Series Thread: Home against the Rangers, Apr. 17-19

[WizardHawk]

M's normally have a fairly shitty April. Last year they had an 8 game losing streak in the month and everyone wrote them off.

You can't write off any team until at least mid May.

Do you all really think the starting pitching is going to be this way all year? The guy we thought would be the worst has had two great outings and only Walker is a questionmark going forward in terms of finding his game.

The offense? Well they are going to struggle against left handed pitching all year. Again this year they don't have more than 3 guys that can hit lefties, but outside of that they are improved over last year. Zunino and all. It's not all about the long ball. Cruz went out and peppered singles all over the place last night. Just couldn't get Seager or anyone else to support him. Seager is horrible in April every year. There are always guys that start off slow and he has always been one. Anyone really doubt he comes alive like always in May?

Might be a frustrating stretch, but holy shit guys. This team won't finish any worse than 3rd in the division and likely finishes at least second. Bookmark it. Texas and the Astros are fucking horrible.

 

[cezero]

I'll go ahead and look at the team we have this year.

It will take going 7-3 over the next 10 games to even get to .500 heading into May.

I have yet to see anything to make me think they're even capable of that.

 

[Banned 10x]

I'll go ahead and look at the team we have this year.

It will take going 7-3 over the next 10 games to even get to .500 heading into May.

I have yet to see anything to make me think they're even capable of that.

Exactly, they are digging a deep hole for themselves that will take a 8-10 game winning streak just to get to .500, I certainly don't see that happening in the near future.

 

[WizardHawk]

They didn't have an 8 game winning streak last year to dig out of that hole either. It's a long season. They don't have to reach .500 by months end to be in the playoffs.

Funny, we had people just saying a couple of weeks ago that the 'new' fans up here all excited over the hype should temper their expectations and not overreact to short term setbacks and yet here are the 'old' fans doing just that.

There is no difference this year than last or any other in recent times. I'll follow along until at least the all star break and if they are sucking balls after that I'll turn to football fall camps and not watch another minute of it. If they are more like last year and making some waves I'll pay a bit more attention to them. The key is the season can't be over in April. Not for any team.

 

[cezero]

I'll go ahead and look at the team we have this year.

I'll follow along the entire year like I always do, and leave the bandwagoning to the new fans I was alluding to.

 

[wazzu31]

The problem is that they are digging themselves into such a hole, especially if the staff can't give the bullpen a little rest this isn't the type of team that go on big long streaks. Obviously it's early but there are some serious red flags with optimism for this team with the automatic outs now on offense and somehow Haap is the most reliable pitcher (outside of Felix) on the team.

Maybe Jack talked himself into an extension because he hadn't fulfilled his revised 10 year plan?

 

[cezero]

The problem is that they are digging themselves into such a hole, especially if the staff can't give the bullpen a little rest this isn't the type of team that go on big long streaks. Obviously it's early but there are some serious red flags with optimism for this team with the automatic outs now on offense and somehow Haap is the most reliable pitcher (outside of Felix) on the team.

Maybe Jack talked himself into an extension because he hadn't fulfilled his revised 10 year plan?

Last year, the consistent great pitching made me think the team could come back and have success even with a bottom of the league offense.

This is a different team. The offense is what is is, and I have yet to see anything from the pitching staff to make me think they can carry this team like they did last year.

It's still early, yes.

 

[SeattleCoug]

Yea mid May is probably the best time to give an early judgement. Any franchise with moderate recent success wouldn't freak out with a 3-7 start but this team hasn't given their fans that luxury. It's early but I still see an offense reliant on HRs and low in OBP like most Jack Z years. Also the pitching had 2nd lowest BABIP last year and is near the top this year. Leads one to believe that luck is gonna somewhat even out this year.

 

[wazzu31]

They didn't have an 8 game winning streak last year to dig out of that hole either. It's a long season. They don't have to reach .500 by months end to be in the playoffs.

Funny, we had people just saying a couple of weeks ago that the 'new' fans up here all excited over the hype should temper their expectations and not overreact to short term setbacks and yet here are the 'old' fans doing just that.

There is no difference this year than last or any other in recent times. I'll follow along until at least the all star break and if they are sucking balls after that I'll turn to football fall camps and not watch another minute of it. If they are more like last year and making some waves I'll pay a bit more attention to them. The key is the season can't be over in April. Not for any team.

There are 2 huge differences though Wiz,

A. The pitching staff as whole has always been reliable, it was just the offense that sucked.

B. There is zero flexibility to bring guys up and down like in previous years. They have been able to give guys a month to see if they can do anything then send them down and bring up the next dude, they have zero flexibility with guys like Jackson, Morrison, their massive experiment of a platoon and they have made their bed with Zunino.

Another problem is the further hole they dig themselves into either the bigger prospect they have to give up cause they will be in at least striking distance of the 2nd WC.

 

[TheDayMan]

I'll go ahead and look at the team we have this year.

It will take going 7-3 over the next 10 games to even get to .500 heading into May.

I have yet to see anything to make me think they're even capable of that.

I guess we should be happy that the season doesn't end in May then...

 

[cezero]

I guess we should be happy that the season doesn't end in May then...

Thanks for the input.

 

[cezero]

Yea mid May is probably the best time to give an early judgement. Any franchise with moderate recent success wouldn't freak out with a 3-7 start but this team hasn't given their fans that luxury. It's early but I still see an offense reliant on HRs and low in OBP like most Jack Z years. Also the pitching had 2nd lowest BABIP last year and is near the top this year. Leads one to believe that luck is gonna somewhat even out this year.

Well put. It's going to be interesting to see how everything balances out.

With pitching, I think most of us who know anything about baseball expected them to take a little step back this year compared to their historic 2014 season. But the offensive upgrade of Cruz, and hope that the platoons at 1B and it the OF were going to hopefully be enough to compensate for that and then some.

The balance is not materializing yet, and yes, while it's early, it's still possible to look at what we have and be realistic about what's good and what's bad.

Cruz is doing his job already, and the fact that Seager and Cano will wake up is a given, so dilettantes can stop bringing that up over and over. We know. Thanks.

Really, really hoping to see Walker and Kuma have great games after 2 shaky starts.

 

[TheDayMan]

Thanks for the input.

Anytime...

 

[WizardHawk]

There are 2 huge differences though Wiz,

A. The pitching staff as whole has always been reliable, it was just the offense that sucked.

B. There is zero flexibility to bring guys up and down like in previous years. They have been able to give guys a month to see if they can do anything then send them down and bring up the next dude, they have zero flexibility with guys like Jackson, Morrison, their massive experiment of a platoon and they have made their bed with Zunino.

Another problem is the further hole they dig themselves into either the bigger prospect they have to give up cause they will be in at least striking distance of the 2nd WC.

A. You can't possibly think the starting pitching will be at this same level the entire year. There is little chance this is the staff ERA for the entire season.

B. For the position guys yes, but you are all acting like the pitching is bad and will be this way all year. They do have the ability to move guys around on that staff and probably will if Walker has as bad of an outing against the Astros.

But as for the position players, you are getting decent production out of ackley for a change and the two big weapons from last year are off to a slow start and NO ONE thinks they will stay that way right? If cano and seager just get back to late last years form this is a whole different team on that side of the ball. Zunino and Miller sucked last year, and surprise, are sucking this year. They still overcame their lame hitting to come within a game of the playoffs last year. Cruz adds a legit bat and serious protection for Cano which takes a little pressure off Seager. That combo is going to be fun to watch come summer.


Seriously, it's frustrating to watch your team play this bad when you know they are fully capable of playing better. Everyone is frustrated. It's just way way too early to start with the 'always crappy' or season is over kind of talk. I'll be right there with you if this is how the team is come mid May. Not a moment sooner.

 

[cezero]

Are the M's going to be a sub-.333 team?

Of course not. That's a given.

Looking forward to the upcoming games.

 

[NWinAZ]

I really don't get upset with M's play anymore, but I continue to get pissed hearing whiners tell fans that it is okay to be overly positive even in a continually bad season regarding a team who only has continually bad seasons but then have the same whiners tell anyone who states what they see, a very bad team at this point, that they are less than true fans or they are overreactors or whatever. Please stop and allow freedom of discussed be a freedom we M's fans can embrace.

Are we out of it? No. Do we have to get back into it by pre-All Star break? No. Are the M's sucking right now? Yes. When M's change their fortune, we can all hold hands and sing kumbaya on here together as one engaged fanbase. Til then, let us venters vent.

 

[WizardHawk]

Yea mid May is probably the best time to give an early judgement. Any franchise with moderate recent success wouldn't freak out with a 3-7 start but this team hasn't given their fans that luxury. It's early but I still see an offense reliant on HRs and low in OBP like most Jack Z years. Also the pitching had 2nd lowest BABIP last year and is near the top this year. Leads one to believe that luck is gonna somewhat even out this year.

Last year the M's went 11-14 in the month of April. Seager didn't break .200 until after April 26th. Even Cano was more or less average in April.

Baseball GM's say you can't really evaluate what you have until after mid-May because of the mental aspect of the game. Some guys start off trying too hard or otherwise start off slow. There is something psychological that happens with the turning of the calendar to May and the dog days of the long season starts. There are lots of players that flip a switch at that time.

If you still have the bad fielding, mental mistakes in base running, horrible starting pitching, and guys aren't hitting by then. Yes, your prospects for a post season are probably quite dim.

If, on the other hand, Felix goes out tonight and dominates and sparks something and we still end up going 6-3 over this home stand and things start to gel people up here will swing the other way and start talking WS chances. Again, that too would be way way too early.

 

[cezero]

Til then, let us venters vent.

I don't even consider you a venter.

You talk realistically about strengths and weaknesses of the team you see.

It's too much for a few babies to handle. That's all.

 

[WizardHawk]

I really don't get upset with M's play anymore, but I continue to get pissed hearing whiners tell fans that it is okay to be overly positive even in a continually bad season regarding a team who only has continually bad seasons but then have the same whiners tell anyone who states what they see, a very bad team at this point, that they are less than true fans or they are overreactors or whatever. Please stop and allow freedom of discussed be a freedom we M's fans can embrace.

Are we out of it? No. Do we have to get back into it by pre-All Star break? No. Are the M's sucking right now? Yes. When M's change their fortune, we can all hold hands and sing kumbaya on here together as one engaged fanbase. Til then, let us venters vent.

Right, so you are entitled to share your opinions and those with a different view point are not. Got it.

Tell me where I've said anyone isn't entitled to their opinion. Show me where I'm whining (that one baffles me. I'm guessing you don't know what whining means ). Tell me how it's being overly positive to say I'm frustrated, but it's far too early to judge what this team is able to do come the dog days of summer.

 

[WizardHawk]

I don't even consider you a venter.

You talk realistically about strengths and weaknesses of the team you see.

It's too much for a few babies to handle. That's all.

Again with the name calling.

At least be man enough to call out who you are labeling as a baby.