Ceptorman Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 5 hours ago, DizRotus said: It will be interesting with Verlander pitching in LA on Tuesday. From 2005 - 2014, pitching for, Detroit Tigers, he was "0 for my career" as a hitter, those are his words. In 2014 he got his first MLB hit. He's had 2 more. What will Hinch do if Verlander is pitching well past the mid-point and he comes to bat with 2 outs and runners on base? Pinch hit for him. Looks like making the ball more aerodynamic is paying off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted October 30, 2017 Author Share Posted October 30, 2017 1 hour ago, Ceptorman said: Pinch hit for him. Looks like making the ball more aerodynamic is paying off. If what Verlander and other pitchers are saying is true, it doesn't seem to me to be a question of aerodynamics per se. They argue the new balls are smoother; the cowhide less textured and the seams flatter. The pitchers claim they're unable to grip the ball in the way they're used to doing. For some reason, sliders -- whatever they are -- are claimed to be harder to command with the new balls. At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, MLB is not opposed to more offense, i.e., more home runs. American sports fans are impatient. We demand scoring. For each die-hard baseball fan who genuinely enjoys a pitchers' duel, there are hundreds who crave home runs. Soccer, football to the rest of the world, has been described as long boring periods where occasionally something exciting almost happens. Is it any wonder it hasn't been embraced by Americans used to immediate and frequent gratification? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 7 minutes ago, DizRotus said: The pitchers claim they're unable to grip the ball in the way they're used to doing. If they're indeed smoother then they wouldn't move as much in flight making them easier to hit as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 9 minutes ago, DizRotus said: At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, MLB is not opposed to more offense, i.e., more home runs. American sports fans are impatient. We demand scoring. For each die-hard baseball fan who genuinely enjoys a pitchers' duel, there are hundreds who crave home runs. exactly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 10 minutes ago, DizRotus said: For some reason, sliders -- whatever they are Sliders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted October 30, 2017 Author Share Posted October 30, 2017 18 minutes ago, CECAA850 said: If they're indeed smoother then they wouldn't move as much in flight making them easier to hit as well. Precisely. It's harder to impart rotation and less impact from whatever rotation is applied, therefore, easier to hit. Sort of like that old question, "will it takeoff?". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted October 30, 2017 Author Share Posted October 30, 2017 6 minutes ago, CECAA850 said: Sliders. I was counting the beats until that reply. Didn't even need to remove my shoes. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wvu80 Posted October 30, 2017 Share Posted October 30, 2017 23 minutes ago, DizRotus said: If what Verlander and other pitchers are saying is true, it doesn't seem to me to be a question of aerodynamics per se. They argue the new balls are smoother; the cowhide less textured and the seams flatter. If Verlander says the ball is different, the ball is different! It seems to me MLB went through this a number of years ago. Pitchers were dominant and MLB wanted more offense so they lowered the mound. It worked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 3 hours ago, DizRotus said: If what Verlander and other pitchers are saying is true, it doesn't seem to me to be a question of aerodynamics per se. They argue the new balls are smoother; the cowhide less textured and the seams flatter. The pitchers claim they're unable to grip the ball in the way they're used to doing. For some reason, sliders -- whatever they are -- are claimed to be harder to command with the new balls. At the risk of sounding like a conspiracy theorist, MLB is not opposed to more offense, i.e., more home runs. American sports fans are impatient. We demand scoring. For each die-hard baseball fan who genuinely enjoys a pitchers' duel, there are hundreds who crave home runs. Soccer, football to the rest of the world, has been described as long boring periods where occasionally something exciting almost happens. Is it any wonder it hasn't been embraced by Americans used to immediate and frequent gratification? A slider is a somewhat faster version of a curve ball, it moves quicker and down, a curve ball breaks. It's harder to hit. I played baseball for 12 years, I only played two positions, catcher and pitcher. I was probably better at catching, but liked pitching better. I loved baseball, even after football or basketball practice, I would go play baseball. My Dad coached myself and my five brothers, he coached for 25 years. I miss those old days, it was a lot of fun. Pitching was the ultimate psych position.....me against you. I don't remember the relief pitcher for the Astros, but he came in late last night, a right hander. He had an odd grip on his slider, like he was making the "OK" sign. His thumb and index finger touching, it had plenty of movement. Whitey Ford threw so much "junk" pitches, that his left arm would hang with his palm facing outward, just the opposite from his right arm. He still hold World Series records. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimjimbo Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 9 hours ago, CECAA850 said: If he's lights out, you keep him in, especially if Houston's bats are alive. Even if he is not lights out, considering it’s game six, you leave him in as long as possible… I have a feeling that the Dodgers will take this one, and we will go to a game seven. I think I can stay up for that one… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldtimer Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 Houston's bullpen is the scariest thing their fans must witness. No lead is safe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigStewMan Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 41 minutes ago, oldtimer said: Houston's bullpen is the scariest thing their fans must witness. No lead is safe. with their bullpen, i thought i was watching a SF Giants game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 19 hours ago, CECAA850 said: If he's lights out, you keep him in, especially if Houston's bats are alive. Depends on the score. If they're behind and runners on base, you have to go for the runs and pinch hit for him, no way they leave runners on base to keep their pitcher (who can't hit) in the game. Go for the runs and play for the win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 29 minutes ago, Ceptorman said: Depends on the score. If they're behind and runners on base, you have to go for the runs and pinch hit for him, no way they leave runners on base to keep their pitcher (who can't hit) in the game. Go for the runs and play for the win. If they're behind than Verlander wasn't lights out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CECAA850 Posted October 31, 2017 Share Posted October 31, 2017 9 hours ago, BigStewMan said: with their bullpen, i thought i was watching a SF Giants game. Houston has made LAs bullpen look mortal as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted October 31, 2017 Author Share Posted October 31, 2017 11 hours ago, Ceptorman said: Whitey Ford threw so much "junk" pitches, that his left arm would hang with his palm facing outward, just the opposite from his right arm. He still hold World Series records. I read that Whitey Ford only sweat on half his body, which made him more prone to overheating, but that was offset by all the money he saved on deodorant. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizRotus Posted October 31, 2017 Author Share Posted October 31, 2017 I’m conflicted. On the one hand I’d like Verlander and the Astros to win tonight. On the other hand, a game 7 would be a fitting conclusion to this exciting World Series. Who doesn’t love baseball in November. Just imagine if the teams were Minnesota and Boston. Happy Halloween. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators dtel Posted November 1, 2017 Moderators Share Posted November 1, 2017 Well here goes, hope it's the last game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ceptorman Posted November 1, 2017 Share Posted November 1, 2017 I don't know if it's the stadium, the audio, or the crowd itself, but it doesn't seem as loud as it was in Houston. The crowd doesn't seem as lively. Verlander's pitches already approaching 100 mph. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richieb Posted November 1, 2017 Share Posted November 1, 2017 It's laid back LA. The sixty degree temps have probably slowed them down a bit. And don't forget Houston's Minute Maid Park is enclosed and notoriously loud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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