monkeytargets39

To add onto this, I think a main reason we don’t do this much is too many guys on this team lack the bat-to-ball skills required. Meadows for example would be so much more useful if he could just make consistent directional contact, but his pitch recognition isn’t there. You also really can’t rely on several guys to make contact at all—particularly Javy. If we are going to stick with our typical lineups the way we have, then I wonder if it would’ve been better to use Jahmai Jones’ roster spot for an extreme pinch runner/high contact/low power guy. Something like what Terrance Gore was for a few championship teams.

Not entirely. I’m more suggesting that these stretches where multiple impact bats like Carp/Greene/Tork all seem to be scuffling at the same time that we shift strategies more fluidly—be more willing to sacrifice/steal/etc when it becomes obvious runs are going to be at a premium both ways. We know a lot of Skubal starts can be won if we just score 2 runs, so if the other pitcher is dealing early on, make adjustments to the approach.

I’m largely speaking anecdotally on that over 35 years of following the team, but the Diamondbacks were #1 in the league in 1 run inning percentage last year and just swept us. Granted it wasn’t all small ball, but they executed in key situations offensively and defensively where we shot ourselves in the foot.

The one-run only stat jumps out at me a bit with how low we are on it. It signals to me that we don’t do a good job of situational hitting and manufacturing a run. Just a minor example from yesterday- Skubal is pitching a great game but it’s 1-0 and we’ve put very little pressure on Gallen. McGonigle triples with one out. All we need at point is to get that run home: RBI groundout, sac fly, squeeze play, whatever. Torres proceeds to get behind in the count and then swings at a pitch near the top of the zone and tries to drive it but instead hit a line drive and ends up as a double play. We hit probably 10 fly balls out to center and right field off Gallen but couldn’t do it the one time we really needed it with one of our more skilled hitters. Not to criticize Gleyber or AJ or anything, but it’s worth pointing out that when our offense isn’t clicking, we don’t seem to have a lot of faith in the hitters to execute a sacrifice, steal a base, put a ball in the air or on the ground, etc. I get going for the big inning if you string a hit or two together or a walk, but the types of teams that outperform their expectations each year are the ones that don’t squander those opportunities nearly as often as we seem to.

Now do Carpenter, Riley and Javy

It’s just alarming how few of our hitters can recognize low breaking balls—even when they barely start in the zone. Anything down and in or down and away is an off balance swing from Carpenter and Greene. Javy is swinging at stuff that starts 2 inches off the plate and ends up in the left handed batters box. Parker never looks like he really has a plan up there regardless, but he fans at balls in the dirt all the time too. You can tell a huge difference between those guys and Keith/McGonigle/Torres, who recognize it early and either let it go, foul it off, or adjust the swing. Dingler has been consistent with his approach and staying balanced too. I think Tork will be ok because his approach is decent and he has some level of plate discipline—just not much ability to shorten the swing. Everything with Carp, Riley, Javy, and Rogers is trying to hit the ball 500 feet and all you have to do to get them in an 0-2 count is throw some breaking balls down around their ankles. Then as soon as they’re behind in the count, throw an outside edge fastball and they stand there flabbergasted. With Skubal being in a walk year, this should’ve been the year where everyone has bought in and made adjustments to better recognize pitches and cover the strike zone. Instead several guys have just continued on from last years August/September and just spent all offseason thinking it was a fluke instead of an obvious adjustment pitching staffs made against us.

If he is still scuffling to get a .200 obp after a few more weeks, it’s time to eat the contract. He makes just as many wild throws to first as he does amazing plays.

Absolutely pathetic series

Pinch running for a 25 year old outfielder is kinda pathetic

JFC

What did Dingler do?

Carp Ks on 4 pitches, none of which were strikes

This ballpark sucks

McGonigle! Flashing the leather

I really don’t like Corbin Carroll

I have a feeling it’s more that all of our relievers stink when coming in with inherited runners. Except maybe Holton.

Must Lose Must Lose Must Lose

So our closer last year and newly bought hall of fame closer can’t get 3 outs without blowing a 5 run lead, but Paul Sewald can come in and strike out the side for them. Good Lord. Tork needs to stop having so much difficulty with timing and recognition. That hanging breaking ball should’ve been sent to the moon.

Mize sure seems to have ironed out his spring training issues. Splitter has looked great

Just need Mize to answer with another zero here

STACHE, er I mean GOATEE POWER!

I didn’t realize position players wore pitchcomms too

This site has been running slower than Sean Casey lately

Must Win Must Win Must Win

I’d much rather the 1-4 be Torres, McGonigle, Keith, Torkelson. Greene and Carpenter are certainly impactful, but they don’t do as good of a job making pitchers get them out since they both sell out for power swings. My frustration as a fan is going to be heavily related to whether or not these guys show real strike zone improvements and on-base abilities this year. This will be year 3 of “dominating the zone”. McGonigle as a rookie gets a pass-but he’s already better at it that most. Everyone else needs to be at minimum making themselves tougher outs this year….especially Greene/Tork/Carp/Meadows think Dingler and Keith will be much better, and I can live with Javy being Javy because the defense is there, but if Jung/Anderson/Lee start hitting their way onto the roster, then Javy needs to be the 26th guy.