2015 World Series Game Two Live Blog
| 5:04 |
: Hello friends
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| 5:05 |
Hi Sex Caldera! |
| 5:05 |
: I’ll take it
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| 5:05 |
: Hey everyone!
|
| 5:05 |
: Welcome to live blog. Tonight your hosts will be myself! And Sean Dolinar!
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| 5:06 |
: With luck last night’s live blog will stand as having been literally twice as long as this one
|
| 5:06 |
: I don’t say that because the viewing experience was bad; I say that because after a while this chat-window experience gets bad
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| 5:08 |
Do you not love talking to us? 🙁 |
| 5:08 |
: It’s a Cover It Live problem 🙁
|
| 5:08 |
: We’re going to try to use the reply feature. I always forget about it but it’s neat
|
| 5:09 |
Do you guys switch off between looking at the game and the chat, or do you keep one eye on each? |
| 5:09 |
: Yes and I’m also baking a pizza.
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| 5:09 |
: Mets
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| 5:09 |
: Mets
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| 5:10 |
: 0
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| 5:10 |
: Salvador Perez setting up lower than I’ve ever seen
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| 5:11 |
Do you have a rooting interest? Personally I’m going rooting for baseball, so come on game seven. |
| 5:11 |
: Mets. I feel like the Royals losing will limit the Royals-model talk.
|
| 5:12 |
: Hey, Perez got a low strike called. It’s working!
|
| 5:12 |
: Quick pitch. Cueto is so complicated
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| 5:13 |
: Funny thing about the Perez low target is Cueto is not a low-in-the-zone kind of pitcher, no matter what he says
|
| 5:14 |
: That was not a strike but Perez just got called up and down in the same at-bat. Top half over!
|
| 5:14 |
Is it weird that I think familia is being a little bit overrated right now? I see him as a top 5-10 reliever next year but people are talking like he is the best rp since Mariano. |
| 5:14 |
: Seems unlikely in a series with Wade Davis in it
|
| 5:15 |
What do you think of the report that the Red Sox are very interested in signing Alex Gordon this offseason? |
| 5:15 |
: A lot of teams would be. I increasingly believe he’s going to stick around
|
| 5:15 |
Yay, Jeff is blogging! Can you not publish all of the whining about Harold Reynolds that was in last night’s blog. Only because it isnt relevant |
| 5:15 |
: Well it’s sort of relevant, isn’t it?
|
| 5:16 |
I was teaching a geology lesson the other day and had a student ask me “What is the most powerful volcano?” I was taken back because “powerful” is a vague term (greatest eruptive volume vs rate of eruption) which made me thing that this is quite analogous to how powerful is used in baseball (most total HR vs Highest batted ball velocity). Which definition do you most attribute to powerful intuitively? |
| 5:16 |
: I mostly think of peak power (Stanton, Sano, Gallo, etc). I don’t consider someone like, I don’t know, Brian Dozier “powerful” on account of all the wall-scrapers
|
| 5:17 |
That last pitch did not look like a strike, but the pitch tracker on the GameGraphs page shows it well within the zone. |
| 5:17 |
: I hate the off-center camera angle.
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| 5:17 |
: First-pitch fastball to Escobar in the same place Harvey threw one yesterday. Pretty obvious the Mets don’t care if he swings and makes contact
|
| 5:18 |
The man just did say baseball is boring. During the world series. |
| 5:18 |
: He said it *can* be. He’s not wrong!
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| 5:18 |
Why does anyone ever throw Escobar a hittable fastball on the first pitch?Can they not rad the sign on his neck? |
| 5:18 |
: I think part of it is that Escobar is not good
|
| 5:19 |
Today the comment window is on the bottom of the chat after being on the top last night.. Way to keep us on our toes.. |
| 5:19 |
: I want to say that a Dave vs Jeff thing. But that’s just conjecture.
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| 5:19 |
I think the replies don’t show up in the transcript, do they? |
| 5:19 |
: Is this true? Sean, is this true?!??!?!
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| 5:21 |
Well I guess it will be a really weird transcript for those who try to read it tomorrow then. |
| 5:21 |
: I’m not convinced of it being true but we’ll sure as shit find out!
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| 5:21 |
You are forced to adopt either de Grom hair or Cueto hair, which do you choose? |
| 5:21 |
: deGrom…I came close to that in college.
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| 5:21 |
: So, oh, by the way, quick and uneventful first inning. I forgot we’re live blogging a baseball game. One of the most important of the year!
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| 5:22 |
: 73% of the people in here are rooting for the Mets tonight. 62% think the Mets are going to win
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| 5:22 |
: Haha, I’m backwards like an idiot
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| 5:23 |
: 62% rooting for the Mets! 73% think they’ll win!
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| 5:23 |
Jeff have you seen how Cervelli will occasionally sit on his butt with his right leg kicked out like a split when he sets up? |
| 5:23 |
: A few catchers do that. Basically gets you as low as is humanly possible while still being partially upright
|
| 5:24 |
: Perez not setting up so low anymore
|
| 5:24 |
: Gotta watch this. I wonder if he’s setting up higher because it’s Cespedes at the plate?
|
| 5:25 |
It might be safer to say a good chunk of those people are simply rooting against the Royals |
| 5:25 |
: They lost me when they threw at the A’s and the Blue Jays this year. Otherwise, I’d probably be rooting for them.
|
| 5:25 |
: Sweet pointless tumbling act from Moustakas there
|
| 5:26 |
: Pretty lame way to end a no-hitter
|
| 5:26 |
Any idea why Cespedes’ steamer projection is so bad next year? 2.8 WAR |
| 5:26 |
: This year has been the outlier from his 2.4-3.3 WAR seasons.
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| 5:27 |
: Easy double play ends the top of the second. Cueto with three straight pitches — all different — in the same basic place around the outer edge.
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| 5:28 |
: Breakfast is not the most important meal of the day. That’s just a bunch of marketing nonsense from Big Pancake
|
| 5:28 |
Why do you think there’s a disconnect between the fangraphs odds and the crowd-sourced odds tonight? The scoreboard had kc at 52% or so |
| 5:28 |
: I’d trust the FG odds more. There’s no way that if this game is played 1,000 times the Mets win 73% of those games.
|
| 5:29 |
: Bud Light NFL cans, for fans who love to throw their favorite team logo in the trash
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| 5:30 |
Do you think the Royals go a bit easier on Perez next year? |
| 5:30 |
: down about 50 innings this year from last, but I don’t think he’s about to be used *gently*. This is just what they and he do
|
| 5:31 |
: Like him!
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| 5:33 |
: Looking like a low zone today
|
| 5:33 |
: Lots of early heads shaking
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| 5:33 |
: That is a heck of a reaction play by deGrom
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| 5:33 |
: To the third!
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| 5:34 |
Jeff, we saw defensive replacements play a big offensive role last night. What are your thoughts on the true value of a defensive replacement early (7th inning) in a tie ballgame? It seems odd to put a player in the field for the chance he gets a play when you are sacrificing offense in a guaranteed at bat. |
| 5:34 |
: In most cases I don’t really get it in a tie game
|
| 5:34 |
Yeah, I know the fans are wrong. I am curious why they are so wrong tonight? Does everyone really hate the Royals so much? |
| 5:34 |
: Cueto’s last game. It probably makes sense that series is evens up.
|
| 5:35 |
Joe Buck annoys me even with the sound off. |
| 5:35 |
: It was amazing when they had to switch over to the international broadcast.
|
| 5:36 |
Over/under on Harold’s comments dissing the shift tonight? |
| 5:36 |
: With the chat window active, I’m going to notice fewer of them, so, points to me
|
| 5:37 |
Live odds (i.e. those with skin in the game) currently have it at 54% Mets. http://www.gambletron2000.c… |
| 5:37 |
Why has there been less hot takes on whether Hosmer should have pimped his sac fly than the Bautista flip? Racism? I’m maybe going with racism. |
| 5:37 |
: Hosmer won the game, and he didn’t stand there and throw the bat away while glancing at the pitcher. Also, he’s white
|
| 5:38 |
Someone is going to really regret spending 120 mil on Cespedes |
| 5:38 |
: His contract probably won’t look all that different from the Upton contract
|
| 5:38 |
Do we see Harvey start another game (assuming this goes more than 4 games)? A lot of talk about his worrying signs, but it’s the World Series. |
| 5:38 |
: Sounds like he’s a go in G5, although he’d probably be on a short leash again
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| 5:39 |
: Perez back to setting up low
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| 5:39 |
: This game still hasn’t seen a swinging strike
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| 5:39 |
: There’s the first!
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| 5:40 |
: I wish broadcasts focused on the grips in replays more. That replay was pretty awesome.
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| 5:40 |
: Set Conforto up very well for that changeup down and away
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| 5:41 |
: Cueto mirrors the deGrom play on the comebacker. This one is humming along
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| 5:42 |
: That was a really cool look at Cueto giving his own signs
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| 5:42 |
: Definitely seems like it was stupid!
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| 5:43 |
: Joe Buck poll results: 48% tolerate him, 37% don’t like him, 15% do like him
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| 5:43 |
Is there any benefit to sitting right behknd homeplate other than being on tv? Sight lines arent nearly as good as down the lines. |
| 5:43 |
: You get to feel super close to the action and the players, and you get to overhear some dialogue, but yeah, for actual viewing purposes, it’s not that awesome I don’t think
|
| 5:45 |
Hey so the individual player pages have playoff stats; why can’t we do a leaderboard for the playoffs for teams/players? Not sure if that’s hard or easy to do, but would be nice to have since the info is there |
| 5:45 |
: Yeah, we’ve talked about it. We’d all like to see more playoff data available here
|
| 5:45 |
Given the extras last night, do you think the teams will be a little more likely to give the starters a longer hook tonight? |
| 5:45 |
: Probably not meaningfully — day off tomorrow, and it’s the World freakin Series. I’m guessing this is why Davis only threw one inning last night
|
| 5:46 |
Which announcers do baseball geeks like? I ask this because I don’t watch baseball (But i read FG!) |
| 5:46 |
: I really like Vin Scully.
|
| 5:47 |
I really like Vin Scully. And bacon bowls. |
| 5:47 |
Re: Baseball announcers: Chris Welsh does great work on the Reds’ broadcasts. (He helps make up for Thom Brennaman) |
| 5:48 |
Are we not supposed to notice Kim Jung-un taking in the game incognito in the first row toward the left? |
| 5:48 |
: Just got something of a close-up!
|
| 5:48 |
Watch the game with the sound off, you will notice more nuances without the distracting chatter. |
| 5:48 |
: Until that Chase Utley slide when I was confused as all hell.
|
| 5:48 |
Mets broadcast team is excellent |
| 5:49 |
How many pitches do you need to see before you know if a pitcher “has it” or not in a particular start? |
| 5:49 |
: I’m not a huge believer in “having it”. So unless there are particularly good or bad signs I just assume a pitcher will be around his normal level of ability
|
| 5:50 |
I just prefer someone who is an engaging speaker, a la Scully. Most of these former players are just preachy old schoolers with anecdotal tidbits that change day to day. I don’t need the announcer to have the same opinions as me, but be a good game caller. |
| 5:50 |
We’ll be done in less than 2 hours at this pace |
| 5:50 |
: gotta have a run
|
| 5:52 |
: I feel like every time they try a stats-centric broadcast, it’s just a round table discussion, which isn’t what it should be.
|
| 5:52 |
No runs tonight. Game ends in a tie after 12 innings. Bud Selig declares that next year’s World Series determines home field in the All Star game. |
| 5:52 |
Tom Verducci is actually quite good too. |
| 5:52 |
I would prefer an ambient crowd noise-only audio option. |
| 5:52 |
: That’s how I play all my sports video games.
|
| 5:53 |
The best baseball broadcasters are/were heavy smokers |
| 5:53 |
Dodger fan but I love the Cubs broadcast team |
| 5:53 |
Who is more at a disadvantage third time through the order – DeGrom or Cueto? I’m guessing Cueto |
| 5:53 |
: Based on player history, it looks like deGrom is at the greater disadvantage — Cueto’s been pretty consistent. But you are free to question how much individual player history matters here
|
| 5:55 |
Jeff “I repeatedly say I tune announcers out yet bitch about Joe Buck” Sullivan; not saying you’re wrong about Buck, but come on man pick a side. |
| 5:55 |
: I don’t bitch about Joe Buck. I like Joe Buck
|
| 5:56 |
Is the quick pitch being thrown more frequently this post-season? |
| 5:56 |
: Certainly seems like it’s everywhere. I don’t know why. Obviously, Cueto is a part of it
|
| 5:57 |
: Granderson is on. Will we have our first and only run of the game?
|
| 5:59 |
Zone tonight looks terrible. Way too tight. |
| 5:59 |
: So far, looks a little generous up and down, and limited to the sides http://www.brooksbaseball.n…
|
| 5:59 |
Cueto quick pitch thing is kinda illegal right? Pretty sure there’s a rule against it |
| 5:59 |
: You have to come set before pitching from the stretch.
|
| 5:59 |
: I like infield pop-ups because they make me feel like major leaguers make plays I can make
|
| 6:00 |
: Verducci breakdown on Daniel Murphy. I love this stuff
|
| 6:01 |
: “Murphy bed” joke. Verducci is smart but I wish he wouldn’t try for humor
|
| 6:02 |
How long have they been saving the Murphy bed comment? |
| 6:02 |
Obligatory expansion of Murphy’s newer position in the box. That will carry over into next year for sure |
| 6:02 |
: Another walk. Now we get the real test of Cueto’s mettle
|
| 6:04 |
Does the colder post-season weather affect some pitchers more so than others? |
| 6:04 |
: Yeah, there’s no way it’s the same for everybody.
|
| 6:04 |
When I hear about Wright’s back, I think of Lenny Dykstra and Garrett Anderson, who just weren’t good after they started hitting the DL w back problems. Anderson still had a few productive years, but he was just a shadow of his former self. I mean, Wright has to twist his back for a living. |
| 6:05 |
Does “making a batter uncomfortable” actually work? |
| 6:05 |
: I doubt it. But it is important to throw inside from time to time so that you don’t end up predictable
|
| 6:06 |
: Wow, near-double-play ball on a 3-and-1 fastball right in the Cespedes sweet spot
|
| 6:06 |
In general, how closely is pull percentage correlated w power? |
| 6:06 |
: I actually don’t know off hand. Anyone have links? We need to do some basic exploratory data analysis on some of this basic stuff.
|
| 6:07 |
How do the royals not challenge that? |
| 6:07 |
: especially with two challenges in the postseason.
|
| 6:07 |
: And the Mets are on the board! Which makes it look extra weird that the Royals didn’t challenge that double play attempt.
|
| 6:08 |
: It does certainly look like Hosmer was off the base
|
| 6:08 |
: So, probably, that challenge just would’ve gone to the Mets anyway
|
| 6:08 |
: To the bottom of the fourth. 1-0 Mets, which means the Royals are going to win
|
| 6:09 |
:
 Seems like he was pretty clearly off, imo… |
| 6:10 |
Yes, some of Verducci’s jokes yesterday were also awful. |
| 6:10 |
: Stephen King joke so bad, yet attempted twice
|
| 6:10 |
Say he implodes, how much $ has Cueto lost since the trade? |
| 6:10 |
: $10 – 15 million
|
| 6:11 |
Coming late, any comment on Lagares playing center today? |
| 6:11 |
: I think it’s the right thing
|
| 6:11 |
It kinda looks like that seat was added there just for Marlins Man |
| 6:12 |
Royals will win with lorenzo cain scoring from 2nd on an infield pop up |
| 6:13 |
the live chats during the WS are just about my favorite thing of the year, I’m always sad when the WS is over and there’s no more, thanks for the time and effort you guys put into these |
| 6:13 |
: And Duda with a bobble so the Royals get a baserunner. Defense opening doors this inning
|
| 6:13 |
Hosmer may have stretched too soon and could not reset his feet. I would like to see the stretch effieciency on Stat-Cast, if there was such a thing. |
| 6:14 |
: I wonder at what point we’ll stop saying that infielders are unaccustomed to playing in a shift
|
| 6:14 |
I imagine most sportswriters would be equally awkward on live TV. |
| 6:14 |
: Yeah, he’s really quite good overall. Impressive!
|
| 6:15 |
: Mets seem to have a plan to test Lorenzo Cain with high fastballs
|
| 6:15 |
ARod not bad as a guest color analyst…. |
| 6:15 |
Thoughts on Arod giving commentary? |
| 6:15 |
Has shifting caught on at lower levels of play (e.g., college or Triple A)? That would seem to make infielders more accustomed to it, if it has |
| 6:15 |
: Organizations are getting better at implementing it earlier.
|
| 6:16 |
: I’m liking A-Rod as an occasional color guy. He’s smart! And he sounds smart!
|
| 6:16 |
Chances A-Rod gets into the HoF as a player AND a broadcaster? |
| 6:17 |
: Verducci saying deGrom gets a foot more extension than Cueto does
|
| 6:17 |
And they paired him with pete rose |
| 6:17 |
: Pete Rose is awful and should go away.
|
| 6:18 |
oof, defense again |
| 6:18 |
: And Lagares can’t come up with a low liner in center. Really really difficult play, but ultimately it’s out of the glove
|
| 6:18 |
Cespedes would have made the play |
| 6:19 |
It would be nice if someone would like, ban Pete Rose from the game or something |
| 6:19 |
A-Rod is a better commentator that professional commentator Harold Reynolds. |
| 6:20 |
No offense Jeff but I think you’d be fired by the 6th inning if you were ever on a broadcast. Maybe even cause riots in the streets. |
| 6:20 |
: Thankfully I don’t want to broadcast. It is ridiculously hard
|
| 6:20 |
The A-Rod Bot is performing better than expected in his commentary beta testing |
| 6:21 |
: Seemed like deGrom basically wanted to get around Moustakas to face Perez here
|
| 6:22 |
: if deGrom’s body language is so good why did the Mets just call for a mound conference?
|
| 6:22 |
This is way better than last night. Dave Cameron thought it was necessary to say “that’s so nasty” after every pitch |
| 6:22 |
: Maybe he needed to be rebooted???
|
| 6:23 |
: And Perez goes way out of the zone to ground out meekly
|
| 6:23 |
: Dont’ see that very much on low-away fastballs. Bad hitting; Mets survive
|
| 6:23 |
Great reflexes by DeGrom to NOT try to field that. Hard to resist that instinct which might deflect the ball away from the shortstop. |
| 6:23 |
good job by deGrom not fielding that ball |
| 6:24 |
And Harold is convinced that he’s talking with Al Rodriguez |
| 6:24 |
| 6:24 |
Cue Salvador Perez blooping a ball he has no business even swinging at. |
| 6:24 |
: Maybe later! (Probably later)
|
| 6:24 |
I was very impressed with C.Archer commenting on a game Keuchel was pitching not long ago. |
| 6:25 |
A meek groundout. You mean weak? I like meek though. Lets anthromorphize the baseball! |
| 6:25 |
: It was a quiet and gentle groundout. I’ll stick with it!
|
| 6:25 |
: Sort of amazing stat so far: each pitcher has only one swinging strike
|
| 6:26 |
:
 What was Perez even going to do with this pitch… |
| 6:26 |
The meek groundballs shall inherit the fourth. |
| 6:28 |
Remember 15 yrs ago when everyteam incorporayed black into their color scheme? |
| 6:28 |
: College sports did that about 5 years ago, too. It’s a weird fad. Lakers just debuted a black jersey in 2013.
|
| 6:28 |
Don’t know why, but this seems like a fun time to watch this: http://screengrabber.deadsp… |
| 6:28 |
What is everyone drinking? PBR for me! |
| 6:28 |
: Pepsi. I drank too much champagne last night.
|
| 6:29 |
One advantage A Rod and Archer have over Harold is that they had to come up meaningful points for only one half inning, whereas Harold has to for every half inning and anyone would run out of smart things to say. All the more reason to tune them out. |
| 6:29 |
dugout interviews or celeb appearances in the booth? Which is worse? |
| 6:29 |
: Let’s try to find the stars of the newest FOX blockbuster hit in the audience!
|
| 6:29 |
: And somehow the top of the fifth just ended and I didn’t realize it began
|
| 6:30 |
Isn’t his 43+% Oswing% the main reason there’s an air of disappointment surrounding his offensive game? With all due respect to Sal Perez of course |
| 6:30 |
Flying Fish Abbey Dubbel |
| 6:30 |
Contact scores through the roof. Royals being Royals and Mets trying to let Cueto make a mistake. |
| 6:30 |
Water… |
| 6:32 |
: Mets win expectancy currently at 60%. Or, if you believe in Royals magic, 0%
|
| 6:33 |
Perez had more HR’s than walks this year. How (un)common is that? |
| 6:33 |
: Four qualified players did it this year: Perez, Cespedes, A Jones, Arenado
|
| 6:34 |
: Leadoff walk for Gordon despite three very close balls
|
| 6:34 |
Zubrowka bison grass vodka |
| 6:34 |
Stone enjoy by 10.31.15 |
| 6:34 |
I was watching a game from the 1995 world series lately (I’m a Braves fan). They had Bob Ueker in the booth and he was delightful and entertaining (alongside Joe Morgan and Bob Costas). There was one “celebrity” interview of former pres. Jimmy Carter that lasted 1 pitch. Somehow they’ve forgotten how to broadcast baseball. |
| 6:35 |
Seeing a lot of chatter about the weather and about the World Series being played in bad weather. What’s the alternative? 100 game season? February baseball to start the season in snow? I guess having all teams build retractable roofs and baseball stadiums all being fugly. Or better yet, let’s stop denouncing one particular year. |
| 6:35 |
: Overall, a shorter regular season and more playoff games would probably make the game more enjoyable to more people.
|
| 6:35 |
Here come the Royals |
| 6:35 |
: Contact!
|
| 6:36 |
: Rios singles. here come the Royals!
|
| 6:36 |
Dogfish Head Punkin Ale |
| 6:36 |
: That can be dangerous if not used properly.
|
| 6:37 |
Not relevant but ESPN says Nationals are hiring Bud Black |
| 6:37 |
: Not the kind of news the Nationals thought they’d be making at the end of October
|
| 6:37 |
: That was not a very good Escobar bunt attempt
|
| 6:37 |
Is Kansas City a fun city? I bet it is |
| 6:37 |
: Depends on what you want from a city. Driving is required and there are a lot of strip malls.
|
| 6:37 |
Lagunitas Lil Sumpin’ Sumpin’ |
| 6:37 |
From KY: Have you guys heard of KY Bourbon Barrel Ale? It’s huge here but I don’t know it’s made it beyond |
| 6:37 |
It seems that the Royals have acquired the Cardinals magic playoffs BS, except it has a large Madison Bumgarner shaped hole in it. |
| 6:38 |
Dogfish Head 120. |
| 6:38 |
: Even more potent.
|
| 6:38 |
: Interesting to see Escobar trying to bunt since his contact is basically bunt equivalent anyway
|
| 6:38 |
: And Escobar singles home the tying run! After two failed attempts to move the runners up
|
| 6:39 |
: Maybe that’s why hitters can’t bunt anymore, Harold
|
| 6:39 |
Founders Curmudgeon |
| 6:39 |
Isn’t this series more evidence towards how hard bunting is? Two prototypical speed guys in escobar and cain can’t get bunts down. |
| 6:40 |
I understand contact can lead to more hits, but surely the Royals would start hitting balls at someone at a certain point? |
| 6:40 |
: There you go
|
| 6:40 |
People preach how fun the Royals are to watch, how does watching subpar hitters blooping hits in left and right scream fun? |
| 6:40 |
: It’s a fresh style. Something different.
|
| 6:41 |
So as a Mets fan, I hate the Royals right now. As an objective fan, they are awesome. |
| 6:41 |
Oh Alcidies Escobar, a not very good hitter, blooped a not very well hit ball. And Royals preach how much skill they have |
| 6:41 |
: Contact *is* a skill. What becomes of that, it varies
|
| 6:42 |
Why can I hear batter reactions so audibly tonight? Did they mic up home plate? |
| 6:42 |
: Sounds like it. Just clearly heard the umpire
|
| 6:43 |
So much for the idea that pitching to contact reduces the pitch count |
| 6:44 |
: Not the best Lagares throw of all time, but it was good enough
|
| 6:44 |
Sean I visited Dogfish Head and about half their beer they wouldn’t fill growlers for because of “safety reasons”. The cutoff was 9% abv |
| 6:44 |
: I wish they had a limit the one night I had 90 minute on draft at the Philly Barcade.
|
| 6:44 |
: That was perfectly set up for Lagares to hold the runner at third
|
| 6:44 |
i wish we could put a GoPro on the home plate umpire’s helmet and see some game footage from that angle |
| 6:44 |
: one day.
|
| 6:44 |
Has there ever been a study on “stressful” pitches vs. “easy” pitches and how more of the former shortens an overall outing for a starter? |
| 6:45 |
Swinging strike! |
| 6:45 |
: Royals best contact of the inning –> out to center field
|
| 6:46 |
: Hosmer! 3-1!
|
| 6:46 |
: That Warthen slider was right in the middle of the plate, so Hosmer sent it right back to the middle of the field
|
| 6:46 |
deGrom doesnt look like he has his best stuff |
| 6:46 |
Mets should learn that swinging at pitches down the middle is a good idea. |
| 6:46 |
DeGrom gotta be pulled. |
| 6:46 |
deGrom is losing it |
| 6:47 |
HELL YEAH! I SEEING EYED THAT HIT RIGHT UP THE MIDDLE! |
| 6:47 |
: Now the big problem for the Mets — deGrom isn’t giving them length. Hello, middle of bullpen
|
| 6:47 |
This team is unreal. |
| 6:47 |
ROYALS |
| 6:48 |
I assume the Royals are the result of trying to create a lineup of 9 Ichiro s |
| 6:48 |
Mouse could put this one out of reach right here… |
| 6:48 |
: With the Royals bullpen just about ready to come in…
|
| 6:49 |
The Royals are the anti-Cubs. Polar opposites and thats why theyre tough to beat. |
| 6:49 |
: The Cubs are also tough to beat. Just not last week
|
| 6:50 |
: Yeah…deGrom should probably not continue to pitch.
|
| 6:50 |
Would be cool if the Royals took a game off deGrom without an extra base hit |
| 6:50 |
: Holy moly was that ever close
|
| 6:51 |
deGrom is deGassed. Pull him |
| 6:52 |
: This is unbelievable
|
| 6:52 |
: They can’t strike out. It just doesn’t happen
|
| 6:52 |
: How did the Royals literally have any double-digit strikeout games this year
|
| 6:52 |
As a Mets fan this is rough. Singled to death is not fun |
| 6:52 |
As a Mets fan this is rough. Singled to death is not fun |
| 6:53 |
I painfully watched the ALCS last year, this is exactly what they did to Baltimore. |
| 6:53 |
BABIPing him to death |
| 6:53 |
: “Make it stop. It’s annoying!” — Tom Verducci
|
| 6:54 |
I’m glad to see people are taking that Dave Cameron article about not making any assumptions based off a short sample size to heart |
| 6:54 |
: Are these games not happening?
|
| 6:55 |
: Inning’s over now. Another easy out by Perez. But the Royals just lifted their win expectancy from about 40% to about 90%
|
| 6:55 |
As a mets fan these are not cheap singles: they are on top of everything! Can’t say babip to death when it’s all line drives |
| 6:55 |
: There were a few grounders in there.
|
| 6:56 |
the announcers keep gushing about their contact ability, but is degrom’s stuff just flat tonight? |
| 6:56 |
: Could be both. deGrom’s fastball has been in the mid-90s but the Royals keep fouling it away
|
| 6:57 |
pete rose promised the Mets would be up 2-0 by the end of tonight. HE PROMISED. |
| 6:58 |
deGrom looked like shit. Kudos to the Royals for jumping all over him, but its not as if he wasnt hanging pitches |
| 6:58 |
Reminder that Bumgarner killed these guys almost single-handedly. |
| 6:58 |
: Might be time to award him another trophy
|
| 6:59 |
: Good job by Zobrist adjusting to that funny bounce
|
| 6:59 |
I’m getting Royals fatigue |
| 6:59 |
Another breaking ball left up. I see a lot of bad location pitches not just good hitting. |
| 6:59 |
: all the fouls force more pitches, allowing for more mistakes. but yeah, it can go both ways
|
| 7:00 |
I’m rooting for the Mets, but I’m glad that Zobrist made that play so we didn’t have to listen to Harold Reynolds complaining about how the shift messes players up. |
| 7:02 |
Did I mention the Mets suck and have benefited tremendously from luck for the last three months? |
| 7:02 |
: And the Nationals never pulling it together.
|
| 7:03 |
We% is bullpen context neutral right? |
| 7:03 |
: correct
|
| 7:03 |
Really starting to think the Royals do know what’s coming, between the Jays series and this. Tipping, sign-stealing, something. This is just way too many comfy swings on off-speed stuff to be mere chance |
| 7:03 |
Where does Marlins Man go during the regular season? Does he come out of hibernation for the postseason? |
| 7:03 |
: Maybe he does his actual job
|
| 7:04 |
Or theyre fouling it off because his fastball has no movement and his offspeed stuff is so recognizable when left over the plate, as it has been |
| 7:04 |
: why don’t we just settle on the Royals are beating the Mets and deserve to be doing so tonight
|
| 7:05 |
No Marlins Man appears regularly during the season. Always at the Sunday Night game for example. |
| 7:05 |
: He does other sports.
|
| 7:05 |
: Three swinging strikes for deGrom. Verducci says it ties a career low
|
| 7:05 |
Baseball makes me happy, fangraphs makes me happy and I’m happy to be sharing this moment with all you randos. |
| 7:05 |
: have you been drinking?
|
| 7:06 |
If Carlos Correa had turned that double play, we wouldn’t have Royals fatigue. |
| 7:06 |
: That’s the funniest part!
|
| 7:07 |
What’s more tiring for fans of rival fanbases — the Royals’ relentlessness or the relentless discussion of the Royals’ relentlessness by everyone in the broadcast booth? |
| 7:07 |
Fun fact: every baseball team in the history of baseball has stolen signs or similar to gain an advantage. The good teams are the ones who can actually do something with that knowledge |
| 7:07 |
: Holy crap!
|
| 7:07 |
: Cespedes steals a probable homer
|
| 7:08 |
: Or, double, I guess
|
| 7:08 |
: Can Rios hit a ball harder than that? How did Rios ever have a 25-homer season?
|
| 7:09 |
I think fans are tired of the Royals having nothing break against them for 2 straight years now |
| 7:09 |
: well they did lose the World Series
|
| 7:09 |
: Oh god, rain. Please no delays
|
| 7:10 |
: You know what’s amazing is this year the Royals didn’t even rank in baseball’s top 10 in BABIP
|
| 7:11 |
I know that the human body only experiences fatigue from regular season games, but… is it just possible that all of the innings have caught up to the Mets staff? |
| 7:11 |
: Absolutely, it’s a consideration
|
| 7:12 |
: Royals win expectancy, bullpen-neutral: 91%
|
| 7:12 |
Marlins Man also goes to NCAAF and NBA games. He is missing all the Saturday playoff games for college football. |
| 7:12 |
“Royals magic” is more sequencing than BABIP, no? |
| 7:12 |
: Sequencing or clutch, whichever you prefer
|
| 7:12 |
Jeez, people are fickle. The Royals were terrible for figuratively hundreds of years. Now they’re good for 2 years in a row, and people are tired of them?? |
| 7:13 |
People are more tired of the “Royals narrative” than the Royals. |
| 7:14 |
Overall, the Mets offense has looked pretty atrocious the last 13 or so innings |
| 7:14 |
: gotta wonder about Cespedes’ shoulder a bit
|
| 7:15 |
It’s annoying to see not good players get good results for no particular reason. |
| 7:15 |
: They’re a pretty good team as constructed. They’re playing a bit better at the right time. It’s not like they suck
|
| 7:15 |
: Going to pretend that didn’t happen
|
| 7:15 |
Tired of he broadcast gushing over their “intangibles” |
| 7:15 |
All baseball narratives are tired |
| 7:16 |
If the Royals win the Series is it going to begin a firestorm of field-a-team-that-doesn’t-strikeout-if-you-want-to-win discussion? |
| 7:16 |
: This is my third biggest fear.
|
| 7:17 |
i’m definitely tired of the Royals narrative, but this is making me want to apologize profusely for the 1996–2001 Yankees |
| 7:18 |
I don’t know why it’s assumed they were stealing signs or seeing tipped pitches. The pitches they got hits off of weren’t exactly filthy… |
| 7:18 |
Werent the 96-01 Yankees really good teams though? Not that the Royals arent, but those Yankee teams won games and were loved by analytical stats |
| 7:19 |
: Big outfield tonight. Mets not hitting for any power. To the stretch…
|
| 7:19 |
: I could do with out this.
|
| 7:20 |
: Cueto couldn’t have grooved that last pitch anymore. d’Arnaud didn’t do anything with it
|
| 7:20 |
I think my favorite thing about the Cardinal’s is that despite the annoying “Cardinal’s Way” narrative they actually get lucky in ridiculously different ways from season to season |
| 7:20 |
Baseball would be boring if every team had the same approach. You can argue the Royals just found a new market efficiency and also buikt their team to thrive in their park. They are pretty much the poster children for speed and defense too. |
| 7:20 |
: Exactly.
|
| 7:21 |
So broadcast just showed Mets with a tablet in dugout. Is that allowed? |
| 7:21 |
| 7:22 |
they don’t sing take me out to the ballgame anymore? |
| 7:22 |
: it’s sponsored.
|
| 7:22 |
Crazy random thought (based on pre-determined outcomes!); if Escobar gets the bunt down sucessfully is this basically a 1-1 game right now? (as the next 2 players made outs) |
| 7:22 |
Didn’t d’Arnaud hit that really hard? |
| 7:22 |
: routine fly, 95mph off the bat. nothing special
|
| 7:23 |
It will be hilarious if the Royals lose this series after all the swooning the announcers are doing these first 1.5 games. |
| 7:23 |
Jeff, can I get live batted ball velo too, or is this a fun thing you FanGraphs folks have? |
| 7:23 |
: MLB GameDay. It’s in the Feed section.
|
| 7:25 |
Well as bad as the Mets have looked, they get to go back home with Thor on the mound then face Medlen in Game 4. Definitely an opportunity to get back into it |
| 7:25 |
: That’s the neat thing about having a good starter every game. You never really feel out of it
|
| 7:26 |
“He struggles with the ball at him.” Seconds later “the knock on him has been his range” ..:: when you’re on tv can you literally make up anything you want? |
| 7:26 |
: This is how you’d describe a Wilmer Flores in a wheelchair
|
| 7:27 |
: Still just six swinging strikes in this game — three a side. Cueto hasn’t been missing bats either
|
| 7:27 |
Glad Harold Reynolds hedged before comparing Yoenis Cespedes to Willie Mayes…. |
| 7:27 |
: Did Harold Reynolds just do a Willie Mays impression
|
| 7:28 |
: That’s twice
|
| 7:28 |
Many lessons to take from the Royals are actually worthwhile (if not new): Good Bullpens get more play in the postseason, Defensive contributions are valuable, and small sample sizes can yield weird results. But those aren’t the lessons being described by the broadcast team. |
| 7:28 |
: Good relievers can be cheap.
|
| 7:29 |
you guys remember that awesome inning with the MLB international feed guys? good times, good times |
| 7:29 |
: We’re going to the eighth, with the Royals attempting to make the rest of this a formality
|
| 7:30 |
Is Chris Young going to get more than a 1-year deal now? I mean, M’s and Royals have now seen that his comeback is probably legit. Not really sure what else there is to prove.. |
| 7:30 |
: The injury history is going to make every team squeamish but he might go to the first team that offers two years
|
| 7:30 |
Hey Jeff, I missed it, where did you say you were getting that live ball exit velo from? |
| 7:30 |
: Gameday, Feed tab
|
| 7:32 |
odds that Yost lets Cueto go all the way? |
| 7:32 |
: Already at 100 pitches. That would be weird
|
| 7:33 |
: Another towering fly out for the Mets. This outfield is unrelenting in terms of its dimensions
|
| 7:33 |
As dumb as Ned Yost is, his team saves his ass too much for him to have his infamous “Grady Little moment” |
| 7:33 |
: the Madson moment could’ve blossomed into that moment, but alas it was not to be
|
| 7:34 |
BAbi’D |
| 7:34 |
Has it been a mistake to play Conforto this much? He’s been a complete hole in the lineup. |
| 7:34 |
: He’s a good player. Gotta play him
|
| 7:35 |
: Good god, great play by Alcides Escobar
|
| 7:35 |
Babip gods smile upon the royals again |
| 7:35 |
How the HELL did Escobar make that play |
| 7:35 |
That was impressive. |
| 7:35 |
I thought that was definitely a hit |
| 7:36 |
: Didn’t even realize Cueto is working on a two-hitter
|
| 7:36 |
Why is it wrong to be like arts and craftsy tony romo? |
| 7:36 |
: That’s what I don’t get. He seems fine
|
| 7:39 |
I’d eat a crownie. |
| 7:39 |
The international feed is SOOOOOO much better than the primary Fox feed. I recommend everyone seek it out by whatever means necessary. |
| 7:39 |
: Like by yanking the power?
|
| 7:40 |
Jeff, I am growing sick of football and want to get into hockey. Who should I pick to start watching as a team once the WS ends? I live in Carolina, but that seems a rough choice |
| 7:40 |
: You should start with the local team, but mostly, you should just watch games and see how you feel. Your gut will eventually lead you to a team that you’re fond of
|
| 7:40 |
: Davis throwing in the KC pen
|
| 7:40 |
This has honestly been a BABIP-influenced snoozefest of a game. Pretty much the exact opposite of last night. |
| 7:41 |
: Perez goes out of the zone and the Royals are back in business
|
| 7:42 |
Every Royals game is a BABIP-influenced game, because they don’t strike out. |
| 7:42 |
If you think this game is a snoozefest you obviously don’t watch many Mariners games. |
| 7:42 |
3 run deficit against davis, feeling…..bad |
| 7:42 |
Can someone explain BABIP’d to me? Is that just when the team you want to win starts losing? |
| 7:43 |
: That is being BABIP’d.
|
| 7:43 |
See that last play? It’s that. |
| 7:43 |
Lulz Mets |
| 7:44 |
Hockey-related aside: 3-on-3 overtime is probably the most fun innovation any sport has had in a long time. It’s heart pounding. |
| 7:44 |
And you probably already know this, Hamburglar, but you should go watch live hockey whenever you can. |
| 7:44 |
And the Moosetacos hit just an inch away from Duda’s glove earlier in the inning too…. |
| 7:45 |
Is someone keeping track of all the plays that the Mets don’t make and the Royals would have made? |
| 7:45 |
: they don’t make pieces of paper that big
|
| 7:46 |
BABIP is everything the Royals hit finding a hole, and people preaching that because they make contact its completely sustainable |
| 7:46 |
: Well of course it’s not totally sustainable, but when you reduce strikeouts, you increase batting average. This isn’t something people made up
|
| 7:46 |
getting sick of these NFL Sunday Ticket ads. they’re pretty offensive to anyone who isn’t a manly-man football jock |
| 7:47 |
: It doesn’t matter but that was a phenomenal catch by Cespedes
|
| 7:48 |
More of an indictment on how bad of a fielder dyda is |
| 7:48 |
: BABIP isn’t pure randomness. Just mostly. The other components are the defense, weak contact, etc.
|
| 7:48 |
Does anything REALLY matter, Jeff |
| 7:49 |
: Here’s the quality Royals contact
|
| 7:49 |
: From Orlando and Escobar, of course
|
| 7:50 |
: This is a necessary pitching change
|
| 7:51 |
: Cover It Live window starting to get unwieldy so give me a second here
|
| 7:51 |
Jeff, what can the Mets do back in NY to turn this series around? Maybe they can’t but I think the first thing is to pitch smarter and maybe do some defensive shifting. |
| 7:51 |
: Seven innings of one-run ball from Syndergaard puts Game 3 in a really good position
|
| 7:52 |
These Mets clearly don’t have Direct TV. Don’t be like these Mets. |
| 7:52 |
Are the Mets contractually obligated to pitch Escobar down the middle? |
| 7:54 |
Have we mentioned Draft Kings yet? With Draft Kings you can win money daily, but TRUST ME, it’s not gambling in any way whatsoever. |
| 7:54 |
This is so brutal… Die hard mets fan |
| 7:55 |
This is really painful, yeah. Any tiny break in the coin toss of Game 1 and this series would feel very different, but now it seems like a loss before it even gets to NY |
| 7:55 |
Mets fans now know precisely how Cubs fans felt after the first two games of that series…. |
| 7:57 |
Game 1 wasn’t a coin toss. The Mets were like 65/45% favorites before the game |
| 7:57 |
: It was once it got to extras.
|
| 7:58 |
Last team to come back from 2-0 in World Series: Yankees in 1996. Before that, Mets in 1986. Before that: Royals in ’85. Coincidence? I think not. |
| 7:58 |
I’m just hoping the Mets win one of the next two games. I have plans this weekend and can’t watch games 3 or 4. Don’t tell anyone I said that though. |
| 7:58 |
: I want to see 7 games.
|
| 8:00 |
: Well Cover it Live crashed me out for about five or six minutes
|
| 8:00 |
I want to see 4 games and have it over with! |
| 8:00 |
We all want 7 games duh |
| 8:00 |
: So now I’m back to discuss the final two outs!
|
| 8:00 |
: Final one out!
|
| 8:01 |
There are (were) 3 outs to go and the FanGraphs game odds have the Royals at 100% chance to win. |
| 8:01 |
: I never question the odds.
|
| 8:01 |
Don’t listen to the other Christian I want 7 games! |
| 8:01 |
: You should always want seven games
|
| 8:01 |
Oh I meant to ask this yesterday, does WE basically treat every inning after the 9th like another 9th inning? Since the end of inning determines the game? |
| 8:01 |
: Correct
|
| 8:02 |
Cueto with the complete game. No narrative is safe. |
| 8:02 |
The Mets are one of the few teams to get worse WITH a DH!! |
| 8:02 |
It’s always good to compare any 7-1 World Series game to game seven of the 1991 world series-said by some to be one of the best MLB games in the era of television…. |
| 8:02 |
: Why walk a batter up six in the ninth with two outs
|
| 8:02 |
: That’s just annoying
|
| 8:02 |
I want the home team to win every game. Nothing quite like watching a completely amped crowd |
| 8:03 |
: 120 pitches for Cueto. This is interesting
|
| 8:03 |
No, I only want the Royals to win a home game! |
| 8:03 |
but which one is the real Christian? |
| 8:04 |
: And it’s over!
|
| 8:04 |
: Cueto, from good to bad to good again! Royals ahead 2-0 in the series, going to New York. Could end it all Saturday
|
| 8:04 |
: We got the easy game!
|
| 8:04 |
Woo! AND the game finished at a reasonable hour! |
| 8:04 |
there’s also nothing quite like an amped home crowd getting punched in the gut |
| 8:05 |
Who wins the pool for “Cueto throws a 2 hitter CG”? |
| 8:05 |
Less than 3 hours. |
| 8:05 |
: Thank you everybody for hanging out with us. Sorry that game wasn’t more interesting. I’ll place some calls
|
| 8:05 |
: I’m going to go be productive.
|
| 8:05 |
: Thanks Sean! Way to go everybody!
|
| 8:06 |
: Take care everyone. There’ll be a Friday night chat for Game 3
|
Jeff made Lookout Landing a thing, but he does not still write there about the Mariners. He does write here, sometimes about the Mariners, but usually not.
Are we not supposed to notice Kim Jung-un taking in the game incognito in the first row toward the left?