Re: GameTime!™

25941
Who d'em guys?

Winning with the long ball is an anomaly for this team. Lets just take the wins any way you can.

A signature win. Keep the pressure on and force some mental and physical errors.

This team is just hard to defend. Although it hasn't proven out in these playoffs, this team is hard to strike out. They lead the majors in fewest strikeouts per game.
Even though the Guardians are the youngest team in baseball, they have found a way to avoid striking out. They have the least amount of strikeouts in baseball with 702 heading into Sunday's game against the Rays. This comes out to a strikeout percentage of 18.6 percent.
I've always said that when you put the ball in play, good things can happen. Evidence today's winning effort in the 10th inning. Strikeouts are 100% non-productive. With all the top quality pitching around the league, contact becomes even more important.

I hope this win sucked some of the wind out of the Yankee sails. It had to be a disheartening loss after taking an early lead with the long ball only to be defeated nine innings later by a couple of dying quails.

Going scoreless for the next nine innings also had to be disheartening.

It has to be disheartening just to see a team so young, with one of the lowest salaries in baseball, coming from a small market, going toe to toe against one of the most storied teams in all of baseball.

Conversely, this win should be a huge confidence builder for Cleveland. After falling behind in the first inning by a pair of runs, these guys kept chipping away at the lead only to win in extra innings.

What new?

These guys just have a knack, an uncanny ability to stay in ball games only to win late. This really seems to be their strong suit. Their "modus operandi". In my opinion, I think this team thrives on this kind pressure. Practically welcomes it. I don't think the Yankees are prepared for this style of baseball.

Gotta love these guys.

This season has already been a huge success, win or lose.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

25942
A big part of this has to do with Steven Kwan and Jose Ramirez being two of the most disciplined batters in the league. Kwan has the lowest strikeout percentage in baseball with 8.5 percent and Ramirez has the third lowest with 9.6 percent.

Having these two players at the top of your lineup is going to put a massive strain on opposing pitchers. They are either going to get on base or work the count up.

A lot of people around baseball have been asking how the Guardians have been able to stay in postseason contention despite being so young. Well, there's your answer. They give themselves a chance by not striking out and putting pressure on the defense to make plays.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

25943
“José is probably the only player in baseball that ends up on third with that ball,” Francona said. “He got that coming out of the box and he had the wherewithal knowing he could get to third. That was pretty remarkable.”
*
The Guardians have preached all season that Ramírez needs to be the player who sets the example of doing all the little things correctly. Nearly every time he has the opportunity to make the slightest bit of a difference, especially on the bases, he capitalizes.

“We know how good a player he is,” Gonzalez said via interpreter Agustin Rivero. “He's a good example to follow, and he always tells me to play hard because you never know what can happen.”

With no one out and Ramírez on third, Gonzalez just needed to put the ball in play. He made weak contact on a 1-2 curveball from Jameson Taillon (58.9 mph exit velocity) that found grass in shallow right field, easily scoring Ramírez to give Cleveland the lead. After Gonzalez’s walk-off homer in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series last weekend, his two go-ahead hits are tied with Bert Campaneris (1973) for the second most in a single postseason, trailing just David Ortiz (three) in 2004.
*
“It’s gonna be a phenomenal weekend,” Guardians starter Shane Bieber said. “I’m excited to feel the energy and go out there and play our game.”
Last edited by joez on Fri Oct 14, 2022 9:21 pm, edited 2 times in total.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

25944
A long time fan, short in stature, big at heart ;)
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

25945
I guess it was only a matter of time before the Yankees brought out the long ball. Had to keep the ball in the ball in the park.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

25946
Bottom of the 9th. One out. Runners on the corners. Jose at the plate. Naylor on deck.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

25947
Sorry. Rosario at bat. Ramirez on deck.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

25948
Rosario singles. 5-4
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

25949
Ramiirez single to short. Bases loaded. One out.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller

Re: GameTime!™

25950
Naylor at bat. Gonzalez on deck. Gimenez in the hole.
“Every day is a new opportunity. You can build on yesterday's success or put its failures behind and start over again. That's the way life is, with a new game every day, and that's the way baseball is.”
-- Bob Feller