tmwiese55

OK we got it. I think he's been good at this and that is a factor in their massive overachievement. And I'm 100% confident if you watched all other teams there'd be just as many if not more of the questionable moves to pick on. Its part of the game, many of these things can really go either way with no one being a moron and then it comes to down to luck/chance after that. For example, if that grounder goes 10 ft to the left its a routine out. In addition, we're not privy to all the info/reasons behind some questionable moves which might force a manager's hand but we're not aware. As I said, I didn't get the Hoby one from the moment it happened. And none of this to say mistakes don't happen. But based on the results, he's doing much better at this than other managers but of course no one is perfect. You can play the 'told you so' after the losses all you want though. I'd guess you weren't too vocal as they had just won like 7/8 games before that or whatever it was.

Toby move made no sense to me, one of the biggest headscratchrs all year. Their PH was predictable so your choice was Payamps vs LH or Milner vs RH who hasn't pitched in the bigs in a month. Just stick with the guy who had gotten 2 outs in 4 pitches. In addition, its an extras game, after extras the day before. You might need the arms, again just roll with the guy who'd thrown 4 pitches and live with it. And yea the pessimism is so funny to read, they'd just had one of their best hot streaks of the years, scored 14 runs a few days ago. Lose two games in extras and the sky is falling

Giants are gonna regret that one, can't believe they weren't just happy that he's had a good enough that he'd opt out of the current deal. For this thread, I'd rather give that to Adames than him and then Adames could move to 3B a couple years down the line when he slows down. I suppose they do have money there so could still sign Willy, and still move him to 3rd in 2-3 years when Chapman is perpetually on the DL, cut, or being forced to play 1B while being paid 25 mil to hit .205.

I'd think he looks like an easy replacement for Bauers roster spot next year. Saves them a few million and while not exactly every day ABs there will be plenty of opportunity. Bauers should end up around 300 ABs for the year. If you show promise in that role they can trust you as the full time regular the following year once Hoskins is gone. I'm guessing they've given up on him at 2b/3b especially with how much they value D, but he has to keep working on OF to give them a bit of extra flexibility. One wrench in this is what will happen with Yelich's defense plan next year and if he's full time DH.

Good for him and glad he's hit so well this year to help us out. Seems like a good guy so glad he's going to get paid. But I'll be happy to not be the team paying him 25-30 mil per year once he's not in a contract year along with aging and he starts hitting more in the 220/300/430 type area of the past and his D falls off. That said, with his body type and arm a move to 3B should be very easy for him and still provide value there moreso than OF/DH/1B types. And while being happy to not be on the hook for this contract, I also see how replacing his production next year at whatever position isn't exactly going to be easy. I suppose, in theory Yeli should cover a chunk of it. But the new infielder next year I really hope is a hitter rather than Turang D first type person.

For this discussion the first thing that probably needs to happen is not have Turang in leadoff and then see how it affects the avoiding back to back lefties from there. The question after that is whether to have Chourio lead off or if you want him at 2/3 instead due to how good he's gotten.

Yea there's been a lot of lineups this year that quick eye test look weird then you dig a bit deeper and you see its all about L/R manipulation in the lineup. And since the team has so many lefties you see how it can lead to oddities to try and avoid the multiple lefties in a row.

So pretty much every guy in the BP had issues the last two days. Good thing there is a guy in AAA who throws 99 with a big movement and big slider who's sported low 3s ERAs the last two years who can come up when needed

Could actually be a reason for Contreras to get a 1B glove so he can do that on his rest days and potentially still have both him and Yeli in the lineup ETA: double checked Yeli has 4 year at 22 per year left on his deal after this year. Figured that might save some others a google. Not brutal and its getting close to the end. Some complications due to deferred payments and buyout at the end but that's generally where its at

What makes them look so much better is because their top 3 in the lineup are clear cut HOFers. There's nothing you can do about that, that's no reason to bash our own team that continues to win and play well in spite of the doom and gloom. They're just a freakshow over and start at a ridiculous advantage due to having those 3 players who make more or close to as much as our whole team

His changeup moves much more than a normal changeup that is just about being slower. His changeup borders on knuckleball type movement at times. But yea the overall point by OP on this topic is something I said about Rivera for years. A cutter fastball is a normal pitch, how he could be that dominant with just that blew my mind.

But then later said being in these spots is not above him, which is arguing against yourself. I've said being the 8th inning type go to guy is above him and is more than in the past, I hope he's a notch or two below that. I also hope we can somehow field a bullpen that gives up 0 runs. Sadly I don't think it will ever happen

So being in the 8th this year and the #2 man for this stretch is not going up a notch? You realize you've essentially now started arguing against your own arguments? You started saying he's been being missused and used at higher spots than he should, now you're saying he's not. You started off saying how much he sucks and is being missused to be in those spots, now you're saying being high leverage 8th inning guy is not above how good he is. I know I'd prefer Megill is his old self, Hudson gets good again and Peguro can be moved down as I trust him less than when those guys were grooving earlier. But sure I am wrong a guy that has produced these results has been fine and has been the least of our problems. I don't know what else you expect, 4 guys get hurt and this guy who supposedly sucks and should demoted puts up 12/13 scoreless innings and 2 era in that rough area and a 3 for year. And we trash him. I mean, good luck with those standards. And to the other, yes Hudson hasn't looked the dominant force he was, Koenig too, Payamps had been getting going again but can't recall specifically the last week or two. Now we have to see how Megill looks when back too. But you know who has kept on putting up 0s way more often than not, this guy who sucks and should be demoted and I guess I don't know who they should have been running out there while all these guys were hurt that would've given up 0 runs instead of the 1-2 runs this bum gave up. Guy has stayed healthy and been a solid contributor all year and we're trashing him instead of appreciating how much he's helped. These types of standards are just way out of line on what to expect, guys cannot be perfect.

Sorry this is a terrible post. First, being elevated to the #2/#3 man like he has been lately is above what he's been and should be. Heck, it was part of your bashing of him in that he's being used wrong. Second, over the last month-ish we've had what 4 other higher end BP guys get hurt and gotten 1 back so -3. Also had MIlner/Payamps regress this year. And in that month-ish span when most needed as our loaded pen all of a sudden got thin, the guy steps up and puts up 12/13 scoreless outings and a 2.0 ERA and we're hearing trashing him saying he has not been good. Once again, the results have been good and most teams would beg for a guy with these results. Yet we say he's not been good and should be sent down. I know our BP has spoiled us the last few years but lets get some perspective.

Saw LAD had to DFA Rosario for Betts less than two weeks after trading for him. Granted they didn't give much up, but still. Have to think no way he'll get to us on waivers. Essentially did LA just trade for him so another contender wouldn't get him for depth.

Focus on only negatives if you want. There's good ones too. He's a league min middle reliever with a 3 ERA who has been good lately.. Getting the results he's gotten is the least of our problems and teams would be begging for these results. And as pointed out in that other thread with FIP, many guys are going to be inflated due to the D but it doesn't change him with the D behind has been working. Maybe they could use that to their advantage to 'sell high' in the offseason so to speak but right now you can't ask for much better results from a league min middle reliever. It's not like I'm saying he should be closer and I want him in up 1 in the 8th of a playoff game, but I'm also not gonna trash the guy for doing a great job this year while being thrown into a higher role than he's ever been and probably wasn't fully ready for either. Also, they had something up not that many games ago on his inherited in last X amount being very good and among the best in the league. Think that stat is skewed by the few early games. but like I said I do recall the one recently. Oh yea it was that dribbler vs Atl to cost the game. ETA: and to pick on how he's been being used, I'd generally agree its a notch higher than you'd want him. But why is that, because others are hurt and he's outperformed everyone else. You want Payamps and Milner etc in there instead right now. He's outperformed all the guys who hadn't been hurt recently (hudson, megill, Koenig). You can't just snap your fingers and plug in someone above him who doesn't exist. Once these guys are back he should notch down where he belongs if they're in the same form as they were previously.

This is all roster manipulation, nothing to get freaked out about as they've proven among the best in baseball at this over the last chunk of year. If you send down a reliver you are then down a man the next 4 days vs a loaded offense. This gets you an extra arm for however long they need and then will figure it out when they need a starter/long man next time. The Elvis hate continues to amaze me. Low 3s era for the year, 5 straight scoreless (though I think there was an inherited on him recently) No runs in 11/12 of his last games. 2.0 era the last month. Any other team would be begging for and did trade legit prospects for people like him as a middle reliever, and a chunk of our base just rags on him. We're so spoiled with bullpen here.

Been keeping an eye on this one and Burger has been absolutely raking since then. Obviously who knows what happens if we would've got traded and if it messed up his rhythm or whatever but he's been on fire. 1.2 ops with 13 HRs last month, 1.3 with 9 the last two weeks. Without double checking stats it seems Ortiz/Turang have at least rebounded a bit lately of us too though so whatever.

I know its tough to crack the negativity and pessimism. But, lets just say its 50 games now for all teams. For the one 9 back to win something like this has to happen: The team that's been good for 110 games goes something like 20-30, which is a big outlier to begin with. And then the team that's been blah all year has to go 30-20 to win. Now, both happen at the same time. If the good team goes just .500 with 25 wins. The other has to go 35-15,which is almost impossible

Thus the word "virtually". 9 game lead with 50 to go is incredibly difficult

Would be nice if STL would lose tonight to kind of get more out of this sweep. I guess regardless they've virtually eliminated Pit making it a 2 team race, so that's something. But still, its funny the we win and lose at the same time as the Cards trend has continued

2 hits again for Haase when actually allowed to play

If people haven't looked at schedule MKE plays Dodgers next week. Possible big swing there one way or the other.

Of course no excuse to walk 2 guys. But wonder if the pitchcom crap messed him up a bit. Hopefully calms down and gets through 5 now

Gimme the Mets all day if we have to play WC series. Their pitching is really bad on paper