Jim French Stepstool

The DP he hit into today was clocked at something over 100MPH. He hits the ball more than hard enough. He had a really impressive stretch marred by a 3-4 week stretch where he was really poor, at the worst possible time. When you've put in all of 2 or 3 months vs big league pitching, it happens. It would be an upset if it didn't. Certainly there's no guarantee of prospects maturing into difference-makers. that's why you build depth in numbers throughout the system. it's especially important here but it's vital even in NY or LA, too.

A better than 1% chance--and someone I really like--is Quintin Berry. But CC would have to give up the job first, and of course the speculation will run like wildfire because internet.

Power is nice. But just a single in a couple of those instances would've been more than good enough.

Yep. They're doing pretty well & certainly in the "right" division to do so, but I wouldn't anoint them as some kind of model to follow. Minnesota pitched well the last two days. Our "ace" was hardly that, Peralta lost his edge after five, and the best one of the "big three" was unavailable.

Actually thought it was going to be Miller right there. There was a time 3-4 weeks ago I wouldn't have had anyone hit for him, vs any pitcher. Sals' recent struggles were more damaging than maybe any other single factor re the offense.

True, which is why they're constructed the way they are. Run prevention. It failed them this week. I think this front office knows exactly what they're doing, from the drafting to building the farm to (most of) the player acquisitions.

In this series, I think it was more about the pitching failing them than anything else. Their "Cy Young award winner" (thanks for reminding us of that 397,000 times, Sophia) was given a 3 run lead in game one. We were trailing by the 4th. Devin comes into a 1-run game in the 9th & walks the bases full. Whether you're built around hitting, pitching, whatever your strength is, your horses have to perform at this time of year, Ours didn't. Except for not getting the "next hit" I think the offense performed better than many on here thought it would.

Outhit 'em in both games. How often did we hear about the "next hit" from CC this year. This series was a microcosm. More than enough baserunners. Overall, not quite as good ABs from the neck up as Arizona. But they pitched much better than us, which had a lot to do with it. Sixth was frustrating. Perdomo isn't a bad #9 hitter, he has a clue at the plate. But you're up a run, and you walk him leading off the inning. You just can't do that. Then when it's still a 3-2 game, you have a gift w/2 on & one out: their backup catcher at the plate. Four. Pitch. Walk. I think Uribe is going to be special. But I feared this was going to happen too often when he arrived. I was wrong, it was relatively rare. But it happened at the worst possible time tonight. What could've been a one or two run inning became four. What our strength is, what we've leaned on all season, wasn't there. And it needed to be. Yelichs' bunt leading off the 8th was smart. You needed base runners. The strange thing is, if it were the exact same situation & it was May 18th, or July 25th, you know he'd never do it.

I'd like Taylor moved up a spot or two. Part of the reason is, in a situation that calls for a bunt Turang can be pretty effective. You have two folks following him who I'd like to have up w/RISP if he hits 9th. I think CC is sticking with his L-R-L-R-L thing though, which makes little sense at the bottom of the order since at the appropriate time you'd hit for Turang anyway. Flip 'em!!!!

He wasn't going to play everyday over the last five games, as long as Santana & Tellez were both getting ABs. Either he or Tellez was going to have to get ABs in N'ville, and Winker was already there. The theories as to why Black isn't here have been discussed---40-man, arby clock, etc. The other guy is a dead horse with 12 broken ribs, four broken legs, a crushed skull & a distended bladder from being beaten over the last year-plus.

As they were heading into the last week of the season & looking to put together a playoff roster, yeah, I think it was between those two. It was more-or-less a case of having a LH pinch hitter role to fill. Yes, they could've gone with Mitchell & Miller could then cover 1B in a pinch. But I think Mitchells' chances of making it on the roster was an either-or situation with Perkins. With Black, you're getting into 40-man & arby clock issues.

I think what happened there, is he received a lot more ABs in Nashville then he would've here, and they needed that to help make a decision. Given the role he's in, it was pretty much a case of him vs Tellez for a roster spot. If Winker was up here he takes whatever ABs Tellez was getting, and this way they got to see something from both. If anything, maybe Tellez should've gotten a few more, to see if he was going to show signs of heating up. It wasn't an easy call. I'm not defending CC, I would've given the spot to Tellez. But it isn't like choosing between Prince Fielder & Kevin Barker.

That may depend on where the game is at, at that point. Are we tied? Up by a few runs? Certainly you'd like to have a loaded pen for a potential Thursday game. But just as obviously the margin for error is gone. Like you said, Peralta needs to step up & take this into the 6th or 7th inning.

He really said that? Glad I missed it, my remote may not have survived. I miss the Bally postgame already. "Corbin, even though it wasn't the result you & the team were looking for, how awesome was it that you got through the first two innings in only 36 pitches?"

Strategy-wise, I've felt for a while now Burnes needs to throw the 4-seamer on the inner half of the plate, something he seldom does. A great cutter that I think he/his catchers fall too much in love with. Kinda reminds me of When Gallardo came to the team armed with, among other things, a very effective changeup, then at a certain point just had no more interest in using it. With no one out, you need to be at or close to 100% certain someone will score from 2nd on a hit to send him. I get the frustration after they didn't score, but that's just one of those things that ain't gonna change. With one out Taylor hit a seed. It was caught. that kinda night. I actually like the idea of bunting w/the bases loaded, with Frelick at 3rd, IF the corners are back. I have no idea if they were.

It's just been a strange year for Burnes. I don't think I can recall a pitcher with more ability that I've felt so little confidence in AFA winning a game on a given day. In the 3rd he's 1-1 to the 9-hole hitter, then gets shafted on what should've been called strike two. From that point on it's like his whole world fell apart. Just odd. I almost feel like he would've mowed them down for 6 innings, as long as we also didn't score. Either way, 90-some pitches just barely into the middle innings isn't staff ace stuff. I actually didn't think we did a bad job of taking advantage of the tight zone, but they certainly outdid us there. Kudos to Tyrone Taylor. Not only the HR, but the lineout w/the bases loaded was a great AB despite the results. Hit a rocket while working the count full, after falling behind 0-2. We definitely didn't catch a lot of breaks, but at the same time we were outplayed. Longoria may be their POTG just on the defensive work. PHing for Turang COULD have been an option in the 5th. What might've kept that from happening is it probably would've been Winker, and with the bases loaded & less than two he's a DP danger. If it was 2nd & 3rd CC may have made that move. With no one out, you like speed at the plate, just don't K. Of course............ Certainly, you use Williams in the 9th down one. You see that all the time in post-season. I see where someone said he should've thrown Saturday. Ummmmm, he did.

Arizona hasn't been scoring a lot of runs recently. I expect them to lean heavily on the things they've been able to do this year--stealing bases & taking the extra bag. Yelich has to be able to answer the challenge in LF as I'm sure he'll be targeted. Keeping the leadoff man off base to begin innings is always important; even more so vs this team. Wouldn't be surprised if they do a lot of stuff to try to get the INF moving, especially the corners.

I'm too occupied with other stuff (or too lazy😄) to do the research, but I heard someone say something today about Winkers' career numbers being pretty good vs Kelly & Gallen. If accurate that explains it, as well as Tellez just not getting anything going for quite some time now.

In hindsight, it's too bad they didn't give the ball to Matt Garza on Sunday. It IS good that Peguero is back, and the pen is rested. Esp if they advance, you may be looking at BP covering half the workload in not all, but a majority of their games. Hopefully Uribe is done playing "Where's Wally" with the strike zone.

Other than obviously feeling bad for Woodruff--his time in front of the cameras really make you feel for the guy--this is related to my secondary reaction. This is a team that seems pretty close knit, genuinely cares for each other, goes out of its' way to welcome new additions, etc. The flip side of all that is you really need to guard against an emotional pity-party in light of this. Sounds heartless, but Brandon Woodruff has nothing to do with their chances tomorrow. That has to be the focus. TBD for game 2. Holding Peralta back if they win Tuesday is my guess. All around the baseball world they're pronounced dead. Different types respond to that in different ways. Win or lose, I know how I want to see them respond.

I think it'll be business as usual for Turang. He'll start against RHP, be lifted if we're trailing late & his AB comes up, and be inserted in the late innings w/a lead if not already in the game. Given the makeup of our batting order & his recent propensity to successfully bunt, he should hit 9th.

Good report. This is what I've been waiting for........a time when the organization has talented, proven talent in the upper levels close to the bigs, and at the same time a surge of impressive youngsters performing at the short season & low-A levels. This minor league system has really been fleshed out nicely. As to the list I'd tend to flip Nadal & Rodriguez, but very nice thumbnails on all the prospects.

I have no idea how reactionary they'll be to their poor finish, but if they move away from Ross hiring Showalter seems to me like a very Cubs thing to do. Although he is getting a bit long in the tooth.

And Taylor is swinging a hot bat, vs both L & R. How CC decides to utilize him, Frelick & Mitchell in the post season will be interesting, as I suspect Canha is going to be out there pretty regularly.

It might be allowable to give it to him now, since he's going to the Mets. Seriously, I suspect the chances are less than 50-50, which means nothing to me because I know the job the guys' done. If it bothers him I certainly wouldn't blame him, though.