MLB Thread

[bosawks]

This sucks🤬

[ProudMary]

1 hour ago, Salacious Kitty said:

I am in Moneyball. They show the actual footage of the homer that extended the win streak to 20 games. That ball landed in the row behind is in the RF bleachers. My husband's face is clearly visible as are my outstretched arms. 

This is SO cool! First, that you were in the house for that incredible 20th consecutive victory and second, that you were seated in just the right spot to be reaching for that home run ball that made it into Moneyball.

[shoregirl]

This is heartbreaking...

Fuck John Fisher.

I saw this on Twitter it's from Ted Lasso but is resonate today

Teams belong to the communities . They belong to families sharing the love for a team from generation to generation. 

[mojoween]

It’s so funny that when they took the team picture, everyone is wearing their championship t-shirts … except Giancarlo Stanton, who is wearing a tank top so the guns are in full view.

[ProudMary]

The Yankees win the AL East! 👏🥂🙂

Os fans, I think your team will be back in the Bronx a week from Saturday for Game 1 of the ALDS. Good luck in the WC Series!

The Yankees' broadcasters were discussing how busy the Yankees' clubhouse guys were with not just one, but two clinching celebrations to prepare and clean up, one for the visitors and one for the home team. That's certainly not a common occurrence!

Let's Go Yankees!

[voiceover]

Worth reading:

This was in Jeff Passan’s X-thread tonight; written by Tim Keown, it’s a eulogy for A’s fans, that with some reconfiguration, could belong to anyone here.

If I were a character in a story about the Royals — a for example — it would mention that the first time I ever felt like a grownup was when I was allowed to take the bus, alone, to the first All-Star game at Kauffman.  And how I was on the other side of the world, listening to VOA in the middle of the night, when my team won its first World Series.  And how I called my dad, crylaughing so hard when Sal Perez walked off the Wild Card in 2014, that he thought I’d been in a car accident.

Anyway:

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/41386662/fans-goodbye-oakland-leaving-coliseum-moving-las-vegas

[mojoween]

I teared up when the Athletics team stayed on the field waving to the fans. Every single person in that stadium was done dirty.

I could not figure out why, when talking about the division championship, they kept talking about 1969.  I’m like why so arbitrary?

Well, since the divisions have been a thing for my entire lifetime, until I saw the graphic that said that division titles were first won in 1969, it didn’t occur to me that there were no winners previous to that.

Atlanta is the clubhouse leader in most divisions since 1969, for anyone interested.  Only by one, though.

Edited September 27 by mojoween

[baldryanr]

5 hours ago, mojoween said:

Well, since the divisions have been a thing for my entire lifetime, until I saw the graphic that said that division titles were first won in 1969, it didn’t occur to me that there were no winners previous to that.

Atlanta is the clubhouse leader in most divisions since 1969, for anyone interested.  Only by one, though.

One of many things "true fans" probably whined about at the time but then was accepted as a positive change.  It also means missing the playoffs was a lot more justifiable back then.  Nowadays it's just sad if you can't even sniff a wild card game every few years.

[mojoween]

I have recollection of watching Mike Schmidt play, so him turning 75 today makes me feel like an artifact.

[baldryanr]

Mike Schmidt - greatest third baseman of all time?  Certainly not the best defensively (that would be Brooks Robinson, in my opinion) but his competition (aside from Robinson) is Eddie Mathews, Wade Boggs, George Brett, Adrian Beltre, and Chipper Jones. 

[ebk57]

8 hours ago, mojoween said:

I teared up when the Athletics team stayed on the field waving to the fans. Every single person in that stadium was done dirty.

I could not figure out why, when talking about the division championship, they kept talking about 1969.  I’m like why so arbitrary?

Well, since the divisions have been a thing for my entire lifetime, until I saw the graphic that said that division titles were first won in 1969, it didn’t occur to me that there were no winners previous to that.

Atlanta is the clubhouse leader in most divisions since 1969, for anyone interested.  Only by one, though.

 

1 hour ago, mojoween said:

I have recollection of watching Mike Schmidt play, so him turning 75 today makes me feel like an artifact.

Just call me grandma...  😄

[Jane Tuesday]

This is from six years ago, but... ;)

 

Edited September 27 by Jane Tuesday

[Mittengirl]

I have been a Tigers fan my whole life, but if they were to move I think that would be the end.  I would probably root for the “Toledo Tigers” (assuming the team went with a temporary home similar to what the A’s are doing) while the current players are still with the team.  But, by the time they reach their permanent home in 4-5 years most of the Detroit Tigers would be gone and I just wouldn’t care enough to root for the Somewhere Else Tigers.

[ebk57]

Living right between Baltimore and DC, my second team was always the Senators.  And DC managed to lose 2 Senators teams. Okay, I'm not quite old enough to actually remember when the first team left for Minneapolis, so I don't hate the Twins (unless they beat us this weekend), but I will always hate the Rangers.  

And then there were the Colts.  I'll never root for Indianapolis.  Or Denver, for that matter.  Blame Elway for that.

I love a lifelong, deep Sports Grudge!

[Carey]

After some thought, I wasn't sure whether I'd move Detroit or Chicago ahead of Oakland (ownership) in terms of solid hate.  Fortunately, it looks like I don't have to make that decision.  Whatever is greater than shock would be the feeling if Detroit got swept in their final series, but I think I'm OK

[Salacious Kitty]

And the White Sox lose their 121st game. 

[Mittengirl]

20 minutes ago, Carey said:

Whatever is greater than shock would be the feeling if Detroit got swept in their final series, but I think I'm OK

Not going to happen!

 

I feel bad for the Sox fans, it sucks to watch your team lose.  And to lose soo many is just awful.

 

As soon as the Tigers won, my own little orange & white tiger went nuts.  Coincidence? I think not.

 

Edited September 28 by Mittengirl

[Carey]

While I have no plans to attend the following, if time permits, I'll post a link to the parade Chicago might have since people love parades (following a moment edged in sports history for the rest of time)

[Calvada]

For the second time this season, Christian Yelich joined the Brewers TV folks for a few innings to do some analysis and answer questions from fans. He was great in the booth. I think he could have a future doing that.  Of course, I'd rather he was healthy and out on the field.  Especially after Sal Frelick smashed into the outfield wall and had to be helped into the clubhouse.   

[voiceover]

🥳🥳🤪🤪🤪🥳🥳🥳🥳😜😜🥹

2023: 106 losses

2024: Playoffs baby!!!

First time since we won it all in 2015.  Proud of my boys!  Let’s go Royals ❤️

[Carey]

Hats off to the Royals.  I actually had more to say about someone else, but I chose to delete that content.  I'm looking forward to seeing what Kansas City (and the other 11 teams) do in October.  I love teams that might not have much to work with but still find ways to win.  That's where the focus is at, as opposed to teams that I "hate" A.K.A. do the opposite

[Magog]

15 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

And the White Sox lose their 121st game. 

And I'm very very happy about that. 🤣 🤣  It should of happened a few days ago. But, the Angels had to bring even more failure & shame to themselves by getting swept by these losers. The Angels just can't do anything right. Once again, thanks for absolutely nothing losers. 🤬

Thank god, the Tigers got the job done last. & I didn't have to sweat it out over the weekend. Maybe we will get lucky & the White Sox will do us even more of a solid for us & lose the last 2 games. 

I'm  also very happy that the 1962 Mets are no longer the face of MLB Futility. Casey Stengel, Ed Kranepool, Roger Craig, Gil Hodges, & the rest of the 1962 Mets are hopefully enjoying that champagne & celebration in heaven right now.

As for the Yankees, since they won the AL East once again (yay 😒), I'm hoping that it'll set yet another ALDS appearance & defeat against the Astros.

Edited September 28 by Magog

[ProudMary]

6 hours ago, Magog said:

As for the Yankees, since they won the AL East once again (yay 😒), I'm hoping that it'll set yet another ALDS appearance & defeat against the Astros.

While the postseason bracket for the NL hasn't been finalized yet, the AL is locked. The Yankees will play either the Orioles or the Tigers, whichever team emerges from the Wild Card Series. The Astros will play the Royals in the second WCS. If the lying, cheating Astros beat the Royals, they then have to beat the Guardians in ALDS 2. If the Astros and Yankees meet in the postseason this year, it would be in the ALCS.

(Edited to change: I jumped the gun on AL seeding. What I listed above is still probable, but it's not locked.)

For the record, the Yankees are 7-1 against the Astros this season, including wins in all four games played at Minute Maid Park. Additionally, for the 2024 season through yesterday's games, the Yankees have a run differential of +150 (best in MLB) to the Astros +90 RD. 

I like the Yankees' chances.

I hope the Astros get their asses kicked right out of the box.

 

Edited September 28 by ProudMary

[DMK]

44 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

While the postseason bracket for the NL hasn't been finalized yet, the AL is locked.

No, it’s not. The 1 and 2, 5 and 6 seeding still isn’t locked up. Those could still switch.

Edited September 28 by DMK

[ProudMary]

2 hours ago, DMK said:

No, it’s not. The 1 and 2, 5 and 6 seeding still isn’t locked up. Those could still switch.

I was coming here to post just that. I honestly had counted my chickens before they hatched, until the Yankees lost today's game to the Pirates and I realized that if they don't hold on to the best record in the AL, it's not only home field advantage through the LCS that would be affected, but also who they'd play in the LDS. 

So, it is through gritted teeth that, just for tonight, I have to say, "Let's go Astros." 🤮

Edited to add: I still think the Yankees can beat the Astros if it plays out that way.

Edited September 28 by ProudMary
See above.

[mojoween]

In the stories I’ve read about Oakland, one thing is not clear to me - why can’t they just stay in the Coliseum until the Vegas stadium is built?

[ProudMary]

😤😡😠🤬

 

[ProudMary]

29 minutes ago, mojoween said:

In the stories I’ve read about Oakland, one thing is not clear to me - why can’t they just stay in the Coliseum until the Vegas stadium is built?

I didn't know the answer to that question,  either. I found this April article from CBS Sports:

https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/as-officially-leaving-oakland-after-2024-will-play-in-sacramento-through-2027-until-vegas-stadium-is-ready/

The Athletics, as part of their efforts to relocate to Las Vegas in time for the 2028 season, will play their home games for the 2025-27 seasons at Sutter Health Park in Sacramento, California, the team announced on Thursday. The deal includes an option for a fourth season.

The A's lease with the City of Oakland is set to expire at the end of this season, yet the A's rejected a five-year extension on the lease of Oakland Coliseum. That, plus an apparent desire to retain as much of their local broadcasting revenue as possible (a factor that my have dissuaded them from temporarily relocating to Salt Lake City or other out-of-state possibilities), led the A's to the capital city of California.

This article from Yahoo!Sports provides some info on the reasons why the As may have rejected the lease extension from the City of Oakland:

https://sports.yahoo.com/theyre-far-apart-oakland-coliseum-220600358.html

 

[DMK]

Ha, at least the White Sox social media is having a sense of humor about their ill fortune…

 

[shoregirl]

13 minutes ago, DMK said:

Ha, at least the White Sox social media is having a sense of humor about their ill fortune…

 

They have been super funny as this record got closer. Here's the tweet after losing yesterday

Whatever they are getting paid they deserve a raise.

Edited September 28 by shoregirl

[DMK]

2 minutes ago, shoregirl said:

They have been super funny as this record for closer. Here's the tweet after losing yesterday

Whatever they are getting paid they deserve a raise.

Yeah, I saw that. What puts it over the top is the pic titled sadpaw.jpg.

[Carey]

57 minutes ago, shoregirl said:

Whatever they are getting paid they deserve a raise.

That, and/or make them the franchise runners going forward

[AimingforYoko]

23 hours ago, Salacious Kitty said:

And the White Sox lose their 121st game. 

 

[ProudMary]

The Yankees are the #1 seed. I can exhale. 😉

 

[mojoween]

Just now, ProudMary said:

The Yankees are the #1 seed. I can exhale. 😉

 

It’s terribly distressing that Houston’s success means the Yankees can have nice things.

[Carey]

New York is due.  15 years is just way too long without a title

[DMK]

The teams above New York on this list are playing the world’s smallest violin.

Edited September 29 by DMK

[Salacious Kitty]

1 hour ago, Carey said:

New York is due.  15 years is just way too long without a title

I would happily go another 15 years of drought. 😁

[Carey]

That's fair enough.  However, it's good for business if/whenever NYC does well. Just my opinion.  Plus it isn't easy to jump for joy when 4 Boston teams each won at least one title within that period.  Though I would not bet on Boston being that sympathetic here

[baldryanr]

9 hours ago, Carey said:

However, it's good for business if/whenever NYC does well.

The Yankees are like the Cowboys/Lakers.  It's absolutely good for business when they make deep playoff runs, and nothing unites fans of other teams like rooting for them to lose (preferably in the most painful way possible). 

[Carey]

100%.  Plus, add Notre Dame, Duke, and Kentucky and all is well for one's sports enjoyment at the expense of a blue blood!

[Jane Tuesday]

12 hours ago, Carey said:

New York is due.  15 years is just way too long without a title

The Mets are in WC position. That's who you meant, right? 

[Carey]

The 1986 Champions had a chance to cash in 2015, to be fair.  Too bad they said no thank you.  Though that was a rather bizarre year in terms of the playoffs.

Although the Yankees "being due" is a fair statement due to the expectations, unlike teams like the A's & the White Sox, it's still a fact that there are bigger droughts in the sport.  Or in Seattle's case, if the world were to end in a minute, the story of Planet Earth would exclude an appearance from the Mariners in the Fall Classic.  Baltimore winning would be nice, and same thing for the Brewers & Philadelphia.  They are officially more due.  Just ask Brooks Gate!

 

Edited September 29 by Carey
If you weren't paying attention, you'd think New York won last year

[DMK]

Taylor Swift was the top Billboard artist last year AND the last time the Yankees won the World Series. Still fairly modern era, not buying the due thing.

[Carey]

That's fine.  For me, it would be nice to see them win again.  Not a priority, but they are a very good team.  Plus, I'm not a fan of awful teams backdooring into the postseason only to luck their way into a title.

Either way, there are a lot of teams I'd like to see win this year anyway.  However, there are several I'd prefer lose before they get there.  For example, I'd rather not witness Atlanta or Houston winning; anyone but those 2.  After all, they just won not too long ago.

Finally, and similar to betting on something, nothing or no one's ever due anything.  It's just that it's been quite a long time for someone that's pretty good annually but can't even get out of their league

[DMK]

Well, in the past, the Yankees were built to GET to the post season but not to win it. Like, they did most of their damage against the bottom of a rotation, but you don’t see that in post season, so then they’d scuffle against elite pitching. I will readily admit that this year’s team is their best shot. The lineup is deeper, not so right hand heavy. I think their pitching is still shaky, especially their bullpen, so we’ll see.

I am looking forward to post season play because there isn’t one single team that’s really a dynamo. Every single one of them have flaws (some pitching, some lineup, some a mix of both) and it’ll be interesting to see which ones will be able to come out on top.

[ProudMary]

1 hour ago, Jane Tuesday said:

The Mets are in WC position. That's who you meant, right? 

This Yankees' fan is absolutely pulling for the Mets to win. I think I've said this here before, but I love it when both NY teams have strong seasons. It great for the city I love. The only time I don't root for the Mets, obviously, is when they're playing against the Yankees. 

I'm sure MLB is hoping for a Yankees/Dodgers World Series match-up. The thought of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani going head-to-head must have them drooling. Me, I want a Subway Series. 

Speaking of a Subway Series: Yankees' broadcaster and former relief pitcher, Jeff Nelson told a great story a couple of weeks back. I'd never heard this one before. The Yankees won the final game of the 2000 Subway Series at Shea Stadium. The celebration would be in the visitors' clubhouse. As the Yankees begin to steam in from the field, the clubbies open the first box of WS Champions t-shirts to distribute to the players. Well, the shirts out of that first box read, "New York Mets, Subway Series Champions."  Mistake? 🤔 

 

[DMK]

32 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

I'm sure MLB is hoping for a Yankees/Dodgers World Series match-up. The thought of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani going head-to-head must have them drooling.

I think drooling is an understatement. They get that, it’ll be like the grand finale of a porno movie.

[Magog]

49 minutes ago, ProudMary said:

I'm sure MLB is hoping for a Yankees/Dodgers World Series match-up. The thought of Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani going head-to-head must have them drooling. Me, I want a Subway Series. 

That World Series will be an absolute rooting for nobody for me. I'm certain there are a few more World Series matchups that will find both teams to be very unrootable. But, a Yankees - Dodgers World Series will be at the top of that list. 

Besides, rooting for a Yankees - Dodgers World Series is about as equal to rooting the Cowboys to succeed & go all the way.

Edited September 29 by Magog

[smittykins]

1 hour ago, ProudMary said:

This Yankees' fan is absolutely pulling for the Mets to win. I think I've said this here before, but I love it when both NY teams have strong seasons.

My husband(who passed in 2005, right after Willie Randolph was named manager)was a Mets fan, so I can’t hate on them.  It still feels weird watching a Subway Series without him, and it’s been almost twenty years.

On another subject, anyone else find it weird that every game started within  five minutes of each other?

Edited September 29 by smittykins