I get it, but neither team has any pitchers left, and to have extras, both teams would have to save pitchers for that, which means a bunch of guys don't get to appear in the game if it doesn't go to extras. It's an exhibition. It's fine.
I know. Back in the day the pitchers pitched three innings and the best players played the whole game. There were at least two extra inning all star games in the 60s.
I think he may have just solidified a place in the Hall of Fame this year: a legitimate one, not like some of the guys they have been letting in lately.
WAR is very misleading for relief pitchers. For back-end guys, every inning is leverage: the game is close and will be decided by 1 or 2 runs. WAR treats an inning in a 7-0 game the same as an inning in a 2-1 game. Throw some "replacement-level" pitcher (whatever that is) into 70 leverage innings and see how many of those games you lose compared to throwing Lee Smith or Chapman or even Bednar.
In fact, you saw what it was like last year when Bednar became a "replacement-level" pitcher. It was a disaster. Pitching garbage relievers in leverage situations will cost a lot more than "2 wins" per pitcher every year: more like 7 or 8 per bad reliever used in leverage over a whole season. High-end relievers are the most underrated, undervalued commodity in baseball.
My wife's best friends boyfriend is from Venezuela and his name is Gustavo. He swears to me that Gustavo Melendez is a more athletic and better looking Jose Altuve. But I speak little Spanish and he mainly follows world football. So shit may have gotten lost in translation. I'm sticking with him as my favorite pick.
FYI: also friends with an El Salvadorian. Those bastards know their football. And had some life experiences.
Was hoping I spelled it out right. He drinks Pabst which I find random.
The Salvadorian is an IT guy for the library system I work for. Get to talk to him a lot because I always forget one of the 9 passwords I need to check out books.
That's a real term that guys use on the WallStreetBets subreddit. Basically, the entire vibe there is "we're all losers; let's make degenerate bets while we sink and see if something pays off." Hence the wife's boyfriend joke.
My wife's boyfriend is a 6' 5" schizophrenic guy who has a tendency to get lost for days and wander around the countryside. He just flew to New Jersey and will be spending the next month or so in the U.S., so be on the lookout for a very large man in sweatpants roaming around Pennsylvania muttering to no one in particular in Spanish.
The Pirates are still Pitching Strong and Hitting Weak. Many may have already read the Article that appeared in BA in the Oct 2024 edition entitled "All Systems GO" written by Alex Speier. It details the Red Sox overhaul of their hitting development program after the 2022 Season because the team had stagnated and there was not much help coming through the system very quickly.
Two sentences say it better than I can: "The Red Sox leaned hard into overhauling their hitting development in pursuit of alignment behind a clear organization-wide philosophy. The process included some painful decisions to let go of some respected, longtime hitting coaches while seeing others choose to leave."
In 2023 Tristan Casas moved up to MLB. Last year we saw Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu join the team, and this year we have Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell joining the MLB Club. We could also add Chase Meidroth who was traded to the CWS and is in MLB, and possibly Nick Yorke who also was on the doorstep before being traded to the direction-less Pirates. I thought it was an excellent piece for anyone interested in training hitters.
Let's remember where we aren't supposed to go with stuff in the comments
That was sorta cool though.
I felt dirty rooting for Schwarber though.
Not a Cub anymore. Pretty amazing clutch dude. In fact, he'd be a good add to SKENES TIMELINE if the Phillies don't win this year.
LOL idiocracy ASG
How many innings can they go? Do they do the runner at second thing? I have no idea what the rules are.
Jeff Passan explains: a home run derby will decide the all-star game! Can you imagine how Clemente or Mays would have felt about that?
I get it, but neither team has any pitchers left, and to have extras, both teams would have to save pitchers for that, which means a bunch of guys don't get to appear in the game if it doesn't go to extras. It's an exhibition. It's fine.
I know. Back in the day the pitchers pitched three innings and the best players played the whole game. There were at least two extra inning all star games in the 60s.
Three hitters for each team. Three swings for each guy. The most home runs wins.
Aroldis Chapman is amazing. Having maybe the best season of his career at 37 and still pumping 100 MPH consistently.
As I said last year, when he throws strikes he is unhittable. What a pitcher!
I think he may have just solidified a place in the Hall of Fame this year: a legitimate one, not like some of the guys they have been letting in lately.
His career bWAR is only 22.8. No way he gets in with that low a total.
Billy Wagner: 16.5
He's a relief pitcher. Billy Wagner, Lee Smith, Rollie Fingers, Trevor Hoffman all right around that number. All in the Hall of Fame.
Had no idea.
WAR is very misleading for relief pitchers. For back-end guys, every inning is leverage: the game is close and will be decided by 1 or 2 runs. WAR treats an inning in a 7-0 game the same as an inning in a 2-1 game. Throw some "replacement-level" pitcher (whatever that is) into 70 leverage innings and see how many of those games you lose compared to throwing Lee Smith or Chapman or even Bednar.
In fact, you saw what it was like last year when Bednar became a "replacement-level" pitcher. It was a disaster. Pitching garbage relievers in leverage situations will cost a lot more than "2 wins" per pitcher every year: more like 7 or 8 per bad reliever used in leverage over a whole season. High-end relievers are the most underrated, undervalued commodity in baseball.
Skenes isn't gonna get the win, is he?
Nope. Another non-win for Skenes.
No win tonight.
Even an All Star pen lets him down…..
He's used to it!
Hope Suarez is OK, that could be horrible for the DBacks if it's broken. Can't use him or trade him for value.
Staying in the game is good.
Rumbunter: on second thought, maybe my hot take on the first round draft pick was just stupid.
Wait, is this something that actually happened?
Apparently yes. I’ve seen reference to it but didn’t read the original or the mea culpa. The peril of instant hot takes!
That's funny, basically "yeah I'm an idiot"
My wife's best friends boyfriend is from Venezuela and his name is Gustavo. He swears to me that Gustavo Melendez is a more athletic and better looking Jose Altuve. But I speak little Spanish and he mainly follows world football. So shit may have gotten lost in translation. I'm sticking with him as my favorite pick.
FYI: also friends with an El Salvadorian. Those bastards know their football. And had some life experiences.
Thought you said “my wife’s boyfriend” at first glance
I had to read that twice also.
He better not be.
Was hoping I spelled it out right. He drinks Pabst which I find random.
The Salvadorian is an IT guy for the library system I work for. Get to talk to him a lot because I always forget one of the 9 passwords I need to check out books.
That's a real term that guys use on the WallStreetBets subreddit. Basically, the entire vibe there is "we're all losers; let's make degenerate bets while we sink and see if something pays off." Hence the wife's boyfriend joke.
My wife's boyfriend is a 6' 5" schizophrenic guy who has a tendency to get lost for days and wander around the countryside. He just flew to New Jersey and will be spending the next month or so in the U.S., so be on the lookout for a very large man in sweatpants roaming around Pennsylvania muttering to no one in particular in Spanish.
I did too
Read some random write up on him saying he has deceptive power. No one ever said that about me when I walked onto the diamond.
Some scouts noticed that about me when I am on the toilet.
Not sure why that made me laugh as much as it did. Maybe because of the seriousness of your post above.
When I get one that I can pull, I can achieve some surprising exit velocities.
Shit seems sort of _real_ just now in El Salvador.
Not to name drop, but my son is Oneil Cruz.
Tell him to get in the cages and finish the year strong.
Working on it! Those tokens are expensive! I got him hustling again Though. It's a process.
Invite Pham over for dinner again. He seems to have gotten less angst lately. Dad and mentor. How could you go wrong?
Just hide the kitchen knives if Pham is coming over.
Definitely. He's a serious dude.
🤣🤣🤣
Please build a team around Skenes!!!
You'd think. It also seemed like his pitch sequencing was a little different in that inning.
If only we had Ohtani, Acuna and Marte, we could've beaten Skubal.
Admittedly 2 of those were probably the softest hits they had all year.
Skenes grabbing his chest... doesn't know how to react when his team scores runs. I am worried for him.
Good inning for Skenes.
14 fastballs. Nothing else.
They sure didn't touch much of the 'Ol number 1.
But... but... but... he has bad fastball shape. Don't they know that?
https://x.com/MLBNetwork/status/1945196924199444738
Worth checking out to hear Skenes answer a question on wins and losses.
I'm impressed he got that suit in Pittsburgh.
You assume he got that suit in Pittsburgh.
Nah. He actually mentioned the name of the shop, which I can't remember right now, but he said, a guy made it for him at a suit shop in Pittsburgh.
I didn't like the silly blue collar but otherwise it was nice
The fit is nice. The blue collar is very "I'm trying to be fashion-forward" which is not a fashionable thing to convey.
Paul hates nerds!
I just turned on MLBtv to see what they were talking about. With his new moustache, Kevin Millar has become a doppelganger for Cliff Klaven.
The Pirates are still Pitching Strong and Hitting Weak. Many may have already read the Article that appeared in BA in the Oct 2024 edition entitled "All Systems GO" written by Alex Speier. It details the Red Sox overhaul of their hitting development program after the 2022 Season because the team had stagnated and there was not much help coming through the system very quickly.
Two sentences say it better than I can: "The Red Sox leaned hard into overhauling their hitting development in pursuit of alignment behind a clear organization-wide philosophy. The process included some painful decisions to let go of some respected, longtime hitting coaches while seeing others choose to leave."
In 2023 Tristan Casas moved up to MLB. Last year we saw Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu join the team, and this year we have Roman Anthony and Kristian Campbell joining the MLB Club. We could also add Chase Meidroth who was traded to the CWS and is in MLB, and possibly Nick Yorke who also was on the doorstep before being traded to the direction-less Pirates. I thought it was an excellent piece for anyone interested in training hitters.