Baseball

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

Smc, what sort of year do you think Ortiz is going to have? Is he going to have a half-decent year(I honestly don't think that he'll have any monster years like before due to his increase in injuries and the shadow of PED's that he has fallen into) or will he have a horrible season like last year?

The Red Sox really need him to increase his production, especially since Bay left.

Well, on the basis of two games, I would say he's going to have a slow start. He doesn't seem to have much back speed, he's hitting right into the shift, and he steadfastly refuses (or, I should say, Terry Francona, the Red Sox manager, refuses) to bunt down the third base line to teach other teams not to shift so radically on him.

That said, two games are far too few upon which to make such judgments, don't you agree?

[ErosArtist]

Originally Posted by smc

Well, on the basis of two games, I would say he's going to have a slow start. He doesn't seem to have much back speed, he's hitting right into the shift, and he steadfastly refuses (or, I should say, Terry Francona, the Red Sox manager, refuses) to bunt down the third base line to teach other teams not to shift so radically on him.

That said, two games are far too few upon which to make such judgments, don't you agree?

Yep. two games are far too few; the Braves had their spectacular opening day, then a day off, and get down to business tonight. (I'm going to check the first pitch time right now to be sure I didn't screw up again - alright, 7:10 tonight, Jurjens v Dempster.) In mid-season, they tend not to do too well from that type of schedule.

A decent indicator, IMHO, of what sort of season a player is going to have is how well said player does the second time he see's a club, particular in early season. So many clubs are still in a 'clean-up' sort of mode now, perhaps the same can be said of the team as a whole...just my HO, of course.

[smc]

Originally Posted by hegirllvr

Yep. two games are far too few; the Braves had their spectacular opening day, then a day off, and get down to business tonight.

Nice to see a rational Braves fan. One of my colleagues at work, who is from Atlanta, told me this morning that Jason Heyward was going to hit 55 home runs. I laughed out loud, and he got angry. Then a student who we both have in classes walked by and asked what all the commotion was about. I told him, and had to explain a little bit about baseball to him (he's from Singapore). He then turned to my colleague and said, "Professor, what do you say in class that I shouldn't take seriously?" I laughed so hard I nearly passed out.

[ErosArtist]

Originally Posted by smc

Nice to see a rational Braves fan. One of my colleagues at work, who is from Atlanta, told me this morning that Jason Heyward was going to hit 55 home runs. I laughed out loud, and he got angry. Then a student who we both have in classes walked by and asked what all the commotion was about. I told him, and had to explain a little bit about baseball to him (he's from Singapore). He then turned to my colleague and said, "Professor, what do you say in class that I shouldn't take seriously?" I laughed so hard I nearly passed out.

Thanks. I suppose I could say I've been called worse!

Us southern folk tend to be optimistic, but speaking strictly for myself, falter at predictions of grandeur. Certainly, based upon his opening day performance, Jason Heyward was spectacular, but is it a surety of things to come? Hardly.

no matter the team, opening day is like the wedding and reception; the first two or three series the new team faces, the honeymoon. Then it's time to go to work.

[shadows]

The Evil Empire won again!

At least the Blue Jays played well today and are now 1-1 to start the season. Wells hit two more homeruns today(3 in 2 games now!). Hopefully he can keep up this sort of production for the rest of the season. I am not expecting monster numbers, but I would like an improvement over the past couple of seasons.

[smc]

Originally Posted by shadows

The Evil Empire won again!

Yes, young Skywalker, the force was strong with the Empire in the late innings.

[ErosArtist]

Originally Posted by smc

Yes, young Skywalker, the force was strong with the Empire in the late innings.

As it was with the Braves...At least Bobby got Jurjens off the mound in time, though his issues weren't necessarily his own, but a lack of run support.

In the end, a homer by Chipper in the 8th took it. Wells v Hanson tonight.