Knuckleball....

Jennifer_

New member
Thanks for the video Jennifer. I read somewhere that the ideal knuckleball rotates 1/4 to 1/2 a turn from the time it leaves the pitcher's hand to when the catcher receives it. This indicates how difficult a pitch it is to master, taking years of practice (along with constant nail filing).
:)

One of Dickey's problems was a bad nail last year.

He's a good man... I really want him to kick bum this year...

(Female sportsfan lol)
 

Jennifer_

New member
What's not mention, rogers center isnt helping him out.:frown:
I think they will keep the dome closed for his starts this year...

Though I saw him pitch last Canada day vs Detroit and he was on fyrrrre...

The numbers don't lie for him when the skydome is closed vs open... But he had some good sunny starts with it open.
 

Jennifer_

New member
I expect Dickey to have a better year this season. Coming over from the NL was a big adjustment and he will be better prepared for the stronger batting lineups now. The 7,8 & 9 batters in the NL are always weaker than the AL and when one is a sure fire out as the pitcher it makes things much easier. I also expect Lawrie to continue his play form the second half. Once he started to reign in his emotions a little he began playing better. Don't get me wrong, part of the reason I like him is his intensity but he just needs to continue to keep it in check.
Lawrie has so much potential.
He's why I started watching baseball again after I stopped (I totally missed the Delgado years ...)

The NL is so cheese with pitchers throwing around the 8th guy to get to the pitcher- last year - every interleague game they pitched around our 8th guy...
I can't remember the series but I recall one interleague set where Kawasaki was walked with every at bat...

It's interesting to see the manager have to make decisions based on the pitcher's batting and pitching all at once but it drives me nuts to see our players get intentional walks...

I hope the AL never gets rid of the DH.

I believe in RA. This year will be better.
 

mightymouse007

Well-known member
Oct 21, 2011
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I want to see some signings and a postseason for the jays. Its been too damn long. I wish i was old enough bk then when the jays won the world series.
 

Jennifer_

New member
I want to see some signings and a postseason for the jays. Its been too damn long. I wish i was old enough bk then when the jays won the world series.
Ack you :p

We will get one big pitcher.

I don't want Tanaka.

I'm calling Garza but we shall see. We will know soon.
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
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The NL is so cheese with pitchers throwing around the 8th guy to get to the pitcher-

It's interesting to see the manager have to make decisions based on the pitcher's batting and pitching all at once but it drives me nuts to see our players get intentional walks...

I hope the AL never gets rid of the DH.
If I had to choose between having to watch a manager deciding whether to make a pitching change an extra time or two but having boring, meaningless at bats every time through the order or having a stronger lineup with no automatic outs, more offense and more pressure on the defense, I'll take the latter every time.

Damn the traditionalists. NL ball is more boring.
 

maurice93

Well-known member
Mar 29, 2006
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For me, the National League is a much more interesting and entertaining product as a fan. Its a drastically different game after the fifth inning and managers always have to be thinking (and fans who are following the game) have to think on more levels. It forces you to use your entire roster more.

In my view AL Baseball after the fifth inning is lacking from a strategic perspective. Its really simple to get L/L or R/R matchups in the AL, Its much easier to manage your bench and bullpen. But for AL fans that is fine - they see the best players more, and I can respect that view.

I grew up as mostly an NL Fan (Montreal) and most people who grew up with NL Baseball feel the same way. On the other hand, most people who grew up more with AL Baseball prefer the AL brand. The games are different and you grew up with one.

I do think however many AL fans don't understand the extra complexities of the NL game. Its much more than pithing around the 8th batter, or a pitcher laying down a bunt.

- In the AL you simply take a pitcher out when he is tired. In the NL, you may still have an effective pitcher but you have to weigh the benefits of bringing in a pinch hitter, and whethe your bullpen can take it home.

- Or what if a pitcher is struggling or tiring and he is due up 2nd in the next inning? Any doubts in the AL you take him out. But if you bring in a reliever in the NL, he may only face one batter, or if you want him longer you have to do a double switch.

- And what if that pinch hitter for the pitcher leads leads off an inning and the clean-up batter is the last out. Do you take the clean up batter out or not? Which player do yout take out - the 2nd, 3rd or 4th hitter?

- In the NL you can't just run out a bunch of pitchers for a few batters. Its more difficult to get the L/L matchup... you have to be more careful when you go for it.

- Also since teams run out of bench players and short on pitchers more often, you can more often manage your team to take advantage of the weaknesses that have been created in the opponent due to the extra players they had to use.

In the AL its often that same starting 9 that started the game that ends it. You don't need to worry about the best players not being in the game at the end, which is a plus for AL fans.

I use to play a lot of OOTP a few years back, and if I ever played a season it was always NL teams. You had to think your way through the game so much more. And you sometimes hated the lineups you had at the end of the game -- but that is the joy of the NL.
 

Jennifer_

New member
For me, the National League is a much more interesting and entertaining product as a fan. Its a drastically different game after the fifth inning and managers always have to be thinking (and fans who are following the game) have to think on more levels. It forces you to use your entire roster more.

In my view AL Baseball after the fifth inning is lacking from a strategic perspective. Its really simple to get L/L or R/R matchups in the AL, Its much easier to manage your bench and bullpen. But for AL fans that is fine - they see the best players more, and I can respect that view.

I grew up as mostly an NL Fan (Montreal) and most people who grew up with NL Baseball feel the same way. On the other hand, most people who grew up more with AL Baseball prefer the AL brand. The games are different and you grew up with one.

I do think however many AL fans don't understand the extra complexities of the NL game. Its much more than pithing around the 8th batter, or a pitcher laying down a bunt.

- In the AL you simply take a pitcher out when he is tired. In the NL, you may still have an effective pitcher but you have to weigh the benefits of bringing in a pinch hitter, and whethe your bullpen can take it home.

- Or what if a pitcher is struggling or tiring and he is due up 2nd in the next inning? Any doubts in the AL you take him out. But if you bring in a reliever in the NL, he may only face one batter, or if you want him longer you have to do a double switch.

- And what if that pinch hitter for the pitcher leads leads off an inning and the clean-up batter is the last out. Do you take the clean up batter out or not? Which player do yout take out - the 2nd, 3rd or 4th hitter?

- In the NL you can't just run out a bunch of pitchers for a few batters. Its more difficult to get the L/L matchup... you have to be more careful when you go for it.

- Also since teams run out of bench players and short on pitchers more often, you can more often manage your team to take advantage of the weaknesses that have been created in the opponent due to the extra players they had to use.

In the AL its often that same starting 9 that started the game that ends it. You don't need to worry about the best players not being in the game at the end, which is a plus for AL fans.

I use to play a lot of OOTP a few years back, and if I ever played a season it was always NL teams. You had to think your way through the game so much more. And you sometimes hated the lineups you had at the end of the game -- but that is the joy of the NL.
I totally respect your perspective but totally don't like it :p

I guess our preferences depend on what we grew up with...

I just prefer the AL.....
 

shack

Nitpicker Extraordinaire
Oct 2, 2001
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Its a drastically different game after the fifth inning and managers always have to be thinking

But for AL fans that is fine - they see the best players more, and I can respect that view.

In the AL its often that same starting 9 that started the game that ends it. You don't need to worry about the best players not being in the game at the end, which is a plus for AL fans.
Good analysis Mo.

For me, I find watching the best players play all 9 innings more fun than watching a manager fiddle (for only part of the game) and knowing in advance that men on base will be stranded. The tension of hoping for an RBI is all but lost so often.

Maybe I'm not analytical enough.
 

maurice93

Well-known member
Mar 29, 2006
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I totally respect your perspective but totally don't like it :p

I guess our preferences depend on what we grew up with...

I just prefer the AL.....
There is a reason MLB is in no hurry to abolish the DH or add the DH in the NL.

I would hazard a guess that over 80% of fans of an NL team do not want the DH.
And I would guess that over 80% of fans of an Al team want to keep the DH.

Baseball is a very traditional game and people do not like change.
 

Jennifer_

New member
There is a reason MLB is in no hurry to abolish the DH or add the DH in the NL.

I would hazard a guess that over 80% of fans of an NL team do not want the DH.
And I would guess that over 80% of fans of an Al team want to keep the DH.

Baseball is a very traditional game and people do not like change.
What are you gonna do when Tampa bay relocates to Montreal and they're in the AL?

:p

(...because I really think it is going to happen....)
 

saxon

Well-known member
Dec 2, 2009
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Gotta love Kershaws new contract with the Dodgers. He will average $30.7 million a year for the next 7 years and he can opt out after 5 years so if he continues to be the dominate pitcher in the NL he can be a free agent if he opts out after 5th year and will still be only 30 years of age and he could demand even more at that time. then again if he has injury problems he can just sit back and collect over $200 million for the next 7 years. I'm jealous lol.
 

mightymouse007

Well-known member
Oct 21, 2011
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What are you gonna do when Tampa bay relocates to Montreal and they're in the AL?

:p

(...because I really think it is going to happen....)
I remember you telling me this the last time. Now, we have seen teams switch over from AL to NL or NL to AL. The Houston Astros went from NL to AL. Milwaukee Brewers switch over from AL to NL many years ago.

I think it be more balance to have one Canadian team in the AL, and the other being NL. Asides, Montreal Expos was in the NL.
 

joe_labatt

Member
Oct 15, 2001
138
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What are you gonna do when Tampa bay relocates to Montreal and they're in the AL?

:p

(...because I really think it is going to happen....)
Jennifer - I think you are dreaming a little too big here. As much as I would like to see another team in Canada, baseball failed for a reason in Montreal - lack of fan support, in addition to an atrocious stadium. I think Vancouver could support an MLB team as opposed to Montreal. Baseball, especially at the Little League and high school level, is very popular in BC - I think even more so than in Ontario.
 

joe_labatt

Member
Oct 15, 2001
138
9
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I think you are bitter because Labatt's doesn't own the team anymore.
Lol. I am assuming you mean that Labatt's doesn't own the Blue Jays anymore. Charles Bronfman owned the Montreal Expos until he sold them (screwed them?) in 2004. Either way, it doesn't matter to me. I picked my name in October 2001 (has it been that long?) because, at the time, my favourite beer was a particular Labatt brand. I don't think Labatt's even brews it anymore.
 
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