October Baseball Thread

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 2:51 pm

bapo! wrote:I figured that you were being contrary, but now I'm beginning to think that you really feel this way. I didn't think I would ever disagree with you so strongly. I feel shaken to the core.

Yeah, I'm going 100% against my own kind on this. Its weird.

Steve of phpBB · Post by **Steve of phpBB** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 2:58 pm

mister d wrote:Well, baseball does have those rules, they're just ingrained. You can't station yourself in foul territory even if you know the batter is going to line the next pitch there.

Are there any other positioning rules? I guess the rule that the pitcher has to start from the rubber. Anything else though?

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:00 pm

More to my overall dislike is I don't think the offensive game it encourages is better.

I get this, but I don't think that research/scouting/etc. should be punished here. Somebody came up with a good defensive strategy; now it's time for the offense to adapt. There's always back-and-forth whenever an innovation is introduced.

And if you're so concerned with offense, maybe you should tell those hitters to spend less time complaining and more time lifting weights! [spits, grabs crotch]

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:09 pm

Steve of phpBB wrote:
mister d wrote:Well, baseball does have those rules, they're just ingrained. You can't station yourself in foul territory even if you know the batter is going to line the next pitch there.
Are there any other positioning rules? I guess the rule that the pitcher has to start from the rubber. Anything else though?

Catcher is supposed to be in the "catcher's box" prior to the release of the pitch. They never call this, but it's technically a balk when they are intentionally walking someone and the catcher leaves before the ball is released.

(Hey, something for you to get overly animated about going forward!)

ETA - Other than that, Delaware mentioned the only other rule governing positioning (lining up in fair territory.)

((You already mentioned the pitcher positioning rule.))

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:14 pm

bapo! wrote:Somebody came up with a good defensive strategy; now it's time for the offense to adapt.

But this it the thing. You can't adapt any other way than (1) ball over wall or (2) opposite field. Not only would that in effect be a lesser product, the attempt to put it into effect would likely drive down offense as well.

(AND ... I guess we can wedge time of game in here a little by saying increasing strikeouts probably do increase the time of game just a little bit as I imagine all K PAs average more pitches than all non-K PAs.)

Just to alter this a little for the sake of fighting "all innovation is good innovation" ... what if a team found a guy who could make contact at will and deployed him to run up 20 pitch PAs? Like say a Luis Castillo type who you can't just lob the ball to because he can hit some, but his value would come from wearing out pitchers. And then other teams started following and it became a new player type, the #2 hitter who can hit behind the runner or bunt but can also foul off lots and lots of pitches. Would that be worth it or would you eventually make it 7 total strikes and you're out?

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:24 pm

In your hypothetical, I would assume that the hitter who tries to foul-off 20 pitches would get beaned, and then purists would talk about how baseball has always been able to police itself without the League stepping in and telling them what to do, thank you very much.

In regards to shifting, my small-market bias plays into this, as the Pirates were an early-adopter, and it worked well for them. So, for me, this goes back to 'Moneyball' and market inefficiencies. Banning shifts penalizes smart teams, and I don't want to see that.

Rex · Post by **Rex** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:29 pm

mister d wrote:what if a team found a guy who could make contact at will and deployed him to run up 20 pitch PAs?

that's called cricket

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:41 pm

bapo! wrote:In regards to shifting, my small-market bias plays into this, as the Pirates were an early-adopter, and it worked well for them. So, for me, this goes back to 'Moneyball' and market inefficiencies. Banning shifts penalizes smart teams, and I don't want to see that.

I guess I don't see it as a penalty, per se. Everyone knows about it now, there's data everywhere, all teams shift. Its either now a common part of the game going forward or not, but the advantage isn't local.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:47 pm

Opposite field hits aren't aesthetically pleasing? Is that part of the argument? I'm not trying to throw a straw man out there.

I'll just say an opp field hit is one of my favorite in the game.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:48 pm

So do we automatically believe Bauer because we know he's a weirdo who loves drones or do we wonder if he pulled a Joe Beimel?

bapo! · Post by **bapo!** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:50 pm

mister d wrote:
bapo! wrote:In regards to shifting, my small-market bias plays into this, as the Pirates were an early-adopter, and it worked well for them. So, for me, this goes back to 'Moneyball' and market inefficiencies. Banning shifts penalizes smart teams, and I don't want to see that.
I guess I don't see it as a penalty, per se. Everyone knows about it now, there's data everywhere, all teams shift. Its either now a common part of the game going forward or not, but the advantage isn't local.

This is definitely more true than it was a couple of years ago. But some teams are better at this than others, thru research or implementation. So I wouldn't say that it's equal opportunity across the board. The teams that are better at shifting would still lose an advantage if it were banned.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:54 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote:Opposite field hits aren't aesthetically pleasing? Is that part of the argument? I'm not trying to throw a straw man out there.

I'll just say an opp field hit is one of my favorite in the game.

I like opposite field hits like I like crafty 88 mph pitchers ... the ones who are great are great to watch. I wouldn't want a whole game of them or everyone trying to emulate them.

mister d · Post by **mister d** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 3:54 pm

Top pull hitters: http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?p ... &sort=14,d

Bottom pull hitters: http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?p ... &sort=14,a

Ryan · Post by **Ryan** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 6:28 pm

Ortiz goes away and now this jerkoff can't get enough grounders in the hole.

Do your worst

Post by **Sabo** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 9:36 pm

Laz Diaz is not having a good game calling balls and strikes, but that called strike on Encarnacion was a strike all the way.

degenerasian · Post by **degenerasian** » Fri Oct 14, 2016 9:54 pm

American League baseball under 3 hours

That French Guy · Post by **That French Guy** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 2:47 am

Whenever I do not have strong rooting opinions on remaining playoff teams, I like to root for teams that haven't won for a while and/or have been long suffering. Great playoffs so far !
I m still undecided between "the year of Cleveland" and "Epstein, curse breaker".

Post by **Sabo** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 6:52 pm

Woooooooooooooooooo

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 8:52 pm

Is kershaw pitching game 2?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:32 pm

I think Buck just said he was.

I think I may have left Lester in to Hit in that situation.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:32 pm

But it was Almost exactly a year ago I looked joe Maddon in he face and made a fool of myself so I'll let him handle this one.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:33 pm

I feel like if rass and I coordinated our drinking it would be awesome.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:36 pm

97 mph fastballs done look like much from this angle. I'd still love to stand in against even a single a pitcher and see what professional stuff looks like. I don't wanna swing. I just wanna look.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:37 pm

As an aside I found out a while back that every pitch I thought was a fastball I threw in little league and senior league was in fact a changeup which explains a lot. No one ever showed me how to hold the ball and I had a tendency to grip too much of the seam where it circles. Had no clue. I coulda been a contender.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:41 pm

Good talk guys. Candlesticks make a nice gift.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:41 pm

Sabo wrote:Wahooooooooo

Fify

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:41 pm

Is it a live chicken?

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:46 pm

My wife hasn't moved in an hour. I should check my insurance policy.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:47 pm

Mobile apps are great. I'm covered.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:51 pm

Baby ducks are cute.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:54 pm

Having trouble breathing through my eyelids.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:55 pm

The rose goes in he front.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 9:57 pm

Strike this fucker out.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:07 pm

These fans are terribly excited for a guy to strike 6 guys out in a row.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:07 pm

Oh shut up joe buck.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:08 pm

Jesus. Is that joe buck calling the game? I'm so hammered. Hat might be someone else. Who know. No way to tell.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:11 pm

For the love of Christ someone please talk to me.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:14 pm

Go drunk, AB, you're home.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:15 pm

DSafetyGuy wrote:Go drunk, AB, you're home.

That's the problem. I'm all alone. Wife may or may not be dead. I'm so cold.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Oct 15, 2016 10:16 pm

Ok. She moved her feet. I think she's ok. But she still doesn't like me.