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[Ganhyun]

Braves Opening Day 2014 Lineup:

1. Jason Heyward - RF
2. B.J. Upton - CF
3. Freddie Freeman - 1B
4. Chris Johnson - 3B
5. Justin Upton - LF
6. Dan Uggla - 2B
7. Evan Gattis - C
8. Andrelton Simmons - SS
9. Julio Teheran - P

Braves Opening Day 2015 Lineup:

1. Eric Young Jr. - CF
2. Jace Peterson - 2B
3. Nick Markakis - RF
4. Freddie Freeman - 1B
5. Cristian Bethancourt - C
6. Kelly Johnson - LF
7. Alberto Callaspo - 3B
8. Andrelton Simmons - SS
9. Julio Teheran - P

Looks like the Braves, while rebuilding, are trying to go with a small ball setup. Announcer was trying to sell fans on it yesterday by constantly pointing out how they would strike out less even if they only scored 2-3 runs a game instead of 6-8 or whatever.

Of course, winning games only scoring 2-3 runs a game and using small ball also puts a heavy weight on the pitching staff.

 

[Meier]

Weird that so many teams already have a night off.

 

[Beckx]

Anyone know if there is a setting on the MLB.TV android app to turn score display off (like the PS3/4 versions)?

 

[BumRush]

Mets would have to be good for there to be hate.

They're the best Mets team since 2008 with an outside shot at a Wildcard if they acquire another bat at the deadline.

 

[Dmncnby2k9]

wow, a few writers have gone out and picked the Marlins as Champs. get ready for next year's fire sale guys!

 

[chicagocubsfan]

Weather has turned really shitty here. Wouldn't be surprised to see one of the games cancelled.

 

[manzoman96]

hey guys, first time popping in to the thread for this season. I almost got excited for the start of baseball but then the Phillies lost 8-0.

Gonna be a long season.

 

[detectiveconan1]

wow, a few writers have gone out and picked the Marlins as Champs. get ready for next year's fire sale guys!

Who has picked them? I saw an article on Grantland a couple of weeks ago that said they would win the World Series, but I haven't seen anything else.

 

[CosmicQueso]

So Oakland changed the post game victory song from "Celebration" to "Theme for Oakland".

I, for one, welcome this change.

 

[JMDSO]

Who has picked them? I saw an article on Grantland a couple of weeks ago that said they would win the World Series, but I haven't seen anything else.

I haven't seen any WS proclamations, but they have definitely been talked up in the sports media.

 

[Dmncnby2k9]

Who has picked them? I saw an article on Grantland a couple of weeks ago that said they would win the World Series, but I haven't seen anything else.

Like two or three writers from Grantland, John Madden from the NY Daily News, Jonah Keri.

 

[zychi]

wow, a few writers have gone out and picked the Marlins as Champs. get ready for next year's fire sale guys!

They have to wait a year, and switch leagues.

 

[Windu]

Looks like the Braves, while rebuilding, are trying to go with a small ball setup. Announcer was trying to sell fans on it yesterday by constantly pointing out how they would strike out less even if they only scored 2-3 runs a game instead of 6-8 or whatever.

Of course, winning games only scoring 2-3 runs a game and using small ball also puts a heavy weight on the pitching staff.

small ball is another term for your offense sucks.

 

[rando14]

Lmfao, Lamb's boy Torii Hunter already in trouble

Ken Rosenthal @Ken_Rosenthal
MLB reviewing Torii Hunter's comments on Joe West. Some form of discipline, probably a fine, wound appear likely.

 

[Ganhyun]

small ball is another term for your offense sucks.

I agree. With hardly any deep threat, the Braves will have to rely on manufacturing runs every game. i just don't see the pitching holding up all season without some sort of breakdown.

I mean, even when we had Glavine, Smoltz, and Maddux we had more than 1-2 deep threats in the lineup.

 

[Tragicomedy]

small ball is another term for your offense sucks.

Pitching, speed, and defense win games.

The term "small ball" is misleading. Every team should be striving to get runners on base and in scoring position. Teams adjust their focus based on the game circumstances, and shift in and out of "small ball" mentality based on a wide variety of factors. What part of the order is up? Do you have a speedy runner on base? Is the opposing pitcher having control issues?

It definitely doesn't mean your offense sucks.

 

[Dmncnby2k9]

Met fans just inflammation for Jenrry Mejia. received cortisone shot. no throwing for 48 hours. with the Mets great medical staff, watch that shot be rotten causing him to miss the rest of the season! jk, be well jenrry. we had 8 relievers anyways so the bullpen is still good.

 

[zychi]

any deals on mlb.tv yet?

Met fans just inflammation for Jenrry Mejia. received cortisone shot. no throwing for 48 hours. with the Mets great medical staff, watch that shot be rotten causing him to miss the rest of the season! jk, be well jenrry. we had 8 relievers anyways so the bullpen is still good.

i just picked him up in fantasy, so expect him to be out for 4 months

 

[JMDSO]

any deals on mlb.tv yet?


i just picked him up in fantasy, so expect him to be out for 4 months

I just dropped him. Watch him be fine for the rest of the year.

 

[Syrinx]

Met fans just inflammation for Jenrry Mejia. received cortisone shot. no throwing for 48 hours. with the Mets great medical staff, watch that shot be rotten causing him to miss the rest of the season! jk, be well jenrry. we had 8 relievers anyways so the bullpen is still good.

Over/under 5 days before he needs to have it amputated?

 

[Angry Grimace]

Pitching, speed, and defense win games.

The term "small ball" is misleading. Every team should be striving to get runners on base and in scoring position. Teams adjust their focus based on the game circumstances, and shift in and out of "small ball" mentality based on a wide variety of factors. What part of the order is up? Do you have a speedy runner on base? Is the opposing pitcher having control issues?

It definitely doesn't mean your offense sucks.

...no, it means your offense sucks. I'm scratching my head to think of a time I heard that term used on a team where they had basically any number of sluggers.

 

[wbsmcs]

First time posting in here

Jays fan, born two years after their last World Series win/playoff appearance

Hopefully they at least make the wild card game this year, and this is the most excited I've been about the team since 2013...which ended much, much worse than I thought it would have..

Hearing about the Stroman news a couple weeks ago almost took all my excitement out of the season, but I think that the batting is good enough to contend in the AL East. Only team that worries me is Boston, but then again they don't have the greatest pitching either.

Anyways, looking forward to this season!

Any DFS players here?

 

[Ricker]

Weird that so many teams already have a night off.

Yeah,I thought it was strange for the Blue Jays to be off today but then I figured maybe it was because of their 2 weekend games in Montreal...

 

[Syrinx]

Yeah,I thought it was strange for the Blue Jays to be off today but then I figured maybe it was because of their 2 weekend games in Montreal...

Nah, they usually do this after opening day. Most teams will play Monday, Wednesday, Thursday in the first week.

 

[chicagocubsfan]

Castro supposedly on trade block. Padres probably interested. I would do Kennedy for him or something like that.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Castro supposedly on trade block. Padres probably interested. I would do Kennedy for him or something like that.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Padres were interested, but consider that the cupboard is bare with Wisler out the door. We legitimately don't have anything to offer other than a catcher who can't hit and I find it highly unlikely you're going to see the Padres move anything currently in their rotation given they weren't willing to move anything in their rotation for Cole Hamels.

 

[Tragicomedy]

...no, it means your offense sucks. I'm scratching my head to think of a time I heard that term used on a team where they had basically any number of sluggers.

Your problem is you are confusing the lack of "sluggers" with having a bad offense, which is borderline ridiculous. The Royals didn't have any pure sluggers last year, and came up 90 feet short of winning it all. Who were the power hitters on the Giants?

What matters is getting on base and scoring runs. Whether you manage to do that by hitting home runs or stringing together a series of hits is irrelevant.

The Braves aren't a "small ball" team. They are a garbage team.

 

[Edwardo]

Any DFS players here?

Yea doing MLB draft kings/fan duel for the first time this year. I've been doing basketball and football, so i'm pretty pumped for baseball now.

 

[Angry Grimace]

Your problem is you are confusing the lack of "sluggers" with having a bad offense, which is borderline ridiculous. The Royals didn't have any pure sluggers last year, and came up 90 feet short of winning it all. Who were the power hitters on the Giants?

What matters is getting on base and scoring runs. Whether you manage to do that by hitting home runs or stringing together a series of hits is irrelevant.

The Braves aren't a "small ball" team. They are a garbage team.

That's what I'm saying: the only teams that make the "small ball" argument are teams that struggle to score runs. The teams that successfully do that don't characterize the strategy that way. Its just a euphemism; teams that successfully employ the strategy don't use it.

 

[JMDSO]

All the jokes about the Mets doctors aside, Mejia was examined by one of the best elbow surgeons in sports.

 

[Tragicomedy]

That's what I'm saying: the only teams that make the "small ball" argument are teams that struggle to score runs. The teams that successfully do that don't characterize the strategy that way. Its just a euphemism; teams that successfully employ the strategy don't use it.

The whole world was calling the Royals a small ball team last year, including some of their management.

 

[TheSadRanger]

hey guys, first time popping in to the thread for this season. I almost got excited for the start of baseball but then the Phillies lost 8-0.

Gonna be a long season.

I know them feels man, Rangers lost to the A's 8-0 last night :/

It's going to be a long season at last place

 

[chicagocubsfan]

Cubs-Cards game cancelled already.

 

[Mecha]

Cubs-Cards game cancelled already.

Was disappointed when I heard that, was looking forward to it all day.

 

[zroid]

The whole world was calling the Royals a small ball team last year, including some of their management.

ironically, didn't they have the highest rate of homers in the playoffs? the playoffs are weird.

 

[thefro]

Cubs-Cards game cancelled already.

Means Kris Bryant only sits in Iowa for 10 more games instead of 11.

They'll be lucky to play tomorrow, so it might be 9.

Edit: Supposedly not making the game up today until July or September, so that's a HUGE benefit to the Cubs. Their team should get stronger as the season goes on. Bryant and Russell should both be up by then.

 

[Loco4Coco]

I wanna see some games. Surprise there are a few teams playing game 2 and none of them in the afternoon.

 

[Fitzy]

Braves Opening Day 2014 Lineup:

1. Jason Heyward - RF
2. B.J. Upton - CF
3. Freddie Freeman - 1B
4. Chris Johnson - 3B
5. Justin Upton - LF
6. Dan Uggla - 2B
7. Evan Gattis - C
8. Andrelton Simmons - SS
9. Julio Teheran - P

Braves Opening Day 2015 Lineup:

1. Eric Young Jr. - CF
2. Jace Peterson - 2B
3. Nick Markakis - RF
4. Freddie Freeman - 1B
5. Cristian Bethancourt - C
6. Kelly Johnson - LF
7. Alberto Callaspo - 3B
8. Andrelton Simmons - SS
9. Julio Teheran - P

What a difference a year makes

 

[Tragicomedy]

ironically, didn't they have the highest rate of homers in the playoffs? the playoffs are weird.

They were either at the top or very close. Really turned things on offensively when it mattered most. What's even more odd is they completely abandoned stealing bases as they progressed further into the playoffs.

I guess I find the "small ball" term silly, since every team incorporates the concepts from time to time. About the only purposeful component I can think of is laying down a bunt to advance a runner into second. Everything else is just trying to put the ball into play and score runs, AKA baseball.

 

[Purple Cheeto]

Pitching, speed, and defense win games.

The term "small ball" is misleading. Every team should be striving to get runners on base and in scoring position. Teams adjust their focus based on the game circumstances, and shift in and out of "small ball" mentality based on a wide variety of factors. What part of the order is up? Do you have a speedy runner on base? Is the opposing pitcher having control issues?

It definitely doesn't mean your offense sucks.

Scoring more runs than your opponent wins ball games. If you do this by hitting 300 homers or doiling your opponent to death is a matter of style.

 

[Tragicomedy]

Scoring more runs than your opponent wins ball games. If you do this by hitting 300 homers or doiling your opponent to death is a matter of style.

As the playoffs have taught us time and time again, pitching, speed, and defense wins games when they actually matter. Limiting your opponent's scoring is every bit as important as putting the ball in play.

You are saying the same thing as I am, in an even more reductionist manner.

 

[zychi]

Castro supposedly on trade block. Padres probably interested. I would do Kennedy for him or something like that.

source?

 

[Angry Grimace]

source?

Its on mlbtraderumors. Its really a combination of two rumors and not an actual connection - The Padres are apparently looking around for a shortstop and the Cubs have a shortstop potentially available.

The Padres are pretty much barren at this point since we traded away every blue-chip prospect we had. The idea that they'd trade Ian Kennedy or anyone else in the rotation seems suspect given how much they gave out in the farm system without ever bringing up Tyson Ross or Cashner or Kennedy.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Padres are also interested in Elvis Andrus.

 

[CygnusXS]

Padres are also interested in Elvis Andrus.

You know you've gone too far when...

 

[Frozenprince]

Castro has been on the block since before they acquired Russel. He'll be gone.

 

[HarryDemeanor]

I'm sure Andre Ethier is getting tons of attention after yesterday's performance.

He'd look great doing the chop.

 

[thefro]

Castro has been on the block since before they acquired Russel. He'll be gone.

Castro isn't getting traded this year unless someone makes an offer that blows the Cubs away. He's a good player and signed on a team-friendly contract until 2020.

Ultimately taking Castro off the team hurts the Cubs' chances of contending this year.

 

[Mr. Enigma]

Castro isn't getting traded this year unless someone makes an offer that blows the Cubs away. He's a good player and signed on a team-friendly contract until 2020.

Ultimately taking Castro off the team hurts the Cubs' chances of contending this year.

If only they still had Soriano to give away. That nightmare contract is finally over.

 

[DarkFlow]

Padres are also interested in Elvis Andrus.

Is there anyone they aren't interested in at this point?