MLB Thread

[MyAimIsTrue]

To hell with the DH!

[Crs97]

Official rule book of baseball:

1.01 Baseball is a game between two teams of nine players each, under direction of a manager, played on an enclosed field in accordance with these rules, under jurisdiction of one or more umpires. (Emphasis mine)

 

The American League, while playing a fascinating game that looks very familiar, is by definition not playing baseball.

[rippleintime17]

See, some people hate the DH and some people love it! If only there was a way to please both people, such as having some teams using a DH and some not...

[Crs97]

I grew up in a national league market and hated the DH. Now I live in an american league market and find I don’t really care one way or the other, but I do think it’s hilarious that they’ve never amended that definition. I copied that from MLB’s 2018 edition of Official Baseball Rules. You would think at some point, someone might raise his or her hand and say, “Hey, guys?“

[cleo]

I find the NL games more interesting than the AL, part of this is because of the pitchers batting. Part of it is there seems to be more base-running in general. I admit I find the games where it is primarily strike outs or homers getting boring. And this is from someone who does analyze and enjoy pitching, but every game starts to seem the same. Not sure what they can do about it though. 

The AL does seem better players though- I expect the World Series to go pretty much the way the All-Star game went, even with Machado switching allegiances. 

[Lantern7]

Cubs interested in deGrom? If it happens soon, that would be for the best for Jacob. Mets are freefalling, they're heading to the Bronx to face waves of [bandwagon-jumping] Yankees fans, and we're a week away from Larry Jones getting inducted into the Hall of Fame.

[mojoween]

The NL version drives me bonkers because a pitcher can be dealing, but getting no run support, so he gets pulled for a pinch hitter.  I mean, we can go a half inning with four pitching changes.

Although, Tampa Bay inexplicably does that too.

[Bort]

NL games are hell on my scorekeeping with all the double switching.

[MVFrostsMyPie]

But pitchers who rake are pretty darn awesome to watch! Especially when they hit the homer(s) off another ace. :)

Favorite moments at 3:52 and 6:37.

[jennifer6973]

I love pitchers who can hit.  I love when enjoy stealing bases and getting dirty also.  

[MyAimIsTrue]

30 minutes ago, jennifer6973 said:

I love pitchers who can hit.  I love when enjoy stealing bases and getting dirty also.  

Me too, and no pitcher stole or slid into bases better than former Red Norm Charlton.  He may have been an ass but he ran the bases well.

[jennifer6973]

Loved him, I also LOVE Max Scherzer and Tanner Roark. 

Thanks

[Moose135]

What would this game be without the hitting prowess of Bartolo Colon?

 

[mojoween]

49 years ago on this date!

[mojoween]

Now obviously *I* love this so big, but @kariyaki might too!

Even though Verlander will be a Tiger to me forever.

[Lantern7]

Mets Fan: *sigh* My team is fighting to keep in fourth place, they're going to the Bronx for a potential curb-stomping, and Aaron Boone will probably invade the visitor's clubhouse to inspect would-be Yankees. I need good news.

The World: Well, how about the Mets winning tonight?

Mets Fan: Yeah, after almost blowing a five-run lead. Nothing's more obnoxious that a Yankees fan ready for the kill.

The World: Oh, Colbert did a thing with the Mets!

Mets Fan: Gaaaaaahhh!!!

The World: No, no!!! He went to Citi Field and had fun with them. Totally didn't rip on them!!

Mets Fan: That's nice. Wait . . . he went to Citi Field?!? How did he leave without injury?

The World: . . . .hey, two more Subway Series games left!!!

ETA: Here’s the clip. Ever want to see happy Mets? Here ya go!

Edited July 21, 2018 by Lantern7

[mojoween]

Never in my life did I ever think I would say “thank god for Chasen Shreve.”

[prican58]

Interleague is played out and I don't care about it. Maybe just the obvious rivalries like NY, Chi, LA, SF if that could even work. DH is king, y'all. Ron Blomberg the First DH so really, it's Yankees Lore. lol. In theory MLB players may hate the DH but when they are at the end of their careers but can still kill a ball they will have a better chance to keep playing if all teams had DHs. No DH would have meant no Edgar. That would be sad.

And can they just attempt to have pitchers learn how to bunt? In the right situation a pitcher can make something happen rather than sriking out or beingremoved.

[prican58]

Ten more days until the trade deadline. I want to go to bed on July 31 and be surprised in the morning by stunning transactions. What are the odds? 

[Crs97]

44 minutes ago, prican58 said:

And can they just attempt to have pitchers learn how to bunt? In the right situation a pitcher can make something happen rather than sriking out or beingremoved.

I am amazed at the number of major leaguers who seem to have no idea how to bunt, but I have seen little league coaches who make clear that bunting is only for kids who can’t hit at all.  Husband as assistant coach fights a losing battle each year trying to teach the fundamentals.

[prican58]

Yeah, Crs97. Bunting is a tool that you bring out when you need to fix something. Phil Rizzuto may not have been a great hitter being that he played in an age when SSs were singles hitters for the most part but he was an excellent bunter and even served as an instructor of it in some Spring Training sessions. 

[Lantern7]

Apologies for not paying attention . . . who roots for the A’s here? They got Familia from the Mets.

[Silver Raven]

1 hour ago, Lantern7 said:

Apologies for not paying attention . . . who roots for the A’s here? They got Familia from the Mets.

Yeah, great, they have a All Star closer and they pick up another one.

[theatremouse]

There is no such thing as too strong a bullpen.

[mojoween]

Right?  Because anything can happen at any moment.

I’m currently watching Game 5 of the 2000 WS (as you do) and Joe Buck mentioned that Jeter at this point had been in 19 WS games at the age of 26.  So doing a little spotty math, that means, by age 35, he had been in at least 30 (because I think 2001 went seven games (SOB) and I can’t remember how many 2009 went, but obvs at least four).

I find that crazy.  Is there anyone in history that can match that?  Maybe Yogi?  Will anyone get there again?

Also crazy?  Al Leiter threw 150+ pitches.

Edited July 22, 2018 by mojoween

[smittykins]

Yogi won 10 WS, so my guess is way more than that.

[Silver Raven]

The Milwaukee crowd gave Josh Hader a standing ovation.  No comment.

https://deadspin.com/giving-a-guy-who-was-racist-online-a-standing-ovation-t-1827785357?

[MVFrostsMyPie]

Yuck. 

[prican58]

22 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

Apologies for not paying attention . . . who roots for the A’s here? They got Familia from the Mets.

I never really hate the A's because I was a huge fan of those 70s teams with Reggie, Rudi, Bando and Blue (Yanks sucked back then and I had to root for somebody) and I loved it when they beat the Mets in the WS. So I hope he does well as the A's are playing good ball. 

It didn't rain all day here in NY but right now it's 7:21 pm and the rain is falling. I really don't want another rain out..

[Lantern7]

. . . and the hits keep on coming for the Mets.

[AimingforYoko]

1 hour ago, Lantern7 said:

. . . and the hits keep on coming for the Mets.

That's some peak Met-tin', right there. Hand, Foot and Mouth disease? I mean, c'mon.

[smittykins]

Aaaand, another rainout.  Yay.

[Harry24]

3 hours ago, Lantern7 said:

. . . and the hits keep on coming for the Mets.

When I clicked on this link and saw the headline I reflexively checked to see if the url was for The Onion.

[Moose135]

Hoof and mouth disease?  What's next for the Mets, Mad Cow?

[DXD526]

That bit Colbert did with the Mets is hilarious. But I have to say, he seems like a nice enough guy, but this proves that Blevins is a better actor than he is a pitcher. 

[mojoween]

14 hours ago, smittykins said:

Aaaand, another rainout.  Yay.

I was ok with it as I was at a Marilyn Manson concert missing the game, heh.

 

12 hours ago, Harry24 said:

When I clicked on this link and saw the headline I reflexively checked to see if the url was for The Onion.

Right?!?  I thought there was going to be a “gotcha, this is satire” at the end.  So are they checking to see if any of the kids at camp are contagious to others or sick themselves?

[Lantern7]

I can see that fucking the Mets. “Gosh, we would love to get a stud from you for prospects, but we’re scared you might screw us the way European types screwed the native tribes.”

[prican58]

Another rain out would be mind boggling but not as much as injury to any of the players. Thankfully they didn't try to get it in.

[mojoween]

I think Kenny Singleton was shouting out @MVFrostsMyPie when Matt Duffy was up because Kenny described him as a former San Francisco Giant but hasn’t it been like three years now?

[MVFrostsMyPie]

It'll be 2 years on August 1st :( He came up through the Giants farm system and was an immensely popular and integral part of the team in so many ways, so I think it'll be awhile before he stops being referred to as a former Giant. And maybe by the time that day comes around, he'll somehow end up back on the team he belongs on. :)

[rippleintime17]

He also hasn't played much since becoming a Ray. He missed most of his time in 2016 and all of 2017, so this is really the first year he is playing daily and people can reference his past. 

[Bort]

Boy, the analysts are really tearing Gary Sanchez a new one after last night's Yankee game.

[smittykins]

And he apparently re-aggravated his groin injury, so he’s back on the DL.

[mojoween]

I mean, Suzyn Waldman said in Gary’s FIRST appearance on the field after coming off the DL that he didn’t look right.    Like he was on the field for minutes and she thought he looked slower.  And she’s a radio announcer!

So I was startled to see the crazy reaction to what happened last night, especially when to my untrained eyes, after the passed ball, that he DID look like something was wrong.

Edited July 24, 2018 by mojoween

[Bort]

I don't know, though. How do you catch for an entire game with a groin injury? There's a lot of squatting going on.

[prican58]

I think Gary needs a catching guru, like when Seve sought out Pedro. Maybe the Molinas or Alomar Jr are available. They were kind of large guys when they played so perhaps they could coach him a bit in the off season.

Edited July 24, 2018 by prican58

[mojoween]

Zach Britton is a closer, is he not?  Why are the Yanks going for him?

[Bort]

I assume because Chapman is kind of shaky? I know that being the case with Giles is why the Astros are going for him.

[smittykins]

MLB Network claims Yankees acquire Britton.  Okay, but they still need a starter...

[mojoween]

Ok so this is great, Sonny Gray only has to go three innings and then they can bring in Warren, Green, Robertson, Betances, Britton and Chapman.

When they said the O’s got prospects in return I was so scared it was going to say one of them was Sheffield.

It is odd that they got a closer, when they have a ‘pen full of closers, just to keep him from Houston.