Game 2 Thoughts

[Bahama O's Fan]

I attended the game today, my first time ever to go to Tropicana Field. I actually liked the field. I know it's indoor and it's turf, etc, etc, etc... but I liked it. In Florida, where every summer day is 100 plus degress, it was nice to be down close to the field and not being out in the sun, burning up. I know that's hard to comprehend sometimes up north. What I liked about Lyles was he worked fast and threw strikes. He was ahead of several batters 0-2. He did not seem to be fooling anyone with his offspeed stuff and they ended up hitting his fastball. Several of the hits were just in the right place at the right time. Some of the hits were hit very hard though. I was impressed with Akin, as was anyone else. There were a few good defensive plays, Mountcastle at first being one of them. Mountcastle hid the ball hard, obviously. Two hitters looked lost, Mullins and Chirrios. The second is not big deal. The first, SSS.

[Bahama O's Fan]

Sorry, I also meant to say that I liked the fact that Tropicana is small and getting in and out of it was no big deal. It might be a different story if they ever packed the place.

[Can_of_corn]

8 minutes ago, Bahama O's Fan said:

I attended the game today, my first time ever to go to Tropicana Field. I actually liked the field. I know it's indoor and it's turf, etc, etc, etc... but I liked it. In Florida, where every summer day is 100 plus degress, it was nice to be down close to the field and not being out in the sun, burning up. I know that's hard to comprehend sometimes up north. What I liked about Lyles was he worked fast and threw strikes. He was ahead of several batters 0-2. He did not seem to be fooling anyone with his offspeed stuff and they ended up hitting his fastball. Several of the hits were just in the right place at the right time. Some of the hits were hit very hard though. I was impressed with Akin, as was anyone else. There were a few good defensive plays, Mountcastle at first being one of them. Mountcastle hid the ball hard, obviously. Two hitters looked lost, Mullins and Chirrios. The second is not big deal. The first, SSS.

Quote

Tampa's official high has never reached 100 °F (38 °C) – the city's all-time record temperature is 99 °F (37 °C). St. Petersburg's all-time record high is exactly 100 °F (38 °C).^[2]

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_Tampa_Bay_area

 

 

[Can_of_corn]

Sure does get to 95+ with high humidity a lot tho.

[Bahama O's Fan]

4 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_Tampa_Bay_area

 

 

Sorry, should have said FEELS LIKE 100 plus degrees. My mistake

[Bahama O's Fan]

Now, anyone else have thoughts about the game to add since we have covered the weather?

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, Bahama O's Fan said:

Sorry, should have said FEELS LIKE 100 plus degrees. My mistake

Sorry that 100 degree thing is maybe my favorite piece of trivia about Tampa. 

[Going Underground]

50 minutes ago, Bahama O's Fan said:

I attended the game today, my first time ever to go to Tropicana Field. I actually liked the field. I know it's indoor and it's turf, etc, etc, etc... but I liked it. In Florida, where every summer day is 100 plus degress, it was nice to be down close to the field and not being out in the sun, burning up. I know that's hard to comprehend sometimes up north. What I liked about Lyles was he worked fast and threw strikes. He was ahead of several batters 0-2. He did not seem to be fooling anyone with his offspeed stuff and they ended up hitting his fastball. Several of the hits were just in the right place at the right time. Some of the hits were hit very hard though. I was impressed with Akin, as was anyone else. There were a few good defensive plays, Mountcastle at first being one of them. Mountcastle hid the ball hard, obviously. Two hitters looked lost, Mullins and Chirrios. The second is not big deal. The first, SSS.

My friend who is a scout  for an American League East team says that Mullins in spring training and so far has looked more like the guy who was sent down then the guy last year. He thinks he will pull out of it but 5 K'S in 8 AB's. 2 games so hopefully he will pull out of his very little slump 

[Pickles]

I was thinking about starting a thread because I had the opportunity to closely watch the game with the exception of the first inning, and I had a few impressions:

1) Mountcastle looks noticeably bigger.  He obviously hit the homer but he also had a nice play at first.  I think there might be more upside there than he is popularly given credit for.

2) Mateo, despite the error, had a nice day in the field and at the plate.  Several good ABs, reached base a couple times, had the SB, and several nice plays in the field.

3) The entire infield, particularly Odor, was real sharp.  Several DPs, and several nice plays.  Every single player made a play of note.

4) Akin, as noted in Frobby's thread, looked real good.  His stuff isn't great, but he has to throw strikes, and he did.

5) Lyes, as noted in yet another thread, didn't look so good.

6) Santander is hitting the ball well so far this year.  Seems like every AB I've seen of his this year he has hit the ball very hard.

 

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, Pickles said:

I was thinking about starting a thread because I had the opportunity to closely watch the game with the exception of the first inning, and I had a few impressions:

1) Mountcastle looks noticeably bigger.  He obviously hit the homer but he also had a nice play at first.  I think there might be more upside there than he is popularly given credit for.

2) Mateo, despite the error, had a nice day in the field and at the plate.  Several good ABs, reached base a couple times, had the SB, and several nice plays in the field.

3) The entire infield, particularly Odor, was real sharp.  Several DPs, and several nice plays.  Every single player made a play of note.

4) Akin, as noted in Frobby's thread, looked real good.  His stuff isn't great, but he has to throw strikes, and he did.

5) Lyes, as noted in yet another thread, didn't look so good.

6) Santander is hitting the ball well so far this year.  Seems like every AB I've seen of his this year he has hit the ball very hard.

 

1- His sprint speed was 28.1 ft/sec last year.  I'm curious how fast it will decline year to year.  (was 28.0 in 2020)

[Pickles]

3 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

1- His sprint speed was 28.1 ft/sec last year.  I'm curious how fast it will decline year to year.  (was 28.0 in 2020)

I'm assuming this is a reference to Mateo?

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, Pickles said:

I'm assuming this is a reference to Mateo?

No.  Mountcastle

By one I meant one.

He's been pretty speedy for a 1B type but he will eventually slow.  I'm curious if added mass with expedite that process.

Mateo was at 30.4 last season (tied for 5th in the league).

[Pickles]

6 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

No.  Mountcastle

By one I meant one.

He's been pretty speedy for a 1B type but he will eventually slow.  I'm curious if added mass with expedite that process.

Mateo was at 30.4 last season (tied for 5th in the league).

Ah, ok.  I see.

He's still a young man.  Even with the added mass, I don't expect to see him slow dramatically quite yet.  The weight at least looks to be good weight.  He hit that ball out to RF today real easy.

[interloper]

Lyles' problem was just that none of his breaking pitches were landing for strikes, so they just sat fastball. That won't always be the case. I like that he got through five though.

I dunno who that was pretending to be Akin but it wasn't Akin. Wow.

Mullins is making me very nervous.

Adley can't get here quick enough.

Hays needs to get on the board.

Good defense so far! 

[wildcard]

11 hours ago, Going Underground said:

My friend who is a scout  for an American League East team says that Mullins in spring training and so far has looked more like the guy who was sent down then the guy last year. He thinks he will pull out of it but 5 K'S in 8 AB's. 2 games so hopefully he will pull out of his very little slump 

In ST Mullins looked like a veteran playing not to get hurt.  Didn't run out ground balla when I saw him.   He probably thought he could kick it in gear when the season began but now is have trouble doing that.

He is a high energy guy when he is right.  He should pull out of it.  I hope.