On Romano's rare off day, Cimber vs. Bass, swinging for the fences, average ol' José Berríos, playoff races, the days ahead, scoreboard watching, George Springer, Sem Robberse, David Price, and more!
I was at Sunday's game, and watching the weird infield-in shift behind Romano with the bases loaded, I said "this is not the time to shift, a roller to the left side plates two, instead of netting a double play", and sure enough - that's exactly what happened. Easy double play turned into runs scored. With a standard alignment in that scenario, we win the game. I must be some kind of baseball genius, right? ;)
But really - I think Schneider lost that game with that bad shift as much as Romano's pitching. That was a bad shift at the wrong time. Wasn't the time to play the odds. It was the time to - almost literally - cover all your bases, and try for the best-case outcome and avoid the worst-case outcome.
Don't blame the pitchers for wearing the red jerseys. The last 2 times they came out it was because Springer and Bichette asked for them. (Not sure if this means they both asked twice, or each asked one time.) source: interview with Berríos who doesn't want the blame.
It's difficult to blame Romano as it's been so long since he blew a save, but man, at this stage in the season, that hurt! Seattle's remaining schedule is a problem.
The 2015 season, or at least from the trade deadline on, was like no other. Even in Australia, watching the games was unreal. The fans were insane - hungry and rabid. Good call on the doco....there's something there right down to the 2nd and 3rd and no out and bad calls and Josh Donaldson to end the year.
Can I make a comment (and I don't expect an answer because it involves your former employer), but maybe other subscribers can resonate with this. I signed up to The Athletic to follow you and John Lott and was so happy I did. Fantastic journalism everywhere - it was like reading Sports Illustrated from the 70s and 80s. But over time it feels like it's become pedestrian, mostly game updates. Kaitlyn does a great job for the Jays and Ken Rosenthal is great, but overall there's not much to keep me there when I can read your stuff, NIck's and the rest of the Sportsnet crew (who are all excellent). Any other readers feel the same?
I'm fond of Eno Sarris' work as well, but yeah, not so much there at the Athletic any more. And they *still* don't have a regular Rays reporter, which is very puzzling as the Rays are the team that keeps doing things differently, which means there is a lot of interest among people who are primarily fans of some other team to find out what they are up to. I'd think that the Athletic's readership would gobble it up, but apparantly the Athletic doesn't.
Eno is very good and there are a lot of fantastic writers there to be honest. But the fascinating in-depth pieces are getting fewer and far between. I think I'm going to cancel my subscription to be honest.
I'm like you; I joined to follow Andrew and John Lott. I've stayed for Grant Bisbee but am feeling I should cancel and give more money to Andrew. You okay with that Mr. Stoeten? I'll wait until The Dutch meet the Canadians in Qatar and see who he cheers for! 8-)
I was at Sunday's game, and watching the weird infield-in shift behind Romano with the bases loaded, I said "this is not the time to shift, a roller to the left side plates two, instead of netting a double play", and sure enough - that's exactly what happened. Easy double play turned into runs scored. With a standard alignment in that scenario, we win the game. I must be some kind of baseball genius, right? ;)
But really - I think Schneider lost that game with that bad shift as much as Romano's pitching. That was a bad shift at the wrong time. Wasn't the time to play the odds. It was the time to - almost literally - cover all your bases, and try for the best-case outcome and avoid the worst-case outcome.
Don't blame the pitchers for wearing the red jerseys. The last 2 times they came out it was because Springer and Bichette asked for them. (Not sure if this means they both asked twice, or each asked one time.) source: interview with Berríos who doesn't want the blame.
It's difficult to blame Romano as it's been so long since he blew a save, but man, at this stage in the season, that hurt! Seattle's remaining schedule is a problem.
The 2015 season, or at least from the trade deadline on, was like no other. Even in Australia, watching the games was unreal. The fans were insane - hungry and rabid. Good call on the doco....there's something there right down to the 2nd and 3rd and no out and bad calls and Josh Donaldson to end the year.
Can I make a comment (and I don't expect an answer because it involves your former employer), but maybe other subscribers can resonate with this. I signed up to The Athletic to follow you and John Lott and was so happy I did. Fantastic journalism everywhere - it was like reading Sports Illustrated from the 70s and 80s. But over time it feels like it's become pedestrian, mostly game updates. Kaitlyn does a great job for the Jays and Ken Rosenthal is great, but overall there's not much to keep me there when I can read your stuff, NIck's and the rest of the Sportsnet crew (who are all excellent). Any other readers feel the same?
I'm fond of Eno Sarris' work as well, but yeah, not so much there at the Athletic any more. And they *still* don't have a regular Rays reporter, which is very puzzling as the Rays are the team that keeps doing things differently, which means there is a lot of interest among people who are primarily fans of some other team to find out what they are up to. I'd think that the Athletic's readership would gobble it up, but apparantly the Athletic doesn't.
Eno is very good and there are a lot of fantastic writers there to be honest. But the fascinating in-depth pieces are getting fewer and far between. I think I'm going to cancel my subscription to be honest.
I'm like you; I joined to follow Andrew and John Lott. I've stayed for Grant Bisbee but am feeling I should cancel and give more money to Andrew. You okay with that Mr. Stoeten? I'll wait until The Dutch meet the Canadians in Qatar and see who he cheers for! 8-)