No fireworks in San Francisco (day game)

[usonian]

Last edited Tue Jul 4, 2023, 09:02 PM - Edit history (1)

Shut out by the Mariners.

Seven outs were on the first pitch. Holey WTF?

Even the highly respected Dave Fleming was heaping blame on the previous road trip, shortage of sleep, and injuries.

Borrowing a Buddhist parable, let's say

Farhan and Gabe went to the Buddha and asked for a miracle.

The Buddha said he could help them, but first they must bring him a mustard seed.

But there was a catch — the mustard seed must come from a team that had never experienced road fatigue and injuries.

They returned to the Buddha, and he inquired about the mustard seed. We have resolved the matter of the mustard seed, they sighed. We understand now.

We won't sign up fragile old-timers in the off-season and We'll stop telling hitters to swing at the first pitch over and over, because any dummy can see that and make you swing at junk, OH and we we'll try not to rotate fielders daily in and out of positions they have little or no experience with. ( We call it "rotation sensation" )

I say "Stuff your sorries in the trash can and play fundamental baseball."

Seven outs on seven pitches.

[Auggie]

1. Conforto, Flores and Yaz are coming off injuries ...

give them some games to find their timing.

[usonian]

2. I forgot to add.

They have the worst number of errors of 30 teams.
63 errors in 85 games courtesy of espn.
https://www.espn.com/mlb/stats/team/_/view/fielding/table/fielding/sort/errors/dir/asc

Oh well. (editing parable above)
Thanks.

[Wounded Bear]

3. Yeah, that 3 pitch 2nd inning was kind of special...

M's fan here. Just starting to get their groove on for the season. Sorry about that (not really )

[usonian]

4. Who was hot, is not. And vice versa.

Young players have slumps. Older players have slumps and fragile frames. G's we're swinging at the first pitch. I wonder if the M's knew that strategy real early (by whatever means) but they made damn good use of it. Dave Fleming was flabbergasted. And he does a lot of other games for ESPN, IIRC.

G's more often take or whiff at strike three. When they win, they put the ball in play rather than go for a 5-run HR.

Errors are killer, and other than the rookie catcher, I think it's because every game, most/many fielders are in a different position. That's where Farhan's beloved flexibility goes wrong.

You can't be dessert topping AND floor wax and do both well. 🎱

[Auggie]

5. Allow me to add ...

it's likely the league has figured out how to pitch to those two hot rookies, Schmitt and Bailey, who contributed much to that Giants' winning streak.

[usonian]

6. I heard that "you" hired Stephen Vogt to coach.

In my memory, he had some magical years in the Bay Area. A GREAT guy.

Wikipedia says.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Vogt

He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Tampa Bay Rays, Oakland Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Atlanta Braves. He was an MLB All-Star in 2015 and 2016. Vogt was selected by Tampa Bay in the 12th round of the 2007 MLB draft. He currently serves as the bullpen and quality control coach for the Seattle Mariners.

I believe in Stephen Vogt!

Born in Visalia CA.
Returned to the A's and retired in 2022.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/34640952/oakland-athletics-fan-favorite-stephen-vogt-retiring-10-big-league-seasons