jdc69

Yes and without the cheating.

It was singles night at Busch Stadium. Love it.

Sox are still "me try hit ball."

If your offense is struggling, why take a starting pitcher out that had the lead, in the 5th inning with only 86 pitches thrown?

Im ok with challenge system for now. It adds an extra layer of complexity that seems to add more fun. It may be the proof needed to make it completely robotic, but it may make the umps look so foolish that they are forced to train their eyes to see better.

I want to reward crafty pitchers who can shave the back corner of the zone or slice a front corner. To not, yet worry about a half a hair in 2D, is obviously flawed. Take care of the basics before whimsy.

The strike zone is 3D, not a dinosaur. That may be a bit subtle for you, dont strain too hard.

But the new abs way, they are challenging pitches a hair off. If they dont make it what it actually is, they might as well stick to umpires, or change it to 2d officially.

I think it was good, but mixed with vets, and having a slow turnover. Having said that, I think everyone except the players are to blame so am not going to feel confident until that changes.

Anthony was MVP for USA probably.

Yes, its all very communist. No accountability. Having mathematicians tell athletes how to play baseball must make baseball just super fun.

That right there can be the source of losing. No leadership creates a bad locker room.

Brezlow and Cora should both be suspect in the way they handled the whole Devers, Bregman debacle, spring training 2025. Dysfunctional out of the gate.

Why not make it 3D.

I think its less about being babied and more about the philosophy of how they train pitchers. The reason they throw so hard now is because someone decided they wanted starting pitchers to give max effort and just relieve them earlier. Of course Im sure an increase in injuries wasn't a part of the plan but it happened anyways. Before I think starters valued longevity in a game so held back somewhat for preservation. They "worked it," and used more judgement. Now they are treated more like machinery to plug in where needed. Another thing this new way of thinking didnt plan for is the quicker wearing down of the bullpen.

I am re-bringing up a pet topic with some new info I looked up. It drives me up the wall when Cora brings in a bullpen arm when the starter seems to be cruising, just because his pitch count is getting high, and then they immediately blow the lead. He did it in Sox/Reds game with Weissert replacing Early, and he did it many times last year. Not only do they blow the lead but it sends them on a losing streak many games after, like they are on now. I asked AI, "who has the most runs in the 6th inning, starters or bullpen?" They said the bullpen, and used recent data to answer (5-7 seasons). So the whole 3 times around the order is moot because data says starters are still more effective than bullpen after 3 times around. My other question was about people's argument for taking starters out early. They say they need more rest because they throw harder now. I asked, overall, who has the higher ERA, pitchers 5 years ago until now, or pitchers 10-15 ago? The answer was 5 til now had a higher ERA. So basically I feel this shows the modern way is not better, not even counting the injuries.

If they dont turn it around soon, it can only be the coaches, manager and front office, not the players. Unless its the players we could've had but don't. That would be the front office.

Should have traded him two off-season ago.

Wasnt Masa decent?

Its obviously a balance and the balance is too far towards analytics. Are instincts nothing?

I read an article that showed that a batter may perform better after 3 times at bat against one pitcher, but that it is not because the pitcher is getting worse, its because a batter is zoning in better. On the contrary, the pitchers actual quality is continuing to rise. The writer came up with a way to differentiate between the quality of the pitches thrown and whether they are getting hit. He said that the time in the game when the quality of the pitching is at its worse is when they see the lineup the first time around. So if that's true, bringing in a supposed "fresh" bullpen arm can also be bringing in a stiff, cold arm when the arm already warm can still be better despite batters getting better sometimes.

I was saying this last season and it looks like Cora strikes again. People will get on Weissert but I say a reliever wants to come in when hes needed, not to replace a guy who's already in a groove.

I hear you. I was rooting for them but understand your thinking them arrogant, I agree with that wholeheartedly. I think its why they stink. Giving them the lead back without recording an out after you just tied it shows no fight. Venezuela had all the fight.

USA stinks

After that many experiments go wrong, it's time to stop looking at the players that come and go, and time to start looking at the one constant, the coaches and managers.