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Post by olpapa on Mar 27, 2023 13:14:28 GMT -6
I would bet/hope that Hensley covers 2B the most until Altuve is back, with Yordan and Chas covering LF (and then Brantley when he returns). Is Alvarez going to be ready in a week? He’s in the lineup vs Sugar Land tonight. |
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Post by Saint on Mar 27, 2023 14:55:14 GMT -6
I would bet/hope that Hensley covers 2B the most until Altuve is back, with Yordan and Chas covering LF (and then Brantley when he returns). Is Alvarez going to be ready in a week? I'm sure he won't be 100% up to speed, but, as long as he isn't having pain, Yordan at 75% is better than most. |
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Post by Ashitaka on Mar 27, 2023 15:19:09 GMT -6
I would bet/hope that Hensley covers 2B the most until Altuve is back, with Yordan and Chas covering LF (and then Brantley when he returns). Is Alvarez going to be ready in a week? Seems like they're planning on having him playing on Opening Day. |
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Post by olpapa on Mar 27, 2023 20:12:39 GMT -6
Yanier Diaz pinch hit for Maldonado and hit an opposite field home run.
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Post by bearbryant on Mar 28, 2023 1:14:05 GMT -6
I can't stand the pitch clock. Baseball was like chess before and they've turned it into tennis. And I loathe tennis. I probably won't mind the blackout this season cause they've taken all the strategy out
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Post by unionstation82 on Mar 28, 2023 5:45:12 GMT -6
I can't stand the pitch clock. Baseball was like chess before and they've turned it into tennis. And I loathe tennis. I probably won't mind the blackout this season cause they've taken all the strategy out I think that the proponents of these rule changes don’t even really like baseball. They’re the same people who think every three-pointer is just the same level of excitement as the previous one and should happen with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. They like when a player sacks a QB and celebrates when his team is down 5 TD’s. They also see no problem with a guy beating his chest on a home run in the first inning. Baseball is changing into these other sports I’ve lost interest in over the years. They’re trying to make it into this homogenized McDonald’s type product for viewers who’d change the channel after an inning anyway. As far as strategy, what’s left when you have a DH, don’t steal or bunt, and have hitters still having home run cuts with 2 strikes? |
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Post by m240 on Mar 28, 2023 8:15:45 GMT -6
Yanier Diaz pinch hit for Maldonado and hit an opposite field home run. What I find most interesting and surprising is the emergence of this Blanco kid. Where the hell did he fall from the sky from. |
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Post by Ashitaka on Mar 28, 2023 8:38:51 GMT -6
Mid-season form ump show
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Post by Ashitaka on Mar 28, 2023 8:58:38 GMT -6
I can't stand the pitch clock. Baseball was like chess before and they've turned it into tennis. And I loathe tennis. I probably won't mind the blackout this season cause they've taken all the strategy out I think that the proponents of these rule changes don’t even really like baseball. They’re the same people who think every three-pointer is just the same level of excitement as the previous one and should happen with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. They like when a player sacks a QB and celebrates when his team is down 5 TD’s. They also see no problem with a guy beating his chest on a home run in the first inning. Baseball is changing into these other sports I’ve lost interest in over the years. They’re trying to make it into this homogenized McDonald’s type product for viewers who’d change the channel after an inning anyway. As far as strategy, what’s left when you have a DH, don’t steal or bunt, and have hitters still having home run cuts with 2 strikes? Talk about painting with a broad brush. I love baseball. I love watching baseball players play baseball. I don't love watching baseball players stand still, wander around home plate and the mound, piddle with the rosen bag, readjust their gloves after not swinging, jerk on their junk, stare at each other for 30 seconds, then decide to do it all over again because the pitcher and catcher can't decide on a sign. I don't love 20 minute innings where no one scores that should have been 10 minutes. I don't love wasting 150+ hours of my life per year watching people stand around. I've put up with it, though, for years...because l love baseball.The vast majority of the people who keep complaining about it still can't explain to me why they were fine with baseball prior to the turn of the millennia or so when games were routinely around 2.5 hours even without a pitch clock. Same amount of actual playing, same number of pitches, etc. The change is that players got used to, and were coached to, slow the game down. That's literally the phrase coaches would use. Slow the game down! Baseball was played for over a century without this mentality. Why haven't people been complaining about how the young players changed things by slowing them down, but now they're complaining about MLB trying to normalize the pace again to what it always was? They haven't taken any actual baseball away, just the meaningless, boring goofing off in between the actual baseball. Bringing up chess is interesting. Ya'll are aware that a lot of people play chess with a timer, right? Does it cease being chess if a timer is involved? Same number of pieces, same rules, same moves. But you have to think and react faster, so it's...not chess anymore? Not as strategic? They also can't explain how strategy has been lost. It hasn't been lost. It's been changed. New strategies have to be developed. You can't throw over to first infinitely? You have to come up with a new strategy to maximize the throws you can make. But that will take time and testing. Ironically, the folks complaining that it's the "young microwave generation that wants everything to happen immediately" are essentially complaining that they don't want to wait and see how the strategy changes with new and modified rules. They complain that baseball was always fine and should be left alone. But according to who? According to a lot of us, baseball is not fine and needs some change. (We've stuck with it because there was still a lot to love about baseball. Couldn't it be that there is still a lot to love about baseball, so maybe the purists can focus on that instead of complaining about every single change ever, acting like baseball itself is dying?) Apparently baseball itself, and tons of fans, and tons of potential new fans, agree. Why are those opinions wrong and the opinions of people who want things left alone right? |
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Post by m240 on Mar 28, 2023 9:00:50 GMT -6
talk about a short fuse. His wife must of gave him the elbow this morning. |
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Post by unionstation82 on Mar 28, 2023 11:16:53 GMT -6
I think that the proponents of these rule changes don’t even really like baseball. They’re the same people who think every three-pointer is just the same level of excitement as the previous one and should happen with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. They like when a player sacks a QB and celebrates when his team is down 5 TD’s. They also see no problem with a guy beating his chest on a home run in the first inning. Baseball is changing into these other sports I’ve lost interest in over the years. They’re trying to make it into this homogenized McDonald’s type product for viewers who’d change the channel after an inning anyway. As far as strategy, what’s left when you have a DH, don’t steal or bunt, and have hitters still having home run cuts with 2 strikes? Talk about painting with a broad brush. I love baseball. I love watching baseball players play baseball. I don't love watching baseball players stand still, wander around home plate and the mound, piddle with the rosen bag, readjust their gloves after not swinging, jerk on their junk, stare at each other for 30 seconds, then decide to do it all over again because the pitcher and catcher can't decide on a sign. I don't love 20 minute innings where no one scores that should have been 10 minutes. I don't love wasting 150+ hours of my life per year watching people stand around. I've put up with it, though, for years...because l love baseball.The vast majority of the people who keep complaining about it still can't explain to me why they were fine with baseball prior to the turn of the millennia or so when games were routinely around 2.5 hours even without a pitch clock. Same amount of actual playing, same number of pitches, etc. The change is that players got used to, and were coached to, slow the game down. That's literally the phrase coaches would use. Slow the game down! Baseball was played for over a century without this mentality. Why haven't people been complaining about how the young players changed things by slowing them down, but now they're complaining about MLB trying to normalize the pace again to what it always was? They haven't taken any actual baseball away, just the meaningless, boring goofing off in between the actual baseball. Bringing up chess is interesting. Ya'll are aware that a lot of people play chess with a timer, right? Does it cease being chess if a timer is involved? Same number of pieces, same rules, same moves. But you have to think and react faster, so it's...not chess anymore? Not as strategic? They also can't explain how strategy has been lost. It hasn't been lost. It's been changed. New strategies have to be developed. You can't throw over to first infinitely? You have to come up with a new strategy to maximize the throws you can make. But that will take time and testing. Ironically, the folks complaining that it's the "young microwave generation that wants everything to happen immediately" are essentially complaining that they don't want to wait and see how the strategy changes with new and modified rules. They complain that baseball was always fine and should be left alone. But according to who? According to a lot of us, baseball is not fine and needs some change. (We've stuck with it because there was still a lot to love about baseball. Couldn't it be that there is still a lot to love about baseball, so maybe the purists can focus on that instead of complaining about every single change ever, acting like baseball itself is dying?) Apparently baseball itself, and tons of fans, and tons of potential new fans, agree. Why are those opinions wrong and the opinions of people who want things left alone right? While engaging in hyperbole, I maintain that the new rules cater more for casual fans who couldn’t care less about baseball. As far as all the wasted time that goes on, that is the responsibility of the umpires to monitor and control the pace of the game. Baseball has changed for the better in certain instances. Interleague games and the wild card were good additions. Extreme pull shifts were good even though I think it was overused. The WBC I’ve been convinced has been a great thing. Limiting pickoffs is dumb and you still don’t limit the amount of pickoffs by catchers. The ghost runner is dumb and the proof is that it’s not used in the postseason. I’m for MLB becoming more popular, but I don’t agree with certain methods to draw in fans who, like I’ve said, couldn’t care less about the sport. |
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Mar 28, 2023 11:51:59 GMT -6
Not one non-fan is going to ever know they changed the rules and added a clock. That is just a red herring. These changes are strictly for people like Brian who wish the games were played by computer because only the statistics matter
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Post by Saint on Mar 28, 2023 12:07:12 GMT -6
All rule changes suck at first because it's change, and people rarely like change.
There will be some rules we'll always hate because it isn't the form of baseball we grew up with. But they aren't making these changes for us; they're making it for future fans with the hopes of gaining new young fans.
I'm sure when the mound was shortened, and the season lengthened, and players started wearing gloves, catchers wore equipment, helmets were worn, more postseason games added, etc etc etc that people were upset. But rule changes/additions have always been a part of all sports. And professional sports (especially the Big 3) continue to be highly profitable.
I don't love the pitch clock and some of these other changes, but we'll adjust just like the players will. Sure, some fans might leave...but I would bet more will come.
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Post by Saint on Mar 28, 2023 12:11:41 GMT -6
Not one non-fan is going to ever know they changed the rules and added a clock. That is just a red herring. These changes are strictly for people like Brian who wish the games were played by computer because only the statistics matter I disagree, plenty of new fans will learn about it. Not all of course, but some will. The same way some of us know that there used to be unlimited foul bunt attempts. |
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Post by Ashitaka on Mar 28, 2023 14:39:25 GMT -6
All rule changes suck at first because it's change, and people rarely like change. There will be some rules we'll always hate because it isn't the form of baseball we grew up with. But they aren't making these changes for us; they're making it for future fans with the hopes of gaining new young fans. I'm sure when the mound was shortened, and the season lengthened, and players started wearing gloves, catchers wore equipment, helmets were worn, more postseason games added, etc etc etc that people were upset. But rule changes/additions have always been a part of all sports. And professional sports (especially the Big 3) continue to be highly profitable. I don't love the pitch clock and some of these other changes, but we'll adjust just like the players will. Sure, some fans might leave...but I would bet more will come. I've been wondering about the perspective of people like you with young kids. How big or small of a deal is it if the central games are ending at 9:30 instead of 10:30 or 11:00? |
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Post by unionstation82 on Mar 28, 2023 15:07:48 GMT -6
All rule changes suck at first because it's change, and people rarely like change. There will be some rules we'll always hate because it isn't the form of baseball we grew up with. But they aren't making these changes for us; they're making it for future fans with the hopes of gaining new young fans. I'm sure when the mound was shortened, and the season lengthened, and players started wearing gloves, catchers wore equipment, helmets were worn, more postseason games added, etc etc etc that people were upset. But rule changes/additions have always been a part of all sports. And professional sports (especially the Big 3) continue to be highly profitable. I don't love the pitch clock and some of these other changes, but we'll adjust just like the players will. Sure, some fans might leave...but I would bet more will come. I've been wondering about the perspective of people like you with young kids. How big or small of a deal is it if the central games are ending at 9:30 instead of 10:30 or 11:00? I never cared about the time but would prefer earlier. |
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Post by Saint on Mar 28, 2023 15:25:42 GMT -6
All rule changes suck at first because it's change, and people rarely like change. There will be some rules we'll always hate because it isn't the form of baseball we grew up with. But they aren't making these changes for us; they're making it for future fans with the hopes of gaining new young fans. I'm sure when the mound was shortened, and the season lengthened, and players started wearing gloves, catchers wore equipment, helmets were worn, more postseason games added, etc etc etc that people were upset. But rule changes/additions have always been a part of all sports. And professional sports (especially the Big 3) continue to be highly profitable. I don't love the pitch clock and some of these other changes, but we'll adjust just like the players will. Sure, some fans might leave...but I would bet more will come. I've been wondering about the perspective of people like you with young kids. How big or small of a deal is it if the central games are ending at 9:30 instead of 10:30 or 11:00? From a watching on TV standpoint it doesn't matter a whole lot. I'm addicted enough that I have TVs and tablets scattered around the house in which I can continue to watch while putting them to bed or doing whatever nighttime rituals need to take place. They don't sit and watch a whole game on TV now no matter what. Now as for actually going to the games with them, it will be better. My daughter loves going to the games, but she will start to lose interest around the the 7th inning unless there is just a lot of dramatic stuff going on. The games being faster will hold her attention for longer. The length of games isn't really an issue for my kids, overall. But the pace of play and hopefully more stolen bases and more balls in play, will be more entertaining for them. I hate that it requires some changes to do that, but it's just a fact that younger viewers want more action. |
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Mar 28, 2023 15:41:18 GMT -6
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Mar 28, 2023 15:43:52 GMT -6
Not one non-fan is going to ever know they changed the rules and added a clock. That is just a red herring. These changes are strictly for people like Brian who wish the games were played by computer because only the statistics matter I disagree, plenty of new fans will learn about it. Not all of course, but some will. The same way some of us know that there used to be unlimited foul bunt attempts. If they're not fans of baseball, why would they find out about this change? And what makes you think the length of the game is the reason they're not engaged enough already to watch? Do you think there's this huge population of people out there saying "If only the game was 25 minutes shorter, I'd be watching every game!"? |
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Post by Saint on Mar 28, 2023 15:46:27 GMT -6
Sorry Lee, thanks for doing everything you were supposed to do. Sorry we all have to sit and watch Maldonado do this again (2021-2022 slash rates): .179/.261/.325 .586 OPS
Hopefully this is the last season Maldonado is around, and Diaz/Lee are behind the dish moving forward.
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Mar 28, 2023 16:34:09 GMT -6
Sorry Lee, thanks for doing everything you were supposed to do. Sorry we all have to sit and watch Maldonado do this again (2021-2022 slash rates): .179/.261/.325 .586 OPS Hopefully this is the last season Maldonado is around, and Diaz/Lee are behind the dish moving forward. Who is Cesar Salazar, and why is he listed as one of 3 catchers they're carrying? |
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Mar 28, 2023 16:50:54 GMT -6
"Of position players, Corey Julks, Yainer Diaz and César Salazar made the Opening Day roster. Julks wasn't on the 40-man roster, but bashed his way onto the team after hitting .275 with an .868 OPS this spring. He had success in AAA last year, hitting 31 home runs. His experience in the minors gave him the edge over Dirden, who Dana Brown commented could use more "seasoning" in AAA after striking out a lot in the Spring."
"Seth Martinez and Ronel Blanco landed the last two bullpen spots for the Astros. Martinez emerged as one of the best right on right arms in the game last season, holding righties to a .394 OPS.
Blanco has been dominant all Spring and has recently been stretched out to go multiple innings, and made two starts this Spring. Blanco will likely be a spot-starter and Swiss Army Knife reliever that fills multiple roles, while Martinez can get both leverage outs and provide length.
Though Justin Dirden and Korey Lee both had great Springs, neither made the Opening Day roster. I'd anticipate both making contributions at some point in time this season with the big league club."
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Post by Saint on Mar 28, 2023 16:53:59 GMT -6
Who is Salazar? We have three catchers and Lee isn't one of them?
Julks and Meyers over Dirden? Meh.
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Post by Saint on Mar 28, 2023 16:55:12 GMT -6
I disagree, plenty of new fans will learn about it. Not all of course, but some will. The same way some of us know that there used to be unlimited foul bunt attempts. If they're not fans of baseball, why would they find out about this change? And what makes you think the length of the game is the reason they're not engaged enough already to watch? Do you think there's this huge population of people out there saying "If only the game was 25 minutes shorter, I'd be watching every game!"? It's not so much the length of the game as it is the pace of play and lack of activity. |
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Post by Saint on Mar 28, 2023 16:59:08 GMT -6
Lee has had more success in the minors and is more highly rated. This seems like the FO holding him back in order to get him more playing time in AAA since they're going to continue to let Fatchete play in 100+ games.
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Post by Saint on Mar 28, 2023 17:00:19 GMT -6
Sorry Lee, thanks for doing everything you were supposed to do. Sorry we all have to sit and watch Maldonado do this again (2021-2022 slash rates): .179/.261/.325 .586 OPS Hopefully this is the last season Maldonado is around, and Diaz/Lee are behind the dish moving forward. Who is Cesar Salazar, and why is he listed as one of 3 catchers they're carrying? He's apparently a nobody journeyman foreign catcher that is going to sit on our bench. |
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Post by Ashitaka on Mar 28, 2023 17:01:08 GMT -6
Salazar instead of Lee, Julks instead of Dirden.
Same logic probably for Dirden; if they think they won't be able to play him regularly, they probably want him getting everyday ABs in Sugar Land.
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Post by Ashitaka on Mar 28, 2023 17:03:41 GMT -6
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Post by Ashitaka on Mar 28, 2023 17:05:52 GMT -6
I like the bullpen. It's not as flashy as some of the other competitors and I've made my reservations about some members known, but all are at least really solid, and plenty of guys that can get both R and L out, and go multiple innings. It's a bullpen that is built to withstand 162 better than maybe any other.
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Post by ɮօʀȶǟʐ on Mar 28, 2023 17:12:46 GMT -6
I like the bullpen. It's not as flashy as some of the other competitors and I've made my reservations about some members known, but all are at least really solid, and plenty of guys that can get both R and L out, and go multiple innings. It's a bullpen that is built to withstand 162 better than maybe any other. Pretty highly rated by MLB writers today. |
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