MLB 2014 season thread

“@Sportsnet: Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Josh Beckett is retiring from baseball http://bit.ly/1yNnDQh

 

I frankly thought that Lopez was the perfect anecdote to Harper in late situation; however Bochy shot that bullet the prior inning, which I get, you nail the first obstacle then worry about later (maybe that's post-season managing).

I don't think Bochy was in love with Strickland, I think he was just managing to get to Romo/Casilla and he knew he could not stretch them more than an inning each. I do think Bochy did not want to use up all his lefties before the 8th and 9th.

I sometimes think mgrs get too much credit/blame, but Williams being stranded with Barrett when he was clearly rattled, with no one warming up, is one instance of a managing shortcoming.

 

It was a small sample, but his rookie year he was that great. He knew he could be completely dominant and would not have a chance to close until leaving as a free agent since Rivera wasn't going anywhere. He was as good or better than whoever they had as the 5 starter, probably even the 4, but they should have just told him you're the 8th inning guy continue to be as dominant and you will get rewarded when you're eligible.

 

Odds to Win 2014 World Series at Bovada as of September 29

Los Angeles Angels 5/1
Los Angeles Dodgers 5/1
Washington Nationals 11/2
Detroit Tigers 6/1
Baltimore Orioles 13/2
St. Louis Cardinals 8/1
Oakland Athletics 11/1
San Francisco Giants 12/1
Pittsburgh Pirates 14/1
Kansas City Royals 16/1

 

Williams & Ausmus were nothing short of awful this postseason. Williams impressed me during the season--thought he had the steady hand and direct but non-confrontational approach, i.e. with Harper, necessary for the long haul--so there's some hope maybe he'll be OK in the long haul.

Ausmus, on the other hand, did absolutely nothing to indicate he remotely warranted a head gig so early. Looked smug and unprepared, which is a bad combo. Maybe a Showalter-Bochy World Series will convince know-it-all GMs of the value of developing managers. Nah, probably not.

 

I don't disagree - in fact I mentioned it in a post a few above this one. I completely concur Soria did not look like the same guy I watched a couple times earlier with the Rangers once he got to Motown. It's likely he was hurt and DD and the Tigers medical staff didn't figure it out in a potential blind hope that they found their end-of-the-game stud.

Dombrowski DID try to fix the bullpen, with two established all-star caliber guys who both shit the bed tremendously once they got to Detroit. Call it what you will, but you cannot deny that the effort was made to shore up the big hole in the pen. It just failed spectacularly, even though the "numbers" didn't show it was likely to occur.

The other issues??? 4A shortstops, no depth or bench strength at any position, no left-handed bat (where have you gone, Andy Dirks- hard to believe his and Jose Iglesias' season-ending injuries caused so much turmoil with this roster) and a catcher who is a very good receiver but a lousy hitter with a mush head due to getting beat up repeatedly (swear Avila has taken more bats and balls to his coconut than anyone I've watched don the tools of ignorance).

 

I'm not of the opinion that Mattingly screwed up leaving Kershaw in, he's your horse, he's been the best pitcher in MLB all year and its a lefty v lefty.

Its similar to Grady Little in 2003 leaving Pedro in; I was fine with that, Pedro was Pedro (well not quite the 2000 version) and I'd rather lose with him than Alan Embree. You dance with "who brung yah."

I feel for Donny Baseball; he's such an ill-fit for the Dodgers; they are such misfits and their stars are so no-Mattingly. Mattingly belongs on a team like the Royals.

 

Fly- I think Avila has to retire. Or,he should be gently encouraged to do so.
I respectfully don't believe going into a season with Joba as setup man constitutes good planning.
And who knows why they let Benoit get away.

 

Don't think Joba was in the plans as the 8th inning guy, it just happened to work out that way (at least until ASB he was somewhat effective). He even had a couple chances to close games due to Nathan's troubles but was a gas can most times. Totally agree that it should NOT have been that way from mid-August onward. But with Soria's ineffectiveness/injury, plus not a whole lot shown by any others in the pen, Ausmus had to feel that was his best (hell, maybe ONLY) option. Cringe-worthy, true enough, to feel that you can contend for a WS title with that mess.

Avila may have to step aside. Four concussions (that we know of) in the past two seasons...ouch. They may end up rolling the dice on James McCann, as Bryan Holaday is not the answer as an everyday catcher, let alone a credible back-up. He couldn't throw my fat ass out stealing.

 

Manky can celebrate; Kevin Long fired as Yankees' hitting coach: nyti.ms/1wdiiMn

 

Perfect opening for Jetes. Now he can turn all the Yankees into opposite-field singles hitters.

 

All three outs in T7 came on horseshit calls. I don't think I've ever seen that before.