I think the opposite. Over a 162 game grind you can scheme your way to wins against other teams 3 to 5 starters who maybe stay in game an inning long with the idea of not burning out the pen today. Some plucky depth guy has an unexpected monster day in an afternoon game when the other team is more interested in going home.
Come playoffs if you don't have that Verlander or Cole to March out, or an elite clutch hitter. You can't win. The Dodgers starters are bad, they're in trouble. Baltimore doesn't really have an ace or a bona-fide silver slugger, they got crushed.
In the regular season, teams don’t game plan to the depth they do in the playoffs. The Astros had an obvious approach for Sonny Gray and his sweeper yesterday. Less professional teams rely on their talent.
Yeah but the Rangers have spent huge to add Seager and Semien. Plus they have Scherzer and DeGroome on staff.
This isn't some bargain based analytics darling slaying Goliath. They have a good dangerous offence that I think set a record for number of times scoring 10 or more runs in a game. With no Gerrit Cole or Verlander to go against them, they easily mowed down Baltimore.
Phillies are similar but with more star power and their top piching guns are healthy.
Well they have Scherzer and DeGrom on the IL, hence the bullpen game in game 1 of the playoffs.
But man, that bullpen. If the Rangers are up by 10 in the 9th I'm nervous.
__________________ "Calgary Flames is the best team in all the land" - My Brainwashed Son
In the regular season, teams don’t game plan to the depth they do in the playoffs. The Astros had an obvious approach for Sonny Gray and his sweeper yesterday. Less professional teams rely on their talent.
Isn't that part of what separates star players from others? The discipline to study that, have that approach and execute it? The Twins laid off Kevin Gausmans splitter, but only Royce Lewis was able to substantially take advantage of it.
So I disagree. Every team has strategy and coaching you need it to get thru 162 games. Come playoff time it's best on bedt. Elite players can beat a one trick pony. Sonny Gray has been a journeyman with some success for a reason sort of like Kevin Gausman. He can take advantage of most of the league. But yesterday Bregman, Alvarez, Tucker, and Abreu did the damage. These are guys who have been or still are elite level hitters. Same as I expect a dominant ace pitcher finds a way to gut it out when he doesn't have his best stuff.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
I have a question for a Rangers fan, how ugly is that new stadium? It's like the Astrodome with no atmosphere.
Oh man, I hate it.
That said, if you were to take a picture of it, and photoshop out the roof/supports it doesn't look too bad.
I get the sense that it's great in person. I can see how that'd be the case (espcially after being to Rogers Centre).
Globe Life Park doesn't play well on TV, at all. But I can see how it'd be great in person. Especially where it's climate controlled.
A few things I don't like regardless, the angle of the video screens in relation to the field, they don't line up. The big vertical screen in the outfield isn't pointed toward home plate, drives me bonkers.
I miss the old ballpark. But I can appreciate not wanting to play in 110*F weather.
I truly believe there's a way to have a stadium with a roof that when the roof is open you don't see it or know it's a domed stadium. But man, Globe Life Field is so, So, SO Ugly from the outside.
__________________ "Calgary Flames is the best team in all the land" - My Brainwashed Son
Varsho trade blowing up spectacularly in front of everyone's eyes. Atkins you narcissistic bum. Gurriel and Moreno just putting the Dback on their backs. Let's go Snakes!
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Varsho trade blowing up spectacularly in front of everyone's eyes. Atkins you narcissistic bum. Gurriel and Moreno just putting the Dback on their backs. Let's go Snakes!
Every single time I think about that trade breaking and we were thinking it was for a b-prospect and Gurriel, then seeing Gurriel and Moreno, pisses me off to this day. It was too much at the time and it turned out to be awful.
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Isn't that part of what separates star players from others? The discipline to study that, have that approach and execute it? The Twins laid off Kevin Gausmans splitter, but only Royce Lewis was able to substantially take advantage of it.
So I disagree. Every team has strategy and coaching you need it to get thru 162 games. Come playoff time it's best on bedt. Elite players can beat a one trick pony. Sonny Gray has been a journeyman with some success for a reason sort of like Kevin Gausman. He can take advantage of most of the league. But yesterday Bregman, Alvarez, Tucker, and Abreu did the damage. These are guys who have been or still are elite level hitters. Same as I expect a dominant ace pitcher finds a way to gut it out when he doesn't have his best stuff.
Sure more talent is always better than less talent. But you’re assuming that approach, preparation are equal across all teams and I don’t think that’s the case. Astros are elite at having an approach for every hitter and pitcher and sticking to it. That just doesn’t happen in regular season IMO.
Costas — a marquee personality for NBC Sports — told the New York Daily News: “The tone of it was not what I intended. I intended it as a kind of sarcastic comment about this overall thing where everybody seems to be pointing toward the heavens for every accomplishment, large and small, or even for no accomplishment at all.
“I inadvertently appeared harsh toward Strop. That wasn’t my intention. And so I owe him an apology.”
Sure more talent is always better than less talent. But you’re assuming that approach, preparation are equal across all teams and I don’t think that’s the case. Astros are elite at having an approach for every hitter and pitcher and sticking to it. That just doesn’t happen in regular season IMO.
I will grant you that the Astros are exceptional in building teams to win post season baseball and come up with strategies to win that style of game. I also think they have made sure they have the talent to execute those plans too. So there is a relationship in knowing what you need and going out and filling that need.
They're not like the Mets who seem to randomly sign anyone for whatever amount. They're better than the Dodgers at winning post season baseball and better planning and preparation likely are why. At this time, they're more experienced than Baltimore, Tampa, and Texas and have talent to cover the key areas. Tampa is likely to always be overcoming a talent gap and we will find out if Texas or Baltimore learn and improve.
__________________ "Some guys like old balls"
Patriots QB Tom Brady
