Having been at two of the games and watched the manager killing grass with all of his travels to and from the mound, something to keep in mind with Tampa is that they have an entire pitching roster that is built around analytics and pitching to just a few batters. Last night, for example, they burned one of the five trips that was NOT a pitching change AFTER Tucker was announced as a PH. THEN, after he gets into the box, the manager comes out and they make a pitching change. The guy that got replaced through to something like ONE batter. They don't have pitchers with an assigned role like closer...the opener from Tuesday actually came in somewhere around the 6th or 7th inning last night. In short, they don't really HAVE starters...save for Morton (who I wish we could have kept). At least none of our pitchers seem to be tipping pitches like Glasnow did last night.
They just followed the St. Louis plan...pop them in the mouth in the first inning and coast. I'm hoping that a few of the bloops that fell get people going (like Springer and even Reddick). The 8th inning swings were awesome...even Yuli almost got one, just missing the Crawford Boxes by a few feet. Just didn't quite pull it enough. Our view point was great for the trajectory on it, but not good for watching the catch...we had hoped it was going to bounce off the wall but it was not to be. Seats we had last night were about 20 rows back right at the corner where the ball boy's stool is located. Section 109 for those familiar with the JuiceBox...
Put into perspective for those that hate math...that is eight complete games worth of innings with a K and THEN another one to start the next game... I knew he had a good stretch of 10+ K games but did not realize the consecutive inning streak was a thing. (I have to admit that I took the under on K's for the game which had been set at 10.5- I really hoped the bats were going to show up and he would only be in the game for five to six innings). Crane REALLY needs to find some money to pay Cole to get him to finish his career as an Astro...or find someone to take Boras out to make it easier to accomplish Goal #1).
I wanted to see what Abreu could do the first series - if his curveball is on, its a very tough pitch. Its sort of a hard curve with a tight rotation. But not a slider
I don't get letting Kyle Tucker bat and Josh Reddick not. Tucker never even touched a pitch last night, all he did was swing in the breeze.
that may be the last we see of him. but i am sure its a good experience for him and will hopefully help him down the line The problem for Reddick is that he is not hitting either
In his defense, it isn't like the only one in that dugout that flailed... I'm just glad we got the make-up call in the top of the 11th after they so horribly botched that Sanchez swing and a miss that was called a foul ball. I couldn't believe he tried to argue about the next pitch...I mean, c'mon man- you just GOT a free pitch because you KNOW you didn't touch that ball.
And, of course, Reddick hits an absolute bomb Baseball is a funny game And I am with Verlander on this
Throw Urquidy Thurs? v. Tanaka - doesnt seem like a horrible idea to me And I think that guy is NYY fan, he certainly knows their full and long history off the top of his head
So Greinke then Verlander in 4 and 5. Then Urquidy in 6 and Cole in 7. I would have preferred Verlander and Cole back to back 6 and 7 but I guess this makes some sense too. Can Greinke finally pitch a solid game?
I doubt it. Greinke on the road, esp with all those shouting people looking right at him, is not ideal
I agree with most of your post, but Mike "Mad Dog" Russo is not a NYY fan. He has a radio show in the NYC area but is a huge Mets fan and outspoken Yankees hater. Your point remains, though, that Mad Dog is certainly well versed in all things Yankee-baseball related.
Oops, just after posting this, I remembered that Russo is a Yankees hater but is not a Mets fan, either. I think of him as a Mets fan because until recently his show was on WFAN, which carries Mets games. But his real rooting interest is the San Francisco Giants.