gehringer_2

Garbage call, but it was also a poor play by Rogers to attempt the backhand. The wheels are coming off the season just about the same time as last season.

Torkelson a little out of phase today. A hair off of hitting a couple out.

He'd lost command of the slider and had been missing glove side all game when he tried the curve, but I don't know why they took the high FB off the table. Looks like Rogers wouldn't call for it or Skubal wouldn't try to throw it.

not even the scoring aspect - he's an asset that you are still in protect mode with - he'd thrown too many pitches in the inning. Hinch has this tendency to sometimes go all old school with his pitchers - "stay out there - fight through it till you get it." Unfortunately that's a sentiment for a bygone era. All that does for you today is send guys to the DL.

Skubal still out there. Hinch has lost his mind

This looks too much like the other day when Skubal just completely lost all his breaking pitches.

Carpenter + outfield wall = bad combination. then Riley over ran his back up route.

Also "got the out" twice in a row...

Still hate the contact play.

quick 4th improves the pitchcount.

Tork is due. EDIT: Close but no cigar.

Sure, throw the old guy offspeed after smoking him on a FB. We'll take it!

Tork with a 110 mph ground ball handcuffs Berti

Worst rule in baseball.

yeah - don't think we should expect Jake to ever hit for much average

Can Short handle this velo? EDIT: Nope

Strike 2 was a great pitch. Strike three the offspeed completely fooled him

Prelim. More value on the table this time.

This is exaclty where we find out if Harris has the stuff to bring this team back to prominence or not. He has to be able to win in all three phrases - drafting and development, FA, and trading. If he can't produce some useful return out such a golden opportunity as ERod an Lorenzen represent, we are doomed.

They will probably have to put ERod and Lorenen together in one trade - and thus likely a 3 way, in order to get one solid piece back.

didn't see this one live but running through the recording, I hope McKinstry bought the scorer dinner. Two bad throws both ruled hits.

He's had a good career with it. But I would guess he's an exception to the rule. For the average pitcher the cost in lost delivery reproducibility/command is like as not going to be greater than the advantage gained against hitters.

I'm surprised you didn't fine dozens. Has to be a pretty common name.

The choice comes when you have a team that you know is going to the playoffs, and you are offered a chance to trade your top prospect for a player that will improve your team even more. At that point you are facing a complitcated choice. If you improve your team from 95 wins to 100 wins, does that actually make a material difference in your chances to get through the playoffs to the end, vs how much have you decreased your chances of getting back for another shot in 3-4 yrs? It's pretty clear that you improve your odds of winning a WS the more times you get to the playoff. The historical record is weaker when it come to trying to build a super team for one all out shot. But even that isn't all there is to consider in that deal. The way the CBA has evolved can you even keep your team together until that prospect is ready to help you win? Are you just as well off to gut your system and go all out because there is no way to get off the boom-bust cycle MLB has set up for teams. (not saying this is necessarily true, some teams do manage to be more consistent, but it's certainly a part of what every team faces looking 5 yrs out).

emphasis on "last." Please!