Tigers vs. nationals Spring Training March 10

[kalinecountry]

Crosby with a walk, throwing error, wild pitch, run scores,

 

[turok]

8 straight balls and Miguel swings at the first pitch. I don't care if it is ST, that just isn't smart baseball.

WoW...8 straight balls, then first pitch swinging for Miguel, Prince, Delmon and Brennan. I can see not much has changed with this team.

I am quite certain that the Tigers' hitting coach, being none other than Llegendary Lloyd McClendon, has also noticed and will not hesitate to address it, post-haste/game.

 

[kalinecountry]

Crosby out, Matt Hoffman now in trying to hold onto 4-3 Tigers lead. First outing since taking comebacker off his knee last Sunday.

 

[turok]

Tigers' 4 run lead shrunk in no time flat, better luck next time (I hope) for CC.

 

[kalinecountry]

From the reports, Avisail Garcia made a great catch and throw for an inning ending double play that would make Kaline proud.
Avisail Garcia runs down fly ball down RF line, whirls and fires strike to 3rd for double play. Highlight throw keeps Tigers up 4-3.
Tremendous catch and throw by Avisail Garcia to double up the Nationals and end the 6th. Tigers lead 4-3.
Holy Cats. Avisail Garcia fires a one-hop rope to third to nail a runner tagging up. Major arm. Tigers 4 - Nationals 3.

 

[Thumb]

8 straight balls and Miguel swings at the first pitch. I don't care if it is ST, that just isn't smart baseball.

While you have a point, it's pretty hard to be critical of the best hitter in baseball the last 2 years.

 

[kalinecountry]

Avisail Garcia might be among best athletes in camp. Almost Cabrera's size, but good speed and a huge arm. Should be watched by Tigers at AA Erie this year...just needs better pitch recognition.

 

[Rebbiv]

8 straight balls and Miguel swings at the first pitch. I don't care if it is ST, that just isn't smart baseball.

While you have a point, it's pretty hard to be critical of the best hitter in baseball the last 2 years.

That is a cop out. I doubt Kaline, Trammell, etc, etc..swings at 1st pitch after 8 straight balls.

 

[kalinecountry]

Valverde in the 7th inning.

 

[kalinecountry]

8 straight balls and Miguel swings at the first pitch. I don't care if it is ST, that just isn't smart baseball.

While you have a point, it's pretty hard to be critical of the best hitter in baseball the last 2 years.

For me, seeing Cabrera swinging first pitch isn't bad....his average was very good on first pitch, the two that need to take pitches, be more selective are Boesch, and obviously Young.
edit. Cabrera first pitch career .406 Prince first pitch career .378

 

[kalinecountry]

Technically, Jose Valverde just blew a spring training save. Corey Brown takes him deep in the 7th to tie the game at 4-4.
who the f is corey brown???

 

[Thumb]

While you have a point, it's pretty hard to be critical of the best hitter in baseball the last 2 years.

That is a cop out. I doubt Kaline, Trammell, etc, etc..swings at 1st pitch after 8 straight balls.

How is it a cop out?

I would not second guess Beethoven how to compost a symphony, I would not tell Picasso not to use so much blue in his paintings, and I'm sure as hell not going to tell Miguel Cabrera he's not smart when it comes to the art of hitting a baseball.

Lots of hitters on the Tigers that I'd be concerned about, Cabrera is not one of them.

 

[Monster]

delmon young...if he keeps hitting like this, he'll be a great DH.

 

[Thumb]

Monster [/color]]delmon young...if he keeps hitting like this, he'll be a great DH.

*sigh*

 

[Mitchrapp]

Miguel can swing at any damn pitch he wants. He's earned that and as all you like the stats, as pointed out above .406. Yep, he can swing at anything he wants.

 

[Rebbiv]

That is a cop out. I doubt Kaline, Trammell, etc, etc..swings at 1st pitch after 8 straight balls.

How is it a cop out?

I would not second guess Beethoven how to compost a symphony, I would not tell Picasso not to use so much blue in his paintings, and I'm sure as hell not going to tell Miguel Cabrera he's not smart when it comes to the art of hitting a baseball.

Lots of hitters on the Tigers that I'd be concerned about, Cabrera is not one of them.

Pretty weak analogy.

Listen...baseball is a team sport. Hitting might be an individual skill, but as a team, you try and get the opposing pitcher to throw more pitches.

Just about every hitter in baseball has a higher BAVG when they are 1st pitch swinging. I get that. However, it is situation dependent. In this case, you have a pitcher that walks the 1st two hitters on 8 pitches, and gets out of the inning with 12 pitches total. Albeit he gave up a run, I would make the claim that DET would have probably scored more runs had they taken a few more pitches.

Career First Pitch


Jackson .482 BAVG (1.132 OPS)
Raburn .434 BAVG (1.058 OPS)
Cabrera .406 BAVG (1.155 OPS)
Martinez .388 BAVG (.974 OPS)
Peralta .382 BAVG (.977 OPS)
Fielder .378 BAVG (1.146 OPS)
Young .347 BAVG (.889 OPS)
Inge .331 BAVG (.890 OPS)
Avila .328 BAVG (.865 OPS)
Santiago .318 BAVG (.732 OPS)
Boesch .307 BAVG (.802 OPS)
Kelly .307 BAVG (.769 OPS)


Not one player is below .300 Does this change anything? Not in the least. If Cabrera is such a good hitter, then he certainly can afford to take one strike (career .296 BAVG after starting 0-1).

So the question really is, does it matter who is hitting as to whether it is smart or not? To me, it does not matter. Your better hitters will not have an issue taking at least one pitch.

 

[kalinecountry]

While you have a point, it's pretty hard to be critical of the best hitter in baseball the last 2 years.

That is a cop out. I doubt Kaline, Trammell, etc, etc..swings at 1st pitch after 8 straight balls.

kind of a gray area, thinking both of you are right, for me, on one hand not worried about Cabrera or Fielder, but it is likely true after 8 straight balls, you should take a pitch or two.

 

[Rebbiv]

Mitch[/color]]Miguel can swing at any damn pitch he wants. He's earned that and as all you like the stats, as pointed out above .406. Yep, he can swing at anything he wants.

LOL

 

[turok]

I vaguely remember Miggy being asked about his tendency to often swing @ first pitches when it was his turn @ the plate, but I just can't remember what he said in answer. Maybe something like he was always being pitched to like he was the "Babe"?

Oh wait, that was another Tigers' "third baseman" who said that...haha.

 

[Thumb]

Sure, he can afford to take a pitch, but I don't see it as "not smart baseball".

Cabrera has the eye and plate discipline to hit over .300, so if the pitch looks good to him, whether the pitcher threw 8 balls in a row or 25 balls in a row, if Miguel thinks it's a pitch he want's to swing at, let 'er rip big fella!