There was very little about today's Cubs game versus the Angels that was worth talking about, but there was a seedling of hope burrowed in the manure of this game.
After the "starters" were mostly pulled in the 5th inning or so, we got to see Albert Almora, Jorge Soler, Arismendy Alcantara, Javier Baez, and Kris Bryant all on the field at the same time (also: Brett Jackson and Josh Vitters). That was pretty cool.
I didn't get a chance to watch most of it, but I did get to see the highlight of the game when Albert Almora roped a double down the left field line and after a Soler strikeout looking, Kris Bryant worked a 3-2 count, fouled off a few pitches and launched a HR over the 420 foot mark in CF.
Baez also absolutely smoked a ball, but it was right at Ian Stewart (who has resurfaced with the Angels).
Darwin Barney hit a solo homerun earlier for the Cubs only other run, so there is that. The rest of the game pretty much sucked balls. Cubs lost 15-3.
Comments
This offense is going to suck so bad.
jQuote Reply
So who’s watching True Detective? There’s all this talk about who the killer is and it’s never even occurred to me that this was really all that important. Maybe I’m wrong about this, but I don’t think this show is a whodunit. It’s never seemed important to me anyway
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Miguel Sano —–> Tommy John disease, out for the year
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
It is a whodunit. Just a lot of people were thinking it was about 1995 but it’s all about 2012.
JonKneeVQuote Reply
@ j:
Well, if the prospects pan out pretty well, the Cubs offense could get good eventually, and it will only be the pitching and defense that suck. Hope!
Rizzo the RatQuote Reply
This is pretty damn cool-sounding: http://mlb.com/news/article/mlb/mlbam-introduces-new-way-to-analyze-every-play?ymd=20140301&content_id=68514514&vkey=news_mlb
Aisle424Quote Reply
Tanaka in for the Yankees.
GBTSQuote Reply
@ Aisle424:
I skimmed. Is the data going to be publicly available or proprietary?
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
I can’t tell for long term, but it says the data will be available this year during the pilot program.
Aisle424Quote Reply
@ Aisle424:
I absolutely love the idea of Route Efficiency for outfielders. It’d be great if they could go back and analyze old plays.
[img]https://imageshack.com/a/img823/7928/colvinohshit.gif[/img]
GBTSQuote Reply
(dying laughing) I was also a big fan of this one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yET8mA6JxQs
That ball was seriously in the air for like 6 seconds.
GBTSQuote Reply
As long as its throwback Saturday
[img]https://imageshack.com/a/img29/3130/camapanagif.gif[/img]
GBTSQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
I remember Greg Maddux bitching at Mazzone as he walked to the mound about a fly ball. You could read Maddux’s lips saying the “ball was in the air for 7 fucking seconds” and pointing at Klesko in LF.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
More on the Field F/X: http://regressing.deadspin.com/the-presenter-today-said-that-they-capture-players-move-1534240764
Aisle424Quote Reply
Aisle424Quote Reply
This might be a fun way to waste some time on a Saturday.
http://www.claritycampaigns.com/names
Just plain BVSQuote Reply
31 runs so far in Atl Was game. No homers. Bottom 6th
Just plain BVSQuote Reply
@ Just plain BVS:
All them pitchers be broken.
Rice CubeQuote Reply
@ Just plain BVS:
I thought pitchers were ahead of hitters at this point?
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ JonKneeV:
I must be missing something then. I couldn’t care less who committed any crimes in that show. Never have. It’s always been secondary.
Speaking if dark and wonderful shows, Hannibal was fantastic last night. Might be my favorite show on TV at the moment.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Yenier Bello —-> Braves
GWQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
Looks like the MLB hitters were ahead of the AA pitchers
Just plain BVSQuote Reply
[img]http://tireball.com/nhl/files/2014/03/toewsgoal.gif[/img]
WaLiQuote Reply
I’d like to see how the defensive stats work out in the new system linked above.
Meanwhile, Hardball Times has some info on shifts:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/tht-live/expanded-2013-infield-shift-data/
Sveumy employed the shift 343 times, 7th most in MLB last year. BABIP with the shift on increased by 33 points compared to the other 1000s of at bats. BABIP only increased with the shift for 8 teams: Phillies (36, but they only used it 48 times), Cubs, Twins, Rockies, Tigers, Yankees, White Sox, Blue Jays (12). Of those teams, only the Cubs and Yankees used the shift more than 200 times with the ball being put in play. It seems quite effective for some teams. The shift decreased BABIP by >40 points for the Rays, A’s, Braves, Cardinals, Padres, Angels and Red Sox.
The link gives you how effective the shift was against certain players too. Made a big difference against David Ortiz. Carlos Peña’s BABIP against the shift was better than without. That doesn’t surprise me, since he was willing to bunt toward the holes.
I guess the BABIP numbers reflect how good the team is at playing D when the ball is hit, but probably moreso how well the pitchers do at putting the ball where the batter will hit it to his natural pull.
Just plain BVSQuote Reply
Castro left game after attempting to steal second with a mild hamstring strain. Baez filling in for him had a 2B, 1B, and SO.
WaLiQuote Reply
Just plain BVS wrote:
What was Girardi thinking getting fancy when short is manned by Edgardo Nunez, Jayson Nix and Derek Jeter? I think you just soured me on bringing Joe home to Chicago.
The common denominator in this statistical analysis is the Yankees and Cubs used error-prone shortstops in 2013 – – speculation is that Castro and Nunez could end up at another position during their prime.
PezcoreQuote Reply
@ Pezcore:
Agreed. The teams that increased BABIP with the use of the shift aren’t known as good defensive teams in general. I thought with Castro and Barney the Cubs would be a little better than the numbers.
But I think a lot of it has to do with the pitchers too. For the shift to work, you have to throw inside to the lefty batter, right? So he pulls the ball. I’m not convinced that 3.5/5 of our starters are good enough to be able to pitch to the shift. And of course, the Yankees’ pitching was pretty messed up last year too. The pitching angle is the only reason I can explain the Angels being among the most effective, unless their D is really a lot better than I remembered.
Just plain BVSQuote Reply
Fair point.[img]http://f0.thejournal.ie/media/2013/08/no-sister.png[/img]
Suburban kidQuote Reply
@ Suburban kid:
He must have a sister since the teacher gave him -7 for the section. Liar.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
No wonder they stole Adam’s Cubby facepalm: http://www.justonesports.com/collections/frontpage/products/the-cubbies-make-me-drink-chicago
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
Hannibal was excellent. I really enjoy the shift in Will’s character, from someone who was lost most of last season, to someone who’s found clarity. It’s also a great dynamic seeing the different supporting characters have 1-on-1 scenes with both Hannibal and Will.
EdwinQuote Reply
New Aside
http://obstructedview.net/minor-leagues/cubs-10th-in-bps-top-talents-25-and-under-list.html
MylesQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
(dying laughing)
berselius is too lazy to log inQuote Reply
Pretty much the only spring storyline for me is whether Mike Olt is really past his vision problems. That trade could be the steal of the decade if so.
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospectQuote Reply
Just plain BVS wrote:
2013 Yankees Second Baseman Robbie Cano is no slouch, guy has several gold gloves, so it would be a similar situation for both clubs.
PezcoreQuote Reply
Berselius, Cubs #12 prospect wrote:
Where is this particular narrative at now? I don’t read any words.
Suburban kidQuote Reply
I kind of hate how little of a chance it seems Olt is being given to win 3B outright this year. I like Valbuena more than most, but Luis Luis can play 2B, where he have a definite need, and Olt should man 3B if he proves to be anything like he was before Eyegate. Even if it was straight up Valbuena/Murphy vs. Olt, give the high-upside guy a chance.
MylesQuote Reply
@ Myles:
I think you don’t give enough credit to Barney’s defense. I’m not the least bit confident that Valbuena would be more valuable overall than Barney. And for what it’s worth, I’m also not the least bit confident that a seeing Mike Olt is better than Luis Valbuena at 3rd. Even with good vision, Olt is going to strikeout a lot. He could be if he can cut down on the strikeouts, but Valbuena probably isn’t a whole lot better than Barney even if Valbuena has a relatively strong year.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ Edwin:
That opening scene was terrific. Can’t wait to see how we end up there. The ratings were down so I expect this will be the last we see of Hannibal, which is unfortunate.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Olt just needs to get healthy and stay on the field. The big issue currently is with his shoulder once it calms down the rest will take care of itself.
pinetarQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
WTF, Adam’s four year old cousin drew that.
GBTSQuote Reply
So they actually took down the Facepalm?
MylesQuote Reply
@ GBTS:
4-year old half cousin
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ Myles:
Yeah I posted the link this morning.
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
Myles wrote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwLWNXFH2rg
Aisle424Quote Reply
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
@ dmick89, Sweatpants Guru:
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
(dying laughing)
Aisle424Quote Reply
I can’t believe they stole Todd Ricketts’ design.
Aisle424Quote Reply
new shit: http://obstructedview.net/news-and-rumors/starlin-castro-out-7-10-with-hamstring-injury.html
dmick89, Sweatpants GuruQuote Reply
[img]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6W8AmgIPZN0/UxS_AOELxyI/AAAAAAAAAo0/_x5BfH_8m64/w648-h365-no/Alvin-oscars.jpg[/img]
Aisle424Quote Reply