Cowser on the HBP

[Moose Milligan]

27 minutes ago, LookitsPuck said:

At least Colton has the rookie excuse. Santander was the biggest issue to me. Bases juiced, nobody out, and he's up there predictably hacking at balls at his head. The Royals had a report on him and just pounded that report and Tony made zero adjustments when it mattered. 

Correct.  Letter high and shoulder high fastballs.  I mean, I had a report on him too and I was on my couch three beers deep.

It was obvious as to what they were going to do to him....probably obvious to everyone except him, and yet he was still up there swinging at pitches he couldn't hit and easily could have drawn a walk instead.

 

[sportsfan8703]

7 hours ago, casadeozo said:

Link?

Link added to OP. 

[Morgan423]

To me it looked like he was reflexively trying to deflect the ball away. 

But as a hitter you've got to be ready to override that.  Especially on a far-too-inside fastball that you have very little chance of dodging of deflecting off of you anyway. 

At that moment it sucks that there's no good outcome, but trying to deflect it just makes it worse.  If he'd just tried to turn away instead, it probably comes out better not only for the team but also for him (he probably doesn't take that pitch off of the most fragile part of the hand).  

[Can_of_corn]

7 minutes ago, Morgan423 said:

To me it looked like he was reflexively trying to deflect the ball away. 

But as a hitter you've got to be ready to override that.  Especially on a far-too-inside fastball that you have very little chance of dodging of deflecting off of you anyway. 

At that moment it sucks that there's no good outcome, but trying to deflect it just makes it worse.  If he'd just tried to turn away instead, it probably comes out better not only for the team but also for him (he probably doesn't take that pitch off of the most fragile part of the hand).  

Happened once to me in little league.

No one was on base tho and we didn't make the playoffs.

[eddie83]

 

[joelala]

36 minutes ago, Morgan423 said:

To me it looked like he was reflexively trying to deflect the ball away. 

But as a hitter you've got to be ready to override that.  Especially on a far-too-inside fastball that you have very little chance of dodging of deflecting off of you anyway. 

At that moment it sucks that there's no good outcome, but trying to deflect it just makes it worse.  If he'd just tried to turn away instead, it probably comes out better not only for the team but also for him (he probably doesn't take that pitch off of the most fragile part of the hand).  

He was guess hitting like he did for a lot of the season.

[Spakman]

10 hours ago, TommyPickles said:

I was in the stadium for that. The fifth inning of that game 2 will go down in infamy. It's up there with Ubaldo coming in to pitch the eleventh in that wild card game in Toronto.

That said, I appreciate this quote from Cowser. 

 

He “kinda”let the team down. Honestly, what else is he gonna say? I’m not talented enough to hit the pitch that is thrown to me. I have to totally guess every single time or I can’t hit it.

[kaj21206]

Santander's AB was the key to the inning.  What was frustrating is the Tony can take great at bats.  He has often fouled off numerous pitches until he gets one to hit.  He was just hacking that time.  Once he popped up, it didn't surprise me what happened next.

[e16bball]

I don’t think “not taking accountability/responsibility/blame” is Colton’s issue. Frankly, I think anyone who thinks that is an issue for him hasn’t been paying very close attention.

I get that people — especially pissed off, frustrated fans, which we all are — want to see someone taking responsibility and accepting blame and acknowledging how big and crushing their failure was. But I don’t think that’s always a very productive mindset for professional athletes. 

No one wants a shooter who comes into the huddle before the final shot saying “guys, I know I’m 1 for 13, I’m killing the team, and I’m really sorry about it. Try to avoid passing me the ball if you can because I just don’t have it and I’ve already let the team down enough tonight.” No one wants a press corner who breaks the defensive huddle thinking “this receiver’s way better than me, he just torched me on that last play, realistically I got no chance to hang with him. I better just sit back and give him a big cushion, try to minimize the damage.”

And no one wants a hitter in baseball who can’t let go of his failures and keeps beating himself up for letting the team down. There’s a reason why you’d probably rather have a Manny Ramirez — blissfully indifferent to his prior failures, focused only on each fleeting moment, deeply satisfied that he’s the right man for the job — up there in high leverage moments than an Alex Rodriguez, who was constantly fretting about his performance, legacy, image, etc.

It’s hard to say for sure from the outside. But I’d lay pretty good money that our kids (and especially Colton) cared and beat themselves up too much for their various struggles and failures, rather than too little. 

[Can_of_corn]

5 minutes ago, e16bball said:

I don’t think “not taking accountability/responsibility/blame” is Colton’s issue. Frankly, I think anyone who thinks that is an issue for him hasn’t been paying very close attention.

I get that people — especially pissed off, frustrated fans, which we all are — want to see someone taking responsibility and accepting blame and acknowledging how big and crushing their failure was. But I don’t think that’s always a very productive mindset for professional athletes. 

No one wants a shooter who comes into the huddle before the final shot saying “guys, I know I’m 1 for 13, I’m killing the team, and I’m really sorry about it. Try to avoid passing me the ball if you can because I just don’t have it and I’ve already let the team down enough tonight.” No one wants a press corner who breaks the defensive huddle thinking “this receiver’s way better than me, he just torched me on that last play, realistically I got no chance to hang with him. I better just sit back and give him a big cushion, try to minimize the damage.”

And no one wants a hitter in baseball who can’t let go of his failures and keeps beating himself up for letting the team down. There’s a reason why you’d probably rather have a Manny Ramirez — blissfully indifferent to his prior failures, focused only on each fleeting moment, deeply satisfied that he’s the right man for the job — up there in high leverage moments than an Alex Rodriguez, who was constantly fretting about his performance, legacy, image, etc.

It’s hard to say for sure from the outside. But I’d lay pretty good money that our kids (and especially Colton) cared and beat themselves up too much for their various struggles and failures, rather than too little. 

Manny-

Low leverage - 969 OPS

High leverage - 1018

Arod-

Low leverage - 942

High leverage - 952

 

I'd be fine with either.

[e16bball]

1 hour ago, Can_of_corn said:

Manny-

Low leverage - 969 OPS

High leverage - 1018

Arod-

Low leverage - 942

High leverage - 952

 

I'd be fine with either.

Yeah, I did that splits check too. The playoffs splits for A-Rod are a little wider, which is more what I was referring to — although that’s not necessarily more applicable to Colton. What I really had in mind was that period of time including and for several years after the 3-0 series collapse when the best baseball player on earth was absolutely worthless in the postseason.

But if you don’t like the example, that’s okay. Feel free to substitute another guy whose struggles snowballed and got in his head and then couldn’t produce in big moments. It won’t change the point of the post at all. 

Edited 3 hours ago by e16bball

[Can_of_corn]

3 minutes ago, e16bball said:

Yeah, I did that splits check too. The playoffs splits for A-Rod are a little wider, which is more what I was referring to — although that’s not necessarily more applicable to Colton. What I really had in mind was that period of time including and for several years after the 3-0 series collapse when the best baseball player on earth was absolutely worthless in the postseason.

But if you don’t like the example, feel free to substitute another guy who got in his head and couldn’t produce in big moments. It won’t change the point of the post at all. 

But your Manny numbers aren't all that impressive either.  It's what, 5% higher?

Postseason stats are, to me, even less valuable.  You are talking maybe 3 games one year, 10 games another, spread out over a couple of decades?

The offensive environment can change pretty dramatically over the course of a career.

Edited 2 hours ago by Can_of_corn

[TradeAngelos]

It' so funny that even with new ownership, Burnes is already written off and not even in the conversation. Don't even waste your energy he is gone! When we need starting pitching depth. Very telling. Oh but we are going to sign some other guys to "upgrade" the staff.......without Burnes. Sure they are. Wake me up when they are willing to pay the freight for a legit TOR starter. What you need to actually compete with the best, who have them in multiples. 

[wildcard]

I am wondering about  Cowser's off season workouts.  When will he be able to lift weights?  Do push ups? Swing a bat?   

[wildcard]

3 minutes ago, TradeAngelos said:

It' so funny that even with new ownership, Burnes is already written off and not even in the conversation. Don't even waste your energy he is gone! When we need starting pitching depth. Very telling. Oh but we are going to sign some other guys to "upgrade" the staff.......without Burnes. Sure they are. Wake me up when they are willing to pay the freight for a legit TOR starter. What you need to actually compete with the best, who have them in multiples. 

I have not heard what the O's will do about Burnes.  Any link on a position from the O's?