I think we can all admit that May was a bit lucky, especially when you consider the fact that we have the worst run differential in the division.

 

With Bonifacio hurt and Gaby's struggles (+ Lomo, I guess), this lineup looks terrible on a nightly basis. Coghlan, Kearns, Petersen, Ruggiano, Solano, Murphy, Hayes...Buck as well, but it was rather impossible to predict he'd be this bad; he'll probably get better because he's been unlucky, but he's not a good hitter, anyway.

 

We were carried in May by stellar pitching that was bound to regress a bit at some point. (case in point, Zambrano tonight)

 

Perhaps I'm wrong but does this look like anything other than a .500 team at this point? Maybe worse, especially when you consider the quality of the division?

 

Like, there are definitely some hitters who should be expected to perform better but the lineup is just not that good.

 

I do not understand why they do not callup Gaby already to see if he comes back to the #'s of his first two years. He's a better player than the crap we continue to throw out there on a daily basis.

I'd surprised if we get even 80 wins this season, unless we add another bat.

Yeah it's time to get Gaby back up.

 

When more than half the lineup is crap, that's going to catch up to you sooner or later.

I don't agree. I said before the off season that this team is capable of winning 90 games and I stand by that. Obviously, we have to let everything play out but at this point I feel we're just in a slump that was expected to happen. It happens to the best of teams.

The team was never that good to begin with, it starts and ends with a solid farm system, without one we don't have the depth we need, all the above mentioned players are career Triple A players to think otherwise is stupid. I was never a fan of the Buehrle, Zambrano, Bell situation either, we should have gone after a younger player who would be able to help the team long term, see Gio and CJ. This front office had the money to do something and I glad they at least spent some money but idk it's hard to feel optimistic seeing how things are now, even with the majority of the starting 5 on in May besides JJ we impressed but until this team learns how to hit situationally nothing is going to change. They need to fire Perez the fact that he is still here worries me. They also need to add a bat its a must.

 

All isn't doom and gloom yet but to expect anything more than a .500 season is pushing it in my mind. It pisses me off to see how fast the Nationals turned it around but thats what pitching does and they went after the right guy, I guess it also helps to suck year after year.

I don't agree. I said before the off season that this team is capable of winning 90 games and I stand by that. Obviously, we have to let everything play out but at this point I feel we're just in a slump that was expected to happen. It happens to the best of teams.

 

 

Currently losing 7-0, our run differential is at -24.

Also the run differential is very concerning.

I don't agree. I said before the off season that this team is capable of winning 90 games and I stand by that. Obviously, we have to let everything play out but at this point I feel we're just in a slump that was expected to happen. It happens to the best of teams.

 

 

Currently losing 7-0, our run differential is at -24.

 

That's what happens when you lose 6 games in a row. Before the last two series, our run differential was +5. Not exactly elite but not on the negative side.

Yeah it's time to get Gaby back up.

 

When more than half the lineup is crap, that's going to catch up to you sooner or later.

 

 

Gaby is not starting tonite for New Orleans maybe he will be recall for tommorrow's game?

I don't agree. I said before the off season that this team is capable of winning 90 games and I stand by that. Obviously, we have to let everything play out but at this point I feel we're just in a slump that was expected to happen. It happens to the best of teams.

 

 

Currently losing 7-0, our run differential is at -24.

 

That's what happens when you lose 6 games in a row. Before the last two series, our run differential was +5. Not exactly elite but not on the negative side.

 

You can't just take away the worst games and include the best; it is what it is.

I don't agree. I said before the off season that this team is capable of winning 90 games and I stand by that. Obviously, we have to let everything play out but at this point I feel we're just in a slump that was expected to happen. It happens to the best of teams.

 

 

Currently losing 7-0, our run differential is at -24.

 

That's what happens when you lose 6 games in a row. Before the last two series, our run differential was +5. Not exactly elite but not on the negative side.

 

You can't just take away the worst games and include the best; it is what it is.

 

But I'm not. I'm telling you not to expect a team to have a positive run differential after they lose 6 games in a row. It's a long season. Let it play out.

I don't agree. I said before the off season that this team is capable of winning 90 games and I stand by that. Obviously, we have to let everything play out but at this point I feel we're just in a slump that was expected to happen. It happens to the best of teams.

 

 

Currently losing 7-0, our run differential is at -24.

 

That's what happens when you lose 6 games in a row. Before the last two series, our run differential was +5. Not exactly elite but not on the negative side.

 

You can't just take away the worst games and include the best; it is what it is.

 

But I'm not. I'm telling you not to expect a team to have a positive run differential after they lose 6 games in a row. It's a long season. Let it play out.

 

That makes no f***ing sense.

 

The sample size is 59, not 6.

 

You're drinking some good kool-aid if that's your interpretation of the run differential #.

Would read again

This is starting to feel like we're the Giants, though. The pitchers are going to start feeling like they HAVE to be as close to perfect as possible or we're going to lose.

@Erick

 

It does make sense. I'm not using a 6 game sample size to judge the season so far. I said that before our recent 6 game skid, our run differential was positive. What did you expect after losing 6 games?

 

If we win our next 5 games and put out run differential back to +5, would you feel better again?

This is starting to feel like we're the Giants, though. The pitchers are going to start feeling like they HAVE to be as close to perfect as possible or we're going to lose.

 

 

The Giants seem to be the team that does this best.

 

I think the differences, however, are:

-weaker division

-better high-leverage relievers

 

I also wouldn't think of them as one of the best teams in baseball, although they are playoff contenders.

 

Their current run differential is also a +10.

 

I get what you're saying about them, though; they usually outperform what their run differential indicates. The depth of their bullpen definitely helps them in this case.

@Erick

 

It does make sense. I'm not using a 6 game sample size to judge the season so far. I said that before our recent 6 game skid, our run differential was positive. What did you expect after losing 6 games?

 

If we win our next 5 games and put out run differential back to +5, would you feel better again?

 

 

A +5 over the course of the season would basically lead to a .500 season which is what I said in the OP. With that said, I still don't understand why we should take out the last 6 games, anyway. I could easily take out the 6 best games and our run differential would be sh*t, again. That's not the way it works.

 

Texas has struggled since their hot start. The Cardinals have struggled. All of the best of teams (which is what you called this team) have had stretches where they've struggled and their run differential is nowhere near this bad. I don't see how it represents an unfair number, really.

 

Which teams do you consider contenders?

Before the last two series, our run differential was +5. Not exactly elite but not on the negative side.

 

 

it's basically a .500 team which was what Erick's initial point was.

the braves had a 9 game losing streak earlier this month and now there back at the top of the division. its a long season, cool it guys.

the braves had a 9 game losing streak earlier this month and now there back at the top of the division. its a long season, cool it guys.

 

This and the AL East are the only two divisions this can happen in.

Before the last two series, our run differential was +5. Not exactly elite but not on the negative side.

 

 

it's basically a .500 team which was what Erick's initial point was.

 

I guess. We'll just have to wait and see. Hopefully there a 90 win team.

The team was never that good to begin with, it starts and ends with a solid farm system, without one we don't have the depth we need, all the above mentioned players are career Triple A players to think otherwise is stupid. I was never a fan of the Buehrle, Zambrano, Bell situation either, we should have gone after a younger player who would be able to help the team long term, see Gio and CJ. This front office had the money to do something and I glad they at least spent some money but idk it's hard to feel optimistic seeing how things are now, even with the majority of the starting 5 on in May besides JJ we impressed but until this team learns how to hit situationally nothing is going to change. They need to fire Perez the fact that he is still here worries me. They also need to add a bat its a must.

 

All isn't doom and gloom yet but to expect anything more than a .500 season is pushing it in my mind. It pisses me off to see how fast the Nationals turned it around but thats what pitching does and they went after the right guy, I guess it also helps to suck year after year.

 

Everything you said is right on point. I especially like the point about the farm system. That is unexceptabe, the state our farm system is in. It's all on the FO, with the Perez thing, and the players they went after in the off season, their handling of managers, hiring Fredi Gonzalez period, it's very disturbing because you know Loria and Sampson are mostly responsible for this(mostly Loria). And you can't fire them.

The team was never that good to begin with, it starts and ends with a solid farm system, without one we don't have the depth we need, all the above mentioned players are career Triple A players to think otherwise is stupid. I was never a fan of the Buehrle, Zambrano, Bell situation either, we should have gone after a younger player who would be able to help the team long term, see Gio and CJ. This front office had the money to do something and I glad they at least spent some money but idk it's hard to feel optimistic seeing how things are now, even with the majority of the starting 5 on in May besides JJ we impressed but until this team learns how to hit situationally nothing is going to change. They need to fire Perez the fact that he is still here worries me. They also need to add a bat its a must.

 

All isn't doom and gloom yet but to expect anything more than a .500 season is pushing it in my mind. It pisses me off to see how fast the Nationals turned it around but thats what pitching does and they went after the right guy, I guess it also helps to suck year after year.

 

Everything you said is right on point. I especially like the point about the farm system. That is unexceptabe, the state our farm system is in. It's all on the FO, with the Perez thing, and the players they went after in the off season, their handling of managers, hiring Fredi Gonzalez period, it's very disturbing because you know Loria and Sampson are mostly responsible for this(mostly Loria). And you can't fire them.

Thanks bro, I appreciate it!

The team was never that good to begin with, it starts and ends with a solid farm system, without one we don't have the depth we need, all the above mentioned players are career Triple A players to think otherwise is stupid. I was never a fan of the Buehrle, Zambrano, Bell situation either, we should have gone after a younger player who would be able to help the team long term, see Gio and CJ. This front office had the money to do something and I glad they at least spent some money but idk it's hard to feel optimistic seeing how things are now, even with the majority of the starting 5 on in May besides JJ we impressed but until this team learns how to hit situationally nothing is going to change. They need to fire Perez the fact that he is still here worries me. They also need to add a bat its a must.

 

All isn't doom and gloom yet but to expect anything more than a .500 season is pushing it in my mind. It pisses me off to see how fast the Nationals turned it around but thats what pitching does and they went after the right guy, I guess it also helps to suck year after year.

 

Everything you said is right on point. I especially like the point about the farm system. That is unexceptabe, the state our farm system is in. It's all on the FO, with the Perez thing, and the players they went after in the off season, their handling of managers, hiring Fredi Gonzalez period, it's very disturbing because you know Loria and Sampson are mostly responsible for this(mostly Loria). And you can't fire them.

Thanks bro, I appreciate it!

 

I may be wrong so correct me if I am but are you impyig we are losing because we went out and got Buerhle and Zambrano or are you saying we just should have gone after younger guys and we would be winning?

 

Either way it's hard to be down on the Zambrano trade, gave up dead weight and big z has been excellent so far, Buerhle has been Buehrle, they are not the issue.

 

Like you mentioned with the "see CJ and Gio" we tried to make those happen. CJ didnt want to play here and we didn't have the parts to get Gio.

 

Most of the guys who have been struggling have been able to hit and been productive for the majority of the careers, no including the spot starters.

 

I can agree that at this point we don't have a guy in Triple A that we can Rely on like Tampa does. Ruggiano might blossom into that but that sample size is beyond small here and it's not like he's new to the game. Once these high A guys get up we will be fine. Management have bad drafts and we have had some poor ones but it really is a crap shoot.

 

Too many people are putting this hitting crap on Perez but most of these guys have seen Atleast two or more hitting coaches in the past few years.

Th players should be able to make the adjustments. It's to much a blame game.

 

I can't blame the management for this at the moment. I liked all the moves the FO made even If Bells contract was a little high. The moves they made, on paper made us a better team and I think we are, minus bells recent struggles

the bottom of the order is weak, and our bullpen if so so, when you combine that with a tough east div, well thats what you got.