Some Random Opening Day Thoughts

[SteveA]

Watched the game at a sports bar so I couldn't participate in the game thread.   Got home and read the whole game thread, am I sick or what?   Anyway, my top ten thoughts on the game that I would have posted in the game thread if I had been there...

   1) I heard it mentioned during one of the ESPN broadcasts that they have changed the method of measuring pitch speed this year.   It will be closer to the readings that the scouts behind home plate get on their guns, which is the speed of the ball the instant it leaves the pitcher's hand, rather than it's speed about 10 feet after he has thrown it.   Since friction with air slows the ball down, that means that all readings will now be a bit faster.   So with that in mind, the fact that Gausman hit 99 at least once and that Wilson hit 93 should not be evidence of an increase in velocity.  (On the other hand, that means the slop Estrada was throwing up there was even slower than you would think by reading the numbers).

   2) Kind of an odd game for KG.  There were some beautiful mid 90s fastballs that had crazy movement, several other good pitches.   But his command was just off enough that he had a difficult start.   Threw too many pitches, was really helped out by the ball not carrying.   But hey, not everyone can have great command on Opening Day.   Hopefully that will come.   Clearly the pitches are there.

   3) Really disappointed by corner outfield defense, both Rickard and Smith had catchable balls fall in front of them.   Has anyone found the star rating of those two balls based on the new statcast outfield defense ratings system?

   4) Some sloppy infield play too.   Schoop and Hardy botched some plays they normally make.  

   5) Four or five days ago, everyone was sure the weather would suck and it would be rainy.   When will people stop believing forecasts that are more than 1-2 days out and putting ANY stock whatsoever in them?   They are worthless.

   6) I am not knowledgable enough to know about how some of the defensive metrics and defensive WAR are computed to know if it is properly taken into account...   But if Chris Davis doesn't get full credit for his ability to scoop all kinds of off target throws, if the metrics don't consider that AT LEAST as important if not MORE than his actual ability to field batted balls hit in his direction, than in my opinion the stats are not useful.   A first baseman has more balls thrown in his direction by the other 3 infielders than hit in his direction by batters, and the ability to do what Chris did today has to be a significant factor of any defensive evaluation, or else that evaluation has to be considered very suspect in terms of providing any trueeasure of his value.

   7) Bad baserunning on that play (or base coaching?).   But at least it wasn't Manny. 

   8) Adam took a walk!   On pace for 162!   I really thought he was going to walk it off... continuing his Captain America heroism.   But it wasn't to be.

   9) I hope Manny's wrist is OK but I don't have a good feeling about it. 

   10) Undefeated on Opening Day under Buck!!!!!!!!

[weams]

Manny Also was the Tub instigator with his trusty side kick. I think he will live. 

 

[waroriole]

Schoop was kinda sloppy. I'm a bit worried about a regression from him

[Can_of_corn]

About Gausman's velocity.  He's hit 100 before, slow gun or hot gun 99 isn't surprising.

[25 Nuggets]

3 minutes ago, waroriole said:

Schoop was kinda sloppy. I'm a bit worried about a regression from him

On the contrary, I think he hasn't put it all together quite yet.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

The one to Rickard in extras was completely catchable. I was in the seats almost lined up on the foul side of the ball and he stopped and let it drop maybe 5-6 feet infront of him. Honestly, he might have lost it in the lights (those LED's and the sky made it tough to track, even worse when the winds came in and the clouds got a bit of gray to them.)

Davis was a superstar with the scoops he made at first. He also made a nice jumping catch on a throw by Machado where he had to switch feet on the bag in midair.

[LA2]

31 minutes ago, SteveA said:

6) I am not knowledgable enough to know about how some of the defensive metrics and defensive WAR are computed to know if it is properly taken into account...   But if Chris Davis doesn't get full credit for his ability to scoop all kinds of off target throws, if the metrics don't consider that AT LEAST as important if not MORE than his actual ability to field batted balls hit in his direction, than in my opinion the stats are not useful.   A first baseman has more balls thrown in his direction by the other 3 infielders than hit in his direction by batters, and the ability to do what Chris did today has to be a significant factor of any defensive evaluation, or else that evaluation has to be considered very suspect in terms of providing any trueeasure of his value.

This is an excellent point that I hadn't really thought of before.

[Carllamy]

My thoughts and notions about Opening Day:

Got there at 1:30. I'm a big lapel pin guy. Last year I got there at 2:00 and all the Opening Day lapel pins were sold out. This year at 1:30 the lower level stores were sold out. I went to the upper deck and got one (very nice), but 15 minutes later I was talking to a vendor and she said they had just been told that all Team Stores were sold out of Opening Day lapel pins. Apparently they go fast.

Big crowd. The right field flag court was packed the whole game. Viewing was 4 people deep starting in the 1st inning. I met two guys wearing Toronto jerseys. They said they had driven down from Canada last night. How much do they like Jose Bautista there? One of them, instead of a name on the back of his jersey, had the words "Bat Flip" sewn on. They told me Toronto's season depends on 2 things: their 2nd baseman remaining healthy (apparently that is a possible issue) and their starting rotation staying healthy. They said they have no starting pitchers in the minors who could come up and help.

Kevin Gausman was out of the zone the whole game. When he was at 90 pitches he had like 42 or 43 balls, something like that. Almost 50/50 balls and strikes. Still, at 90+ pitches in the bottom of the 5th he was throwing gas at 97 and 98 mph.

They have a new special effect at the stadium. Now that the lights are LED and so light up immediately, they are blinking the lights in the light stanchions. It was a cool effect during a between-inning thing they did. It was really annoying when Trumbo hit the game winner. You wanted to cheer and watch him round the bases. Instead, you were noticing how much darker the stadium suddenly was when half the lights blinked out. Not a good effect at that time.

Joey Bautista looked bad. I know, 1 game, short sample. I can't say I noticed from my left field seats that his bat was slow or anything, but he didn't hit the ball particularly hard. I think we're going to be particularly glad that DD said Baltimore doesn't like him.

I went to try the new Chicken Tenders with crab dip sandwich at Bud and Burgers in the 3rd inning. They were sold out - IN THE THIRD INNING! Unacceptable (caveat, I know the gates opened up at Noon, so by the 3rd they had already been open 4 hours, but still, to sell out of a new product at your "premium" food vendor? Not good).

I didn't see Seth Smith take a bad swing. I think he'll be as advertised with the bat: a patient hitter who swings at pitches he wants to swing at.

When Hyun-Soo Kim was introduced, most people cheered, although some nitwits booed, my guess was to be funny. Joey Bautista was booed loudly and often, whenever he was mentioned. When he was booed in the intros they showed a close-up of the Toronto team line. They were all laughing. I guess it was expected. Hard to tell who got the most cheers, Adam Jones or Manny Machado. Several times when Adam Jones came to bat a LOT of people chanted "U.S.A, U.S.A." Steve Pearce got a nice reception with applause. As did Jim Palmer up in the tv booth.

Nice listening to a large portion of the crowd sing along with "God Bless America" during the very lengthy 7th inning stretch.

Nice to see the Maryland Air National Guard fly their A-10s over the stadium during the pre-game ceremonies.

In the 10th inning there had to be over 30,000 people still in the stadium. It really cleared out between the 10th and 11th, however.

 

[SteveA]

Good writeup Carl.

Bautista really helped us out a couple times swinging at pitches he shouldn't have swung at.

I'm anxious to see these new LED lights in person.   My first game is probably Saturday.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

1 hour ago, SteveA said:

Good writeup Carl.

Bautista really helped us out a couple times swinging at pitches he shouldn't have swung at.

I'm anxious to see these new LED lights in person.   My first game is probably Saturday.

If you go to  a night game, you'll really notice a difference. They do some effects (home run, when Britton came out, ect) but you'll really notice how bright they are at night. They are the same one the Braves put in their new stadium and the field was MUCH brighter. It was also a whole lot easier to lose the ball in them.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

I also am putting together a video for the footage I got from Opening Day. I avoided any game action, since I don't want to be sued. I'm hoping I got enough good footage, though the Bautista boos for his introduction is probably the best thing.

[El Gordo]

Seems like a lot of the OF on both sides were having trouble picking up the ball.

[Legend_Of_Joey]

20 minutes ago, El Gordo said:

Seems like a lot of the OF on both sides were having trouble picking up the ball.

It was tough. The ball blended in with the gray of the clouds and then the LEDs kicked in...Foul balls were scary and batting practice was an adventure...