So I was at the game yesterday and that HBP of Mazara was violent. Heard it clear as a bell on the mezz level.

All the relievers looked good yesterday except Bush and he still got out of the inning.

MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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Cleveland swept us and then got swept by the D-backs

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And?

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Idk. It was just an observation. Chill

Huell Babineaux said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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Cleveland swept us and then got swept by the D-backs

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And?

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Idk. It was just an observation. Chill

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Chill? I just asked a question.

MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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Cleveland swept us and then got swept by the D-backs

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And?

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Idk. It was just an observation. Chill

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Chill? I just asked a question.

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Yeah well, I'm offended that you asked a question.

AccidentProne said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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Cleveland swept us and then got swept by the D-backs

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And?

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Idk. It was just an observation. Chill

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Chill? I just asked a question.

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Yeah well, I'm offended that you asked a question.

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Yeah, and I'm offended that you're offended by my questioning your offensive comment.

MooreTrucker said:

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AccidentProne said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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Cleveland swept us and then got swept by the D-backs

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And?

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Idk. It was just an observation. Chill

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Chill? I just asked a question.

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Yeah well, I'm offended that you asked a question.

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Yeah, and I'm offended that you're offended by my questioning your offensive comment.

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And I'm offended that you're offended that he's offended for just making an observation.

wbt5845 said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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AccidentProne said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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MooreTrucker said:

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Huell Babineaux said:

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Cleveland swept us and then got swept by the D-backs

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And?

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Idk. It was just an observation. Chill

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Chill? I just asked a question.

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Yeah well, I'm offended that you asked a question.

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Yeah, and I'm offended that you're offended by my questioning your offensive comment.

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And I'm offended that you're offended that he's offended that you asked an offensive question of him for just making an observation.

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FIFY. You left out a level of offensiveness.

And I'm offended that you're offended about something offensive that I did that offended someone else.

Oh yeah - new food rankings:

1 - Texas Snowballs - those things are awesome
2 through N-2 - Haven't tried yet
N-1 - the black bean tamales. Yuck.
N - The Frito Kimchi hot dog - that thing sucked.

The Brisket filled donuts are awesome?

Huell Babineaux said:

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The Brisket filled donuts are awesome?

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Surprisingly good, actually.

I was at the game yesterday and thought that Jose Leclerc did an awesome job of getting us out of that jam. He might be earning a permanent spot in the bullpen. As for Napoli's slow start, he is uncharacteristically chasing pitches out of the zone. Most of the time he is very patient and selective. I think if he keeps struggling after this week, then you have to consider letting Joey Gallo take over his role for a bit until he can get it all worked out.

Also, I definitely agree we need more out of Yu, especially giving the lack of depth in our starting Rotation.

I don't see them sitting Napoli on the bench for Gallo in any situation.

Nomar Mazara AL player of the week!

Can't wait to try these

I'm assuming Gallo goes down when Beltre is activated tomorrow. Robinson is obviously the last man on the bench, but given Robinson's versatility and the desire to give Gallo everyday at-bats, I don't think he draws the short straw. I wouldn't mind giving Robinson a start at first vs a RHP this week.

I have been hard on Joey Gallo, but he has hugely outperformed Mike Napoli so far. If you don't want to let Gallo play over Napoli right now, whatever, but at the least, Napoli doesn't belong in the clean-up spot until he has a few good games in a row.

I did not think Napoli needed to be hitting 4th Saturday night after going 0 for 5 the day before. And while I know he hit a home run, he was the absolute suck yesterday. The Rangers unequivocally scored 8 runs in spite of Mike Napoli yesterday and absolutely because of Joey Gallo.

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As for Napoli's slow start, he is uncharacteristically chasing pitches out of the zone. Most of the time he is very patient and selective.

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Ehhhh...Mike Napoli is a guy who has struck out 27% of his career plate appearances and has had the requisite below average, low contact %.

I'll give you that you might be correct in being selective---he has a below average swing % and an above average walk %---but on the bottom line results end, it shouldn't be a huge surprise that he is having some of the issues he is having.

And oh yeah, Carlos Gomez is hitting like he has hit much of his career---very poorly. Give someone who has had a better start to the season a chance or two at the lead-off spot.

Napoli absolutely should not be hitting 4th, but I think this was simply because there aren't any good RHHs in the lineup at the moment with him sucking and Beltre out. Your direct comparison to Gallo is correct, but merely flipping them means three straight LHHs in the middle of the lineup.

Bannister showed some willingness to make some changes, moving Elvis (who is hitting pretty well so far) up to 2nd. The other guy who's had a chance to lead off this year (DeShields) sucked in his one previous start so they took pressure off him by hitting him 9th. Gomez being the veteran guy, should be less affected by the pressure of hitting near the top. I guess you could build the batting order based solely on performance this year so far and have it look something like this: Andrus, Mazara, Odor, Gallo and the next 5 hitting in whatever order you fancy, since they've all done nothing so far.

But the reality is, the team had played 5 games before yesterday and talented MLB managers know that small sample sizes like that shouldn't typically drive you to make drastic changes to your approach.

Well, like I said at the time, DeShields hitting lead-off wasn't an example of a guy playing his way to the lead-off spot and Andrus hitting second when Choo has a Sunday off isn't really an example of what I'm getting at, either.

I didn't say Gallo should hit 4th, but yes, your options would really be Odor and Gallo at the moment.

I'll refrain from getting into the merits of continuing to avoid three straight left-handers (or right-handers) versus moving a guy who has hit .239 and .224 the last two seasons and started the season hitting .091, but I think you can gather what side of that coin I fall on.

I think there is a reason why Mike Napoli hit 4th (or higher) in the lineup as much or more last year than he had in the entirety of his career previous to that---and it had something to do with being on a lineup with about 1 other player with any shown ability to hit the home run ball. And Michael Brantley being hurt most of the year.

I hope he starts hitting better, wherever in the lineup that may be.

Beltre coming back will certainly help balance out the lineup with another RH power bat (although I see him starting slow as well given his Spring Training/WBC struggles). I know Napoli will never be a high average guy, but there is no excuse for a veteran like him to be chasing THAT many pitches out of the zone.

Imagine where we would be if our two young guys, Odor and Mazara, hadn't started off as well as they have...

First road test of the season begins today. Hamels/Griffin/Darvish... Take 2 of 3 and I'll feel a lot better about this season.

I would love to see Hamels and Darvish pitch like the Aces we know they both can be. It would also be nice to see Napoli heat up against his former team (Stats: 254 PA, .343/.449/.690 (1.139 OPS), 19 HR, 44 RBIs)

Lineup tonight:

Gomez 8
Andrus 6
Mazara 9
Napoli 3
Odor 4
Lucroy 2
Choo DH
Rua 7
Gallo 5

I for one support the move to move Choo down for the time being. Elvis has been playing well and deserves to hit 2nd for the time being. Not sure what I think of Gallo hitting 9th, but I think overall this is a fine lineup. Hope they can win tonight. Have to with Hamels on the mound.

Probably won't be able to get Myles to throw out the first pitch for A&M night since he'll be in training camp. What do y'all think about Christian Kirk instead?

Gates

Damn

Acie?

I drove bus said:

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Damn

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If history is any indication, he will rehab it for three months before finding out that his calf has thoracic outlet syndrome.

Billy Kennedy

Please no. How bout Childress, Sumlin and BK. Whoever throws a strike gets to keep their job and the others are fired immediately. Maybe we can get rid of all 3 in one pitch!!

duck79 said:

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Please no. How bout Childress, Sumlin and BK. Whoever throws a strike gets to keep their job and the others are fired immediately. Maybe we can get rid of all 3 in one pitch!!

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duck79 said:

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Please no. How bout Childress, Sumlin and BK. Whoever throws a strike gets to keep their job and the others are fired immediately. Maybe we can get rid of all 3 in one pitch!!

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They also will be judged on speed of the pitch in the event more than one throw a strike

AccidentProne said:

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Probably won't be able to get Myles to throw out the first pitch for A&M night since he'll be in training camp. What do y'all think about Christian Kirk instead?

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I hadn't ever really thought of this but would an active college athlete even be allowed to? Obviously it'd probably be ok for him to throw a ceremonial pitch but reimbursement for travel costs, meals, parking, tickets, etc could all probably be construed as impermissible benefits. The NCAA is incredibly dumb and I wouldn't put it past them to find fault in some part of him throwing the first pitch.