JoeC

Love the bunt double

If Uribe would have done that wearing pinstripes (or even in a Red Sox uniform), there would be an ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on the catch. They would interview the fans in the area, who would talk about Uribe in reverence. They would have statements from the nacho vendor in the area. Joe Buck would have even said something positive to describe it.

Recommended reading: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078LJKP88/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Book about Derek Black, a former White Nationalist (godson of David Duke), and how he learned to shed the beliefs of his upbringing.

In all seriousness I would hope that the Yankees clubhouse is addressing this. This goes beyond "us vs. them" on the field.

"That'll show 'em!"

For context, here's Donaldson's statement:

Also, whatever happens / happened, kudos to Yaz for sticking up for TA and bringing this out to the forefront. Anyone else notice Yaz took his earpiece out (assuming he was mic'd up for something) before chirping at Donaldson?

Also, players typically speak with their teammates about all on-field jokes with opposing players, and then publicly go on the record as having discussed it with teammates, right?

Now onto the fake apology.

Late to the party, and I'm sure I'm missing other publicly available instances of players playing while on LSD, but I'm choosing to believe that there is a 100% correlation between taking LSD and throwing a no-hitter based on the only (willingly known) evidence I have.

I hope not.

Not sure I agree with you on that part. Other teams besides the Dodgers were in the market for a closer (Braves, for instance).

Honestly, I'm realizing that I had a skewed view of Hahn's offseason. I'll make the case that picking up Kimbrel's option and trading him was the right move (sunk cost, get something in return... which he managed to do). Other than that, I think I stand corrected.

Sure - certainly a possibility as well, especially with younger guys (I'm less inclined to believe it for guys like Abreu and Grandal who've presumably had to adjust repeatedly)

Yeah, and obviously there's no way for us to know what the scouting reports are saying. My whole point is that given what appears to be a systematic inability to have good consistently at-bats, that to me is indicative of bad intel or bad coaching.

Would you like me to dig up deeper scouting reports on pitchers so I can give a 100% accurate example? I was hoping you could extrapolate the type of issue I was trying to describe based on a simplified example. Anyways, looks like we're at an impasse, so good luck with the rest of the thread

Yeah - you think the pitchers follow literally that same template? Pitchers make adjustments. It's clear our batters collectively aren't adjusting. That collective lack of adjustment is on both the players and coaches, and to pretend like the coaches aren't responsible at doesn't make sense to me.

No, it's more "if this guy throws 2 fastballs in at the hands, expect the next pitch to be a slider diving away from you." You know - things that scouting reports would say

The game plan absolutely matters if the hitters are told to look for one thing and consistently see the opposite.

If it were 1 or 2 guys, sure. Blame the individual players. Of course the players need to perform. They're the ones stepping up to the plate... butt if it's 75% of the lineup basically each and every game, that's systematic. That tells me that if there's a game plan or strategy, it's clearly outdated.

Of course it's up to the players not to swing. It is, however, a team effort to make sure hitters know how pitchers (and teams) are going to approach you as a hitter. Right now it looks like guys are clueless at the plate. THAT is a team effort.

Counterpoint: Coaches have a job help players to have a strategy at the plate. Constantly swinging at garbage outside of the size and never taking a walk to me says that there is no strategy (or, at best, insufficient strategy)... especially when these tendencies become persistent patterns. Ergo, I would argue that this current widespread slump is on the coaches just as much as it is on the players.

If it meant not having McEwing ill-advisedly waving guys home all the time, I'm all for it.

Eloy, Robert, Pollock, Moncada, Vaughn (briefly) 5/9 of your opening day lineup (including 100% of your infield) injured 6 weeks into the season. Eloy's injury was deemed a "freak" thing last year (torn pectoral on an ill-advised OF leap). He hasn't had leg muscle injuries before this year.

So what's your alternative in RF?