CaliSoxFanViaSWside

Shifting is just another way to analyze data to get a competitive edge. Yes hitting is suffering because of it but baseball shouldn't revert back to the dark ages. There were never any rules regarding where a defense had to line up before and there shouldn't be now. All major sports are doing this. Baseball analyzes data on hitters hot zones, hitters tendencies, not only where they hit it but what they swing at. Baseball is a game of adjustments. If all teams do it then there is no competitive advantage to any team except for those teams that analyze and employ the strategies better than others. The same thing applies to scouting and development. If you do things right and get the best pitchers and hitters who can either use these strategies or beat them you deserve to win. The only reason the shifts will be banned is because if pitching is dominant baseball becomes even more boring and less attractive than faster paced offensive oriented sports. With or without the shift baseball is already behind the 8 ball.

Juan Soto and even he's having a little bit of an off year for him. He's getting walked a ton as usual but his BA , OBP, SLG, OPS all below even his 19 yr. old rookie numbers. Would definitely have to give up Eloy and more for him. Nats would probably want Kopech or Montgomery and whoever else shines in our system too . Plus there's no pitching depth in the minors. Vera hasn't even pitched yet. Problem is if the Nats were selling on him there would be a lot of bidders more equipped (better farm systems) to land him. But he's not a FA until 2025 so would get him for 2.5 seasons if the the Nats decide to trade him. He's making $17M this year so can't imagine what he'll make for the last 2 years. Record arbitration stuff I would imagine. Nats offer 13 yrs $350M but he said no in February. Boras is his agent and the speculation is he could be the 1st 1/2 Billion dollar contract in baseball.

Yolbert would probably get promoted before Sosa and Sosa moved to AAA . Sosa has had some trouble adjusting to a new level. If he does well in AAA there's still time to promote him if Yolbert can't cut it. Sosa has more power but is only 22 and needs AAA time . He's still below the average age of a AA player by at least a year if not more.

I only give our guys credit . Screw the other team . Should I say thanks to TLR for pinch hitting and making a lot of right calls tonight ?

Kopech, Pollock, Burger ,McGuire , Bullpen !!

3 in a row . Wonderful game !

Heckuva play by Betts.

Oh yeaaaa !!!

Moncada is a good fielder and still young and hits best from the left side. He has to be kept just to give him a chance to get right. He's ultra talented if he can get it together.

Bummer to pitch to 3 RHH in a row, no. Ruiz walks too many . Foster sure but Lopez was probably the right call. Lopez has a decent FIP, ERA doesn't tell the whole story.

Your suggestion ? RHP with 1st 3 hitters being RH and still the 7th inning with a 4 run lead.

That was big !

Let's hope Lopez doesn't give them a couple back.

Everything's Jake !

Clutch AJ !!

Game can still go to either team.

Nooooo he's done. He should be done. It's just 1 game.

All hail Kopech !!! Take a seat young man . You did good.

I think when you aren't good enough to hit MLB pitching you have no confidence and think you can help the team by taking a walk. That said you still have to expect a fastball there like 100% load up for it and take your hack.

Reese if you can't expect a fastball there after he missed on 3 breaking pitches in a row , when can you expect the fastball ?

Let's go boys !!!

You know he's a better hitter now but hopefully he can find the spot between a .300 hitter who hits 20 HR's and a .275 hitter who can hit 35 HR's.

Pirates actually have some left handed guys who aren't really bad , just average.

Kelly who was injured, Graveman who can't pitch all that often, Leury 3 yrs, Velasquez and Cueto dumpster diving.

Not just the OF, 2nd base, a trade FA or someone just to get more LH. He got Harrison (RH) and Pollock (RH) and last minute trade for LH McGuire who we all knew was better defensively but couldn't hit a lick.