Now pitching surprisingly is way better than last year. Our ERA is 3.87 so far vs 4.79 for all of last year.

vander54 said:

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Now pitching surprisingly is way better than last year. Our ERA is 3.87 so far vs 4.79 for all of last year.

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Keep in mind that MLB has fiddled with the baseball which is causing a shift from hitter to pitcher. MLB bought Rawlings, the maker of baseballs for MLB. This year, IIRC, they are going with a lighter baseball which doesn't carry as far as the ones they used last year.

Last year... or the past couple years, they've used a tighter string wrap, making the ball heavier. In fact, it was found that a different ball was used during the season for the AL and the NL.

DallasAg 94 said:

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vander54 said:

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Now pitching surprisingly is way better than last year. Our ERA is 3.87 so far vs 4.79 for all of last year.

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Keep in mind that MLB has fiddled with the baseball which is causing a shift from hitter to pitcher. MLB bought Rawlings, the maker of baseballs for MLB. This year, IIRC, they are going with a lighter baseball which doesn't carry as far as the ones they used last year.

Last year... or the past couple years, they've used a tighter string wrap, making the ball heavier. In fact, it was found that a different ball was used during the season for the AL and the NL.

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That would explain a lot.

DallasAg 94 said:

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vander54 said:

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Now pitching surprisingly is way better than last year. Our ERA is 3.87 so far vs 4.79 for all of last year.

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Keep in mind that MLB has fiddled with the baseball which is causing a shift from hitter to pitcher. MLB bought Rawlings, the maker of baseballs for MLB. This year, IIRC, they are going with a lighter baseball which doesn't carry as far as the ones they used last year.

Last year... or the past couple years, they've used a tighter string wrap, making the ball heavier. In fact, it was found that a different ball was used during the season for the AL and the NL.

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I would think the players would have a gripe about that. That might have cost someone some serious coin.

This reason is one of the many that caused friction during the work stoppage. Players reps cited this as a continued reason for distrust of the owners, as well as negatively affecting stats that could bring down player compensation.

twilly said:

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This reason is one of the many that caused friction during the work stoppage. Players reps cited this as a continued reason for distrust of the owners, as well as negatively affecting stats that could bring down player compensation.

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I may be weird but I don't mind seeing less HR. I want to see batters being smarter at the plate. Compensation will correct itself.

I agree with you. More hits and extra bases...less K's.

But facts say more HR's lead to more $$$ come contract time. Players and their agents would fight for that.

twilly said:

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I agree with you. More hits and extra bases...less K's.

But facts say more HR's lead to more $$$ come contract time. Players and their agents would fight for that.

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It is a balance, right?!

My favorite follow has been watching Orel Hershiser and his like 53 straight scoreless innings. I enjoyed that much more than watching roided out meatheats use toothpicks to his beach balls 500'.

But most fans would prefer to see HRs leaving the ballpark.

Not as many pitchers get those massive contracts like hitters do. Especially not for the # of years. So, all revenue being the same, Owners would prefer better hitting. It is a cheaper roster.

I think it is about finding that balance.

Leclerc activated post Tommy John.

This is a low IQ baseball team.

Has Seager always been this bad a fielder?

Walk a guy, fix the mound, get 3-4 warmups. Convenient

Then get a gift of a call

Gallo trade paying.

We got absolutely f'ed by the umpire on the called strike three to Jonah Heim.

Hell yeah Zeke!

Duran Duran

Lefties just need to crowd the plate and keep the bat on the shoulder vs Soto. Probably wanna armor up first tho

Duran has now been absolved for Tuesday's fiasco.

Seager still needs redemption in a future game.

1. New York Yankees

Record: 46-16

Previous ranking: 1

Look at any metric, and the Yankees are the best team in baseball. New York ranks among the top teams in the majors in wOBA, home runs, ERA, WHIP, run differential and opponent batting average. Among the surprises for the team this year is catcher Jose Trevino, who ranks second on the team in WAR ahead of Josh Donaldson, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Rizzo. Free-agent pickup Matt Carpenter has been outstanding since joining the Yankees lineup as well. -- Lee

ump bent the Tigers over on game ending S3 Lol

It's about time we man up here and admit JD was a damn genius in the Gallo trade.

Many compare it to the Herschel Walker trade, but it's even a more dramatic fleecing. At least Walker was a good player for Minnesota - Gallo was been dreadful for New York.

alvtimes said:

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ump bent the Tigers over on game ending S3 Lol

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He was terrible all game for both teams

wbt5845 said:

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It's about time we man up here and admit JD was a damn genius in the Gallo trade.

Many compare it to the Herschel Walker trade, but it's even a more dramatic fleecing. At least Walker was a good player for Minnesota - Gallo was been dreadful for New York.

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Seems the draft and trade deadline deals were split between Daniels and Young. I don't recall, but assume Daniels was handling trades while Young was dealing with the Draft.

Do I remember that correctly?!

Regardless, I will admit, it does appear like a great trade. I think we'll need 2023 to decide if it was a Teixeira/Hershcel level trade.

Gallo: 52G, .184, 8HR, 20 R, 15 RBI
v
Smith (24-3B): 5G, .417, 0 HR, .588 OBP
Duran (23-3B): 12G, .319, 2 HR, 8R, 8 RBI, .333 OBP, .887 OPS
Otto (26-SP): 8GS, 4.24 ERA, 40.1 IP, 33 SO, 1.364 WHIP

We're 17 G into seeing what they can do. Duran at 3B sure does look good. But remember, these are minor leaguers called up with little known. Let them get through another round of games.

To your point... at a minimum, we didn't give up much.

Others:
Hauver (23-A+): 47G, .237, 7 HR, .404 OBP, .832 OPS

Joely (2021): 21G, 2.84 ERA, 19.0 IP, 17 SO

I wanted to separate these comments.

We look to be developing a strength at 3B. I'm not sure if either Smith or Duran remain at 3B with Jung. I have my concerns about Jung

Smith played 23@3B, 15@SS, and 10@CF in AAA
Duran played 24@SS, 17@2B, and 14@3B in AA

At a minimum both Smith and Duran would be worth far more this year at the deadline. Same with Otto.

PS: be on the look-out for Blaine Crim (1B)

DallasAg 94 said:

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I wanted to separate these comments.

We look to be developing a strength at 3B. I'm not sure if either Smith or Duran remain at 3B with Jung. I have my concerns about Jung

Smith played 23@3B, 15@SS, and 10@CF in AAA
Duran played 24@SS, 17@2B, and 14@3B in AA

At a minimum both Smith and Duran would be worth far more this year at the deadline. Same with Otto.

PS: be on the look-out for Blaine Crim (1B)

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Several things I disagree with here.

I wouldn't even consider trading Smith or Duran at this point. Duran can be a capable 3rd baseman and he's already shown he can hit. Smith has played some outfield and could be a CF option if Tavares flames out. Jung is an unknown at this point, and I'm not trading away young players with lots of control to make room for an unknown.

Also disagree re: Blaine Crim. He doesn't project to be much more than a Nathanial Lowe-type player, if even that. There's a reason why he's not even listed in the top 30 Rangers prospects. Dustin Harris has a lot more upside and is younger - although they've moved Harris to the OF.

JMO

wbt5845 said:

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It's about time we man up here and admit JD was a damn genius in the Gallo trade.

Many compare it to the Herschel Walker trade, but it's even a more dramatic fleecing. At least Walker was a good player for Minnesota - Gallo was been dreadful for New York.

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It was a good trade. We needed to get something for Gallo, and Duran especially seems like a good return. I wouldn't go as far as saying it's like the Walker trade which netted us 3 of the best players in cowboys history including 1 hall of famer

I think Jung has 1B/DH written all over him. Best bet to keep him available given fragility seems to be an issue

rbtexan said:

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DallasAg 94 said:

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I wanted to separate these comments.

We look to be developing a strength at 3B. I'm not sure if either Smith or Duran remain at 3B with Jung. I have my concerns about Jung

Smith played 23@3B, 15@SS, and 10@CF in AAA
Duran played 24@SS, 17@2B, and 14@3B in AA

At a minimum both Smith and Duran would be worth far more this year at the deadline. Same with Otto.

PS: be on the look-out for Blaine Crim (1B)

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Several things I disagree with here.

I wouldn't even consider trading Smith or Duran at this point. Duran can be a capable 3rd baseman and he's already shown he can hit. Smith has played some outfield and could be a CF option if Tavares flames out. Jung is an unknown at this point, and I'm not trading away young players with lots of control to make room for an unknown.

Also disagree re: Blaine Crim. He doesn't project to be much more than a Nathanial Lowe-type player, if even that. There's a reason why he's not even listed in the top 30 Rangers prospects. Dustin Harris has a lot more upside and is younger - although they've moved Harris to the OF.

JMO

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I didn't say to trade them. I just said their value would be higher.

So... we shouldn't be on the look out for Crim?!

Harris has played 35@LF, 15@DH, and 1@ 1B.

Both drafted in 2019
Crim (25.000-AA): .284, 12 HR, .355 OBP, .877 OPS
Harris (22.344-AA): .255, 11 HR, .342 OBP, .812 OPS

Both will be RuleV eligible in Dec 2022.

IIRC, Bubba Thompson was eligible last year and Steele will be eligible in Dec, which is why I think he got a call.

I'm saying that Harris is 3 years younger than Crim and has more upside. Could Crim wind up in the majors at some point? Sure. So did Nick Solak and Willie Calhoun.

IMO (which I admit is based on quite a few scouting reports I've heard or read) he's not a top level prospect. Maybe a good stop-gap player until you find your Matt Olsen. But not a long term answer.

Harris projects better long term. I think the biggest question is where he fits defensively. He was moved to the OF this year, and struggled defensively early because he never played there before. His offense struggled while he was trying to figure out how to track balls in the outfield, but he's a hitter.

RE: 1st base, I don't think the Rangers have a prospect in the system that is a solid 1B prospect. They're going to have to move someone from another position (Jung maybe...that idea makes a lot of sense to me).

Rangers getting started early tonight

Hopefully the Rangers can salvage this sports day

Didn't care for Lowe at first but he continues to produce. Pretty damn good trade from JD on that one.