Series 4: Blue Jays @ Royals (Apr. 12 - 14)

[Harry Palmer]

Ok, game's over, can ask for more detail: Was Morrow labouring in the 6th? I agree with using the pen to prevent fires rather than put them out, but Gibby seems to hook really quickly and I am concerned our pen is gonna get a case of dead-arm.

There was nothing wrong with how Gibbons handled his pitchers today. Nothing wrong with how he handled anything really. It was all fine.

Yeah, not saying 'wrong', exactly. More of a slight tick in a philosophical difference.

Especially when your pen has been used nightly, I give my starter the benefit of the doubt for the 7th unless he's been getting tired or his pitches have been losing bite. I am not saying 'ride them until there's a fire to put out', and in general I err on Gibby's side with regards to using the pen, but I have a slight difference in terms of how far you go with a clean starter.

[jaymeister15]

There was nothing wrong with how Gibbons handled his pitchers today. Nothing wrong with how he handled anything really. It was all fine.

Yep, if the bullpen gets overworked early its because of the s*** performances in the first 10 games by the starters...not because of anything Gibbons has done

[gp2015]

9 hits/3 BB in 4.1 IP.

He's allowed 2 BB for one thing, not 3. And just telling me he allowed hits is meaningless without the context of what those hits were. Several were on GBs that found holes or that would have been outs with a better defense. The choice to use him there was not a wrong one.

I didn't say he wasn't the right choice. All I said was he has been shaky so far and he has been. Not sure how you can even debate that.

[Randle McMurphy]

The Marlins knew what they were doing when they traded Bonifacio. Other than speed (which AA has admitted he has a fetish for), Bonifacio provides absolutely nothing.

Yeah, Davis and Wells are both better players. The unfortunate thing is that when Lawrie comes back, one of those guys is going to go and Bonifacio will stay.

[There There]

I know Randle wanted his Rasmus pinch hit situation, but you would have to think that with Davis in right field still:

A) The runner doesn't get to 2nd on the previous play
and
B) if the runner eventually did get to 2nd it would end up being a much better throw to home plate

I get the Bonifacio frustration, he's been awful.

But Rajai Davis isn't doing either of what you suggested... he's almost as bad defensively

[Schad]

I know Randle wanted his Rasmus pinch hit situation, but you would have to think that with Davis in right field still:

A) The runner doesn't get to 2nd on the previous play
and
B) if the runner eventually did get to 2nd it would end up being a much better throw to home plate

No, and no. Getz runs well enough that he reaches second with Davis out there, IMO, and likely scores on the soft single as well.

Now, if it was Bautista out there, there might've been a play at the plate.

[Randle McMurphy]

Not sure how you can even debate that.

Having actually watched him pitch this year, I can very easily.

[SharoneWright]

Just to pile on some more: Boni also threw a ball half way up the 1st base line when he was playing CF when Butler was chugging home on a fairly hard-hit single...

[gp2015]

Not sure how you can even debate that.

Having actually watched him pitch this year, I can very easily.

Well reality tells you otherwise.

[Randle McMurphy]

I know Randle wanted his Rasmus pinch hit situation, but you would have to think that with Davis in right field still:

A) The runner doesn't get to 2nd on the previous play
and
B) if the runner eventually did get to 2nd it would end up being a much better throw to home plate

No, and no. Getz runs well enough that he reaches second with Davis out there, IMO, and likely scores on the soft single as well.

Now, if it was Bautista out there, there might've been a play at the plate.

Yeah, Davis has no arm. The only guy with a chance of throwing Getz out is Bautista there and he probably wouldn't even have done it.

[Harry Palmer]

I know Randle wanted his Rasmus pinch hit situation, but you would have to think that with Davis in right field still:

A) The runner doesn't get to 2nd on the previous play
and
B) if the runner eventually did get to 2nd it would end up being a much better throw to home plate

No, and no. Getz runs well enough that he reaches second with Davis out there, IMO, and likely scores on the soft single as well.

Now, if it was Bautista out there, there might've been a play at the plate.

The double's a little iffy to me; if Bau is out there, i think the runner is a bit more cautious rounding 1st and therefore might hold up if he handles it cleanly. IOW, I think that Boni's arm played into how hard the guy was running before he fails to cut it off clean.

I'd have to see a replay, though. When it happened I got up in a huff and missed seeing it again.

[Randle McMurphy]

Not sure how you can even debate that.

Having actually watched him pitch this year, I can very easily.

Well reality tells you otherwise.

Because he's allowed quite a few bloopers and ground balls that found holes for hits? Because his infield is poor? That .409 BABIP is more indicative of bad luck than bad pitching.

[Randle McMurphy]

Ok, game's over, can ask for more detail: Was Morrow labouring in the 6th? I agree with using the pen to prevent fires rather than put them out, but Gibby seems to hook really quickly and I am concerned our pen is gonna get a case of dead-arm.

There was nothing wrong with how Gibbons handled his pitchers today. Nothing wrong with how he handled anything really. It was all fine.

Yeah, not saying 'wrong', exactly. More of a slight tick in a philosophical difference.

Especially when your pen has been used nightly, I give my starter the benefit of the doubt for the 7th unless he's been getting tired or his pitches have been losing bite. I am not saying 'ride them until there's a fire to put out', and in general I err on Gibby's side with regards to using the pen, but I have a slight difference in terms of how far you go with a clean starter.

I would have had no major problem with Morrow in the 7th, but he wasn't exactly inspiring much confidence in the 6th. The choice to go to the pen was fine.

[gp2015]

Having actually watched him pitch this year, I can very easily.

Well reality tells you otherwise.

Because he's allowed quite a few bloopers and ground balls that found holes for hits? Because his infield is poor? That .409 BABIP is more indicative of bad luck than bad pitching.

Those sound like excuses to me.

[Harry Palmer]

I would have had no major problem with Morrow in the 7th, but he wasn't exactly inspiring much confidence in the 6th. The choice to go to the pen was fine.

Yeah, see, if the bolded is true, neither do I. That's why I asked if he was labouring.

[BigLeagueChew]

Yeah, Davis has no arm. The only guy with a chance of throwing Getz out is Bautista there and he probably wouldn't even have done it.

Davis can cut the ball off quicker, less chance of dropping it and has a better arm than Boni, agree with Bautista though.

This is a pure hindsight thought. Rasmus could have had a double in the gap and drivin' in for the go ahead run. The thought wouldn't have even cross my mind. Instead we have to deal with a horrible right fielder.

[Randle McMurphy]

Because he's allowed quite a few bloopers and ground balls that found holes for hits? Because his infield is poor? That .409 BABIP is more indicative of bad luck than bad pitching.

Those sound like excuses to me.

No, it's using just facts and context to evaluate players. Of the nine hits he's allowed this year (seven before today), two were complete bloopers, one was an "infield single" that Bonifacio completely botched, and one was a bunt (yesterday). He hadn't allowed a hard hit since last week in Detroit when both Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, two of the best hitters in baseball, hit singles off him. It hasn't exactly been vintage Darren Oliver so far this season (only 1 K), but shaky? Going into today, I wouldn't have described him as that at all. He's been throwing strikes and hasn't allowed a HR to this point.

[CrymeTime]

Rasmus should of PH for Lind.

Then realign the denfece:
Rasmus- CF
Bautista- 1B
Bonafacio- 2B
Isturiz- 3B

[Santoki]

Let one get away today, but it's a series win. Need some success at the Dome - I'm thinking they can take 3 of 4 from the Sox and get back to .500 before a big series with the Yanks.

[StopitLeo]

What fielding position is Bonafacio exactly good at?
My god....
At least Lind is just a blackhole at certain moments..
This guy botches it on both ends.

Left field would be his strongest, but even then it's not that good.

I'd rather bring Gose up if this is what we are getting from Bonafacio. I know it was windy, but Bonafacio looked uncertain on every fly ball until it was half way in his glove.