Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - ALCS Game 3

Tom Thomson came paddling past
I'm pretty sure it was him
And he spoke so softly in accordance
To the growing of the dim
He said, "Bring on a brand new renaissance
'Cause I think I'm ready
I've been shaking all night long
But my hands are steady"

I guess you could say they need this one.

THEY NEED THIS ONE!!

Lineups:

Revere, lf      Escobar, ss 
Donaldson, 3b   Zobrist, 2b 
Bautista, rf    Cain, cf 
Encarnacion, dh Hosmer, 1b 
Colabello, 1b   Morales, dh 
Tulowitzki, ss  Moustakis, 3b 
Martin, c       Perez, c 
Pillar, cf      Gordon, lf 
Goins, 2b       Rios, rf 
Stroman, p      Cueto, p

Johnny Cueto, as you probably know, is really tough. He went completely off his feed for a few weeks soon after coming to Kansas City (0-5, 9.57 in five starts from 21 Aug through 13 September) but he seems to be over that now (he went 2-2, 3.24 to finish the season.) He had scuffled in the post-season (0-2, 5.52 in his first four career post-season starts), but he was outstanding in the decisive game against the Astros on Wednesday.

Neither team has seen much of the opposing pitcher. Four of the Royals; starters (Cain, Moustakis, Perez, and Rios) have never faced Stroman, and none of the Royals have more than 5 ABs against him. Morales is 2-3 with a 2b, Zobrist is 2-5. Some of the Jays former National Leaguers have seen Cueto a few times. They haven't enjoyed it much. Russell Martin is 1-17 against Cueto- at least the hit was a 2b, and he has drawn 6 walks; Tulowitzki is 3-16, with a homer. On the other hand, Edwin Encarnacion has 7 ABs against Cueto, but he has 4 hits including a 2b and a HR.

John Hirschbeck will be the home plate umpire. There was a time when Hirschbeck was notorious for calling a strike zone that was considerably larger than the one described in the rule book - in particular, he was noted for expanding the width of the plate by a couple of inches on each side. He did it because he liked it that way. It's hard to believe he'd still be carrying on that way in the age of Questec, but I imagine we'll find out pretty soon.

That's Devon White throwing out the first pitch. There's a fellow who once did something very memorable in a Game Three.

The Jays have made a roster move. It's got nothing to do with the post-season, but they've claimed the ambidexterous pitcher Pat Venditte off waivers from Oakland. Darwin Barney has been DFA'd to make room on the 40 man roster.

Today is Jose Bautista's 35th birthday, and it would be nice if he had something to celebrate.

Posted by Magpie on Monday, October 19 2015 @ 04:37 PM EDT.

ALCS Game 3 - Cueto vs Stroman | 66 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Magpie - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 04:54 PM EDT (#313699) #

R.A. Dickey was just asked a question, and he began his answer by saying "That's a viable hypothesis...."

He's not like the other ball players, is he?

eudaimon - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 05:04 PM EDT (#313700) #

I'm not sure this game really matters because we have the 2016 World Series locked down. Huge move today by AA, picking up Pat Venditte (the switch pitcher) off waivers from the A's. We lost Darwin Barney because of it, but it's the price you have to pay to get top-tier talent.

Sano - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 05:12 PM EDT (#313701) #

Could have sworn that Martin faced Cueto in last year's playoffs (Wild Card game) and hit a HR.

Yep, here it is.
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_10_01_cinmlb_pitmlb_1#game=2013_10_01_cinmlb_pitmlb_1,game_state=Wrapup,game_tab=box

Wish I could figure out how to make that look like a proper link...

Chuck - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 05:26 PM EDT (#313703) #

"That's a viable hypothesis...."

A visible hippopotamus? What? Where?

Magpie - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 05:29 PM EDT (#313704) #

Wish I could figure out how to make that look like a proper link...

No kidding! I can't do it at all in Chrome, which is my normal browser. I do have a Firefox workaround, which I use when I want to post something with a link. But even in Firefox it's complicated - there's a button for including a link, but the link always points to nowhere, so you you have to get into the source code and replace the default nonsense within the quotes with the actual link.

James W - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 05:37 PM EDT (#313705) #

That was 2013, not last year, of course. Either way, I'm hoping the crowd replicates the Pirates crowd from that year and spooks Cueto.

Richard S.S. - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#313706) #

Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris to have surgery for thyroid cancer. As per MLB notification. I refrain from commenting further.

Magpie - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 07:08 PM EDT (#313707) #

The bats need to wake up. Maybe this will help:

photo 809a17facd0f1841a1a14e62b9bbbbc1.jpg

budgell - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 07:17 PM EDT (#313708) #

That ain't a single malt bottle.
#jinx

Alex Obal - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 07:27 PM EDT (#313709) #

I know it won't do much good
getting drunk, and sad, and singing
but I'm at the end of my rope...

Pretty significant home field advantage both ways this series, I'd say. The Royals are built to win in a huge park and cold weather. The next three games will be played in laboratory conditions, and the Jays need to take care of business.

Richard S.S. - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 07:27 PM EDT (#313710) #

Easy way to solve pitching decisions. 88-89 pitch count, bring in the Bullpen. Stroman doesn't pitch more than 7.0 innings unless under 75 pitches through 7.0. Price, Estrada and Dickey don't pitch more than 6.0 innings no matter what. They've pitched all season, Stroman hasn't.

Cracka - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 08:16 PM EDT (#313711) #

Birthday boy not off to a good start -- looked like a case of trying too hard to make a big play... much better off holding Escobar to a single there. He had no shot of making that play...

All will be forgiven with a dinger, though.

electric carrot - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 08:54 PM EDT (#313712) #

Nice move by Giibbons to send Pillar with 2 strikes on Goins.

ISLAND BOY - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 08:54 PM EDT (#313713) #

Good inning with our homegrown boys, Pillar and Goins, coming through !

greenfrog - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 08:58 PM EDT (#313714) #

Interesting that it was Goins who delivered the big hit in that inning, while Bautista - who threw Goins under the bus after game 2 - hit an inning-ending fly ball on the first pitch, letting Cueto off the ropes.

Magpie - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 09:01 PM EDT (#313715) #

Why would that be interesting? Even if it was accurate?

Jimbag - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 09:07 PM EDT (#313716) #

Can't question Bautista's heart or desire, but yeah... first batter of the ballgame, no need to try for play of the week.
Hope they relax and just do what they do. That's good enough to win a lot of games.

ISLAND BOY - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 09:10 PM EDT (#313717) #

Tulo !

greenfrog - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 09:12 PM EDT (#313718) #

Why would that be interesting? Even if it was accurate?

Next time I'll weave it into a long, windy history full of baseball lore.

Jimbag - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 09:12 PM EDT (#313719) #

I'm going to post more. Last posts, game 5... Apparently banal posting pleases the baseball deities.

ISLAND BOY - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 09:18 PM EDT (#313720) #

Yes, keep posting, Jimbag ,- your grocery list, anything ! ( Ahem, not that I'm superstitious. )

Magpie - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 09:32 PM EDT (#313721) #

Is this lead safe? I have to go to work.

Jimbag - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 09:47 PM EDT (#313722) #

I sure hope it's safe. Bautista's arm (momentarily, at least) saves a run.

Gerry - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 10:01 PM EDT (#313723) #

Bautista's defense is hurting the Jays this post-season. It leaves a question for next year.

Jimbag - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 10:41 PM EDT (#313724) #

It's been slipping all year. Credit where it's due, though, that was a strong accurate throw... a rarity with his injuries. But his reaction, routes and over-committing have been alarming. If Gibbons really wants to go all out, he may have to use Pompey in RF. Which is a little terrifying in itself.

Jimbag - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 10:43 PM EDT (#313725) #

Late replacement, just to clarify. Put away the torches and pitchforks.

Ishai - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 10:49 PM EDT (#313726) #

If we have to use Sanchez with a six run lead, then it is safe to assume that EVERY game we are going to win this series we are going to need Sanchez and Osuna to pitch and pitch well. The only alternative is mounting a comeback against the Royals bullpen, which seems unlikely. So the kids will be pitching three days in a row if they want to win all three games in Toronto. Obviously they CAN do that, but the Royals will get a lot of looks at them and the pitchers might be tired on the third day.

I just want Brett Cecil back. If we can't have that, then I would liked to have seen Liam Hendricks here. I'm glad we're winning, but it's mildly miserable to be up six runs and feel like your team's hands are so tied.

Ishai - Monday, October 19 2015 @ 11:01 PM EDT (#313727) #

On the other hand, I'm glad we got through Medlin today. If we grind down another starter they'll have to use real bullpen arms.

A seven game series with two off days is very different than a five game series with two off days as far as bullpen usage is concerned.

John Northey - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 02:01 AM EDT (#313728) #

Missed the game as I was deeply involved in the election (sadly my candidate didn't do so well, I'm a Green).

Good to see Gibbons didn't wait until it was a save situation to bring in Osuna since clearly Hendriks didn't have it. How bad was that strike 3 call that got Tulo ejected?

jjdynomite - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 06:32 AM EDT (#313729) #

... Not as bad as Crapazza's calls last week, but not by much.

ayjackson - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 07:44 AM EDT (#313730) #

If they aren't going to use the depth of the bullpen up five with one out and a runner on first in the ninth, they probably should have put Cecil on the roster. He threw off a mound yesterday and conceivably could have contributed by the end of the series.

That said, I wouldn't bet on him being 2nd-half-unhitable Cecil, but rust will factor in and make him more first-half-every-dink-and-dunk-falls-in Cecil.

SK in NJ - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 07:53 AM EDT (#313731) #

Hendriks gave up an infield single and then a groundball that Smoak "Buckner'd". The only real hit he gave up was to the last batter he faced, and even that was a single.

If Gibbons doesn't trust one of his best relievers statistically to get 3 outs in a blowout, then I don't understand why they didn't include Buehrle on the roster. He would have been perfect to eat up a couple of innings last night. It's not like Gibby has any faith in Hendriks, Hawkins or Tepera anyway. Buehrle would have been a good guy to include in that case.

christaylor - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 08:08 AM EDT (#313732) #

Has it been asked and answered by AA or Gibby if Buehrle is hurt? Not that they'd be inclined to be forthcoming but an injury seems like the most parsimonious explanation here...

Kasi - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 09:44 AM EDT (#313733) #

If any player I'd call snakebitten its Hendriks. He gets the oddest results on good processes. Infield singles for hits, questionable plays by fielders, seeing eye hits. Just horrendous luck on babip. I doubt Gibbons will trust him again, but one he already didn't trust him and at some point he might not have much choice.

Mike Green - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 09:56 AM EDT (#313734) #

Cool banner, NFH. I can't tell whether the lights represent a metaphorical night landing strip, artificial duck-like creatures for target practice or celestial bodies with the corresponding flying bat allusions.

The criticism here of Goins was a bit over-the-top. There was nothing Andrusian about his single missed play with communication being a component, and he's had a whole season of defensive greatness so we can easily forget it. There's nothing like a key hit after a good battling at-bat followed by a homer to help us do exactly that. He has come a long way from the player I saw in Lansing and in New Hampshire years ago.

Cracka - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 09:56 AM EDT (#313735) #

Cecil isn't eligible to return this series as he's on the "post-season DL" and must miss 1 full series in order to be activated - At the time, the injury looked bad and they were coming off a 14-inning game AND facing elimination, so it was a no-brainer to replace him in the ALDS.

Gibby has been consistent in the post-season with his approach to protecting a lead -- he's going to go with his best guys early and often and believes that no lead is safe. He'll risk losing by "over-relying" his best guys rather than managing a strategic workload for everyone. It's a solid strategy, although certainly debatable.

Last night, Stroman was beaming about how much confidence Gibby has in him. I'm paraphrasing, but he said something like "No one has more confidence in me than Gibby. And that's really difficult, because I'm a very confident guy".

SK in NJ - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 10:03 AM EDT (#313736) #

Hendriks: 64.2 IP, 9.88 K/9, 1.53 BB/9. 0.42 HR/9, 46.3 GB%, .322 BABIP

He is a reliever who strikes hitters out, doesn't walk anyone, doesn't give up home runs, and has a near 50% GB rate. There is no reason to be so quick to remove him in situations like last night, especially when he wasn't pitching poorly.

With 3 games in a row, last night was the game Gibbons should have rested his top relievers. He will surely need them over the next 2 days. Hendriks could have finished that game, and should have.

92-93 - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 10:43 AM EDT (#313737) #

Without pulling up his stats, it sure felt like Hendriks posted all those fancy numbers in low leverage situations, and that when he was called upon in higher leverage situations he did not perform well.

Vulg - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 10:51 AM EDT (#313738) #

Yost was giddy about burning through much of the Jays' bullpen, and for good reason.

The two grounders Hendriks gave up before being pulled were not alarming, particularly the one that Smoak should have had. I strongly disagree with burning Osuna given the circumstances and the schedule.

Mike Green - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 11:13 AM EDT (#313739) #

Hendriks put up very good numbers in high leverage situations, except for a horrific BABIP. I would have thought that last night's outing was a low leverage situation.

It is true that the top 2 relievers in a pen will get more work in the playoffs because of the days off, but it is helpful if there are one or two other relievers that a manager trusts with a five run lead and one out in the ninth, or down by three runs. Hopefully the club runs up the score even more tonight, or Dickey pitches a complete game, to make it a moot point.

uglyone - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 11:36 AM EDT (#313740) #

legit amazing to me that you guys would risk our season on the theory that hendriks has just been the victim of bad luck. As if the royals aren't capable of coming back. That's the first time Osuna has pitched in 5 days, and he threw all of 7 pitches. He's been used 5 times in the last 16 days.

I am glad you guys aren't managing.

on a different but obviously related note, here's our bullpen these playoffs:

R.Osuna: 6.1ip, 1.42era, 3.29fip, 2.64xfip, 2.01siera
A.Sanchez: 6.2ip, 0.00era, 2.23fip, 2.90xfip, 2.75siera
B.Cecil: 2.0ip, 0.00era, 2.63fip, 2.63xfip, 2.72siera
M.Lowe: 3.1ip, 0.00era, 2.53fip, 3.42xfip, 3.56siera
A.Loup: 2.0ip, 4.50era, 6.13fip, 7.61xfip, 10.33siera
L.Hendriks: 0.2ip, 40.50era, 3.13fip, 5.35xfip, 3.42siera
L.Hawkins: 1.2ip, 21.60era, 4.93fip, 8.48xfip, 6.05siera

Mike Green - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 11:46 AM EDT (#313741) #

Well, if you want to give Osuna more work, the thing to do is just bring him in to pitch the ninth at the outset. That would have been fine in this case.

I know the "lock-down" theory. I don't agree with it. There are times when it makes sense (e.g. 7th game of the World Series), but otherwise I think that the use of an ace reliever in a blowout (to lock down a win rather than to get in work) is a bad idea. I have accepted though that it is part of Gibbons' m.o. and really do not want to focus on that point.

uglyone - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 12:00 PM EDT (#313742) #

not all lockdowns are made equal though.

this wasn't an elimination game, but it was as close to a must win as it gets. if the jays were up 2-0 in the series, we likely see different choices. But he's sure as hell not going to take the chance of his season ending with a depth guy on the mound.

SK in NJ - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 12:03 PM EDT (#313743) #

When Hendriks was taken out, the score was 11-6 with one runner on and one out. Just because the Astros blew a game a week ago against the Royals doesn't mean the likelyhood of it happening every single game is very high. There was no reason to burn your best reliever in that spot. If Gibbons was that worried about the win, then start Osuna in the 9th and don't even bother with Hendriks. The fact that Osuna started warming up after an infield single tells that Gibbons likely didn't trust Hendriks to begin with.

Gibbons is likely prepared to have Osuna, Sanchez, and Lowe pitch in the three consecutive games and doesn't care about any potential usage issue by doing so. That's the only way to justify the bullpen use last night.

A win is a win, though.

uglyone - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 12:05 PM EDT (#313744) #

I guess the disconnect here might be that you described an outing down 0-2 in the ALCS as "low leverage"

uglyone - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 12:07 PM EDT (#313745) #

"Just because the Astros blew a game a week ago against the Royals doesn't mean the likelyhood of it happening every single game is very high."

er, the Royals scored 5 runs in one inning against our best pitchers just last game.

Mike Green - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 12:31 PM EDT (#313746) #

Every game in the post-season is "high season leverage", if not high "game leverage". There are different ways to deal with the bullpen in that context. For instance, Mariano Rivera was easily the best reliever in MLB history and Joe Torre often saved him up for the post-season. I wonder what was the lowest game leverage situation he was brought into in his long post-season career. Well, let's have a look. I'll need some more time, but I have already found one use that was of the same type generally as Osuna's use last night. In 1998 in the ALDS, Rivera had thrown an inning in close games on Tuesday and Wednesday as the Yankees won. On Friday, they came back for Game 3. The Yanks took a 4-0 lead to the ninth and Torre brought out Rivera to close out the game. I guess the idea was that he would probably not work for some time after that (Game 1 of the ALCS took place in fact on the following Tuesday).

Incidentally in Rivera's first season, he was brought in once in the playoffs with the club down 7-2 in the 7th inning after a bullpen implosion.

I do know that at times Torre was criticized for not bringing on Rivera or for not letting him throw a second inning.

uglyone - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 12:45 PM EDT (#313747) #

I think a more relevant thing to discuss instead of the manager would be how our defense is straight up killing us these playoffs.

rtcaino - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 01:03 PM EDT (#313748) #

"Gibbons is likely prepared to have Osuna, Sanchez, and Lowe pitch in the three consecutive games and doesn't care about any potential usage issue by doing so. That's the only way to justify the bullpen use last night."

Agreed. Presumably, if pitching three straight days is going to happen, the middle games of the ALCS and the WS are the best time.

uglyone - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 01:05 PM EDT (#313749) #

i guess the question is - why WOULDN'T he be prepared to use them 3 days in a row?

Forkball - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 01:26 PM EDT (#313750) #

"When Hendriks was taken out, the score was 11-6 with one runner on and one out......There was no reason to burn your best reliever in that spot."

Hendricks faced 4 batters and got one out, and even that was hit pretty good. I don't disagree at all with taking him out.

Ideally, you don't have Osuna come into the game, but he was the only reliever left that Gibbons trusts. How does that impact today? You're probably limited to Osuna going no more than 1 inning instead of him being ready for 2 innings.

Gibbons, rightly or wrongly, only trusts Osuna, Sanchez and Lowe right now (and probably trusts Sanchez a little too much against LHs). I'm a little concerned that might cost the Jays one of the next two games.

SK in NJ - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 01:27 PM EDT (#313751) #

"er, the Royals scored 5 runs in one inning against our best pitchers just last game."

Against the starting pitcher facing the order 3rd time around in the 7th inning with a 3-run lead.

Last night was a 7-run lead in the 9th with a reliever coming in fresh out of the pen throwing gas.

Apples and oranges. If Gibbons is managing a certain way because of the Astros fluke collapse a week ago, then that's not incredibly smart, IMO. Probability (and logic) still favors the team leading by 7 (or 5) with 2 outs to go in the 9th and one runner on base. The game was not in any immediate danger, and if Gibbons felt it was, then Osuna should have started the inning and left no doubt at all.

Ishai - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 01:43 PM EDT (#313752) #

"i guess the question is - why WOULDN'T he be prepared to use them 3 days in a row?"

I'm sure everyone is prepared to use them three days in a row - Gibbons will run them out there and out there they'll go - but there may be diminishing returns. I couldn't find any stats (I'm not a great stats sleuther), but I'm under the impression that relief pitchers' performance suffers on their third consecutive day of use.

And giving the Royals extra looks at our "good" relievers will help them make adjustments.

In unrelated news, KC has rain in their forecast for Friday.

uglyone - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 01:46 PM EDT (#313753) #

"Last night was a 7-run lead in the 9th with a reliever coming in fresh out of the pen throwing gas. "

Osuna came in with a 5 run lead and a runner on.

the royals had literally scored 5 in an inning against our best pitchers the game before.

Vulg - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 01:57 PM EDT (#313754) #

Gibbons is likely prepared to have Osuna, Sanchez, and Lowe pitch in the three consecutive games and doesn't care about any potential usage issue by doing so. That's the only way to justify the bullpen use last night. This appears to be his plan. No wonder Yost was like a kid at a candy store in the post-game interview. Gibbons might as well be carrying a 5 man pen.

jerjapan - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 02:21 PM EDT (#313755) #

Great read on Dickey's dramatic second half improvement. If he can keep that velocity up next year too, we might finally get that high level season we hoped for when we got him.

http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/r-a-dickeys-unique-stuff-and-conventional-problems/

uglyone - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 02:28 PM EDT (#313756) #

Pitches thrown this series:

Osuna 9 ------ Davis 20
Sanchez 27 --- Herrera 20
Lowe 28 ------ Madson 18
Loup 14 ------ Duffy 16
Hendriks 9 --- Hochevar 18
Hawkins 14 --- Medlen 70
Tepera 0 ----- Morales 20

Yost should worry about what happens if Chris Young can't beat his usual 4ip/gs average tonight.

John Northey - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 02:41 PM EDT (#313757) #

If Dickey can get a great game now and help the push to the World Series then he is giving us exactly what we needed from him. Same if the Jays make the WS and he does it again. He'll become Mr. Game 4.

SK in NJ - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 02:51 PM EDT (#313759) #

http://grantland.com/the-triangle/2015-mlb-playoffs-bullpen-managers-mike-matheny-joe-girardi/

Don't know if this was posted, but interesting article on bullpen usage and managers.

Gibbons ranks near last.

Whether you want to believe in that metric or not, it's worth a read. It's one of the big reasons this series scares me because Yost has a pretty easy job as far as bullpen use is concerned.

jerjapan - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 02:52 PM EDT (#313760) #

For sure Ugly, I didn't see Yoast gloating, but I don't get the concern on our end. Game 4 here we come!

China fan - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 03:06 PM EDT (#313762) #

It's astonishing that some people think Gibbons "burned" Osuna by using him for 9 pitches last night. Nine pitches -- his only pitches in the past 5 days -- certainly don't "burn" a pitcher, especially a reliable heavy-duty closer like Osuna who has pitched 76 innings this season. He's quite capable of pitching again today, and perhaps tomorrow too.

The Jays have three very good relievers -- Osuna, Sanchez and Lowe -- who will be available for high-leverage innings in the next two games. They've also got David Price who could be available for a batter or two today. (Today is his regular "throw" day, and he's perfectly capable of pitching to a LHB if needed.) The Jays have also got Loup, Hendriks, Hawkins and Tepera. This is not a panic situation. And I'd be amazed if this was the reason for Yost's alleged "giddiness" last night. (If he seemed "giddy" after his team gave up 11 runs to the Jays, perhaps he was just shell-shocked and someone mistook it for giddiness.)

It's true that the Jays bullpen doesn't look as deep as the Royals bullpen right now. That's mostly because of Cecil's injury. It's also because of some poor outings by Hawkins, Hendriks etc. But the 9 pitches by Osuna yesterday aren't a factor.

uglyone - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 03:38 PM EDT (#313764) #

"Whether you want to believe in that metric or not, it's worth a read. It's one of the big reasons this series scares me because Yost has a pretty easy job as far as bullpen use is concerned."

the metric rests on it's definition of reliever quality - which it states is previous 12 months wOBA vs. LH and RH.

it doesn't say exactly what the start and endpoints for those 12 months are, and i can't double split both 12 months and l/r splits.....but as an interesting exercise....without looking, does anyone want to take a stab and which of our relievers are best vs RHH and LHH by wOBA this year?

Mike Green - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 03:41 PM EDT (#313765) #

Gibbons says that he was hoping to rest Osuna because of a cracked nail issue yesterday but that the game situation dictated his appearance.

Richard S.S. - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 03:43 PM EDT (#313766) #

So if anyone who has actual knowledge about what happened to Bo Schultz would care to share the information, it would be appreciated. Based on prior records, he's better than some of the current Bullpen.

LaTroy Hawkins is basically done as a useful Reliever. He's not quite up to throwing shutout innings.

Aaron Loup is nothing close to what he once was. Right now he's limited in uses, and not effective if those limits are reached.

Liam Hendriks might be overwhelmed by where he is because he's better than he's shown. Some people do well in the Postseason and some don't.

Ryan Tepara is an unknown to me, he hasn't pitched enough for me to know what he has/is here. I can't determine if he fits in the Postseason.

Until one of these four becomes useful, we are going to see a lot of Lowe, Sanchez and Osuna. If they can't become useful, who's available that's better than they are now?

Gerry - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#313767) #

9 pitches doesn't burn a pitcher but the 30 to warm up don't help either.

Named For Hank - Tuesday, October 20 2015 @ 05:04 PM EDT (#313784) #

The lights are the ones up in the Rogers Centre roof, with the bat forever suspended in the heavens.

ALCS Game 3 - Cueto vs Stroman | 66 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.