4/19 Cubs (Steele) vs A's (TBD) - 2:37pm Marquee

[Brock Beauchamp]

Today, the Cubs not only face the vaunted A's lineup but they also face one of the scariest pitchers in MLB. A ghost of a man, known only in hushed circles as "TBD", he can throw with either hand at velocities not yet determined.

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

[champaignchris]

I really don’t want to jinx him, but I just don’t see these A’s scoring much against Justin Steele. 

[UMFan83]

Did not realize @Brock Beauchamp was such an elite game thread starter.  Keep it going!

[Tim]

1 minute ago, UMFan83 said:

Did not realize @Brock Beauchamp was such an elite game thread starter.  Keep it going!

Could be one of the prime benefits of the new administration. I didn't realize I was helping the team so much!

[squally1313]

The As pitcher is Mason Miller. Flashy prospect making his debut after like 30 total innings in the minors. Went out in AAA last week and dominated...hit triple digits, 11 Ks in 5 innings, think it was hitless with maybe one walk. I would say he's going to be pretty nervous, but assume his last start had about 3x the amount of people in attendance that this one will. 

[sneakypower]

it's likely Mason Miller, who has eye-popping whiff rates through his short milb career and may very well be this year's Spencer Strider

appointment viewing, if so

[sneakypower]

2 minutes ago, squally1313 said:

The As pitcher is Mason Miller. Flashy prospect making his debut after like 30 total innings in the minors. Went out in AAA last week and dominated...hit triple digits, 11 Ks in 5 innings, think it was hitless with maybe one walk. I would say he's going to be pretty nervous, but assume his last start had about 3x the amount of people in attendance that this one will. 

yeah nobody can touch this guy, but have to think it's just 4 innings or so in the cards for him anyway

[muntjack]

The handling of Nelson Velazquez has been very disappointing

edit: Derp.  Just saw he was back down as of the 15th. 

Edited April 19, 2023 by muntjack
General foolishness

[Transmogrified Tiger]

 

Looks like Mancini is being given the full breather to reset(or he's hurting?), and Seiya gets the day after night game off as a precaution after just coming back.  Add in Torrens starting last night and not being a good matchup today, and the 9 pretty much choose themselves.

[UMFan83]

1 hour ago, muntjack said:

The handling of Nelson Velazquez has been very disappointing

edit: Derp.  Just saw he was back down as of the 15th. 

Point still stands.  I get that they want to get a look at Rios, but he has an option.  I still don't get Torrens...guess they put him in there vs. lefties but Vazquez hits better vs. lefties, and Torrens has only caught 3 innings this year so its not like they desperately need another option at catcher, they need a DH vs. lefties.

So its likely the same reason they have Morel down at Iowa, they want him getting consistent ABs.  I'd throw Mervis in there too but the excuse doesn't fly when your current 1B options are barely hitting better than pitchers did.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Okay, so Mason Miller looks fierce.

The A's still suck.

[Tim]

7 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Okay, so Mason Miller looks fierce.

The A's still suck.

This kid has some crazy arm strength

[itisallpartoftheplan]

Great launch angle by Hosmer

[Brock Beauchamp]

1 minute ago, Tim said:

This kid has some crazy arm strength

The velocity in modern baseball is pretty mind-blowing. I wish there was an easy way to curtail it a bit because it's kinda not good for the sport.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Just now, itisallpartoftheplan said:

Great launch angle by Hosmer

xBA of .010 on that one, surprised he's not on base.

[soccer10k]

LOL any the A’s manager running out to argue that call at third. For one, that’s what instant replay is for. And for two, it wasn’t even close that the guy came off the bag.

[Tim]

Steele is so good over the past 10 or so months.

Also, if your argument is that Madrigal pushed you off the base, you should think about how that's going to sound later

[sneakypower]

imagine arguing that Nick Madrigal outmuscled you in some way

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Huge advantage to no fans is hearing everything Kotsay is saying.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Even Kotsay doesn’t want to watch the A’s.

[Brock Beauchamp]

In other news, I’m starting to suspect I vastly underrated Justin Steele heading into the season. 

[Tim]

Just now, Brock Beauchamp said:

In other news, I’m starting to suspect I vastly underrated Justin Steele heading into the season. 

Easy to do. He doesn't have the velocity you expect from an ace. 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I can't rewind my shady internet site. What was Hosmer doing after making the throw to Dansby? He couldn't have been that far from the bag that Steele had to cover.

[Brock Beauchamp]

That’s certainly a way to get on base, Hosmer. 

[Ding Dong Johnson]

The beauty of baseball is that what Hosmer just did and what Madrigal just did both go in the books as a single.