Chimpton

Do you think it is worth leaving Lopez where he is as it seems to be working so well? As for Keuchel he is rapidly becoming 5th starter if that and should be out of the rotation come post season.

Three questions after last night's amazing game. 1) Has Keuchel pitched his way out of the post season rotation? 2) Why was Kimbrel used in the 9th when there was a 7 run lead & he had pitched the day before? 3) Finally it was good to see Reynaldo Lopez looking so good and is the bullpen his future now or will he be on another team next year?

Oh for sure, Ricky was a vital stage in the rebuild and taught the players some good habits.

The coasting issue is a worry as it would be hard to simply switch on post season if this end of season coasting continues, especially when looking at the record against winning teams.

Remind me what happened to Ricky's team post season. I would take TLR having a lower winning % over a full season and a better post season run.

Here in the UK just got in from walking the dog and as luck would have it on BTSport channel they are doing a full replay of the FoD game, just seen Eloy's opposite field home run, Now just have to wait to see TA's walk off !!

They still didn't hit enough home runs!

Just as concerning is the 15-19 record against teams over .500, but maybe the two things are linked.

Either that or it shows a worrying lack of mental toughness amongst the players in tight games either way it is not a good statistic especially as postseason games are likely to be close run things.

Well yes I was surprised to see the line-up yesterday, but even so you would kind of hope that those who were picked are capable of 1 run in 9 innings.

Ok maybe calling it a nothing game is over doing it a bit, but last night's game wasn't lost by the pitchers giving up 1 run, it was the hitters failing to muster even one run against a team that has been leaking runs, and a pitcher who has hardly been lights out.

You're right, but as I said it was a nothing game in August and if pitchers like Ruiz aren't fit to be ever used what is the point of having them filling up a roster spot? I know we all want the WS to win every game and play their best team every game that is not practical or possible, sometimes you need to utilise the squad, especially when the division is pretty much safe barring a monumental screw up.

I assume you would rather burn out Hendricks and Kimbrel now to win a Wednesday game in August when we have a 10.5 game lead rather than have them fresh for October?

With a 10.5 game lead I don't see the problem with keeping Hendricks fresh for the post season, over the last few weeks people were criticising the team for not resting Rodon who is now on the IL. In the post season Kimbrel and Hendricks will be pitching more than the "8th inning of an elimination game when the team is already down" and pitchers like Ruiz will rarely be seen. The Kimbrel trade was made with post season in mind not a Wednesday night game in August which whilst annoying to lose is pretty irrelevant in the big picture of a deep post season run.

The trade was done whether you like it or not. The simple question is will Kimbrel be more useful in helping the WS win a World Series this season or next than Madrigal and Heuer? If the answer is yes then it was a trade that was productive even if Madrigal proves to be as good as he looked.

I got the impression he didn't take being sent down to Charlotte well and his poor pitching was as much in his head as mechanical.

But at the moment he isn't doing 'awful' and is contributing to the team, picking a player when they are in good form is common sense. No one is suggesting he is up to a high pressure situation but when long relief is needed he should be the go to guy at the moment while his good form lasts.

I think Seby catches better, but his hitting needs to improve (one game aside). Collins seems like he will always be too limited defensively to be a starting catcher but as a first round pick the front office seem determined to give him enough chances, unless Grandal returns fully fit to catch and stays that way this could be a big weakness/decision ahead.

Unfortunately minor muscle injuries are to be expected when someone returns from a long layoff to elite level sport, a minor league rehab stint can only bring a certain level of match fitness but playing in the MLB is a bigger test. That is why I was disappointed that an experienced catcher wasn't acquired on deadline day, as Grandal will be lucky to stay totally healthy, calf injuries are hard to clear up and as a catcher his calfs are under more stress than in some positions.

Agreed, players returning from long injury layoffs often pick up niggling little injuries as their body isn't attuned to top level sport.

Lucky the Central Division is so poop otherwise the 8 game lead will be gone in about 2 weeks.

I hope we don't see this line up ever again; the Royals look like the team 8 games up in the division.

I thought Yermin was also bad at catching?

Thanks, it was a shame England didn't win the final but penalties are always a lottery!

Thanks guys, your answers make sense to me now, and helps explain why Eloy is in LF.