"The reports," Pirates coach Rich Donnelly explained, "basically showed he doesn't strike out, doesn't pop up and has no holes. It's like with Tony Gwynn, Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols. When you go over the reports on hitters like that, you basically just go, 'Next.' Why waste five minutes? And Mauer is putting himself in that class."
Posted by alangage at June 24, 2009 03:14 PM
Comments
I think the title of this post should be "Andy swoons over Mauer."
Also, it's no wonder the Pirates are always at or near the bottom of the standings if their coaching staff doesn't even try to create a strategy to get the opponent out.
Posted by: cody at June 25, 2009 08:13 AM
Mauer's like 2-23 lately. No swoon for Andy.
Good point about the Pirates. I think we can all learn from Homer: Never try.
Posted by: Andy at June 25, 2009 10:24 AM
What is the Pirates coaching staff so bogged down with if they can't take 5 minutes to plan a pitching strategy to opposing hitters? And it seems like 5 minutes might seem a little skimpy, to me. I don't say to myself, "Well, my annual review is tomorrow. My boss is unflinching, immovable, and lacks compassionate toward my both my existence and my pitch detailing how I'm valuable to this organization. Why waste the 5 minutes prepping for the review?"
Now, that I've typed that, I think I should just omit the 5 minutes of prep time. My boss has his mind made up on my employment status and pay raise before the review ever begins. I could simply "prepare" by showing up to the meeting sober and verbally meandering through the progress I've made over the past year. I don't need a plan! Lacking direction and desire works for Pirates! After all, the Pirates have not been contracted from MLB despite consecutive decades of sub-par performance. How could I get fired for consecutive months of failing to meet reasonable expectations? And there's always the hope and promise of next year's review!
Posted by: cody at June 25, 2009 11:02 AM
It's dumb too because right in the article Mauer says he figured out one day that he likes them a little high in the zone. And he doesn't swing on the first pitch very often. And he changes up his stance when he has two strikes. Sooo... you can't figure out something based on those nuggets of information, Pirates?
I'd give him a changeup down the heart of the plate the first pitch. Assuming he doesn't swing, next go for the fastball. Then, once he has two strikes and has widened his stance, bean him in the kneecap.
Posted by: Andy at June 25, 2009 12:37 PM
Another one bites the dust.
Posted by: Sports Illustrated Jinx at June 26, 2009 04:14 PM
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