Cool Groks, 4.22.17
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GROK 1
Bob Dutton reports that Leonydas' job is now fair game for outfielders who play good. We doubt that the Denizens will storm the gates, either here or downtown, against this concept.
Remember it well, young man: Stars & Scrubs allows you to swap out broken parts. Of which the Mariners will find they were mistaken about a great. many. things. As was Dr. D, but that's why he plays Stars & Scrubs too.
Other fungibles: Danny Valencia at a 36 OPS, Ariel Miranda (more their idea than mine, judging by Rizzs' tone in the first inning), and most of the bullpen.
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GROK 2
The M's are right around .500 Pythag and we're in the first three weeks. According to Billy Beane we got five more weeks before we have to start SEEKING our missing pieces.
... the bullpen will shake out, and the offense is already around 100; the real decisions are in the rotation. Here's to their getting made quick. So far I like the M's track record of slamming gears quick.
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GROK 3
Here was our Mar. 1 first-take on Chase de Jong. Whatever it was then, make it better after Saturday. Those were some kewl changeups and 12-6ers. Dr. D never tires of comparing this kind of pitcher to Brian Holman ...
Wouldn't that be something if Jerry Dipoto was ahead of the SSI curve on some starting pitcher or other. The kid does need to start selling some 2-strike changeups outside the zone, though.
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GROK 4
Quick reminder than in any one baseball game, the BIGGEST SINGLE factor is luck. That is, unless the hits are 9:2 or something. Killed me to see Taylor Motter get his pitch, blast it, and the ball hang up a bit in the gap.
Whether a hitter gets a 12-degree or 14-degree launch angle, that's luck, just like Voros McCracken's BABIP is luck. These guys can't hit gnats with razor swords. Where the bat makes contact on the ball is always partly luck. It's cliche, but we're 19 games in. If the M's were 55-54 that would be fine too, except maybe for the Astros. :- /
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GROK 5
Super nice to see Iwakuma's noodle arm tend more towards al dente. His Brooks was fine. His K:BB is most certainly not. Nor are his diving zone numbers, such as his whiff rate and first strike rate.
I ain't letting go of Taro's (and now IceX's) RP idea until somebody does it to him. Probably the A's, right?
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GROK 6
Is anybody starting to think of Mitch Haniger as a poor man's Mike Trout rather than a poor man's Jason Heyward?
It looks like the M's sport 5 valid stars in their lineup, with 4 scrubs, and you gotta be able to figure something outta that. The Red Sox always do.
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BABVA,
Dr D