21 Cincinnati Reds (Gray, S) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Nola)

bkox 2021-08-15 22:26:33 UTC #137

Obviously by Sabin's comments above, this isnt just me you are turning off. So please dont make this just about me. If you cant express your frustration without insulting someone.. well thats on you... kinda like a former president

Patchmk88 2021-08-15 22:32:33 UTC #138

Ok it turns multiple people off so I’ll stop posting in gameday threads. I’m not really upset about that and sorry if I offended you, Sabin, or anyone else.

However, please never compare me to that vile human being. Especially based off of calling a guy that puts the rest of us at risk and prolongs thins pandemic a clown - that is exactly what he is - just like our former president.

If you want to talk about unfair you threw and insult at me based off of my dislike for Nola and my use of the word clown. Have no clue who I am or anything else about me.

bkox 2021-08-15 22:36:49 UTC #139

I didnt insult you. I compared your actions to his.

Patchmk88 2021-08-15 22:42:39 UTC #140

Well I consider that the ultimate insult. Never have I disliked a person more than that man. He’s my Voldemort.

Regardless I will leave my insults of players off the gameday threads. I thoroughly enjoy this board and the gameday threads (especially when I can’t watch). Missed it a ton during its hiatus. I’m very high strung on this COVID stuff as it has affected me significantly so it gets my emotions boiling.

Also enjoy the stuff you’ve done on this board, so sorry I ruffled your feathers.

bkox 2021-08-15 22:46:44 UTC #141

I love love love the Harry Potter reference.

schillingfan 2021-08-16 00:37:53 UTC #142

Personal insults of players, other posters or even Donald Trump are really frowned on here. IMHO one of the biggest problems in our society is loss of civility. Calling someone names accomplishes nothing.

allentown 2021-08-16 01:38:58 UTC #143

Very true. It should b e possible for an intelligent adult to criticize a player's behavior off the field or performance on the field, without resorting to name calling. If Patchmk88 wants to blame our players for not being vaccinated, I am right there with him. On Nola's on-the-field performance, I've thought for some time that he has shoulder woes again.

schillingfan 2021-08-16 01:45:56 UTC #144

I think you are right about Nola. His command of the strike zone seems inconsistent. Also, I’m not sure Realmuto’s pitch calling is the best, but that may be because Nola’s not commanding his pitches and Realmuto is trying to work his way around him.

flyers19rw 2021-08-16 10:43:09 UTC #145

You could be correct about Nola’s shoulder. If so, he should be shut down. There’s no reason to jeopardize his future to chase a possible pennant that the club has minimal chances of winning anyway.

Philsmania 2021-08-16 14:35:02 UTC #146

Since July started, the Phillies are 24-16, a .600 winning percentage which, of course, is quite good. However, against the truly good teams they've played during that span--the Yankees, Braves, Dodgers and Reds--they are only 4-8. They did win series against the Padres and Red Sox but neither of those teams are looking particularly hot right now. Both of those teams still lead for the second wild card in their respective leagues but are hearing footsteps behind them that are growing louder (2.5 game lead for each of them with the Yankees chasing down the Red Sox and the Reds chasing down the Padres).

Austinfan 2021-08-16 14:45:50 UTC #147

Nola's velocity declined quickly this game, previously his command has been shaky, which is often the first sign of arm trouble.

zambonir 2021-08-16 19:55:49 UTC #148

I don't think anyone has any real illusions about this team. They are hurting a little bit right now, which caught up to them against better teams (no Hoskins, still missing a starting pitcher even though it happens the #5 was our best pitcher this weekend).But they don't have to be anything other than an objectively average team to win the NL East, and they only have to be a lucky team to win the NLDS.

I just hope Nola's not hiding anything.

LoneStarPhan 2021-08-17 00:02:14 UTC #149

Nola's start against the Dodgers looked like he was back on form, but the next start against the Reds was a return to mediocre. How he pitches from here on this season probably determines where the Phillies finish.

bkeich 2021-08-17 00:29:07 UTC #150

I really hope Nola IS hiding something. If he isn’t hiding anything he has degraded into a marginal starting pitcher.

zambonir 2021-08-17 00:40:40 UTC #151

I think reports of Nola's poor season are still somewhat exaggerated. He may not be - and likely never was - the #1 of 2018 but his FIP this season is pretty close to his career average (and guess what, our fielding stinks), as is his WHIP. He's also having a career low season in walks, and his strikeouts have been up the past two years. He's just been more hittable. Maybe there are some granular numbers that illustrate a pattern or time frame of struggles that is more than just ups and downs, but a 2-2.5 WAR pitcher is still not marginal in any way. And it's not like we don't know what the marginal guys look like this year!

Would take a very brave and not blindly loyal manager - neither of which is the case with Girardi - to not still start Nola in Game 2 or 3 of a playoff series. If it's even a question hopefully that will also be because Gibson, Eflin and Suarez actually look that good.

Patchmk88 2021-08-17 01:07:52 UTC #152

Braves looking like one of the best teams in baseball lately. Gonna be hard to beat them for the division.

bkox 2021-08-17 01:47:46 UTC #153

Would it surprise anyone that Nola's WHIP is the 16th best in the NL among qualified starting pitchers and would be the 3rd best of his career if the season ended today? His k/9 is 4th in the NL HIs BB/9 is 6th and his k/BB rate is 5th

Almost all his metrics look normal but there is one huge difference this year. His Flyball percentage is DOUBLE what it was last year. 13.7% last year. 27.7% this year. His Ground ball percentage is down 8% from last year.

his GB/FB ratio last year was 3.57. This year its 1.49. And his BABIP is 3rd worst in the NL among qualified starters. And 49.4% of his pitches have been swung at.. which is also a career high. And his strikes looking are down by 5%. Which means hitters are expecting him to be in the zone and pouncing.

Could he be trying to be too fine? And then missing his spot in the zone? Is he not throwing or have any confidence in what ever pitch he was using to get ground balls in the past?

zambonir 2021-08-17 03:58:51 UTC #154

I wonder if Cotham has anything to do with it. A change in approach that is working on some ways but not in others. It could also be physical, or mechanical (or both).

bkox 2021-08-17 04:17:50 UTC #155

Well looking here at Nola's pitch use chart. 4 seam fastball is WAY up... highest of any year in his career. and 14% more than last year. Sinker and changeup use are down compared to last year.

hitters have a .506 SLG against his 4 seamer this year. Thats 180 points higher than last year. Last year hitters hit .135 against that 4 seamer. This year .266. And hitters have already gotten more barrels against him than any other season

His whiff percentage on the 4 seamer is down 7%. And overall his swings and misses on pitches out of the zone are down 7.3%

To me this says the hitters are sitting on that 4 seamer

Austinfan 2021-08-17 13:53:24 UTC #156

Watching Nola, to me the difference is his 2 seamer, it used to be his bread and butter pitch which he could locate with pin point precision. Now he doesn't trust it, and his 4 seamer is a meh pitch.