free_mhayden said:

---

TXAggie2011 said:

---

Verlander's ALCS was dominant in a way Hamels wasn't, and what sparked PatAg's comment.

---

Considering Hamels never got to pitch in the ALCS with Texas, I imagine so.

---

I thought "at any point" was understood, since, yeah, he didn't pitch in the ALCS.

free_mhayden said:

---

I imagine before it's all said and done he'll start challenging whether or not the rest of the 2015 team "**** the bed" or that it was more them just "wetting the bed", so I'll bow out before I the thread gets to 5 pages of nonsense.

---

You have issues.

DannyDuberstein said:

---

bigcat22 said:

---

Mike Maddox didn't last long in Washington, just saw he will be the new pitching coach for St. Louis

---

Hot commodity and Wash is cheap with assistant deals in that they prefer 1 year deals. He was a rarity when they gave him 2 years. Supposedly 5 teams contacted him.

---

I saw that comment in the WaPo. Seems like we've had some other multi-year assistant contracts in Washington but perhaps I'm misremembering.

The "Big 3" were nails this season but overall, I'd say the pitching was a little unsteady during his tenure.

Probably just inevitable with Baker gone that some other folks head off somewhere.

Elvis is a gold glove finalist, if that wasn't posted.


Tonight is why the Dodgers traded for Darvish---not to clinch the division, not to take up innings in an overmatched series---but to go out and offer something special when they've lost home field advantage and need a win.

Ought to be interesting. Let's see if it pays off.

Darvich has typically pitched well against the Astros, and also on the road in Houston as well. We will see if he can continue that trend tonight.

KT 90 said:

---

Darvich has typically pitched well against the Astros, and also on the road in Houston as well. We will see if he can continue that trend tonight.

---

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21177665/how-dodgers-turned-yu-darvish-better-version-himself

Pretty interesting article here, that finishes with Darvish saying the Astros will be seeing a "different pitcher."

The Dodgers changed Darvish's mechanics, mindset, and pitch selection leading into his "hot streak."

To read entirely too much into it, it's one of those things that makes you wonder if Brocail and Co. were/are a little too complacent with some of the more talented guys.

I just don't get the sense that Brocail has the mechanical eye for the job. I think they have several guys where some small adjustments could help. Perez self diagnosed his pitch tipping. I do wonder if there something going on with Hamels in this regard. He's a veteran but those guys need a second pair of eyes too sometimes

DannyDuberstein said:

---

I just don't get the sense that Brocail has the mechanical eye for the job. I think they have several guys where some small adjustments could help. Perez self diagnosed his pitch tipping. I do wonder if there something going on with Hamels in this regard. He's a veteran but those guys need a second pair of eyes too sometimes

---

Agreed, I have the same view.

I'm not sure if Hamels is tipping stuff, but with the extensive and high tech scouting and analysis done today, I think you consistently have to be thinking about adjustments as a starter because it's just too easy to learn a starter's approach and patterns.

With Darvish, it doesn't sound like his stuff was viewed as stale as much as it was viewed as flawed from the start.

I think the better coaches, in whatever sport, are generally the ones that aren't afraid to be bold and even tell a superstar "look, we've got to make some changes."

I've definitely not seen much from Brocail to suggest he's got any transformative skills. Hamels this next season will be a nice test case for Brocail. Something has to change there for the Rangers to succeed.

He went from pitching coach in Houston to "special pitching adviser" to pitching coach at AA Corpus Christi before Texas hired him.

It's not a stretch to think he's not a guy that's going to really improve your staff whether it be via mechanics or approach.

Never understood the hire from the outset. I'm a big Maddux fan, but also understand that sometimes some fresh blood and a fresh pair of eyes is necessary in this business. But the fact Brocail was the replacement was more than a head-scratcher and still is.

On Hamels, I didn't intend to mean pitch-tipping specifically, although it's possible. I mostly just mean an overall eye for his mechanics. Whether it's pitch-tipping or some mechanical quirk that could help his change-up, location, whatever. Even the best players can have their mechanics drift ever so slightly, and over time, it becomes a gap that shows up in the performance. It may be age related and he just can't work the ball like he could before, but I"m not buying that as the sole cause.

Re: Maddux... I'm sure TxAggie will correct me with some insider Nats knowledge in the form of a vague quote, but it seemed pretty clear to me with how things played out that Texas wanted him back, but he wanted to see what his market was and Texas got tired of waiting and moved forward (possibly bluffing, and Mike called their bluff). Daniels does a lot of things well, but he's earned a reputation around the league as a guy that doesn't handle player/coach negotiations all that well.

Since there seemed to be a very clear change of direction after they sat down at the negotiating table, it does seem like that's what it came down to. And I get the feeling that's what it has come down to again in Washington. But I also don't think a new coach with a fresh set of eyes would have necessarily been a bad thing .. if they hired the right one.

Hamels has had some head scratcher seasons before---a big why he's always been viewed a step below the true elites---so maybe we just saw that and this off-season will settle him back down. Maybe he'll do some self-help.

I would have no faith Brocail will be a fountainhead of insight so I would hope for the self-help element.

I'm not sure any of the Rangers' coaches have shown much sagacity or wisdom but that's for another day. One thing at a time.

Quote:

---

I'm sure TxAggie will correct me with some insider Nats knowledge in the form of a vague quote

---

Put your claws on this morning, huh?

DannyDuberstein said:

---

And I get the feeling that's what it has come down to again in Washington. But I also don't think a new coach with a fresh set of eyes would have necessarily been a bad thing .. if they hired the right one.

---

Yeah. Agreed. Maddux isn't the only guy that can be good for a pitching staff so once he was gone, whatever the reason, it was about finding the right guy.

He just as well could have left to a managerial job, whatever caused him to leave, the execution afterwards is the real head scratcher.

I believe Washington knew Maddux would be gone before he went out and starting interviewing, but I'm not entirely sure what's up in Washington.

I don't think many here were wed to him like folks in Arlington were moving towards. Like I said, there was some unsteadiness.

And I don't think they like putting other assistants in place without a manager any more than they do signing assistants to multi-year contracts.

DannyDuberstein said:

---

Since there seemed to be a very clear change of direction after they sat down at the negotiating table, it does seem like that's what it came down to. And I get the feeling that's what it has come down to again in Washington. But I also don't think a new coach with a fresh set of eyes would have necessarily been a bad thing .. if they hired the right one.

---

Just looking at the timing, it also may have a lot to do with Mike believing he is worthy of a head coaching job and teams not feeling that same way. Not sure if the Brewers considered him at all before he left for Texas... and then when Bannister was hired Maddux agreed to "one more year"... and now Baker is out in Washington and Maddux moves on shortly after.

What is AccidentProne's real name slash e-mail?

OP has this

j chance @ texasrangers.com.

I think it's Josh

_lefraud_ said:

---

OP has this

j chance @ texasrangers.com.

I think it's Josh

---

Thanks, man!

Well here comes bad Yu.

TXAggie2011 said:

---

Elvis is a gold glove finalist, if that wasn't posted.


Tonight is why the Dodgers traded for Darvish---not to clinch the division, not to take up innings in an overmatched series---but to go out and offer something special when they've lost home field advantage and need a win.

Ought to be interesting. Let's see if it pays off.

---

It didn't pay off.

Maybe he'll get a shot to redeem himself next week.

DannyDuberstein said:

---

Related to Yu, if Gurriel was caught in the dugout making monkey gestures directed toward a black pitcher, is MLB waiting until 2018 to suspend him?

---

Or caught saying derogatory terms for African Americans. I don't think the ESPN ticker would be calling it "inappropriate"

Yu really helped him by being the bigger man.

The whole Gurriel thing put MLB and the Astros in a really rough spot as he has been one of their best hitters during the playoffs. Suspend or bench him and it drastically changes the completion of the series. I'd argue if say Beltran made the gesture he'd be benched or suspended during the Series

Former Ranger Gabe Kapler named manager for the Phillies.

Had no idea he was even into coaching (Dodgers).

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21222460/philadelphia-phillies-hire-gabe-kapler-manager

Wrong, thread.

Relax.

_lefraud_ said:

---

Farmer1906 said:

---

_lefraud_ said:

---

Former Ranger Gabe Kapler named manager for the Phillies.

Had no idea he was even into coaching (Dodgers).

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/21222460/philadelphia-phillies-hire-gabe-kapler-manager

---

According to the graphic, it looks like there were only 7 bad calls. 4 benefited Houston & 2 benefited LA. I find that very hard to believe.

---

So your team is one win away from a world series title, and you stroll over to this thread, read a post about a former player (ranger), and reply with something that has nothing to do with said post, but with the world series?

You're the type of 'stro fan I have referenced before...

---

I think I am the type of fan that clicked on the wrong thread and was trying to reply to this but in my sleep deprivation.

Quote:

---

https://texags.com/forums/53/topics/2897328/last

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

it was a horrible strike zone, but it was a consistently horrible strike zone.

---

http://www.fangraphs.com/wins.aspx?date=2017-10-29&team=Astros&dh=0&season=2017

on what planet is that strike zone consistent?

edit: I don't care where they put the strike zone at. Literally look at balls and strikes in relation to each other.

---

Try living in Houston (Katy). It's inescapable.

I'm in Houston right now (work). I feel ya.

I'm out at a bar in Lubbock and it's insane. I mean there were the same number when we made it in 10 and 11 but still so many fans circa October 29, 2017.