tmwiese55

Just what the offense needs. Can anyone else play center and Taylor play right? Garcia played CF adequately last year when he was fat(relative for an MLB player). Have to think he could do it even better now. Obviously not at Cain/JBJ gold glove level, but we need offense and Taylor is by far better for that.

I also agree with this route. Of course I'd get the other too and don't think he deserves bashing for either route. But this is the route I would choose. As I think OSS has pointed out, a key here is Lauer has been good. This isn't going with Marcum type thing. I also think that logic is something overlooked in the Peralta move yesterday. You were going to Hauser who has bene extremely good not some bum, then have your normal Strick/Box/Cousins/Hader types to finish. There was a clear path to the W thee if you just get 1-2 runs What I'm curious on is if since Burnes is being saved for Game 5 will Woodruff be available for 1-2 innings? Normally I would think No but they did have Peralta up the other day to pitch an inning on his side throw day (or whatever they call it) so wonder if that might be an option today.

And talk about an easy way to generate some extra revenue.

Not really accurate comparisons because LA and STL have functioning solid offenses. We don't, so it's a different level of necessity to get a run or two if given the chance. Normal situation I'm sure CC doesn't do this in the 4th inning, the ineptitude of the offense lately has created a different situation though. But can't this also be spun the other way and use it as a reason to NOT Pinch hit? Meaning the offense is so inept, that what would all of a sudden change in that situation that would lead CC to believe all of a sudden they are going to get a big hit there when they haven't all series?? Not really. There was already guys on 2nd and 3rd with one out. So they're at a massive advantage to help them overcome their ineptitude. Plus, it doesn't change the main point that due to how bad they've been they're very only likely going to get one or two chances to score so you have to do all you can to get something out of them.

If Counsell did what you are suggesting he should of been fired on the spot. Bunting with your pitcher has to be the dumbest idea I have heard in a long time. The right move was to put in a pinch hitter there. I think Counsell just used the wrong pinch hitter. Should have been Jace or Escobar in that situation and not Vogelbach. With the way the offense has been going you have to cash in with one out and you have to put in a pinch hitter. You don't know when your next opportunity is going to come up and you have to take advantage there in the playoffs. If this were the regular season sure send up the pitcher and hope for a walk or a wild pitch or something but not in the playoffs. You're flat out wrong, but you're also entitled to your opinion. Ask yourself this...same exact situation, are the Dodgers PH in the 5th inning for Scherzer or Urias?? Are the Cardinals PH for Wainright?? The Mets PH for DeGrom?? If you answer yes, you'll be flat out wrong again, but again entitled to your opinion. Not really accurate comparisons because LA and STL have functioning solid offenses. We don't, so it's a different level of necessity to get a run or two if given the chance. Normal situation I'm sure CC doesn't do this in the 4th inning, the ineptitude of the offense lately has created a different situation though.

Keeping Pederson on the bench has led to four out of the 7 runs that ATL has scored in the series. I still think you go Burnes for game 4 and relieve him with Lauer. Burnes is your number 1. You pitch him in an elimination game if you can. I checked earlier, and unfortunately does not look like any chance of rain tomorrow to move things back a day. That said, Lauer has been so good it's not like we should be tooooo worried about pitching. The offense is the killer

To the talk above on targeting players. Add in Wong, they targeted a contact oriented guy to try and balance the other guys. It was a good signing that worked. But of course he's been bad this series. Something I didn't think of until Jace now is what about Jace/Escobar instead of Vogy? I assume the logic was it's early so don't use the more flexible defensive players like Jace or Escoboar. Generally get with the logic, but if you're deciding to get desperate, like they were, maybe its best to go all in and use your best hitter

I guess I'm not sure how letting go of your best or second best hitter helps with that. That's not say I advocate spending the money on Garcia (have to see details) but I don't see the logic of "the offense is killing us so its clear we should let go of our best or second best hitter." Wong is the type of guy you talk about wanting here and they did get him last year. The team building aspect is greatly affected by Yeli and Huira being so bad. I guess management is generally to blame since they're in charge. But really, who could've expected that. Think if either was just like 80% of their ability how much it would've helped. yet somehow they still won 95 games and probably could've got 100 if they needed. To CHL: I'm one that acknowledges it was tough call. really tough spot to be in

I'd totally agree it was a desperate move. I just don't think he's inherently wrong to be desperate in the situation the offense has put him. And, he has a good guy in Houser there to cover 2-3 innings. I did forget one clearly dumb thing in that inning. Omar not moving to 3rd during the run down. That could've been a killer if Wong got a hit. As a slow runner it mattered to get to 3rd there.

I mean most players probably aren’t advancing there…you are kinda simplifying him going or not going there. Agree. That's why I wouldn't 'blame' him so to speak. It was a close one, he didn't get a good read/jump so he stayed put. Nothing to bash him for, that's not what I was doing. But a slightly different outcome there and it changes the whole string of events. If he happens to make the split second decision to go he probably makes it and it changes everything, that's all I'm saying. Not bashing him, it's split second decision and nothing wrong with being safe.

I'm on board with our players and manager both being morons if that helps. I wouldn't call the PH move braindead. It's a tough call and see either way. Don't think he's a moron whichever route he went with. Obviously it didn't work out though. Urias missed move up, Cain hard hit doesn't get through, Urias doesn't do contact play on Cain hit, Vog long AB and ball in play, Wong long AB hard hit, good P comes in and immediately give up 3. That's a brutal string of bad breaks in a row to put all on the manager's back. Oddly enough, the players actually all had good ABs/hard hits for once, yet none of them got through. That's more crap luck than being morons. Not specifically you. but had he let Peralta hit and we get nothing, then Peralta is the one to give up a couple runs next innings a faction here would be saying the same thing as others are now and blaming the manager. It's easy in hindsight. There was several on here before all this went down saying how they wanted Peralta out soon anyway so they didn't see him again, that would've been at most one more inning.

Something that will be overlooked here is that if Urias moved up on the wild pitch like he probably should've. Then assuming Omar's bat does the same, none of this happens. Just a horrible luck of bad sequences/coincidences in a row. Yet everyone will simplify to act like the manager is a moron.

Same, the brutal offense put him in a bad spot. I could've seen either way, but I lean towards the PH as was done. Bad luck that all three guys had generally good ABs and hit the ball hard. If Cain's hit gets through there's a good chance there at 2-0 with Peralta still in the game. And now of course the first pitcher in is struggling, just brutal luck if you're the manager.

Well, all reports here have been kind of the opposite of that, they planned D the whole time but he asked for it and they gave him a chance to see how it went before deciding.

Obviously with this news they really need Allen at RB. Who knows, maybe Allen's presence has been a part of Berger's poor attitude, idk. But pretty much ever since Allen decided to try RB I've been thinking the best thing for him and NFL money would be to stick at LB. I'm sure it's probably more fun/cool to be the star RB. But RBs don't get paid and especially his power running style is less and less in demand in the NFL. He seems like he's going to be a great RB for UW so not like I'm going to complain. But can't help think he might be losing out on a ton of money going this route. Kid is a freak and we've been pumping out LBs like crazy to the NFL, barring injury I'd be shocked if he wasn't a top 2-3 round pick.

Never seen this TB/Bos play before and never though of it. How can that only be a ground rule double when the defender is the one who knocked it out of play? Guessing that rule will be tweaked after this. Plus, as Vasgersian said, the ump has the discretion to score the run if its clear he'd score, yet they never have the balls to do it. This is probably the most obvious time of when they should since the guy was running on the pitch and already at 3rd when it bounced.

The problem with this is the fact there is no more time to shorten between breaks. It takes time to get off the field, on the field, get catchers gear on, do warm up pitches, and then start playing again. Unlike other sports Baseball doesn't just do commercials randomly during play...it is in whatever breaks the game has and they last as long as those breaks truly take. I mean I guess you could tell everyone to go faster and give them 15 seconds less...but at some point shaving 5 minutes off a game is doing nothing. Not to mention people do not like split screen ads when the game is literally going on. People cry over a split screen interview when the game is going on. I don't think Gruber Law blowing up half the screen is going to go over well. Shaving 15 minutes off a game is doing nothing. Unless we start shaving the average game time to 2:30 or maybe 2:45 I don't think anyone is going to notice. I just don't know if that is really all that possible. I don't think trying to trim between inning/half inning times is the way to approach this to improve pace of play - watching from home or at the ballpark, those pauses almost feel necessary to run to the fridge/go grab something from the concessions, etc. The problem has become that you can honestly go run to the fridge and make yourself a sandwich between pitches of an at bat during the game. Yea like I said initially, I was skeptical on the feasibility here and that even if so you're only gaining a few minutes. But, a few minutes helps in general. But big pic, it doesn't change much in regards to the pace of the actual in game and lack of action/balls in play, etc. That said, I'd be shocked that if in say 1940 when these games were like 2 hours if it was taking 2:30 between innings. Side note: I happen to randomly see an avg pitcher per plate appearance stat in the last few days after discussing it on here (funny how that works sometimes) and essentially in the last 30 years it's increased about .5 more pitches per pa. So add that to the main point said above the longer times in between pitches.

And don't forget the absurd stubhub fees these days. It's a percent of ticket price, plus taxes, and other fees. So for Bucks game 7, roughly 1700$ ticket would get up to 2300ish area after fees, taxes, etc. I just clicked on an $850 ticket for Saturday and it comes to $1100 after everything. It adds up quick as you get to higher ticket prices.

Yea it's by far the logical thing and what we all should want. It's just whether logic can overcome guttural instinct for some folks. I look at as kind of a consolation prize, basically, well LAD didn't lose but at least Cards are out type thing.

Makes sense. Yes just another thing to add in. Interesting article on topic: https://www.si.com/mlb/2021/03/17/baseball-preview-pace-of-play-crisis

I'd guess you might be forgetting that most games start at like 7:10 so when it end it at 10:25 you think 3:25 but it's actually less, just a guess though I'd generally agree the issue isn't that it's 3ish hours. It's that the 3TO has increased the nothingness that happens compared to years ago. So things to emphasize balls in play will work two fold in that it will make it more active/action paced than now while likely also quickening the game a bit. Basically it's not all about cutting time, but priority should be on having something happen more often. Another thing to add is that's its not purely how slow pitches are now due to pitcher or hitter taking their sweet old time between pitches. A big thing now vs 40 years ago has to simply be everyone figured out walking is very good, therefore they're taking so many more pitches (plus of course swing/miss much more now). Assuming they do lollygag a bit more now vs back in the day combine that with that you're seeing way more pitches taken increases that problem even more. I just looked it up and apparently they trimmed 20 seconds of commercial between innings a few years ago. Looks like it's 2:05 for local and 2:25 for national now. Would it be feasible to do another 15-30 seconds? I doubt it but even that still only trims 5-10 mins a game. If its feasible for gameplay you can make up the ad revenue on split screen ads in game.

Same here. I really have no dislike for LAD other than they're very good. Logic of course I want STL to win but as game plays it'll be tough to not be happy if they're losing. Win-Win situation for me, if LA loses I'm happy as its best thing for us, but if STL loses well at least STL is out.

Could it make more sense for the Os to trade someone like Mancini rather than Moundcastle? Older with less control, etc. Well liked guy they might want to do a favor and put in a better situation, he wouldn't' be there when they hope to contend. Plus from our end he'd cost less to acquire, as in it wouldn't cost Urias? I suppose he'd probably cost more money though.

Definitely give credit for creativity. But will it fix the attendance problem? TB fans still won't go, will Montreal fans go for a team that's half theirs, presumably still in a bad stadium? I'd think yes initially, but when the newness wears off? Or maybe they'll look at it like a test run, think of OKC in NBA. Where if they do well in the part time role they then try to get the new stadium there permanently and leave TB?

Yea a 6-6 or 7-5 type year isn't just going to be looked past. Something will happen to 'address' it. And really something does have to happen on the O side, benefit of doubt has been given for a while already.