Verducci

[JimR]

http://amp.si.com/mlb/2017/10/15/justin-verlander-astros-yankees-alcs

[Astros Fan in Big D]

Great article.

[jwhudson]

That was very interesting and well written.  Thanks Coach.

[jnh]

Verducci's post game interviews on MLB Tonight with Correa about his approach during key at bats have been insightful.  Here is his post game 1 write up:

https://www.si.com/mlb/2017/10/14/dallas-keuchel-astros-yankees-alcs-game-1-justin-verlander

[das]

Both of those articles are great. Well worth the read.

[Reuben]

That was very interesting and well written.  Thanks Coach.

I love how he traced the high-velo batting training back to Barry Bonds. Without a doubt, that asshole knew what he was doing in the batters' box.

[Knoxbanedoodle]

I believe Coach used this very technique to prep (successfully) one of his teams, once.

[JimR]

I believe Coach used this very technique to prep (successfully) one of his teams, once.

I did in 1969. We were going to face a flamethrower who I scouted the week before we played them, and he struck out all 21 hitters in a perfect game. I noticed he never threw a curve for a strike, but the opponent chased a lot of them.

We had an open date and Monday-Thursday to prepare. Their instructions were to recognize the curve and take it and to swing only at fastballs. I moved the L screen to 30 feet and threw as hard as I could from there. On Monday they thought I was crazy and was asking the impossible, but by Thursday they were taking curves even not knowing what I was throwing, and their shorter quicker swings were putting my fastball in play.

On Friday we won 10-0 and hit a couple of homers.

[VirtualBob]

I believe Coach used this very technique to prep (successfully) one of his teams, once.

Yes. Against the ace pitcher for my high school team.

[JimR]

Yes. Against the ace pitcher for my high school team.

A&M Consolidated?

[Limey]

http://amp.si.com/mlb/2017/10/15/justin-verlander-astros-yankees-alcs

Of all the really cool stuff that was in that article, this stood out for me:  "He threw 31 balls to the 32 batters he faced."

That's insane!  This wasn't the Tigers he was challenging, it was the stacked, hard-hitting Yankees.  His stuff - and that he is stuffing Kate Upton - means we no longer need to ask the question "quién es más macho?"

[Limey]

I love how he traced the high-velo batting training back to Barry Bonds. Without a doubt, that asshole knew what he was doing in the batters' box.

And the lab.

[Mr. Appropriate]

I did in 1969. We were going to face a flamethrower who I scouted the week before we played them, and he struck out all 21 hitters in a perfect game. I noticed he never threw a curve for a strike, but the opponent chased a lot of them.

We had an open date and Monday-Thursday to prepare. Their instructions were to recognize the curve and take it and to swing only at fastballs. I moved the L screen to 30 feet and threw as hard as I could from there. On Monday they thought I was crazy and was asking the impossible, but by Thursday they were taking curves even not knowing what I was throwing, and their shorter quicker swings were putting my fastball in play.

On Friday we won 10-0 and hit a couple of homers.

That's brilliant. Thanks for the article and the personal story.

Can't ever tell what's really going on with someone but the Astros lineup does not seem intimidated by any pitcher. It was pitching and defense that won the last two games, and doing a dozen other little things well--but damn they get their hits in regardless of who is throwing and how nasty or fast the ball moves.

[MusicMan]

His counterpart, Ken Rosenthal, reported on The Athletic that whoever the “high end reliever” other than Britton the Astros thought they might get was, other teams expect Luhnow to pursue him again in the offseason.


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[juliogotay]

His counterpart, Ken Rosenthal, reported on The Athletic that whoever the “high end reliever” other than Britton the Astros thought they might get was, other teams expect Luhnow to pursue him again in the offseason.


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I wouldn't be surprised to see Britton talks resume too.

[Limey]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Britton talks resume too.

King of the who?

[juliogotay]

King of the who?

I'm apparently not hip enough to have any idea what you are referring to?

[Limey]

I'm apparently not hip enough to have any idea what you are referring to?

You are so unhip it's a wonder your legs don't fall off.  (That's another one, btw).

Here ya go. 

[Waldo]

I'm apparently not hip enough to have any idea what you are referring to?

delete post, ban user

[austro]

delete post, ban user

Turn him into a newt.

[VirtualBob]

A&M Consolidated?

Yep. Robbie Schleider.

[Texifornia]

You are so unhip it's a wonder your legs don't fall off.  (That's another one, btw).

Here ya go. 

"Strange women lying in ponds dispensing out swords is hardly a basis for a system of government."

That's one of my favorite scenes in all of cinema.

[austro]

"Strange women lying in ponds dispensing out swords is hardly a basis for a system of government."

That's one of my favorite scenes in all of cinema.

"Who are you who is so wise in the ways of science?" is my go-to. That and "Run away!!!!"

[VirtualBob]

"Strange women lying in ponds dispensing out swords is hardly a basis for a system of government."

That's one of my favorite scenes in all of cinema.

Totally agree. I also like "I'm not dead yet."

[Aussie Astro]

Totally agree. I also like "I'm not dead yet."

I can't take him like that, it's against the regulations.

[MusicMan]

"Who are you who is so wise in the ways of science?" is my go-to. That and "Run away!!!!"

“What is your favourite colour?”
“Blue! No, yellow! AAAH!”


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[Limey]

"Who are you who is so wise in the ways of science?" is my go-to. That and "Run away!!!!"

Half the lines in the movie pop into my head at random times in response to something I've seen or heard.

For example, the logo on the batting cages at MMP says "NIttotires".

[Mr. Appropriate]

Half the lines in the movie pop into my head at random times in response to something I've seen or heard.

For example, the logo on the batting cages at MMP says "NIttotires".

For the faithful:

From The Book of Armaments 2:9-21

Brother: "And the Lord spake, saying, First shalt
               thou take out the Holy Pin.

               Then, shalt thou count to three, no more,
               no less.

              Three shalt be the number thou shalt
              count, and the number of the counting
              shalt be three.

              Four shalt thou not count,
              nor either count thou two, excepting that
              thou then proceed to three.

              Five is right out.

              Once the number three,
              being the third number, be reached, then
              lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of
              Antioch towards thy foe, who being
              naughty in my sight, shall snuf it."

Maynard: Amen.

          All: Amen.

    Arthur: Right! One. . . two. . . five!