TheAngelFlight said:

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DannyDuberstein said:

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Everythng can be peeled apart. But my basic point with the #'s is that I think a lot of folks think he has been even more undisciplined than last year and that explains the dip in his average. But he hasn't, so it can't explain it.

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Its a game of constant improvement and adjustments. He's not doing that. That explains it.

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Lots of guys don't improve from one year to the next and don't see their average drop by nearly 50 points. It's easy to talk in vague cliches.

DannyDuberstein said:

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TheAngelFlight said:

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DannyDuberstein said:

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Everythng can be peeled apart. But my basic point with the #'s is that I think a lot of folks think he has been even more undisciplined than last year and that explains the dip in his average. But he hasn't, so it can't explain it.

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Its a game of constant improvement and adjustments. He's not doing that. That explains it.

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Lots of guys don't improve from one year to the next and don't see their average drop by nearly 50 points. This is a silly response.

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They do when they've developed one facet to their game, their opponents adjust to it, and the player doesn't adjust in return. (Slash improve other facets of their game)

Its a damned game of chess. You can't have one opening line, one middle game, and one end game and expect to continue to win.

TheAngelFlight said:

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Quote:

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Every player would benefit from taking more walks and striking out less.

But as Danny pointed out, the difference between Odor last year and Odor this year is the shift. That isn't going to be fixed by walking more, it's fixed by more often trying to hit opposite field. Trying to go opposite field more can have a very significant negative impact on players that have a pull power stroke, which is why it is something that is typically addressed in an off-season unless you are a prospect that can be sent back down to the minors to work on things mid-season (which Odor is not).

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I did not say anything about needing to walk more.

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Nor did I say you did. But as posted above, trying to get a young dead-pull power hitter to start going opposite field in the middle of a major league season against major league pitching is a recipe for disaster.

Hitting opposite field is really, really hard. Probably the hardest skill any major league player has to learn.

You work on those large adjustments in the off-season, not in the middle of a potential playoff chase that could result in your power stroke suffering. Odor has the potential to be great, but make no mistake his value comes from his homerun power.

TheAngelFlight said:

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DannyDuberstein said:

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TheAngelFlight said:

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DannyDuberstein said:

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Everythng can be peeled apart. But my basic point with the #'s is that I think a lot of folks think he has been even more undisciplined than last year and that explains the dip in his average. But he hasn't, so it can't explain it.

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Its a game of constant improvement and adjustments. He's not doing that. That explains it.

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Lots of guys don't improve from one year to the next and don't see their average drop by nearly 50 points. This is a silly response.

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They do when they've developed one facet to their game, their opponents adjust to it, and the player doesn't adjust in return.

Its a damned game of chess. You can't have one opening line, one middle game, and one end game and expect to continue to win.

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Which I said in my very first post that he needed to continue to develop. Some of you like to argue just to argue.

Odor's BABIP in the Majors:

2014 - .294
2015 - .283
2016 - .297
2017 - .228

Some of that drop is probably attributable to the shift being used against him but teams shifted pretty heavily against him last year too. Some of it is just bad luck and you would expect him to regress back to his mean over the long run.

Like I said, I believe he can hit opposite field but he doesn't wait for pitches that lend themselves to being hit opposite field.

I believe not swinging at pitches is an adjustment that should be able to be made in-season without fear of creating a disaster.

In fact, I believe learning to lay off major league pitchers is best learned when facing major league pitchers during the season.

DannyDuberstein said:

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TheAngelFlight said:

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DannyDuberstein said:

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TheAngelFlight said:

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DannyDuberstein said:

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Everythng can be peeled apart. But my basic point with the #'s is that I think a lot of folks think he has been even more undisciplined than last year and that explains the dip in his average. But he hasn't, so it can't explain it.

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Its a game of constant improvement and adjustments. He's not doing that. That explains it.

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Lots of guys don't improve from one year to the next and don't see their average drop by nearly 50 points. This is a silly response.

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They do when they've developed one facet to their game, their opponents adjust to it, and the player doesn't adjust in return.

Its a damned game of chess. You can't have one opening line, one middle game, and one end game and expect to continue to win.

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Which I said in my very first post that he needed to continue to develop. Some of you like to argue just to argue.

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I wasn't arguing with you.

TheAngelFlight said:

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Like I said, I believe he can hit opposite field but he doesn't wait for pitches that lend themselves to being hit opposite field.

I believe not swinging at pitches is an adjustment that should be able to be made in-season without fear of creating a disaster.

In fact, I believe learning to lay off major league pitchers is best learned when facing major league pitchers during the season.

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Which he's done a slightly better job of this year than last with the 41.7% vs. 44.2%. Needs more, but I expect no miracles here.

DannyDuberstein said:

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TheAngelFlight said:

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Like I said, I believe he can hit opposite field but he doesn't wait for pitches that lend themselves to being hit opposite field.

I believe not swinging at pitches is an adjustment that should be able to be made in-season without fear of creating a disaster.

In fact, I believe learning to lay off major league pitchers is best learned when facing major league pitchers during the season.

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Which he's done a slightly better job of this year than last.

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Sure. However, I think slightly better than pretty bad isn't enough, in your words, enough "develop[ment]."

If the point is he's not actually regressed in what he's doing, we agree. If the second point is he needs to develop, (or "improve" or "adjust") then we agree.

Whoever wanted a photo of the A&M cap, I'm trying to get a photo up along with this year's spring training cap that is perhaps my favorite Rangers cap that I also had with me...but maybe the internet will beat me this time...

Ross pitching tomorrow........ugh

Just looked it up... only 3.5 out of the WC? How is that possible? I'm ready to throw in the towel but damn, let's do this and at least make the playoffs. Sweep of the stros would put us in even better position

MSFC Aggie said:

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Ross pitching tomorrow........ugh

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His last AAA start was good, so there is hope

KT 90 said:

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Just looked it up... only 3.5 out of the WC? How is that possible? I'm ready to throw in the towel but damn, let's do this and at least make the playoffs. Sweep of the stros would put us in even better position

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A sweep of the Astros and a division lead down to 10 games would likely instill panic in Houston.

DallasAg 94 said:

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KT 90 said:

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Just looked it up... only 3.5 out of the WC? How is that possible? I'm ready to throw in the towel but damn, let's do this and at least make the playoffs. Sweep of the stros would put us in even better position

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A sweep of the Astros and a division lead down to 10 games would likely instill panic in Houston.

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After what the White Sox did to them, I'm sure there is already plenty of anus tightening going on down there. That can't be good with all of the heat and HUMIDITY down there.

But yeah, save those prospects, don't make a trade for a pitching upgrade.... it's all good. LOL

Morton (3.78, 1.23) v Hamels (3.59, 1.07)
Fiers (4.06, 1.30) v Ross (7.52, 1.55)
Keuchel (2.87, 1.11) v Cashner (3.36, 1.35)

I'll be there tomorrow for Pudge night. Great seats in section 30 .

TAG and RAY-Ray marveling over Charlie Morton's newfound velo.

A career average guy with a 92 mph fastball @33 is now able to dial-it-up to 96-97 mph.

I guess you could surmise he is a "late bloomer." Most consider 27-32 peak years. Good for him to find the late success. It will be interesting to see how he finishes the season.

Uh oh, someone should let Doug Gottlieb know about this unexplained change in performance

He's a 93-94 on 4-seam and sinker in the past to 95-96 on the 4-seam and sinker. frangraphs

It will be interesting to see if he can keep it up; he's apparently got a history of starting high and then losing velocity over the year. I've seen a few things saying his throwing motion is just about as good and consistent as its ever been for him.

It didn't help him much on fielding a bunt.

"Don't throw him a fastball?!"

Gomez just pimped the hell out of that single

Gomez

Calling it for Odor!

We're benefitting from some pretty bad called balls that are clearly strikes

Sequenced the **** out of that inning

agent-maroon said:

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We're benefitting from some pretty bad called balls that are clearly strikes

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I don't know about benefiting, per se. Seems pretty consistent. I agree some strikes not being called but Hamels has had some missed, as well. Hamels had one that seemed way out of the zone called a strike.

I think it is too early to see a clear bias... but who am I to say.

Street_Cred_Norm said:

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Nothing more entertaining than reading the astros thread when they are getting punked by the Rangers.

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It's been that way for 2 weeks straight, doesn't matter the opponent