Tuesday it is

[mscott59]

Oct 28, 2015 7:13:38 GMT -5 canefan said:

Oct 28, 2015 4:02:49 GMT -5 beuycek said:

Congrats. I couldn't make it to the end but I see the KC bullpen was stellar, as expected. After scraping together the run in the 8th, the Royals gave up only two hits over the next 6. Impressive.

On to game 2...

I thought the game was over when Hos made only his fifth error of the year to allow them to take the late lead, but Gordo comes through again with the big home run off Familia. Chris Young and his 88 mph fastball shut NY down for three innings and Hosmer ends it with a sac fly in the 14th. Truly one of the best Series games ever. I was wishing Dysons liner to right center that Granderson just got the running catch on had just gotten over his glove. We might have seen an inside the park homer start and end the first game. Dys was already around first when he made the catch.

i thought the error would cost them the game too. but kc kept coming back all night. cosmic balance that hosmer was able to win it. i fell asleep on the couch sometime during the 12th... hate missing it. and that granderson catch was sweet.

[beuycek]

Oct 28, 2015 8:39:43 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

Oct 28, 2015 7:13:38 GMT -5 canefan said:

I thought the game was over when Hos made only his fifth error of the year to allow them to take the late lead, but Gordo comes through again with the big home run off Familia. Chris Young and his 88 mph fastball shut NY down for three innings and Hosmer ends it with a sac fly in the 14th. Truly one of the best Series games ever. I was wishing Dysons liner to right center that Granderson just got the running catch on had just gotten over his glove. We might have seen an inside the park homer start and end the first game. Dys was already around first when he made the catch.

i thought the error would cost them the game too. but kc kept coming back all night. cosmic balance that hosmer was able to win it. i fell asleep on the couch sometime during the 12th... hate missing it. and that granderson catch was sweet.

When the Royals tied it off Harvey, I thought we might be in trouble because our middle relief is suspect. Surprisingly they held up and it was Familia who gave up the lead. A lead should have been a lock there but KC isn't going to quit with the crowd on their feet. Big blow by Gordon to tie it.

I will never write the Mets off (most years, yes but not this one LOL) but going down 2-0 is going to be a tall task when they had a chance to steal one last night.

[mscott59]

Oct 28, 2015 8:49:15 GMT -5 beuycek said:

Oct 28, 2015 8:39:43 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

i thought the error would cost them the game too. but kc kept coming back all night. cosmic balance that hosmer was able to win it. i fell asleep on the couch sometime during the 12th... hate missing it. and that granderson catch was sweet.

When the Royals tied it off Harvey, I thought we might be in trouble because our middle relief is suspect. Surprisingly they held up and it was Familia who gave up the lead. A lead should have been a lock there but KC isn't going to quit with the crowd on their feet. Big blow by Gordon to tie it.

I will never write the Mets off (most years, yes but not this one LOL) but going down 2-0 is going to be a tall task when they had a chance to steal one last night.

why is it that left handed batters look so much better hitting the ball than right handers? i'll never understand that. and there is no sweeter hit than a dinger to straight away center. that was an absolute rocket shot.

[canefan]

Oct 28, 2015 9:22:39 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

Oct 28, 2015 8:49:15 GMT -5 beuycek said:

When the Royals tied it off Harvey, I thought we might be in trouble because our middle relief is suspect. Surprisingly they held up and it was Familia who gave up the lead. A lead should have been a lock there but KC isn't going to quit with the crowd on their feet. Big blow by Gordon to tie it.

I will never write the Mets off (most years, yes but not this one LOL) but going down 2-0 is going to be a tall task when they had a chance to steal one last night.

why is it that left handed batters look so much better hitting the ball than right handers? i'll never understand that. and there is no sweeter hit than a dinger to straight away center. that was an absolute rocket shot.

Yes, but they also tend to look so bad when they swing and miss. Gordo and Hoch are the two longest serving Royals and Gordo is the leader of the team. Awesome to see him come through like that. I do believe these are the two best teams this year and there isn't a hairs difference between them. Going to be tough to get DeGrom tonight. Sure hope they can do it

[beuycek]

Oct 28, 2015 9:22:39 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

Oct 28, 2015 8:49:15 GMT -5 beuycek said:

When the Royals tied it off Harvey, I thought we might be in trouble because our middle relief is suspect. Surprisingly they held up and it was Familia who gave up the lead. A lead should have been a lock there but KC isn't going to quit with the crowd on their feet. Big blow by Gordon to tie it.

I will never write the Mets off (most years, yes but not this one LOL) but going down 2-0 is going to be a tall task when they had a chance to steal one last night.

why is it that left handed batters look so much better hitting the ball than right handers? i'll never understand that. and there is no sweeter hit than a dinger to straight away center. that was an absolute rocket shot.

I agree. I was always fond of Strawberry's looping swing and the way he set the bat down gently afterwards. Griffey's was always a picture perfect swing, too, IMO. There is just something about a lefty that is much prettier.

As for righties, I always thought Alphonso Soriano's swing was one of the best. Long, looping with a high finish. Very picturesque.

[canefan]

I'll go from the left side with George Brett. Sweet swing and seldom missed contact. From the right I always loved Yaz. Held that bat up high and them just unleashed his swing but with complete control.

[daleko]

Oct 28, 2015 0:25:06 GMT -5 canefan said:

Royals baseball is not good foxy heart. Five hours, fourteen innings and a one run game.

[daleko]

Oct 28, 2015 7:13:38 GMT -5 canefan said:

Oct 28, 2015 4:02:49 GMT -5 beuycek said:

Congrats. I couldn't make it to the end but I see the KC bullpen was stellar, as expected. After scraping together the run in the 8th, the Royals gave up only two hits over the next 6. Impressive.

On to game 2...

I thought the game was over when Hos made only his fifth error of the year to allow them to take the late lead, but Gordo comes through again with the big home run off Familia. Chris Young and his 88 mph fastball shut NY down for three innings and Hosmer ends it with a sac fly in the 14th. Truly one of the best Series games ever. I was wishing Dysons liner to right center that Granderson just got the running catch on had just gotten over his glove. We might have seen an inside the park homer start and end the first game. Dys was already around first when he made the catch.

The man has length of stride X frequency of stride perfected. He floats over the ground. Wonderful game to watch. If Granderson has a glove from the 60s he doesn't get it.

[daleko]

Oct 28, 2015 7:13:38 GMT -5 canefan said:

Oct 28, 2015 4:02:49 GMT -5 beuycek said:

Congrats. I couldn't make it to the end but I see the KC bullpen was stellar, as expected. After scraping together the run in the 8th, the Royals gave up only two hits over the next 6. Impressive.

On to game 2...

Chris Young and his 88 mph fastball shut NY down for three innings.

Just goes to show you that there's more than a throwing it 100 mph. It still is a fine art. Angles, release points, movement. As I posted before on another thread, Spahn said it best, Hitting is about timing and pitching is about screwing up that timing. But it still is nice to be able to pump it in at 100 mph. 

[mscott59]

Oct 28, 2015 9:49:15 GMT -5 beuycek said:

Oct 28, 2015 9:22:39 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

why is it that left handed batters look so much better hitting the ball than right handers? i'll never understand that. and there is no sweeter hit than a dinger to straight away center. that was an absolute rocket shot.

I agree. I was always fond of Strawberry's looping swing and the way he set the bat down gently afterwards. Griffey's was always a picture perfect swing, too, IMO. There is just something about a lefty that is much prettier.

As for righties, I always thought Alphonso Soriano's swing was one of the best. Long, looping with a high finish. Very picturesque.

nothing better than the kid. cane brought up brett, who was the pinnacle of hitting in his day. two good ballplayers to emulate at the plate.

[daleko]

Oct 28, 2015 9:22:39 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

Oct 28, 2015 8:49:15 GMT -5 beuycek said:

When the Royals tied it off Harvey, I thought we might be in trouble because our middle relief is suspect. Surprisingly they held up and it was Familia who gave up the lead. A lead should have been a lock there but KC isn't going to quit with the crowd on their feet. Big blow by Gordon to tie it.

I will never write the Mets off (most years, yes but not this one LOL) but going down 2-0 is going to be a tall task when they had a chance to steal one last night.

why is it that left handed batters look so much better hitting the ball than right handers? i'll never understand that. and there is no sweeter hit than a dinger to straight away center. that was an absolute rocket shot.

Well they do generate results, going back to the old days. Babe, Lou, Ted, Ty & Stan from the old days to name a few. I once saw an article that suggest for 50 yrs ending in 2007, out of 100 batting titles, 54 were won by Ls, 35 Rs and 11 who swing both ways (Ah wait, I mean bat from both sides of the plate ). Given they are a much lower % of the BB population that a sig result. Most pitchers are still R I'd guess so they see the ball better and can develop a more free flow aggressive swing.

[beuycek]

Oct 28, 2015 12:12:01 GMT -5 daleko said:

Oct 28, 2015 9:22:39 GMT -5 mscott59 said:

why is it that left handed batters look so much better hitting the ball than right handers? i'll never understand that. and there is no sweeter hit than a dinger to straight away center. that was an absolute rocket shot.

Well they do generate results, going back to the old days. Babe, Lou, Ted, Ty & Stan from the old days to name a few. I once saw an article that suggest for 50 yrs ending in 2007, out of 100 batting titles, 54 were won by Ls, 35 Rs and 11 who swing both ways (Ah wait, I mean bat from both sides of the plate ). Given they are a much lower % of the BB population that a sig result. Most pitchers are still R I'd guess so they see the ball better and can develop a more free flow aggressive swing.

11 switch hitters won batting titles... hmm, my interest is piqued. I am going to look it up but off the top of my head, I would say these guys probably were in that group:

Rose
Mays
Mantle
Willie McGee
Bernie Williams
Chipper had one ridiculous year, too as I recall

I am drawing a blank on the others. 11, huh? Never would have guessed.

[beuycek]

Oct 28, 2015 11:09:29 GMT -5 daleko said:

Oct 28, 2015 7:13:38 GMT -5 canefan said:

Chris Young and his 88 mph fastball shut NY down for three innings.

Just goes to show you that there's more than a throwing it 100 mph. It still is a fine art. Angles, release points, movement.

Greg Maddux agrees.

[beuycek]

Oct 28, 2015 12:22:19 GMT -5 beuycek said:

Oct 28, 2015 12:12:01 GMT -5 daleko said:

Well they do generate results, going back to the old days. Babe, Lou, Ted, Ty & Stan from the old days to name a few. I once saw an article that suggest for 50 yrs ending in 2007, out of 100 batting titles, 54 were won by Ls, 35 Rs and 11 who swing both ways (Ah wait, I mean bat from both sides of the plate ). Given they are a much lower % of the BB population that a sig result. Most pitchers are still R I'd guess so they see the ball better and can develop a more free flow aggressive swing.

11 switch hitters won batting titles... hmm, my interest is piqued. I am going to look it up but off the top of my head, I would say these guys probably were in that group:

Rose
Mays
Mantle
Willie McGee
Bernie Williams
Chipper had one ridiculous year, too as I recall

I am drawing a blank on the others. 11, huh? Never would have guessed.

Ok, I looked it up. It has actually been done 12 times amongst 9 guys, none of which were RH-hitting Willie Mays (LOL, oops):

Mantle
Rose (3 times)
Willie Wilson
Tim Raines
Willie McGee (twice, one in each league)
Terry Pendleton
Bernie Williams
Bill Meuller
Chipper Jones

I never would have remembered Bill Meuller... wow. And I forgot about the other Willie who was more known for his stolen bases than anything. Raines was part of that core in Montreal that all went on to great careers elsewhere.

Good stuff!

[mscott59]

Oct 28, 2015 12:23:13 GMT -5 beuycek said:

Oct 28, 2015 11:09:29 GMT -5 daleko said:

Just goes to show you that there's more than a throwing it 100 mph. It still is a fine art. Angles, release points, movement.

Greg Maddux agrees.

maddux may agree on the art of pitching, but he and glavine REALLY agree on one other thing...