The baseball thread.

**BmillsSkier** · 05-22-2007, 10:06 PM

but how bout that TRIBE!?!?!?!?!?

yes I know they lost tonight.

**stump832** · 05-22-2007, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas

And change for it?

No man. You gotta think outside of the box, maaaaaaaaaan.

Living out in UT I don't get to see enough of Paps, but he does seem somewhat hit or miss this year so far. There was an interesting bit in Baseball Prospectus's Under the Knife column last week about some mechanical flaws in Pap's delivery. He had seemingly fixed them, but they seemed evident again tonight. I don't know, maybe it was something as simple as him coming in a non-save situation?

I'm just glad the Yankees didn't come back, and I'm not currently enduring the beginning of an ESPN media blitz about how the Yankees "are back".

**MassLiberal** · 05-22-2007, 10:10 PM

no need for him to reach back for the extra heat in that situation. he was good the last time he pitched, he'll be fine.

**MassLiberal** · 05-22-2007, 10:11 PM

Originally Posted by stump832

No man. You gotta think outside of the box, maaaaaaaaaan.

Living out in UT I don't get to see enough of Paps, but he does seem somewhat hit or miss this year so far. There was an interesting bit in Baseball Prospectus's Under the Knife column last week about some mechanical flaws in Pap's delivery. He had seemingly fixed them, but they seemed evident again tonight. I don't know, maybe it was something as simple as him coming in a non-save situation?

I'm just glad the Yankees didn't come back, and I'm not currently enduring the beginning of an ESPN media blitz about how the Yankees "are back".

Mixed results with papelbon? What are you smoking? He's been Great 95% of the time.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 05-22-2007, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

no need for him to reach back for the extra heat in that situation. he was good the last time he pitched, he'll be fine.

He was good? He gave up three hits and a run, with the same velocity. Not terrible, but not the Papelbon we love. Appearance before that, vs. the Tigers, he was good, but the fastball was around 92-94. Again, that's a pretty good fastball, don't get me wrong- but early this year it was a consistent 96-97, challenging good hitters and making them miss the fastball. Not the last few weeks.

**stump832** · 05-22-2007, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

Mixed results with papelbon? What are you smoking? He's been Great 95% of the time.

Last year: 68.1 IP, 13 walks, 3 HR allowed
This year: 15.1 IP, 6 walks, 1 HR allowed

Theres definitely some red flags there, despite last year's historically absurd performance. Yes, the save numbers are there this year, but they're fairly immaterial to actually judging how well hes pitching. After all, Joe Borowski has double digit saves. (apologies to the tribe fan)

**Steven S. Dallas** · 05-22-2007, 10:27 PM

I agree with stump. And it has nothing to do with the price of tea in China or nickel in Brookline.

advres · 05-22-2007, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas

I agree with stump. And it has nothing to do with the price of tea in China or nickel in Brookline.

Whoaa! Don't be insulting Brookline! Gardner St represent!

**Steven S. Dallas** · 05-22-2007, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by advres

Don't be insulting Brookline!

As the staff of Shalom Hunan is my witness, I would never do such a thing.

**MassLiberal** · 05-22-2007, 11:18 PM

He hit 96 a couple of times when playing the tigers.

**Brock Landers** · 05-23-2007, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas

As the staff of Shalom Hunan is my witness, I would never do such a thing.

Is that next to Golden "Youre 21, right???" Temple?

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

He hit 96 a couple of times when playing the tigers.

But he hit 94 twice last night. Its just not the shutdown 9th inning we expect from him- thats what has me worried. Not the fact that he gave up a run or he has only 1 blown save or anything else. He just does not look like he is dominating as he did last year- and the only thing I can see is the velocity (pretty easy to spot) is not CONSISTENTLY in the mid to high 90s. Just makes you think/wonder/cringe why it isnt 95+ all the time, as it was last year.
Remember earlier vs. the Rangers when he made Michael Young his bitch on 3 pitches? Then Mark Teixeira popped out to end the threat/inning? That was dominant- and its been noticeably absent lately.

**MassLiberal** · 05-23-2007, 07:36 AM

I just watched it again, he hit 95 a number of times last night. I really don't know why you are getting up in arms. HE walked two, which is to be expected every once in a while from a young pitcher. Plus, he hasn't been working very frequently, which can sometimes throw a closer off.

**iceman** · 05-23-2007, 08:39 AM

Honestly he just didn't look all that focused when he came out, he didn't have The Stare working fully and his control was off. Then he put two guys on, got pissed, and pretty much ended the game.

I'm calling non-save situation and lack of work.

Plus some of those balls looked a hell of a lot like strikes from my living room.

**stump832** · 05-23-2007, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

I just watched it again, he hit 95 a number of times last night. I really don't know why you are getting up in arms. HE walked two, which is to be expected every once in a while from a young pitcher. Plus, he hasn't been working very frequently, which can sometimes throw a closer off.

A) I'm not worked up.
B) He's not "young".
C) Guns are inaccurate. Look at the stats, there are warning signs. If you don't seem them, thats cool. But there certainly may be cause for concern, especially given the whole "we're gonna make him a starter because closing is too hard on his shoulder.

GOSH.

**MassLiberal** · 05-23-2007, 11:00 AM

I'll give you that there MAY be cause for concern, but I'm not worried until he blows a couple more saves.

**fez** · 05-23-2007, 11:21 AM

i love papelbon and i hope he has a great season, but if he starts to lose it, who cares.

there is always okajima!!

**willywhit** · 05-23-2007, 11:37 AM

Don't Let This Slide Guys

**MassLiberal** · 05-23-2007, 12:35 PM

Schilling will throw at A Rod first chance he gets.

Though I do like the Idea of Tek telling him he's going down when he first comes up to bat, then letting him worry about it the rest of the game.

**Steven S. Dallas** · 05-23-2007, 01:15 PM

At least Rodriguez didn't try to sissy-swat the ball out of Pedroia's hand. He's really upped his game in that regard.

**road trip** · 05-23-2007, 01:36 PM

Originally Posted by Steven S. Dallas

At least Rodriguez didn't try to sissy-swat the ball out of Pedroia's hand. He's really upped his game in that regard.

lol - you mean like this?

**smmokan** · 05-23-2007, 03:11 PM

The media is making a huge deal about this, just because its A-Rod. This shit happens ALL the time, and its not a big deal. I'm sure there have been plenty of Sox players to go into a base with bad intentions.

I'm just waiting for Schilling to throw at him, and then tell the whole world how great he is because he did it.

**MassLiberal** · 05-23-2007, 07:52 PM

Speaking of Schilling, Yikes.

**smmokan** · 05-23-2007, 08:28 PM

Schilling getting his tits ripped made me happy in the pants.

**Hutch** · 05-24-2007, 07:57 AM

Originally Posted by MassLiberal

Speaking of Schilling, Yikes.

Originally Posted by Schilling

"Just inconsistent on counts and pitches."

"Consistently inconsistent when I couldn't afford to be, against a lineup where you've got to locate."

"Look at the numbers," he said. "In my last 12 innings, I've given up 24 baserunners."

Did Curt call WEEI last night?

**Steven S. Dallas** · 05-24-2007, 08:23 AM

Schilling said before the season that, because he could no longer consistently throw in the 92-94 range any more, he'd try to "pitch to contact" more this season. That's working out really well.