derby action this year.
 
Gilgamel

Gilgamel

A Man Chooses....
2,869
52
So what PED is Chris Davis using? He's basically gone from Jay Buhner to HGH-Head Bonds in one season.

I'm going with shark pheramones mixed with ground up rhino penis.

And don't bother with the justifications. People explained away every other power surge for legitimate baseball reasons too, and almost all of those players were using. "No guys Brady Anderson just started doing Tae Bo four times a week and it's really improved his core strength". "Sammy sure has improved his pitch selection, tell ya what" "You think Barry looks different? I think it's natural for your forehead to project further as you age".
 
A

arkktheseaotter_sl

shitlord
406
0
Yeah the Davis excuse is, "He was always strong he just improved his plate discipline." Oh okay. He has over 100 strikeouts.

The annoying thing and why I joke about this whole shit is that after all the steroid stuff the media still acts like its an insult to Davis to question this whole power surge. "Until he fails a test" or "he denied allegations." Stop. Female Olympic weightlifters pass IOC drug tests, and what's he gonna do, admit it?

Whether he is or isn't, whatebs, but I wish a prominent baseball writer would be like "Hmmm, ya know...."
 
moontayle

moontayle

Golden Squire
4,302
165
I think it's simply an outlier. Davis could very well go back to being a AAAA player after the break. I think this is what the Rangers were always hoping for when it comes to his potential. They just didn't have the luxury of waiting for it to come around. Moorland's been pretty good though, so no complaints.
 
S

sl4ck3r_sl

shitlord
132
2
moontayle_sl said:
I think it's simply an outlier. Davis could very well go back to being a AAAA player after the break. I think this is what the Rangers were always hoping for when it comes to his potential. They just didn't have the luxury of waiting for it to come around. Moorland's been pretty good though, so no complaints.
Click to expand...
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...ng-chris-davis-- great, and lengthy article on the changes Davis has made. Oh, and the fact that Miguel Cabrera's old hitting coach on the Marlins is now the hitting coach of the O's. It'd be a shame if any of his results came positive, but I don't think it's the case with Davis as shown from younger pictures, the guy has always been huge. Davis might regress and he just had a slump of 3 hits out of 9 games just prior to the past 4 games, but who knows when he'll have a lengthy slump.
 
A

arkktheseaotter_sl

shitlord
406
0
sl4ck3r_sl said:
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/...ng-chris-davis-- great, and lengthy article on the changes Davis has made. Oh, and the fact that Miguel Cabrera's old hitting coach on the Marlins is now the hitting coach of the O's. It'd be a shame if any of his results came positive, but I don't think it's the case with Davis as shown from younger pictures, the guy has always been huge. Davis might regress and he just had a slump of 3 hits out of 9 games just prior to the past 4 games, but who knows when he'll have a lengthy slump.
Click to expand...
No one is saying he didn't make changes, but I don't want to see anyone act like its impossible that he's not clean. If he passes 61, look at the list of people who have. People with established, proven careers already to that point, and in Bonds case was already a hall of famer, and then added steroids and they went off.

Chris Davis basically "changed a few things" and started mashing enough home runs to make a run at Bonds records? Come on son, that excuse ain't that good.
 
S

sl4ck3r_sl

shitlord
132
2
I see it as that, he always had the power, but not the discipline, correct form, etc. Davis already had the moniker Crush with the Rangers so it's not like the muscles weren't there, he just had to be more efficient at the plate and now it's paying off for him at the moment. Eventually you'd expect to see a few of those "changed a few things" to be able to connect with the ball more and they're gone. And at this point I'd be surprised if Davis kept up his pace to beat Maris's AL record to be honest.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.