MLB Daily Thread: 4-13-16 Clay Fantastic Again, Last Place Coming

[Howie115]

Buckholz and Verlander are in a race to see who will have the higher April ERA. JV is typically not very good in April, but the fact that he can't get swings-and-misses is disturbing. I saw a stat after Monday's game that said Pirates hitters fouled off 20 pitches after reaching 2 strikes in the count vs. Verlander. And JV only pitched 4.1 innings with two strikeouts.

 

[bravesfan]

Verlander's best years are behind him

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

Verlander's best years are behind him

Is that Bob Horner?

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

Verlander's best years are behind him

also known as "the Kate Upton effect"

 

[bravesfan]

Is that Bob Horner?

Yes

 

[bravesfan]

also known as "the Kate Upton effect"

You get a rainbow

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Buckholz and Verlander are in a race to see who will have the higher April ERA. JV is typically not very good in April, but the fact that he can't get swings-and-misses is disturbing. I saw a stat after Monday's game that said Pirates hitters fouled off 20 pitches after reaching 2 strikes in the count vs. Verlander. And JV only pitched 4.1 innings with two strikeouts.

I was watching Quick Pitch on MLB Channel last night and -- I think it was -- Harold Reynolds was suggesting that the Pirates were stealing signs, or Verlander was tipping his pitches badly because of that.

He was pretty nasty at the end of the season last year, so I expect that he'll get his shit together.

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

Verlander's best years are behind him

Be careful going that far out on a limb around here. These folks are like vultures. . .

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

I don't think Sabathia is an ace anymore.

 

[bravesfan]

Be careful going that far out on a limb around here. These folks are like vultures. . .

That's only if I dismiss Alan Trammell as a HOFer

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

You get a rainbow

Thanks! Rainbows B. Awesome

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

I don't think Sabathia is an ace anymore.

Bookmarked

 

[DirtDirtDirt]

I don't think Sabathia is an ace anymore.

No shit

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

No shit

Maybe a little shit.

 

[Howie115]

Verlander's best years are behind him

I actually agree. I think he can still be good to very good, but never "great" again.

 

[Used 2 B Hu]

I actually agree. I think he can still be good to very good, but never "great" again.

How long til the Yankees are overpaying for him?

 

[Howie115]

I was watching Quick Pitch on MLB Channel last night and -- I think it was -- Harold Reynolds was suggesting that the Pirates were stealing signs, or Verlander was tipping his pitches badly because of that.

A baseball writer for one of the Detroit papers suggested much the same thing .... he said Verlander is releasing different pitches from different arm angles. When he's going good, every pitch is coming out of the same arm slot.

 

[Bolts]

Padres have been shutout 4 times, the rest of baseball has been shutout 7 times.

 

[bravesfan]

I actually agree. I think he can still be good to very good, but never "great" again.

He just needs to learn to pitch to contact when that second gear starts to rust

 

[SlinkyRedfoot]

He just needs to learn to pitch to contact when that second gear starts to rust

I think to some extent he's already done that. His average fastball velocity was about as low as it's ever been last year and he still had a 14 game stretch where his ERA was 2.27.

Then again, his fastball so far in 2016 is as fast as it's been since 2012, so maybe he thinks he's a flamethrower again. I do think he has the ability to adjust his style to a loss of velocity.

We'll see.