Wayne Kirby's Outfield Positioning (A rant thread)

[Old#5fan]

I may be alone in this as I am more of an old school baseball fan but I would much rather see Kirby cease his standard positioning of the corner outfielders in the power alley or gaps. Last night was a perfect example of the stupidity of it. He had Richard playing in essentially left center and the hitter doesn't get around on Tillman's fastball which seemed to have decent movement and bloops a very high pop up that even a slow left fielder playing a normal left field position easily catches but I doubt David Lough would have made that catch from where Kirby had Rickard stationed. I would much rather take my chances of getting beat by a ball hammered up the gap than a stupid bloop that should have been an easy out. I mean cmon if I was Tillman I would be po'd as to where Kirby had Rickard playing and to essentially make a great pitch and "allow" a game breaking "double" on account of Kirby thinking I am more likely to allow a ball hammered up the gap in left center. No wonder Palmer used to place his own outfielders. Maybe Tillman ought to copy Jim from here on out!

[notfast]

I don't think giving Tillman or any of the pitchers MORE stuff to try to control would be beneficial. At all.

[Old#5fan]

I don't think giving Tillman or any of the pitchers MORE stuff to try to control would be beneficial. At all.

Well how about a coach showing a little more faith than always playing corner outfielders up the power alleys? If a hitter hammers the ball up the alley IMO he earned a double and I would rather lose that way the having bloops beating you when pitchers are actually making good pitches that should be outs!

[Can_of_corn]

Going to blame the positioning on that one?

The rotation isn't good. They are probably bad. They might be terrible.

I don't think the outfield positioning should be high on the list of worries.

[Tony-OH]

Know what I'm sick of? The starting pitchers giving up five spots.

[LookitsPuck]

How about we pitch better?

[Tx Oriole]

I don't think giving Tillman or any of the pitchers MORE stuff to try to control would be beneficial. At all.

I agree.

[Old#5fan]

Know what I'm sick of? The starting pitchers giving up five spots.

I don't care about that at all when we are scoring 11 runs!:boogie::beerchug1::boogie:

[Old#5fan]

How about we pitch better?

Tillman gave up two extra runs due to inane outfield positioning - he pitched better than the box score showed. It wasn't like he was getting hit hard.3

[weams]

Know what I'm sick of? The starting pitchers giving up five spots.

Yes. But I love the outs at third.

[Old#5fan]

Going to blame the positioning on that one?

The rotation isn't good. They are probably bad. They might be terrible.

I don't think the outfield positioning should be high on the list of worries.

I blame the positioning period on a lot of our pitching issues. Put the corner outfielders where they belong. Too many bloops down the lines falling in playing three outfielders in centerfield essentially IMO.

[weams]

I blame the positioning period on a lot of our pitching issues. Put the corner outfielders where they belong. Too many bloops down the lines falling in playing three outfielders in centerfield essentially IMO.

I think the data says that all the shifting over the long hall is essentially neutral.

[Old#5fan]

I think the data says that all the shifting over the long hall is essentially neutral.

Then why do it? I rest my case. Put the corner outfielders at most slightly shaded one way or another. It gives the hitters credit for hitting the ball well and earning a double instead of getting cheap hits that should be outs with standard positioning.

[weams]

Then why do it? I rest my case. Put the corner outfielders at most slightly shaded one way or another. It gives the hitters credit for hitting the ball well and earning a double instead of getting cheap hits that should be outs with standard positioning.

You always try to cheat the margins. Someone has to be the smart guy in the room. Unless you are conceding it is someone other than you, case reopened.

[foxfield]

This is interesting, but let's be fair. If you don't like the positioning, it's on Buck. I am relatively certain that he can see where the OF is positioned and if he didn't like it I am pretty sure he would mention it to Kirby.

I'm not saying I agree of disagree with the original post, just saying I believe it is a decision that has been made at the top.