Yep, one of the best days of non football in the year.
Couple of topics:
1.) Anger over the Astros' cheating. They need to get over this quickly and move on. No amount of anger changes a thing. Just remember it every time they play Houston and pound their asses.
2.) Changing Gary's crouch with one knee on the ground. Hmm, interesting. I guess Swanson feels Gary's biggest problem is getting down. One knee on the ground does not do much for lateral quickness, though..kind of curious. But Swanson is a "guru" so it will be interesting to see how this helps.
3.) Press making a semi-big deal of Boone saying Stanton will DH a lot. Ah, that is what he has been doing since he arrived. It does allow for Andujar(maybe) and Frazier to grab a spot. Really reaching for a "controversy" on that.
It serves no purpose to rail about the cheating scandal for too long,
I am sure Boone will put a stop to it, if it does continue too long. As Boone said, they are trying to win a championship.
with Gary Sánchez's defensive game is that he doesn't possess naturally soft hands which allows pitches to bounce off his glove.
Tony Pena caught that way and had a very long career.
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...one knee on the ground would seem to contradict anything every taught to catchers.
Tony Pena caught that way and had a very long career.
Tony Pena was a great catcher and boy oh boy could he get low to the ground - that one leg stretched out almost flat.
I think the difference is size and nimbleness. Tony was quick as a cat, Gary is a bit lumbering. I guess they figured they could solve the biggest part of his failures by getting him lower.
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In comment 14810229 BillKo said:
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...one knee on the ground would seem to contradict anything every taught to catchers.
Tony Pena caught that way and had a very long career.
Tony Pena was a great catcher and boy oh boy could he get low to the ground - that one leg stretched out almost flat.
I think the difference is size and nimbleness. Tony was quick as a cat, Gary is a bit lumbering. I guess they figured they could solve the biggest part of his failures by getting him lower.
If Sanchez tried to do what Pena use to do, well that would be another trip to the IL, with his groin issue.
Pena was a Gold Glover as well.
I read that Sanchez worked on being more 'flexible' in the offseason, that is a good idea.
Very curious to see how things work out with El Gary and this technique change behind the plate. Our new catching coach turned one of the worst defensive catchers in the league into one of the best last year, so he’s got some cred.
Can our guys please stay healthy this year?
Can our guys please stay healthy this year?
Please Dear Lord.
with only Higgy as a backup?
with only Higgy as a backup?
Now is the time. I've seen him with one knee down before. Not sure it will hurt except as Carson 53 said, watch the groin. He'll need to keep working on flexibility.
Verlander apparently got lost on the way. No show - pathetic.
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they just made fools of themselves during their "apology." Altuve and Bregman spoke for a minute and didn't take questions, Crane won't acknowledge they gained an advantage, and Dusty is just trying to move on and focus on this season. Quite a fall from grace.
Verlander apparently got lost on the way. No show - pathetic.
too busy get a piece of Kate to be interested
@lindseyadler
Gary Sánchez on the video of Jose Altuve protecting his jersey after Game 6 of the ALCS: "If I hit a homer and get my team to the World Series, they can rip off my pants. They can rip everything off."
11:25 AM · Feb 12, 2020
This is disgraceful.
@CBSSports
"Our opinion is that this didn't impact the game." - Jim Crane
"I didn't say it didn't impact the game." - Jim Crane 55 seconds later
0:13
9:58 AM · Feb 13, 2020
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But this season I'm just as much looking forward to all of the reactions the Astro's are going to be getting from in opposing team's stadiums all season long. Also looking forward to how other team's pitcher will be treating Astro's hitters.
It's gonna be a fun season for many different reasons!
Bill Shaikin
@BillShaikin
Jim Crane: "I don't think I should be held accountable."
But this season I'm just as much looking forward to all of the reactions the Astro's are going to be getting from in opposing team's stadiums all season long. Also looking forward to how other team's pitcher will be treating Astro's hitters.
It's gonna be a fun season for many different reasons!
The Astros still have a lot of talent, but they are going to struggle this year because the hate that will be coming their way all season is going to be a distraction. There is no question about it. I still think they make the playoffs, but I see them closer to a Wild Card.
And what you are seeing is an arrogance from an organization that is reviled around baseball. They are all smug dickheads and have acted that way throughout their run and even now that they got caught. Apparently no one know anything over there and it's all Beltran and Cora's faults. This way they are acting and how they have not come out and said "no buzzers" in 2019 but used other language tells you that they for sure used them. And I'm waiting for that moment where it comes out.
Sadly, they won't play the Yankees until September in Yankee Stadium. Altuve is looking at a 99 mph heater in the ribs his first at bat, no question. I question if the Astros will bother to show up for that series or Atluve will mysteriously pull a muscle and miss it.
This article even claims Alex Cora warned the Nationals.
In other words, the rest of baseball finally had enough of the edge the Astros had managed to achieve
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Tanaka did the same thing.
Everything I've read says they want his knee "lower to the ground," which would mean closer to the ground. They aren't saying LOWERED to the ground, which would mean on the ground.
"He said Wednesday, when pitchers and catchers reported to camp, that he and Swanson have worked on getting his right knee lower so that he can receive pitches in that position."
The Sanchez stuff is interesting. I'm wondering if it will also help prolong his ability to catch, taking pressure off his knees.
Paxton aiming for a May return but June apparently a possibility. I recall reading someplace that Happ was not dealt because Cashman knew Pax was possibly going under the knife.
Big opps for Monty and Loasiga. Will be interesting if we need another starter early on whether we expand opening to Cessa and Green.
Brooks Kriske seems like a sleeper to look out for in the spring.
The Sanchez stuff is interesting. I'm wondering if it will also help prolong his ability to catch, taking pressure off his knees.
I think the Yankees will actually rally it in a way to show that they got robbed. They won't lament on what was lost but rather have a massive chip on their shoulder and they will go into this season pissed. I said before if (big IF) they stay healthy, I think this Yankee team will have a better record than the 1998 team, which is the best MLB team I've ever seen. With the Red Sox waiving the flag on the season, and the Astros will have this shitstorm over their head all year, their main competition is taking a step back. This will be an angry and motivated Yankee team.
Paxton aiming for a May return but June apparently a possibility. I recall reading someplace that Happ was not dealt because Cashman knew Pax was possibly going under the knife.
Big opps for Monty and Loasiga. Will be interesting if we need another starter early on whether we expand opening to Cessa and Green.
Brooks Kriske seems like a sleeper to look out for in the spring.
Loaisiga is a reliever. He does not have the durability to be a starter. They should just limit him to one inning and let him cut loose...another power arm in the BP ala, Chad Green.
You are likely right about Cashman and Happ.
The Sanchez stuff is interesting. I'm wondering if it will also help prolong his ability to catch, taking pressure off his knees.
I'm equally interested in seeing if anyone can help him stop trying to pull everything near the strike zone. Every year we hear multiple reports that he is our best hitter but all i've seen for a few years is someone looking to lay 120mph on each pitch he sees.
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the team. I don't think he will let the Houston stuff linger. He will allow it up to a certain point and then will rally them to move on (might have already happened anyway). Really not worried about that.
The Sanchez stuff is interesting. I'm wondering if it will also help prolong his ability to catch, taking pressure off his knees.
I'm equally interested in seeing if anyone can help him stop trying to pull everything near the strike zone. Every year we hear multiple reports that he is our best hitter but all i've seen for a few years is someone looking to lay 120mph on each pitch he sees.
Exactly
and problems for our 3rd baseman
and problems for our 3rd baseman
And Severino will win 22 games, Stanton hit 45+ HRs...
Best part of baseball - who the heck knows what will happen.
Paxton aiming for a May return but June apparently a possibility. I recall reading someplace that Happ was not dealt because Cashman knew Pax was possibly going under the knife.
Big opps for Monty and Loasiga. Will be interesting if we need another starter early on whether we expand opening to Cessa and Green.
Brooks Kriske seems like a sleeper to look out for in the spring.
Kriske looks very interesting. Seems to come out of nowhere.