Friend of Nordhagen

This right here, multiplied by 400 grillion.

Fuck off, Vaughn. Seriously. That was 85-90% going to be a ground ball to the left side of the infield.

So if y'all are right -- and we're balking people to 3rd on purpose and working from the wind-up with a guy on second because we're afraid of getting our signs stolen -- WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND STRATEGIC GENIUS OF OUR HALL OF FAME MANAGER?

Dude is a shell of what he was last year and is pitching terrified. The day Davis Martin comes back up, Lucas is starter #6.

Why is he working from the windup with a man on second? Why do they still not hold on runners? What in the hell has this team improved on from year to year?

Giolito is just a huge, yawning disappointment.

Leury OPS = .456

Tell me if you've ever seen Tim Anderson make a great defensive play when it mattered. I'm legit having trouble remembering any.

Wait, you're telling me that Giolito threw Gurriel a slider that . . . sucked? When you're talking about $100 million contracts for starting pitchers, I tend to like the guys who can throw more than 2 pitches. This has been a 3-year problem for Giolito. He can't control any kind of effectively moving breaking ball. That just isn't gonna cut it.

Imagine a world where "ace" Lucas Giolito has 3 pitches, not 2.

Like, getting the ball into that material existing above ground. What do you call that material? Oh yeah -- the air.

Yes, it's early, but Vaughn is starting to remind me of Greg Walker as a hitter -- a gorgeous swing that doesn't quite seem to add up to production. (But I'm sure Steve Stone will assure us for the 1000th time what a prodigious hitter he's going to be.)

This is what he did during the second half last year -- whiffing on changeup after changeup. When that was pointed out, his main supporters cited his OBP. Both can be true. He gets on base and has yet to master hitting off-speed pitches, substantially lowering his ceiling.

Guys, I'm starting to think that Donaldson may be an asshole.

And why was he still out there? Because he was due up the next inning. And why was he due up the next inning? Because he's batting 9th. Can't make this stuff up.

THIS

Love the hit. But please note: Tim Anderson inexplicably looking at the ball as he rounds third and comes home. JUST FUCKING RUN. This is just a massively stupid team, but one that managed to win tonight's game.

For being a supposedly good outfielder, Pollock sure handled that play terribly. GET BEHIND THE BALL AND THROW IT COMING IN. This is the worst fundamental team in baseball.

Traditionally we'd say, you know, fire the manager.

Maybe a game like this -- and LOSING IT -- will compel these assholes to get their heads out of their defensive asses. So fucking tired of their shit out there -- maybe they should be, too.

Talk about not ready to play.

Just saw Anderson's error. Ridiculous. We are rounding the ball off why? Plant your feet and throw the ball. Jesus.

Blamed his performance on where outfielders were standing.

Dallas Keuchel is a bad teammate. He said some terrible shit last year, and he's at it again.

Given Keuchel's apparent personality traits (blaming others for his miserable pitching), I'd score this as a point in Madrigal's favor.