Bad News Birds

[Eagles_Ball]

Sheesh...So much for being happy about that Cubs sweep. More errors than hits vs the Twins. Yikes.

 

[3Rfan]

Sheesh...So much for being happy about that Cubs sweep. More errors than hits vs the Twins. Yikes.

This has been a rather ugly two days of 'baseball' for the Birds.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

This has been a rather ugly two days of 'baseball' for the Birds.

No kidding. Makes me forget how fun that Cubs series was.

• 28th in total hits
• 23rd in OPS
• 22nd in SLG
• 16th in total runs...a few spots higher in runs/game (which just blows me away)

It's kinda like Allen Craig v2013...just gotta think the luck is going to run out in the timely hitting/runs scoring category. Or guys like Fowler and Marp will actually remember how to hit. That'd be nice too.

 

[3Rfan]

No kidding. Makes me forget how fun that Cubs series was.

• 28th in total hits
• 23rd in OPS
• 22nd in SLG
• 16th in total runs...a few spots higher in runs/game (which just blows me away)

It's kinda like Allen Craig v2013...just gotta think the luck is going to run out in the timely hitting/runs scoring category. Or guys like Fowler and Marp will actually remember how to hit. That'd be nice too.

Maybe Bader can make them think about it, they have proven it ain't gonna happen with Marp. It pains me to watch him throw a baseball across the diamond, that is one awkward looking motion. How can anybody think he should play 3rd base over Gyorko?

 

[3Rfan]

Maybe Bader can make them think about it, they have proven it ain't gonna happen with Marp. It pains me to watch him throw a baseball across the diamond, that is one awkward looking motion. How can anybody think he should play 3rd base over Gyorko?

On the bright side Mikolas has been a pleasant surprise. Dude just keeps throwing strikes and getting good results. Who woulda thunk a guy could throw strikes and get outs without a 100+ fastball?

 

[goinlong]

No kidding. Makes me forget how fun that Cubs series was.

• 28th in total hits
• 23rd in OPS
• 22nd in SLG
• 16th in total runs...a few spots higher in runs/game (which just blows me away)

It's kinda like Allen Craig v2013...just gotta think the luck is going to run out in the timely hitting/runs scoring category. Or guys like Fowler and Marp will actually remember how to hit. That'd be nice too.

I read on the Post website this morning that the lineup as a whole is hitting .228 this year. Thank goodness our pitching has been solid or we'd be in a real bad way. Something has to change. I'm sure these guys didn't all forget how to hit so it makes you wonder. Their approach doesn't even look great. Mabry?

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Their approach doesn't even look great. Mabry?

That's the thing that drives me bonkers. I know people (probably me too) complained about McGwire...but I sure liked his hammer the first good pitch you see approach.

 

[goinlong]

That's the thing that drives me bonkers. I know people (probably me too) complained about McGwire...but I sure liked his hammer the first good pitch you see approach.

I thoroughly enjoy being "selectively aggressive" in that manner...it's how I always played back in the day so maybe that has something to do with my bias

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I thoroughly enjoy being "selectively aggressive" in that manner...it's how I always played back in the day so maybe that has something to do with my bias

I was the same way. Never was good enough to swing at bad ones or wait for REALLY good ones. If I thought I could get the good part of the barrel on it, I generally let it rip.

 

[goinlong]

I was the same way. Never was good enough to swing at bad ones or wait for REALLY good ones. If I thought I could get the good part of the barrel on it, I generally let it rip.

It's how I can't fathom watching any of our guys (ahem, Marp) stand there and take strike 3 if it's close. It's almost like they don't wanna swing. I'm gonna get my money's worth even if I miss it.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

It's how I can't fathom watching any of our guys (ahem, Marp) stand there and take strike 3 if it's close. It's almost like they don't wanna swing. I'm gonna get my money's worth even if I miss it.

MLB could use a few more Benito Santiago and Rafael Rameriz approaches these days. Might keep me interested in a game for more than a couple innings.

 

[goinlong]

MLB could use a few more Benito Santiago and Rafael Rameriz approaches these days. Might keep me interested in a game for more than a couple innings.

It's so hard to watch sometimes, right? It's leading credence to all of the people who have called baseball boring for years. Well, it's not at all boring as it's supposed to be played. The 3 true outcome type hitters used to be rare, but now teams are loading their rosters with them and selling out for the long ball. I enjoy watching a home run as much as anyone, but if there's 10 strikeouts and 2 balls in play in between taters, it's just boring.

 

[oldroundballer]

MLB could use a few more Benito Santiago and Rafael Rameriz approaches these days. Might keep me interested in a game for more than a couple innings.

I guess you're digging some Ozuna then. They can't throw one he won't swing at. The neon sleeves just make it even better...

 

[Eagles_Ball]

It's so hard to watch sometimes, right? It's leading credence to all of the people who have called baseball boring for years. Well, it's not at all boring as it's supposed to be played. The 3 true outcome type hitters used to be rare, but now teams are loading their rosters with them and selling out for the long ball. I enjoy watching a home run as much as anyone, but if there's 10 strikeouts and 2 balls in play in between taters, it's just boring.

Watched a bit of a U12 game (city league, so no surprise) here a couple weeks back...a few stats...4 outs, 2 balls put in play (both clean hits), 14 runs...Minus the errors, wild pitches, and passed balls...it sorta had the same "action" as today's game. Lol

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I guess you're digging some Ozuna then. They can't throw one he won't swing at. The neon sleeves just make it even better...

I do like his approach. Just kinda wish he'd square a few more up.

 

[oldroundballer]

Some pretty good numbers, or bad if you will, on the Cards' not so MV3 so far.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_3354954c-9f56-5321-b555-b8196bf596ec.html

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Some pretty good numbers, or bad if you will, on the Cards' not so MV3 so far.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_3354954c-9f56-5321-b555-b8196bf596ec.html

That's scary. The only one that you think MIGHT improve a bit is Fowler, at least from the numbers. His BAPiB is waaaayyyyy down from his career, so obviously a good bit of that is bad luck. BUT, he is hitting the ball in the air way more, and on a line way less, so it's obviously not all about luck. The concern for me with both Marp and Ozuna is they're both swinging at far more pitches out of the zone, and far less pitches inside the zone. Ozuna's hard contact rate is up, but all that tells me is he's trying to pull it while swinging at too many balls down and away. Those are troublesome and really not things that get fixed overnight or with a spot or two change in the order.

20% of the season...in plate appearances anyway...isn't really small sample size stuff any longer. It should be a huge concern. If the trends are still here at the end of May, it's going to be really, really hard to justify Marp and Fowler. And idk what the answer is. Freak injury and then a rehab assignment for both??? Not like either one would accept a demotion to the minors to actually get fixed. Sure be nice if they would though.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

Some pretty good numbers, or bad if you will, on the Cards' not so MV3 so far.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/colu...cle_3354954c-9f56-5321-b555-b8196bf596ec.html

Btw...Nice to see Little League Mike isn't concerned because the Birds are winning. A love a good inside the box results oriented thinker.

 

[oldroundballer]

Btw...Nice to see Little League Mike isn't concerned because the Birds are winning. A love a good inside the box results oriented thinker.

I'm sure he's concerned. But what's he supposed to say? He's always going to be positive about his players to the public. And winning, regardless of how it happens, is allowing them to be more patient. If they go into a week long funk they'll have some tough decisions to make. The problem is those guys have gotten a big hit just often enough to make you think they might be coming around.

 

[Eagles_Ball]

I'm sure he's concerned. But what's he supposed to say? He's always going to be positive about his players to the public. And winning, regardless of how it happens, is allowing them to be more patient. If they go into a week long funk they'll have some tough decisions to make. The problem is those guys have gotten a big hit just often enough to make you think they might be coming around.

I tend to appreciate MOs approach. Basically saying they’re going to have to get it going, while staying positive that the team is winning due in large part to the pitching. But agreed, they drop a few more like the last two and the decisions are gonna be tough.