We need Bregman, Tucker, and Alvarez to all step it up a couple notches, and start playing like we know they are capable of. It's time for our top of the lineup to get on fire, and play their best baseball this year, when it matters most.
Toothpick treats this team as 2022, not 2023. Ralph Montero had a good Sept. against Oakland, KC, SD (losing record), NY ( under .500 at the time). Against Texas, he gave up a run, but it wasn't his. One of the worst signings since 2017, he ain't getting younger. Kuhlnel, Sousa and Urquidy, 3 wasted pitching spots because Toohpick wants to use veterans, or players that gifted him a ring,. 38-38 at home for a defending champion is on the manager, not the team.
Exactly. I haven't been watching as much these days for good reason. I still always follow the box scores though, so I guess there's that.
I think Brantley needed to hit for Chas there. I love Chas and have been harping to play him everyday but against a high K right-hander with 2 outs and the tying run on 3B? I think Chas is the 3rd choice there because he Ks too often. 1) Brantley- the ultimate lefty contact hitter who is simply the most likely player (maybe in all of baseball) to hit a single in that situation. 2) Diaz- Has just as much power to walk it off and destroys right handed pitching. But strikes out much less often than Chas. 3) Chas. That said, the pitching lost this game, not Chas and not the hitting. Pressly has not been sharp the last 2 times out. August was his least used month of the season and follow that up with only 4th appearance in September on the 18th. He simply needs to get into more than 1 game every 4-5 days to stay sharp.
Abreu wasn't available so someone had to step in for 7th or 8th inning high leverage. At this point I was trusting him more than Maton or Gravman. Maybe Stanek but he seems to **** the bed just as much in high leverage opportunities.
We thought pressly blowing the no-hitter wasn't a big deal. Turns out it was a sign. Funny how Orioles' closer blew a save in Baltimore. Astros' closer blow a save in Houston.
Nook said he was complaining about being overused by Dusty earlier in the year so one has to wonder if that’s the reason he’s been used so much less…
Chas has a better BA and a better OBP than Brantley against RHPs. DIaz, if he was to pinch hit that inning, it should have been for Abreu or he should have been saved for Pena. I probably would have saved Diaz for Pena and had no problem with who batted in the 9th.
I think Brantley needed to hit for Chas there. I love Chas and have been harping to play him everyday but against a high K right-hander with 2 outs and the tying run on 3B? I think Chas is the 3rd choice there because he Ks too often. 1) Brantley- the ultimate lefty contact hitter who is simply the most likely player (maybe in all of baseball) to hit a single in that situation. 2) Diaz- Has just as much power to walk it off and destroys right handed pitching. But strikes out much less often than Chas. 3) Chas. That said, the pitching lost this game, not Chas and not the hitting. Pressly has not been sharp the last 2 times out. August was his least used month of the season and follow that up with only 4th appearance in September on the 18th. He simply needs to get into more than 1 game every 4-5 days to stay sharp. Yes it was a sign that he is not being used enough. Last night was only his 4th appearance of the month. Rest or rust? There has to be a balance. He must be used at least 25% of games and no more than 40%. Going in to last night, he had pitched in 3 of the 15 (20%) games this month, that's after having his lowest workload of the season in August- 9 of 28g (32%). He needs more work to stay sharp. Dusty's fault not his.
I’m ready to accept this season as a loss and move on. Our pitching isn’t gonna get it done, and we were spoiled from last year because they were so good. We don’t need to get embarrassed in the playoffs and add insult to injury. Just play this out and let it be. Get a nice long off season and re-group. Hopefully say bon voyage to Dusty, find a younger manager with more fire, grit and can command respect of our guys and give us all a fresh approach. Hopefully Brown can go to work this off season as well.
I am at a loss for words to describe my level of disappointment and frustration. My attention is turning to anything but baseball.
