sk7326

Since there is a formal strike zone in the rules, by definition there is a truth. I agree with the spirit of some of this. What this can eliminate is umps showboating and attacking players in the name of protecting a call they most likely missed.

Oh I agree - I was just saying because we see it on TV and Pitch FX exists, doesn't mean that this is suddenly capable of happening next year (even if it were negotiated).

Whenever I find myself thinking that - I double back and recognize I am old.

I started a new thread clarifying my thoughts on this.

That is a fair question. I think you have to look at the pitching staff this way for October. 1. Sale. You expect to get 6+ good innings from him. If you don't, you're not winning much of anything. 2/3. Porcello and Price. You'd like to get 6 innings - but you're really planning for two trips through the order. 4. Eovaldi. You want to get 2 trips through the order, but you plan for 1. 5-6. Rodriguez, Johnson as multi-inning bridges. They are there to back up a bad performance. More helpfully, you'd like to have him ready for being able to get through the order once and then on to the 1-inning dudes. 7. Kimbrel is the closer 8-11. Barnes, Kelly, Velasquez and Workman Now looking at the position players OF: Benintendi, Betts, Bradley, Martinez SS: Bogaerts 2B: Kinsler, Holt 1B: Moreland, Pierce 3B: Devers, Nunez C: Leon, Vaszquez/Swihart So we have 13 position players. The question becomes whether you want to carry another pitcher - or do you add a 14th position player. Do you make a trade for a Quinton Berry designated PR sort? Or do you try to find another outfielder for defensive flexibility? Would you rather add, say, Rusney Castillo in pursuit of both goals?

Right - the pitcher is trying to get you to pull it. It is harder than it seems. You still should try here and there, but it is what it is.

He has been death against lefthanders the last 2 seasons. Put him in the 'pen where he can be a viable multi inning bridge guy, and you've given Cora more ways to navigate those October starts where the hooks will be a lot quicker. All the charm of a LOOGY while actually being able to do a little bit more.

Francisco Liriano makes sense - Dombrowski looked into it before the deadline, makes sense to follow through on it.

I don't see much evidence of that. Frankly, I am surprised teams did not do this more in the olden days - it was right there.

I think the challenges are more implementation than anything. That said, the key for robot umps is getting the edges of the zone right. We don't know the false positive of the Pitch FX stuff we see on the computer/TV. I think the technology probably needs to get to a better reliability level (consistency, accuracy). In particular the technology needs to be sharpened for the high and low parts of the zone, which change with every hitter and every batting stance. I am not pooh poohing the idea of robot umps - as you know, I am very much for it. But it is further away than it seems. MLB should push in that direction though, clearly.

This team has been brilliant - especially pounding bad teams, which is how you pile up wins during the season. There is ALWAYS concern in October - the playoffs are fluky. The Red Sox season could be scuttled by an opposing pitching staff getting hot. Cora has to manage health and figure out a strategy for negotiating the playoff games - where the hook is quicker.

The shifts are fine ... I mean, runs are UP the last two seasons. Shifts are not reducing offense - indeed, there is evidence it has increased it. The shifts have done its job - when the ball is put in play. However, one of the offshoots of the shift is that the pitcher is trying to pitch to a smaller target, which has increased walks. And yes, bunting the opposite way is a good idea against a lefty overshift - just to at least force the 3B to THINK about it. I am waiting for a team to experiment with fielder motion ... showing one shift and then shifting to another during the windup or something.

wRC+ for the 6 playoff contenders Red Sox (97 vs Lefties, 118 vs Righties) Yankees (124 vs Lefties, 107 vs Righties) Guardians (108 vs Lefties, 107 vs Righties) Astros (118 vs Lefties, 108 vs Righties) Mariners (103 vs Lefties, 100 vs Righties) A's (101 vs Lefties, 108 vs Righties) The Guardians have had the most balanced performance. The Astros and Yankees have shown meaningful differences. The Red Sox by contrast are extreme in the other direction. Of course the Red Sox don't have to worry about facing Sale in the postseason

Eovaldi picked up a decent second pitch - which had been his undoing in his other career stops. Considering the Yankees, Astros and Guardians numbers against lefthanders, it doesn't make a lot of sense keeping a quality righthanded starter out of the rotation.

His took time off for treatment. We have to assume he is fine - or that his illness is being treated. He has certainly done a solid job.

For Kelly his fastball is straight and his command is not great. Kimbrel is better at both. And Kimbrel pitches backwards more now.

The electronics themselves are probably (from what I read) not accurate enough either ... and there is more to figure out in terms of implementation. But again, that doesn't mean they can't get there - just have to figure out whether it is something MLB wants to seriously push.

That's what the medicine is for.

Kimbrel? maybe 2 guaranteed years with an option for year 3.

The technology has a ways to go - but MLB clearly should invest in it. The home plate ump still has a valuable function - but the part of the job which he is A) worst at, most likely to get into a fight over and C) most likely to put on an unconscionable umpshow over ... goes away

No - it just means a GM is looking to provide options. Almost every player will go through waivers in August.

Put another way - there has never been a team which I would taken vs the field once the playoffs start ...

I do wonder how much Betts playing next to him just removes some of the possibilities to show superior range.

This is all true - it does make me wonder whether a team that DID try that could get some advantage - a team like San Diego who plays in a cavernous park or whatever.

I think it is probably fair to say that his range is more good/very good than outstanding - and the defensive metrics clearly focus on that. He doesn't get credit for an uncommonly good throwing arm for a CF. It also is noteworthy that he also plays next to a RF with outstanding range ... which I imagine has to hurt him a little bit.