Video assistance needed It’s not exactly surprising that Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez is struggling with the temporary ban on players using communal video terminals to review at-bats or pitches during games. Martinez, renowned for making adjustments through in-game video study, told reporters last Friday, "That’s a big part of my routine … a big part of who I am." Without the visual aid, he is batting .244 with a .720 OPS and no home runs in his first 50 plate appearances. "He’s very frustrated, not being able to go back and look at video," Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke told the Fox broadcasters on Saturday. "When you’re DHing, you have to spend your time doing something. You can’t just sit on the bench and dwell. He’s in the cage a lot, but he usually looks at video. He’s one of the few players who can break down anyone’s swing. For him not to have that – to not be able to look at what he’s doing wrong and correct it – it’s affecting him." The restrictions for 2020 are a safety measure so players do not gather in close quarters around the same video station. Players were given iPads, but those can be loaded with video only before and after games, not during them. MLB hopes to set up a system as quickly as possible where players can access video on those iPads during games, but with the signs edited out to prevent illegal sign-stealing. https://theathletic.com/1977618/202...e-an-alarming-injury-trend-video-frustration/
What did Laureano do? He did nothing offensively to contribute to runs. He did nothing defensively to prevent a hit or a run. His triple was a routine single and had he busted it out of the box he could have had an inside the park HR rather than being stranded on third.
Nick Tropeano got called up by the Yanks a few days ago and was designated today. Albert Abreu got called up as the 29th man in the double header.
Cole pitches 4 shutout innings vs the Rays. Then gives up a 3-spot (2 doubles, homer) in the fifth. Pulled after 4.2 IP, 107 pitches. Will receive a no-decision.
Interesting that they didn't change the criteria for pitchers winning a 7 inning game. As a percentage of the game, he pitched way longer than 5 in a 9 inning game.
Oh man..I thought Straw's was the worst OF play of the week but this was may take it considering the circumstances.
Dodgers then turn it into a rally. Hit a homer with 2 outs. Giants now up only 5-4. Them and the Orioles are the only 2 teams still yet to record a QS from a SP.
Interesting that Jomboy's taking the "everybody does it" defense here, against an act that is expressly outlawed (Rule 6.02) and is actually a "point of emphasis" this year. Funny, I don't remember him advocating taking it easy on the Astros because "everybody was doing it".
This guy is a great follow. Hes been on the good fight crusade and posts some pretty hilarious tweets. Thats an actual tweet from jomboy and made it to Michaels wall of shame.
As a random fact - Teoscar Hernandez (7), Colin Moran (6), and Rio Ruiz (6) would all lead the Astros in home runs. Max Stassi (4) would be tied for 2nd.
Robbie Grossman (16), Ramon Laureano (26), Teoscar Hernandez (34), and Tony Kemp (94) are the former Astros among the current top 100 position players in fWAR. It stings that they are all outfielders, given Houston is about to lose all 3 of their starting outfielders to free agency. Brett Phillips and Rio Ruiz are also in the top 150.
Dallas Keuchel, Elieser Hernandez, and Josh Hader are the former Astros in the top 100 in pitching fWAR.
Grossman will be a FA. Laureano is the painful one since we didn't get much in return (it was mostly a roster crunch move if I remember right) and he'd be our starting CF.
That Gomez trade was just so so costly. Hader is one of the best relievers in the league. Phillips has been worth 2 fWAR over a seasons worth of games, and Adrian Houser has panned out into a pretty good BoR SP for Milwaukee. Even Domingo Santana is a viable major leaguer, having posted 4.4 fWAR across 500 games.