MLB Thread

[Rick Kitchen]

I have to laugh at the Nats putting a shift on leaving the runner on second base to just sort of stroll over to third for a stolen base with nobody there to protect the bag.

[MyAimIsTrue]

Seriously, that happened?  That's like something my co-ed beer league softball team would do (except there's no stealing in softball.)

[King of Birds]

I think Rick means the Mookie Betts double-steal on Monday?  It wasn't exactly a 'stroll' to 3b.

[Rick Kitchen]

Well, yeah, I was being sarcastic.  :D

[Rick Kitchen]

Giants have scored 24 runs in 9 games.  Which is pretty pathetic, but there are five teams worse (including the Cardinals!), with the Twins having only scored 16 runs in 7 games.

 

Boston has scored the most, 56, in 9 games.

Edited April 16, 2015 by Rick Kitchen

[mojoween]

Aww Rick now I'm disappointed. I didn't watch the video and was picturing Mookie (great name, BTW, as my cat is also named Mookie but after my favorite player of all time, Mookie Wilson) wandering over to third base while the infield just looked on.

I'm so sad my dreams were dashed.

[xaxat]

I really like the ad for Sunday night's Reds/Cards game featuring Yadier Molina and Billy Hamilton.

[King of Birds]

Well, yeah, I was being sarcastic.  :D

When this site has those sad photos pop between posts, of a poor starving girl, it makes it tough to be snarky.

[Rick Kitchen]

When this site has those sad photos pop between posts, of a poor starving girl, it makes it tough to be snarky.

 

I have adblock on, I don't see ads.

[MyAimIsTrue]

At work the company firewall blocks the ads (yay!) but when I'm at home they're all over the place.

[Rick Kitchen]

After three at bats, Cubs fans are already booing Kris Bryant and telling him he sucks.

[xaxat]

It is so weird seeing those empty bleachers at Wrigley. 

 

ETA, I wonder how many of the boos were because people hate Scott Boras.

 

ETAA, Is ARod really back to his old self?

Edited April 18, 2015 by xaxat

[MyAimIsTrue]

I wonder if Joe Maddon is re-thinking his move to the north side.

[prican58]

Yankees vs Rays. 5-4 8th inning. A Rod hits 2 HR, singles an RBI.  NYY fan here, and I have never really hated or loved Alex. He just always happened to wear the uniforms of teams I have always hated. 

 

So he comes to NY and I am not unhappy about it. I still don't love him but I like him well enough because he's a Yankee.  So he gets suspended a year and I don't mind because he has become a distraction and maybe the club can get out from under that contract and start retooling.

 

All the talk during this off  season was whether or not he could turn on the fast ball, could he play 3rd with 2 new hips, will he continue to be a f...up, blah blah blah.

Well damn if the man isn't the best hitter on the team right now! I have been saying to whomever will listen that the guy was going to surprise folks. So far I have been right. It's pretty remarkable. It's a long season and he may not be like this most of the year but damn, he is impressing me. 

[FuriousStyles]

Yankee fan here too and I have the complete opposite view. I started giving him the side-eye when there were reports of him bad-mouthing Jeter. His non-existance in the playoffs (save 2009) also erked me. If you're going to make THAT kind of money he needed to perform a lot better than he did. And then we have the steroid stuff. And its not even the fact that he cheated so much as its the fact that damn he was cheating and still sucked? And more importantly all of the people he threw under the bus to try to save himself. 

 

I was really surprised at the reception Arod got opening day and I understand the idea that as long as he's helping the team then its all good. But im having a very hard time rooting for him and honestly I've hardly watched any games so far. Though I think it has more to do with Jeter's absense than Arod's presense.

[prican58]

Furious, I certainly understand your P.O.V. and it's valid. But I kind of don't even think about the stupid things he's done. I'm old enough to not be bothered by shit and I am no longer the die hard fan of baseball that I was in my life. I used to know all then players on all the teams but truly I only care about the Yanks and the Mets. I used to watch all the playoff series as a kid and was into it. Now, I don't know anyone in the NL  and I only know the AL guys because they play the Yanks

 

For the Mets,it's, not because I am a fan but because they are in my town and they are beginning to matter and my best friend is a season ticket holder and he gets me into games. I neither like nor loathe them. Although David Wright has deserved better than he's gotten over these past 10 years or so. 

 

I am actually watching more games because I am curious to see how they roll on without DJ and the other Core Four guys and David Robertson. The game has changed The Yanks were able to be so successful due to the fact that the system favored them by being able to outspend. Now every team has money and they are keeping their players longer. It's all good. Yankess just have to tread water for a couple more years till they are rid of Alex, Tex and Beltran.  

 

They also need a great baseball mind and assessor of talent like Gene Michael, who was the one who really started the 90's resurgence when he was in charge while George was suspended back in the day. 

 

Baseball is a cycle. 

[Mittengirl]

So, Fox Sports has hired Pete Rose as an in-studio analyst. I don't know, he has never seemed very articulate or quick to me. Is this a big "get" for Fox? Or are they just hoping he will be a big story when it is decided whether or not he gets reinstated?

[ratgirlagogo]

 

Or are they just hoping he will be a big story

This.  I think they just want the publicity, perhaps the "love to hate" viewership?  Either way I'm disgusted.  Like I said above he's no Shoeless Joe and doesn't deserve to be reinstated, IMHO.

 

ETA: Eight in a row for the Mets!

Edited April 19, 2015 by ratgirlagogo

[Rick Kitchen]

Two Kansas City pitchers and *three* KC coaches have been kicked out of the game for throwing at Oakland batters.

[Mittengirl]

Well, if the coaches are throwing at batters, they should be thrown out! ;-)

[AndreaK1041]

Is KC going to plunk Lawrie again when they play in July? He made you mad Friday, you nailed him Saturday. That should be the end of it. Thought the umps did a nice job controlling the chaos both days.

Reminds me of last year and the Manny Machado weekend. You can't retaliate day after day!

[Sweets McGee]

KC Royals don't seem so loveable anymore.

[rippleintime17]

Went to today's Mets game. Harvey fever is real! They are on a roll but they are also dropping like flies. Two more went down to injury today (both fractures, so not quick recoveries). Hope they can keep rolling a bit longer, it was fun to be there even as someone that is pretty neutral on the Mets.

[MyAimIsTrue]

Why is everyone (incuding NPR's 'Morning Edition') making such a big deal about Jon Lester throwing his glove to first base when the ball got stuck in its webbing?  Plays like this have been made plenty of times before as I remember Terry Mulholland doing the same thing about 25 years ago.

[smittykins]

And I remember El Duque in '99. Whatever gets the out!

[Lantern7]

I gotta get to Citi Field. I always mean to go, but I never find time to see the Mets. I don't need a promotion like May 2, which is (I kid you not) Jacob deGrom Garden Gnome Night. In the meantime, here are blog posts I made about my last trips to Toronto and Baltimore.

 

Two more things:

 

1. Is there a minor league baseball thread? The "Baby Bombers" don't kick off near where I live until mid-June. I need to go see them . . . and maybe the Cyclones, if I'm feeling adventurous.

 

2. Is it off to rank the Nationals ahead of the Mets, given that New York has the best record in the National League (I know, it's early) and the Nationals aren't even at .500?

[King of Birds]

1. Is there a minor league baseball thread? The "Baby Bombers" don't kick off near where I live until mid-June. I need to go see them . . .

I'm an avid follower of the Red Sox minor league teams, but there's already a site I visit to read/ post in. As for a general thread, I'm not sure we'd need to be that specific. This can be all of baseball, right? Hell, I posted about stadium food!

 

Saw a minor league article (couldn't find link) talked about how the "pace of game rules" affects the stuff like little kid fans running to change a base, mascot stuff, etc. All those events now have to be pulled off even more quickly between innings.

 

If any of you have been to a MILB game, especially the lower A leagues, have you ever contributed to the "pass the cap" for when a player hits a HR? The Lancaster CA park can be a wind tunnel- the ball carries. I went a few years ago and a team had 3 homers in their inning. About 9 homers in the game (final was something like 22-14) I was like "how much am I supposed to contribute?"

[MyAimIsTrue]

Sorry to admit I've only been to one MiLB game, the New Hampshire Fishercats hosting whoever Washington's AA affiliate is (or was) in August, 2010.  I had such a blast.  No pass the cap went on at this game.

[mojoween]

I used to go to Syracuse Chiefs games all the time when Toronto was their parent but haven't been since they opened their new stadium and then changed to Washington. It was crazy times when Strasburg pitched here.

I should get out there now to get a glimpse at Tony Gwynn's kid.

[MyAimIsTrue]

I had a friend who was a MiLB writer for national publications.  She used to post in this thread occasionally on TWoP but I haven't seen her here yet.

[smittykins]

I went to a couple of Chiefs games as a kid in Syracuse in the '70s; they were a Yankees team then, and I remember getting a cap.

[ratgirlagogo]

Some years ago I had a boyfriend who lived in Binghamton and went with him a few times to see the Binghamton Mets.  I still have a ball I caught at one of their games.  Always fun seeing the Cyclones in Coney Island but Mr Rat and I are not exactly regulars there, any more than we are at CitiField for that matter.

[ebk57]

We have 3 O's affiliates within an hour and a half of here, and 2 more about 3ish hours away.  I don't go often, but I do go a couple times a year.  Never seen pass the cap, though.  

 

One of my fave baseball trips was to see the San Antonio Missions.  Their mascot is Ballapeno, a guy dressed like a pepper.  I had to have the bobblehead!

[MyAimIsTrue]

If I ever return to New Mexico for vacation I want to take in an Albuquerque Isotopes game.  They might have the coolest logo out of all sports teams.

[AndreaK1041]

I love the Isotopes logo!  We saw the Isotopes twice when they came in to play the Sacramento River Cats.  This year the River Cats switched from the A's to being the Giants affiliate, so we won't see them any more. Not that it matters for me, because I have no interest in supporting anything Giants related.

 

Speaking of the A's... woof.  Rough game.

[MyAimIsTrue]

River Cats, Fisher Cats, what the hell are all these varieties of felines I've never heard of?  Guess that's why I'm a dog person.

[mojoween]

Oh! I didn't even give my Big Mc story. We were sitting at field level directly behind first base and the Columbus Clippers were in town. There was a player hanging out before the game resting against the tarp and I wanted to get an autograph but alas, my boyfriend did not have a pen (he had a scorecard, and didn't bring a pen, we aren't together any more). The player wandered off when the game started and eventually took his place in the outfield.

That player? Bernie Williams. I will regret my lack of writing implement to the day I die.

[xaxat]

Some years ago I had a boyfriend who lived in Binghamton and went with him a few times to see the Binghamton Mets.  I still have a ball I caught at one of their games.  

 

I went to a Binghamton Mets game and saw a guy mash a home run over the left field fence where it landed on top of a coal hopper car that was part of a passing train (the tracks run just beyond the fence). My friend and I joke that we saw the longest home run ever hit because there is no telling when that ball finally stopped moving.

[King of Birds]

River Cats, Fisher Cats, what the hell are all these varieties of felines I've never heard of?  Guess that's why I'm a dog person.

In the NYPL there are also the Batavia Muckdogs. And the SeaDogs are in Portland ME, and RiverDogs in Charleston!

 

Mojo- just saw a story that Bernie finally retired today. Nine years later? 

 

Have any of you voted in the "Fantastic Four?"   They announced the leaders so far in voting.

 

eta: my thoughts

LOVE that Eck is #2 for the A's.

Biggio-Bagwell-Berkman for the Astros! Killer B's still in their hearts.

Quiz on the list for the Royals.

Modern day Yankees have a TOUGH road to get in the top 4.

Helton!

Jeff Conine is the #1 Marlin???

And... I still think of Piazza as a Dodger. So odd to see him so high on the Mets list.

Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson ranking high on two teams lists is no surprise.

Edited April 22, 2015 by King of Birds

[MyAimIsTrue]

I hadn't heard about this Fantastic Four so thanks for the link.  Voting for the four top Braves players was easy for me:  Aaron, Glavine, Maddux, Smoltz.  Done.

[tom87]

Franchise Four, I was like they are doing Fantastic Four too? 

 

 

I think there should be a distinction too being fantastic player does not mean you were a Franchise player imo.

Edited April 22, 2015 by tom87

[AndreaK1041]

The fact that Buster Posey is on the list of ALL TIME Giants just reaffirms all of my negative prejudice against that team and their fans.  No offense to anyone here personally, of course.

[MyAimIsTrue]

I noticed a number of teams with players listed who made me scratch my head and wonder if that was the best they had to offer.  Toronto, for example, where I only voted for Joe Carter.

[mojoween]

Bernie will officially sign his retirement papers Friday. So his HOF bid is all set for 2020!*

*I am not listening to any naysayers lalalalala

I voted for Mo, Joe, The Mick and Babe for the Fantastic Four. I changed my radio button a bunch of times before I made up my mind.

Edited April 22, 2015 by mojoween

[smittykins]

Ruth, DiMaggio, Mickey and Berra here. It was a tough call between Yogi and Gehrig. Aim, I'm jealous that your choices were so easy. :)

Edited April 22, 2015 by smittykins

[MyAimIsTrue]

I voted for Mo, Joe, The Mick and Babe for the Fantastic Four. I changed my radio button a bunch of times before I made up my mind.

 

I subbed Whitey for Joe.  After all Whitey Ford is my father's all time favorite player.

[ratgirlagogo]

 

And... I still think of Piazza as a Dodger. So odd to see him so high on the Mets list.

I always have to remind myself that he began as a Dodger.  He was such a great player for so many mediocre Mets seasons (and relatively recent seasons) that he is a particularly towering figure for Mets fans.  Hitting the first home run here after 9/11 for example is still a huge deal in NYC even though it has relatively little to do with what gets you into Cooperstown.  And even though I went to many a game where he got tons of FAGGOT FAGGOT FAGGOT chants during his at bats - I love New York and New Yorkers, but seriously fuck New York and New Yorkers.  Maybe all the homophobes were the Long Island fans :)  Probably not, alas.

Edited April 23, 2015 by ratgirlagogo

[xaxat]

Barry Bonds’s Obstruction of Justice Conviction Is Overturned

 

This makes me happy. Not because I like Bonds, but because I believe the government went to extraordinary lengths to get a conviction against him. And in the end, they got nothing.

[rippleintime17]

The fact that Buster Posey is on the list of ALL TIME Giants just reaffirms all of my negative prejudice against that team and their fans.  No offense to anyone here personally, of course.

 

He DOES represent a fairly important era in the team's history though. I don't think it's that terrible that a three-time World Champion, NL MVP and Rookie of Year is considered highly by a team's fanbase, even when it's a team with a lot of legends. Sure, he's current and it's all recent but it's still pretty huge and he's a big part of the franchise and will be for years to come. 

[Lantern7]

Mets tied their winning streak record with their eleventh in a row. Maybe I should jump on the bandwagon while there's still time.