@mrtailgate
I enjoyed your take on things all year, as well as all the contributors to this thread. I don't know much about Klentak but I do recall in January I was at a coaches' clinic in PGH (I was an asst HS coach) and Bob Boone was there. After he spoke there was the informal stand-around BS session and somebody asked Boonie what he thought of Kapler. I may have mentioned this... Boonie said he didn't know him but heard a lot about him and none of it good. I was taken aback by that kind of frank evaluation from a guy who is in the Nats' Front Office but now that the season is over, I see where he was coming from.
I'm not a fan of Kapler's style either, it's simply not stood the test (other than a month and a half) and although I guess I'm OK with giving him another season, I agree that these young players are over-valued, there are a lot of issues with the defense, the baserunning, the use of the pen, the catching is awful, and the lack of star talent so yeah, I guess I'd give him a little more leeway (They are 18% better than last year) but if they're 10 under .500 at the break or something akin to that, you have to scrap it. The Phillies' presence is sad right now.
It should be an interesting winter. I hope so, anyway.
I'm with you on Kapler. He thinks the numbers are he key.. but my experience in life has been that there is a human factor you can't quantify. The good managers look at the numbers, but look a the field, players and the chemistry, and they trust their gut.Have to take issue with the comment on talent. I think you are overrating this talent greatly. The proof is right in front of you - they can't hit, they field badly, the bullpen stinks, the catching is atrocious. Is there one positional player that any team in the playoff picture would want? Hoskins is the only one and he's a major defensive liability. Otherwise, I don't think so.
I don't care for Kapler, I'm old and I prefer baseball before this analytics fad took over, but no analytics can overcome fundamentally bad players and that's what they have. And they don't play hard, IMHO.
Looking back at the flawed Santana signing. Christopher Yelich was available and signed 4 years for 44 million. The Phil's signed Santana 3 years for 60 million. PHILS had a 1st baseman (Hoskins) and needed another big bat in the outfield. Yelich 323 36 hrs and 109 rbi's. KAPLER LIKE KLENTAK ALWAYS DEFLECTS THE BLAME. FIRE THEN BOTH!!!
TY always thought Phil's should have picked him up when the Marlins were selling off last year.
AC: "I really enjoy you being negative this morning...."
And damn you McAndrew for making me listen to Cataldi.
Agree Tom, just flat out refuse to listen to Cataldi. He’s a schlock jock.lol, I posted the link, after reading a summary article about the interview. I refuse to listen to Cataldi, so I didn't hear the actual exchange.
The definition of insanity is repeating the same mistake, expecting a different outcome.
The definition of insanity is repeating the same mistake, expecting a different outcome.
Unless something has changed, I understand that the Dodgers invest heavily in analytics. Houston as well.This is what they want. He has the backing from the suits, he's going to run it his way, this style is sort of a religion among some people in baseball. No amount of heat on the radio is going to change it, so there you are. If you watched the Dodger game tonight you saw a stud starter go to the wall and combined to shut out a division winner twice in a row in the playoffs. There is a sect that believes six pitching changes is a better way. I guess we'll see. I give him till the break next year. Somebody knows how to keep Freddie Effin' Freeman in the ballpark.
Unless something has changed, I understand that the Dodgers invest heavily in analytics. Houston as well.
AgreedAnalytics are great. They're a tool though, not an edict.o.
Analytics are great. They're a tool though, not an edict. Why pull a guy in the 4th inning unless he's getting clobbered because the sheet says to.
At what point of the off-season do these types of free agent signings normally take place?
Oddshark lists the Phils as the favorite to land both Harper and Machado. At what point of the off-season do these types of free agent signings normally take place?
RAJ moving from the field to the Mets front office to assist their new GM
I don’t follow the Nats closely, but I was surprised that Harper had a down season (for him) in his first contact year. I can see going cold for a month or two, but the story I remember on him is that aside from a burst in the second half, there was more not to like than like. At $400 million, that’s a risk.I'm on the fence about Harper. I've read stories about him not being a great teammate. I certainly have no idea if the stories are true but the guy is only 26 years old. People can mature. Also, will he be one of those players who bursts into the majors and looks like a hall of famer for a few seasons then fizzles? Would the Phils be unlucky enough to sigh him just before the fizzle happens?
OTOH, the guy is only 26 years old. If he plays the next 10 years at a level even close to his 2015 form, the team who signs him will have a hall of famer locked into their lineup for the next decade. If it's the Phils, they could finally make some moves to solidify the lineup.