Jump to content
The Official Site of the Vancouver Canucks
Canucks Community

theminister

Members
  • Posts

    16,834
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    23

Everything posted by theminister

  1. If you talk about the nuances of baseball, of which there are countless, most people couldn't tell you much about the differences in pitches let alone how differently they can all be thrown. How you change the angle of your arm, finger position, and delivery like out of the stretch, change the pitch every time. Many people know what a fastball, change up and curve ball are but, until we got Dickey, didn't know about a knuckler. Then you include the many different sliders, cut fastballs, two vs four seamers, and you almost never see screwballs anymore. Then you get the different curveballs and the slurve. Until you've watched a guy like Henke throw a forkball you can't really know what it is. And that's the most basic facet of the game aside from hitting. It's extremely complicated.
  2. The most interesting description I've ever heard of baseball was from an old Negro League player who stated that he had two loves in life, the sweet science and opera. He went on to say that, though they seem like very different things, their essence is the same. Opera is tedium after tedium until you get to the aria when it exploded in energy, only to revert back to more tedium. It is the explosion and crescendo of form which makes it. It is that balance that gives it its uniqueness. Other than the occasional fair ball it's 90% a game of catch between pitcher and backstop.
  3. Wow. Reyes cleared waivers. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised because of the contract but I am. He will probably need to accept he isn't a SS anymore.
  4. When you let Goins tag you for 3 in the 2nd inning you're going to have a tough time beating this team.
  5. Buehrle struggling early but hasn't let it cost him yet. Hopefully he will settle things down like he usually does.
  6. A sweep would be excellent but I'd be just as happy with 2 of 3 from NY and a win tomorrow. I'd also be happy breaking the A's record, mind you.
  7. Further to my comment a couple of days ago about JD and no IBB... I did a little digging. If he DOES go on to win the AL MVP and the trend holds, a long shot against Trout mind you, he would be the first to win it without a IBB since Cal Ripken in 1983. The last NL MVP was Dick Groat in 1960. Keeping in mind that Pujols once got 44 in a MVP season and Barry Bonds had 120(!) in 2004. The closest was Pedroia in 2008 who had one IBB. I might be the only one but I find that interesting. The point is that it is exceedingly rare.
  8. It's also a very small sample size. He is 11 for 49. If he goes 5 for 8 over the next two games, which is entirely possible with his talent, he would be batting .281. Tulo is the least of our worries.
  9. Pompey is still really young and raw. He will get a good look next year. THIS year is about going for it. Better to have a vet than a rookie if the need arises.
  10. I don't disagree but it's sometimes situational if there is an open base. Also Trout has been given an IBB 12 times in front of Pujols so it's an interesting comparison to me. Compare that to Goldschmidt's 23 IBBs and it shows that the MLB managers haven't quite caught up to what's happening. There isn't another player at the top of the HR and RBIS charts who has yet to be given a free pass except for him.
  11. Interesting tidbit... Donaldson has not been walked intentionally all season.
  12. On an aside....Do you guys look at Wins, Games Back or what? I grew up learning to only look at loses in a divisional race. We are only 2 wins back but have 5 more loses. That's why dealing a death blow to the Tanks over these two series is hugely important in my mind.
  13. This post just made me realize how many things those two letters stand for. Being a baseball thread I assumed Double Play over duplicate post. It means other things too.
  14. And, as I was saying before, that win now sets us up for a sweep. It isn't automatic with Price vs Nova but it's close.
  15. He's actually had so few official ABs, because BB don't count, he can raise his average very quickly with a strong month. If he can get his avg up then so does his OBP and SLG even if it's mostly singles.
  16. Revere at #9 is the better option IMHO regardless of speed. Having him there allows an extra AB in a batting order rollover for the lead off man. He doesn't get onbase enough to warrant the extra AB. Revere becomes the de facto lead off after the 1st inning anyway.
  17. Three game series so 2/3 would be fine. Price we should count on and if Dickey can have a decent game then Estrada could give us the shot at the sweep. I like our chances with EE mashing now and Tulo getting comfortable.
  18. Just busting your balls...after prodding Shaky yesterday I figured I had to jostle the other old man in the thread too. My plan for tomorrow is to set out early in a kayak from Long Harbour to Galiano, set up camp, and get to the Hummingbird Pub in time to watch Price shut them down. Sounds like a good day to me. Should be a great series. I feel very confident about this one despite our record on the road and in Yankee stadium.
  19. Yeah, I was kinda thinking of you when I said it, Shaky. I just chalked it up to you being curmudgeonly like me. I can face reality though....he's a below average hitter in the majors. He's an excellent CF though. He's a doubles guy...reminds me of Murphy on the Mets. Doesn't walk enough in my mind. If he could seriously improve that then he'd be a much more cemented major leaguer. I was sure he was a solid defender but he has impressed me a bunch. Enough to consider that he's a worthwhile starter if far enough back in the lineup. Really he's a #8 hitter for me.
  20. Be honest...who didn't want Pillar on the team in April? I know I wasn't one of them because I thought he was a solid backup OF. Never saw this level of defence though.
  21. Interfering with a ball in play is grounds for ejection regardless of what team. If it was a foul ball it's allowable but not on a fair ball.
×
×
  • Create New...