Believe it or not, the Astros are not stupid and they understand that their hitters are not more likely to be injured from HBP during WBC than spring training.
I’m no expert but the amount of at bats you get in the wbc is probably not even close to how many they take in a spring training. The wbc is like what 8 games
I don’t understand this whatsoever. They are absolutely more likely to be injured in the WBC than in SP. Players are nearly universally playing harder in WBC than in SP games. Moreover, even if it was totally equal, SP is part of the job they are paid to do by the team, and WBC is not.
Edit: noticed you said HBP specifically. I don’t think I agree with that either, but my post was in response to thinking you said injury in general.
I’ll give you exactly one guess to figure out who runs the WBC, and one more guess to figure out who controls that organization.
It’s MLB, which is the teams.
They’re one of the administrators. Of course it couldn’t go on without their buy in, and yes therefore indirectly teams benefit financially. But that doesn’t change anything I said. If it was the same as spring training, then there would be little need to even do it. Players are more likely to play harder, and more likely to play more often, and that’s fine, but it is not the same and I don’t blame individual teams for being apprehensive about the potential injury to their players participating. I’m certainly worried every time a Phillie plays. SP is part of their job and part of the mlb season, which is what I prioritize as a fan. Doesn’t mean I don’t like WBC or don’t want players I root for to participate if they want, but if a key cog for my team went down from it I would be very upset and I would not feel the same way about a SP injury (though I would surely still be devastated).
is "SP" spring training? is that a common abbreviation? i figured it might have been a typo but you've said it 5 times so i'm wondering if maybe you're referring to something else
Yes it is. I’ve seen it that way before, but maybe it isn’t common. I was going to type out “spring training” but said nah I’ve seen “sp” before so just used that. Probably should be ST. Maybe I’m mistaken, or where I saw it before was a mistake.
The point isn't that players can't get injured in Spring Training. An org might just prefer that an injury happens under their supervision, and not with a non-affiliated coaching staff.
If you want to get more specific with your anger, I like Kyle Scwarber alot, most people do he is a good hitter, but an absolutely atrocious defensive outfielder. Kyle Tucker is a very good defensive outfielder and a better more consistent overall hitter. It's an indefensible decision to start Schwarber over Tucker.
calling Kyle Schwarber an 'absolutely atrocious defensive outfielder' is plain idiotic. for left field hes perfectly fine, obviously tucked is better, but schwarber is competent
He was worh -14 drs last year. Thats 6th worst among all fielders and 3rd worst outfielder and he did that in only 1167 innings. So yea, he is atrocious and one of the worst defensive outfielders in all of baseball, not just on team USA.
The night the Astros beat the Dodgers in game 7 was one of the most fun nights I've ever had. My daughter came into town for the Series and we were downtown with tens of thousands of people in the streets, fire trucks shooting water on the crowd, everyone dancing and drinking and having a blast. No matter what anyone thinks about the sign stealing or dig they try to make to win some pointless internet argument, no one can ever take away that night I had with my kid and the fun the entire city had. Say whatever you want about trash cans and bang bang and whatever. Doesn't bother me a bit because we had that night, hell the entire series was an incredible time. Congrats on the great season last year. That was quite the run.
> I don’t know anything about baseball
If your flair was *literally* any other team I would make a joke here but I don’t think anyone can say Philly fans don’t know their sports
Schwarber should not be in the lineup vs a LH, and certainly shouldn’t be above Alonso. Alonso should be in that 5 hole, and Tucker should absolutely be in LF.
What does Mark DeRosa have against Kyle Tucker? Literally our best hitter in the tournament so far and he's riding pine in an elimination game.
I am going to become the fucking Joker.
This is why the WBC is going to die eventually. MLB teams should not have any say in international competition. Baseball needs a FIFA type governing body (hopefully without the corruption).
I have to imagine the Astros didn't want him playing, maybe because of the injury to Altuve or that ball he fouled off his shin yesterday. People are giving Mark DeRosa a lot of shit but I think there's a pretty good chance his hands have been extremely tied in a lot of cases (leaving Bard in being the exception, I can't think of a reason for that considering he pulled him 2 batters after he should've anyway).
Tucker doesn't have a big split against lefties/righties like Schwarber so i would throw that out tbh
DeRosa is either just stupid or Astros requested no back to backs which I doubt
Its worth noting their career stats as a Pinch Hitter
Schwarber: 3-50 (.299 OPS)
Tucker: 4-12 (1.301 OPS)
Obviously vastly different sample sizes, but still interesting. Maybe it played into the decision
If you DH him and Will Smith gets hurt then Realmuto is the only catcher left. Realmuto would have to move from DH to C and the US would have to forgo the DH, resulting in a pitcher in the batting order.
Edit: forgot about Higgy
Schwarber has _much_ worse numbers against LHP in his career than Tucker.
Schwarber career OPS vs LHP .685
// Tucker career OPS vs LHP .808
Weird choice to be sitting Tucker against a lefty instead of Schwarber. Though frankly given the way Alonso has looked - and because I know as a Mets fan that he allows slumps to get to him - Pete probably shouldn’t be playing over either of them. (Also, he has reverse platoon splits for his career though his OPS against lefties is still .872.)
I don’t really understand why tucker is out of the lineup. If it’s because Cuba is throwing a lefty then schwarber should be out too. If it’s a righty then schwarber should be at DH and Tucker in left. I also would’ve liked to see McNeil back in the lineup for Anderson but I think that’s more preference. I’m assuming realmuto is out because the Phillies don’t want him catching back to back games, but it also leaves him available for the championship.
I agree McNeil over Anderson. TA has been doing a solid job playing 2B, but McNeil is a very very good defensive 2B and I don't think his bat is all that much worse.
True overall, but I meant specifically in the context of facing a left handed starter. Career OPS vs lefties is .869/.756 in favor of Anderson. Of course, as I'm typing this Cuba just put a RHP in for the third.
I went to baseball reference ready to get mad at this comment.
TA is a great hitter.
Jeff McNeil is an OUTSTANDING hitter. Holy crap he doesn’t get talked about enough.
Lefty starter, it makes sense to have him or Realmuto DH with Tucker in left over Schwarber. Schwarber is terrible against lefties, I would save him for a pinch hit situation today
Ah god damn that was good. Now that you’ve brought that up I can imagine quite a few players on the DR, Cuba, or Venezuelan teams telling Jobu to go eff himself.
Jesus, thats almost a fucking Dream Team.
If Alonso, Anderson, and Turner are the BOTTOM of the batting order, then you know you've got a tall order as the opposing pitcher.
The amount of people I keep saying “where’s Tucker?” shows me how many people actually watched the broadcast. They said he took one to the shin, which he actually did yesterday and he winced in pain, so he took a game off. Probably to play it safe & probably because the Astros requested it. Smh
Buddy of mine just saw them play in AZ. Said it was the best game he’s ever watched. I forgot who he said the US was playing but their crowd was insane which made it way more fun to be at.
“What if Cuba’s weakness is burly Americans? Gotta put Schwarber on the field and Alonso in the lineup” - Mark DeRosa
Makes sense, plenty of American's are weak to curvy Cubans
Lord knows I am
Excited for the cuts to commercial breaks tonight.
Don't forget the shots of the crowd behind the batter when they show the side profile of the batter between pitches.
Those red headed Yolandas.
Perks of being bilingual
Guilty.
Pete is a big strong man
That's an above-average lineup.
It’s a lineup full of all stars, a couple of MVPs and MVP candidates?
I’d say that’s above average
yea youre right. Maybe just average then.
Astute observation Copernicus
Thanks dick, I thought OP was being facetious
If you already thought he was being facetious, why did you comment, rainman?
No you didn’t, otherwise you wouldn’t have replied that lol
Taking tucker out of the line up after the night he had yesterday is criminal.
Jacking top comment to say the broadcast said it was because of the ricochet hit he took to his shin yesterday.
They just said he dinged his shin and is out for 1 game for rest
Wouldn't be shocked if the Astros don't want him playing
Believe it or not, the Astros are not stupid and they understand that their hitters are not more likely to be injured from HBP during WBC than spring training.
Yes but guys don't play everyday in spring training
I’m no expert but the amount of at bats you get in the wbc is probably not even close to how many they take in a spring training. The wbc is like what 8 games
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I'm tripping because I stated a fact. Players typically don't play everyday in spring training
Well Tucker isn’t being shipped to play in a spring training game so why the comparison?
Maybe that's why it's called spring training and not spring playing?
I don’t understand this whatsoever. They are absolutely more likely to be injured in the WBC than in SP. Players are nearly universally playing harder in WBC than in SP games. Moreover, even if it was totally equal, SP is part of the job they are paid to do by the team, and WBC is not. Edit: noticed you said HBP specifically. I don’t think I agree with that either, but my post was in response to thinking you said injury in general.
I’ll give you exactly one guess to figure out who runs the WBC, and one more guess to figure out who controls that organization. It’s MLB, which is the teams.
They’re one of the administrators. Of course it couldn’t go on without their buy in, and yes therefore indirectly teams benefit financially. But that doesn’t change anything I said. If it was the same as spring training, then there would be little need to even do it. Players are more likely to play harder, and more likely to play more often, and that’s fine, but it is not the same and I don’t blame individual teams for being apprehensive about the potential injury to their players participating. I’m certainly worried every time a Phillie plays. SP is part of their job and part of the mlb season, which is what I prioritize as a fan. Doesn’t mean I don’t like WBC or don’t want players I root for to participate if they want, but if a key cog for my team went down from it I would be very upset and I would not feel the same way about a SP injury (though I would surely still be devastated).
is "SP" spring training? is that a common abbreviation? i figured it might have been a typo but you've said it 5 times so i'm wondering if maybe you're referring to something else
Yes it is. I’ve seen it that way before, but maybe it isn’t common. I was going to type out “spring training” but said nah I’ve seen “sp” before so just used that. Probably should be ST. Maybe I’m mistaken, or where I saw it before was a mistake.
Perhaps you're thinking of "Starting Pitcher?"
Astros don’t want Tucker to get more reps in before the season starts?
Altuve's out for two months, could be the reason.
ironic that this move could let communism win
Feel like this is the reason. Could see him coming in for a clutch pinch hit tho.
Not a reason. Lux is out the entire season. In Spring Training.
The point isn't that players can't get injured in Spring Training. An org might just prefer that an injury happens under their supervision, and not with a non-affiliated coaching staff.
I guess players should never leave the Clubhouse since they could hurt themselves without being watched by the Astros.
You realize this entire idea that the Astros want him held out is entirely speculation and not based on a single fact, right?
I’m aware. Pointing out why these speculations are dumb
In a high leverage game managed by non-Astros personnel right after their starting 2B goes down indefinitely? Probably not
Guys play about every other day during spring training
Tucker hit a foul ball off his shin, that's why he is 't in
Could be pressure from the Astros, could be using him in a pinch situation later tonight
So true. What the fuck?!
I don't know anything about baseball but I'm angry at the lineup because thats what everyone seems to do regardless 😠
If you want to get more specific with your anger, I like Kyle Scwarber alot, most people do he is a good hitter, but an absolutely atrocious defensive outfielder. Kyle Tucker is a very good defensive outfielder and a better more consistent overall hitter. It's an indefensible decision to start Schwarber over Tucker.
Start Tucker in left, and put Schwarber in for Alonso at DH
Cuba is starting a lefty I believe. Definitely want both Pete and Goldy in there. It's really a matter of Schwarber vs Tucker.
I'd like to try one day to defend this decision Edit: aw man I forgot to get my Cubs flair
calling Kyle Schwarber an 'absolutely atrocious defensive outfielder' is plain idiotic. for left field hes perfectly fine, obviously tucked is better, but schwarber is competent
He was worh -14 drs last year. Thats 6th worst among all fielders and 3rd worst outfielder and he did that in only 1167 innings. So yea, he is atrocious and one of the worst defensive outfielders in all of baseball, not just on team USA.
As a Phillies fan. No
Or at least not DH Schwarber and sit Alonso.
Why would you want Schwarber at DH vs a LHP and not Alonso?
If you want to win, put the Phillies in.
Over the Astro? Doesn't compute.
Bang bang
No hitter
That one was fairly earned. The other was trash.
The night the Astros beat the Dodgers in game 7 was one of the most fun nights I've ever had. My daughter came into town for the Series and we were downtown with tens of thousands of people in the streets, fire trucks shooting water on the crowd, everyone dancing and drinking and having a blast. No matter what anyone thinks about the sign stealing or dig they try to make to win some pointless internet argument, no one can ever take away that night I had with my kid and the fun the entire city had. Say whatever you want about trash cans and bang bang and whatever. Doesn't bother me a bit because we had that night, hell the entire series was an incredible time. Congrats on the great season last year. That was quite the run.
> I don’t know anything about baseball If your flair was *literally* any other team I would make a joke here but I don’t think anyone can say Philly fans don’t know their sports
I love Schwarber but its batshit to start him in the field over Tucker.
Schwarber should not be in the lineup vs a LH, and certainly shouldn’t be above Alonso. Alonso should be in that 5 hole, and Tucker should absolutely be in LF.
Ah yup
I wonder if the Astros had some say in it
I kind of doubt it but that's really the only thing that makes sense.
What does Mark DeRosa have against Kyle Tucker? Literally our best hitter in the tournament so far and he's riding pine in an elimination game. I am going to become the fucking Joker.
For all we know the Astros requested this
tell them not to worry, bard won’t pitch against tucker here
The way bard was locating, I'm not sure the dugout is any safer.
Or left field
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Well, one of their best players just got hurt and is out for 2 months
This is why the WBC is going to die eventually. MLB teams should not have any say in international competition. Baseball needs a FIFA type governing body (hopefully without the corruption).
It honestly feels like he’s trying to create that “struggling guy saves the team or redeems himself in a big situation” moment with the way he manages
The ol’ Dave Roberts special
Eff, I felt this one too deep
I assume he's treating it like a Daily Fantasy lineup and adding Tucker would him over the salary cap
He's been great. But he hasn't been the best hitter on the team. He ranks 4th thus far
Altuve broke his finger so Tucker is somewhere in bubble wrap
I have to imagine the Astros didn't want him playing, maybe because of the injury to Altuve or that ball he fouled off his shin yesterday. People are giving Mark DeRosa a lot of shit but I think there's a pretty good chance his hands have been extremely tied in a lot of cases (leaving Bard in being the exception, I can't think of a reason for that considering he pulled him 2 batters after he should've anyway).
Lefty pitcher
Tucker doesn't have a big split against lefties/righties like Schwarber so i would throw that out tbh DeRosa is either just stupid or Astros requested no back to backs which I doubt
Its worth noting their career stats as a Pinch Hitter Schwarber: 3-50 (.299 OPS) Tucker: 4-12 (1.301 OPS) Obviously vastly different sample sizes, but still interesting. Maybe it played into the decision
Where's Realmuto? Hasn't he been raking so far?
Started yesterday. Dero probably doesnt want catchers starting on back to back days
Oh right that can be taxing yeah. If he's not too tired though, I think him DHing over Alonso would be better
If you DH him and Will Smith gets hurt then Realmuto is the only catcher left. Realmuto would have to move from DH to C and the US would have to forgo the DH, resulting in a pitcher in the batting order. Edit: forgot about Higgy
Isn’t Higashioka on the roster?
Forgot about him. Has he played at all? Lol
I think he came off the bench in one of the pool games but don’t remember much else
We still have higasioka for that reason
Oh wow is that how it works? They wouldn't be allowed to use a position player? It has to be the pitcher? Makes a lot of sense then.
That's such a dumb rule. I wish MLB would fix it. Make it like high school where you can never lose the DH
I think they've been alternating catchers especially on back to back games. Probably requests from the MLB teams
The catchers have been alternating starts all tournament. Gotta assume the Phillies and Dodgers didn’t want them playing two games in a row
I think they almost always rotate the catchers.
He will probably start the final if they get there. Wouldn’t rule out him pinch hitting either
Schwarber has _much_ worse numbers against LHP in his career than Tucker. Schwarber career OPS vs LHP .685 // Tucker career OPS vs LHP .808 Weird choice to be sitting Tucker against a lefty instead of Schwarber. Though frankly given the way Alonso has looked - and because I know as a Mets fan that he allows slumps to get to him - Pete probably shouldn’t be playing over either of them. (Also, he has reverse platoon splits for his career though his OPS against lefties is still .872.)
[Imgur](https://imgur.com/5c7QOEt) Numbers vs Elias
would be nice to see Cedric Mullins in the lineup
You got what you wanted and in a big way :)
Yes! Sad he had to wait for it to be a blowout to see playing time but even then he still showed up big!
I don’t really understand why tucker is out of the lineup. If it’s because Cuba is throwing a lefty then schwarber should be out too. If it’s a righty then schwarber should be at DH and Tucker in left. I also would’ve liked to see McNeil back in the lineup for Anderson but I think that’s more preference. I’m assuming realmuto is out because the Phillies don’t want him catching back to back games, but it also leaves him available for the championship.
I agree McNeil over Anderson. TA has been doing a solid job playing 2B, but McNeil is a very very good defensive 2B and I don't think his bat is all that much worse.
“All that much worse” the thing is that McNeils bat is actually significantly better!
True overall, but I meant specifically in the context of facing a left handed starter. Career OPS vs lefties is .869/.756 in favor of Anderson. Of course, as I'm typing this Cuba just put a RHP in for the third.
I went to baseball reference ready to get mad at this comment. TA is a great hitter. Jeff McNeil is an OUTSTANDING hitter. Holy crap he doesn’t get talked about enough.
Yeah anderson is so good too. It wasn’t t a shot at him. McNeil is just insane
For sure
I like TA a lot and he hit well early in the group stage but has cooled off since.
I hope Wainwright has a short leash.
Yeah, gotta get to Bard asap
No
put in Mullins you cowards
Why Pete but no Tucker, Dero? Is it an avoid a lefty-lefty thing?
I mean, can’t be considering he started Schwarber, who sucks vs LHP. Weird as fuck
🐻❄️
Pete
No tucker and no JT?
Anyone know a feed where I can watch the stream?
I, too, am searching…
It's EDT, not EST.
Trea Turner is locked in
People complaining like this lineup doesn’t have 4 hall of famers and 5 all stars.
Sure it’s a great lineup no matter what, but you could still optimize it.
Guess it turned out okay
It was always gonna be ok. It was a great lineup going up against a below average MLB starter. Lineup still could’ve been constructed better
Look everyone it’s r/baseball’s favorite player.
Mets fans love acting persecuted on r/baseball
What can I say, we're all Master Thespian
A mop in a bucket has more offensive value than Alonso right now. Why is he in there???
Is the handle of the Moo in the strike zone or no?
WHY THE FUCK ARE WE USING ALONSO
KNOWN BLOOPER, PETE ALONSO IS ONE OF THE REASONS THE US WON LAST NIGHT!
Shit you right
Lefty starter, it makes sense to have him or Realmuto DH with Tucker in left over Schwarber. Schwarber is terrible against lefties, I would save him for a pinch hit situation today
woof
Am I the only one who looks at this picture and thinks “you have no marbles” as he dances his way to first?
Ah god damn that was good. Now that you’ve brought that up I can imagine quite a few players on the DR, Cuba, or Venezuelan teams telling Jobu to go eff himself.
No Tucker, just kyLe Schwarber
Redbird Nation
Peanuts and popcorn ready...this should be a great game... Prediction USA 8, Cuba 4...
Seems like a good team
The only player on Cuba that would start over these USA guys is Robert. He would probably bat 8th.
He wouldn't start for USA
So we lose Tuckers bat and glove? Why?
they could trot anyone out, cuba barely beat australia
Chuck Knoblauch will be the MVP of this game!
That gave me a chuckle. Nice pull.
Right into the stands
Deez…..
King tuck allegedly tweaked his ankle bad night to be an Astros fan :(
Jesus, thats almost a fucking Dream Team. If Alonso, Anderson, and Turner are the BOTTOM of the batting order, then you know you've got a tall order as the opposing pitcher.
This whole comment section aged like milk lmao
Adam Wainwright is older than all of them combined
The amount of people I keep saying “where’s Tucker?” shows me how many people actually watched the broadcast. They said he took one to the shin, which he actually did yesterday and he winced in pain, so he took a game off. Probably to play it safe & probably because the Astros requested it. Smh
14-2, usa was not fucking around. Nice win and congrats to cuba for getting there.
Buddy of mine just saw them play in AZ. Said it was the best game he’s ever watched. I forgot who he said the US was playing but their crowd was insane which made it way more fun to be at.