Official Lineup 3/27 Bucs @ Marlins

[Ecbucs]

I’m following the game on Gameday so I might be asking a dumb question but why, after the lead-off triple, did we intentionally walk just one guy instead of the next two?

my take on this is that they thought first and third was almost as good as loading the bases. The runner on third would need to break for the plate to prevent double play and he could be gunned down leaving runners on first and second. However, that makes it a tag play and means you aren't going to get a home to first double play.

So in other words it was a mistake. Maybe there are analytics that say first and third is very close to bases loaded but I don't buy it.

[Surgnbuck]

Hmmmm, what did ol' Surg say regarding his prediction for the season record?

"The team still seems to be the same Andy Haines bunch, I've mentioned it before in the ST thread. Lot of pitches taken, lot of them right down the middle, having to basically go to bat with 2 strikes on you already. Lot of men LOB. Lot of strikeouts. Lot of guys caught stealing. Not a lot of pop shown. Poor defensively."

Except for the caught stealing part, this game was exactly what I was saying about this team. The two runs Skenes surrneders come about because of poor defensive play by IKF, where a decent shortstop makes two plays and the marlins don't score the first run, not to mention probably saves Skenes 15 pitches.

The other run scores when Bart has his second passed ball of the game.

1-9 RISP. 9 LOB. 4 hits. Pathetic.

I know, I know, it's one game. Probably overreacting. But, what we saw at the end of 2025 continued through the spring, and has already occured the very first game of the season.

[Doc]

I’m following the game on Gameday so I might be asking a dumb question but why, after the lead-off triple, did we intentionally walk just one guy instead of the next two?

my take on this is that they thought first and third was almost as good as loading the bases. The runner on third would need to break for the plate to prevent double play and he could be gunned down leaving runners on first and second. However, that makes it a tag play and means you aren't going to get a home to first double play.

So in other words it was a mistake. Maybe there are analytics that say first and third is very close to bases loaded but I don't buy it.

I fully understand your explanation but, like you, I don’t buy it. Setting up a force at home is by far the logical choice, giving the infielders and catcher their best advantage to make a play. When a team is led by an incompetent, his is what we get.

[Surgnbuck]

I didn't even know about Cruz costing the other two runs. Amazing how complete dogcrap defense, but all 5 runs are earned runs.

Well, I guess games like this is why they have Tommy Pham!!!

So, Nicky G is probably out for a while. Just great. That means a whole lot of Adam Frazier I suppose, because it wasn't Triolo that went in to replace him. I mean, why would you want to put a gold glover in the game anyhow?

[Carolina Bucco]

I thought Shelton said we were going to "win the margins" this year.

But it's same-old, same-old.

With the same cast of characters.

Gonna be a LOOOOOOOOOOONG season.

I may have been overly optimistic with my 63-99 prediction.

Paul Skenes is set to earn hundreds of millions of dollars in his career, and he's dating Livvy Dunne ... yet somehow I feel bad for him.

[Doc]

I keep telling myself that this is just one game. But actually, it’s just a continuation of the ‘24 season. Same roster, same manager, same boneheaded plays. This is why no one, not even Jesus, can convince me this organization is trying to win baseball games.

[Surgnbuck]

I’m following the game on Gameday so I might be asking a dumb question but why, after the lead-off triple, did we intentionally walk just one guy instead of the next two?

my take on this is that they thought first and third was almost as good as loading the bases. The runner on third would need to break for the plate to prevent double play and he could be gunned down leaving runners on first and second. However, that makes it a tag play and means you aren't going to get a home to first double play.

So in other words it was a mistake. Maybe there are analytics that say first and third is very close to bases loaded but I don't buy it.

I fully understand your explanation but, like you, I don’t buy it. Setting up a force at home is by far the logical choice, giving the infielders and catcher their best advantage to make a play. When a team is led by an incompetent, his is what we get.

I was at class, and as I keep reading the thread, it just gets more depressing with the gaffs. There's no explanation that could convince me not to walk the bases loaded in that situation.

Supposedly, there are only 3 teams that were identified as having no chance for the playoffs this season (White Sox, Marlins, Rockies, and the Pirates lost to one of them by giving them the game.

No offensive pick ups over the off season. Lousy spring training results losing last 5 games with no sense of urgency. Starting the season off playing like garbage, and being managed like garbage.

I also want to know why Triolo isn't substituted in for Gonzales.

[Doc]

my take on this is that they thought first and third was almost as good as loading the bases. The runner on third would need to break for the plate to prevent double play and he could be gunned down leaving runners on first and second. However, that makes it a tag play and means you aren't going to get a home to first double play.

So in other words it was a mistake. Maybe there are analytics that say first and third is very close to bases loaded but I don't buy it.

I fully understand your explanation but, like you, I don’t buy it. Setting up a force at home is by far the logical choice, giving the infielders and catcher their best advantage to make a play. When a team is led by an incompetent, his is what we get.

I was at class, and as I keep reading the thread, it just gets more depressing with the gaffs. There's no explanation that could convince me not to walk the bases loaded in that situation.

Supposedly, there are only 3 teams that were identified as having no chance for the playoffs this season (White Sox, Marlins, Rockies, and the Pirates lost to one of them by giving them the game.

No offensive pick ups over the off season. Lousy spring training results losing last 5 games with no sense of urgency. Starting the season off playing like garbage, and being managed like garbage.

I also want to know why Triolo isn't substituted in for Gonzales.

We really shouldn’t be dumbfounded by any of this. The team is built to perform this way.

[Possum]

Can't blame Bednar. Cruz needs to learn when he should use his arm. He should have thrown the ball to 2nd ball to keep a runner at first.

[Doc]

Can't blame Bednar. Cruz needs to learn when he should use his arm. He should have thrown the ball to 2nd ball to keep a runner at first.

No one should excuse Cruz of his poor decision because he’s new to center field. He played shortstop, arguably the game’s most important position, one where he was charged with knowing what to do in every situation. He gets no pass for doing what he did. The play illustrated why he was moved from the infield. He might have an otherworldly arm, and can hit a baseball really, really far, but the guy has no idea what’s going on. Having him just DH probably is the thing they can let him do where he’d cause the least damage. In addition, I think he’s a really selfish player, not a team player at all.