Maybe stop having a slow runner try to steal second on the best defensive catcher in the American League?
Just a thought ...

A guy who isn't hitting his weight swings at a 3-0 pitch with his team down by two runs in the seventh inning. Brilliant baseball.

He's not the reason the Cardinals are behind, but the home plate umpire has been inconsistent tonight.

Holland is toast

Let this be a lesson to free agents, particularly Boras clients. Spring training matters. Arrieta has been pretty good, but Lynn, Cobb and Holland—all guys who missed all of spring training—have been absolutely brutal.

APIAD wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

No idea what the Cardinals are going to do with Holland, but Matheny can't keep sending him out there in 2-run games with his fingers crossed that this is finally the night he gets right.

Dl stint in order to get him a few rehab assignments

It would solve how they get Reyes onto the roster.
I'm concerned about Weaver. You look at the box score and you see he gave up three runs in seven innings, but part of that is because the Royals are anemic. He spent the first two or three innings last night throwing the ball down the middle and got away with it, again, because the Royals don't have anyone after the fifth spot in the order who really scares you. Once he found his command, he started nibbling the corners and worked from behind in the count. This has been a pattern for his last 3-4 starts. He takes forever in between pitches and once someone gets on base he hops around the mound like he's a hyper-caffeinated Briar Rabbit. This is a kid who can throw a 97 mph fastball that he can back up with a good changeup and a decent slider. He should be attacking hitters, not trying to fool them.
 

APIAD wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

No idea what the Cardinals are going to do with Holland, but Matheny can't keep sending him out there in 2-run games with his fingers crossed that this is finally the night he gets right.

Dl stint in order to get him a few rehab assignments

That may be more complicated after Holland told reporters last night that he was healthy.

Goold's write-up in the P-D (which is becoming more and more subscription only, so I'm not going to bother linking it) indicated that since the Cardinals optioned him out earlier this season, the team could do so again without having to release him; however, because of Holland's service time, Holland would have to accept the demotion.

If he's a decent teammate, he accepts a demotion, goes to Memphis and tries to get right so he can help the team later in the season.  If he's a selfish prick, he refuses the assignment and languishes in the bullpen.

forsberg_us wrote:

APIAD wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

No idea what the Cardinals are going to do with Holland, but Matheny can't keep sending him out there in 2-run games with his fingers crossed that this is finally the night he gets right.

Dl stint in order to get him a few rehab assignments

That may be more complicated after Holland told reporters last night that he was healthy...

Charley Finley is never around when you need him.
 

forsberg_us wrote:

APIAD wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

No idea what the Cardinals are going to do with Holland, but Matheny can't keep sending him out there in 2-run games with his fingers crossed that this is finally the night he gets right.

Dl stint in order to get him a few rehab assignments

That may be more complicated after Holland told reporters last night that he was healthy.

Goold's write-up in the P-D (which is becoming more and more subscription only, so I'm not going to bother linking it) indicated that since the Cardinals optioned him out earlier this season, the team could do so again without having to release him; however, because of Holland's service time, Holland would have to accept the demotion.

If he's a decent teammate, he accepts a demotion, goes to Memphis and tries to get right so he can help the team later in the season.  If he's a selfish prick, he refuses the assignment and languishes in the bullpen.

It is in his best interest to get right...his and his bank account.  If he thought this offseason was rough he wont hear the phone ring at all in 2019

Mags wrote:

artie_fufkin wrote:

Mags wrote:

Charley Finley is never around when you need him.
 

Wow. A Mike Andrews reference. Well done, sir.
 

Well done on your part.  You must have been about 8 or 9 at the time.
 

Without looking it up, I don't remember which World Series that was. I want to say '74 because that was the year Alvin Dark managed the A's and I'd like to think Finley wouldn't have tried to pull that nonsense with Dick Williams, but it may have been '72. If it was '72, I was 10. But I knew even then Dick Green was a much better option at second base because he'd save more runs with his glove in that series than Andrews would produce with his bat.
As much as I was drawn to Gibby in the early '70s, I liked Vida Blue almost as much. One of the first games I remember watching on TV was a 1-0 duel between Blue and Jim Palmer. The only run was scored when Palmer balked in Bert Campaneris from third. I think I can still hear Palmer complaining he stepped off the rubber. Blue was the starting pitcher for one of the first games I saw at Fenway Park, I think maybe during his Cy Young/MVP year.
And the A's were cool, with the mustaches and the white spikes and the uniforms with all those different colors. If they had stayed together for another five years, they might have won two or three more championships.
 
 

Last edited by artie_fufkin (5/24/2018 8:11 am)