The Astros look like a team that are going to get swept by the Cubs. I hope they don't...but they have that deer in the headlights look about them.
Everybody. Repeat with me. This is baseball. Sometimes you loose. Sometimes you win. During the course of a season, every team has moments where they appear to be totally dominated by the opposition and clearly an inferior team. Conversely, almost every team has several games where they look like the greatest team since the '27 Yankees. That is just the way it is in baseball. This was one game. The sky is not falling. By the same token, if they turn it around and win today, we shouldn't declare them the best team in all of baseball. Some of the manic-depressive emotional whipsaw here is more absurd than in the GARM where people demand T-Mac be traded after a loss and turn around and declare him MVP after a single win. 162 Games. Get a little perspective. You will be much happier. I appreciate that some of it is just empty venting, but really. The Chicken Little act from game-to-game gets a little old. This is the same team it was durring the first couple of weeks when they looked horrible and it is the same team that everybody was fawning over the day before yesterday.
You are out of line with those comments, Ottamaton. Nobody has really said anything in this thread that would warrant your comments. So, quit trying to be mister cool. People are giving the Cubs some credit for being a good team. That is all I see in this thread. I don't see anybody venting about the Astros being up/down like you are saying...other than the typical venting that comes with game action and picking on certain players. If you want to wait on all 162 games to be played before you air an opinion on the gameplay or how good...or not so good...the Astros or certain players are, then maybe you should come back at the end of the season cause it doesn't read like you belong in a game thread. The rest of us want to say whatever we want to say in the game threads...without reservation or to appease the likes of you...just because it's a long season and there are ups and downs. I submit that while you say it "gets old"...you are not in the right place. Maybe you need your own blog or something? I dunno.
Actually, there is a better part of a page of people b****ing about Borkowski, Wiggington, and Ausmus. You don't even need play by play. You can tell who is winning by how much b****ing is going on. Not sure what thread you are reading.
So, we can't b**** about players who are playing poorly, and have a history (short-term or long-term) of playing poorly, in a game thread? Get serious. Your post was referring to "team" throughout. Now, you are talking about certain players who are getting vented about. Based on what you are saying, I'm not really sure what we should be talking about (something that fits what you want to read I suppose). What do you expect? Objectivity? Lack of bias? When players play poorly, then they get ragged on. When they play well, then they are paid kudos. That is the nature of this BBS. It cannot be changed. But, everyone once in a while, we have to get a lecture from someone that dictates to the masses that this is how you should approach it and is going to be the one post to bring about change as far as how people go about posting and what we should be talking about... . No offense...but that is absurd. You will just have to continue to put up with it...or leave I guess.
You complain that I have no right to talk about what you think, all the while complaining about what I think. The inherent contradiction is amusingly absurd. You will have to continue to put up with my thoughts on what you say... or leave I guess. I guess if I think that you are all overly emotional in your reactions to the ups and downs of the game, I shoudn't be supprised that you are getting so worked up emotionaly about a post you don't like.
I'd prefer lecture-oriented posts in another thread in the future and not in the series threads...but you do what you have to do. I hope it doesn't turn into a series of lectures in series threads, however. lol
Actually, you missed that point. I never said you have no right to talk about what you think. I just find it absurd that you are talking about it in a game series threads...which is the place we come to talk about how players are performing, how the games are going, etc. . This is a day-to-day game action thread. Of course there are going to be ups and downs with the comments. And, of course there is going to be venting. Actually, not emotional at all. I just find it odd that you come into this thread to berate us for venting when I thought this is what these threads are for. We are either complimenting the good play...or deriding the bad play. Since when has this thread been out level-headed thinking for the long haul over the course of a season?
Just so we are clear, are you a big fan of the GARM 'trade McGrady' threads after every loss? Wiggington sucks as much going 0-4 when we win as he does going 0-4 when we loose. I think it is reasonable to ask people to be circumspect, just as it is to ask people to close their mouth when they eat, or to not fart in public, or any of the other uncouth things that people all over the place do all the time. More often than not, the request will fall on deaf ears, but that doesn't mean that we should all just give up and fart wherever and whenever we get the urge. If you think Wiggington has had a couple of bad at bats, that's fine. Talk about bad at bats. Don't demand that Wiggington be taken out and shot or else. If you think Wiggington should be released, the opinion should exist independent of whether the team wins or looses. It should be based on more than how you feel about the most recent at bat. I would submit that most GM's will agree with this. I have no proof, and we can discuss that if we want, but for now I will assume that you agree. Given that, I don't think it is unworthy to ask people to aspire to 'best practices' for evaluating players using the example shown by GM's and scouts and managers. If they can do it, so can you. Reach for the stars.
No matter what the Cubs will always be the Cubs like they have been for the last century or so. Go Stros. Let's take the next two.
I agree, nobody should judge a player based on his most recent AB. I went overboard. I am sure that Wigginton is going to magically transform into a rangy 3rd basemen with even average defensive skills over the course of his tenure with the Astros. At the plate, he will learn not to hack away at pitches two feet outside of the strike zone or in the dirt. Sheesh! He's only approaching 31 years old, people, give him time! Thanks, Otto. Thanks for the lesson. You truly helped me realize how shortsighted my assessment was of our $4.35 million 3rd basemen. I say we double his salary next season and lock him up for the next 7 years.
I'm MadMax, and I endorse this message. I'm buying your next beer (or at least the next beer you drink in my presence).
RE: Wigginton, he seriously needs to spend some time with the tape, unless what I hear is inaccurate. I hear (haven't seen) that he's swinging off-balance, not pivoting his lead foot at all, etc. These just aren't difficult things to correct. Concerning the swinging at bad pitches, I don't know enough about his career body of work to know whether that is a recent development or whether he's never had a good eye for the 'zone, but a quick look at his baseball-reference.com BB/SO stats suggests he historically is not so hot.
I see more of where you are coming from based on your last post, Ottomaton. I think it is perfectly normal to come here and vent (good or bad)...and that is, in my mind, what these threads are for. And, yes, most of it is not based on logic and is based more on emotions being experienced at the time of the post based on observed performance of the players and/or team at that time, i.e. short-sighted. However, even venting can go overboard, e.g. the "Trade TMAC" threads (which I never gave any thought to nor ventured into). Most of us cannot be expected to assess things like a scout or GM because, quite frankly, we are fans who do not possess those skills. We tend to call it like we see it at the time...fair or unfair. I do admit that some venting goes overboard at times and is more emotional diatribe than anything else. It fits the mentality of "what have you done for me lately?" versus taking into account the bigger picture. Given that, I don't think these series threads are the best place to come for unbiased, objective opinions on player or team performance over long stretches of time. Those types of topics deserve their own threads. That's all I have left to say on this matter. You can come in here and try to get everyone level-headed to think before they post...but that is not reality for these types of threads IMO. More often that not...someone is spilling over into this thread from watching the game and posting on an emotional low or high...which is why I tend to get a chuckle out of the posts in these threads because, more often than not, more than one poster is making an ass out of himself (maybe myself included). It could be worse, e.g. the GARM after a Rockets loss.
