2022 Season | Series #19 | A's @ Guardians | June 9-12, 2020

[sportscoach]

View attachment 10338

Thanks mom, but a protein shake with vitamins would be a better suggestion lol

 

[CATS44]

Chisox may have lost Kopech for a while.

Left in the first inning with knee discomfort.

 

[CDAV45]

My kind of hot take/long take most peeps probably wanna skip over in a sense haha

Baseball is behind the times with things and they are very poor with doing things the right way with the customers to be sincere. I remember growing up, I ended up watching more Braves games than Indians because they loved to block out the Cleveland games in my area. Turner always made sure his Braves were on TBS, which a good majority of the nation could watch at the time, so I knew their team better when I was young. Baseball is losing some of its fans, not because of the pace of the game nor the love of the game, but because it's so much harder to access the game.

How many games are on free TV anymore? I bet you there are more football games on free TV than baseball and there is 10 times the amount of baseball games... you want to get the game onto everyone's TV not just people who have money.

In the past you would hear of stories of players from poor areas wanting and dreaming of becoming professional ball players. They would sneak into games and listen to the games on radios before TV. Lou Gehrig was one of them... His poor parents bought him the wrong type of glove since they wanted to support, but he still used it anyways with the local kids. Majority of the current baseball players mostly come from affluent families that have access to watch the game and fields to play the game.

If you want baseball to regain popularity, you need to stop looking at profit margins as the end all and get back to why the game was popular. Get everyone access and get everyone access to playing. Its not as simple anymore, but experience as kids are the most important in my mind. I grew up playing the game of course, but my parents always took me to games and my parents always let me watch games. Cutting minor league teams and making it expensive to watch the game, is going in the opposite direction they need to go.

I am mad honestly at my younger self since looking back, I would have played at least college ball if not made the minors, but that's life and it's easy to lose yourself when you stop caring about yourself...

@CATS44

This honestly a sincere question without any jokes intended, but what's the difference now to you between baseball as a kid and baseball now?

I have a much better appreciation for the game after playing it for more than 30 yrs of my life. I never fully dedicated myself to reaching my potential, but if I had who knows what could have been. I pissed away more than one opportunity. Oddly enough, my son is a sophomore for Findlay and it's the same scenario. He is physically gifted, but I don't know how committed he is to reaching his full potential. All I know is that he is silly fast for a 6' 205lb kid who looks like he was chiseled out of granite and is hitting the shit out of the ball. I don't say much or push him because I've never wanted to be that "dad". I told him years ago that I'll provide him with whatever he needs, but I cannot be his motivation. It's hard to keep my mouth shut when you see history repeating itself in a sense. So yeah, my appreciation for the game of baseball is immeasurable.

 

[Tondo]

Chisox may have lost Kopech for a while.

Left in the first inning with knee discomfort.

Final out today was Luis Robert thrown out at 3B attempting to advance on a sac fly down 2 runs in the 12th inning. Love it. It was close and they were actually on the phone deciding if they were gonna challenge, lol

 

[CDAV45]

Why compare to a team that can go out and add a 25M player at every position like the Dodgers or Yankees? Our outcome 9/10 times will be similar against those teams regardless of whether we are constructed as we currently are or as a more power oriented team.

And the way we are constructed currently is still a bridge to some of our highest ceiling players making it up here in the next few seasons(Espino, Williams, Valera, Roccio, and a few others)

I agree and have stated such numerous times here. That does bring me to a question that I asked Bimbo, but I think it got lost in the shuffle of the conversation. I want to see what Call can do. I'm not making any predictions or suggesting he can be a productive major league hitter. He suggested that they are not looking to replace Kwan and his 115 wRC+ or whatever it was. I understand that because it's logical on the surface. That's pretty good production although I think it's smoke and mirrors, but that's another topic. Anyhow, he also suggested that somebody like Call would not benefit by getting promoted only to have a few AB a week, and I agree with that also. My question was then why couldn't Call earn more time with good play and what is going to happen when Jones and Valera look ready? Are they going to be put on the back burner because the slap hitting Kwan is carrying a 115 wRC+ or is this an issue of prospect status? I hope that doesn't come across as snarky because I certainly don't mean for it to and I respect and appreciate the hell out of Bimbo's take on all things Guardian prospects. It comes down to the fact that I don't think the way this lineup is currently constructed that it can compete in a playoff scenario against teams that can pitch and mash. Maybe I'm wrong and I hope that I am.

I do however feel that this team is so close to becoming something special precisely due to the names that you listed.

 

[CATS44]

First we can't compete in our division.

Now we can't compete in the playoffs.

Lets get thru the regular season before worrying about the playoffs.

*******

Why is a player with truly elite bat to ball skills and good understanding of the strike zone considered smoke and mirrors if he has some success?

 

[DCTribefan]

My kind of hot take/long take most peeps probably wanna skip over in a sense haha

Baseball is behind the times with things and they are very poor with doing things the right way with the customers to be sincere. I remember growing up, I ended up watching more Braves games than Indians because they loved to block out the Cleveland games in my area. Turner always made sure his Braves were on TBS, which a good majority of the nation could watch at the time, so I knew their team better when I was young. Baseball is losing some of its fans, not because of the pace of the game nor the love of the game, but because it's so much harder to access the game.

How many games are on free TV anymore? I bet you there are more football games on free TV than baseball and there is 10 times the amount of baseball games... you want to get the game onto everyone's TV not just people who have money.

In the past you would hear of stories of players from poor areas wanting and dreaming of becoming professional ball players. They would sneak into games and listen to the games on radios before TV. Lou Gehrig was one of them... His poor parents bought him the wrong type of glove since they wanted to support, but he still used it anyways with the local kids. Majority of the current baseball players mostly come from affluent families that have access to watch the game and fields to play the game.

If you want baseball to regain popularity, you need to stop looking at profit margins as the end all and get back to why the game was popular. Get everyone access and get everyone access to playing. Its not as simple anymore, but experience as kids are the most important in my mind. I grew up playing the game of course, but my parents always took me to games and my parents always let me watch games. Cutting minor league teams and making it expensive to watch the game, is going in the opposite direction they need to go.

I am mad honestly at my younger self since looking back, I would have played at least college ball if not made the minors, but that's life and it's easy to lose yourself when you stop caring about yourself...

@CATS44

This honestly a sincere question without any jokes intended, but what's the difference now to you between baseball as a kid and baseball now?

65 years?

 

[DCTribefan]

Chisox may have lost Kopech for a while.

Left in the first inning with knee discomfort.

Lance Lyon due back this week so it’s a wash at worst.

 

[sportscoach]

I have a much better appreciation for the game after playing it for more than 30 yrs of my life. I never fully dedicated myself to reaching my potential, but if I had who knows what could have been. I pissed away more than one opportunity. Oddly enough, my son is a sophomore for Findlay and it's the same scenario. He is physically gifted, but I don't know how committed he is to reaching his full potential. All I know is that he is silly fast for a 6' 205lb kid who looks like he was chiseled out of granite and is hitting the shit out of the ball. I don't say much or push him because I've never wanted to be that "dad". I told him years ago that I'll provide him with whatever he needs, but I cannot be his motivation. It's hard to keep my mouth shut when you see history repeating itself in a sense. So yeah, my appreciation for the game of baseball is immeasurable.

My next statement might be to frank, so don't mind it...

One thing you should tell him as a warning from the old folk like me now, (I am not old, but my injuries and physical condition make me feel that way), is the fact while he is young, just give his all towards baseball and/or sports he likes. Looking back, he might really regret not giving it a shot. Its something you can only do when you are young so take the opportunity to enjoy it as long as possible. Don't say it in a pushing way of course, but say it as, I am an old man and looking back I regretted not putting more effort into it. Also take him out and hit him balls, play catch etc and do stuff like that with him. I missed a ton of time with my dad cause he was in the military. I never got to fish with my grandfather on my mom's side cause he got ill early (mesothelioma). I had a kid I coached in swimming years ago (hardest training of any sport) and he quit, but he had so much potential. He decides to get on the high school team and he still made state, but he told me later, he was like, yeah I wish I didn't quit those two years now. He missed two years and made state in ohio, he may have been not just able to make state, but top at state...

 

[CATS44]

Final out today was Luis Robert thrown out at 3B attempting to advance on a sac fly down 2 runs in the 12th inning. Love it. It was close and they were actually on the phone deciding if they were gonna challenge, lol

Chicago is a just plain bad baseball team.

Awful defense, poor batting approach, and bad decision making.

The have the fewest BB% in the league and the second worst FPC.

They were fortunate last year, because their rotation stayed intact.

 

[sportscoach]

Chicago is a just plain bad baseball team.

Awful defense, poor batting approach, and bad decision making.

The have the fewest BB% in the league and the second worst FPC.

They were fortunate last year, because their rotation stayed intact.

Which means they can be overtaken by us...

 

[CDAV45]

First we can't compete in our division.

Now we can't compete in the playoffs.

Lets get thru the regular season before worrying about the playoffs.

*******

Why is a player with truly elite bat to ball skills and good understanding of the strike zone considered smoke and mirrors if he has some success?

Kwan is a style of hitter and I don't think that 115 wRC+ reflects the type of hitter he is. I'm sure I didn't make myself clear, but I do appreciate the type of hitter Kwan is because it is certainly useful, but we have too many of that type IMO. I suspect that will become blatantly obvious when/if we reach the playoffs. Just like it has the last few times we made them. Again, I think Kwan is a good major league hitter and I would love to see him in the leadoff spot. He is not a run producer and with others in the lineup with a similar profile we will struggle to outscore better than average teams.

Why do we go through the regular season? Clearly you and I have different expectations about team goals and that's fine. Winning the AL Central is no great gift and I'll go as far to say that if you don't win it then you aren't a very good MLB team.

 

[CATS44]

Lance Lyon due back this week so it’s a wash at worst.

A wash isn't enough.

And its a wash at BEST. Kopech is sporting a sub 2.00 ERA.

 

[CATS44]

Kwan is a style of hitter and I don't think that 115 wRC+ reflects the type of hitter he is. I'm sure I didn't make myself clear, but I do appreciate the type of hitter Kwan is because it is certainly useful, but we have too many of that type IMO. I suspect that will become blatantly obvious when/if we reach the playoffs. Just like it has the last few times we made them. Again, I think Kwan is a good major league hitter and I would love to see him in the leadoff spot. He is not a run producer and with others in the lineup with a similar profile we will struggle to outscore better than average teams.

Why do we go through the regular season? Clearly you and I have different expectations about team goals and that's fine. Winning the AL Central is no great gift and I'll go as far to say that if you don't win it then you aren't a very good MLB team.

Thats just plain ridiculous.

Its almost the same to say that about the the previously mentioned 1964 Cards or the 1960 Pirates, because neither was good enough to win the WS, because they were full of 'slap' hitters who didn't hit home runs.

The goal should be to win the division...and adjust the goal after that.

 

[CDAV45]

My next statement might be to frank, so don't mind it...

One thing you should tell him as a warning from the old folk like me now, (I am not old, but my injuries and physical condition make me feel that way), is the fact while he is young, just give his all towards baseball and/or sports he likes. Looking back, he might really regret not giving it a shot. Its something you can only do when you are young so take the opportunity to enjoy it as long as possible. Don't say it in a pushing way of course, but say it as, I am an old man and looking back I regretted not putting more effort into it. Also take him out and hit him balls, play catch etc and do stuff like that with him. I missed a ton of time with my dad cause he was in the military. I never got to fish with my grandfather on my mom's side cause he got ill early (mesothelioma). I had a kid I coached in swimming years ago (hardest training of any sport) and he quit, but he had so much potential. He decides to get on the high school team and he still made state, but he told me later, he was like, yeah I wish I didn't quit those two years now. He missed two years and made state in ohio, he may have been not just able to make state, but top at state...

Trust me when I say that I've had those conversations with him and still do occasionally. I even tell him that as his father I'm not biased when it comes to recognizing physical talent, and that playing for so long and with so many incredibly good ball players(some in MLB and/or minors) has given me an eye for it. When you see him amongst the other he just looks and moves differently. The difference is dedication and determination. Leave it all on the table and walk away with a clear conscience. If it ends in college knowing you gave it a legitimate shot then there's nothing wrong with that.

He's the type of player you'd love Coach. Takes walks, gets hit by a lot of pitches, steals bases, and hits for a high average. For me, he has good power too.

Some of the problem has been timing, and not just for him. The entire covid malee has f'd things up for a lot of these kids.