Spring Training Gamethread/Discussion
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AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
I'm just now getting around to watch tonight's game. Here's some of my throughts on it through 3 innings.
David Hale:
The Good - Lots of groundball outs
The Bad - Lots of balls and pitching behind in the count
Chris Johnson absolutely crushed that ball he hit for a homerun. Him hitting in the cleanup shot might not be so bad. I actually kinda like this lineup Fredi is using if B.J. and Uggla hit like they're capable of.
Justin Upton has been heating up over the last week and a half.
Simmons got to a ball in the 3rd inning that he's probably the only guy in baseball that gets to it. He saved a run by forcing Fowler to stop at 3rd and by Hale getting the next guy out.
Gattis has absolutely got to learn some plate discipline. After Uggla had walked to load the bases in the 3rd inning with just 1 out, Gattis goes up there and swings out of his shoes at 3 straight change ups that weren't strikes.
Joe Simpson is an idiot (I already knew this but he confirmed it again tonight). Gattis's terrible at-bat had nothing to do with a lack of timing and everything to do with a lack of discipline.
David Hale:
The Good - Lots of groundball outs
The Bad - Lots of balls and pitching behind in the count
Chris Johnson absolutely crushed that ball he hit for a homerun. Him hitting in the cleanup shot might not be so bad. I actually kinda like this lineup Fredi is using if B.J. and Uggla hit like they're capable of.
Justin Upton has been heating up over the last week and a half.
Simmons got to a ball in the 3rd inning that he's probably the only guy in baseball that gets to it. He saved a run by forcing Fowler to stop at 3rd and by Hale getting the next guy out.
Gattis has absolutely got to learn some plate discipline. After Uggla had walked to load the bases in the 3rd inning with just 1 out, Gattis goes up there and swings out of his shoes at 3 straight change ups that weren't strikes.
Joe Simpson is an idiot (I already knew this but he confirmed it again tonight). Gattis's terrible at-bat had nothing to do with a lack of timing and everything to do with a lack of discipline.
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
I'm going to give David Hale ample blame for that pathetic walk to the pitcher with 2 outs on 4 straight balls no less. That is absolutely inexcusable. That being said I'm going to let him off the hook for the rest of the inning. He got Dexter Fowler to hit a routine fly ball that should have been caught by Justin Upton which would have ended the inning with no runs scoring. But Justin was lazy on the play and didn't hustle and let it drop in front of him and then all hell broke loose after that. I'm sure Hale was pissed off by that move from Justin but even more pissed off at himself for walking the pitcher and instead of locking down he unraveled. He pulled what I term a Tommy Hanson.
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
A lot of the hits the Astros got off of Hale tonight were not hard hit balls. They were just placed perfectly. There were really only 2 or 3 hard hit balls.
Gattis has been horrible this spring which isn't what you want to see. You just have to hope he hits for enough power like last year to make up for all the strikeouts/lack of walks.
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
Unfortunately the book is already out on Gattis. Throw everything in the dirt and he'll get himself out.
stpeteirish
Called Up to the Major Leagues
Yeah, I know many insist spring doesn't mean anything but to me there has to be something to be gleaned from playing games everyday for a month (actually 5 weeks). And I'm gleaning that Hale is not ready and Gattis is not a #4 hitter.
On the plus side CJ might just be the same guy he's been, after all, and Uggla and BJ should be able to get back to where they were before 2013, which makes them viable everyday players.
On the plus side CJ might just be the same guy he's been, after all, and Uggla and BJ should be able to get back to where they were before 2013, which makes them viable everyday players.
I just can't believe that we are not going to put Justin at the 2 hole when it was so clear that having Heyward/Upton/Freeman in a row was deadly last year when Heyward was healthy.
I don't think Freddi is the worst manager in the game but man I don't get how he can be supported as much as he is by some.
I don't think Freddi is the worst manager in the game but man I don't get how he can be supported as much as he is by some.
I still think it's stupid that he's not doing that. I DO NOT trust BJ in the 2 hole at all!
Heyward
<B>Voted Worst Poster <br>'13, '14, '15 (Co-Winner
Even as a "Fredi" supporter, that makes no sense.
The top 3 should clearly be JH/JUp/FF, after that is up for debate.
sturg33
I
Fredi is the dumbest manager in baseball.
BJ Upton was the worst player in baseball last year, and our manager is batting him the most important batting spot of the order.
Millwood1Hitter
Anytime Now Frankie...
Why? I have no problems giving it a try. BJ should see of plenty of hittable pitchers between Heyward and FF and maybe can regain his form and continue regaining confidence. Granted he's not a protype 2nd hitter, but can also utilize his speed more, if he truely is focused on hitting line drives around the field instead of jacking bombs. And if I recall correctly, BJ had his best seasons in the 2 spot in TB?
I like Justin Upton protecting FF, he has the power to hit in the 4 hole. I like CJ in 5 hole, contact hitter to clean things up, then follow him with Gattis and Uggla along with Simmons.
I like Justin Upton protecting FF, he has the power to hit in the 4 hole. I like CJ in 5 hole, contact hitter to clean things up, then follow him with Gattis and Uggla along with Simmons.
sturg33
I
Why, because even "normal" BJ Upton is one of, if not the worst OBP guy on the team. You don't put your worst OBP guy in front of your best hitters. This is common sense. BJ should be hitting 7th
jpx7
Very Flirtatious, but Doubts What Love Is.
AUTiger7222
Called Up to the Major Leagues
I like the lineup if BJ and Uggla hit like they're capable of. Having BJ in the 2 spot (the spot he's batted the most in in his career and had his most success) gives us more speed at the top of the order and Justin down in the 5th spot lengthens the lineup. Johnson was very clutch last year so having him in the 4th spot is good too.
sturg33
I
Upton's