Series Thread: M's 4 game set vs Astro's 4/29-5/3

[NWinAZ]

I'm just as frustrated with this team as anyone. But like anything else, when you take chances failure will happen.

I'm not frustrated with the team because they are what they are. I said they didn't do enough in the off season to contend and it shows.

As far as the play goes, if Weeks does that 100 times that will be the only time it works. I agree with putting the bat on the ball and making things happen, but that was pure luck. No rewards given for that.

 

[Itsmytime]

I'm not frustrated with the team because they are what they are. I said they didn't do enough in the off season to contend and it shows.

As far as the play goes, if Weeks does that 100 times that will be the only time it works. I agree with putting the bat on the ball and making things happen, but that was pure luck. No rewards given for that.

I suppose I may have misinterpreted the initial post then.

 

[Tapey]

Damn, Carson Smith is good.

 

[TheDayMan]

And for reasons passing understanding, people critical of the team from the get go are descended upon and trashed by the part-time baseball fans who don't know what they're talking about.

How many hours do you put in to keep your 'fulltime' fan status? Or do you just have to announce how mad you are and tell everyone you're opting out of watching the remainder of a game for another activity? I'd like to know because I want nothing more than for guys like you to consider me a fulltime fan...

 

[Itsmytime]

Well fuck when your on fire, you are really on fire.

 

[NWinAZ]

How many pitches are we going to hang to Gattis? Too many I guess the answer is.

 

[Msfann]

That first pitch to Miller was halfway through the opposite side batters box ffs. seriously how can someone think that was a strike???? drug test the home plate umpire after the game.

 

[SeattleCoug]

How many pitches are we going to hang to Gattis? Too many I guess the answer is.

Guy has a Zunino like approach and we are setting it on a tee for him. Just sloppy execution which a perfect way to describe this team

 

[Anointed One]

I still haven't lost faith in this team... I still think we'll be in the thick of things when it's all said and done...

 

[Anointed One]

If I added right, M's are 5-5 in games Cruz homers. No reflection on Cruz of course, he has been more than expected, but just shows long ball is not the end all be all of winning baseball. Cezero said it earlier, on-base baseball is where it is at...with a mix of Cruz of course.

I understand that on base baseball is where you win... But the problem is, outside of Cruz right now, we don't have many that are getting on base... Cruz isn't just a power hitter... He hits for average as well...

We would probably be 1-9 instead of 5-5 in those games if Cruz wasn't on the roster... Cruz is playing up to expections, but no one else is near the "playing up to expectations mark"... Not even close...

 

[boogiewithstu2007]

Once we get into July we'll know for sure what's up...

 

[NWinAZ]

I understand that on base baseball is where you win... But the problem is, outside of Cruz right now, we don't have many that are getting on base... Cruz isn't just a power hitter... He hits for average as well...

We would probably be 1-9 instead of 5-5 in those games if Cruz wasn't on the roster... Cruz is playing up to expections, but no one else is near the "playing up to expectations mark"... Not even close...

That wasn't meant as a knock on Cruz. He has earned his money. More of a knock on Jack's philosophy that longball cures all.

 

[AceKeptic]

I still haven't lost faith in this team... I still think we'll be in the thick of things when it's all said and done...

The question is, though, which year will it be before all is "said and done"?

 

[seahawksfan234]

I still haven't lost faith in this team... I still think we'll be in the thick of things when it's all said and done...

It's not an excuse as playoff teams win close games, but it's not like we've been losing by wide margins. 10 of their losses have been by 2 or less runs. Including a handful of games in extra innings.

Cano will pick it up, as will Seager. And on the other side, I have to assume the bullpen will improve. This is a unit that has a good resume on their hands. Paxton looks to have improved his last two starts - April 25th he only lasted 4.2 innings, and gave up 4 runs, but only 1 was earned while the defense was terrible. Not sure what to say about Walker though, before May 2nd's disaster he had two starts of only giving up 1 run in 12.1 IP.

I believe some of these issues will begin to smooth themselves out. We can't count on Cruz to keep hitting like this all year though, and he's carrying this team. Cruz's 13 HR in 24 games is just ridiculous. I'm not saying he will regress to the projections many of us had prior to the season (25-30 HR .260 BA), but he will eventually cool down, as he's on pace to hit 84 HRs, lol.

It is worth noting that players with a start as hot as this have finished the season rather favorably in terms of total HRs hit.
Pujols had 14 HRs in the first 24 games in 2006 and finished with 49.
A-Rod had 14 HRs in the first 24 games in 2007 and finished with 54.
Ken Griffey Jr had 13 HRs in the first 24 games in 1997 and finished with 56.
Luiz Gonzalez had 13 HRs in the first 24 games in 2001 and finished with 57.
Mike Schmidt had 13 HRs in the first 24 games in 1976 and finished with 38.
Willie Mays had 13 HRs in the first 24 games in 1964 and finished with 47.

The unfortunate part is that 10 of Cruz's homers have been solo shots. If the guys in front of Cruz were getting on base more frequently, his RBI total would be a lot higher.