2013 MLB Regular Season running thread

Dear Riptide:

You shoulda watched Strasburg yesterday. For the first four and two-thirds innings, he had Hall of Fame stuff. He really did.

And then Ryan Zimmerman made another one of his throwing errors, and the wheels came off.

Strasburg can learn from that, I hope. He certainly looks like he's close to dialing it in.


As for Zimmerman ... I can find literally a hundred kids around Fredericksburg who can reliably throw the ball from third to first, especially on a grounder that wasn't difficult to field, against a runner who wasn't particularly fast.

He needs to figure that shit out, and pronto.

 

I saw a breakdown a couple of weeks ago where Harold Reynolds said the errors are pretty much all because Zimmerman is still hurt and can't bring his arm up reliably. Said Zimmerman should switch to a Ripken-style sidearm delivery, and showed some video that when he does this he makes the throw pretty well. Maybe a little less zip and it might cost them some close plays, but would be much better than this.

 

Tolstoy wishes he could write so many words.

 

Ryan has always had a bit of a sidearm.

And always, his best, most reliable throw has been when he's charging in and has to do the sort of through-your-body, underhand flip to first base.

The easy-play throw to first had been reliable. But now every time he gets a nice two-hopper, he's taking 17 curl hops and making this awkward lob to first.

It's painful to watch. And to me it looks a lot like the yips.


Earlier this year during between-inning warmups, I saw Zimmerman completely airmail LaRoche and throw the ball into the stands. Never seen a major-leaguer do that before, during between-inning warmups.

 

RE: Strasburg: There are plenty of pitchers who get tired or lose their stuff during an inning as the inning progresses. First time I heard this, Ron Perranoski was talking about Dave Goltz. Said he was fine if he could get them out 1-2-3, but if somebody got on and he got up to 17-20 pitches in an inning, he would lose it.
Saw the same thing with Jordan Walden when he was on the Angels. He would come in throwing 100 mph, get the first two outs, then start to lose it, walk a guy, give up a hit and it snowballed.
Don't know if this applies to Strasburg, but it might.

 

Story I read said Strasburg unraveled after the error and implied that he let it get inside his head. I didn't see the game myself, though.

 

Sale perfect through five. Not only would this wreck my front, but it might wreck A1 since he's from the area.

 

great stop and great throw from the hole to keep the PG alive.

 

And my easy night continues, thankfully.

Yeah, I know. I'm selfish.

 

And finally some runs for Sale.

 

How many times can you run Josh Beckett out there to get smacked around until you realize he's not the pitcher he once was and cut your losses?

Granted the Dodgers have no viable options to replace him but he is just terrible.