Malike

Oh, I'm not suggesting that we sign them long-term, but I am suggesting they are both going to be vital pieces to the team this year and should not be replaced for prospects in a stretch run. I don't think Urias, with 263ABs, is in a first-string role right now, so there is nothing to hold on to for him.

You'll get no argument from me, there. Everything looks more controlled and relaxed.

Thanks, didn't notice that I'll check that first batter again. Yeah, it looks like he just went from the 2nd to the third set, thanks for the catch, I thought I started the game with the first batter. This is that same game. Possibly holding the ball a little lower than in May. He has changed with runners on by making no change, it appears. Ever so slight right knee bend.

This is Urias' age 28 season, veteranosity? Santander is also 28, despite these guys being on the team for a while none of them are old. Ramon has been worth 1.3 WAR in very limited ABs this year, another underrated player who people are dying to ship out.

Borderline all-star with his defense, I'd take that over Mateo.

He just looks more relaxed in his final (so far) iteration of his set position. He's tinkered a bit this year and hopefully, found the one that works for him. The second photo was his set in May when people said he might have been tipping pitches, you can see the ball pretty clearly in his glove, glad they went lower to the belt since coming back up.

He's certainly a lock to stick a SS. It's just really hard to gauge hitters in the IL this year because everyone is hitting the cover off the ball.

Everyone is hitting like an all-star in the IL this year. Since Westburg came up the Tides don't even have anyone in the top 20 in OPS, I believe.

16-5 since the break. They aren't going away.

I don't think there is a single person who doesn't think he's the best defender in the system.

He went from this To this To this

4 pitch K to Rortvedt, 7 pitch AB to Torres, 7 pitch AB to judge, 11 pitch AB to Rizzo. No player got a hit but he threw 29 pitches.

Hence my stating that going through an order 3 times is already a very difficult thing and if you can command only 1 pitch, it's going to be darn near impossible.

I still feel like Santander is criminally underrated by a lot of people. I have more faith in him than just about anyone on the team in big situations.

His fastball was excellent, it didn't prevent prolonged ABs last night because he had difficulty putting people away with it later in the game. I don't care who you are, going through an order 3 times is already a very difficult thing and if you can command only 1 pitch, it's going to be darn near impossible. Mariano Rivera was a starter once and even his unhittable cutter couldn't keep him in the rotation. Now I'm not saying Grayson isn't a SP, he is, the more confidence and feel he gets for his offspeed offerings is going to make him a monster.

I fully expect at some point they'll just use CGI on TV to make it look like the stands are full for most teams.

I can't think of a sport that has people holding on to the edge of their seats more than baseball. There have been games (in the playoffs) where I feel like I've forgotten to breathe after each pitch.

I thought he was good, but he did have trouble putting people away, which doesn't mean he needs to strike everyone out, just making quality pitches with the off-speed would have helped him a lot in the 6th.

They were also winning with Mateo at SS. It doesn't stop people from wondering why you run a guy out there with an OPS+ of 25 who hasn't shown a single flash of anything really with the bat or in the field. His only extra-base hit was thanks to Schwarber being in LF that day. I want him to get reps every day, he's not going to get better if he's sitting on the bench. I also don't think we're going to hit on every single prospect we bring up and some will likely bust, he might, who knows? He's shown very little.

He changed his set position. Instead of doing this out in front of his face like he used to, he's setting more like Bautista at the waist.

You don't have to apologize, but it certainly wasn't me.

He looked great, he did have some issues putting guys away with 2 strikes, and his breaking stuff wasn't that great, but he was pumping that fastball to all quadrants.

Well, at least you don't follow them.

Probably saved a run for Cano with the diving catch as well. That's 3 bases if he lays out and misses that ball.

Damn, looks like Tony lost all his power.